City of Portsmouth, New Hampshire School Board, 7 Feb 2023

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From YouTube: 2.7.2023 School Board Budget Workshop

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2.7.2023 School Board Budget Workshop

A

Okay, we are recording.

B

Trying to get in um okay, thank you, matt toby and everyone else. Okay, we're gonna call the meeting to order. um May we.

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Have a roll call please, when I don't have my roku list, but I'm ready all right liz barrett.

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Pip clues here, uh lisa rapport, air and walker here.

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Margot peabody, here nancy clayburgh here uh hope that helps.

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Okay, great uh brian french, here carrie, nolte and danielle miles.

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Okay, can we stand for the pledge of allegiance.

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Of the united states of america and to the republic for which it stands, one nation, under god.

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Okay, do we have a motion to go into public comments, move a second second, all in favor.

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Aye, um okay: is there anyone for public comment? Do we have anyone in zoom for public comment.

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And okay, that's not hope, is it oh, it is all right. Do we have a motion to close the public.

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Comment so move second, second, all in favor, bye, okay, workshop session number, four on the.

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Fiscal year, 24 budget should I hand it over to you sure, okay, um so we, uh I think we've talked.

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About the fact that we originally scheduled this for some time with uh people, services and then.

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Based on the requests from folks, I moved towards uh esther position, so we have big questions. Nathan.

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um So we're gonna pass around nathan is gonna, walk you through primarily and I'll chime in when.

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Needed a set of slides around the esser positions uh to kind of reorient you towards kind of.

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um uh What's in there, uh some conversations that have been happening on the city side.

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Some some evolution of that that yours right there.

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um And um and then we have some suggested courses of actions and then some all and then some.

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um Alternatives uh as well uh for you so first before we get into nathan's slides uh just what.

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He's passing around now is the uh what we've been doing with sr up to this point now, we'll I'll say.

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This is partially uh the case what you don't have, because we, on all honest people, run out of columns.

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uh You don't have cares, cares act sr1, the stuff that you guys were originally dealing with. It.

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Probably was probably all masks and those sort of things, so that doesn't appear here with acid 2 and.

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Then asteroid 3 is broken out into two separate columns. You may or may not remember. Sr2 was pretty.

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Broad in terms of what it could go towards sr3 was also broad, but sr3 expected on the federal side.

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That 20 of your spending would go towards learning loss in some form, so so nathan's broken it out for.

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Us around projects that are identified towards that that 20 number for learning loss and then.

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Everything else that would be a master three just a reminder on all this. You know we need to wrap.

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Up our esther spending needs to be wrapped by the end of september 2024, and so that's the context.

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Of all of those things in terms of where you've been and what's kind of what the plan has been in.

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Relation to your esser proposals and then nathan will take us through in a little bit more detail.

A

Can I just ask one question before we start did the city council excuse me is that a new document.

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About tonight about our green and now it's a new, it's a new document.

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It's a new version of it, but I'll send it to you in just a second.

D

D

Yes, two relatives but uh alone in another section at all right is it warm? There hope.

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Yeah not so much here I wasn't sure she was going to answer yeah, quick question.

A

Nathan did the city council vote last night that the number is 4.5 they did and that's.

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Included, I just said it: I heard that, yes, he put all the time in last night, [laughter].

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Okay, nathan, you're on so um hope we're gonna, we're gonna hide you.

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I think, because he's going to share a slideshow, which I can also send to you when we're done.

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um uh Let me trip stumble and try to get this email sent to hope. But um actually let me talk.

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To the slides and then we'll go back hope, um I hope that just so that you know and uh and for.

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The public we'll add this to the packet this esser plan that jack just spoke to this. This.

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Tabloid size, it really is not measurably different from what you've been looking at recently. I just.

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Put it all on one page instead of a two-sided, and I did those colored bars on the right to try to.

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Give a sense of to which of the grants and to what purpose. We think we can attribute those to.

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Meet the expectations so really other than other than for our purposes tonight. To talk about the sr.

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Positions, I did tweak some of the values related to those positions in fy 24, because I identified.

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Better health and dental elections, what the total benefit costs were, etc. So so some of those numbers.

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Are off by just a few dollars um or down, but that was to actualize those for our purposes.

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Otherwise, that's not a brand new document. You've seen that document before I've just repackaged. It.

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So matt, if you could pull the slides up and then um plays out of white for him, it would be great.

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So really tonight is just to provide you with some some.

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um You know some tools that can help us have the conversation about esser.

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Last night, as nancy just suggested, the city council did meet.

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The guidance that was given was a 4.5 percent budget uh impact. It will be interesting to.

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See how that plays out when all departments, it was a city-wide conversation uh that the.

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Councilors proposal spoke to I really it's a bottom line, city-wide budget. I think there's.

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An expectation that there are pluses and minuses there are some departments whose needs are going.

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To be greater or different, uh and so and he did in the motion which I put on the.

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Slide he did call out very specifically the the ramp up of the I.t department.

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Here at city hall, there's a new technology department looking to looking to transition.

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Away from contracted services and onto a staffing pattern, internal and that will drive some kind of.

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Human capital costs uh initially that he didn't think should fall under that umbrella 4.5. So.

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um So my first slide, which you'll see in a moment takes you back to you: it's okay. It.

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Takes you back to the beginning right and it just says, look our current budget. If you went to the.

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Most recent summary document that we're looking at in your budget book our current budget's a.

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Little bit better than 58 million after it's been adjusted for the the negotiating dollars that were.

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Transferred in um our um our continuing services analysis that we did, we drove that budget up by.

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um 4.1 percent, it included our health and other benefits. Here you go, our budget is.

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Driven up by health and dental and workers, comp and property liability, all of our.

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Collective bargaining agreement impacts for the current level of staffing and it included.

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um uh Special education increases in the area of tuitions and transportation for.

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Our out of district placements, it included uh bus contract growth in both special needs and.

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Regular transportation, it included significant energy costs, as we are on board with the city.

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And they negotiated our costs for um for the commodity supply of electricity and gas.

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At continuing services budget also included 1.16 fps of new positions. The one the 1.0 is a special.

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Ed case manager, at the elementary level that we hired because in when jeannette came to us last.

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Cycle, steve and george and I had sat, and we said really, you can only have one, but ultimately they.

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Really did need the two that she had asked for so so that position ultimately was was was.

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Brought on board, we added that position to meet that changing need. So we recognized it here. It's.

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Not an increase to staffing that we currently have. It just recognizes that off budget higher that we.

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Had to do the 0.16 is simply that on the books that I inherited, we were carrying two part-time.

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Teachers at the high school who both were 83 percenters, but on the books it looks like in.

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Your budget book it looks like 75 percent, the money is 83, so they were getting paid in the.

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Full cost is there, but the fte isn't and ftes are really big in the portsmouth conversation. So this.

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Is a no-cost uh maricopa? That number ought to be uh higher by 0.16, so we add that for no cost.

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It's included in that 4.1, then, in our proposal, you'll remember that we have made reductions of.

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A vacant halftime position that was a central office kind of district-wide role and then one.

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Teaching physician at little harbor that combined with some other increases that were requested nets.

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Us a savings of just under 90 61 000, which brought our right now in your binder proposed budget to a.

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3.99 increase it's a 2.3 million dollar increase and it's a net reduction of a third of an fte.

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Okay, so that's that's where we've been that's what's in your book, but the conversations we've.

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Been having have been a lot about these ester positions as any you know as a major priority.

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For any changes we might make beyond this matt your next slide, if you would please.

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So that's that guidance, councilman tabor put the motion in there's the actual motion clipped from.

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The uh from the agenda, he made comments about the nearly four million dollars in one-time revenues.

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That we enjoyed in this current fy 23 cycle that aren't able we're not able to easily replace.

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In the next cycle made comments about the inflationary pressures in our economy and.

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Also talked about the new costs of recent and upcoming negotiations that are driving and so.

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4.5 is the number that the city was given guidance and we met this morning with the.

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City manager here in this room and she passed that guidance forward to all of the departments.

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So but it says a guideline, it doesn't say it's a definite number, that's correct! It's not definitely.

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Spoken by the former city councilor, I won't argue, I won't argue with you. I watched the meeting and.

F

I'm just curious, it didn't seem to be fully addressed last night, but if all our city labor.

F

Contracts are going up like five and six and that's the biggest chunk of our budget. We're.

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Not really talking about an increase right and I don't get the sense that that's being communicated.

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I mean we're really talking about cuts across all of the departments if we're holding it to 4.5 did.

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That sorry, I didn't get the I didn't hear that and what people were talking about. So I think I.

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Felt like an odd framing to me, so I guess I would. I would answer that by suggesting that most of the.

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Five: six percent increases that you're talking about were realized in the current fy 23 budget.

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And so, okay, and so the inflationary impact of cost of living in next cycle looks again.

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In many many cases uh there are police and fire units that are negotiating this year for next.

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We're negotiating this year for paris for next, but across the board. All of those that are in.

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Place are still, I think, by and large working with that same 10-year rolling cost of living.

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That cola with a floor of two some of them in our case, we voted some that now have a floor of.

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Three and still have a ceiling of five so moving forward to next year. I don't think we're seeing.

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A lot of six percent impacts we're seeing the traditional step increases that are built into.

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The contracts and the cost of living that again for the schools there's a lot of three and I.

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Think because it's the same negotiator, I think we were seeing that in many of the other units that.

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Were on the on at the table last cycle, so most of that hit most of that hit was in this year, so.

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um There are five positions and my slide didn't weather the transition from one to the next. I'm.

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Sorry that that doesn't line up it probably doesn't bother anybody else as much as it bothers me, but that doesn't line up um uh the five positions are out there. The social work position.

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The math tutors and middle school, the counselor at the middle school, the elementary ed outdoor.

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The elementary outdoor ad position and the math interventionist at the high school, these numbers.

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Look a little different than numbers, we've talked about in the past. Did you say this already? This is.

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Total comp yeah so and I think nathan and I have been having a lot of conversations about this- that.

C

I think that it sounds like the tradition in the past enforcement is going to talk about salary.

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When we're talking about people, but the reality is that you know it costs more than salary to employ.

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People, so I think you know going forward what we've been talking about is probably a fairer way.

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And a more appropriate way to think about people is total compensation which benefits cost. What are.

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All the associated costs with these positions, so these will look if you've been in previous cycles.

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It sounds like these will look like much larger numbers to you, but this in reality. This is what.

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It really costs to employ folks, if I stepped aside and did the unthinkable and talked about something.

E

Else, for just another moment, our health insurance, the way we budget for health we've talked about.

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This in the past is has been for some number of years because of the creation, a very insightful.

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Decision, I think it was made to create a stabilization fund for health insurance costs.

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Our our year-over-year budget change has been a 10-year rolling average of the.

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Rate increases of health, what I would argue has not been included has been.

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Adjustments for the addition of more lives, more covered bodies- more not just somebody got married.

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And went from a single to a two person or had a child and went to a family, but we added positions.

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And there was no artificial increase of the base amount, so the rate didn't change to keep up with.

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Headcount, it only changed to reflect a rolling average of rate increases which isn't enough.

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And so we are behind now, and so not only has this been past practice for both zach and I and other.

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Places but uh we're we're not budgeting enough to cover what we spend each year as we can make our.

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Contribution to the stabilization fund, so the stabilization fund, which has a healthy balance.

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um Can't can't blame that healthy balance on us because as we're drawing down now more than we're.

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Putting in so as we move forward, one of the things that we have to start to do is, when we add a new.

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Position to the general fund, we have to add money to the health line and dental lines to keep up.

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With those and and there may have been times when they did do that in the past, I can't speak to all.

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Of it, I just know in the recent years the reason is we only talk on salary and taxes and retirement.

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And and that's fallen behind so these numbers will look bigger, but we've got to start making sure.

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That we allow some additional budgetary impact for new positions. Is it only health and dental or what.

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About the retirement, it's really only health, that's in that stabilization fund and across.

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The board our budget does right now we're well budgeted for dental and we're well budgeted for.

E

The for the taxes and the new hampshire retirement, but I think there is long term, I don't you know.

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City is not looking for us to a job. You know the stabilization fund is fine, but I think it's.

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Structurally long term there's a conversation to be had about: how do we contribute? How do we.

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Contribute at a higher rate to the stabilization fund than we are right now, but but we're not.

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Hearing so far that that's an expectation this year well the but the reality is, if you, if.

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You add five bodies and they all take a family, medical and it's 20 plus thousand dollars. Each.

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That's a hundred grand that health insurance is going to spend that we didn't add into the kitty.

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And, and so that's that just explains that number you'll start to see numbers that look bigger, but.

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It's not none of these people are making 150 000. It's just important for people at home to know.

C

Yeah, that's important for everybody. Salary only know yeah. This is now. This is salary. The federal.

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Taxes, you know a fico medicare, um it's uh it's. The new hampshire retirement impact, it's health.

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And dental included, so, okay, so those are the positions. Hope has a question on this slide. Okay,.

D

Oh I'm just curious about the math intervention.

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uh Qualified math teachers that are teaching multiple classes at a much lower salary than.

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That so, what are we facing? That salary on that's a pretty hefty salary for an interventionist.

E

So the that sounds that sounded that whole total compensation is based on the person in.

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The position based on how that person landed on the salary schedule of the collective bargaining.

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Agreement with the teachers, uh both years of experience and advanced degrees, that the person.

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Carries okay, thank you. You bet what's your rate, what's the rate calculation for benefits.

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So you want to know how much um no like that's, what's classic like a family plan.

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That's a family. I've got the family two persons like whatever they're taking right now, then I'm.

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Literally gonna shifting the budget is what I've got in there. This isn't a baked. I didn't just do.

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A rough, the reason that the numbers change from what you might have seen before to this.

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Is because before I had used a two-person down the line for everybody and I'd used.

C

um Yeah so in this case, in this case, I've tweaked them to make sure that I'm really moving the right.

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Dollar, if I do this- and I think too, when we have these conversations, we're a little vague about.

C

What the breakdown- because these are singular positions right- we're singular identified so we're.

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A little vague on our side about what percent? What chunk in any one position is salary versus.

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Versus your health insurance, for obvious reasons, we don't want it's it's. You know.

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Private information as to whether or not you have a family plan or a you know: individual. It's in the.

G

Binder though it looks like I just randomly turned to the page, um that has the monthly rates for the.

G

uh Plans here too yeah, I think I was just thinking there was more like an overall um like an fna.

H

Rate or like a something that, but I'm just in a different context. Yeah no and I know exactly what.

E

You mean, and I and and I would use a number if I was, I would have a different different number peg.

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To support staff than I would to the professional staff, but I in this case I'm looking at and I can.

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Come I can dial back here and get you just plug numbers that we could do yeah? Well, I mean, I guess.

H

I was thinking more of it from a perspective and I totally understand the actual. But if you're even.

H

You know with grants and whatever that you're doing, if you have a recalculation and you wanna.

H

Put it up, one percent, you know overall, but it's this typically the same for all staff.

H

That are, do you know what I'm saying so like you're talking about the save saving into the.

H

Stabilization fund, um I feel, like usually that's done with an overall benefit rate that becomes.

H

Standardized, do you know what I'm saying future periods if we said oh and then next year, we'd like.

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To hire a teacher, I would have a plug, yes, that I would suggest this amount, we'll add for every new.

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Position to health, in this case the the we're down the road, and so I know I know better and.

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And the and the in this scenario I would not be generating enough dollars for the.

E

Health, because I would not have assumed correctly, I won't say anyway, I mean.

E

How am I doing keep moving? These are specific jobs. I mean you're you're, tailoring it to the.

A

Specific job: okay, because yeah you haven't changed the whole budget to reflect everything.

G

Each position, including benefits, correct, like if I look through this whole budget book, it's not going.

G

To look similar to this right, no, this is just for the sr purposes. This is this is because we're.

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Talking about potentially moving one or more of these out of esser and adding them to your budget.

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For next year, so I wanted to have a as close to a real number, as I could that you need to move.

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Over, if you make that decision, okay, thank you met. Take it away so, given that these positions exist.

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We've been working on scenarios and we've got four proposals for you and we'll summarized at the end.

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The first proposal is: is that written anywhere? Besides that there yeah I have list, I have slides.

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For you, so you don't have to write this all down. Yeah I'll set you up yep. So the first proposal is.

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Leave it right like it is in your binder: uh it was a good plan. It's 3.99 walmart pricing, so.

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It's four percent against the city expectation. That's going to be four and a half percent.

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It it is a reduction of a third of an fte which we don't have to celebrate necessarily, but it it.

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Provides for all of our continuing services it, uh it certainly would set us up in a very comfortable.

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Position moving forward to the deliberation of the city council on the full budget.

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So that's the current proposed budget that you have in the book proposal number two.

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Validates that two positions that we're currently funding in esser were in our general fund request.

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Last year, at this time or not this time, but in may, when we went to the city, council and.

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Ultimately, because of the concern for the total number of positions being added or requested for.

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Addition across the city, we shifted. These two positions out of the general fund request, said.

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We would fund the minister and told the city council that night we will bring them back.

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Next cycle I mean these are not these are not. um These are experiments. These are positions that.

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We need, and so we propose in proposal number two, that both those two positions be added to.

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The general fund budget for next year the costs represent just under 220 000 and by themselves.

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Are a budget increase of 0.38 as a result, you'd be looking at a four point. Three seven.

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Percent increase and your total change of ftes would be an increase of 1.66 one and two thirds.

E

So proposal one leave it like it like. We stand right now with a proposal proposal to move these.

E

Two proposal number three. Thank you. Matt proposal number three takes that and adds the social worker.

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Position, I can't I can't anything but echo all of the the celebration and and praise that has been.

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Heaped on this individual and this role and what it's been able to provide for students uh and so.

E

Oh that's proposal. Four, we jumped go back to three. Thank you very much. We add the social.

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Worker position that now jumps us to 375 000 of new money and a budget increase of.

E

0.65 social worker also got cut by the council, it's been in esser it. Never. It.

E

It get pushed we get pushed out of the local request. Okay, sorry, yeah.

G

Consideration the fact that our social workers now are able to um get rebates on medicaid and whatnot.

G

Like are there, is there compensation being like we're not in this these numbers? It doesn't seem.

G

To be taking into consideration that we could bill insurance on some of this, these social.

G

Work positions correct so I mean that could sort of go back into the fun. If, if not, I mean obviously.

E

We can't build it, we can't build uh medicaid if we are funding them for messer, because it double.

E

Dips on federal, but but certainly so right on, we can choose. Alternatively yeah I mean not not.

E

um I don't know that you can. I don't know enough to to on the office how much of that person I.

E

Can generate you know, revenues from, um but I do believe you're correct that social workers are.

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In the category, which is a dwindling category for us, because perez used to be in and now they're not.

E

And there's a lot of things that have challenged our ability to generate reimbursements through.

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Medicated schools, uh but that's that's, certainly part of a conversation that we could use. I think.

E

To contemplate future editions of additional, you know extra social workers, because this one.

E

That we've been really pleased with and esser has been funding it since it started. So are you saying.

G

We're not billing benefits, I mean not just seems you know, we should just ship another position and.

G

Put that one, it seems like a this is backwards that we're doing it like that, and I don't know.

G

Why we ever made that decision to do that in the first place, I guess well, I guess I'm thinking of.

C

It so this the the process of of tracking and collecting medicaid is tedious yeah, but we.

G

Still do it and we're not doing it because we're the funding right now, so not every, but not every.

E

Function, though, not every service provided by a social worker would be medicaid eligible right.

I

To be always tired of that transition would not be, and and right now I mean we- we do our best to.

E

Maximize medicaid reimbursements they've been in the past, they were as high as six seven hundred.

E

Thousand a year with all of the new rules, they've fallen down into the 200 300 000 range, but um I I.

E

Would I would lean into um jeanette so there are people, services, uh director and her admin who.

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Manage the medicaid to schools for us and they could give us some guidance on that, but I think.

E

um I think we certainly could look in that direction, but the way that position was envisioned.

E

I don't think that it was a layup that it was all the other piece to. It, too, is once you get into.

C

um All you want to use the term chasing, but is when you're trying to align instead of.

C

Just chasing when you're trying to align services to what's medicaid reimbursable, it changes with.

C

The person can do in a lot of ways, and I think some of the magic of what's been happening right.

C

Now is it's just been: what do we actually need? Not what will medicaid pay for yeah so.

G

But I think that's the other piece, but I hear you there's money there. Okay, all right thanks.

E

So as the social worker and the position, uh the impact now is.

E

0.65 overall, your budget's at 4.6 and 2.66 ftes and then the last proposal that we put for you.

E

Would be to shift all five of those positions we just talked about, which is uh collectively.

E

638 thousand dollars and brings your budget increase to 5.1 percent and it's 4.66 on the.

E

Fte increase the five netting netting out against the one-third reduction that we had.

E

So the next slide, just I'm sorry, can you say on this first, just one second, sorry go ahead. Liz ard.

G

You have paper copies, yeah right, yeah, no, no go ahead, you can go ahead and I just wanted.

G

To write those so much down today, so next page just stacks the proposals up against themselves.

E

And again that whatever the migration, it's your knack all the migration from the back to the pc.

E

Or whatever it is drives me, nuts, that those are not. Those are not right. Yeah yeah, I mean.

J

So I like I like having these options because one of the things I'm concerned with next year.

J

Is by bringing these all in, we actually get a 5.1 hit percent hit automatically right right. That's.

J

Essentially, what we're saying for, if you want to bring these positions in and not add anything.

J

So if we can spread it over two years, it seems like it's much more palatable way to get these.

J

Positions during this year, yeah like two or three positions in this year, um staying and and then.

J

You know, would it still have to be almost four four and a half percent, essentially yeah next.

J

Year, in order to roll in the other positions, um as opposed to a 5.1 percent head down or.

J

Next year, but to me it- and this was what I was asking for before- I think this is a lot more.

J

Reasonable than trying to kick the can down the road if we could split the difference somehow I do.

C

I mean, I think, when we're having conversations um about budgeting in general, we're always.

C

My mantra with everybody he's always long game long game. So it's not just right now. It's what's.

C

A ripple over the next three to five and what I don't want to have is as a result of choices. What.

C

I would prefer to avoid is of all choices, we're making now we roll into next year and we're making.

C

Some whole, you know some large-scale reductions in order to scramble to try to make it work.

C

um So I'm always cautious about that. I'd rather be conservative in terms carrie and then liz and then.

A

Lisa, I think I um I agree with the rationale of making cuts. I guess I like maybe disagree on the.

H

Method- and I think, because what and and I'm very surprised at this, like guidance from the city on.

H

Increased percent and things like that, but I guess I worry that if they aren't shifted, then the idea.

H

I guess I guess, if we're not asking to shift those positions, I see it as resulting in cuts later on.

H

Not don't ask for it now, because we can. You know, and I think that, um but I also worry about.

H

um How we've set with this? um I guess it's really important to me that when we talk about the 3.99.

H

As a spot that we're like, okay with it's minimizing the fact that inevitably, that.

H

Will mean next year there's going to be cuts, and so I feel like we just need to.

H

Think about how we're presenting it and talking about it because to shift four.

H

Positions in one year is going to be six percent or whatever it was five. You know another percent.

H

um And so I think the meeting and the the middles for sustainability is really important.

A

So, which proposal would you support? I, I would say, number two, but two uh b, which would be I I do like.

H

The idea of switching the social worker um and seeing if that works into billing and things like.

H

That because it can be reimbursable, as opposed to one of the other positions so um proposal, five.

H

E

Okay, go to liz just two things and I may have missed it. I apologize that I haven't been in the.

G

Past meeting as I um I did have covet and then I have a sinus infection right now, so it's just.

G

And I was on vacation, so I apologize there, but how much money do we have left for esser? I mean.

G

We have these numbers down at the bottom. Are we on deadlines? Are we gonna like? Do we need to get.

G

Stuff in, like um I don't know if we've already talked about that, so I apologize. If I missed it,.

G

But, um or are these the maxed out numbers at the bottom or what am I looking at here? What.

E

You're looking at is a listing that shows what was spent in 22 yeah, we're working on spending.

E

In 23, what we expect we'll spending 24 and then some infrastructure projects at the bottom and.

E

And none of that is obviously the stuff that we did in 22, that's locked and loaded. That is what.

E

It is which and and the chunk the greatest chunk of what we're doing in 23 is kind of committed.

E

Because we're working at we, we employ these people, we're doing it. Those things that will be charged.

E

Into sr2 likely, and that's my suggestion right now, then, which we could fund out of sr2, which.

E

Has a deadline of september of this year, 23 are, in the pink column those things that need to go.

E

Or could be charged into sr3 are either in green or blue, depending on whether they will satisfy.

E

Our obligation to set aside 20 for learning loss, or they will not necessarily meet that.

E

That expectation and will be just in that fund, so the three numbers across the bottom add up to the.

E

Number by your left hand, which is 3.9, which you can compare to the number up on line three of.

E

The document, which is the total amount of federal funding that we're trying to spend okay right now,.

E

This is a road map for how we're going to spend the total. uh The pink column has a september 23.

E

Deadline and the green and blue collectively have a september 24 deadline, okay, and so this number on.

G

The line three up top here, this 3 million 990.- that's that's the combo of sr2 and sr3 that we.

G

Have available to us this 20 is that part of that number? It's 20 of line, two okay, so this 20 isn't.

G

An addition to line three it's included in line it has to be compared against the green column, down.

E

Below okay. So, but I mean in my experience last year doing budget for the first time.

G

um We went to the the um the city council and city council said: okay, that's great, but we're going.

G

To ask everybody after they give us our budget to take out. You know cut. You know a couple positions.

G

Or cut back this amount and um and you and steve, and you made some decisions to you know or you.

G

Know propose, and- and this is what we're going to cut back so my concern is that we settle right.

G

Here we're gonna have the same mask this year when we walk in, even though they're so generous.

G

Last year it's going to be the same, similar thing, and so I think right now. I think we need to go.

G

All in and when they ask us to dial back, we can dial back to step two or step three, but right.

G

Now, I'm all in I'm, I'm not real number. Four. Yes, yes, my concern with four and I appreciate.

C

Look we'll take. You want to give us more resources to do stuff and we'll take it.

C

um My concern with four: is we don't know when did they finalize the city budget last year.

C

June 3rd, sixth, so we're already through a hiring season, we're already we've already made a bunch.

C

Of operational decisions we're rolling so for it's not, I think nathan and I were talking about.

C

This today, the decision to kind of the go for it decision there's inherent risk in it and the risk.

C

And you can look at it as you can look at on one level be like this is risk-free. We ask for x y.

C

And z, they don't give it to us yeah, whatever we're just moving on the reality. Is it's not risk-free.

C

Because there are operational impacts that happen, because we have rolled forward assuming.

C

That what you're going to give us is going to go through and we're starting to make decisions.

C

As we're rolling because the july 1 we're into that new year, we're already making decisions, we're.

C

Booking vendors, we're doing all kinds of different things: we're making choices about who we're hiring.

C

um And then, if that changes and the city pulls back, says well we're going to only allow you.

C

We're going to cut 150 200 000 out of what it is that you asked from us, we're in scrabble mode, a.

C

Little bit and it depends on what choices we've already made so so I just wanted to say it's not.

C

Not a neutral risk, there are risks involved in the city, making decisions very late into the game for.

C

Us that we would have to respond to, where is the community campus funds falling in all of.

G

This wasn't that supposed to be part of esser or some part of that. Oh no! So we've all right so over.

E

The last year we have uh all right liz, that's a question that we've addressed in a previous.

I

Okay, are you gonna have to watch the video because we've shifted they've purchased it we've shifted.

E

1.5 million of window projects- yes, that we think are most compliant with the the structure of esser.

E

Yeah we'll do the little hover and undero window out of the esser funds and we'll use.

E

The 1.5 million that the project had the capital improvement plan had for those and we'll invest.

E

That in the list of renovation over community campus, and then we have a two million dollar.

E

Placeholder in the cip request this year, while we continue to work with the architect engineers and.

E

We're working on finding a construction management partner to help us put together an estimate about.

E

Exactly how much is about 12 000 square feet there and the industry has been telling us 300 a square.

E

Foot a square foot which would put our estimated something like 3.6 million. There are those among.

E

Us who just don't believe that this existing building with existing mechanicals and such is.

E

Going to cost 300 a square foot so we're hoping that that number will fall and we'll be able to.

E

Go back to the city and and ask for them to give us that repurposed 1.5 million that was going to.

E

Be for windows that we'll now use plus something less than the 2 million to cobble together and.

E

Make this project happen at uh community campus to fit that out? Okay, thank you. Lisa.

F

I guess I would say just broadly, I really agree with brian and carrie in terms of just trying to.

F

Protect some of the positions that the council did promise us, we would have back. I mean I don't.

F

Look at those positions that they asked us to remove and they promised to return as adding.

F

Ftes, I look at that as them making good on a commitment that they made to us, um and I would.

F

Say broadly that when we talked about ezra from the beginning with our administrators, with our.

F

Community members, people have consistently said we're concerned about learning laws and we're.

F

Concerned about mental health, so I really just feel like if our main job here is to honor that.

F

You know, and certainly when our admins have come in and they've talked about, you know we're seeing.

F

Issues with behavior we're seeing in the scores and we're seeing in which kids need intervention.

F

That there's a real need. These aren't sort of like made up high in the sky. Oh, it would be really fun.

F

To have a spare, you know, math teacher, I mean this is a really cute need, so I just want to keep that.

F

In the conversation I mean, I don't I hear what you're saying zach about. If we go to you know.

F

All the way to four you know is that going to create operational challenges if they push back.

F

I almost wonder if we think about you know is outdoor add the same thing as a math tutor.

F

And I'm not trying to make a value judgment about which is more important, but we have somebody there.

F

Who's going to be on leave and that's a little bit in flux next year anyway, I understand it so.

F

I'm just curious about if we really go to the map for the math support and the social worker and the.

F

Counselors because I think that's hypothetically, I would laugh but yeah I would agree. uh Do you.

K

Want to speak no, I would just say that, because the outdoor education, I say, let it go and put.

A

If you want to put, if you use number well I mean, are we making the numbers? I mean we have several.

F

More budget workshops are we actually doing this. We could decide tonight about how we're.

J

Going to do this it'll be nice to know where your head's at yeah. I would love to say four.

F

But I feel like I would like to at a minimum try to draw a line around three. I mean I get.

F

It if that's too far for you zach operationally, but I think there's a lot. I totally understand.

C

The rationale I mean those positions are just really badly needed. Yeah nope, I don't disagree.

C

um um I can totally see the rationale around three. I think there's.

C

um And I think we're pretty darn close to any to what the council put out too. So I think we look. We.

C

Look pretty, I think we look pretty responsible, we can we push back into things that we were talking.

C

About before the things that you felt like you were previously promised, I think it's fair.

C

To be back and say here we are back, uh we said we're gonna, be back we're back with those things.

C

um And- um and I I'll you know I'll acknowledge- I mean I was part of the push around.

C

Some of the things we want to continue to experiment with in the school kid experiment in esper, but I really feel like the results of what we've seen over.

C

um In connection with the social worker position in terms of adding capacity around the kind of the.

C

Mental health needs and the connective tissue to other organizations and stuff. I feel like there's.

C

No, we don't need any additional more time to evaluate that. It's, like that's a lock. I feel.

C

Like we should just do that amazing, yeah and so and if anything is going to be, I mean there will.

C

Be a conversation as we move forward in the future about how do we expand that type of capacity in.

C

Other places in the district, so so for me I you know I'm open to a lot of different things, but I.

C

Do feel like three. I can totally see the rationale behind the positions that are involved in three.

A

Okay margo, um I was going to say something very similar because I look at three as.

B

It's the two. We said we were going to come back for and philosophically it's the school.

B

Department saying we are fully committed to the value, not that none of these apply value.

B

But for the when you, when you ask us to think about the long game, the long game is this is.

B

A model that's working, let's commit to it. um I the reason why actually, I'm not a fan of four.

B

And I can't believe I'm the one saying this out loud given everybody knows what I stand for is.

B

um I have a very hard time rolling a position in a program that we have all agreed as a board.

B

Is not planned out well yet, which is our outdoor ed program, and so until we see a plan, that's going.

B

To address equity and opportunity, I am fine with leaving that in esser, because I don't.

B

Think we're ready as a board to commit to that on the long term. I wish we were.

B

But how it is right now is not accomplishing those core values that we as a board cherish.

B

So I would favor three over four and it allows I mean, and it's not going away. It would just be an.

C

Esser, it allows us to breathe, exactly and and to find and see if it can find its legs. Yeah.

B

It sort of gives it a nice time frame of it has to find the legs by a certain length of time or.

B

We'll interact this time next year, right that so I like that from a.

B

Philosophical, it's it speaks to our values and and our needs. So I'm at I'm at three.

D

Brian just an observation too. On top of this I mean I so I never didn't ever put a fine.

J

Number on it, but I was also right at free. I think that's the right. Those are the right positions.

J

um I also, I think it you know basically opens up room for again additional acute needs if.

J

We're going to take some of these out of besser. That's right! Do we need additional.

J

Math interventionists and another school or something because I think and that's a legit.

J

One-Year ask right with learning, loss and or mental health needs or whatever. I think.

J

um Certainly, that's a good use of esser for acute needs that we know we hope are long term on some.

J

Of these things, but these ones you know, I just think we should commit to these. Let's not miss.

J

Hope, nancy yeah, so before we can we go. Can I jump in the conversation before we go around again? Yes,.

D

Thank you. I just want to echo a couple of things that I'm hearing I I've said before and I'll say.

D

Again, I'm concerned with us coming now days obligated 4.0 4.1 with you know, special ed.

D

Needs that we have to need, and then retirement and medical needs that we also have to meet so.

D

um I think cms positions desperately needed. I mean having kids gone through, that school.

D

In recent years in the pandemic, I can speak directly to the need for the math support.

D

And counseling and social work and those needs just got greater after the pandemic.

D

um And I think that pms has done a great job in showing direct student impact and.

D

Having those positions they piloted the math program for a year before they brought it to us.

D

um In in other ways, and so I think, we've seen a direct correlation impact of having that math.

D

Intervention at pms, as well as now at phs, so um for me looking at proposal three, I have concerns.

D

That there's not a phs math position of that. So I would support other kingdom proposal three or.

D

I would put support okay, so for with the addendum of pulling the elementary outdoor and position.

D

And the reason I say that is because I do echo marco in that I think, allowing that outdoor edge.

D

One more year to kind of percolate can be very beneficial to our district. I think from a value.

D

Standpoint, sometimes with budgets, we do have to make value judgments and when I look at a core.

D

Class like math, and how we standardize test our kids around math and around english and how we are.

D

Ourselves reviewed for funding around math and english scores. I think those are crucial.

D

Points within our district that our students need that support, and we truly can make the case for.

D

Support around counselors and social workers that have been seen, so I would like to see.

D

Creation put on the table with the two masks supports the social worker and and the counselor.

D

But um would give on the elementary ed. I think that can wait another year to stay in after and.

D

Being moved out another year, if you have a question around the english teacher that 83.

D

To 100 percent number eight on the green sheet is that something that needs to truly be considered.

D

For this year, as well as moving to 100 percent how's, that impacting the high school students.

C

Hope just to confirm what we thought was already the case, based on our previous conversations and.

C

um And um high school administration confirmed, they felt that we could.

C

Comfortably cover ela needs and requests from students in the upcoming year.

C

um And without without the uh extension of this.

D

um Comments, I think lisa and brian made the comment around. You know we we did make a.

D

Point of letting them know that we were bringing those positions back, so I agree that we're already.

D

Making concessions in other areas of our budget, I think we just need to ask for what we crucially.

D

Need and I appreciate their guidelines, but I'm in nancy's corner. That is the guideline and.

D

um You know I just think going forward. Can council is going to need to expect.

D

That our budget's going to sit closer to four five pretty easily around.

D

Growing costs and special ed and retirement and medical costs being packed on about the day.

A

So hope can I just so you'd like proposal three but added to proposal. Three would be the phs.

A

Math interventionalist position correct, so proposal number five right all right.

E

Nathan, can you tell us how oh I I certainly can so yeah go ahead, help trying to answer.

D

An answer's questions: yes, nancy, that either that or is it supposed to okay, so whatever way.

E

Same thing following it so hope hope check your. I hope check your email both of these.

E

Documents are with you now. um I just um wanted to say that I I have that slide before cooking.

D

It probably sets the numbers a little closer to the proposal for somewhere in between three.

D

And six: okay: great: can you figure that out yeah, so the proposal that we're talking about which.

E

Which would shift four positions over from messer, but not the outdoor ed leave that in esther for.

E

Another year would be uh 4.88 increase. Okay, that's good! The next, a net increase of your ftes of 3.66.

B

Which really the two of those we said, we'd come back for cursive 1.66 right right and do we have.

A

To have the total million dollar number? No, because I've still got to tweak you a little bit: okay, okay,.

A

So we um can, you repeat that number again, please, we've got 4.88 percent.

A

Okay and we'll, let's label that proposal 3b and you got hope the 3.66 total fte change with the.

C

In parentheses, 1.66, if we, if we're saying the council, owes us two from last year, anyways.

A

All that proposal 3b or the hope proposal.

A

Yeah, okay, yeah.

D

Wants to cut his mouth in the cut square position. Follow me back to the parents to speak up about.

A

Hip, thank you hope. Thank you. Thank you. I'm really glad that hope just uh spoke before me because I.

L

Was um most of what I wanted to say has already been said, so I'm not going to repeat it, but.

L

um I agree with the notion um that that we need to agree with margo what margo said about the notion.

L

That we need to develop the outdoor ed program a little bit more. I'm really nervous about agreeing.

L

To that, because I feel like that position was one of the sort of innovations that kovid forced.

L

On us- and I love that because I think it happened- sort of naturally, because we you know we had been.

L

Talking about that kind of thing for a long time and then um and then we were moved into it more.

L

Quickly than I think we expect it to be, but uh it worries me, it worries me not to include it in our.

L

Budget because I think it it could get lost, so I just want to note that and hope that we can really.

L

Put some time and energy into building a plan around that, so that we don't just lose sight of.

L

It quickly and lose some of the momentum that we have have had I've seen an important thing for me.

C

To I think that just add in terms of that thought process is I don't, I don't see, I think, coming.

C

Having a full year under my year and a half under my belt, as we move into the second wave of this.

C

um I think we'll have a fuller evaluation of all the different positions that are in the.

C

District and there was a lot of positions, so I don't think as we roll into the next budget.

C

Season, it's exclusively a hey. Everything we've already done before is a lock box, and that's.

C

Staying right where it is, and now we're just there's this appendage, which is outdoor edge.

C

And that's the only thing we really need to talk about. I think there will be more stuff.

C

In play, also as as we go into next year too, if we have pending retirements and those types of.

C

Things we might be re-examining some positions. As we know, people are going to be exiting so.

C

um So I hear what you're saying and I think the dynamic won't be. It won't be.

C

Exactly what I said: here's everything we're already doing and outdoor ed, I think, it'll be.

C

More fluid than that, when we come into next year's conversation, good, exciting.

L

um And the reason I mentioned going after hope is because I'm in full agreement with proposal 3b.

L

um I think that's probably the way to go. I think I wanted to point out that we have to remember that.

L

Even though the city council has told us what their hope and expectation is that we are here to.

L

Advocate for the schools and for what we believe is best and necessary for our students that are.

L

And our staff, so um that's what I think we can do with with 3b. Okay um ian, uh I was wondering.

K

Do we have any any information about uh upcoming retirements? We often do at this time of year.

C

I'll need, I think, there's been some. I don't have immediate ones that would.

C

Immediately put certain positions on the on the for up for consideration. I'll say that.

C

um But I'm happy to have a come back to you with a fuller conversation.

I

Thank you, liz um just to clarify um so similar to the social work position receiving many.

G

um Medicaid reimbursement and not being able to do that under esser. If the math tutor position.

G

And the math interventionist position we're not under esser. Did they get some sort of.

G

um How do I say this, so I assume those positions are working with kids that might have 504s and.

G

Ieps is there federal reimbursement, no they're, not working with any children, they're not exclusively.

C

For those purposes, so it might be that you're, a student it just so happens to have an iep or 504.

C

um But the but the design of these positions are not to um I'm not to specifically specifically.

C

Fulfill iep um goals: okay, so do we, but is there like some sort of provision, an esser where we lose.

G

um Special ed funding, if the if the position or anything is going through esser like I guess I.

G

Don't know this isn't a special ed position right. No, I understand that, but I guess, if they're, if.

G

A teacher or if somebody is providing iep or 504 services like how do we get reimbursed for.

G

Special ed is that just a general reimbursement, a percentage for special education or based on.

G

A child needing residential or how does that we get federal reimbursement first special ed right.

G

So or state reimbursement or some well, there are two programs that I think I could talk about with.

E

Regard to special ed one is, we do have a federal idea um grant. They still call it idea, but it's.

E

The federal idea grant, which is a special ed services, grant we have six teaching positions.

E

That are funded through idea have had for years. I will tell you that, as our teacher salaries grow.

E

And as the idea grant shrinks, we've been shifting and putting the some of the cheaper some of the.

E

Less experienced teachers who are lower on the scale we push them into the ida, grant and move the.

E

More expensive teacher into the district because eventually and we're close to that program, we'll.

E

Have to go back to five positions, but idea funds that, with some small dollars, some small dollars.

E

Provided out of that grant to cover the individual who uh she's outside of district, we call her the.

E

uh Like another district coordinator, I mean she does it's a she's contracted and she's uh she's.

E

Not a full-time employee, but so with some funds for that the second is our we used to call it.

E

Catastrophic our catastrophic cases which don't have to be but are generally are out of district.

E

Placements whose costs rise beyond certain levels, there is a cost-sharing arrangement where the.

E

State refunds to us or reimburses us in the next year in the subsequent period, so for costs that.

E

We have this year for the most expensive uh and the formula I used to the numbers have tweaked.

E

Just a bit, but, generally speaking, we have to pay the first. We have to plan on covering the first.

E

50 totally about 80 000 or almost a hundred thousand now out of pocket. We.

E

Have to pay everything, but we are obligated and responsible for a certain amount and then.

E

The qualified expenditures having been reviewed by the state they will reimburse us next year for.

E

Some of those costs this year, so nothing that we would be throwing in the ezra would end up doing.

G

Similar to the medicaid or we can't double bill or anything like that, I guess I'm just. I guess.

G

The double you know the or the the I guess I think that's an argument that we need to make is that.

G

You know moving the social work worker position into 3.5. If that's what we decide on doing and.

G

Creating this fte and an uptick in percentage may there is a slight reimbursement there. So I.

G

Mean uh you know I don't know so I guess I was curious how some of these other interventions.

G

Positions I mean obviously esser was created to create these interventions, but if, if we could.

G

Get any sort of special education funding. I don't want to double double book. You know my experience.

A

With the school department is, it's always been very on top of how you build medicaid and met.

A

And some kids are eligible for medicare. My son was eligible for medicare when he was in high.

A

School yeah, medicaid and medicare, so our school department has always been on top of it. Nathan.

C

Said we have to go, we used to get 700 000 a year now it's dead because they keep cutting.

A

Back it's two hundred thousand dollars a year, so I think we just have to have some faith and if you.

A

Want to have a separate conversation with nathan about it, fine, but this isn't the time to talk. No.

G

I just wanted to make sure the math intervention and the math tutor positions, weren't situations.

G

Where we could be getting some other federal reimbursements that we're getting blocked by.

A

Using it, we did not get that reimbursement, okay, kerry and then hope has another question too.

H

um I was just curious and sort of more in the pitching 3b or wherever we land.

H

Within city council- um and I was here for some of the esther conversations but is.

H

Did we decide that the refitting cannot be esser absolutely? No? We we didn't decide that.

E

It absolutely couldn't uh what we did face was that, over the course of the city's deliberations.

E

And and legal exploration about using arpa, because that's for three years, the arpa grant of the arpa.

E

Act, they were looking at using some of their arbor funds and they wanted two million. They invited.

E

Us to contribute 2 million of our opera funds um to that purpose. One of the concerns was the long.

E

Lasting uh tentacles of federal dollars, if we were to at some point in the future, sell that building.

E

Off or or dedicated to other social service purposes, and it not be, if not be serving the.

E

Intent that the federal grants had provided for so they start, we all, I think, collectively, looking for.

E

Guidance from the federal government and the state government as a go between for us at least we all.

E

Get very uncomfortable that that the requirements might make that a bad idea. So it's not that we.

E

Couldn't- and we certainly could still think if we wanted to about finding some elements of it to.

E

Come out of this, but that was when the windows and air. Certainly it was a layup, and so we said, let's.

E

Switch those around and use the local dollars to do the fit out instead. So would it be fair to say.

H

um You know city council, we are proposing a 4.88 increase, but by the way we're gonna come.

H

To you with another million dollar ask, and we think that that this increase will offset 400.

H

000., like our ask, is going to be less for this refitting. We will figure out a way.

G

Common is related, I don't yeah again, that's part. That's picked in the cip, though yeah, and so it's.

E

Funny being in portsmouth, because you know I we we represent you so last night we were at the meeting.

E

It was interesting because you know there's a lot of things going on city council last night.

E

But most importantly, there was a public hearing on the cip, and so we represent got to be there.

E

Answer questions and we're asking for millions, I mean it's you're, you've renovated your elementary.

E

Schools we've put air conditioning into franklin by the way, there's some paving going on. There's.

E

Some roofing there's all of these upgrades and and all of this stuff uh sits there and.

E

We go and we talk, but it even when we, even when we're approved the money flows like the city. I.

E

Go downstairs with my little smiley face and say this is okay to pay and I hand it to somebody who.

E

Doesn't work for me upstairs it's! The dollars are managed through the city side, and so it's.

E

um And so you think about that, like in the normal course eventually go in and say.

E

What what I'm going to give you in one hand, I can let you have a little of you know I can do and.

E

Yet sometimes the conversation very much with smiles is it's. It's all somebody else's money.

E

So it's hard to wheel a deal like that because of the way that the bucket the buckets are are.

E

Broken out, but I yeah I I certainly think I mean I don't want to take at the end of your.

E

Time away, it's your conversation, but I'm hearing such good arguments for the positions and we have.

E

These same arguments, but we were endeavoring to try to throw up options that would help you try.

E

To fight, I said to him at one point when zach- and I were talking about it earlier.

E

Should we just go in and say where do you want to be four four and a quarter four and a half four.

E

Points like before, we even talk about what we're shopping for and what we're choosing should we.

E

Start there, but you already know the conversation that you're having and what's on the table so.

E

We just put together some ideas. I'm glad you did. Your argument is really good gary. Do you feel your.

A

Question was answered, yes, I do have one okay, small ad, and I don't know if this has been clear. I know.

H

That with the outdoor ed piece, one of the things I recall talking about in that conversation was.

H

That this was sort of our start and we wanted to see more positions added across the board across.

H

All levels, big commitment- and so I think just as and it may come out in strategic planning, it.

H

May come out in your work. It may, but it it's. It's still an ongoing question because in if you talked.

H

To me last year I would say we would be adding to outdoor ad positions to our budget this year.

H

Right but we're not feeling like that's the point where so just yep takes the right person. I hope.

A

Hope had a question. I have two questions for that um being a gym going back to the green tea, the.

D

Position number 15 fitness position to address equity; that's not an effort. So how will we be.

D

Able to what are the equity issues that need to be addressed, and how will we be able to address rates.

D

So we got we so just to kind of put everything in context. The the asks that the ask list is.

C

Composed of um things that are coming from principles and then things that are coming.

C

From people who are department heads, so we gave you everything in that range.

C

um So the you had two different requests from the nursing department head. One was a.

C

um A full additional nurse who I think you would be a floater at that point, a point four. They were.

C

Both point four, I'm sorry just to clarify sorry, thank you. um So one would be the enhancement of.

C

The of the position that currently is a is a 0.6 at the high school which would make the person a.

C

Full-Time position at the high school and the other was a 0.4 that was a floater that would.

C

Be be like the first line. Kind of substitute person um could do some additional. I think the.

C

Way in which the it was being discussed, although I think there was a lot, we needed to flush out.

C

On it was this idea of kind of helping people make appointments and connect to providers. It.

C

Almost as nathan and I were talking about tonight- I mean it's almost like a part-time medical, social.

C

Worker kind of role-ish, but it's not, I think it was not it's not totally fleshed out yet.

C

um And so there was some in terms of the in terms of back to the for the 0.4. That would be.

C

Extension, uh I'm sorry the point four also there was some discussion of whether or not that would.

C

Provide some um some services at lister, because we currently do not have have a full-time nurse.

C

At lister and we did spend some time uh tonight- we went back to just kind of reconfirm with.

C

um uh Steve at lister about whether you know whether this was an urgent need at the moment and.

C

The and what we got back was no they're they're managing most of what they do is in connection to.

C

Distribution of medication- and they have a system uh for doing that, similar to other things that.

C

Are in here, uh you know uh when asked it's like well, if you'll give it to me I'll, take it, but not.

C

Something that was um uh not something that per presented a serious representation of inequity.

C

For students at lister per se, like students, are getting what they need at the moment, so I don't.

C

Know I'm rambling a little bit hope, but you, I think you get the the kind of I think these.

C

Are ideas that yeah they're nice, I think they're they're, good ideas. They could use some additional.

C

Vetting uh in fleshing out, and maybe things to consider down the line, but what I got from people.

C

In both both the buildings, where these things were was that these were not immediate needs.

D

Okay, I I mean I can certainly see that the nurses could probably get very creative in using that.

D

Position the extra hours, a thousand different ways, jumping clicks on their plate snow days, but.

D

So if you could just bear with me for a moment, I'm going to ask that a little ahead and I know that's.

D

Something that is not done often in this district. We we usually live in our budget in the moment and.

D

um What I have found in going through budgets in fort smith and doing that we kicked the, can.

D

And we shoot ourselves in the foot sometimes because we're not really thinking always about.

D

Positions are still in discussion that are really important to us, like the outdoor ad.

D

Like building the world language program, is that going to be able to continue being built out by.

D

Sideline funding? Are we going to have to acquire that at some point um I know at the high school.

D

There's much talk with our new principal around to bring about more focused on program just as.

D

Much as we do, academics, even though academics may be core many students do take the path of.

D

College and in the arts, and what I have found is that sometimes when we only focus on today,.

D

You focus, I believe, we've been very responsible at the board, at least since I've been a part of.

D

This board, but I can say even as a parent beforehand, our school board has always been.

D

Very responsible to really shade down to the needs, and unfortunately, sometimes that doesn't allow us.

D

To ever, go beyond what are just the basic needs of triage for the next year to build out bigger.

D

And better programs for our district. So I guess my question to you is looking at the outdoor ad and.

D

And knowing that world language has been a conversation for the last three years and and.

D

Nursing needs some of these other positions that are left on the paper for around art programs and.

D

These, what do you see at meeting beyond and beyond this year and the reason I asked that is because.

D

I we're at the same position every year where we say: okay, we're going to ask this is what we only.

D

Need- and I also think it's really important to point out when we go to city council and I would.

D

Argue for what we need and they ask us to cut back, and that is pointed out. We really are cutting back.

D

We're coming back by not bringing you four other positions that we really should argue.

D

For on this on these papers and not building out anything else, bigger in some of our programs.

D

Where, where we wanted to for many years, so I just would like to understand your.

D

Vision because otherwise, I feel like we're going to be right back in the position of.

D

um Actions were the basics every single year and never being able to add that maybe two or.

D

Three or even one extra position that just gives us that creative ability sure so I think so I I.

C

Got nancy just mentioned, as you were, wrapping up hope she said, you know the the it seems like.

C

The strategic planning process will help refine some of that a little bit I mean I've got some.

C

Ideas but I'll but I'll I mean I'll, tell you that you know. I think that there are a couple.

C

Right now, you've got outdoor ad, which I think we're talking about, allowing to continue to.

C

um For at least another year to see kind of how that pans out, I think world the conversations I.

C

um When I introduced it the first night, I talked about the fact that, um and I've talked to the.

C

Folks associated with italian that when it comes to elementary world language that are that this.

C

Proposal would keep things the same way as as it is, which means we would have to um to have a the.

C

Full excuse me full-time program at the elementary for the upcoming year. We would once again be.

C

um Trying to see what was possible in relation to the italian consulate or other sources, if we were.

C

Going to and then we would go another year because I think in both cases, both without their education.

C

And italian, there are conversate internally, there are there's still conversations to be had about.

C

How are these things going to be structured in the core parts of what we're trying to do.

C

Overall- and are we willing to give up? Excuse me other things not in terms of money but in terms.

C

Of time in in within the school day to have these things be occurring and what's going to be cut as.

C

A result again not around the money but around like time with kids. What's going to be cut in.

C

Order to allow them to allow them to progress in a in a more robust way. So, though, I think the.

C

Jury is still out on those two questions. I think the proposed this year's proposal allows those.

C

Things to continue, while those that analysis continues and puts us in a position where.

C

um We'll be we're going to be in a much stronger position in terms of our own internal analysis,.

C

Of what is working and what is not in terms of value coming into next year, so I think you're.

C

Going to have a so you're going to have a so so and I'm not trying to dodge the question. But I.

C

Think there's a deeper foreign okay. I think there needs to be a deeper dive on what we.

C

Already do and to what extent those things are worthy of not doing other things, so, in addition,.

C

To asking asking the council for more more funds, the repurposing of the funds that we have um is.

C

Something that we're going to have to we're gonna have to look at and be really thoughtful about.

A

Okay, liz, so I guess with that being said and turning to this green sheet, I mean, I think.

G

I guess it's a little concerning to me that we're they were obviously talking about esther today.

G

But and the proposals that we've given, um but so in relation so we're talking about the 3.5, it's.

G

Going to bring us up to you know uh four 4.88 with 3.66 fte, but we're totally disregarding.

G

This green page and the fact that that really we're look like ideally what the schools and.

G

Our teachers are asking us for is 11.52 ftes and, with an increase of uh you, know one so so we're so.

G

So we're not really being given the option of okay, keep these positions in esser and instead.

G

We'll do an increase in the budget to allow for positions six through 16 that were requested right.

C

So in the end you have the option to do whatever you want. Our advice, is you don't yeah? So I guess.

C

That's my concern is that we're not like we're not presenting we're saying oh 3.5 3.5, we'll pull back.

G

The out to red, but not only are pulling back the outer head, but we're pulling back. You know.

G

11 requests that our schools are asking for, including um a case manner, paraprofessional.

G

um uh Increase the art position that they've been asking for at gondero here, um the you.

A

Know what they all is yeah no, but in the nursing positions we have to make list and project calls.

D

But then that's just the reality. No, I understand that uh hope it is. I think I was the one that was.

G

Called on here, um so I guess what I'm saying is as far as having this 40 nursing position um that you.

G

Know hope that you just talked about here. I guess I'm a little bit concerned that what you can make.

A

A suggestion to add any of those positions you want. Okay, so just keep that in mind and we've.

A

Been talking about that through all these budget meetings that we've been having that you haven't.

A

Been able to attend- and I know that I understand that- but can any of these go back into essers? I.

G

Think that's the conversation, no, I know, but is there any way to be able to pull any of these.

B

They don't qualify under which the conditions for esser would be in the administration.

G

Never talking outdoor an art.

G

Bin would fall under something for us or two so yeah I mean I think we can talk about a.

E

Lot of things, but we can talk about a lot of scenarios if you like, but one of the things that we've talked about with this green sheet and and very respectfully. I say I know that the board.

E

Is interested in what didn't make the hit list, but when we presented this to the administrative team.

E

The I can only I have to call it out the specific. The best example is the daryl principal said. I.

E

Don't need an extra 20 of art. I need this this and this I don't need that, but that is what the.

E

Art department had who works at the middle school thought would be most important for the district.

C

And I think made it made in good faith, but we we didn't even because of the process that we went.

E

Through these things got listed because we didn't want them to be lost in the conversation and.

E

Because, specifically in the last cycle, the board had said, we really would be curious to know where.

E

Did you come from like what? Because, without that insight, you have a you, have no real way to judge.

E

What did make the list and why? It was a priority against the other and I'll just say, and I want.

C

To I know brian wants to jump in. I would just say too that this is a particular snapshot of.

C

A particular moment, so this doesn't in terms of department, heads and principals and people along.

C

The chain had a whole bunch of other things. People asked for a whole bunch of stuff and.

C

um And so where we didn't even get what those things are that were the decisions that that.

C

The people we paid to supervise beneath us made decisions about what to bring to us we're just.

C

Saying these are the things, and this is a combination of again principles, uh directors,.

C

um So so lister and jeanette, but also department, heads and a whole bunch of you know: art department.

C

Pe department, like whatever that's this, also is at that tier. So in many cases you had things that.

C

Maybe a department head who may operate k-12, they might operate 612. We have a whole bunch.

C

Of different structures, those people said I'm interested in doing certain things. In many cases.

C

Principals are like that's great and just what nathan said. That's great, that this particular.

C

Department would like to have this thing, but I can think of five more things I want before that and.

C

I'm not asking for them as a building principal right yeah. We left them all in the parking lot.

E

Because we didn't want to lose sight of it, but you would ask for something and we tried to give it.

C

I'm sorry, okay, we're gonna go to margo and brian, and then I think maybe that's exactly what I was.

J

Going to say sum this up, just just you know this was our ask just for transparency right, so it was.

J

More you know, I know this is what you're proposing, but you know what else, because part of it was just.

J

Building trust with zach and understanding. Oh did he he cut. You know eight um math interventionists.

J

Or you know, what I mean we just wanted to eat smacks yeah, but I guess that was the whole point.

J

Of it, it was just it was an ass. It was an ask from the board to you know just for transparency, more.

J

Than than anything thinking process, okay, marco, I would just say to to lean back on what pippi the.

B

Way, I've always looked at the budget is, at the end of the day. Our responsibility is advocating for.

B

What do we see as the best need for our students and what is the data support? I mean that's what.

B

I lean heavily. We've we've had a mass decrease in scores for years. The data supports that what we've.

B

Put in is working like when you go to council to ask for something there's so much numbers behind.

B

The ask and to me that's fiscally responsible. Some of these tasks on here are yeah in an ideal world.

B

Who wouldn't want all these other things, but at this current time this board needs to say.

B

What essentially, our most focused needs going forward and then we can build off of that. But.

B

This is what we're philosophically committing to, and then we, we think about the long term.

B

And where does that feed in so to me you know that's the way. I think we should look at it.

A

Okay, uh zach. I want to circle way back to anne's question about retirement, so I was just going back.

C

Through some of my notes so so um we have a couple of paraprofessional retirements that we know about.

C

And then uh at least to uh retirements, both in positions that we'll hang on to.

C

um One is the: um if you remember, we did uh nancy moore, um we had accepted her resignation.

C

Retirement notice, and- um and so we will, we need to continue to have adaptive pe as a as a thing.

C

And really, I think we had talked to the board. I think somebody said: can we find it and if we.

C

Don't find it in a single person, we might have to restructure the position in a way but to make sure.

C

We have the same capacity and then we also have um a special ed uh uh case manager coordinator at the.

C

High school, which is the position of the core, so we might tweak on the edges of that, depending on.

C

What a candidate is, what you know: how if we change the structure a little bit, but um but that's those.

C

Are two positions that we sometimes the best the easiest way to change the structure of your.

C

Organization is to uh is to through attrition, you make changes. So if somebody leaves you just.

C

Don't fill it, but I think these are both rules that we would fill. We might tweak a little bit.

C

The move fill well. The reason I asked about it is that in the past some years we have have given.

K

An option for for retirement as a way of saving but nancy can I make a motion or how uh I don't.

D

Want to make a motion for 3b or how I think what we should do is we take a final vote on the budget.

A

um And that's scheduled for february 21st, um so I think if we could, we have a consent.

A

I think we have a consensus, I think we can say we have a consensus for 3b.

A

um So I will bring you an updated summary, okay for 3b, so that you can see what it looks like.

E

um I'll bring that to you for the next meeting put I'll put in the packet I'll put the two core.

E

Elements in the package which you'll have that because I essentially have it done tonight so.

E

You can have that and then, when you get to the public hearing in the meeting of the 14th, the.

E

Public will understand from the packet what it is that you are then considering whether you act that.

E

Night or you wait for another week, whatever you decide to do and if you want to make more changes.

E

You can, but that will at least bring all of this dialogue to a single piece, and you could act in.

C

The 14th you could act on the 14th as long as you open that you've got to reopen that hearing right.

E

But after that you can take action, yeah, okay, um lisa and anne, and then we'll sum it up close it up.

A

Go ahead! No! No! I was going to talk about this this time. Well, I wanted to say one thing about.

F

The green sheet, which is just that. I really appreciate that extra information, because I.

F

Do feel, like you know, watching this before I was on the board and being on the board. One part of.

F

The process that did feel a little frustrating is kind of hearing from people around the district. In.

F

Different ways: oh, but what about this that I asked for what about that and this kind of just puts it.

F

Out there- and it says we are listening to people, we're hearing the needs and it doesn't mean it's.

F

No forever, but it means that we have to figure out what is the most urgent thing right now, so.

F

I really appreciate it um and I think the only other thing that I would ask is, I think, that, to.

F

The extent that, when we put this in the pocket for the next meeting, if we can sort of transparently.

F

Remind people about the positions that we gave up last year and the commitment that the city.

F

Council made and put it like loud and clear in the packet like we took these things out of our budget.

F

At your request- and you promised they would come back because I just think that's important for.

F

The public to know- because you know I'm a taxpayer world taxpayers too, and you know it's a pocketbook.

C

Issue for people, and I think, being just a little bit advocating for ourselves in that way of saying.

F

It's not that we're just trying to like stick you with this huge bill, but that we're trying to have.

F

You keep your word and keep our word to our kids about what they most urgently need. So that's cool.

K

And I basically was wanted to talk about the green sheet that I appreciate that information as the.

K

Teacher in this system, I know that there were things that were it perceived needs in certain.

K

Schools by different people and and once you actually talked about it, you really need to look.

K

At the priorities- and so I appreciated seeing and hearing all of this- and I agree priorities.

K

Are important nathan, I want to add something to the green chief that isn't there and I've.

E

Hinted at it I think a couple of times, but as we draw this process ever closer to a close.

E

The one glaring um addition or increase that this budget will.

E

Need yeah: what's that you need an extra assistance; no, no! No! No.

G

You guys, you guys need a raise, that's what I wanted to make sure.

E

Substitutes so every year I've been here, we have essentially left subs, and this isn't you.

E

This is me this is us my officer. We leave subs flat. I don't know why it's just part of that.

E

Culture of this will take care of itself as as we're here, and we do more repurposing and we.

E

And we are uh more judicious because economic conditions are forcing us to be, and.

E

We're going to be over budget on subs, I could. I could guarantee you this year next year, the.

E

Year after we have raised our rates on subs, we artificially raise them in the middle of covert.

E

Because we kind of had to we softened them up by five bucks but they're, essentially we're holding.

E

Them there, because we don't have any choice, if I had it to do, uh I would probably throw.

E

Out the system of sub rates that we have now dramatically increase it and try to be.

E

Not just competitive but decisively competitive here. This is what we need.

E

um It's going to be, we may even try to do that, but it'll be difficult without some money. I guess I'm.

E

Not really suggesting to you that you come back and add more for that purpose, but I will tell.

E

You that if I have a 95, 000 teacher who retires after 30 years- and I can replace it with a 70 000.

E

Teacher, I need all that I need all that breakage to go to help me with the subs, because that really.

E

Needs a 100 150 200 like it needs, because our our rates have increased. Our consumption seems to.

E

Have increased some of our collective bargaining decisions have allowed there to be more time away.

E

That has to be covered by subs. I just tell you that so that it's all in the back of your heads.

E

One you're going to see the overages and two in a future periods. We need to start doing something. No.

E

I said the other thing to realize, so I I know I always banked on my other districts where.

C

As people retired, I knew cheaper people were coming in behind them yep, so I always had it.

C

Didn't always work that way. Well, because people are earlier in their careers in the scale and.

C

And, depending on what's going on with families, you might be people that are fresh out of college. It's.

C

A different whole different, total compensation package in terms of, and there was always they.

C

Tended to be in most years, some type of buffer, which you couldn't anticipate, what it was going.

C

To be so, um I would say here is somewhat different and, I think hope alluded to it in terms of looking.

C

At the math interventions position, it's like oh well here we are not always hiring the fresh out.

C

Of unh person and people who are coming to us with master's degrees, with experience in other places,.

C

So we're not always you know it's not a guarantee that we're seeing a significant difference in.

C

Total compensation based on the people we're bringing in but there's always a possibility.

A

Okay, so I think we are finished we will, can we just clarify at the end what the.

F

Next steps are in this, I just want to like leave the room with everybody. I don't think.

A

We can vote on the budget on the 14th because it's not on the agenda correct.

F

All right so perhaps we'll vote on it on the 14th. If not, we have another session.

A

Scheduled for the 21st of february and if we're voting on the 14th, it has.

F

To be in the packet for that meeting, right with all of the materials yeah.

C

I did just want to put out like the possible is fine. I mean we haven't had folks at the.

H

Hearing but I do think that's an important part of the process. Yeah, the public hearing.

H

Is in there for the 14th right right, I mean, but if there's feedback or changes or things.

H

Like that that processing right, then we can do it on the 21st okay. Can I suggest that we vote.

G

On the esser, we could probably take a vote on the next meeting on the esther portion.

G

Or what we're going to decide? No vote on the whole budget. You vote on the whole budget. Okay,.

A

Okay, do we have a motion to adjourn so moved? Second,.

A

All in favor, why don't we take a two-minute break.