 Good so call the order we have any adjustments to the agenda the agenda Yes Yes, this is Robert. Yes The I have some information that would be pertinent to our presentation Based on the we had a meeting for the repurposing The high school repurposing and there's some do's I mean should share Okay Yeah, that'll be part of my Whoops I closed them Don't even know Ethan you're muted still can't hear you if you're unmuted right now Can you hear me now? Yeah Okay I apologize for that Okay, we will call so I assume I don't know I have no memory of doing this before so I assume we Go through the agenda for May 2nd Additions or deletions and then public comment To that no I see as public comment for each of those And to hear the reports of the school district board of directors that's us And is this when we start Yes, this would be when you go to your Google slide presentation And then the Google slide presentation is in order of the articles on the agenda Okay, I'm I really have no idea what we're doing so I apologize But I just don't remember this at all So do we have a Google slide presentation now Who has it We do and it's shared with you and bill and Justine I don't think it's shared with you but it can be I can put my screen up I think and show you And then we really just go there And a slide by slide Excuse the fact that I'm still working on my slides You're way ahead of me Well Okay, so I have pictures and things to add I just Organizing my thoughts just all along Haven't had a lot of consistent work time No, great, you're great So and Tara jump in So this is kind of the slide presentation Similar to what we did last year and Ethan you probably don't remember this because Amy presented the board part You're not familiar with Okay, so you open the meeting and we kind of jump into our presentation Can I can I do an introduction or anything because it feels I can slide as introduction Okay, great Absolutely we can pull that first slide up and you can say welcome, you know Yeah, we're in good shape I think I'm I'd like to sort of say some of my stuff from the letter just we're in great shape We're feeling very positive things are working forward We've got a great team that's consistent staying consistent and we'd like to we're going to give you a presentation And we hope it all answers all your questions and if not we will be here to answer all your questions about the upcoming year budget Perfect, but I'm going to put you down as slide one Good, thank you You're the person to present all the picture there And those are kind and then there's kind of just like introductions or our team If you kind of want to do that part too Yep, introducing there are Rochester Stockbridge Unified Board I'm Ethan Bowen, I'm the chair of the board Amy Wilt is here, Vice Chair Patrick Hutchinson, Bill Edgerton, Justine Kovakis, and Robert Mayer Administration Jamie Kearnarney will not be with us tonight, but with us is Lindy Stetson the principal and Tara Weatherall WRVSU Business Manager Perfect, and then so I'm going to jump to slide three and this is just reminders. I mean it's essentially what's on the back of the ballot Should we read this out to them as well? Or should we just let them read like a pause? I think we're reading every, oh go ahead I would just summarize this, I think we'll take the absentee part out because on Monday night it'll be too late to get your absentee ballot So I'm going to take that out for you and then I would just highlight, you know, reminder the vote is tomorrow and you would go at the town offices 10 to 7 And if you have an outstanding absentee ballot, you can turn it into your polling place by 7pm on May 3 Good I don't think you need to read it word for word Okay By any means Okay Okay And then kind of what I've been working through Turn it over to me is, or we can change the order, so feel free to say that that's what you want to do I have some of Can I, by the way, Lindy, I imagine you're the one printing this, it'd be great for me to have like a chapter head print out of these things So then I can sort of control, you know, go on to the next thing and introduce the next thing as it comes I forget, is the screen behind us or to the side of us or where is the screen So it'll be kind of in front of you, Ray or Parker or myself, we're going to meet around five because the gym is a new space to be holding this in as a hybrid format So we're going to have to do some sound pieces to make sure the sound makes sense and things like that, Ray and I walk Very much, I hear you Yeah, if it can be at some sort of angle so that we can see it as well as the audience, that would be handy We can print it out when it's done, Ethan, if you'd like Yeah, no worries about that, and it can be the night of, you know, absolutely, I'm good with that Alright Thank you, keep going please Yep, so then what I have, based on kind of what Bill refreshed our memory on and just what I have going is kind of some celebrations of learning Just some highlights of some things that I'll elaborate more on That'll be separate from the academic data growth because I want to make sure I highlight that separately because I think it's really important And then, oh gosh, I'm trying to click on the Google Meet, let me try this again I also want to highlight some of the new offerings we had this year And here's where I would do some of our student successes in growth with our academic data Good And kind of some celebrations slash imagery continued And I also just want to talk about how we've implemented some new math programming as well And what that contains so people know, and then I just have a plan for some photos because I think that's more than words Yep I would say this is where board feedback would be important before we jump into the budget piece I would think it would make the most sense that before we transition into like our priorities around budgeting and all the different articles that maybe you and Tara jump in Before we go through the articles in the slideshow, maybe we should have a slide for the high school updates Just so folks have that information Yes, that's a good idea Right up front, yep Yep, right up front before we get into the numbers, what do other people think about that Great, great Okay, so I'm going to make a slide right now Yep, and we'll worry about details of that later Right Basically the policy still stands as we said, no educational activity Town is helping with payments for heat and electricity And we will know a lot more when, oh, it's snowing outside, how fun At least where we are And yeah, good, okay, good Okay, and that'll be you, Ethan Yep And then, again, I keep doing this because I'm looking at you guys And then we'll transfer over to kind of the focus of our budgeting What we wanted our budget to support And then it'll jump right into the articles Good, now they won't have a chance to ask a question yet, correct? Or are we taking questions? Are we trying to get through this whole presentation before they ask a question? In your agenda, you give them the chance to ask questions after each article So in the slide presentation, what I've done that you'll see is we read article 7 first Then we go through the budget itself, then we read article 7 again So that would be the place where they could ask questions Right, so there's a couple quick articles before that that are pretty straightforward Like article 4, they're voting on whether to fix the salaries So I just need to know that if somebody raises their hand, I'm going to say Please wait for the end of the presentation and then we'll take all the questions you have Is that a proper response? Or the queue in the question, you know We will a lot of time after we present the budget figures for questions Yeah, okay, thank you, that's what I need to know, just what I say So there's three slides that are pretty straightforward about just people If they're article 4, 5, and 6, and they just talk, you know Are they going to allow for a note? All those things, and then when we get to article 7 or the 2022-2023 proposed budget Which is article 7, and I think if, as this is introduced, that might be Well, explain it all and then if you have questions before we move forward We'll a lot for questions Okay So, and then Tara and Bill, this might be where I need help who does what here So Tara, do you do the financial position? That's up to you guys, I can, I've done it for other boards and then other boards They've done it themselves, so either way works for me Okay Yeah, I'm comfortable with that Yes, I like that All right, so Tara, you'll do the financial position And here's kind of our budget changes, it highlights the budget changes Same thing, Tara, do you normally do this one? Yeah, I can do all the budget slides So between all the slides between article 7 and article 7 slide again, I can do this fine Yeah, that makes sense to me Okay, so we'll do that I'm going to fix priorities, Tara, like you and I talked about this morning For you I just need to write my own notes And then, so you're doing all this, here's the historical perspective on our revenue Sorry, tell me if I'm going too fast, I get a little click happy Revenue changes Explaining the tax rate calculation And then here's our actual tax calculation That's a change, breaking down that tax rate sheet Equalize people, showing them Our equalized people are up Exactly, yeah Yield impact And explaining that Common level of appraisal And how that has impacted things As well as the history, and then we're back at article 7 And this would be where we would ask if there's any public comment or questions Fair enough, and this is a question for the board There's a lot of information to go through and have people wait for questions, it seems to me That almost at this last five, six slides, it's almost like we want to allow questions as they flow Because how do you remember by the end? Oh wait, I wanted that, can we go back to slide 4? That was the one I had a question about, I don't know, that's my two cents on it I would agree Justine, how do you feel about that? I agree with you, it is a lot Okay, can we go back, just about five, so let's go back a couple slides Just see where, so I think there's a clear point And I think it should be after budget changes, one more please This one? Yeah, maybe one more, just see where we're Okay, and so at the end, after we read this article, what I think I'd like to do is say Okay, now we're going into some specific details of the budget And we're going to go slide by slide, this is an overview, it's not as detailed as what's in your book But we want to sort of highlight some of the things, now after each slide we'll open it up for questions How does that sound to people? Is that thumbs up on that? Good, Robert, Bill? I mean, because I think it's the real meat of why people are there And it sort of covers a lot of things, and I think it's also a little more transparent So good, okay, so we will ask questions, so then we'll go through these slides And we've already assigned who's doing, sorry, when do we leave Tara and now somebody else? Is Tara all of this? Yes, I would be between the two slides that say article seven, so I normally go through all of these slides And I reread article seven, and that's when I pose questions, but if you want to do it after each slide, then that's up to you If that's okay, I mean, you know, there may not be questions, but I just feel like that's a little more in the nature of how we've been open with our people if you're okay with that Yeah, that's fine Good, okay, thank you, then let's go back, now we can go finish up then to the second article Well, so here's one idea is Bill has his spreadsheet that talks about the tax rate based on your income sensitivity and or your appraised house value And this may be the spot, this slide of common level appraisal where we would link the spreadsheet so it could be projected wide and Bill could just briefly interject right there, Tara About how this really impacts you Yeah, I was going to Unless others have other, I don't know when else you were thinking Bill or had ideas What is a spreadsheet is just has too many lines, it's just too busy, and I have not yet kind of zeroed in on a graphics, a simple graphics was just a few numbers to help tell the story But so I was thinking about that but I also thinking about do you want me to give a brief presentation on tax impact or do you want me to be the point person if the question is raised why our taxes keep going up why is it so expensive us So that's one question to the group do you want me to be proactive and give a couple slides on the tax impact or not and I'll I'll prepare those I I needed an answer that question before I was going to do it but it's Yeah What's your pleasure I'm trying to understand understand this So we could do it two ways we could be proactive and present it right here If you if you feel like you can find the graphic that right Right The question comes up he could explain like if someone asked the question about it I would suggest that we wait for the question And that I think I think you know it's very good to have all these visuals I also think people talking to people is is a good old fashioned Method and I think Bill you know you're very articulate and you can speak very well so that if the question comes up and and we can just take a moment of Tara No bill why don't you take this question and and we'll do that if it's about that kind of question Yep Does that sound good just Yes Yeah And Robert Yes Good That's fine Okay good let's move on then Just just just I just I sent out the spreadsheets just to let you know it wasn't to be on the screen but to let the board know what the numbers are as far as tax impact and there's a lot of information there But I think the story is very very positive And if you have any questions in any of that just you know give me a call or email the second thing is Ethan when we're going through these slides and someone says well I'm on the school budget detail budget and why did line item 280 go from $26 or $740 down to $43 Who answers the detail budget stuff Good question That would be me That would be Tara I think we should put questions from the bulletin at the end of this presentation so I'll make it clear that we're asking questions about slides and the information presented in the slides and the detailed questions about the budget and the bulletin will come after after this presentation Alright Tara you're doing that great Yeah and she'll be doing that Okay Each first I don't know how to write Okay good first time Okay we've done it article 7 again And technically this is the Is this the end of your time except for answering questions Tara Yeah Good Well how nicely timed you have to leave in three minutes so that's perfect Very good thank you so much for being on this with us Yes thank you And if we have more questions for you we'll send them we'll send them on Yeah I'll be back in the office in a little bit so if you have any questions as you're working through it let me know Great thank you Thanks So I'm going to close to article 9 about authorizing the transfer proceeds from the Dandelion Building sale in the amount of 70,000 904 So it's reading this article and then asking if there's any questions And I think it's one of the things just to remind folks of is that there's already an established Building and maintenance fund that's specific to Stockbridge Yeah I think that's this one we want I think it might be useful to have a slide that has the three separate accounts on it Just so people see this as three separate things So that if we approve all this tomorrow here's what it'll look like There will be a Rochester Stockbridge joint where we're putting the fund balance in There will already exist a Stockbridge account and we will if we vote for it we will create a Rochester account to put the Dandelion funds into So my question for you just order of operations is that like what article 10 says Well then maybe yeah so maybe we should do it after article 10 and we should lump I think these two articles should be sort of read together and then take questions And maybe we even put that slide up before we take the questions just so we make it clear Look this is what we're asking for is three separate funds one of them exists already A second one would be for the Dandelion and a third one is going forward into the future And I think that will help people understand it. Do you agree? Do you all agree with that? Yeah I sent up a slide possibility. You should have had it. Linda you have that and if you could That's a possibility and I think it's a good idea Ethan because I can see Stockbridge people saying well why are Rochester getting the money? I haven't we done this or that and it kind of lays it out and then with that in the background we can talk about article 9 and article 10 and article 11 And I think it helps to set the stage and So in other words you're saying do it before we even read article 9 or article 10 These next two articles have to do with funds that we would like to set up Here's what here's what we here's what we propose and then we get to article 9 and article 10 But with them already knowing with them already knowing what our our goal is here Yeah and article 11 Ethan because that's the money for the combined the joint yep yep oh it is got you thank you Okay So you want that to go before 9 You want this to go up here then I think so yes Does that make sense that we put it before we even read the two three articles I think so Okay Robert Like we can post the other time Okay sorry I was gonna say we could put it up as the intro slide read the three articles and then just copy the exact same slide and put it after the fact to Great Does that make sense to folks Take a look at it and see if you know if you're pulling together the slide take it take a look at it and see if that makes sense Okay, but I think I think certainly introducing it before and and I think getting back to it It is you're right. It is the most potentially confusing aspect of our budget and let's let's be really clear about what we're looking to do It's also very very important to get these monies both Oh, yeah for for capital and for Rochester and for the joint we're setting up this thing That's a building blocks for the future to take care of our physical plant. So yeah good Then I think any additional business There actually is not a That's not on the agenda any additional business I think you could probably just change it too. Are there any other questions? Are there any other questions? Yeah And if not then I would entertain a motion to adjourn so Can I jump back for a second? What do you want to go on this? High school updates and I don't know if this is where Robert's information if Robert has information that's going to impact on there I think there's two areas one is where we are right now business current status Is as far as the school boards concerned We are in a holding pattern waiting for the town to make a Decision about taking the building or no And that in that time we have we are still holding to our thing. We have no educational activities in there And that we are seeking and getting Help in paying for fuel and Electric from the town And then the possibilities what we know what we can state Of the possibilities I think that's more just a timeline state when you I I would Because you guys still need to have a conversation as a board. I mean you start yeah, yeah We should last time but I would unless Robert has other updates or if other jump in Tell me to stay in my lane, but if I would my recommendation would be Just to stick to the timeline of the facts of what's going on Right now. There's been a feasibility study that's going on. It'll be completed and presented to the town of Rochester I believe in June correct and then the town of Rochester plans to hold a vote in July I Have information that may affect that okay, or whatever you got Robert Well, right that Okay here One we've just as of yesterday late afternoon right before our meeting received information that To get any federal money we have to have a environmental impact or environmental evaluation of the building This is a six-month process So, you know that was a shock And your two consultants didn't know this before They didn't That's that's that's just Well, it's we're So at any rate if we were if we had a grant writing expert which we are pursuing funding and such To get who would probably have known that We're we're trying to do that so we get less surprises and going Forward to as far as your Responsibilities we got information from I think it's the the department of ed but it might have been that well Basically that your Option to just shutter the building may not you may not be allowed to just shutter the building By who Department of ed So I I'd have little information on that but what I'm saying is this is These are I'm trying to be you know transparent as possible and share this information with you I I Please let me finish Um free, you know and and I would like to put on our regular program And I would like to put on our regular meeting On the agenda of a regular meeting a presentation of and once we have more information I please we just got this information late yesterday afternoon so And they're supposed to contact Jamie this morning, but Jamie's on on vacation so I'm presenting it to you so you're not surprised and that you don't don't make promises that You know that you're cautious in your promises as far as the timeline And we will discuss it at a future board meeting number three is you know, we've been pursuing tenancy And we have we can't they're not confirmed yet, but for contingent Tenancies and and we're making progress there for perhaps the major tenants And for we have been Actively working with Senator Leahy's office. They're encouraging us. This is the type of project they want to fund And but you know, we're having this is a slow process as we keep on finding out But we have Senator Leahy's office behind us So these are all you know Updates for you I mean if you want to do it sooner than the next regular meeting we could call a special meeting Well tell me not really time I'm just a little concerned because I think some of this information came to us as a board in executive session In the last meeting And I'm just a little I'm not sure that we should be because this is a public meeting that anybody can Listen to as far as updating things Because that six months is a It's a big one It is but it's that we're we're trying to be transparent as I know the whole board is But you I'm you I figured that it was important that you know before going into a presentation with The town And I think we made it pretty clear that we yet we are making no we are making no promises We are we are just saying we're in a sort of wait and see Position I think if it's six months out again from June Then we're at where do we get paid? How do we keep the heat on and the electric Right and we're actively pursuing funding sources for that Okay Good well then I think following I would suggest Lindy following your guideline I don't think we say anything I think we say we have a timeline I don't think it's for us to say I don't know I just I don't know if we say this in the in the meeting New I don't think you want to bring new information out at a meeting Like this, but maybe I wasn't I wasn't suggesting that what I was suggesting is is One year I like the idea of while we're in a holding pattern and We have some you can say we have some tentative dates, but these things this is this is a moving target I think Say we're in a holding pattern. We did not add additional funds to the budget To continue Providing fuel and electric. I mean we maintain that at status quo And We're waiting on a presentation out from Rochester like does that sound fair? Yes I think so and we'll be discussing it at future meetings. Like I I don't want to sound like we're Taking the can down the road, but the honest answer is like this has to be presented to the full board Well, and and if we get direct questions Afterwards like hey, I heard this thing about an environmental study that's six months down the road Well, it says yes, we've heard that too. We don't know the details Haven't and haven't heard that from the town yet. I mean because that's true. It's it's literally We acknowledge it, but it's not something we can stand on yet because it's not In front of us it hasn't been formally, you know, and we invite you to join us at future meetings Building is on the agenda as we are still working in partnership with the town of Rochester as they Finish up there. I think it's fair to say Correct me if I'm wrong finish up their feasibility study That's correct. Yeah, I think that's a good word And not And not put a date on that Okay I would do that. I don't want to go down the wormhole Yep, and offset the the true purpose of this to support our budget our school budget for next year I know it's a point of contention and support between the two communities, but We're supporting the budget that supports our students learning within both communities. That's the goal of this meeting. Oh I I support that I support that phrase Robert. You're good with that I'm good with that. Okay, Bill. You good with that. Yes. Okay, Lindy. I think that's I think you're absolutely on it. So, yeah Trying to be proactive. I think it's a great conversation to have here because we have been like fine-sighted by it in past meetings And it's become a focal point unfortunately And it's not we just don't have all the answers right now and that's the honest truth. Yep and and and I think as you say Every time we do that we say our focus is on the education of our children We are waiting on other details, but basically we've you know Educational programming is not occurring Within the high school building and we're trying to work in partnership with the town of Rochester I think when we came there feasibility study when we came up to with the 15,000 Was the amount we were asking from Rochester that was Stockbridge's share The idea that that would have been their share of the 45,000 to keep the heat and electric on And so I think that where it says, you know town of Rochester has paid funds to offset fuel costs I think that could be and specifically that was $15,000 For that would cover the Stockbridge's share so that Stockbridge has no As putting no financial monies into this into this school. Yep. Okay. Good Great. Do you have any other Questions before that It did say bills things said something about goals going forward as I looked at our goals I felt like I don't feel like we've really approved them yet for public consumption We still have some work to do I'm happy to mention them in general or at least the headings, but I I think let's keep let's keep this I would just stick to what they're voting on. Yep. I agree So I don't know it was in our outline, but I think I think let's not do that. Yeah, I agree Okay, good Robert you good with that I'm good with that. Great. Thank you Going back to the high school. I think we need to be prepared Tara probably will do it But I think Ethan you need to be prepared to if they say well How long are we gonna be paying all that debt service? For the high school we've been paying years and so I think the last year I believe right so on page 30 The bulletin It has the number and this is the last year the way I read it Lindy But I just think we need somebody who needs to be able to say well check it look on page 30. There it is It's 80,000 It's already in our budget the you know the tax impacts downs surely and and that will take care of it And but thank you for asking that question Should should I mean Well, no, we can't because we haven't done anything officially with the board. I'd forgotten all about debt service I'm wondering if at a future meeting we should actually talk about percentage Rochester Stockbridge percentage that Maybe some of the fund building fund goes to Relieving Stockbridge of that debt if if it if this question gets asked and we know that some people are thinking about it I think you got to wait and talk to Tara about that because other thing about debt service is that also counts as a credit to help lower our Threshold and things of that nature so that in other words, it's handy for Stockbridge to have that It works both ways right and and our ultimate goal is this is our budget together. Yes Together our students our campuses and this is what we're focusing on and this is the last year where it comes that and it's also a sell point of those capital improvement Revenue where our revenue is going to go because the goal is to be able to use that to sustain our buildings to prevent from having to go for bonds Not that we've talked about that but that's why we want to put some of that extra revenue into there So we have things for projects and we don't need to bomb things out down the road The other thing Ethan on that question of you know, why should Stockbridge be paying the debt service? I had a slide last year When we had a public hearing before the revote and it showed the amount of debt service left and it had a little bar and It was quite short because debt services was going to end up this into this coming year Then I showed all the tuition revenue coming in And you notice how huge that was compared to the debt service load and most of that revenue is coming in Thanks to Rochester Can we have that slide on just to show that people are saying well, why are we paying then Rochester could say why are we giving our Tuition revenue all that tuition revenue benefiting Stockbridge neither question makes sense and so Anyway, that's in your back of your your pocket if you want to use it good Good Yeah, I just say it's the key is this hopefully not to say anything that opens up the rabbit hole If they bring it they bring it But I think we I do think we have a good bit of trust right now in our budget and how we're dealing with things that I'm I'm hopeful that people are going to be actually pretty accepting and we're going to move through this pretty quickly But we'll see the only question I've heard and I told Tara about it today was around that the equalized spending Perse people went up 3.1 percent and people wanting to know that and most of that points to tuition And so she's prepared to be able to answer that question Okay good Do we feel good I do Bill you feel prepared Hopefully by by Monday night and Yeah, I think we've got a lot to celebrate to explain and to Educate and to listen to so I haven't heard anything in the scuttle, but that's About you never know and this is important to be able to explain things clearly Accurately and I think sounds like I think we're prepared Linda do you need any support in a way no other just update this like we talked about and Send it out just one more time for you guys to look at before Monday To make sure that I captured everything that we talked about here I appreciate this because I really really came into this realizing I don't have any idea what's going on So hopefully by Monday night, I'll have a much better idea Good Thank you all I'll entertain a motion to adjourn Motion to adjourn Seconded all favor I thank you all very much for your time