[1. Public Session - 7:00 p.m.]
[00:00:05]
WELCOME TO THE BOARD OF EDUCATION MEETING OF MARCH 19, 2025.LET'S RISE FOR THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE.
>> THANK YOU. WE DID NOT HAVE EXECUTIVE SESSION, SO WE CAN GO RIGHT IN TO THE MEETING.
[3.1 Bond Scope Discussion]
WE SENT OUT THANKS TO ALL OF YOU WHO HAVE STAYED ENGAGED ON THE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT BOND.WE SENT OUT A LENGTHY EMAIL YESTERDAY AND HOPES TO BRING EVERYONE UP TO SPEED ON WHERE WE ARE.
THE PROPOSED BOND PROJECTS ARE FOR THE GOOD OF THE STUDENTS WHO ATTEND PUBLIC SCHOOLS NOW AND IN THE FUTURE.
THE COMPONENTS OF THIS BOND WILL ADDRESS CRITICAL INFRASTRUCTURE NEEDS, ENSURE ADA COMPLIANCE AT ALL OUR SCHOOLS AND WE'LL MODERNIZE LEARNING SPACES.
WITH $65 MILLION IN RETIRING DEBT AND 49 ABOUT APPROXIMATELY 49% STATE BUILDING AID AVAILABLE.
THIS IS A GOOD TIME TO TAKE ON SUCH PROJECTS.
WE ARE PLANNING NOW FOR POTENTIAL WORK DURING THE PERIOD OVER WHICH THE DEBT IS RETIRED FOR THESE BONDS.
THIS ALLOWS FOR A SIGNIFICANT PART OF THE WORK TO BE TAX NEUTRAL.
WE HAVE RESEARCHED OUR FACILITIES AND THEIR NEEDS THOROUGHLY, AND THE DISTRICT HAS ACTIVELY SOUGHT COMMUNITY INPUT THROUGH SURVEYS, FOCUS GROUPS, PUBLIC MEETINGS, SCHOOL TOURS, AND A DEDICATED BOND WEBSITE.
THE BOND PROJECTS FOCUS ON ESSENTIAL INFRASTRUCTURE IMPROVEMENTS, THINK HEATING, ROOFING, MASONRY, WINDOWS, SIWANOY ADA COMPLIANCE AND EXPANSION TO ALLEVIATE THE SPACE CONSTRAINTS FELT RIGHT NOW, AND THAT WILL CONTINUE IN THE FUTURE.
HIGH SCHOOL SCIENCE LAB MODERNIZATION, ELEMENTARY SCHOOL AIR CONDITIONING, AND GEOTHERRMAL ENERGY SYSTEMS FOR LONG-TERM SUSTAINABILITY.
TONIGHT, THE BOARD IS CONSIDERING HOW TO STRUCTURE THE BALLOT IN A WAY THAT PROVIDES CLARITY AND TO PROVIDE CHOICES TO THE VOTERS.
WITH RESPECT TO THE PROPOSED EXPANSION AT SIWANOY, I WANT TO CLARIFY THAT IN ADDITION TO SPACE CONSTRAINTS, SIWANOY HAS CRITICAL INFRASTRUCTURE NEEDS, INCLUDING A 30-YEAR-OLD STEAM BOILER.
I JUST WANT TO BE CLEAR THAT MAJOR INFRASTRUCTURE UPGRADES AT SIWANOY ARE NOT POSSIBLE WITHOUT MAKING THE BUILDING ADA COMPLIANT, WHICH IS WHY AT THE LAST MEETING, WE LOOKED AT POTENTIAL PROPOSITIONS THAT PUT THE INFRASTRUCTURE WORK WITH THE SIWANOY PROJECT.
AN EIGHT CLASSROOM ADDITION IS PROPOSED AT SIWANOY TO REPLACE THE FIVE CLASSROOMS LOST BY ADDING ADA ACCESSIBILITY AND A CAFETERIA.
PLUS TO PROVIDE MORE SPACE SINCE SIWANOY IS SPACE-CONSTRAINED WITH UNDERSIZED CLASSROOMS AND INADEQUATE SPACES AVAILABLE FOR INTERVENTION SUPPORT.
A FEW OTHER THINGS I WANT TO CLARIFY.
THE EXPANSION PLANS AT THE HIGH SCHOOL AND AT SIWANOY ARE JUST 2% COMPLETE.
NYSED DOES NOT ALLOW US TO PROCEED FURTHER IN DESIGN UNTIL WE HAVE VOTER APPROVAL.
I SAY THIS TO NOTE THAT THERE IS AMPLE OPPORTUNITY TO REFINE THE DESIGNS.
SCHOOL PROJECTS ARE MANAGED BY NYSED.
IT IS WELL DOCUMENTED IN CASE LAW, REAL WORLD EXPERIENCE, THROUGHOUT NEW YORK STATE AND RIGHT HERE WITH BUILDING PROJECTS THAT HAVE ALREADY BEEN UNDERTAKEN BY THE PELHAM SCHOOLS.
IN ADDITION, OUR ARCHITECTS WHO ARE HERE WITH US TONIGHT AND ATTORNEYS ARE WELL VERSED AND EXPERIENCED IN SCHOOL BUILDING PROJECTS THROUGHOUT NEW YORK.
WITH THAT SAID, WE ARE ALREADY WORKING WITH VILLAGE GOVERNMENTS ON WE'RE ALREADY WORKING WITH VILLAGE GOVERNMENTS ON THESE PROJECTS.
ONE EXAMPLE IS IDENTIFYING HOW THE PROJECT AT SIWANOY, CAN SUPPORT THE VILLAGE OF PELHAM MANOR STORMWATER PROJECT.
THE EXPANSION PROPOSAL AT SIWANOY TAKES UP 16% OF THE OUTDOOR SPACE, NOT ONE-THIRD, ONE-SIXTH INSTEAD OF ONE-THIRD.
I JUST WANT TO CORRECT THAT INFORMATION.
THE DISTRICT IS COMMITTED TO MAKING THE OUTDOOR SPACE AT SIWANOY FUNCTIONAL AND ENJOYABLE FOR GENERATIONS TO COME.
I EMPATHIZE WITH THE POTENTIAL OF HAVING A CONSTRUCTION PROJECT NEAR YOUR HOME OR AT THE SCHOOL SITE WHERE YOUR CHILD ATTENDS.
THE DISTRICT WILL PLAN CONSTRUCTION CAREFULLY TO LIMIT DISRUPTIONS TO STUDENTS AND THE COMMUNITY, PRIORITIZING SUMMER WORK, RELOCATING PLAYGROUNDS TEMPORARILY, AND COORDINATING WITH LOCAL AUTHORITIES ON LOGISTICS.
WITH THAT, I WILL HAND IT OVER TO DR.
>> THANK YOU, JACKIE. I JUST WANTED TO ADD ONE FINAL PIECE, AND I SEE SEVERAL FOLKS WITH US TONIGHT WHO HAVE BEEN PART OF SOME OF THE DISCUSSIONS THAT WE'VE BEEN HAVING LATELY.
I KNOW THAT THERE'S BEEN SOME QUESTIONS AND CONCERNS ABOUT HOW THE BUDGET AND THE BOND INTERACT WITH REGARDS TO STAFFING.
ON THE ONE HAND, WE'RE IN THE BUDGET FOR THE FOLKS WHO LOOKED THERE,
[00:05:04]
THERE ARE SOME REDUCTIONS IN STAFFING, AND AT THE SAME TIME, WE'RE ASKING FOR ADDITIONAL SPACE.I JUST WANTED TO ADDRESS THAT DIRECTLY.
THAT MONEY IS ALL COMING FROM OUR TAXPAYERS, SO IT IS ONE AND THE SAME.
I UNDERSTAND THAT. I THINK THE BOARD ALL REALIZES AND RESPECTS THAT.
FROM THE ACTUAL BUDGETING PERSPECTIVE, IT REALLY IS TWO SEPARATE THINGS, IN THAT, ONE IS THE STAFFING AND OPERATIONS OF THE DISTRICT, THE OPERATIONAL BUDGET FUNCTION UNDER THE TAX CAP.
THE CAPITAL PROJECTS THAT ARE BEING PROPOSED ARE SEPARATE AND OUTSIDE OF THAT.
IT'S TWO SEPARATE THINGS IN THAT SENSE.
YOU CAN'T USE CAPITAL BOND MONEY TO PAY FOR STAFFING, YOU CAN'T CUT STAFFING TO PAY FOR CAPITAL PROJECTS. I THINK THAT'S IMPORTANT.
I KNOW IT SOUNDS LIKE A SMALL DIFFERENCE, BUT IT IS REALLY IMPORTANT BECAUSE THERE REALLY SHOULDN'T BE A CONFLATION OF THE TWO.
ONE THING THAT IS IMPORTANT, AND I KNOW JACKIE STARTED IT, SO I JUST WANT TO REITERATE IT, ALL OF THE SPACES AT SIWANOY ARE USED CURRENTLY TO THE POINT WHERE WE HAVE STUDENTS RECEIVING INTERVENTION SERVICES IN THE HALLWAYS BECAUSE WE'RE OUT OF SPACE.
CURRENTLY IN THE BUDGET, THERE IS A PROPOSAL WITHIN THE CURRENT BOARD GUIDELINES TO REDUCE A SECTION.
TO BE CLEAR, NOBODY'S LOSING A JOB, NOBODY'S BEING LAID OFF.
IT'S REDUCTION OF A SECTION AND A TEACHER WOULD BE POTENTIALLY TRANSFERRED OVER TO PROSPECT WHERE WE'RE GOING UP A SECTION WITHIN BOARD GUIDELINES.
THIS IS A NORMAL PART OF OUR ANNUAL PROCESS.
MANY OF YOU HAVE HAD CHILDREN MOVE THROUGH THE ELEMENTARY, YOU KNOW THAT THIS HAPPENS EVERY YEAR.
WE'VE GOT BOARD GUIDELINES THAT GIVE US THE RANGE OF WHAT THOSE CLASSES SHOULD LOOK LIKE, AND WE DO OUR BEST TO DISTRIBUTE RESOURCES ACCORDING TO ENROLLMENT AND ACCORDING TO STUDENT NEED ACROSS THE DISTRICT.
THAT PROCESS IS ALSO NOT DONE RIGHT NOW.
WE HAVE TO USE OUR CURRENT INFORMATION AS A BASICALLY JANUARY.
TO PREDICT WHERE WE MAY BE NEXT YEAR.
AGAIN, LOOKING AT CLASS SIZES, WE'VE GOT SEVERAL CLASSES THAT ARE RIGHT ON THE CUSP OF WHERE THEY COULD BE TWO OR THREE SECTIONS.
WE ARE WORKING UNDER A TAX CAP ENVIRONMENT, SO NEED TO BE VERY STREAMLINED IN OUR USE OF RESOURCES, AND THE BOARD HAS VERY RIGHTLY SO BEEN CONCERNED ABOUT GROWTH AND OPERATING COSTS AND GROWTH AND HEADCOUNT OVER THE LAST SEVERAL YEARS.
IN ORDER TO BE SENSITIVE TO THAT, AND WE ALSO HAVE 12 TEACHER RETIREMENTS THIS YEAR PLUS A TA.
WE TOOK A CRITICAL LOOK AT OUR STAFFING TO DECIDE WHERE WE NEED TO FAIL, AND THAT DID GIVE US THE ABILITY TO FIND SOME MORE EFFICIENCIES AND HOW WE APPROACH SCHEDULING, CREATIVE SCHEDULING, MORE EFFICIENT SCHEDULING, AND BE ABLE TO REDUCE BASED ON ENROLLMENT IN THOSE CREATIVE SCHEDULING APPROACHES ACROSS THE K-12 SPECTRUM.
A COUPLE OF TEACHERS AT THE ELEMENTARY ARE NOT BEING REPLACED, AND THERE ARE SEVERAL POSITIONS AT THE HIGH SCHOOL THAT ARE NOT BEING REPLACED.
AT THE SAME TIME, WE'RE SEEING GROWTH IN SPECIAL EDUCATION, SO WE'RE HAVING TO PUT RESOURCES WHERE WE NEED THEM TO MEET STUDENT NEED.
ALL THAT BEING SAID, THIS IS AN EARLY STAGE IN THE STAFFING PROCESS, ESPECIALLY WHEN IT COMES TO ELEMENTARY EDUCATION BECAUSE WE NOW HAVE TO SEE WHO MOVES IN, WHO MOVES OUT BETWEEN NOW AND THE END OF THE SCHOOL YEAR AND OVER THE SUMMER.
THERE'S TONS OF FLUCTUATIONS THAT CAN HAPPEN.
CERTAIN PARTS OF THE COMMUNITY, THERE'S MORE FLUCTUATIONS THAN OTHERS, THAT'S NORMAL, BUT WHEN YOU HAVE CLASSES ON THE CUSP, IT COULD VERY EASILY GO ONE WAY OR THE OTHER BASED ON ONE OR TWO FAMILIES COMING IN OR MOVING OUT.
THOSE ARE BUDGET PROJECTIONS RIGHT NOW.
WHERE THEY ARE IN THAT BUDGET SHEET MAY NOT BE WHERE THEY EVENTUALLY LAND, AND THAT WAS MUCH OF THE CONVERSATION THAT WE HAD WITH A LOVELY GROUP OF PARENTS YESTERDAY.
WE WORK WITH THE PRINCIPALS BECAUSE THOSE DECISIONS ARE NOT JUST MADE ON RAW NUMBERS.
THEY'RE ALSO MADE ON LOOKING ON HOLISTICALLY AT STUDENT NEEDS BECAUSE PRINCIPALS MAY HAVE TO MAKE A DECISION ABOUT WHICH GRADE LEVELS GO TO TWO OR THREE SECTIONS, AND RAW NUMBERS ARE NOT THE ONLY FACTOR.
THAT IS A NORMAL PART OF THE PROCESS.
THAT IS IN PROCESS, AND WE WILL CONTINUE TO KEEP AN EYE ON THAT.
I KNOW MR. JOHNSON HAS COMMITTED TO STAYING IN TOUCH WITH THOSE FOLKS.
I WILL SAY IN ADDITION THROUGH THE BUDGETING PROCESS, WE DO MAINTAIN 2% CONTINGENCY ACROSS THE BOARD.
WITHIN THAT, WE ALSO MAINTAIN TWO CONTINGENCY POSITIONS EVERY YEAR.
THAT SHOULD WE HAVE FLUCTUATIONS IN SECTIONS AND SOMETHING GO TO A LARGER SIZE BEYOND WHAT WE BUDGETED, WE HAVE THAT AS A WAY TO SOLVE FOR THAT PROBLEM.
THAT'S WHAT WE SHARED WITH FOLKS AS FAR AS THE CURRENT BUDGETING STAFFING ISSUES YESTERDAY AND TODAY.
NOW SEPARATE APART FROM THAT IS I'M GOING TO DEAL SEPARATELY WITH THE FACILITIES QUESTION.
AS I SAID, OUR CLASSROOMS ARE FULL.
OUR SCHOOLS ARE FULL, SIWANOY IS FULL.
IF WE WERE TO ACTUALLY GO THROUGH AND COLLAPSE A SECTION NEXT YEAR, WE WOULD NOT HAVE AN EMPTY ROOM.
THAT ROOM WOULD THEN BE BACK FILLED WITH OTHER CLASSES.
IT WOULD NOT BE TAKING THREE OR FOUR OR FIVE INTERVENTION STUDENTS FROM THE HALLWAY INTO A FULL SIZE CLASSROOM.
[00:10:03]
THAT WOULD BE NONSENSICAL.WE WOULD PUT THE BIG CLASSES IN THE BIG SPACES.
I SAID THAT THE BOARD COFFEE TODAY, WE WOULD MOVE BIG CLASSES INTO BIG SPACES, MEDIUM-SIZED CLASSES INTO THE SMALLER ROOMS, AND THEN YOU WOULD OPEN UP SPACE IN YOUR SMALLEST FOR THE SMALL GROUP INSTRUCTION THAT WE LACK.
THAT IS THE CASE IN ALL OF OUR ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS RIGHT NOW.
IF WE GO DOWN TO SECTION, WE WILL STILL BE FULL TO CAPACITY.
THE PROPOSED PROJECT IS A NET GAIN OF THREE CLASSROOMS GIVEN THE CURRENT PROPOSAL.
WE WOULD LOSE CURRENT ROOMS TO INSTALL ELEVATORS.
WE WOULD LOSE A FIFTH, THE ART ROOM, TO INSTALL A CAFETERIA BELOW THE GYMNASIUM.
WE PURPOSELY DID THAT BASED ON FEEDBACK FROM THE COMMUNITY TO KEEP THAT EXPANSION AS SMALL AS POSSIBLE.
THE GYM IS BEING PROPOSED WITHIN THE CURRENT FOOTPRINT OF THE GYM.
THAT'S A NET LOSS OF FIVE CLASSROOMS. THE EXPANSION WOULD ADD EIGHT.
THAT GIVES US THREE NET GAIN, AND THAT THREE NET GAIN COULD HELP US IN MANY WAYS.
ONCE AGAIN, WE'RE WE'RE NOT GOING TO HAVE EMPTY CLASSROOMS, WE'RE NOT GOING TO PUT SMALL NUMBERS OF KIDS IN LARGE CLASSROOMS. WE WOULD BE MOVING THINGS LIKE OUR KINDERGARTENS OUT FROM THE BASEMENT CLASSROOMS, SMALLEST CLASSROOMS IN THE BUILDING, INTO NEW, LARGE, UP TO MODERN STANDARD SIZE CLASSROOMS AT THE GROUND LEVEL WITH BATHROOMS AND ACCESS TO THE PLAYGROUND.
THAT WOULD BE 2-3 OF YOUR GROUND LEVEL FLOORS.
WE'D BE MOVING AN ART ROOM UP SOMEWHERE WITHIN THE BUILDING.
WE COULD THEN TAKE OUR LARGEST CLASSES, REGULAR CLASSROOMS, WHETHER THEY BE THE BIGGEST KIDS IN THE FIFTH GRADE OR LARGEST CLASSES IN OTHER GRADES OUT INTO FULL SIZE CLASSROOMS OF THE APPROPRIATE LEVEL OF SPACE, AND THEN SHIFT CLASSES WITHIN THE BUILDING TO AGAIN RIGHT SIZE THE CLASS THAT'S GOING INTO IT TO THE SIZE OF THE SPACE, AND THEN BACK FILL SO THAT MAYBE INSTEAD OF THE ART ROOM ALSO HOUSE MUSIC LESSONS.
MUSIC COULD HAVE A DEDICATED LESSON SPACE.
OUR FLS TEACHERS DON'T HAVE A DEDICATED CLASSROOM.
THEY PUSH INTO OTHER CLASSROOMS. THERE'S A LOT OF DIFFERENT THINGS THAT COULD BE USED IN ANY OF THOSE SPACES.
I SAY THAT BECAUSE I THINK THERE'S A MISCONCEPTION THAT WE'RE ASKING FOR MORE THAN WE NEED.
WHAT I'M SAYING IS WE NEED MORE THAN WHAT WE HAVE AND WE WILL USE EVERY SPACE THAT IS IN THOSE BUILDINGS.
THAT WOULD ALSO GIVE US FLEXIBILITY SHOULD WE HAVE ENROLLMENT INCREASES, WHICH WE DO HAVE SOME PROJECTIONS OF FLEXIBILITY, AND HOW STUDENTS COME EACH YEAR, HOW MANY COME INTO EACH GRADE LEVEL DO IMPACT WHETHER WE HAVE TWO OR THREE SECTIONS.
AT TIMES AT SCHOOLS WE'VE HAD FOUR.
NOT AT SIWANOY, IN MY TENURE THERE, BUT THOSE FLUCTUATIONS HAPPEN JUST FROM THE NORMAL GENERATIONAL TURNOVERS, A LOT OF WHAT WE SEE OFTEN IN SIWANOY.
JUST WANT TO SHARE THAT INFORMATION SO FOLKS CAN START TO UNDERSTAND WHILE IT FEELS CONTRADICTORY, WE ASSESS CLASS SIZE AND NEED FOR ENROLLMENT EVERY SINGLE YEAR BASED ON CLASS GUIDELINES.
SEPARATE AND APART FROM THAT, WE HAVE SPACE NEEDS NOW, WE'RE GOING TO CONTINUE TO HAVE SPACE NEEDS NOW.
ANNUAL FLUCTUATIONS ARE NOT AN INDICATOR THAT WE'RE OVER INDEXING.
THE OTHER THING THAT I WOULD SAY, FOLKS ASKED, IF WE DO CONTINUE TO GROW, HOW ARE WE GOING TO STAFF THOSE CLASSROOMS, THAT COMES AS WELL WITH THE ANNUAL BUDGET.
THE STATE HAS BEEN FORTUNATE TO CONTINUE TO SEE INCREASED FOUNDATION AID EVERY YEAR.
AS WE'RE ABLE TO REVIEW OUR BUDGETING PROCESS, AND EACH YEAR, THE LEVY ALLOWS US TO RAISE TAXES A CERTAIN AMOUNT THAT GIVES US ADDITIONAL REVENUE.
LOOKING FOR ADDITIONAL REVENUE, LOOKING TO DECREASE EXPENDITURES ARE THE WAY THAT WE'RE GOING TO MAKE OUR BUDGET WORK.
WE DO EXPECT THAT WE WILL BE FUTURE OPPORTUNITIES TO INCREASE THE STAFFING IN ALIGNMENT WITH STUDENT NEED.
BUT WE DON'T HAVE TO BUDGET NOW FOR WHAT WE'RE GOING TO NEED FOUR YEARS FROM NOW.
I THINK THAT WILL BE THE SIMPLEST WAY TO ANSWER THAT CONCERN.
I THINK I WILL PAUSE THERE ON A COMPLETELY BOND RELATED NOTE, BUT I THINK IMPORTANT BECAUSE I MAY NOT HAVE ANOTHER OPPORTUNITY IN THE COURSE OF TONIGHT'S EVENT.
THERE IS AN ITEM ON THE AGENDA TONIGHT I JUST WANT TO DRAW YOUR ATTENTION TO.
WE ARE APPROVING THE FRAMEWORK.
I'M ASKING OR PRESENTING TO YOU TO APPROVE THE FRAMEWORK OF THE CALENDAR FOR THE '25-'26 SCHOOL YEAR.
THE REASON I'M SAYING IT THAT WAY IS THAT THIS DOES NOT HAVE INCLUDED IN THE PARENT TEACHER CONFERENCES IN THE PROFESSIONAL LEARNING DAYS BECAUSE WE'RE STILL IN DISCUSSIONS WITH ADMINISTRATORS AND TEACHERS ON HOW WE WANT TO STRUCTURE THOSE.
WE'RE TRYING TO TAKE FEEDBACK THAT WE'VE GOTTEN FROM ALL STAKEHOLDERS IN TO SEE HOW WE CAN MOST STREAMLINE THOSE TO TRY TO MEET AS MANY NEEDS AS POSSIBLE.
THIS BASICALLY GIVES YOU THE BEGINNING, THE END, THE MAIN VACATION PERIODS, AND A COUPLE OF SUPERINTENDENTS CONFERENCE DAYS.
I WILL BE COMING BACK TO YOU PROBABLY IN THE NEXT TWO MONTHS WITH OUR PROPOSED PLAN FOR PARENT TEACHER CONFERENCE AND PROFESSIONAL LEARNING.
[00:15:03]
BUT I WANT TO GET THIS DONE BECAUSE THINGS LIKE SPECIAL EDUCATION IEPS, BUDGETING, A LOT OF THINGS ARE DEPENDENT ON KNOWING THE START AND THE END OF THE SCHOOL YEAR, SO WE NEED TO AT LEAST GET THOSE PIECES IN PLACE.>> WE'LL LOOK AT THIS TO APPROVE TONIGHT SO YOU CAN TAKE IT AND ADD THE OTHER.
>> THEN WE'LL BRING IT BACK FOR BOARD APPROVAL OR REVISIONS WITHIN THE NEXT COUPLE OF MONTHS. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU. BEFORE WE MOVE ON, DOES ANYONE FROM THE BOARD HAVE ANY QUESTIONS? NO. YOU CAN KEEP GOING.
WE'RE GOING TO START WITH PUBLIC COMMENT BECAUSE WE HAVE PEOPLE HERE TONIGHT WHO I KNOW WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK.
SO IF YOU WOULD COME UP TO THE MICROPHONE.
I KNOW THIS IS AN IMPORTANT TOPIC.
PLEASE KEEP YOUR COMMENTS CIVIL SO THAT WE CAN LISTEN TO EACH OTHER AND HEAR WHAT EVERYONE HAS TO SAY. THANK YOU.
>> WHO DO WE HAVE IN THE AUDIENCE? WE HAVE ARCHITECT. ANYONE ELSE?
>> WITH US TONIGHT, FOLLOWING FOR THE BOARD'S FOLLOW UP DISCUSSION.
WE HAVE WALTER HOUSER FROM KG&D, JIM DOLAN FROM KG&D, WHO'S GOT A AREA OF SPECIALTY IN GEOTHERMAL.
I KNOW THERE WAS QUESTIONS ABOUT THAT. HE'S WITH US TONIGHT.
KEVIN SAWYER FROM TRITON CONSTRUCTION.
THEY'RE HERE TO ANSWER THE BOARD'S QUESTIONS ONCE WE GET INTO OUR BOND DISCUSSION.
>> THANK YOU. RIGHT OVER HERE.
>> [INAUDIBLE]. THANK YOU VERY MUCH
>> THANK YOU. BRIAN PAPA 17 OAK AVENUE.
I JUST WANT TO TALK ABOUT THIS BONDS PROPOSAL FROM THE PERSPECTIVE OF ACCESSIBILITY, PARTICULARLY AT CYANOI, WHICH SORELY NEEDS IT BECAUSE TODAY, ANYBODY THAT WALKS UP TO THE BUILDING, THE FRONT ENTRANCE, THEY CAN'T GET IN DEPENDING ON THEIR ABILITIES.
THERE'S ONLY TWO BIG STAIRCASES, THERE'S NO RAMP, THERE'S NO ELEVATOR, AND THAT'S UNACCEPTABLE TO NOT BE ABLE TO GET INTO A PUBLIC SCHOOL.
IT'S GOING TO OFFER A MYRIAD OF WAYS FOR PEOPLE TO ENTER THE BUILDING THAT MAY NOT OTHERWISE BE ABLE.
THE WAY THAT IT STANDS NOW, DEPENDING ON MILESTONES, SOMEWHERE IN THREE, FOUR, FIVE YEARS, WHATEVER, EVERYBODY WILL BE ABLE TO ENTER THE BUILDING EQUALLY.
I'M NOT SURE EXACTLY WHAT THE MILESTONES ARE FOR WHEN CERTAIN THINGS WILL BE DONE, BUT THAT'S GREAT, 3-5 YEARS.
I KNOW THERE'S A LOT OF TALK ABOUT POTENTIALLY DELAYING THIS FOR AN ADDITIONAL YEAR, AND WE'RE ALREADY LOOKING AT THREE, FOUR, FIVE YEARS FOR SOMEBODY TO BE ABLE TO GET INTO THE BUILDING EASILY.
I THINK IT'S A GREAT PLAN FOR CYANOI, FOR THE COMMUNITY.
ANYBODY THAT WANTS TO GET INTO THE BUILDING WILL BE ABLE TO.
>> RICH ELLENBOGEN 55 SHORE ROAD.
TAKES A LOT TO GET ME TO A BOARD MEETING.
LAST TIME WAS 18 YEARS AGO WHEN WE WERE HAVING THE PARKING PROBLEMS AND I WAS A PRESIDENT OF THE LIBRARY BOARD.
>> I AM ALL IN FAVOR OF EVERYTHING YOU'RE DOING, EXCEPT THE GEOTHERMAL HEATING.
I THINK THERE ARE BETTER WAYS TO DO IT NOW.
FOR THE PEOPLE IN THE ROOM, I DO A LOT OF WORK IN THE ENERGY SPACE FOR THE STATE.
YESTERDAY, I SPENT AN HOUR AND A HALF ADDRESSING THE STATE SENATE ON ENERGY ISSUES.
THE ENERGY AND TELECOMMUNICATIONS COMMITTEE THE GEOTHERMAL SYSTEMS, I HAD THE FIRST ONE IN PELHAM, ONE OF THE FIRST ONES IN WESTCHESTER COUNTY DATING BACK TO 2003.
THE HOUSE IS BASICALLY AN ENERGY LABORATORY.
EVERYTHING THAT GOES ON AT IT, I SEE THE TEMPERATURES, I SEE ALL THE ENERGY USAGE, THE ELECTRIC USAGE, MY FACTORY, SAME THING.
THE AVERAGE COST OF RUNNING A COMMERCIAL FACILITY IN NEW YORK STATE IS $3 A SQUARE FOOT.
WE'RE OPERATING AT A COST OF $1.15 A SQUARE FOOT.
I UNDERSTAND CLIMATE CHANGE IS REAL AND ALL THAT STUFF.
THE GEOTHERMAL SYSTEM IS NOT THE BEST WAY TO GO FOR A SCHOOL.
I'VE TALKED TO A LOT OF PEOPLE IN THE ENERGY SPACE, A VARIABLE REFRIGERANT FLOW SYSTEM WITH A GAS BACKUP FOR 500 HOURS A YEAR, WOULD BE MUCH MORE COST EFFECTIVE AND MUCH CHEAPER, WOULD GIVE YOU A LOT MORE FLEXIBILITY IN YOUR BUDGET.
THEY COST ONE THIRD THE PRICE OF A GEOTHERMAL SYSTEM.
[00:20:05]
YOU CAN GET TWO OF THESE FOR LESS THAN DOING THE SYSTEM FOR ONE OF THE SCHOOLS.>> CAN YOU REPEAT WHAT IT'S CALLED AGAIN.
>> A VARIABLE REFRIGERANT FLOW SYSTEM.
>> IT HAS A COOLING TOWER ON THE ROOF.
YOU SEE, THE PROBLEM WITH AIR SOURCE HEAT PUMPS IS SORT OF LIKE PUSHING A BOWLING BALL UP HILL.
THE STEEPER THE HILL, THE HARDER IT IS TO MOVE IT.
WITH AIR SOURCE HEAT PUMPS THAT EVERYBODY SAYS ARE SO EFFICIENT, WHEN IT'S COLD OUTSIDE, THERE'S NO HEAT TO DRAG OUT OF THE AIR.
IF YOU'RE GOING FROM A 30 DEGREE OUTSIDE TO A 70 DEGREE INSIDE, THAT'S A 40 DEGREE TEMPERATURE DIFFERENCE.
IF IT'S 55 OUT, AND YOU'RE GOING TO 70, IT'S ONLY A 15 DEGREE TEMPERATURE DIFFERENCE, AND THE UNITS BECOME MUCH MORE EFFICIENT.
IF IT GOES DOWN TO 10 DEGREES OUTSIDE TO 70, THEY BECOME VERY INEFFICIENT.
WITH GEOTHERMAL OVERCOMES THAT BY HAVING THE CONSTANT GROUND TEMPERATURE.
HOWEVER, OVER EXTENDED PERIODS, THE GROUND TEMPERATURE CHANGES.
IF YOU HAVE A VERY LONG COLD SNAP, AND YOU'RE BASICALLY SUCKING ALL THE HEAT OUT OF THE GROUND.
THIS SYSTEM STARTS LOSING EFFICIENCY.
AS AN EXPERIMENT THIS YEAR BECAUSE PEOPLE ASKED ME ABOUT IT, I TURNED MY HEAT PUMPS OFF AND SWITCHED TO MY GAS SYSTEM BECAUSE WHEN I PUT MY SYSTEM IN, IT WAS STILL VERY NEW TECHNOLOGY, AND MY ENERGY BILL WENT DOWN BY $2,000, USING GAS.
IT'S 120 DEGREE DAYS COLDER THAN IT WAS LAST YEAR, AND MY BILL WAS LOWER.
I HAVE A FRIEND IN ALBANY WHO LITERALLY I HAD LUNCH WITH HIM YESTERDAY WHEN I WAS CHARGING MY CAR, WHEN I WAS COMING BACK FROM ALBANY, AND HE BASICALLY SERVICES ALL THE GEOTHERMAL SYSTEMS IN THE STATE THAT HAVE ISSUES THAT YOU NEVER HEAR ABOUT, BECAUSE WHEN SOMEBODY SPENDS $20 MILLION ON A HEATING SYSTEM, THEY'RE NOT COMING OUT AND TELLING YOU THAT IT'S GOT PROBLEMS. THEY SWEEP IT UNDER THE RUG.
IF YOU GO LOOK AT AERIAL SHOTS OF BARD COLLEGE, YOU WILL SEE THAT THERE ARE GAS HEATING PLANTS OUTSIDE TO COMPENSATE FOR THE FACT THAT THEIR GEOTHERMAL SYSTEMS ARE HAVING ISSUES IN THE WINTERTIME.
HE TOLD ME WHERE THEY WERE, YOU CAN'T EVEN SEE THEM BECAUSE THERE'S TREES GROWING OVER THEM, BUT THEN HE SENT ME PICTURES AND HE GOES, "YOU CAN'T SHOW THESE TO ANYBODY BECAUSE IF YOU SHOW THEM THEY'RE ALL GOING TO KNOW WHERE THE PICTURES CAME FROM, AND I'LL GET IN TROUBLE." [LAUGHTER] THESE ARE THE REASONS I'M CONCERNED.
I THINK WHAT YOU'RE DOING IS GREAT.
I THINK ALL THE OTHER THINGS I THINK ARE NEEDED.
I THINK CUTTING THE COST OF THE HEATING SYSTEMS DOWN AND GETTING THE EXACT SAME PERFORMANCE FOR THE SAME OR LESS MONEY IN OPERATION COSTS AND A LOT LESS IN MAINTENANCE COSTS WILL MAKE IT A LOT EASIER, A, TO GET THE BUDGET PASSED BECAUSE YOU WON'T BE ASKING FOR NEARLY AS MUCH MONEY, AND, B, IT WILL GIVE YOU MORE FLEXIBILITY BECAUSE YOU'LL HAVE LESS DEBT SERVICE NEXT YEAR THAT YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE TO COVER WITH YOUR BUDGET.
I THINK THESE ARE THE THINGS THAT ARE VERY IMPORTANT.
I'M WILLING TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS IF ANYBODY HAS IT ABOUT WHY I FEEL SO STRONGLY ABOUT THIS.
BUT IN TERMS OF THE OTHER THINGS, I'M FINE WITH IT, BUT THAT I HAVE AN ISSUE WITH.
>> NOT AS TALL AS HE IS. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR HOLDING THIS AND LETTING US HAVE SOME OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK.
I'M A PARENT OF A RISING FIRST GRADER IN CYANOI.
I WANT TO FIRST THANK YOU DR. CHAMPEY, FOR SPENDING THE TIME WITH SOME OF US CONCERNED PARENTS IN THIS SPECIFIC GRADE AND CLASS TO HEAR SOME OF OUR ONGOING CONCERNS.
I ALSO DID NOT EXPECT MYSELF TO BE A PARTICIPANT IN THESE TYPES OF THINGS.
BUT LOVE OF YOUR OWN KID DRIVES YOU TO DO CRAZY THINGS.
FOR ME, WHAT STARTED MY INVOLVEMENT OR JOURNEY OF LEARNING HERE CAME FROM THE KNOWLEDGE THAT THERE WAS A OPERATING BUDGET ISSUE, WHICH WAS THAT CYANOI WAS GOING TO LOSE A STAFF MEMBER.
MY SON WAS PART OF A 23-KID KINDERGARTEN CLASS THAT HAD 70% BOY RATIO.
THIS YEAR, THAT CLASS WAS PLEASANTLY IMPROVED BY SPLITTING INTO THREE CLASSES OF 15.
MANY OF THE PARENTS IN MY COHORT, REALLY TALK ABOUT THE MASSIVE GAINS THAT THEY'VE SEEN THEIR CHILDREN HAVE WITH THE SMALLER CLASS SIZE, PARTICULARLY WITH THOSE THAT HAVE NEWER DIVERSE ISSUES.
MY SON IS PARTICULARLY GIFTED.
HE JUST WON SECOND PLACE IN THE STATE CHAMPIONSHIP FOR CHESS FOR CYANOI. WE'RE VERY EXCITED.
THIS EXTRA ATTENTION GIVEN TO THESE STUDENTS WAS REALLY WELL RECEIVED,
[00:25:04]
ESPECIALLY AFTER A ROUGH KINDERGARTEN YEAR.IN THE DRAFT PROPOSAL AND TOTALLY UNDERSTAND A LOT OF THESE POINTS ARE MOVING AND SHAKING NOW, BUT IN THE DRAFT PROPOSAL, THAT CLASS WAS DRAFTED AS ONE OF THE CLASSES THAT WOULD GET CUT AND REDUCE AND GO BACK TO THE 23 CLASS SIZE.
THIS OBVIOUSLY CAUSED UPROAR, HENCE, ALL OF THE PARENTS FREAKING OUT, AND INCLUDING MYSELF, AND LEARNING A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT THE BUDGETING PROCESS.
BUT WHAT I'VE NOW LEARNED IS THAT YOU ALL ARE IN A TOUGH POSITION.
YOU HAVE A VERY TIGHT OPERATING BUDGET.
YOU HAD TO MAKE THESE DECISIONS.
I UNDERSTOOD 80% OF THE OPERATING BUDGET IS SALARIES.
THEREFORE, WHAT MY CONCERNS ARE IS THAT WHEN YOU ACTUALLY FORECAST FOUR, THERE'S SOME CONTINGENCY, ETC., BUT THERE'S NO ROOM TO MAINTAIN THE OPTIMAL CLASS SIZE.
I THINK A LOT OF HIS PARENTS WOULD LIKE TO SEE AT CYANOI OR ANY OF THE ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS, WHICH IS AROUND 20.
BUT AT THAT UPPER LEVEL, ESPECIALLY AT THESE EARLY GRADES, IT GETS REALLY CHALLENGING FOR STUDENTS TO GET THE LEARNING ATTENTION THAT THEY NEED.
WHAT WE LEARNED WAS THAT IT IS WHAT IT IS.
WHAT I'M HERE TO ASK FOR IS AN OPPORTUNITY TO ADD SOMETHING TO PROPOSE TO INTRODUCE A LEVY, THE BREAKING THE TAX CAP TO ALLOW THE COMMUNITY TO BE ABLE TO FUND THESE TYPES OF INITIATIVES WHEN THERE IS A SHORTFALL OR OPPORTUNITY WHERE THE COMMUNITY RALLIES AROUND THAT.
IN THIS CASE, IT WOULD BE NICE IF THE COMMUNITY WAS ABLE TO BREACH THIS AND AND VOTE AND SUPPORT ADDITIONAL TAXES TO POTENTIALLY BRING MORE TEACHERS TO THE OVERALL COMMUNITY WHEREVER THE NEEDS ARE.
IN OUR CASE, WE HAVE ONE FOR CYANOI, AT LEAST.
BUT WHAT GAVE ME MORE CONCERN WAS AS A TAXPAYER WHO WILL END UP SPENDING MONEY ON THIS BOND OR IN THIS SCENARIO IS THAT THIS EXPANSION PROJECT HAS A LOT OF LOVELY FEATURES AND THERE ARE MANY OF THEM THAT I WOULD AGREE ARE ESSENTIAL TO ADA COMPLIANCE, IS AN EXCELLENT PLAN, BUT THERE ARE ALSO A LOT OF EXPANSIONS IN THESE CLASSROOMS THAT, DR. CHAMPEY SAID THEY WILL GET USED.
I COULD LIVE IN A PALACE TODAY AND HAVE A GYM, A SPA, AND ALL THESE EXTRA ROOMS. DO I REALLY REALLY NEED THAT? NO. WHAT I'M CONCERNED ABOUT IS THESE CHILDREN WHO ARE DEALING WITH THESE LARGER CLASS SIZES NOW THAT ALREADY HAVE A BUDGET CONSTRAINT THAT ARE THEN GOING TO GO INTO A SCHOOL THAT HAS THREE YEARS OF CONSTRUCTION GOING ON AND EVENTUALLY LEAVE WITHOUT GETTING THE BENEFITS OF THE SCHOOL.
MY HOPE IS THAT YOU ALL WOULD ACTUALLY RECONSIDER AND LOOK AT A SMALLER PROJECT OPPORTUNITY, BECAUSE WHAT I ALSO AM CONCERNED ABOUT IS THE FACT THAT THERE WOULD BE POTENTIALLY SOME ADDITIONAL REVENUES FROM THE STATE, SOME ADDITIONAL TAX LEVY INCREASE.
I WOULD ASK YOU GUYS TO MAKE SURE THAT THAT MATH ADDS UP, THAT WHEN YOU ACTUALLY ADD THAT ANNUAL KGR IN FOUR TO FIVE YEARS WHEN THOSE SPACES ARE READY, AND UNDERSTAND WHAT IS THE BUDGETING GOING TO ACTUALLY NEED TO SUPPORT THAT SPACE MOST OPTIMALLY, NOT JUST FOR ALL THESE THINGS THAT SEEM LIKE HONESTLY NICE TO HAVE, RELATIVE TO THE COST OF LOSS FOR THESE THREE YEARS AT CYANOI.
WHAT'S THAT KGR ACTUALLY LOOK LIKE TO SAY, WHAT IS THE OPERATING BASIS OF TAXES NEED TO BE TO SUPPORT THE PROPER AMOUNT OF FUNDING THAT'S GOING TO MAKE THE BEST USE OF THOSE SPACES AT THAT TIME? IF THERE'S A SHORTFALL AND IF THAT MATH DOES NOT ADD UP, AND WE WOULD LOVE TO SEE THIS MATH, THEN YOU ALSO MENTIONED REDUCING EXPENDITURES.
BUT EXPENDITURES ARE 80%, AS YOU STATED BEFORE, IF SALARIES ARE 80%, WHERE IS THE EXPENDITURE REDUCTION EVEN GOING TO BE POSSIBLE? THEN IT'S BACK TO THE SAME PLACE WHERE WE'RE CUTTING SALARIES TO THEN TO HAVE LESS TEACHERS TO USE THE SPACES, AND IT JUST DOESN'T MAKE SENSE.
I DON'T UNDERSTAND HOW THE MATH ADDS UP HERE WHEN I THINK ABOUT PROJECTING FOR THE ACTUAL OPERATING CASH NEEDS OF WHAT WILL BE A BIGGER CYANOI AND HOW THAT ADDS UP TO THE O SHORTFALLS THAT EXIST TODAY THAT ARE VERY REAL PAIN POINTS THAT WE HAVE. THANK YOU.
I'VE LIVED ON CYANOI FOR 27 YEARS.
IT'S THE FIRST TIME I'VE EVER TALKED AT A BOARD MEETING.
I DOVE INTO THIS IN A SLIGHTLY SELFISH POSITION THINKING, OH, GOD, A CONSTRUCTION PROJECT IN MY BACKYARD.
I SAID, WELL, I LIKE TO DO WHAT'S BEST FOR THE COMMUNITY AND NOT BE SELFISH, SO LET ME GET TO YES.
BUT THE MORE I LOOKED INTO THIS, THE MORE IN GENERAL, I WAS LIKE, I FEEL THAT AS DEDICATED AND HARDWORKING AND AS INTELLIGENT AS THIS BOARD IS, THAT THE PROCESS HAS BEEN A LITTLE RUSHED.
I KNOW THAT EMAIL CAME OUT, THEY MADE IT LOOK LIKE THINGS HAVE BEEN GOING ON SINCE 2003.
BUT MOST OF THIS INFORMATION THAT THIS BOARD HAS BEEN CONSUMING HAS REALLY STARTED SINCE SEPTEMBER.
I DON'T THINK THAT'S A LONG TIME.
I BROUGHT UP A POINT 15 YEARS AGO WHEN THEY WERE DOING
[00:30:04]
A NEW ROOF FOR CYANOI AND THEY WERE TAKING DOWN THE SLATE. I WAS LIKE, "IT'S BEAUTIFUL.WHY ARE WE TAKING DOWN THE SLATE?" THEY'RE LIKE, "IT'S FISCALLY IRRESPONSIBLE TO REPLACE IT WITH SLATE." THIS BOARD DIDN'T EVEN DO THOSE NUMBERS.
GREAT. CHECK OFF, HOWEVER MILLIONS OF DOLLARS THAT SLATE ROOF COSTS.
NOW, I'M NOT SAYING THAT YOU WOULDN'T COME TO A DECISION, BUT I JUST FEEL LIKE THERE'S SO MANY THINGS GOING ON.
WHEN YOU SAY LIKE, THERE HAS TO BE FOUR CLASSROOMS LOST FOR THE ELEVATORS, WELL, WHEN YOU WENT BACK TO THE ARCHITECT AND SAID, "WE WANT A CAFETERIA," THEY CAME UP WITH A VERY CREATIVE PLAN.
I FEEL LIKE THE FIRST TIME WHEN YOU HEARD WE'RE LOSING FOUR CLASSROOMS, IT BECAME GREAT TO HAVE AN EXPANSION, AND NO ONE WENT BACK TO THE ARCHITECT AND SAID, "MAKE THIS A COMPLIANT.
DON'T LOSE FOUR CLASSROOMS." THAT WAS NOT PRESENTED, IT WAS JUST LIKE, "IF YOU'RE GOING TO OBJECT TO AN EXPANSION, YOU'RE AGAINST ADA." THAT PUTS PEOPLE IN A TERRIBLE POSITION.
THEN YOU JUMP WILLY-NILLY, "THERE'S NOT GOING TO BE A PLAYGROUND, LET'S CHOP DOWN BIG TREES ON THE CUT THROUGH AND JAM IT THERE, AND THAT'S EFFECT FOR THE NEIGHBORHOOD FOR THE NEXT HUNDRED YEARS BECAUSE TREES DON'T GROW BACK JUST BECAUSE THE KIDS IN THE SCHOOL ARE GOING TO NEED A PLAYGROUND FOR ONE YEAR." IT'S ALL THIS JUMPING AROUND THAT I JUST DON'T FEEL THAT IT'S BEEN FULLY THOUGHT THROUGH. THANK YOU.
>> KATHY, CAN I JUST CLARIFY, WE'RE NOT LOOKING TO CUT DOWN TREES ON THAT CUT THROUGH.
WE WOULD RELOCATE IT TO WHEREVER IT FIT ON THE PROPERTY.
JUST SO YOU KNOW THAT SMALL DETAIL.
I DON'T NEED TO ADJUST THE MIC.
THANK YOU FOR HOLDING THE MEETING.
I JUST GOT A FEW NOTES. MICHAEL OHARA.
ANYTHING THAT IS GOING TO BE HAPPENING IN TERMS OF CONSTRUCTION IS GOING TO HAVE POSSIBLE MATERIAL IMPACT IN A FEW DIFFERENT AREAS.
THE SET OF QUESTIONS I HAD INCLUDE, IS TRITON, IF THEY ARE THE COMPANY THAT'S DOING THIS WORK, ARE THEY CONDUCTING ANY GEOLOGICAL SURVEY AS IT RELATES TO THE CONSTRUCTION, SPECIFICALLY THE GEOTHERMAL, AS THAT WORK IS INTRUSIVE AND IS GOING TO START CHANGING THE WATER TABLE.
EVERYBODY KNOWS, WATER ROLLS DOWNHILL.
IF THERE'S ANYTHING LIKE THE WEATHER WE'VE SEEN OVER THE PREVIOUS YEARS, WE'RE LUCKY WE HAVE NOT GOTTEN HAMMERED BY IT.
BUT IF CONDITIONS CHANGE AND WATER STARTS ROLLING DOWN THE HILL IN A CONCERTED MANNER, I WOULD HAVE A BIG PROBLEM WITH THAT.
KATHY WHO JUST SPOKE AND I SEE I SEE OTHER NEIGHBORS.
THEY'VE PROBABLY HAVE THE SAME CONCERNS OR IF THEY HADN'T CONSIDERED THAT, THIS WOULD BE SOMETHING THAT WE WOULD NEED TO DISCUSS A AS A GROUP.
ASSESSMENTS RELATED TO HOME VALUE.
I KNOW THAT THAT'S NOT SOMETHING THAT HAPPENS, BUT IF YOU WENT OUT AND DID RESEARCH, YOU'LL FIND BOTH INSTANCES WHERE THE PROPERTY VALUES GO UP IN THE LONG-TERM.
THAT PRESENTS A PROBLEM OVER THE NEXT FIVE YEARS IF SOMEBODY WAS TO MOVE BECAUSE OF THE NOISE AND CONSTRUCTION POLLUTION, IT'S GOING TO BE AN ISSUE FOR ANYBODY THAT'S LOOKING TO MOVE.
I FOR ONE, I AM NOT, AT LEAST I'M NOT PLANNING TO.
BUT IF SOMEBODY WAS CONSIDERING MOVING OUT, THE CONSTRUCTION, THE NOISE POLLUTION, ALL OF THE OUTCOMES OF DOING A PROJECT OF THAT SCOPE IS GOING TO HAVE AN IMPACT ON THE PROPERTY VALUE.
>> WHAT MITIGATIONS ARE IN PLACE, IF TRITON DOES WHAT HAPPENED ON I DON'T KNOW IF IT WAS REED OR ONE OF THE LOCAL STREETS, THE FIOS LINE GOT CRUNCHED.
THERE WAS NO INTERNET, AS EVERYBODY HERE IS WELL AWARE.
[BACKGROUND] I WOULD BE VERY CURIOUS WHAT MITIGATING PLANS ARE IN PLACE TO BE ABLE TO QUICKLY REACT BECAUSE I'M 100% REMOTE,
[00:35:03]
AND I NEED INTERNET IN ORDER TO DO MY JOB, SO I'D BE CURIOUS WHAT THE COMPANY HAS IN TERMS OF PLANNED RESPONSE IN THE EVENT, SOMEBODY DIGS UP A LINE AND TOASTS NOT JUST INTERNET, BUT ELECTRIC GAS LINES.I WOULD LOVE TO HEAR WHAT TRITON IS ANTICIPATING FOR THAT.
AROUND THAT QUESTION, WHAT LIABILITY INSURANCE IS IN PLACE OR WILL BE IN PLACE WITH THE CONSTRUCTION FIRM? IN THE EVENT THEY DO SOMETHING AND THEY REALLY BLOW SOMETHING UP, I WOULD BE CURIOUS WHAT THAT ALSO LOOKS LIKE AND WHAT CONSIDERATION WE WOULD GET IN THE EVENT THEY CRUNCHED THE LINE AND IT WAS DOWN FOR A WEEK OR IF MY HEAT WAS OFF BECAUSE SOME OTHER INCIDENT HAPPENED.
THEN MY LAST POINT WOULD BE AROUND THE ZONING THAT THE SCHOOL'S POSITION IN THE DISTRICT'S OPINION IS THAT THE ZONING LAWS DO NOT APPLY.
I HAPPEN TO HAVE A BIG PROBLEM WITH THAT.
BECAUSE, WE JUST HAD AN EPISODE WITH JULIA'S PLAYGROUND WHERE THE POSITIONS WERE SWITCHED AND THE TOWN WAS MAKING IT VERY DIFFICULT FOR THE SCHOOL DISTRICT.
I WOULD LIKE EVERYBODY ON THE BOARD AND EVERYBODY ELSE IN THIS ROOM TO CONSIDER, THAT MANY PEOPLE BELIEVE THAT THE ZONING LAWS DO APPLY TO ANYBODY WHO IS BEING A GOOD NEIGHBOR.
THAT WAS JUST QUESTIONS AND STATEMENTS THAT I HAD.
>> THANK YOU. REALLY APPRECIATE IT.
I CAN'T ANSWER ALL THE QUESTIONS TONIGHT, BUT IT WILL GIVE YOU A PIECE OF CLARIFICATION THAT, YES TRITON IS WORKING WITH US IN ALL THOSE ISSUES THAT YOU MENTIONED, GEOLOGICAL SURVEY, THE MITIGATION EFFORTS, LIABILITY INSURANCE, ALL THOSE THINGS WILL BE ADDRESSED AS WE MOVE FURTHER INTO THE PROCESS.
TRITON IS WITH US THROUGH THE PRE-BOND PROCESS, AND I KNOW KEVIN KNOWS US, WE'RE GOING TO THEN DO A FULL RFP PROCESS FOR CONSTRUCTION MANAGEMENT, IF THE VOTERS APPROVE IT, AND ALL THAT INFORMATION WILL BE READILY AVAILABLE.
>> HI, I'M CRAIG RESNICK. I LIVE ON SIWANOY PLACE AS WELL, AMONGST MANY OF MY NEIGHBORS.
I HAD A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS ON THE TAX IMPACT.
MY UNDERSTANDING FROM READING SOME OF THE MATERIALS IS, I THINK THE AVERAGE IMPACT OR FOR THE AVERAGE HOUSE IS ABOUT $1,500 A YEAR, IS WHAT I HEARD.
>> IT DEPENDS WHICH ONE YOU'RE LOOKING AT.
THAT WAS THE ACTUAL IMPACT FOR THE HIGHER VALUED HOME.
I THINK IT WAS A $1.5 MILLION HOME.
>> FINE. 1,100. I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE I'M UNDERSTANDING.
THAT IS THE IMPACT VERSUS WHAT WE'RE PAYING TODAY ON AVERAGE, CORRECT?
>> BUT WHAT WE'RE PAYING TODAY INCLUDES THE DEBT SERVICING ON THE $65 MILLION BOND THAT'S EXPIRING.
IF NOTHING HAPPENED, WHICH I'M NOT ADVOCATING FOR IT, BUT IF NOTHING HAPPENED, WOULD THE AVERAGE ASSESSMENT ACTUALLY GO DOWN?
>> I DON'T HAVE THAT INFORMATION IN FRONT OF ME, BUT YES.
>> I JUST WANT TO BE CLEAR THAT THE AVERAGE HOUSEHOLD, THIS ISN'T COSTING EXTRA 1,100.
THIS IS COSTING MORE THAN AN EXTRA 1,100.
EXTRA 1,100 VERSUS WHAT YOU'RE PAYING TODAY, BUT THIS IS STILL ADDITIONAL TAX DOLLARS BEING SPENT ABOVE AND BEYOND THAT, AND SO I THINK THAT'S A LITTLE BIT NOT ANYONE'S FAULT BY I THINK Y'ALL I APPRECIATE ALL THE HARD WORK YOU GUYS ARE ALL DOING FOR THIS.
BUT I THINK THAT GETS LOST A LITTLE BIT, AND I THINK JUST IN GENERAL, BEYOND JUST PELHAM, BUT IT'S LIKE, ONCE TAX DOLLARS ARE ASSESSED, IT'S VERY EASY THEN JUST TO SAY, "THIS IS JUST A LITTLE BIT MORE," BUT WE'RE STILL SPENDING OLD STUFF.
I THINK THAT'S IMPORTANT. THEN THE OTHER THING, I'M JUST A LITTLE CONCERNED, I THINK 140 MILLION, WHAT THE FULL PRICE TAG IS.
WE ARE OBVIOUSLY ENTERING A PRETTY UNCERTAIN ECONOMIC TIME GLOBALLY.
I DON'T WANT TO MAKE THIS ABOUT. MACROPOLITICS, AT ALL.
I DEFINITELY DON'T WANT TO GET INTO THAT.
BUT I THINK WE CAN ALL AGREE IT'S PRETTY UNCERTAIN.
JUST A QUICK GOOGLE SEARCH YOU HEAR ABOUT ALL THE TARIFFS THAT ARE PROBABLY COMING AND ONE OF THE FIRST THINGS YOU HEAR IS WHAT'S GOING TO GO UP, CONSTRUCTION COSTS, ARE GOING TO BE ONE OF THE BIGGEST THINGS THAT ARE GOING TO GO UP.
I'M A LITTLE CURIOUS. AGAIN, WE DON'T GET ANSWERS HERE OR MAYBE THE ARCHITECTS CAN HELP WITH.
BUT HOW CERTAIN ARE WE THAT THIS IS GOING TO COST ONLY "140 MILLION",
[00:40:05]
AND WE'RE NOT GOING TO FIND OUT THAT THE COST OF THE LABOR, THE COST OF THE STEEL OF THE CONCRETE, EVERYTHING JUST GOT A WHOLE LOT MORE EXPENSIVE BY THE TIME THIS PROJECT ACTUALLY STARTS TWO OR THREE YEARS FROM NOW, IS JUST A BIG CONCERN. THANK YOU.>> HELLO, EVERYONE. TAMMY ACHER 470 SIWANOY PLACE.
I SENT A LETTER EARLIER TODAY, AND I THINK THAT IT REALLY OUTLINES SOME OF MY HUSBAND AND MY CONCERNS ABOUT THIS PROJECT AT SIWANOY.
BUT IN ADDITION TO THAT, I'M HEARING A NUMBER OF THINGS FROM DIFFERENT PEOPLE WHO'VE SPOKEN TONIGHT AND I HAVE A COUPLE OF THINGS THAT I'D LIKE TO ADD TO THOSE DISCUSSIONS.
FIRST OFF, WITH REGARD TO DEBT SERVICE.
YOU HAVE A CONSTANT DEBT SERVICE NOW AND YOU WANT TO MAINTAIN THE DEBT SERVICE, AS CRAIG JUST MENTIONED.
IF YOU DON'T ISSUE ANY MORE BONDS, THEN THAT DEBT SERVICE FALLS AWAY, AND YES, OUR ASSESSMENTS AND OUR TAXES AS A RESULT MIGHT COME DOWN.
THAT'S ONE THING I'D LIKE TO POINT OUT, BUT ALSO ANOTHER PERSON SPOKE EARLIER ABOUT WHAT DO WE DO IF WE DON'T HAVE ENOUGH MONEY TO PAY FOR THE OPERATING.
HOW CAN WE GO ABOVE THE TAX CAP? THE ISSUE IS, IF I'M UNDERSTANDING IT CORRECTLY AND I THINK I AM, IF OUR DEBT SERVICE GOES DOWN AND WE DON'T HAVE TO PAY OUT OF OUR OPERATING, THE PRINCIPAL AND INTEREST ON THE BONDS THAT HAVE NOW BEEN SATISFIED BEEN PAID OFF BEEN DEF.
YOU THEN HAVE ALL OF THIS EXTRA TAX MONEY AND CASH AVAILABLE TO PAY FOR THE EXTRA TEACHERS THAT YOU MIGHT NEED SHOULD THERE BE EXPANSION. IT GOES LIKE THIS.
YES, THERE'S CAPITAL AND YES, THERE'S AN OPERATING BUDGET, BUT THE OPERATING BUDGET PAYS THE DEBT SERVICE ON THE CAPITAL.
THEY ARE CONNECTED. JUST WANT TO POINT THAT OUT.
IF COSTS GO UP BECAUSE OF A TARIFF, IF CONSTRUCTION COSTS GO UP MAYBE IN A YEAR, IN TWO YEARS.
YOU BID THE PROJECT OUT, YOU BID IT OUT, LET'S SAY IN THE FALL.
THEN NEXT YEAR, ALL THESE TARIFFS HIT AND ALL THE COSTS GO UP.
WELL, HOW ARE YOU GOING TO PAY FOR THAT? YOU'RE GOING TO COME BACK AND YOU'RE GOING TO ASK FOR AN AMENDED BOND ACT, AND YOU'RE GOING TO ASK FOR THE AMENDED BOND ACT AND IT'S GOING TO INCREASE TAXES JUST THAT MUCH MORE, 30%, WHATEVER IT IS.
I WANT TO PUT THAT ON THE RECORD.
GEO THERMAL. THANK YOU, MR. ALLEN BAGEN FOR GIVING US A VERY GOOD EDUCATIONAL LESSON ABOUT GEOTHERMAL.
ENERGY. WE LIVE RIGHT ACROSS FROM THE SCHOOL.
ASIDE FROM CONSTRUCTION AND NOISE AND DIRT AND ALL OF THAT AND CONGESTION AND, HOW ARE THE TRUCKS GOING TO GET DOWN BETWEEN THE CARS THAT ALREADY BLOCK OUR DRIVEWAYS, ALL OF THAT.
THESE HOUSES ARE REALLY OLD, AND I AM REALLY CONCERNED ABOUT THE INTEGRITY OF THE FOUNDATION OF THOSE HOUSES.
IN MY LETTER THAT I WROTE EARLIER YEARS AGO, OIL TANKS WERE UNDERGROUND ACROSS THE STREET FROM MY HOUSE, AND THE SCHOOL SAID WE HAVE TO GET THE OIL TANKS OUT.
THEY CAME IN AND THEY TOOK THE OIL TANKS OUT AND GUESS WHAT? THEY LEAKED. THEY LEAKED ALL OVER THE PLACE.
FOR MONTH AFTER MONTH, THEY CAME IN WITH TRUCKS AND FILLED THE TRUCKS WITH OIL, THE DIRT THAT WAS CONTAMINATED TO SHIP IT OFF TO SOME PLACE THAT WOULD TAKE CONTAMINATED SOIL.
BUT EVERY TIME IT RAINED THAT WATER CAME DOWN WITH THE FILM OF OIL.
THEY'RE HERE RIGHT NOW, BUT THEY DIDN'T OWN THE HOUSE AT THE TIME.
WOUND UP WITH A FILM OF OIL IN THEIR SUM PUMP FROM THE WATER RUNOFF FROM THE SCHOOL.
WE NEED TO LOOK INTO THOSE TYPES OF THINGS.
THESE ARE MAJOR CONCERNS FOR THE ENVIRONMENT, FOR THE NEIGHBORS, FOR THE INTEGRITY OF THE HOUSES.
I THINK THAT THE BLASTING WOULD DEFINITELY COMPROMISE THESE ONE, 100-YEAR-OLD PLUS HOUSES.
THAT'S IT FOR NOW, I MIGHT HAVE MORE LATER.
>> HI, THANK YOU GUYS SO MUCH FOR ALL OF THE HARD WORK ON THIS ISSUE AND FOR CONTINUING TO HOST THESE SESSIONS, WHICH I THINK ARE JUST CRITICAL FOR CONTINUED DIALOGUE.
>> YES. MANOR LANE. I ALSO SENT A LETTER.
I'M NOT GOING TO REITERATE ALL THE POINTS THERE.
BUT I DO WANT TWO POINTS TO BE MADE FOR THE COMMUNITY.
FIRST OF ALL, I'M REALLY CONCERNED ABOUT THE STRUCTURE OF THE PROPOSITIONS, WHICH I THINK IS ACTUALLY THE ISSUE TECHNICALLY ON THE TABLE TONIGHT FOR SOME SORT OF VOTE.
I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ADDRESS THAT.
[00:45:01]
I PERSONALLY LIKE MANY OF THE PEOPLE WHO HAVE SPOKE PASSIONATELY HERE, AM IN FAVOR OF ACTUALLY ROLLING OVER THE BOND AND MAKING SOME BASIC UPGRADES.I'M ALSO IN FAVOR OF ADA COMPLIANCE, WHICH WE COULD UTILIZE SOME OF THAT MONEY FOR.
I AM NOT IN FAVOR OF THE NICE TO HAVE AS PEOPLE HAVE BEEN CALLING THEM.
I AM NOT IN FAVOR OF THE LARGE EXPANSION.
I THINK WE'RE HEARING THAT FROM A LOT OF PEOPLE.
WHAT I REALLY DON'T LIKE ABOUT THE WAY THE PROPOSITION IS STRUCTURED, IS IT DOESN'T GIVE US AN OPPORTUNITY TO VOTE FOR ROLLING OVER THE BOND, VOTING FOR ADA COMPLIANCE AND NOT VOTING FOR THE NICE TO HAVE.
I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE EVERYONE IS FOCUSED ON HOW ARE WE STRUCTURING THESE PROPOSITIONS TO MAKE SURE THAT THE COMMUNITY CAN EXPRESS THEIR ACTUAL OPINION ABOUT THE PARTS.
THE SECOND THING IS, I REALLY WANT TO THANK THE GUY WHO CAME UP ON THE GEOTHERMAL.
ONE OF MY OTHER CONCERNS IS THAT THE COMMUNITY HAS NOT BEEN SUFFICIENTLY ENGAGED, ALL OF THE PROFESSIONALS WE HAVE HERE WHEN YOU WERE MAKING THE DESIGNS IN THE FIRST PLACE ON THESE ISSUES AND THINGS LIKE THIS WHERE FOR ANYONE OF MY NEIGHBORS WHO HAS READ UP ABOUT GEOTHERMAL.
I THINK WE ALL HAVE SOME REALLY SERIOUS CONCERNS ABOUT GEOTHERMAL AND YET IT'S STILL SOMEHOW ON THE PROPOSITION.
I DON'T THINK THAT WE'VE HAD THE RIGHT PROFESSIONALS WITH THE RIGHT EXPERTISE ENGAGED IN THE DISCUSSIONS ALL ALONG.
IN TERMS OF THE TIMING, I THINK WE DO NEED MORE TIME IN ORDER TO MAKE SURE THAT THOSE PROFESSIONALS AND THE EXPERTISE IS REALLY ENGAGED IN THE DESIGN.
MY FINAL POINT IS ONE THAT I ALSO FEEL VERY STRONGLY ABOUT, WHICH IS I STRONGLY DISAGREE WITH THE DISTRICT'S POSITION THAT ZONING DOESN'T APPLY TO YOU AS A LEGAL MATTER AS A LAWYER.
I'VE LOOKED INTO IT, AND I JUST STRONGLY DISAGREE WITH THAT.
THE REASON THAT I CARE ABOUT THAT IS THAT THE ZONING LAWS ARE THERE TO PROTECT OUR COMMUNITY.
THEY PROTECT OUR ENVIRONMENT, THEY PROTECT OUR HOME VALUES, THEY PROTECT OUR ENJOYMENT OF OUR COMMUNITY.
THEY'RE THERE TO PROTECT OUR COMMUNITY, AND THEREFORE, THE VIOLATION OF THOSE LAWS TO PROTECT US IS SOMETHING THAT REALLY, REALLY TROUBLES ME, AND I THINK IS A REAL ISSUE HERE IN TERMS OF THE IMPACT THAT IT COULD HAVE IN OUR COMMUNITY IN A NEGATIVE WAY, BOTH IN THE SHORT AND THE LONG TERM. THANK YOU.
>> I THINK WE'RE THE SAME. GOOD EVENING, ADAM LKWITZ, 498 MATTER LANE.
AFTER MONTHS OF HEARING FEEDBACK FROM THE COMMUNITY BUT RARELY ENGAGING IN TRUE DIALOGUE, WE ARE NEARING A FORMAL BOND PROPOSAL.
ALSO, THE PROPOSED BUDGET WAS RECENTLY RELEASED.
TOGETHER, THEY REPRESENT THE PRIORITIES THIS COMMUNITY HAS WHEN IT COMES TO EDUCATING CHILDREN.
THE COMMUNITY PRIORITIZES EQUITY AND ACCESSIBILITY.
THIS BOND WILL MAKE SIWANOY ADA COMPLIANT.
YET TO GET THAT COMPLIANCE, WE ARE ASKED TO FUND THE BUILDING THE COMMUNITY DOESN'T SEEM TO WANT.
LOSE OUTDOOR SPACE WE DESPERATELY NEED, AND IT'S A THIRD OF USABLE SPACE.
THE DRIVEWAY IN THE FRONT DOESN'T COUNT.
THAT'S HOW YOU GET YOUR SIX, BUT IT'S A THIRD OF THE USABLE SPACE.
THIS COMMUNITY PRIORITIZES SMALL CLASS SIZES, SO DOES THE BOARD, YET THIS BUDGET INCREASES AVERAGE CLASS SIZES THROUGH TEACHER REDUCTIONS AT THE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL LEVEL.
WE PRIORITIZE ADVANCED EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES AT THE OVERCROWDED MIDDLE SCHOOL AND HIGH SCHOOL, BUT WE WILL ONLY BUILD THOSE NEEDED SPACES IF WE BUILD SIWANOY FIRST.
FOR A TOWN THAT DOES NOT WANT TO SEE ANOTHER INTERMUNICIPAL LAWSUIT, WE HAVE THE LOOMING PROSPECT OF THE PROPOSED CONSTRUCTION VIOLATING ZONING LAWS.
YOU SEE THESE TWO DOCUMENTS PRESENT A COMBINATION OF CONFLICTING CHOICES THAT DON'T MAKE SENSE.
WE CAN MAKE SIWANOY ADA ACCESSIBLE.
BUT ONLY IF WE CAN ALSO BUILD NEW CLASSROOMS IN A CAFETERIA, WE NEED TO BUILD EXTRA CLASSROOMS, BUT WE MAY NOT BE ABLE TO AFFORD TO STAFF THEM IN THE FUTURE.
WE MAY NOT BE ABLE TO AFFORD TEACHERS IN THE TAX CAP BUDGET, BUT WE CAN REQUEST ANYTHING WE WANT IN AN UNCAPPED BOND PROPOSAL.
WE'VE ENDED UP HERE, AN OPERATING BUDGET THAT STARTS CUTTING TEACHERS AND A BOND THAT BUILDS BIGGER THAN IS NEEDED AND BIGGER THAN THE COMMUNITY WANTS.
THERE IS NO WAY THIS GETS EASIER IN THE FUTURE.
TAX CAPS ARE LAW, AND YOU CAN BET WE WILL BE ASKED TO PIERCE THE TAX CAP SOON.
BUT FIRST, YOU'D LIKE ONE MORE GIANT BOND BEFORE WE TALK ABOUT THAT TAX CAP.
THIS YEAR, SIWANOY AND CLONIAL PARENTS WILL BE FIGHTING EACH OTHER TO KEEP THEIR CHILDREN IN SMALLER CLASSES.
ONE OF THREE GRADES IN SIWANOY AND ONE OF FOUR AND COLONIAL IS GETTING CONDENSED BECAUSE OF THE BUDGET.
INCLUDING A CLASS THAT WAS CHOSEN TO BE EXPANDED JUST LAST YEAR, MAY GET THAT TAKEN AWAY.
ARE WE READY FOR THAT TAX CAP DEBATE? BECAUSE TODAY WE'RE BEING ASKED TO FUND A KITCHEN AT SIWANOY THAT WON'T BE USED FOR SCHOOL LUNCHES.
FOR CENTRAL AIR, WHEN WINDOW ACS ARE MORE THAN ADEQUATE FOR GEOTHERMAL WELLS THAT MAY PAY OFF IN 25 YEARS, WHEN WE CAN'T MAINTAIN THE TEACHING STAFF WE HAVE TODAY.
WE CAN DO BETTER IN PELHAM. I'VE HEARD THAT BEFORE.
[00:50:04]
WE CAN COME UP WITH A BETTER, MORE APPROPRIATE BOND REQUEST THAT ADDRESSES ACTUAL NEEDS WHILE STARTING THE DISCUSSION ABOUT HOW WE CAN STAFF CLASSROOMS IN THE FUTURE YEARS.BECAUSE YOU MAY THINK WE AREN'T THOSE OTHER SCHOOL DISTRICTS WHERE THEY'RE CUTTING HUNDREDS OF TEACHERS, WE AREN'T YET.
>> THANK YOU GUYS A COUPLE OF CHARTS.
>> ARTHUR CENTER 123 CLIFF AVENUE.
I AM NEITHER A SIWANOY PARENT NOR A SIWANOY NEIGHBOR.
BUT I DO HAVE SOME INFORMATION THAT I THOUGHT MIGHT BE USEFUL TO THE BOARD REGARDING THE ENROLLMENT PROJECTION REPORT THAT YOU ALL DID.
IT COMES FROM EXPERIENCE, WORKING AS A REALTOR IN TOWN, AND I THOUGHT IT WOULD BE HELPFUL TO PLOW THROUGH THAT ENROLLMENT PROJECTION REPORT AND GIVE YOU SOME THINGS THAT I FELT WERE MISTAKES AND SOME THINGS THAT ARE A LITTLE BIT OFF IN TERMS OF METHODOLOGY.
AS A PRELIMINARY MATTER, I THOUGHT THAT THE REPORT'S DISCUSSION OF POPULATION CHANGE WAS A BIT STILTED.
IT ONLY WENT BACK 20 YEARS AND SUGGESTED THAT POPULATION OF PELHAM WAS INCREASING.
BY NOT SAMPLING A LONGER TIME, THE REPORT FAILS TO RECOGNIZE THAT PELHAM IS A COMMUNITY WHERE THE POPULATION HAS REMAINED RELATIVELY CONSTANT SINCE THE END OF WORLD WAR II.
BEFORE YOU, I'VE GIVEN YOU A CHART THAT SHOWS THE POPULATION OF PEEN FOR THE LAST 80 YEARS, AND YOU'LL SEE THAT THE TREND LINE IS ROUGHLY FLAT SINCE 1940.
THERE WAS A PEAK IN 1970, THAT WAS A TIME WHEN THERE WERE ALMOST 1,000 MORE RESIDENTS IN TOWN, AND THAT COINCIDES WITH THE BABY BOOM.
MOST OF THOSE THOUSANDS WERE CHILDREN.
WHILE THERE ARE SOME VARIATION SINCE THEN, THE TREND LINE IS RELATIVELY FLAT.
THE REPORT FOCUS ON TWO THINGS TO TRY AND GAUGE IN ROMAN PROJECTIONS.
ONE IS HOUSING TURNOVER AND THE OTHER IS BIRTH RATE PREDICTION.
WITH RESPECT TO HOUSING TURNOVER, IT'S VERY ODD.
IN PAGE 12 OF THE REPORT, IT CONTAINS A CHART PURPORTING TO SHOW HOME SALES IN THE PELHAM DISTRICT.
I LOOKED INTO WHERE THE DATA IS TAKEN FROM.
IT COMES FROM A STATE DATABASE THAT TRACKS DEED TRANSFERS.
BUT UNFORTUNATELY, THE DATA THAT THEY USED IS NOT SCRUBBED AT ALL.
IT'S WILDLY AT ODDS WITH THE DATA FROM THE MULTIPLE LISTING SERVICE THAT RECORDS ACTUAL HOME SALES IN PELHAM.
THERE SEEMED TO BE SEVERAL PROBLEMS WITH THE DATA THAT IS USED BY THE REPORT.
FIRST, THE DATA SOMETIMES DOUBLE COUNTS SALES.
THIS HAPPENS WHEN A RELOCATION COMPANY IS BUYING THE HOUSE FOR SOMEBODY RELOCATING OUT OF THE AREA AND ACTS AS AN INTERMEDIARY, AND THE DEED GETS RECORDED TWICE, SO THAT ACTUALLY GETS RECORDED TWICE IN THE STATE DATABASE AS TWO DEEDS BEING RECORDED, EVEN THOUGH IT'S ONE BUYER BUYING THE HOUSE.
EXAMPLES OF THIS ARE 575 MANOR LANE AND 78 YOUNG IN 2016.
THE DATA ALSO INCLUDES DEED TRANSFERS TO CONTRACTORS WHO FLIP HOUSES, SUCH AS THE SALE OF 151 2ND AVENUE, WHERE A CONTRACTOR RENOVATED AND SOLD AT THE NEXT YEAR.
THAT'S ACTUALLY COUNTING TWO SALES WHERE THERE REALLY IS ONLY ONE SALE.
IT ALSO INCLUDES INTRA-FAMILY SALES, SUCH AS THE SALE FROM A FATHER TO A SON, 32 1ST STREET, WHERE IT WAS JUST STAYING IN THE SAME FAMILY, BUT THERE WAS A DEED RECORDED, SO PICK THAT UP AS A SALE.
IT SEEMS TO INCLUDE MULTIFAMILY HOMES WHEN THEY PASS BETWEEN INVESTORS, SUCH AS 505 5TH AVENUE, WHICH HAS BEEN BOUGHT AND SOLD FIVE TIMES IN THE PAST 10 YEARS.
BUT APART FROM THE FAULTY DATA, EVEN IF IT WERE CORRECT, THE REPORT REACHED A WRONG CONCLUSION.
ON PAGE 20, THE REPORT STATES THAT, I'M GOING TO QUOTE THIS, THE INCREASED TURNOVER OF EXISTING HOUSES MAY BRING YOUNGER FAMILIES INTO THE DISTRICT, AND THEN GOES ON TO PREDICT A TURNOVER OF 150-185 HOMES EACH YEAR.
THERE'S NOTHING IN THE REPORT TO EXPLAIN WHERE THESE NUMBERS CAME FROM.
IN FACT, 185 IS THE SECOND HIGHEST NUMBER OF ANY NUMBER OF HOMES SOLD ACCORDING TO THEIR DATA IN THE LAST TEN YEARS.
IN 2022, THE LAST YEAR OF DATA IN THE REPORT, IT SHOWS ONLY 146 HOMES TRADING.
AGAIN, THIS BEING A LARGER NUMBER THAN ACTUALLY HAPPENED ACCORDING TO THE MULTIPLE LISTING SERVICE.
BUT REGARDLESS, THE REPORT IS COMPLETELY WRONG IN ITS PREDICTION AS HOUSING SALES HAVE FALLEN OFF A CLIFF IN 2023 AND '24.
WHILE IT PREDICTED THAT WE WOULD CONTINUE TO HAVE THESE HIGH NUMBER OF SALES, YOU'LL SEE IN THE CHART BEFORE YOU THAT THE SALES HAVE ACTUALLY FALLEN OFF A CLIFF.
[00:55:01]
SO WE WENT FROM IN 2022, WE ACTUALLY HAD 105 HOME SALE SOLD, 145 THE YEAR BEFORE THAT.IN 2023, WE HAD 89 SINGLE FAMILY HOMES SOLD AND IN 2024, 81.
WE'RE DOWN BY ABOUT 40% FROM THE PEAK, WHICH THE REPORT SAID WE WOULD CONTINUE WITH OVER THE NEXT SEVERAL YEARS.
THE REASON FOR THE DECLINE, SO WHY AREN'T HOUSES SELLING? WHAT WE'VE SEEN IS PEOPLE ARE STAYING LONGER.
THERE ARE PEOPLE HERE, THERE ARE PEOPLE I'VE BEEN TALKING TO IN THE LAST WEEK WHO HAVEN'T HAD KIDS IN THE SCHOOL DISTRICT FOR MORE THAN TEN YEARS.
I HAVEN'T HAD ANYBODY IN THE SCHOOL DISTRICT FOR 10 YEARS.
WE STAY FOR A NUMBER OF REASONS.
TWO, THE ECONOMICS OF MOVING ARE NO LONGER WHAT THEY WERE.
IT USED TO BE PEOPLE WOULD SELL THEIR HOUSE IN PELHAM, MOVE TO FLORIDA, POCKET HALF THE MONEY, WELL, IT'S FLIPPED NOW, IT'S ACTUALLY MORE EXPENSIVE TO MOVE TO FLORIDA.
PEOPLE USED TO GO BACK TO THE CITY.
THE CITY IS NOT SO LIVABLE AS IT ONCE WAS, SO PEOPLE AREN'T GOING BACK TO THE CITY THE WAY THEY WERE.
ANYBODY BORN 1960 OR LATER, YOU HAVE TO WORK TO 70 TO COLLECT FULL SOCIAL SECURITY.
AS A CONSEQUENCE, WE'RE JUST NOT SEEING HOMES SELL THE WAY THEY USED TO, AND THE DISTRICT IS GETTING OLDER.
NOW THAT SHOULD BE MUSIC TO YOUR EARS BECAUSE THAT MEANS THERE'S MORE PEOPLE HERE WITH FEWER SCHOOL AGE KIDS, WHICH MEANS YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE MORE MONEY COMING IN THAT WON'T BE NEEDED FOR EDUCATION PURPOSES.
THERE'S FREE MONEY FROM ANYBODY WHO DOESN'T HAVE A KID IN THE SCHOOL.
ANYWAY, BACK TO THE REPORT, IF THE THEORY IS RIGHT THAT HOUSING SALES ARE AN INDICATOR OF FUTURE ENROLLMENT BECAUSE THE NUMBERS HAVE BEEN FALLING FOR THE LAST TWO YEARS.
WE WILL NOT BE SEEING AN INCREASE.
WE WILL ACTUALLY BE SEEING A DECLINE IN ENROLLMENT IN THE PELHAM SCHOOLS IN THE COMING YEARS.
IF THEIR METHODOLOGY IS RIGHT, IF THEIR THESIS IS RIGHT, THE NUMBER OF HOMES SOLD PREDICTS THE NUMBER OF SCHOOL AGE KIDS, THEN WE SHOULD BE SEEING A SUBSTANTIAL DECLINE IN ENROLLMENT.
WITH RESPECT TO SIWANOY SCHOOL, APPARENTLY, THE REPORT HAS ALSO PROVEN WRONG JUST IN THE YEAR SINCE IT WAS WRITTEN BECAUSE THE ENROLLMENT WAS PROJECTED TO BE 286.
I UNDERSTAND FROM A RESIDENT IN THE SIWANOY DISTRICT, AND IT'S ACTUALLY 2276, SO IT'S OFF BY 10.
NOW, AS TO THE SECOND METHODOLOGY FOR PREDICTING ENROLLMENT BY LOOKING AT BIRTH RATES, THE REPORT ASSUMES THAT AN INCREASE IN LIVE BIRTHS IN PELHAM MEANS AN INCREASE IN SCHOOL POPULATION.
NOW, THAT WOULD BE TRUE IF THE INCREASE IN BIRTH RATE WAS AN INDICATION THAT FAMILIES WERE HAVING MORE CHILDREN.
BUT THERE'S NO EVIDENCE OF THAT.
THE REPORT DOESN'T FIND ANY EVIDENCE OF IT, AND IN REALITY, WE'RE NOT SEEING THAT.
THE ACTUAL EXPLANATION FOR THE INCREASE IN LIVE BIRTHS IS FOUND IN THE REPORT ITSELF.
ON PAGE 4, THE REPORT NOTES THAT THERE HAS BEEN A DECLINE IN THE AGE OF THE ADULT POPULATION AS WELL AS A DECLINE IN SCHOOL AGE CHILDREN.
IN OTHER WORDS, THE ADULTS IN TOWN IN THE AGE CATEGORY OF 29-40 ARE YOUNGER THAN THEY USED TO BE.
IN FACT, THIS IS WHAT A LOT OF US HAVE NOTICED AS REALTORS.
MORE OF OUR BUYERS ARE MOVING TO PELHAM AND THEN HAVING CHILDREN WHEN THEY GET HERE RATHER THAN STAYING IN THE CITY AND MOVING HERE WHEN THEIR CHILDREN ARE READY FOR SCHOOL.
THAT WOULD BE THE REASON WHY THE BIRTH RATE IS GOING UP BECAUSE PEOPLE ARE MOVING HERE YOUNGER.
WHAT THAT MEANS THOUGH, IS THAT THERE'S ACTUALLY GOING TO BE A DECLINE IN ENROLLMENT FROM THAT BECAUSE WHEREAS BEFORE, IF FAMILIES MOVED HERE WITH A FOUR-YEAR-OLD AND A TWO-YEAR-OLD, THEY WOULD BE PUTTING A CHILD IN THE SCHOOL THE NEXT YEAR.
IF PEOPLE ARE MOVING HERE WHEN THEY HAVE A ONE-YEAR-OLD AND THEY'RE HAVING CHILDREN ONCE THEY GET HERE, THEY WON'T BE USING THE SCHOOLS FOR FOUR YEARS.
I JUST SOLD A HOUSE ON CORONA AVENUE FOR $2 MILLION TO SOMEBODY WITH A ONE-YEAR-OLD.
THERE'S ANOTHER FAMILY THAT I KNOW VERY WELL THAT LIVES ON ELDERWOOD AVENUE, WHO HAVE TWINS, WHO WON'T BE IN SCHOOL FOR FOUR YEARS.
>> THIS CHANGE WOULD ACTUALLY SUGGEST LOWER ENROLLMENT IN PELHAM SCHOOLS, AND IF THE TREND CONTINUES, WOULD REPRESENT AN INCREASE IN THE NUMBER OF YOUNGER PEOPLE WITHOUT SCHOOL AGE CHILDREN.
LASTLY, IN THE REPORT IN THE CHARTS THAT I'VE GIVEN YOU, I PLOTTED THE DATA FROM THE REPORT ON ENROLLMENT IN THE LAST TEN YEARS.
IN FACT, THE ENROLLMENT IN THE LAST THREE OF THE LAST FOUR YEARS HAS BEEN THE LOWEST OF THE LAST 11, AND THE OVERALL TREND, AS YOU SEE ON THAT CHARTS GOT A TREND LINE ON IT IS DOWNWARD.
WHY IS IT IMPORTANT THAT WE NOT OVERBUILD? I THINK IT'S BEEN VERY WELL ARTICULATED TONIGHT THAT WHEN YOU SPEND MONEY UNNECESSARILY ON FACILITIES THAT YOU MAY NOT NEED, YOU LOSE THE REVENUE TO SPEND ON EDUCATING THE CHILDREN.
IT'S ALSO IMPORTANT, I THINK BECAUSE YOU DON'T WANT TO UNNECESSARILY RAISE TAXES AND END UP WITH GOING BACK TO AN INVERSION OF PEOPLE LEAVING AS SOON AS THE KIDS ARE OUT OF SCHOOL AND ENDING UP WITH THOSE PEOPLE BEING REPLACED WITH SCHOOL AGE CHILDREN.
JUST TO GIVE YOU AN EXAMPLE, USING MY BLOCK ON CLIFF AVENUE AS A RANDOM SAMPLE.
TWO-THIRDS OF THE HOMES IN THE 100 BLOCK OF CLIFF ARE OWNED BY EMPTY NESTERS.
THOSE NINE HOMES PAY OVER A QUARTER OF A MILLION DOLLARS IN SCHOOL TAXES AND YET GET NO SCHOOL SERVICES.
[01:00:03]
THERE ARE PEOPLE IN THIS TOWN WHO IF YOU RAISE THEIR TAXES $1,500 AND ACTUALLY ON CLIFF AVENUE, WOULD PROBABLY BE MORE LIKE $2,000, THEY WILL LEAVE.IF THEY LEAVE, YOU WILL END UP WITH THOSE HOMES OWNED BY PEOPLE WITH SCHOOL AGED CHILDREN, AND THEN YOU WILL HAVE A PROBLEM WITH FACILITIES, AND YOU WON'T HAVE ENOUGH ROOM FOR ANYBODY IN THE DISTRICT.
ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS BEFORE I JUST FINISH OFF? THE LAST THING I WANT TO LEAVE YOU WITH, THIS IS SUPPOSEDLY A PROFESSIONAL STUDY DONE BY PROFESSIONALS.
WE'VE SEEN PROFESSIONAL STUDIES BEFORE IN PELHAM ON ENROLLMENT PROJECTIONS.
THERE WAS ONE DONE IN THE 1980S, AND IT WAS HELM BOARD OF EDUCATION COMMISSIONED A COMPREHENSIVE LONG RANGE PLANNING STUDY, AND NOT UNLIKE THIS ONE, I SHOWED THAT DECLINES WOULD HAPPEN IN THE FORESEEABLE FUTURE AND THAT THE DISTRICT SHOULD CLOSE COLONIAL SCHOOL.
THIS WAS AT A TIME WHERE THERE WAS ONE KINDERGARTEN CLASS IN COLONIAL.
THE GRADUATING HIGH SCHOOL CLASS WAS ABOUT 100, ACTUALLY UNDER 100, AND WHAT HAPPENED WAS THE STUFF OF LEGEND.
THE BOARD OF ED WAS COMPLETELY IN RECALCITRANT, FELT THAT THEY HAD BEEN ELECTED TO EXERCISE THEIR JUDGMENT AND THAT THOSE OPPOSED WERE JUST NOISEMAKERS FROM THE HEIGHTS WHO WERE PUTTING THEIR SELF INTEREST AHEAD OF THE GREATER GOOD.
IT WAS ONLY BY ACTION OF THE TAXPAYERS WHO WENT DOOR TO DOOR CONDUCTING THEIR OWN SURVEY TO COUNT THE EXPECTED NUMBER OF SCHOOL AGE CHILDREN THAT THE SCHOOL WAS KEPT OPEN, THANK GOODNESS, IT WAS.
SO THIS REPORT IN PARTICULAR, SEEMS TO BE VERY FLAWED.
IT IS THE FOUNDATION OF EVERYTHING THAT YOU'RE DOING BECAUSE EVERYWHERE AND EVERYTHING THAT THE ARCHITECTS PRESENTED AND EVEN THE DISTRICT'S E-MAIL THAT WENT OUT YESTERDAY HAS BEEN THAT THIS IS THE BASIS FOR WHY WE NEED TO BUILD MORE CAPACITY AT SIWANOY AND AT THE MIDDLE SCHOOL.
I THINK THAT IT'S FLAWED, AND I WOULD REALLY HATE TO SEE YOU SPEND MONEY ON UNNECESSARY FACILITIES THAT ARE GOING TO DEPRIVE THE KIDS OF THE COMMUNITY OF THE COSTS THAT THEY NEED TO GET A GOOD EDUCATION. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
>> HI, EVERYBODY. HI. CHRISTI ANGELO, 511 MANOR LANE.
I'VE SPOKEN TO MANY OF YOU OVER THE YEARS.
JUST SO YOU KNOW WHERE MANOR LANE IS OR 511, I'M DIRECTLY ACROSS FROM THE BASKETBALL COURTS IN THE PLAYGROUND.
SO I HAVE A BEAUTIFUL VIEW OF THE SCHOOL, I HAVE A BEAUTIFUL VIEW OF A WONDERFUL PLAYGROUND THAT IS FILLED TO THE RIM, NO PUN INTENDED WITH KIDS EVERY DAY, EVERY SINGLE DAY.
THAT'S THE GREATEST SOUND IN THE WORLD IS TO HEAR KIDS IN A PLAYGROUND.
SQUEALING WITH DELIGHT WHILE THEY'RE PLAYING THERE.
NOW TO MY POINTS. THANK YOU AS WELL FOR ALL THE HARD WORK YOU DO.
I AM IN FAVOR OF ADA COMPLIANCE.
IT WAS ODD TO ME WHEN WE MOVED HERE 20 YEARS AGO THAT WE HAD A SCHOOL THAT DIDN'T COMPLY WITH THE ADA WITH RESPECT TO PEOPLE BEING ABLE TO GET IN AND PEOPLE BEING ABLE TO GO UP AND DOWN STAIRCASES.
THAT WAS ODD. IT'S 20 YEARS LATER, AND WE STILL HAVE A SCHOOL THAT IS NOT ADA COMPLIANT.
I AM IN FAVOR, ABSOLUTELY IN FAVOR OF ADA COMPLIANCE AT SIWANOY SCHOOL, AND I HOPE TO STILL BE LIVING HERE WHEN IT HAPPENS.
WHAT I'M NOT IN FAVOR OF IS USING THAT AS A WEDGE TO DRIVE WHAT I VIEW AS A MASSIVE PROJECT THAT ISN'T JUSTIFIED BY THE NEEDS OF THE SCHOOL DISTRICT AND THE NEEDS OF THE COMMUNITY.
WHAT I REALLY OBJECT TO IS THE FACT THAT WHILE THE BOARD HAS CLEARLY BEEN WORKING ON ALL OF THIS FOR QUITE A LONG PERIOD OF TIME.
IT WASN'T UNTIL THE MIDDLE OF JANUARY THAT THE SIWANOY COMMUNITY ITSELF FOUND OUT ABOUT THIS PROJECT AND WAS ASKED ITS OPINION AND WAS ASKED TO WEIGH IN ON IT.
WE'VE HAD A FULL TWO MONTHS TWO MONTHS TO LOOK AT WHAT YOU'RE DOING AND LOOK AT WHAT YOU'VE DONE AND WEIGH IN ON IT.
THAT JUST ISN'T ENOUGH GIVEN THE SIZE OF THE PROJECT THAT YOU WERE PROPOSING NOW.
I AM IN FAVOR WITH EVERYBODY WHO STEPPED UP HERE EARLIER AND SAID, LET'S TAKE A PAUSE.
LET'S LOOK AT WHAT WE'RE DOING.
LET'S SEE HOW MUCH WE'RE SPENDING.
I ALSO BELIEVE THAT AN EXPANSION OF THE SCHOOL IS NEEDED, BUT NOT OF THE SIZE AND MAGNITUDE THAT YOU ARE PROPOSING HERE TONIGHT.
[01:05:04]
I DON'T SEE THAT IT'S JUSTIFIED.WHAT I REALLY WISH IT HAPPENED WAS THAT THE SCHOOL DISTRICT AND THE BOARD HAD REACHED OUT TO THE COMMUNITY AND BROUGHT IN PEOPLE WHO LIVE AROUND THE AREA AND OTHER PROFESSIONALS LIKE RICH ELLEN BOGAN, TO COME IN AND REALLY LOOK AT WHAT YOU'RE DOING AND HOW YOU'RE DOING IT AND BE GIVEN THE OPPORTUNITY TO WEIGH IN IN A MEANINGFUL WAY ON A PROJECT THAT IS GOING TO IMPACT THE COMMUNITY IN A VERY SIGNIFICANT MANNER. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.
WOULD ANYONE ELSE LIKE TO COME UP?
I'M MOSTLY REALLY EXCITED TO BE HERE TO LEARN ALL THE THINGS I NEED TO KNOW TO MAKE INFORMED VOTER DECISIONS.
I'M REALLY HAPPY WITH ALL THE THINGS THAT YOU CLARIFIED AND ALSO LEARNING SO MUCH FROM PEOPLE THAT ARE AROUND SIWANOY.
BUT I HAVE ONE PARTICULAR POINT, WHICH IS, I UNDERSTAND THAT THE BOARD IS AN IMPOSSIBLE SITUATION WHERE THERE ARE THINGS THAT NEED TO HAPPEN, ADA COMPLIANCE GETS TRIGGERED WITH ANY UPDATES, AND WE HAVE CRUMBLING INFRASTRUCTURE, AND THAT MAKES THIS PROCESS JUST ABSOLUTELY DIFFICULT.
WE'RE CONSCIOUS OF THE FACT THAT WE HAVE A LIMITED AMOUNT THAT WE CAN EXPAND OUR BUDGET AND PERSONNEL DOESN'T ALWAYS FIT THAT.
I'M VERY AWARE OF THAT, BUT I ALSO SEE THAT WHEN WE VOTE FOR THINGS FOR OUR SCHOOLS, WE'RE VOTING FOR THE THINGS THAT WE VALUE, AND I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT ALL OF THE THINGS THAT WE'RE VOTING FOR ARE THINGS THAT WE AS A COMMUNITY WANT TO PROMOTE.
THINGS LIKE ADA COMPLIANCE, I DON'T KNOW THAT ANYONE IS OPPOSED TO THAT.
>> THE BUDGET SHOULD REFLECT THE THINGS THAT WE ARE WE CARE ABOUT.
I WANT TO SAY VERY STRONGLY THAT I'M IN FAVOR.
WE HAVEN'T TALKED A LOT ABOUT THE HIGH SCHOOL OPTION FOR THE BOND, BUT I'M STRONGLY IN FAVOR OF NEW UPDATED SCIENCE LABS.
WE'RE DESPERATELY IN NEED OF THOSE.
WE HAVE AMAZING TEACHERS WHO DO FABULOUS THINGS.
WE HAVE STUDENTS WHO ARE WINNING AWARDS LIKE INTERNATIONAL LEVEL THINGS, AND THEY'RE DOING IT IN THE HALLWAYS.
I JUST WANT TO SAY ON THE RECORD THAT, I'M REALLY HOPING YOU CAN DIVORCE THE SIMONI BOND FROM THE HIGH SCHOOL, IF AT ALL POSSIBLE, BECAUSE I THINK SIMONI IS STILL I'M NOT QUITE SURE THAT WE'RE SETTLED ON WHAT WE FEEL ABOUT IT.
BUT I THINK THAT I HAD A LOT OF OPPOSITION TO THE UPDATES IN THE HIGH SCHOOL, AND I THINK THEY'RE REALLY SORELY NEEDED.
I THINK WE ALL KNOW HOW I FEEL ABOUT SCIENCE AND SO I THINK WE NEED TO INVEST IN THAT BECAUSE THAT'S WHERE THE FUTURE OF JOBS ARE.
EVEN IN THE HUMANITIES, YOU HAVE TO HAVE A LEVEL OF TECHNICAL SAVVY NOW.
I THINK THAT I REALLY WANT TO PUT THAT OUT THERE THAT I REALLY HOPE THAT THE HIGH SCHOOL IS NOT CONTINGENT ON THE SIMONI BOND PASSING.
WHEN IT COMES TO THE INTERACTION BETWEEN THE BUDGET AND THE BOND, I UNDERSTAND THAT THEY COME FROM TWO DIFFERENT PLACES.
MONEY IS USED FOR DIFFERENT THINGS, BUT THEY'RE BOTH REFERENDUMS ON WHAT WE CARE ABOUT, AND I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT I UNDERSTAND THE NEED TO REDUCE STAFF.
BUT OUR TEACHERS ARE ALREADY DOING A LOT OF THINGS AND OUR SOMETIMES TOO BUSY TO DO SOME OF THE MORE INNOVATIVE THINGS THAT I THINK WE'D LIKE TO SEE IN THE DISTRICT.
REDUCING STAFFING MAKES IT EVEN HARDER FOR THEM TO HAVE SPACE AND CREATIVITY TO DO MORE INNOVATIVE, INTERESTING PEDAGOGICAL THINGS.
I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE ALIGNING THE SUPPORT AND STRUCTURE THAT WE'RE GIVING OUR STAFF AND STUDENTS WITH ENOUGH SUPPORT IN THE ANNUAL BUDGET TO UTILIZE THOSE FACILITIES WE'RE TALKING ABOUT GIVING THEM TO THE MAXIMUM EXTENT THAT WE
[01:10:03]
CAN IN WAYS THAT ARE REALLY MEANINGFUL LEARNING.I THINK THAT'S ALL I GET. THANK YOU.
>> APPRECIATE IT. CHECK COMING UP.
WE HAVE A STUDENT AT SIMONI AND A STUDENT IN THE MIDDLE SCHOOL.
I WAS GOING TO START BY SAYING THANK YOU FOR ALL THE WORK THAT YOU'VE BEEN DOING.
FOR HOSTING THESE MEETINGS, AS OTHERS HAVE SAID.
I KNOW YOU WOULDN'T BE ABLE TO TELL BASED ON HOW I'M DRESSED TONIGHT, BUT I BUILD REALLY BIG COMPLICATED PROJECTS FOR A LIVING.
I WOULD SAY THAT BASED ON THE LEVEL OF DESIGN AND ARCHITECTURE THAT I'VE SEEN AND THE PACE AT WHICH IT'S COME OUT, THERE IS NO WAY YOU KNOW HOW MUCH THIS WILL COST.
ESTIMATING IS AN ART EARLY IN A PROCESS, AND A SCIENCE LATER IN A PROCESS.
I WOULD JUST WHATEVER CONTINGENCY THAT YOU HAVE, YOU REALLY NEED TO STUDY THAT.
I DON'T KNOW HOW THE PROCESS WORKS IF THE BONDS GO OVER, IF WE HAVE, WE HAVE A BUDGET BUST, BUT THAT'S A REAL PROBLEM, I THINK FOR WHAT BASED ON WHAT I KNOW NOW.
YOU CAN'T LOCK YOUR PROCEEDS IN EARLY IN A PROJECT.
YOU DO THAT LATER IN A PROJECT WHEN YOU KNOW WHAT IT'S ACTUALLY GOING TO COST.
I AGREE WITH SOME OF WHAT OTHERS HAVE SAID, WE NEED BETTER FORECAST, STATISTICS, DEMOGRAPHICS ON FUTURE ENROLLMENT BEFORE WE MAKE DECISIONS EXCUSE ME, ABOUT THE PHYSICAL PROJECT AND SCHOOLS THAT WE HAVE.
WE ABSOLUTELY SHOULD BE MAKING APPROPRIATE INVESTMENTS INTO OUR INFRASTRUCTURE TO MAKE SURE WE HAVE FUNCTIONAL BUILDINGS FOR OUR CHILDREN, OF COURSE.
WE REALLY NEED TO STUDY THE ELECTIVE CAPITAL MORE.
I THINK A BUNCH OF PEOPLE HERE FROM THE SIMONI AREA.
THERE'S THE WHITE HOUSE RIGHT NEXT TO SIMONI.
I LOOK AT THAT AND I WONDER IF THAT'S THE SOLUTION TO HAVING AN EXECUTION PLAN THAT DISRUPTS OUR CHILDREN LESS AND COSTS LESS, SO THAT'S A QUESTION I HAVE.
WE SHOULD JUST SLOW DOWN AND GET THIS RIGHT.
WE'RE ALL IN FAVOR OF OBVIOUSLY SUPPORTING THE SCHOOLS, BUT WE'RE MOVING REALLY QUICKLY. THANK YOU.
>> I SPOKE EARLY AND I'VE LISTENED TO ALL OF THIS AND I HAD JUST ONE MORE POINT TO MAKE THAT I THINK.
I THINK I JUST WANT TO TIE IT OUT.
I MADE THAT OBNOXIOUS COMMENT ABOUT MY SON, BUT THE REASON I MADE IT WAS BECAUSE WHAT'S ALSO MISSING IS THAT THERE IS NO FOCUS IN THE ELEMENTARY ABILITY IN THE ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS IN PELHAM TO FIND EXTRA ENRICHMENT OPPORTUNITIES FOR CHILDREN WHO ARE SHAPING ADVANCED.
THAT BEAUTIFUL COMMENT ABOUT THE SCIENCE LABS IN THE HIGH SCHOOL AND THE AWARDING OPPORTUNITIES. THERE'S ACTUALLY NONE.
I HAD TO BEG MY SON COULDN'T GET INTO IN KINDERGARTEN GO INTO E CLUB, COULDN'T GET INTO A FIRST GRADE.
THE PELHAM CHEST PERSON ACTUALLY GOT WENT OVER ABOVE AND BEYOND AND SAID HE KNOW HE HAS TO BE IN THIS, AND THAT'S HOW HE GOT IN.
COULDN'T GET HIM INTO MATH, COULDN'T GET HIM INTO ANYTHING, H ASKED ABOUT READING EXTRA ENRICHMENT.
THIS PATENT ANSWER IS, DOCTOR CHAMP, WE ALSO TALKED ABOUT THIS.
THERE JUST REALLY ISN'T BUDGET FOR THIS.
WHAT THIS DOES IS IT DRIVES SOME OF THE TOP STUDENTS IN PELHAM TO ACTUALLY CONSIDER PRIVATE SCHOOL, WHICH WITH THE TAX BASIS AND PRIVATE SCHOOL COSTS IS OUTRAGEOUS, SO I WILL DRIVE US TO LEAVE.
I JUST WANT TO ALSO EMPHASIZE THAT THESE OPPORTUNITIES WHERE THE BOND MAY EXPIRE AND THERE'S OPERATING COSTS.
I'VE LEARNED SO MUCH FROM THIS CONVERSATION.
BUT THERE ARE REALLY GREAT COMMUNITY OPPORTUNITIES TO CONTINUE TO INVEST IN THE EDUCATION AND THE OPERATING COST BASIS OF SALARIES AND EXTRA PROGRAMMING AND THINGS THAT AREN'T AVAILABLE NOW AT ALL.
THERE'S A LOT OF COMMUNITY MEMBERS, I THINK WHO WOULD CHOOSE TO VOTE FOR THAT OVER THESE EXPANSIONS, WHICH I DO HOPE THAT WE THINK ABOUT IN A MORE DETAILED MANNER FOR A LOT OF THE COMMENTS THAT MY LOVELY COMMUNITY MEMBERS MENTIONED. THANK YOU.
I HAVE TWO KIDS IN AT SIMONI I ALSO.
CAN WE USE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO ASK SOME QUESTIONS OF YOU GUYS OR IS IT ONLY.
>> YEAH, IT'S NOT TECHNICALLY A Q&A.
IF WE'RE ABLE TO CLARIFY SOMETHING, WE WOULD, BUT IT'S NOT A Q&A.
>> I MEAN, ONE OF THE QUESTIONS I HAD WAS ON AND IT WAS TOUCHED ON BY A LOT OF SPEAKERS PRIOR TO ME, WHICH WAS THE BOND ITSELF, IS IT IN ALL OR NOTHING PROPOSITION OR CAN IT BE SPLIT INTO DIFFERENT PARTS THAT CAN BE VOTED ON INDEPENDENTLY?
[01:15:04]
>> THAT'S WE'RE GOING TO TALK ABOUT RIGHT AFTER PUBLIC AFTER WHAT WE'RE GOING TO DISCUSS.
>> SORRY, FOR JUMPING THE GUN.
>> YEAH, THE REST OF US. THERE WE GO.
THE REST OF THE QUESTIONS WERE PROBABLY NOT SUITED FOR THAT.
MAYBE FOR A BETTER FORUM, I THE COFFEE OR SOMETHING OF THOSE.
>> YOU CAN ALWAYS WELCOME TO EMAIL.
>> YOU DO YOUR BEST TO GET YOU THE ANSWERS YOU'RE FOR.
THAT'S ABOUT 600 FEET FROM THE NEW HUTCHINSON SCHOOL.
I GUESS I'M JUST GOING TO REALLY GO FOR THE LOW LYING FRUIT.
I REALLY JUST WANT TO MAKE A POINT ABOUT THE DISTURBANCE OF THE CONSTRUCTION BECAUSE IT SEEMS LIKE YESTERDAY.
WE WERE EXPERIENCING THIS IN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD.
VERY SIMILAR POINTS AND I'M ALSO THE FIRST TO SAY THAT OBVIOUSLY THESE ARE TWO VERY DIFFERENT PROJECTS.
THE TERRAIN IS ALSO VERY DIFFERENT.
I UNDERSTAND THAT SIMONI IS MUCH MORE LANDLOCKED.
BUT I DON'T THINK IN SO THERE ARE PLANS FOR BLASTING ROCK.
I REMEMBER HAVING TO CLOSE MY KITCHEN WINDOW BECAUSE IT WAS SO LOUD.
WE DIDN'T HAVE ACCESS TO JULIAN'S PARK FOR I THINK ABOUT TWO YEARS BECAUSE THE SCHOOL WAS USING IT BECAUSE THERE WAS NO PLAY AREA THERE.
THE NEIGHBORHOOD HAS SET ON THAT.
BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY, I MEAN, I WALK PAST THAT SCHOOL TWICE A DAY EVERY DAY, AND I'M SO GLAD IT'S THERE.
IT'S ADDED SO MUCH TO OUR NEIGHBORHOOD AND OUR COMMUNITY, AND I THINK IT'S A GREAT SCHOOL.
DESPITE THE FACT THAT THE NEIGHBORHOOD DID HAVE TO REALLY SUFFER THROUGH THREE YEARS OF THE DISTURBANCE THAT GOES WITH THE CONSTRUCTION.
I JUST WANTED TO REMIND EVERYONE OF THAT THAT.
IT'S PAINFUL, BUT YOU CAN COME OUT ON THE OTHER SIDE WITH SOMETHING REALLY BEAUTIFUL THAT THE COMMUNITY APPRECIATES.
I REALLY WANT TO THANK THE PERSON WHO JUST SPOKE.
I UNDERSTAND THAT SOMETIMES CONSTRUCTION CAN BE REALLY WORTH IT.
OF COURSE, I'M CONCERNED ABOUT THE CONSTRUCTION.
BUT IT'S REALLY ABOUT WHAT PEOPLE WANT.
WITH THE HUTCHINSON SCHOOL, IT WAS NECESSARY.
EVERYONE IN THE HUTCHINSON COMMUNITY WANTED A NEW SCHOOL, AND PELHAM RALLIED AROUND THAT.
IN THIS SITUATION, WE'RE LISTENING TO EVERYONE HERE AND WHAT PEOPLE WANT, WHAT THIS COMMUNITY WANTS, THEY DON'T WANT THIS LARGE EXPANSION.
THEY DON'T WANT THE PLAY BASE TO BE LOST.
LOOKING AT WHAT PEOPLE WANT, I'M HEARING PEOPLE SAY, THEY WANT ADA COMPLIANCE, THEY WANT BUDGET GOING TOWARDS THE TEACHERS AND TOWARDS THE EDUCATION.
SOME PEOPLE ARE SAYING MAYBE A VERY LIMITED EXPANSION.
IF WE'RE LOOKING AT WHAT PEOPLE REALLY WANT, THEN IN ORDER TO BE IN ORDER TO EQUATE IT WITH THE HUTCHINSON SCHOOL SITUATION, I REALLY THINK WE NEED TO BE FOCUSED ON THAT.
I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY ARE WE STILL LOOKING AT A CAFETERIA? WHY COULDN'T THAT SPACE THAT WE'RE USING FOR A CAFETERIA BE EXPANDED INTO ADDITIONAL CLASSROOMS INSTEAD? THEN MAYBE WE COULD HAVE A LITTLE SMALLER EXTENSION.
I JUST THINK THAT I THINK THAT EVERYONE NEEDS TO PAY ATTENTION TO WHAT THE COMMUNITY WANTS INSTEAD OF THOSE ADD ONS THAT WE WERE TALKING ABOUT BEFORE.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR EVERYTHING YOU'RE DOING.
>> GOOD. I'VE DRAWN MORE ATTENTION TO MYSELF.
HI I'M ADDIE MERCER. I'M 466 ESPLANADE.
I JUST CAME. NO ONE CAN HEAR ME.
I JUST CAME FROM OUR VARIETY SHOW AT.
WE HAVE SO MANY TALENTED KIDS.
WE'VE ADDED A LOT OF PROGRAMMING TO REALLY SUPPORT OPPORTUNITIES TO GET THEM SINGING, DANCING, PERFORMING ON STAGE. WE BROUGHT IN A PLAY.
IT'S BEEN AMAZING TO WATCH THESE KIDS JUST LIKE LIGHT UP AND REALLY FIND LOVE OF DIFFERENT ENRICHMENT THAN WHAT THEY GET IN SCHOOL ALL DAY.
I HAVE SECOND GRADER AND AN INCOMING KINDERGARTNER.
I KNOW WE JUST HEARD THAT THE COMMUNITY DOESN'T WANT THIS.
[01:20:01]
I WANT THIS. I VERY MUCH WANT THIS FOR MY KIDS.I DON'T EVEN KNOW IF MY KIDS GOING TO HAVE A CHANCE TO SEE IT.
I MIGHT HAVE MY INCOMING KINDERGARTNER, MIGHT GET A CHANCE TO SEE SOME OF IT IN FIFTH GRADE IF IT'S DONE BY THEN.
ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I'M REALLY WORRIED ABOUT IS BECOMING A SITUATION WHERE IT IS FALLING DOWN AND WHERE IT'S NECESSARY AND IT'S IN MUCH GREATER DISREPAIR BY THE TIME THAT WE NEED TO TAKE A THREE YEAR CONSTRUCTION PROJECT TO BENEFIT THE KIDS THAT ARE IN DIRE NEED.
I DON'T WANT TO GET THERE. I UNDERSTAND THAT IT'S A DIFFERENT SITUATION FROM HUTCH.
I HAD A TINY BABY FOR THAT BOND, BUT I REMEMBER THAT BOND.
ANOTHER THING THAT I'M REALLY WORRIED ABOUT IS, I TRUST THE PEOPLE WHO ARE THE EXPERTS IN EDUCATING MY KIDS.
THAT'S WHY I SEND THEM TO PUBLIC SCHOOL, I BELIEVE IN PUBLIC SCHOOLS, I TRUST THE TEACHERS.
I ALSO GO TO PTA MEETINGS WITH THOSE TEACHERS.
WHEN WE'VE TALKED ABOUT THIS, THIS BOND IN THE FACILITIES, I'VE HEARD STORIES ABOUT ORDERING FURNITURE THAT DIDN'T FIT INTO THE CLASSROOMS AND THEY HAD TO SEND IT BACK.
THE WAY THAT THEY JUGGLE LUNCH DUTY AND DISMISSAL AND JUST SPACES THAT ARE TOO SMALL FOR THE AMOUNT OF BODIES TINY AS THEY ARE THAT ARE IN THAT SCHOOL, I VERY MUCH WANT TO MAKE IT EASIER FOR THEM SO THAT IT'S EASIER ON MY KIDS, AND I WANT TO MAKE IT EASIER TO ATTRACT NEW TEACHERS WHEN WE GET THERE THAT ARE THE BEST BECAUSE IF WE'RE GOING TO MAINTAIN THIS PEEL HAS GREAT SCHOOLS, WE HAVE THIS GREAT SCHOOL RATING, THAT MEANS ATTRACTING THE BEST.
I DON'T KNOW THAT OUR FACILITIES RIGHT NOW ARE GOING TO DO THAT.
I THINK THAT IF WE DID HAVE SOME OF THE B2 POINT WHATEVER WE'RE UP TO, THE NEW VERSION B WITH CAFETERIA UNDERNEATH.
I THINK THAT THAT WOULD BE I'VE HEARD THE TEACHERS COMPLAIN ABOUT THE COMPLAIN.
BUT EXPRESS THE DIFFICULTIES IN THE NICEST WAY POSSIBLE OF ALL THE CONSTRAINTS OF EVEN BRINGING IN THINGS LIKE LUNCH TIME ENRICHMENT.
IT'S HARD BECAUSE THERE JUST AREN'T ENOUGH SPACES TO PUT PEOPLE.
I WORRY THAT WE'RE GOING TO LOSE THOSE TEACHERS.
IF WE'RE HIRING NEW STAFF, WE'RE GOING TO LOSE REALLY GOOD STAFF TO PLACES WITH NICER FACILITIES WITH LESS DEMANDS ON JUGGLING STUDENTS AND ACTIVITIES. THAT'S IT. THANK YOU.
I JUST WANT TO STATE THAT AS A DIRECT NEIGHBOR TO SIMONI.
I DON'T CARE ABOUT CONSTRUCTION.
I DON'T CARE ABOUT NOISE, I DON'T CARE ABOUT DIRT.
IF THE GEOTHERMAL, I'M SURE YOU'RE GOING TO BLAST THROUGH ROCK, AND IT'S GOING TO BE LOUD AND IRRITATING.
I DON'T CARE AND I'M YOUR DIRECT NEIGHBOR.
TAKE THAT FOR WHATEVER IT'S WORTH.
OTHER PEOPLE WILL CARE, I PERSONALLY DON'T, AND I LIVE RIGHT NEXT DOOR.
WHAT I CARE ABOUT IS WHAT WILL BE LEFT BEHIND.
WHAT WILL BE THE FACILITY THAT WE HAVE TO USE AS A COMMUNITY THAT WE WANT.
I THINK WHAT YOU'VE HEARD FROM MYSELF AND HOPEFULLY FROM OTHERS IS THE ADULTERATED SUPPORT FOR ADA.
BUT YOU'VE GIVEN US ONE CHOICE, WHICH IS NOT ADA.
I WOULD HATE TO SEE IT DELAYED ANOTHER YEAR.
BECAUSE WE WEREN'T GIVEN A CHOICE TO SUPPORT ADA AND RENOVATION OF THE SCHOOL WITHOUT A PROJECT WE DON'T WANT.
WITHOUT LOSING SPACE WE DO WANT.
I WOULD URGE THE BOARD TO LOOK AT WHAT THEY'RE PROPOSING, EITHER DIAL IT BACK OR PAUSE IT UNTIL NEXT YEAR.
NOT BECAUSE WE WANT TO DELAY ADA, WE DON'T.
BUT YOU'VE PUT US IN THIS POSITION.
THE PROJECT YOU'RE PROPOSING PUTS US IN THE POSITION THAT WE DON'T GET TO CHOOSE, DO ADA, DON'T DO EIGHT CLASSROOMS. THERE'S NO CHOICE ON THE BOARD THAT SAYS, DO ADA.
OPTION A, B, C, D, B2, B7, IT'S ALL TWO ELEVATORS.
WHAT YOU'RE ASKING US TO DO IS TO MAKE A CHOICE AND THAT CHOICE IS NOT SUPPORT ADA.
THAT CHOICE IS, DO WE SUPPORT ADA WITH EVERYTHING ELSE.
I'M SORRY TO THE PEOPLE WHO NEED ADA BECAUSE I WISH WE COULD HAVE GIVEN IT TO THEM HERE.
BUT YOU WENT TOO FAR AND THAT'S SAID.
[01:25:01]
>> WOULD ANYONE ELSE LIKE TO COME UP?
>> I WANT TO THANK EVERYONE FOR COMING UP AND EXPRESSING YOUR COMMENTS. THANK YOU.
>> WE CAN MOVE TO 3.1, WHICH IS THE BOND SCOPE DISCUSSION.
>> WE'RE GOING TO DISCUSS THE PROPOSITIONS NOW FOR THE BALLOT.
LAST MEETING, WE DISCUSSED A BALLOT THAT WOULD HAVE THREE PROPOSITIONS.
THE FIRST ONE WAS THE INFRASTRUCTURE PACKAGE WITH THE SIWANOY EXPANSION AS THE FIRST PROPOSITION, THE SECOND WAS THE HIGH SCHOOL EXPANSION, AND THEN THE THIRD WAS GEOTHERMAL.
WE CAME OUT OF THAT MEETING WITH THE REMAINING QUESTIONS FOR THE BOARD, WHICH WAS, SHOULD ELEMENTARY AC GO INTO PROPOSITION 1, OR SHOULD IT GO WITH GEOTHERMAL IN PROPOSITION 3? GIVEN THE FEEDBACK WE'VE HEARD BETWEEN THE LAST BOARD MEETING AND NOW, I'M GOING TO THROW TWO MORE CONSIDERATIONS AT US TO CONSIDER FOR TONIGHT.
SHOULD WE SPLIT THE INFRASTRUCTURE INTO PROPOSITION 1 AND HAVE SIWANOY INFRASTRUCTURE AND ITS PROJECT THAT IS ASSOCIATED WITH IT GO TOGETHER, AND THAT GOES INTO A SECOND PROPOSITION? SO HAVE TWO DIFFERENT PROPOSITIONS INSTEAD OF INFRASTRUCTURE.
WE PACKAGE ALL OF THE SIWANOY ITEMS TOGETHER.
THEN THE SECOND QUESTION I HAVE IS, AND WE HAVE SOMEONE HERE TODAY TO HELP US WITH THIS, DO WE HAVE ENOUGH INFORMATION ON GEOTHERMAL TO KEEP IT ON THE BALLOT FOR THIS? DO WE HAVE JIM DOLAN?
[LAUGHTER] WE HAVE JIM HERE TODAY IF WE HAVE QUESTIONS FOR HIM BEFORE WE MAKE A DETERMINATION ON THAT.
OUR GOAL IS TO ALIGN ON WHAT WILL APPEAR ON THE BALLOT IN MAY.
THEN WE WOULD GIVE DIRECTIONS TO THE DISTRICT TO DRAFT THE RESOLUTIONS BASED ON OUR DISCUSSION TONIGHT, AND WE WOULD BRING IT TO THE NEXT BOARD MEETING AND APPROVE IT OR TALK ABOUT APPROVING IT.
>> JACKIE, CAN YOU JUST SAY AGAIN WHAT YOU'RE PROPOSING JUST SO I UNDERSTAND?
>> WE NEED TO TALK ABOUT THE PROPOSITIONS WE HAD LAST TIME.
>> OH, I'M SORRY. THANK YOU. [OVERLAPPING].
>> I JUST WANT TO UNDERSTAND [OVERLAPPING].
>> IT WOULD BE A TOTAL OF FOUR IF WE KEPT GEOTHERMAL.
WE WANT TO TALK ABOUT IF SUCH [OVERLAPPING].
>> PROPOSITION 1 WOULD HAVE INFRASTRUCTURE FOR [OVERLAPPING].
>> INFRASTRUCTURE [OVERLAPPING].
>> BECAUSE WE TALKED ABOUT HOW WE CAN'T DO MAJOR INFRASTRUCTURE IMPROVEMENTS TO SIWANOY WITHOUT HAVING THE ADA COMPLIANCE, WHICH IS REQUIRING TO HAVE MORE CLASSROOMS WHILE ADDRESSING THE SPACE NEEDS.
PUTTING THAT TOGETHER IN A SECOND PROPOSITION.
>> MORE SIMPLY SAID, CARVING OUT EVERYTHING SIWANOY RELATED.
>> A SIWANOY PROPOSITION, BASICALLY.
>> A SIWANOY PROPOSITION, HAVE AN INFRASTRUCTURE PROPOSITION?
>> YOU SHOULD ADD THERE'S A LITTLE MIDDLE SCHOOL STUFF IN THE INFRASTRUCTURE, TOO.
>> YES, THERE'S A MIDDLE SCHOOL, THE FLAT ROOF [OVERLAPPING].
SPLITTING INFRASTRUCTURE, A SIWANOY PACKAGE, THEN THE HIGH SCHOOL PACKAGE, AND THEN GEOTHERMAL.
IF WE CHOOSE TO KEEP IT BECAUSE THAT WAS THE OTHER QUESTION I HAD,
[01:30:01]
GIVEN WHAT WE WERE TALKING ABOUT.>> DID YOU SAY WHERE AIR CONDITIONING WOULD FALL [OVERLAPPING]?
>> I WAS ABOUT TO SAY AND WHERE DID AIR CONDITIONING FALL IN THIS? [OVERLAPPING].
>> WE'D HAVE TO TALK ABOUT IT. BUT IT'S A SIMILAR QUESTION TO WHAT WE HAD ON THE PROPOSAL LAST WEEK.
>> [OVERLAPPING] HAND THIS OUT?
>> [OVERLAPPING] I TRIED TO DRAFT SOME QUESTIONS WHICH I THINK ARE THE QUESTIONS THAT WE'VE GOT TO ANSWER TONIGHT. CAN YOU SHARE A COUPLE OF THIS?
>> JUST TO HELP YOU STAY ON TRACK [INAUDIBLE] DECISION WE ARE TRYING TO MAKE.
>> BECAUSE I JUST WANT TO BE CLEAR ABOUT WHAT EXACTLY IS IN EACH ONE.
>> THIS IS HELPFUL TO HAVE IT IN FRONT OF US LIKE THIS.
>> GO IN THIS ORDER. [LAUGHTER]
>> I'M ONLY ONE PERSON AMONG US, BUT I WONDER IF ANY OF THESE QUESTIONS WILL BE INFLUENCED BY WHAT WE MIGHT HEAR FROM THE EXPERTS ON SOME OF THE STUFF THAT WE I THINK PLANNED ON TALKING ABOUT?
>> WE CAN ASK THE [OVERLAPPING].
>> I DON'T KNOW IF IT MAKES SENSE TO REVERSE IT AND GET THE INFORMATION FIRST, AND THEN WE START WITH THE DECISION.
>> I DON'T KNOW A GOOD PLACE TO START. I KNOW WE DIDN'T HAVE ANY FORMAL PRESENTATIONS PLANNED TONIGHT.
I KNOW THAT OUR CONSTRUCTION FOLKS ARE HERE AS A RESOURCE.
I GUESS I WOULD JUST MAYBE OPEN IT UP TO JIM AND WALTER.
IS THERE ANYTHING SPECIFIC FROM OUR, AND WALTER, YOU'VE BEEN WITH US IN OUR PRIOR CONVERSATIONS? SPECIFICALLY START, I GUESS, MAYBE WITH GEOTHERMAL BECAUSE I THINK THAT WAS THE BIGGEST AREA THAT THERE'S STILL A LOT OF QUESTIONS FROM THE BOARD ABOUT.
MAYBE IT WOULD TEE US UP [OVERLAPPING].
>> THANK YOU. IF YOU COULD MAYBE JUST GIVE US JUST A QUICK OVERVIEW OF GEOTHERMAL AS IT'S PROPOSED IN THE PROJECT.
THEN I THINK WHAT WE'RE HELPING TO UNDERSTAND IS, SOME OF THE CONCERNS THAT ARE BROUGHT UP TONIGHT, OF COURSE, WOULD BE HELPFUL TO GET YOUR PERSPECTIVE ON THOSE, AS WELL AS WHAT YOU SEE AS BENEFITS, HOW IT WORKS FOR A SCHOOL DISTRICT, ETC.
>> FIRST OF ALL, LOTS OF REALLY GOOD COMMENTS.
I JUST WANT TO CONGRATULATE EVERYBODY ON THE FEEDBACK.
THIS HAS BEEN A PROCESS WHERE WE'VE GOT A LOT OF FEEDBACK, WE'VE HAD A LOT OF REALLY GOOD DISCUSSION, AND I JUST WANT TO CONGRATULATE EVERYBODY FOR COMING OUT TONIGHT AND TALKING ABOUT IT.
I'M I'M JOINED TONIGHT BY JIM DOLAN, WHO'S ACTUALLY WITH OLA CONSULTING ENGINEERS.
JIM, HIS TEAM WORKED WITH US TO HELP DO THE BUILDING CONDITION SURVEY AND DEVELOP SOME OF THE CONCEPTS FOR THE HEATING PLANT REPLACEMENTS, AIR CONDITIONING, AND THE INFRASTRUCTURE WORK IN THE BUILDINGS.
JIM HAS NOT WORKED ON THIS ON THE GROUND LEVEL, SO I JUST WANT TO PREFACE IT A LITTLE BIT.
THE REASON I'VE ASKED JIM TO JOIN US TONIGHT IS HE ACTUALLY HEADS THE ENERGY DEPARTMENT AT OLA WHICH STUDIES DIFFERENT SYSTEMS AND POSSIBILITIES WITHIN BUILDINGS, AND JIM ALSO AND HIS TEAM WORK AS A FLEXTECH CONSULTANT FOR NYSERDA, DOING EXACTLY THIS FOR DIFFERENT ENTITIES, AND EVEN ON PROJECTS WHERE THEY'RE NOT THE ENGINEERS ON RECORD, SO REALLY AS ADVISORS.
JIM CAN TALK TO US A LITTLE BIT ABOUT HIGH-LEVEL CONCEPTS, PROS AND CONS OF DIFFERENT SYSTEMS. JUST A REMINDER OF WHAT WE HAVE TALKED ABOUT IN THE BUILDINGS.
FIRST AND FOREMOST ISSUES THAT WE HAVE STEAM PLANTS THAT HAVE COME OF AGE, THEY NEED TO BE ADDRESSED ONE WAY OR THE OTHER.
WE TALKED ABOUT UPGRADES TO HYDRAULIC SYSTEMS FOR EFFICIENCY, CONTROLLABILITY, BUT IT ALSO CREATES THIS OPTION FOR US TO CONSIDER ALTERNATIVES AND WAYS TO PROVIDE MORE SUSTAINABLE SOLUTIONS WITHIN THOSE FORMATS FOR HEATING AND COOLING.
ONE OF THE OPTIONS WE TALKED ABOUT IS GEOTHERMAL.
GEOTHERMAL ALLOWS US TO USE A GROUND SOURCE HEAT PUMP SYSTEM TO PRODUCE HOT AND COLD WATER THAT CAN RUN THROUGH THE HYDRAULIC COMPONENTS OF THE BUILDING TO DISTRIBUTE HEATING AND COOLING.
WE HAVE LOOKED AT VARIABLE REFRIGERANT SYSTEMS TO PROVIDE AIR CONDITIONING LIMITED AREAS.
I WOULD SAY, JUST AS A REMINDER, THERE'S SOME EQUIPMENT IN THE BUILDING THAT WE ARE TRYING TO REUSE AND RECAPTURE, TO UPGRADE TO BE COMPATIBLE WITH THE HYDRAULIC SYSTEM.
IN SOME CASES, IT DOESN'T PRECLUDE US, BUT IT MAY MAKE MORE SENSE TO KEEP THE EQUIPMENT THAT'S IN PLACE AND UPDATE IT AS OPPOSED TO REPLACING IT.
WHEN WE DO THAT, IT'S MUCH MORE SUITED FOR HYDRAULIC UPGRADES AS OPPOSED TO SWITCHING OUT FOR A VRF SYSTEM.
JUST VRF. WHAT DOES THAT MEAN?
>> IT'S LIKE WE'RE TALKING A CODE WORD.
PROBABLY A COMPONENT THAT YOU MOST SEE FREQUENTLY IS LIKE A MITSUBISHI,
[01:35:02]
MR. SPLIT, OR A SLIM SYSTEM WHERE THERE'S A WALL PACK THAT SITS ON THE WALL.THERE WAS AIR CONDITIONING, HAVE A REMOTE, AND THE LITTLE PANEL OPENS UP AUTOMATICALLY AND GET HEATING AND COOLING.
OUTSIDE, THERE'S A HEAT PUMP THAT SITS OUTSIDE, LIKE AN AIR-CONDITIONED CONDENSER, IT'S WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE, IT'S NOT WHAT IT IS, IT'S A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT.
BUT THAT SYSTEM ALLOWS REFRIGERANT TO BE DELIVERED AT DIFFERENT RATES AND EVEN DIFFERENT TEMPERATURES TO DIFFERENT COMPONENTS WITHIN THE SYSTEM.
THERE'S A GREAT DEAL OF FLEXIBILITY WITH IT, BUT THERE ARE SOME LIMITATIONS ASSOCIATED WITH IT.
JIM COULD TALK ABOUT THAT A LITTLE BIT.
WE DID, IN OUR INITIAL CONSIDERATION OF AIR CONDITIONING, REMEMBER WE WENT THROUGH A REVISION COMPONENT TO GO TO DUAL TEMPERATURE HYDRAULIC.
THERE WERE COMPONENTS OF THAT THAT WERE CONSIDERED TO BE VRFS.
WE HAVE USED VRF IN DIFFERENT AREAS IN THE DISTRICT.
WHEN WE'VE HAD SMALLER APPLICATIONS, WHERE WE'RE NOT TALKING ABOUT HOLISTIC SYSTEM CHANGES, PARTICULARLY WITH HEATING PLANTS.
THAT'S HOW WE GOT TO WHERE WE ARE.
MAYBE I'LL ASK JIM TO JUST COME UP, INTRODUCE HIMSELF, AND TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT WHAT HE DOES AND MAYBE SOME SYSTEMS THAT ARE AVAILABLE.
>> HI, EVERYBODY. JIM DOLAN, OLA CONSULTING ENGINEERS.
I'VE BEEN IN THE INDUSTRY ABOUT 34 OR SO YEARS.
AS WALT SAID, I HEAD UP OUR ENERGY AND COMMISSIONING GROUP.
I APOLOGIZE TO EVERYBODY FOR HAVING MY BACK TO YOU.
BUT AS WALT SAID, I DIDN'T WORK ON THE NITTY-GRITTY OF THESE PROJECTS.
A TEAM IN OUR OFFICE WHO DID THAT IS WORKING ON IT.
THE QUESTION CAME UP ABOUT GEOTHERMAL VERSUS OTHER SYSTEMS, AND I THINK I'VE WORKED A LOT IN DESIGNING GEOSYSTEMS, CLOSED-LOOP SYSTEMS, AND SOME OF THEM ARE IN OPERATION HERE IN WESTCHESTER, LIKE THE JACOB BURNS FILM CENTER.
IT'S BEEN OPERATING FOR A LONG TIME, VERY SUCCESSFUL, GREAT PROJECT, AND IT'S BEEN DONE THROUGHOUT THE COUNTY AND THROUGHOUT THE STATE.
I'D SAY THERE'S BEEN A FEW PROJECTS THAT HAVE PROBLEMS IN THE AREA.
YOU MAY HAVE HEARD OF SOME OF THEM, WE'RE HELPING TO FIX SOME OF THOSE.
I'VE WORKED AT THE CAMPUS THAT WAS MENTIONED EARLIER, I'VE COMMISSIONED SYSTEMS AT THAT CAMPUS, AND THOSE SYSTEMS WORK. THEY DO WELL.
YOU DO NOT NEED TO HAVE A BOILER PLANT FOR A CLOSED-LOOP GEOSYSTEM.
I THINK THERE IS A RATIONALE TODAY TO COUPLE THE RIGHT TECHNOLOGY WITH THE RIGHT SPACE.
YOUR SCHOOLS, EACH ONE, DIFFERENT AGES, AS WALT MENTIONED, HAVE AGING-OUT STEAM SYSTEMS, YOU'VE GOT CERTAIN COMPONENTS THAT ARE INCOMPATIBLE WITH OTHER SYSTEMS. YOU TRY TO FIND THE RIGHT SYSTEM FOR THAT PROJECT, FOR THE NEED FOR THOSE STUDENTS.
YOU'VE GOT COMFORT CONDITIONS, VENTILATION, OBVIOUSLY, YOUR LONG-TERM ENERGY COSTS AND MAINTENANCE ARE ALL JUST SOME OF THE FACTORS THAT COME INTO PLAY.
THAT INFORMS WHAT MIGHT BE THE RIGHT SYSTEM FOR A PROJECT, AND QUITE FRANKLY, ALSO, WHAT OTHER FACTORS ARE THERE.
ARE THERE INCENTIVES OUT THERE? IS THERE A MANDATE TO MOVE TO SOMETHING THAT'S A LITTLE BIT MORE ENVIRONMENTALLY SOUND? MIGHT INFLUENCE YOUR DECISION.
I'LL VERY QUICKLY TALK ABOUT CLOSED-LOOP GEOTHERMAL, WHICH IS ESSENTIALLY, I BELIEVE, IN THE CONTEXT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT HERE, JUST LIKE 500-FOOT DEPTH, CLOSED SYSTEMS. YES, THERE IS SOME DRILLING INTO THE GROUND, THERE ARE SIX OR SO INCH BORES THAT GO INTO THE GROUND, AND THERE'S GROUT AND SOME HDP PIPE THAT WILL LAST 100 YEARS.
ESSENTIALLY, IT DOESN'T COMMUNICATE WITH THE GROUNDWATER, SO THERE'S NO COMMUNICATION WITH ANYTHING IN THE GROUNDWATER.
IT'S A CLOSED SYSTEM, AND IT COMES IN, IT REJECTS THE HEAT TO THE 55-DEGREE GROUND, AS WAS SAID EARLIER, THERE'S A LITTLE BIT LESS LIFT.
THE LESS WORK THAT HAS TO BE DONE WHEN YOU GO TO THE GROUND VERSUS EXTRACTING HEAT FROM COLD 5, 10-DEGREE AIR THAT WE SEE IN THIS CLIMATE.
AIR SOURCE HEAT PUMPS, JUST TO TALK ABOUT THOSE FOR A SECOND, THEY EXTRACT THE HEAT FROM THE AMBIENT AIR, AND THEY USE A HEAT PUMP, WHICH IS ESSENTIALLY THE SAME THING AS YOUR NORMAL REFRIGERATION SYSTEM THAT YOU MIGHT HAVE IN YOUR HOUSE OR YOUR CAR.
BUT IT JUST REVERSES AND IT PUMPS OUT HEAT INSTEAD OF PUMPING OUT AC IN CERTAIN CYCLES.
YOU HAVE MORE INSTITUTIONAL-LEVEL, CHILLER HEATERS THAT YOU CAN DO, AND YOU MIGHT HAVE MORE LIGHT COMMERCIAL VRFS SPLIT SYSTEMS THAT WALT WAS JUST TALKING ABOUT.
WHEN YOU START GOING TO SMALLER SYSTEMS, THERE'S A REASON WHY EARLY SCHOOLS HAD A GIANT BOILER, ONE BIG COMPONENT SERVED THE SPACES BECAUSE YOU REALLY DON'T WANT TO HAVE A MILLION LITTLE PARTS TO FIX IN YOUR BUILDING.
[01:40:01]
YOU HAVE TO BALANCE THAT OUT WHEN YOU START THINKING ABOUT A BUILDING THAT'S GOING TO BE THERE.THIS ISN'T A 20-YEAR PROPOSITION FOR THIS WORK.
YOU DON'T WANT TO BE HERE, SOME OF THE PEOPLE WHO HAVE KIDS THAT ARE FIRST-GRADE OR SECOND-GRADE, YOU'RE GOING TO BLINK, THEY'RE GOING TO BE GOING TO COLLEGE. IT HAPPENS FAST.
SAME THING WITH YOUR INFRASTRUCTURE, YOU WANT IT TO LAST.
YOU WANT THOSE PIPES THAT ARE IN THE GROUND FOR A CLOSED-LOOP SYSTEM THE LAST 50-100 YEARS.
THE SYSTEMS THAT THEY ATTACH TO, WILL PROBABLY CONVERT A COUPLE OF TIMES BEFORE YOU EVER NEED TO DO ANYTHING WITH THAT.
THERE'S A LOT OF DIFFERENT FACTORS THAT GO INTO IT.
THERE WAS A COUPLE OF THINGS THAT WERE SAID THAT AREN'T QUITE EXACTLY RIGHT, BUT THAT'S NOT UNCOMMON.
IT IS COMPLICATED, THERE'S A LOT OF VERNACULAR THAT CAN BE CONFUSING.
IF THERE'S SPECIFIC QUESTIONS, I CAN TRY TO ANSWER THEM.
I WILL SAY ONE THING FOR THE NEIGHBORS, AIR SOURCE EQUIPMENT, IT'S LOUDER.
HEAT PUMPS IN THE WINTER, MAKING NOISE, MAKING HEAT, GROUND LOOP, QUIET.
YOU MIGHT DEAL WITH SOME NOISE DURING CONSTRUCTION, BUT FOR THE LIFE OF THE SYSTEMS, YOU HEAR NOTHING.
>> THANK YOU. CAN YOU CLARIFY OR TALK A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT THE RIGHT SYSTEM? TRYING TO ADDRESS COLD WINTERS, WHAT WILL BE THE PROCESS? HOW WOULD WE IDENTIFY NOT BEING ONE OF THOSE FOLKS THAT NEED TO COME IN AND GET FIXED? OR IF IT'S A COLD WINTER, WE'RE REALIZING WE DON'T HAVE A SYSTEM THAT'S PROPER? CAN YOU JUST TALK ABOUT HOW WE WOULD ENSURE, IF THIS WERE TO GO THROUGH, THAT WE WOULD HAVE THE RIGHT SYSTEM? WE WOULD HAVE A LASTING SYSTEM THAT WE WOULDN'T BE MAKING WRONG CHOICES FOR THE SIZE AND THE SCOPE OF THE SYSTEM?
>> IT'S INTERESTING. SOMETIMES PEOPLE, ESPECIALLY WITH THE GREEN MOVEMENT IN BUILDINGS, THEY TRY TO DO WHAT WAS PROGRESSIVE, AND THEY MIGHT HAVE BEEN THE FRONT-RUNNERS, THE EARLIEST OF THE PEOPLE TO JUMP INTO GO AND THERE WAS A VARIETY OF DIFFERENT SYSTEMS, AND SOME PEOPLE USE STANDING COLUMN, 01,500-FOOT OPEN WELLS, AND THEY'VE PROVEN TO BE PROBLEMATIC.
THAT PERIOD OF TIME, THAT SHAKEOUT PERIOD, YOU MIGHT KNOW WITH LIGHTING, A LOT OF YOU HAVE PROBABLY WHEN WE HAD INCANDESCENTS, AND THEN WE HAD T12S, THEN T8S, THEN T5S, AND NOW EVERYBODY HAS LEDS, IT WAS LIKE LED LIGHTING WAS AROUND FOR A LONG TIME BEFORE IT BECAME SOMETHING THAT EVERYBODY ESSENTIALLY USES AND DOES, AND IT'S RELIABLE.
I THINK SOME OF THAT INITIAL SHAKEOUT PERIOD HAS OCCURRED.
I THINK I THINK YOU JUST HAVE TO HAVE THE RIGHT CONSULTANTS AND RIGHT FIRMS AND RIGHT INSTALLERS TO MAKE SURE THAT IT GETS DONE PROPERLY AND SIZED PROPERLY.
BUT THIS IS DONE ALL OVER THE PLACE SUCCESSFULLY.
I HAVE NO CONCERN THAT YOU'LL BE ABLE TO HAVE HEAT IN THE WINTER.
>> I HAD A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS BASED ON COMMENTS THAT WE HEARD.
>> I GUESS TWO ON THREE, ACTUALLY.
I THINK THERE WERE TWO COMMENTS FROM SOMEONE ABOUT ONE, THE WATER TABLE BEING HIGH AND TWO FLOODING AS A RESULT.
MY UNDERSTANDING AND TELL ME IF THIS IS WRONG WAS ACTUALLY HAVING HIGH WATER TABLE WAS GOOD FOR GEOTHERMAL BECAUSE LIKE THE WATER FLOWS AROUND THE TUBES AND YOU GET TO STAY AT 55 MORE, YOU CAN PULL MORE HEAT OUT OR PUT IT BACK IN.
YOU TELL ME IF THAT'S RIGHT OR WRONG?
>> IN THIS CLIMATE, IN THIS LOCATION, YOU'LL HAVE 55 DEGREE GROUND, AND THAT'S WHAT YOU WANT, AND THAT'S FINE, SO WATER OR NO WATER, IT'S OKAY.
I THINK ONE OF THE QUESTIONS FROM THE GROUP HERE WAS, DOES IT IMPACT FLOODING BECAUSE BOTH OF SIWANOY AND PROSPECT ARE IN AREAS WHERE THEY ARE DEALING WITH FLOODING.
>> REAL QUICK, THERE'S A LOT OF GEOTECHNICAL ITEMS THAT YOU WOULD HAVE YOUR SITE ENGINEER AND GEOTECHNICAL FOLKS INVOLVED WITH, BUT ESSENTIALLY, THESE ARE, LIKE I SAID, SIX INCH BORES THAT GO DOWN.
IF YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT FLOODING THAT'S COMING FROM RAINWATER, IT WOULD HAVE NO EFFECT.
THERE IS A PIECE WHEN YOU MENTIONED GROUNDWATER THAT I DO THINK IS IMPORTANT IS THE SENSE THAT WHILE YOU'RE PUTTING IN YOUR GEO SYSTEM, YOU CAN ACTUALLY HAVE A DECENT AMOUNT OF WATER THAT AS YOU'RE DRILLING, IT NEEDS TO BE CONTAINED AND THAT IT NEEDS TO BE SETTLED BEFORE IT CAN JUST BE PUT BACK INTO YOUR STORM DRAINS.
YOU CAN HAVE THAT, BUT THERE'S NO REAL RISK THERE.
[01:45:03]
THE ONLY RISK COULD BE IF YOU DON'T LET IT SETTLE, YOU COULD ADD SILT THAT COULD END UP GETTING INTO THE STREAMS, WHICH YOU DON'T WANT TO DO.PART OF THE SPECS, PART OF THE DESIGN IS TO MAKE SURE THAT ANY WATER THAT COMES UP IF YOU HIT A FISSURE WITH WATER THAT THAT'S CONTAINED AND PROPERLY TREATED BEFORE IT GOES BACK, BUT IT'S GROUNDWATER, IT'S CLEAN.
THEN ONCE THAT'S DONE, IT'S A STAGNANT SYSTEM.
IT DOESN'T INTERACT IN ANY WAY.
>> GOT IT. WALT, I KNOW, YOU'VE TALKED ABOUT THE FLOOD MITIGATION THAT WE'VE BEEN CONCEPTUALLY TALKING ABOUT THAT AFTER THIS PROJECT PUT US IN A BETTER PLACE FROM A FLOODING PERSPECTIVE THAN WE ARE NOW. IS THAT FAIR?
>> THE GEOTHERMAL IS NOT GOING TO HELP OR HURT YOU.
>> NOT, EXACTLY. UNRELATED TO GEOTHERMAL.
>> YOU WOULD HAVE TO ASK A CIVIL ENGINEER IF YOU WANT TO GO THROUGH YOUR FLOOD AND RETAINING WATER AND ALL THAT, THAT WOULD NOT BE ME.
>> NO WORRIES. THEN I HAD A GOOD CONVERSATION I THOUGHT THE OTHER DAY WITH RICH FOR A WHILE ABOUT GEOTHERMAL VERSUS ALTERNATIVES, AND I WOULD SAY I CAME OUT OF THAT CONVERSATION HEARING RICH BEING VERY CONFIDENT THAT A NON GEOTHERMAL SOLUTION WOULD BE BETTER FROM A FINANCIAL POINT OF VIEW, AND FRANKLY, IN HIS MIND, FROM ENVIRONMENTAL POINT OF VIEW, ALSO, I WAS HOPING MAYBE YOU GUYS COULD TAKE A CRACK AT EXPLAINING HOW YOU GUYS THINK ABOUT THAT.
>> AGAIN, I'M GOING TO TRY TO AVOID TALKING SPECIFICALLY ABOUT YOUR PROJECTS THAT I REALLY HAVEN'T BEEN INVOLVED, BUT WHEN WE DID JACOB BURNS, WE SIMULTANEOUSLY DID THE STUDENT CENTER AT MANHATTANVILLE, AND WE DID THEM VERY DIFFERENTLY.
I HEADED UP THE DESIGN ON BOTH, AND WE DID ENERGY ANALYSIS.
WE WORK WITH NYSERDA, AND ACTUALLY LIKE ENERGY SAVINGS WISE, THEY WERE ESSENTIALLY THE SAME.
THERE'S A LOT OF WAYS TO GET TO WHATEVER YOUR GOALS ARE, AND THAT'S IMPORTANT.
REALLY IT'S THE OWNER'S PROJECT REQUIREMENTS.
IF YOU'RE LOOKING FOR SOMETHING THAT'S LESS MAINTENANCE AND SUSTAINABLE AND WILL LAST WELL BEYOND THE TIME OF EVERYBODY IN THIS ROOM, IF YOU'RE REALLY FORWARD LOOKING, THEN GO IS A GREAT OPTION.
I'M NOT SAYING ANY OPTION ISN'T WORKABLE AND CAN'T BE DESIGNED PROPERLY.
I THINK IT JUST FIRST COST OVER THE LIFE.
IF YOU LOOK AT TOTAL LIFE CYCLE, YOU'RE GOING TO BE REPLACING THIS SYSTEM IN 20 YEARS.
YOU'RE GOING TO ADD A LOT OF NOISE.
YOU PUT A LOT OF COMPRESSORS AROUND, YOU HAVE A LOT MORE NOISE ISSUES.
THERE'S A LOT OF DIFFERENT FACTORS AND PROBABLY MORE THAN WE WANT TO GET INTO, BUT I THINK MOST OF THE SYSTEMS THAT ARE OUT THERE CAN BE DONE PROPERLY AND WHEN YOU HAVE A COST DISPARITY, OFTENTIMES PEOPLE AREN'T COMPARING APPLES TO APPLES.
THERE'S SOME VETTING OUT THAT HAPPENS, AND AS I THINK WAS MENTIONED EARLY ON, YOU'RE REALLY JUST GETTING STARTED ON DESIGN A LOT OF WAYS.
THERE'S A LOT OF THINGS TO BE VETTED OUT AND MADE SURE IT'S PROPERLY FULLY DESIGNED.
>> YEAH, THE CHALLENGES WE'RE AT THE POINT OF NEEDING TO FIGURE OUT WHETHER WE'RE GOING TO INCLUDE GEOTHERMAL.
>> THERE'S ALWAYS A CARE THE HOST THING THAT HAPPENS IN THE SCHOOLS.
I GET IT. WE DO A LOT OF SCHOOL WORK.
IT'S VERY TOUGH, AND I KNOW I HEARD ALL THE CONCERNS ABOUT COSTING AND THERE IS SOME ADJUSTING THAT GOES ON AS YOU WORK WITH THE CONTRACTORS TO DO YOUR COSTING AT VARIOUS STAGES IN DESIGN.
IF WE DO GEO, WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WELL FIELD IS AS SMALL AS IT NEEDS TO BE BECAUSE THERE IS AN INCREMENTAL COST.
YOU WANT TO RIGHT SIZE THE SYSTEMS. YOU DON'T WANT TO BUY ANYTHING MORE THAN YOU HAVE TO, AND YOU'LL GO BACK AND FORTH TO MAKE SURE YOU TWEAK THINGS AND GET IT RIGHT.
IN SOME OF THE DIALOGUE I'VE HEARD ABOUT GEOTHERMAL, AND I'M GOING TO RADICALLY OVERSIMPLIFY HERE, BUT ONE OF THE TAKEAWAYS I'VE HEARD OR AN OPINION THAT I'VE HEARD IS THAT GEOTHERMAL DOESN'T WORK AS WELL FOR BUILDINGS THAT DON'T FUNCTION 365 DAYS A YEAR OR OTHER WHETHER THE AC OR THE HEATING MAY NOT BE NEEDED ISN'T ON CONSTANTLY.
A SCHOOL MIGHT FIT THAT DESCRIPTION OF A BUILDING WHERE THERE ARE PERIODS WHEN THE GEOTHERMAL ISN'T BEING USED.
IN THOSE INSTANCES, GEOTHERMAL JUST DOESN'T WORK AS WELL.
IT'S OPTIMIZED FOR BUILDINGS THAT ARE IN CONSTANT OPERATION USAGE.
DO YOU HAVE AN OPINION ON THAT? IS THAT RIGHT? IS THAT WRONG? IT DEPENDS? [INAUDIBLE]
>> YOU NEED TO DESIGN IT PROPERLY.
ONE OF THE THINGS YOU HAVE TO DO WHEN YOU'RE DOING A GROUND LOOP IS DO
[01:50:05]
THE MATH AND THEIR SOFTWARE THAT WILL TELL YOU FOR THE NUMBER OF HOURS, WHAT'S THE TEMPERATURE LOOP? YOU DON'T WANT THE TEMPERATURE TO GET TOO WARM OR TOO COLD OVER TIME.YOU NEED TO LOOK AT HOW IS IT WORKING? THAT WOULD AFFECT YOUR SYSTEM DESIGN, HOW MANY WELLS YOU NEED, AND IF YOU NEED TO TWEAK SOMETHING ONE WAY OR THE OTHER, THERE'S WAYS TO TRIM LOADS AND EVEN THAT WELL TEMP.
IT DOESN'T CREEP UP OVER TIME OR DECREASE.
IN OTHER WORDS, IF YOU'RE HEATING DOMINATED, THE WELL MIGHT START TO GET A LITTLE BIT COOLER OVER TIME.
IF YOU'RE COOLING DOMINATED, IT MIGHT START TO GET HOTTER OVER TIME.
THAT'S MAKING THE OTHER SEASON NOT BE ABLE TO WORK AS WELL.
YOU DESIGN IT SO THAT IT DOESN'T HAVE THAT PROBLEM.
>> THANK YOU. I THINK WE TALKED ABOUT LAST TIME THAT THE SCHOOLS ARE ACTUALLY USED ALL THROUGH THE SUMMER PRETTY MUCH, ALSO, LIKE THE REC PROGRAMS USE IT AND THEY'RE OCCUPIED ALMOST ALL YEAR ROUND.
>> YOU MENTIONED EARLIER ABOUT THERE WERE SYSTEMS THAT YOU HAVE NOT INSTALLED, BUT HAVE WORKED ON RECENTLY OR NOW THAT WERE NOT WORKING PROPERLY, AND I'D LIKE TO UNDERSTAND A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT WHAT WERE THE ISSUES THAT YOU SAW, WAS IT BECAUSE THEY WERE ONE OF THE FIRST ONES INSTALLED AND MAYBE THEY WERE ONE OF THE FIRST ITERATIONS AND ALL THE KINGS HAD BEEN WORKED OUT.
WAS THERE SOMETHING ABOUT THE AGE THAT SOME PART OF THE SYSTEM FAILED? I'D LIKE TO JUST UNDERSTAND A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT WHAT THAT WAS.
>> SURE. THERE WAS THIS RACE TO GREEN BUILDINGS AND IN THE EARLY '90S, I'D SAY TO MID '90S AND THE PROJECTS THAT WERE PUT IN WHERE PEOPLE DID GEOTHERMAL AND THERE WAS OPEN WELL SYSTEMS SHORT IN AND OUT, ALMOST LIKE A RESIDENTIAL WELL.
THERE WAS A STANDING COLUMN WELL.
>> [INAUDIBLE] HAS BEEN CLOSED.
>> YOU CAN STILL CLEAN AGAIN. I'M OKAY ON THAT, BUT IT'S OKAY.
IT'S ALWAYS GREAT TO HEAR YOU EXPLAIN THINGS AGAIN.
>> VERY QUICKLY OPEN IS JUST IT TAKES WATER FROM THE GROUND AND PUTS IT BACK IN THE GROUND.
IT'S NOT SOMETHING THAT'S JUST LIKE A CONTAINER, AND ESSENTIALLY IN A CLOSED SYSTEM.
YOU DON'T REALLY ADD WATER TO IT, IT JUST LOOPS AROUND, AND AN OPEN WELL REALLY GOES BACK TO YOUR GEOTECHNICAL, WHAT'S BELOW THE GROUND.
ONE THING I'VE LEARNED, NOT BEING A GEOTECHNICAL ENGINEER IS YOU REALLY DON'T KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON DOWN THERE.
WHEN YOU DO A CLOSED LOOP WELL, YOU CONTROL THAT, AND SO YOUR QUESTION ABOUT WHAT WERE THE EARLY PROBLEMS. THERE'S A FEW ENTITIES AROUND HERE.
I'M JUST GOING TO REFRAIN FROM SAYING NAMES WHERE THEY DID STANDING COLUMN WELLS, WHICH WERE 1,500 FEET DEEP AND IN PREMISE, THEY'RE LOGICAL, BUT THERE WAS A NUMBER OF THINGS THAT PROBABLY COULD HAVE BEEN DONE TO MAKE THAT MORE RELIABLE AND LESS GUESSWORK, I'LL SAY.
I THINK THERE WAS THE POINT WHERE A GEOTECHNICAL PERSON WASN'T TALKING TO THE BUILDING PERSON AND THINGS OF THAT NATURE.
AT THE END OF THE DAY, THOSE SYSTEMS RELY ON RECHARGING THAT WELL WITH WATER AND SOMETIMES YOUR GEOTECHNICAL CONDITIONS CHANGE AND MIGHT JUST BE NATURAL.
IT MIGHT CHANGE AND THEN CHANGE BACK AND THEY WEREN'T ALWAYS RECHARGING.
YOU NEEDED THAT 1,500 FOOT WELL TO BASICALLY LOAD BACK UP WITH WATER.
IT MIGHT BE A TWO GPM LOAD, BUT YOUR ENTIRE THERMAL CAPACITY, THAT SYSTEM, DEPENDING ON THAT RECHARGING AND SO SAY, YOU HAD FIVE OF THEM.
ONE WAS OKAY, AND TWO WERE STARVING FOR WATER, AND THE WELL PUMPS THEY WOULD SEIZE UP OR HAVE PROBLEMS OR JUST NOT GET THE THERMAL HEAT THAT YOU NEEDED OUT OF THEM.
ALL BECAUSE THERMAL CONDITIONS ARE A BIT OF A GUESSWORK WHEN YOU'RE DOING AN OPEN SYSTEM.
I THINK THAT WAS A LESSON LEARNED.
BY THE WAY, THERE WASN'T JUST IN WESTCHESTER, THIS WAS IN MANHATTAN, AND A LOT OF PLACES DID THIS. IT WAS PROGRESSIVE.
WE FEEL WE'RE PROGRESSIVE, BUT WE USE A LOT OF OFF THE SHELF TECHNOLOGY, AND WE ALWAYS SAY TO SCHOOLS, WE WANT TO KEEP THE SCIENCE IN THE CLASSROOM.
WE'RE NOT LOOKING FOR YOU TO EXPERIMENT WITH THE HVAC SYSTEMS. IT NEEDS TO BE RELIABLE.
WHATEVER SYSTEM YOU PICK, YOU SHOULD HAVE THE SAME SAFETY FACTORS THAT WE'VE BEEN COMFORTABLE WITH OVER THE YEARS.
IT'S JUST HIGH PERFORMANCE MEANS THE SYSTEM CAN BE SMALLER.
I'M HAPPY TO GO INTO MORE DETAIL, BUT IT WAS ESSENTIALLY A MISS ON THE GEOTECHNICAL AND THE BUILDING SYSTEM ENGINEER IS REALLY NOT GETTING ON THE SAME PAGE, AND MAYBE CLIENTS ENDING UP TAKING MORE RISK THAN THEY THOUGHT THEY WERE.
[01:55:02]
>> FOR GEOTHERMAL AND YOU MENTIONED DOING SOME WORK IN MANHATTAN, WHICH IS CONSTRAINED WITH SPACE.
IN YOUR EXPERIENCE, IS THERE AN OPTIMAL SPACE WHERE IS THE BEST SPACE TO DO GEOTHERMAL ON? BECAUSE WE ARE LOWER WESTCHESTER.
OUR PROPERTIES ARE RATHER SMALL IN COMPARISON TO UPPER WESTCHESTER, BUT YOU JUST MENTIONED DOING SOME WORK IN MANHATTAN, IS THERE SUCH A THING AS AN OPTIMAL SPACE IN WHERE TO BUILD THESE WELLS?
>> I'M GOING TO ADD TO THAT BECAUSE IT'S SIMILAR.
CAN YOU COMMENT ON THE IMPACT BECAUSE IT'S SO SPACE CONSTRAINED, THERE'S HOMES NEARBY POTENTIAL IMPACT OF THE DRILLING ON HOMES?
>> IT'S INTERESTING, ONE OF THE THINGS ABOUT JACOB BURNS, I'LL MENTION THAT PROJECT.
IT WON THE STATE PROJECT OF THE YEAR AND IT WAS REALLY WELL RECEIVED BOTH BY THE COMMUNITY AND PROFESSIONALS ALIKE, IT'S BEEN AROUND FOR A LONG TIME.
I FORGET WHEN WE WORKED WITH KGD, AND THAT WAS 06 OR SOMETHING?
>> IT'S A WHILE NOW. IF THERE WAS A PROBLEM, WE WOULD HAVE KNOWN ABOUT A LONG TIME AGO.
ONE OF THE THINGS WE DID WAS WHERE THE BUILDING WAS CITED, WE LOOKED AT HOW BIG THE WELL FIELD COULD BE AND OPTIMIZED EVERYTHING IN THE BUILDING TO MAXIMIZE THAT SPACE FOR WHERE ULTIMATELY IS BELOW THE PARKING LOT.
WHEN YOU DRIVE BY THERE, JUST BELOW THE PARKING LOT IS WHERE ALL THE WELLS ARE, IT WRAPS AROUND THE SPACE.
ONE OF THE THING THAT I MENTIONED EARLIER, THERE WAS SOME REAL BENEFITS TO THAT FOR JACOB BURNS, NOT JUST THE ENERGY EFFICIENCY AND TO BE PROGRESSIVE ON SYSTEMS, IT WAS ALSO THE FACT THAT THEY COULD GET THEIR PARKING.
YOU DIDN'T HAVE THIS BIG COMPONENT OUT IN THE PARKING LOT.
THEY ALSO WANTED TO USE THE ROOF FOR EVENTS AND THAT SPACE WAS VALUABLE TO THEM.
WE ALSO HAD SOLAR AND OTHER THINGS OUT THERE AND SAW TWO THROUGH FOR LIGHTING.
THE ROOF SPACE WAS REALLY VALUABLE.
PUTTING A BIG PIECE OF MECHANICAL EQUIPMENT LIKE A COOLING TOWER DIDN'T WORK.
I THINK ONE OF THE BEST BENEFITS OF IT WAS, THERE'S NO NOISE TO THE NEIGHBORS, AND THAT IS RIGHT NEXT TO HOUSES.
LIKE I SAID, YOU MIGHT DEAL WITH A LITTLE BIT OF NOISE IN THE SHORT TERM FOR DRILLING, BUT FOR THE REST OF THE LIFE OF THAT BUILDING, THERE'S NO NOISE.
THAT'S REALLY I THINK A HUGE BENEFIT.
IF YOU THINK ABOUT THAT WIRING, IF YOU HAVE NEIGHBORS THAT HAVE HEAT PUMPS, I HAVE A HEAT PUMP IN MY HOUSE, BY THE WAY, I HAVE ALSO FOSSIL FUEL AND I TRY TO OPTIMIZE IT.
I'M A LITTLE BIT LIKE THE GENTLEMAN WHO SPOKE EARLIER, JUST TINKERING WITH MY OWN HOUSE, BUT IT MAKES A LOT OF NOISE.
IT'S ANNOYING BECAUSE THAT CONDENSERS ON THE SIDE WHERE I HAVE A NEIGHBOR AND THEY HAVEN'T COMPLAINED, BUT IF I WERE THEM I MIGHT BE A LITTLE BIT LIKE, WHAT'S JIM DOING NOW? IT'S IN JANUARY AND I HEAR THIS BASICALLY WITH THE CONDENSER YOU'D HEAR IN THE SUMMER.
COOLING TOWERS HAVE NOISE, BUT IN THE WINTER, NOISE TRAVELS A LOT.
I'M NOT REALLY LOOKING TO DISPARAGE ANOTHER SYSTEM, BUT THERE ARE SIGNIFICANT BENEFITS TO A GROUND COUPLED SYSTEM.
THE ACTUAL THE WORD GEOTHERMAL IS A LITTLE BIT OF A MISNOMER.
>> WHEN IT'S ACTUALLY BEING CONSTRUCTED BECAUSE IT SOUNDED LIKE THERE WAS A RESIDENT CONCERNED ABOUT THE HOMES AS THE SCHOOLS ARE 100 PLUS YEAR OLD BUILDINGS, WHEN THE SYSTEM WOULD BE INSTALLED, IS THERE, I DON'T KNOW, ANY RISK TO THE FOUNDATION OF HOMES RIGHT AROUND THE SCHOOL? COULD YOU SPEAK TO THAT?
>> I'M GOING TO ADD ONE MAYBE A CLARIFYING POINT BECAUSE A LOT OF OUR HOMES IN PELHAM BECAUSE THEY ARE SO OLD, I DON'T KNOW IF THIS IS THE RIGHT TERM FOR IT, BUT RUBBLE FOUNDATION.
>> SOMETIMES IT'S LIKE THE WEIGHT OF THE HOUSE IS ACTUALLY WHAT IS KEEPING THE FOUNDATIONS LIKE AS STURDY AS IT IS AND ANY DISRUPTION COULD POSSIBLY DISRUPT THE FOUNDATION AND THE IMPACT OF ANY VIBRATION FROM DRILLING SPECIFICALLY IF IT'S DRILLING THROUGH ROCK, WHAT IT'S POSSIBLE THAT ANSWERING THIS QUESTION ISN'T SOMETHING YOU'RE ABLE TO DO OFF THE CUFF, BUT IN CASE YOU CAN, WHAT WOULD THE IMPACT BE DRILLING NEXT TO THE HOUSE?
>> THERE'S A LOT OF DUE DILIGENCE THAT GOES INTO ANY DESIGN AND YOU HAVE CERTAIN SETBACKS FROM CERTAIN THINGS.
I WILL SAY THIS, THERE'S NEVER BEEN A PROJECT WE WORKED ON THE GO WHERE THERE WAS, WE HAVE TO BE CAREFUL OF THIS BECAUSE OF THAT 500 FOOT WELL.
IT'S REALLY 6" THREE FEET AROUND, IT WON'T EVEN NOTICE THAT.
>> YEAH, EACH WELL, AND THEY'RE LIKE 16 TO 20 FEET APART.
SO YOU WOULDN'T EVEN NOTICE ANYTHING FIVE FEET AWAY.
[02:00:01]
>> WHEN WE SAY DRILLING, LIKE WHAT IS THAT TOOL THAT YOU ARE USING TO DRILL.
>> IT'S REALLY BORING. IT'S NOT DRILLING PER SE.
>> THINK THE BEST THING TO DO IS GIVE YOU SOME EXAMPLES OF PROJECTS THAT WE WORKED IN THE PAST AND THE THINGS THAT WE HAVE EXPERIENCED.
WHEN WE WORKED IN MIDDLETOWN SCHOOL DISTRICT, AND THAT'S A PROJECT THAT WE ALSO DID WITH KGD.
THEY DID ABOUT 180 WELLS THERE.
THEY PULL UP IN A TRUCK AND THEY RAISE THIS TOWER AND THE TOWER IS WHAT HOLDS THE DRILLING SYSTEM.
THEN THEY ADD THESE 25 OR 40 FOOT LONG TUBES AND THEY DRILL INTO THE GROUND.
THE AVERAGE DRILL WAS DOING ABOUT 500 FEET IN A DAY.
FOR 195 FOOT CLOSED LOOP SYSTEMS, WE WERE DOING APPROXIMATELY ONE DRILL DAY.
WE COULD INCREASE OR DECREASE THE AMOUNT OF DRILL TIME DEPENDING ON HOW MANY DRILLS YOU HAVE PHYSICALLY ON THE SITE AND DEPENDING ON HOW MANY ACTUAL WELLS YOU HAVE TO DRILL.
WE WILL CALCULATE WHAT THAT IS IN TIME.
BUT JUST TO GIVE YOU A SENSE OF WHAT IT IS, ABOUT ONE DRILL RIG CAN DRILL 1,500 FOOT WELL A DAY ON AVERAGE.
WE WERE DRILLING THROUGH THE MONTHS OF MAY AND JUNE WHILE SCHOOL WAS TAKING PLACE, LITERALLY OUT IN THE FIELD NEXT TO THE MIDDLE SCHOOL, AND IT WAS HAVING IN TERMS OF VIBRATION, ABSOLUTELY NO IMPACT AT ALL ON THE SCHOOL BUILDING ITS OPERATIONS.
NOW, THE DRILLS, BECAUSE THEY'RE ON THE BACK OF TRUCKS, AND THEY HAVE SOME EQUIPMENT THAT'S ON IT, THAT IS A LITTLE LOUD.
YOU'LL HEAR SOME REVING OF ENGINES FROM THE DRILL AND THE DRILL GOING UP AND DOWN.
THEY ALSO HAVE TO USE SOME WATER.
THEY'RE GOING TO INTRODUCE WATER IN WITH THE DRILL RIG IN ORDER TO CUT THROUGH SOME OF THE ROCK UNTIL THEY HIT A WATER TABLE, WHICH THEY DON'T NEED TO USE IT ANYMORE.
THEN AS IT WAS MENTIONED EARLIER, THERE'S A SILTY SLUDGE MATERIAL THAT COMES OUT OF THE WELL AFTER IT'S DUG, AND THEN THAT HAS TO BE TWO THINGS.
IT HAS TO BE SCOOPED UP AND HAULED AWAY.
AND THEN EXCESS WATER HAS TO BE PUT THROUGH A CLEANING PROCESS AND THERE'S MACHINERY THAT DOES THAT, OR WE WE'LL DIG POOLS IN THE GROUND TO SEDIMENT POOLS AND LET THAT SILTY MATERIAL SETTLE IN THE POOLS.
THERE'S QUITE A FEW THINGS THAT YOU HAVE TO DO TO MAKE THAT OPERATE.
I MIGHT ALSO MENTION THAT WE'RE ACTUALLY JUST ABOUT TO START A DRILL PROCESS AT KATONA ELEMENTARY SCHOOL.
AND THAT IS ALSO IN A VERY RESIDENTIAL AREA.
WE TAKE INTO CONSIDERATION ALL THOSE CONCERNS THAT YOU HAVE IN REGARDS TO THAT.
SO WE TRY AND RELEGATE THAT WORK IF WE CAN MOSTLY DURING SUMMERS.
BUT AGAIN, THE IMPACT IN TERMS OF VIBRATIONS THAT YOU'RE CONCERNED ABOUT, I HAVEN'T REALLY EXPERIENCED THAT.
WE MAY EXPERIENCE THAT MORE WHEN WE START TALKING ABOUT THAT DREADED ROCK REMOVAL LIKE WE DID OVER AT THE OTHER SITE.
THAT'S A DIFFERENT CONVERSATION AND WE'LL PUT THE SAME PARAMETERS IN PLACE WHEN WE DID THE LAST ONE AND SAME COMMUNICATION WITH THE NEIGHBORS IF WE DID THE LAST ONE.
BUT I WOULDN'T WORRY ABOUT THE DRILLING NOISE.
THE DRILLING VIBRATIONS ROUND.
>> THANK YOU. WALTER, TO MAYBE ROUND THIS OUT.
CAN YOU JUST REMIND US WHAT THE HYDRAULIC SYSTEM THAT'S PLANNED WOULD BE AS COMPARED TO WHAT THE HYDRAULIC WOULD BE, AND I KNOW THERE'S COST DIFFERENCE TOO.
I KNOW YOU MAY I KNOW THE BOARD HAS THOSE NUMBERS IN FRONT OF THEM, BUT I THINK IT'S PROBABLY.
WHAT WOULD ONE LOOK LIKE? WHAT WOULD THE OTHER LOOK LIKE, AND IF THERE'S ANY SUBSTANTIAL DIFFERENCE THAT THE BOARD THAT WE HAVEN'T TALKED ABOUT.
>> IN TERMS OF THE EQUIPMENT THAT WOULD BE INCLUDED IN TERMS OF THE PERFORMANCE?
>> GENERAL BENEFITS. I'D SAY EQUIPMENT IN PART BECAUSE PART OF ME IS THINKING AIR AIR PUMPS OUTSIDE THE SPACE THAT'S GOING TO BE REQUIRED, THE LOCATION OF THOSE LIMITED SCHOOL PROPERTY.
JUST SO WE CAN GET AN UNDERSTANDING OF WHICH SYSTEMS CURRENTLY PLANNED IF IF WE GO WITH THE HYDRAULIC.
WE'VE TALKED ABOUT THE GEOTHERMAL QUITE A BIT.
>> WE'VE TALKED ABOUT A COMBINATION OF DIFFERENT SYSTEMS FOR THE STRAIGHT AIR CONDITIONING.
SO WHEN WE TALK ABOUT THE AIR CONDITIONING SYSTEM, WHAT WE'RE GENERALLY TALKING ABOUT RIGHT NOW IS USING THE SAME PIPING DISTRIBUTION THAT WE'RE USING FOR HEATING, IN SOME CASES, TO DELIVER COOLING.
THAT COOLING THE COOLED WATER WOULD HAVE TO BE PRODUCED WITH A PIECE OF EQUIPMENT.
THEY'LL SIT OUTSIDE SOMEWHERE GENERALLY ON A ROOF, OUTSIDE THE BUILDING.
COULD BE SOME NUMBER OF PIECES OF EQUIPMENT.
[02:05:01]
THERE MAY BE LIMITED APPLICATIONS OF VRF COMPONENTS DEPENDING ON LOCATIONS AND SYSTEMS THAT WE'RE TOUCHING AND IMPACTING.REMEMBER, WE HAVE A FAIR AMOUNT OF EXISTING EQUIPMENT THAT WE ARE TRYING TO WORK WITH AND MAINTAIN AND MAXIMIZE THE USE OF WHERE WE CAN, WHERE WE HAVE EQUIPMENT THAT'S STILL GOT A DECENT AMOUNT OF EXPECTED REMAINING USEFUL LIFE.
THAT WOULD BE COUPLED WITH A BOILER PLANT.
IT'S GOING TO BE A HIGH EFFICIENCY HYDRAULIC BOILER.
GAS FIRED, WHICH WILL GIVE YOU A SUBSTANTIAL BOOST IN EFFICIENCY FROM YOUR STEAM PLANT, JUST ON A FUNDAMENTAL NOTE FOR YOUR HEATING COMPONENT.
IN A GEOTHERMAL SYSTEM, WE'D BE LOOKING AT THE WELL FIELD, WHICH AFTER YOU GET THROUGH THE CONSTRUCTION DISAPPEARS ON THE PARKING LOT OR IN THE GRASS, THERE WOULDN'T BE A VISIBLE OUTDOOR COMPONENT TO SPEAK OF FOR THAT THE LARGE SCALE PRODUCTION, IT WOULD INCLUDE A WATER SOURCE HEAT PUMP IN THE BUILDING.
USUALLY IT'S LIKE IN THE BASEMENT, IT'S LIKE A BOILER PLANT.
I THINK THERE WAS SOMETHING MENTIONED EARLIER ABOUT HAVING SOME REDUNDANCY WITH FOSSIL BACKUP, AND WE WOULD RECOMMEND THAT IN EVERY CASE TOO SO THAT WE HAVE A SITUATION WHERE WE CAN PROVIDE ADDITIONAL TEMP WHERE NEEDED.
THAT'S MORE THAN LIKELY GOING TO BE REQUIRED FOR OUR DEGREE DAYS FOR HEATING BECAUSE OF SOME OF OUR SITE CONSTRAINTS ON THE NUMBER OF WELLS WE CAN PUT IN.
THAT WOULD MAKE A LOT OF SENSE TO HAVE A BOILER COMPONENT THAT'S COUPLED WITH THAT AS WELL INSIDE THE BUILDING.
DOES THAT MAKE SENSE? DO YOU THROW ANY OTHER QUESTIONS?
>> SINCE WE WERE TALKING ABOUT [INAUDIBLE]
>> MY QUESTION IS THIS AND THE BUDGET IS UP.
>> I KNOW AND JUST FOR STREAMING PURPOSES.
>> THE BUDGET IS OBVIOUSLY CONSTRAINT, AS YOU'VE HEARD HERE TONIGHT.
MY CONCERN IS, WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE IN COST BETWEEN DOING THE GO WITH THE GAS BACKUP? AS OPPOSED TO DOING THE VRF SYSTEM WITH THE GAS BACK TO RUN ON THE COLDEST DAYS, SO YOU'RE NOT USING THE VRF WHEN IT'S LESS EFFICIENT, YOU'RE ONLY USING IT IN THE SHOULDERS, AND THEN YOU HAVE THE VRF FOR COOLING.
AND ESPECIALLY WHEN UTILITY RATES AND DISTRIBUTION RATES, I DON'T KNOW IF YOU'RE AWARE, THEY'RE RISING AT 16% PER YEAR, AND THE PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION HAS AUTHORIZED THOSE.
BY GOING TO AN ELECTRIC HEATING SYSTEM, YOU ARE GOING TO BE SUBJECTING THE SCHOOL DISTRICT TO THOSE EXTREMELY RAPIDLY RISING ELECTRIC COSTS.
JUST TO BE CLEAR BECAUSE I'M SURE THERE ARE PEOPLE HERE THAT THINK THAT GEOTHERMAL HEAT HAS NO CARBON FOOTPRINT.
BUT THE ELECTRICITY FOR THE GEOTHERMAL HAS TO COME FROM SOMEWHERE, AND SINCE THE CLOSURE OF INDIAN POINT, THE DOWN STATE ELECTRIC GRID HAS A CARBON FOOTPRINT OF 950 POUNDS OF CO_2 PER MEGAWATT HOUR.
IT IS NOT ONE OF THE CLEANER SYSTEMS IN THE UNITED STATES, UNFORTUNATELY, BECAUSE OF STATE POLICY, WHICH IS WHY I WAS IN ALBANY YESTERDAY.
HAVE YOU DONE A COST ANALYSIS, BOTH FROM THE POINT OF INSTALLATION COSTS AND FROM THE POINT OF OPERATING COSTS BECAUSE IT'S VERY CLEAR THAT A GAS SYSTEM DURING THE COLDEST DAYS OF WINTER, LIKE ANOTHER GUY AND I CALCULATE 500 HOURS OF OPERATION IN THE COLDEST DAYS WOULD GIVE YOU OPTIMAL EFFICIENCY WITHOUT EVEN USING THE ELECTRIC SYSTEM AND COUPLING WITH THE VRF A HOT WATER COIL IN THOSE UNITS WITH A LITTLE HOLE GOING OUT THROUGH THE WALL, SO YOU COULD BRING IN FRESH AIR THROUGH THE UNITS TO MAKE SURE YOU HAVE GOOD AIR FLOW IN THE CLASSROOMS. THAT'S WHAT WE WERE DISCUSSING WHAT WE WERE CONCERNED ABOUT, AND THIS PERSON HAS A HUGE AMOUNT OF EXPERIENCE WITH IT.
WHAT'S THE DIFFERENCE IN INSTALLATION COSTS BECAUSE THE BUDGET.
>> YEAH, I DON'T HAVE THOSE EXACT NUMBERS.
AN AIR SOURCE HEAT PUMP IS GOING TO BE LESS EFFICIENT THAN A GROUND SOURCE HEAT PUMP AREA OF 20, 30 SOMETIMES 40% DIFFERENCE.
THE POINT OF CARBON EMISSIONS, I'VE BEEN TALKING FOR A WHILE ABOUT IN 2030, NEW YORK WAS ANTICIPATED TO BE 70% RENEWABLE.
WE STARTED OFF WITH A HEAD START BECAUSE OF ALL THE HYDRO.
HOPEFULLY WE STAY ON A GOOD TRACK AND BY 2040 CARBON FREE.
THIS IS PART OF WHAT'S REALLY MOTIVATING A LOT OF THE PUSH TO ELECTRIC AND HEAT PUMPS IS IF YOU'RE ON FOSSIL FUEL, YOU'RE MARRIED TO FOSSIL FUEL, IF YOU'RE ON ELECTRIC, YOU'RE GOING TO BASICALLY BE CARBON FREE AT SOME POINT IN THE FUTURE,
[02:10:03]
AS LONG AS WE STAY ON TRACK WITH WIND AND BATTERIES AND SOLAR THAT HAVE BEEN CONTRACTED.BUT I THINK WHAT WALT SAID AND WHAT I SAID, AND I THINK IS IN KEEPING WITH WHAT WAS JUST MENTIONED IS THAT WE'RE GOING TO OPTIMIZE THAT SYSTEM.
AT THE END OF THE DAY, THERE'S GOING TO BE A BLEND HERE, MOSTLY BECAUSE YOU'RE TRYING TO FIND THE MOST COST EFFECTIVE WAY TO DO IT, BUT THAT ALSO HEDGES YOU A LITTLE BIT AGAINST UTILITY RATE PAIN.
NOW, GAS HAS BEEN CHEAP FOR A LONG TIME.
IT WAS PROJECTED SOME TIME AGO TO BE CHEAP FOR A LOT LONGER. WHO KNOWS? WE KNOW OIL GOT EXTRAORDINARILY EXPENSIVE WAY MORE THAN I THINK PEOPLE EXPECTED, AND ELECTRICITY'S HAD A PRETTY SIZABLE TREND UP OVER TIME.
NO MATTER WHAT YOU DO, YOUR UTILITY BILLS ARE LIKELY TO GO UP.
THE KEY IS, MAYBE TO PICK THE SYSTEM THAT'S THE MOST EFFICIENT AND COST EFFECTIVE, BUT DON'T FORGET MAINTENANCE TOO.
I THINK THAT'S A HUGE COST TO A SCHOOL DISTRICT AND, THAT REPLACEMENT COST TO THE SYSTEM IS HUGE.
WHAT'S $20 MILLION TODAY, IF IT'S A 20 YEAR SYSTEM, SOMEBODY SAVING A MILLION DOLLARS A YEAR TO REPLACE THAT.
IF YOU CAN GET SOMETHING THAT LASTS 40, 50 YEARS, YOU'RE DEFERRING A LOT OF COSTS THAT YOU WOULD HAVE TO COME UP WITH FOR YOUR SUCCESSORS.
I DON'T HAVE EXACT NUMBERS, BUT I KNOW IF YOU DID LIKE A NEW BUILDING, YOU CAN HAVE A PAYBACK IN A CLOSED LOOP GEO OF 14 TO 18 YEARS, FOR THAT INCREMENTAL COST.
WITH INCENTIVES AND REBATES THAT CAN GET TO BE MUCH SHORTER.
THAT'S A SHORT ANSWER TO A LONG QUESTION.
I GUESS I WOULD JUST REMIND THE BOARD IN YOUR FOLDERS, YOU'VE GOT SPREADSHEETS WITH COSTS.
THANKS TO HIS OFFICE WORKED TO GET SPREADSHEETS THAT SO YOU CAN SEE THE COSTS FOR THE VARIOUS PROJECTS AS WE DISCUSSED THEM AT OUR LAST MEETING.
THAT'S THE FIRST COUPLE OF PAGES.
THEN ON THE THIRD PAGE, JACKIE DID ASK US TO KNOWING THAT SHE WAS GOING TO PROPOSE A POTENTIAL SEPARATION OF SOLENOID FROM THE REMAINDER OF THE INFRASTRUCTURE.
ONE IF YOU DON'T HAVE ONE. PASS THOSE DOWN.
THERE IS A SPREADSHEET WITH THAT.
THE COST FOR THE ADDITIVE COST FOR GEOTHERMAL FOR PROSPECT HILL AND SOLENOID TOGETHER WAS 4.5 MILLION DOLLARS TO ADD THE SYSTEM TO THOSE TWO BUILDINGS.
WE DID NOT HAVE THE COST OUT HERE FOR THE HIGH SCHOOL BECAUSE AT OUR LAST MEETING, WE SAID WE WERE FOR GOING BUILDING WIDE AIR CONDITIONING AT THE HIGH SCHOOL GIVEN THAT WE ALREADY HAVE A SIGNIFICANT COVERAGE, AND WE'D LOOK FOR OTHER WAYS TO AIR CONDITIONING HIGH SCHOOL.
>> YEAH, JUST REMINDING THE BOARD THE COST DIFFERENCE WAS 4.5 MILLION DOLLARS TO ADD GEOTHERMAL.
OBVIOUSLY, THE SYSTEMS WOULD BE DIFFERENT, BUT THE COST DIFFERENCE BETWEEN HYDRAULIC AND UPGRADING TO GEOTHERMAL WOULD BE 4.5 MILLION.
>> CAN I JUST SAY BECAUSE MAYBE IT'S HELPFUL TO JUST SAY OUT LOUD, THAT MEANS THEN TELL ME IF I'M LOOKING AT THE RIGHT PAGE?
>> FOR A PROPERTY ASSESSED AT $850,000, IT'S AN EXTRA $46 A YEAR.
IS THAT AM I LOOKING AT THAT PROPERLY? THEN A HOUSE THAT'S 1.2 MILLION IT WOULD BE AN EXTRA $64 A YEAR, AND WE'RE TALKING JUST THE GEOTHERMAL AT THOSE TWO SCHOOLS.
A PROPERTY ASSSED AT 1.5 IS AN EXTRA $82 A YEAR.
>> IF WE GO BACK TO DO WE WANT TO GO BACK TO THE QUESTIONS NOW THAT WE NEED.
>> WE NEED TO GRAPPLE WITH. DO WE NEED OUR CONSTRUCTION FOLKS TO STAY?
>> I THINK WE'RE GOOD, CAN WE ASK WE LET PEOPLE GO?
>> WE'RE RE KEEPING WAL BECAUSE I THINK THE QUESTION THE PLAYGROUNDS.
>> WALTER SORRY, WE MAY NEED YOU TO STOP.
>> KEVIN, YOU MIGHT WANT TO STICK AROUND FOR FUN, TOO. THERE'S LIKELY TO BE.
[02:15:02]
>> BACK TO THE QUESTION. DO WE WANT TO GO IN ORDER? LET'S START WITH YOU.
THE FIRST ONE WE HAVE HERE IS DO WE WANT TO MOVE AWAY FROM HAVING INFRASTRUCTURE AND SOLENOID TOGETHER AND SPLIT THEM INTO TWO PROPOSALS.
IF WE LOOK AT THAT SAME SHEET THAT YOU WERE LOOKING AT AT MARIE.
AGAIN, WE HAVE TO PULL OUT SOLENOIDS INFRASTRUCTURE FROM THE INFRASTRUCTURE PROPOSITION AND PACKAGE IT WITH SOLENOID.
>> CAN WE EXPLAIN A LITTLE OF WHY THAT NEEDS TO HAPPEN SO THAT WAY PEOPLE UNDERSTAND WHY SOLENOID HAS TO BE PULLED OUT OF INFRASTRUCTURE PACKAGE.
>> IN SIMPLEST I'LL TRY TO DO IT IN ITS SIMPLEST FORM.
IN ORDER TO DO ANY MAJOR WORK AT SOLENOID, WE NEED TO DO WE NEED TO DO THE ADA WORK.
EVEN TO DO ANY MAJOR INFRASTRUCTURE, WE CAN'T DO THAT WITHOUT.
>> IN ORDER TO DO THE ADA WORK?
>> THAT'S WHAT'S LEADING US TO THE EXPANSION CONVERSATION.
IN ORDER TO DO ANY WORK, WE NEED TO DO THE ADA, WHICH LEADS US TO NEEDING THE EXPANSION.
>> WITH THAT, IF SOLENOID DOESN'T GO THROUGH, THEN THE INFRASTRUCTURE DOESN'T GO THROUGH.
WE'RE TALKING ABOUT SPLITTING.
>> IN THE PROPOSAL YOU HAVE TO HAVE A YES FOR SIWANOY.
>> WELL, WE'RE DEBATING WHETHER TO KEEP THEM PAIRED.
>> IS WHERE WE LEFT WEDNESDAY.
MAYBE I'M GOING TO ASK RIGHT WAY.
[LAUGHTER] I THINK I GUESS WHAT I'M SAYING IS IF WE SEPARATE THEM AND YOU GET A NO FOR SIWANOY, YOU HAVE AN AUTOMATIC NO FOR INFRASTRUCTURE.
>> NOT NECESSARILY ON SIWANOY.
>> GOT IT. OKAY. YOU CAN DO THE INFRASTRUCTURE WITHOUT THE ADA?
>> INFRASTRUCTURE OTHER THAN AT SIWANOY.
>> YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT THE INFRASTRUCTURE AT SIWANOY?
>> WE SHOULD LET PEOPLE FINISH. I THINK WE ALL JUMPED IN AND CUT YOU OFF BEFORE YOU FINISHED.
>> THAT'S JUST WHAT I WANT TO CLARIFY.
I THINK IT'S MORE OF A QUESTION.
>> ASK IT ONE MORE TIME AND WE WON'T JUMP IN AND CUT YOU OFF.
>> NO. [LAUGHTER] IF WE PUT THE INFRASTRUCTURE WITH SIWANOY.
>> SIWANOY'S INFRASTRUCTURE WITH SIWANOY?
>> YES. IT'S LIKE A SEPARATE THING.
>> SIWANOY GETS A NO IN THE VOTE.
THE OTHER INFRASTRUCTURE, THE NON SIWANOY INFRASTRUCTURE, I GUESS THE INFRASTRUCTURE AS A WHOLE CAN GO THROUGH.
>> IT WILL BE VOTED ON SEPARATELY AND IF IT PASS, YES.
>> IF WE HAVE SEPARATE PROPOSITIONS.
>> YEAH, IF IT'S VOTED ON SEPARATELY, IT PASSES. [OVERLAPPING]
>> I'M JUST CLARIFYING BECAUSE I KNOW IF YOU DON'T PASS ADA, OTHER THINGS DON'T GO THROUGH, SO I'M JUST TRYING TO UNDERSTAND.
>> IT WOULD BE SPECIFIC TO THE BUILDING.
IF IT'S SEPARATED AND SIWANOY'S INFRASTRUCTURE THEN GOES WITH SIWANOY.
IF SIWANOY WERE NOT TO PASS, THEN NOTHING COULD BE DONE AT SIWANOY.
>> GOT IT. BUT THE REST OF THE INFRASTRUCTURE COULD HAPPEN.
>> IF THE OTHER BUILDING PASSES?
>> THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT I JUST WANTED TO CLARIFY.
>> MAYBE WE TALK ABOUT FOR A SECOND, IF THAT DOES HAPPEN, WHAT IF SOMETHING DOES HAPPEN TO TO THE BOILER, FOR EXAMPLE, AT SIWANOY? HOW DID THE DISTRICT ADDRESS?
>> I'M GOING TO TURN TO MY COLLEAGUE, JIM.
WE'D BE IN AN EMERGENCY REPAIR SITUATION.
>> I THINK YES. IF SOMETHING LIKE THAT WERE TO HAPPEN, THE BOARD WOULD HAVE TO DECLARE AN EMERGENCY AND THAT ALLOWS YOU WITH SOME LATITUDE.
I'M JUST GOING TO TURN TO WALTER AND/OR KEVIN.
THEY'VE PROBABLY FACED THIS SCENARIO BEFORE.
NOW, I THINK IT WOULD BE AKIN TO SAY YOU'RE STUCK ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD.
YOU CAN PUT A SPARE TIRE ON YOUR CAR AND YOU CAN GET OFF THE ROAD.
I THINK YOU'D PROBABLY BE ABLE TO REPLACE IN KIND, SO A STEAM BOILER FOR A STEAM BOILER OR A TEMPORARY BOILER.
BUT I'M GOING TO TURN IT TO TECHNICAL FOLKS HERE.
>> YEAH. UNFORTUNATELY, I HAVE BEEN CAUGHT IN THAT SITUATION BEFORE WHERE WE'VE HAD BOILERS GO DOWN IN SCHOOL DISTRICTS AND BELIEVE IT OR NOT, THERE IS EQUIPMENT ON THE BACK OF AN 18 WHEELER LOWBOY, THAT YOU CAN LEASE FOR A PERIOD OF TIME AND THEY WILL HOOK THAT RIGHT UP AND TAKE YOUR OLD BOILERS OUT OF SERVICE AND TIE INTO YOUR EXISTING HEATING SYSTEM.
IT WORKS REALLY GOOD FOR A TEMPORARY SERVICE UNTIL YOU CAN GET YOUR NEW EQUIPMENT IN.
BOILER EQUIPMENT HAS BEEN TAKING, EIGHT OR TEN WEEKS TO GET, SO YOU WOULD BE RUNNING ON A TEMPORARY BOILER FOR PROBABLY TWO OR THREE MONTHS.
[02:20:05]
THEN ONCE YOU HAVE THAT NEW BOILER ON.>> THAT TEMPORARY BOILER IS THAT ON A TRAILER OUTSIDE THE BUILDING?
>> JUST SITS ON A TRAILER OUTSIDE THE BUILDING AND IT GETS HOOKED UP WITH POWER AND WATER PIPING GETS TIED INTO THE EXISTING SYSTEM THAT YOU HAVE.
YEAH. OR STEAM, DEPENDING ON WHAT IT IS THAT YOU HAVE.
>> FOR FUNDING AND FOR STATE EDUCATION APPROVAL?
>> IF YOU'RE GOING THROUGH THAT PROCESS, YOU CAN DECLARE AN EMERGENCY IS AS WAS INDICATED, THAT HELPS SPEED UP THE PROCESS OF YOU GOING THROUGH TO GET CONTRACTORS INVOLVED TO PUT A NEW UNIT IN.
THAT'S ONE METHOD THAT YOU COULD USE.
SURE. I THINK ONE THAT WE HAD ONE PARTICULAR INCIDENT HAD A WATER FAILURE THAT BECAUSE THE BOILER WAS IN THE BASEMENT FILLED THE BASEMENT UP, BOILER WENT OUT OF SERVICE, THAT BECAME AN INSURANCE CLAIM.
DEPENDING ON YOUR SITUATION, IT COULD BE ONE OR THE OTHER.
>> MY UNDERSTANDING, TWO THINGS.
ONE, MY UNDERSTANDING IS THOSE TEMPORARY BOILERS ARE FAIRLY EXPENSIVE, IS THAT FAIR?
>> YEAH. THEY'RE NOT INEXPENSIVE.
THEY'RE EXPENSIVE, BUT WHEN YOU HAVE AN EMERGENCY LIKE THAT, YOU DO WHAT YOU HAVE TO DO.
>> THERE'S NO OTHER REALLY OPTION.
>> RIGHT. THEN THE OTHER IS WE WOULD HAVE TO REPLACE IT WITH A STEAM BOILER, I ASSUME.
I DON'T KNOW THE ANSWER TO THAT QUESTION.
IN ORDER FOR YOU TO DO IT THROUGH THE STATE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT THROUGH AN EXISTING CONDITION, YOU MAY HAVE TO, SO THERE'S AN EXPENDITURE THERE FOR THAT FOR SOMETHING YOU MAY WANT TO REMOVE LATER.
BUT THERE IS A POSSIBILITY THAT YOU MIGHT BE ABLE TO DESIGN IT QUICKER THROUGH AN EMERGENCY PROJECT AND DO THE UPGRADES AS PART OF IT.
IT MIGHT TAKE YOU LONGER TO DO THE UPGRADE INTO A HYDRAULIC SYSTEM.
BUT YOU MAY BE ABLE TO GET IT DONE.
THAT'S A GREAT QUESTION, THOUGH. I'VE NEVER COME ACROSS THAT ONE BEFORE.
>> IT'S GOOD FOR NOW. THANK YOU.
>> ACTUALLY, IT'S AN ADD ON. SORRY TO MAKE YOU SIT DOWN.
YOU MAY NOT NEED TO GET UP, I DON'T KNOW.
IN THAT SCENARIO AND I KNOW WE'RE TALKING ABOUT WHAT IFS AT THIS POINT.
BUT WOULD THAT SCENARIO CAUSE THE STATE TO SAY, YOUR BUILDING IS NOT ADA COMPLIANT? WOULD THAT HOLD UP AN EMERGENCY PROJECT?
>> I DON'T LIKE TALKING ABOUT EMERGENCY [INAUDIBLE] [LAUGHTER] [OVERLAPPING]
>> BUT I WANTED TO ASK THE QUESTION.
>> I FIGURED IT WOULDN'T, BUT I JUST WANT TO.
I JUST WANT TO ASK EVERY QUESTION.
>> [OVERLAPPING] THE BUILDING OPERATION AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE.
BUT TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTION ABOUT UPGRADING, I THINK IF YOU ARE IN AN EMERGENCY SITUATION, YOU'RE GOING TO GO BACK WITH A STEAM BOILER.
THIS ISN'T TIME TO UPGRADE THE PIPING AND CHANGE OUT THE WHOLE SYSTEM.
>> WHILE WE'RE IN THE WHAT IF WE'RE ON ORIGINAL PIPING STILL.
>> PROBABLY LOSING SOME DAYS OF SCHOOL IN THERE BEFORE YOU GET A BOILER.
IT'S NOT LIKE THEY SHOW UP THE DAY YOU WANT IT.
>> IT WILL TAKE A FEW DAYS OR SO.
>> YEAH. IT DEPENDS ON THE SITUATION.
>> WE'RE IN THE WHAT IF WORLD.
WHAT IF THE VOTE DOESN'T GO THROUGH FOR SIWANOY, THE OTHER VOTES GO THROUGH AS A YES.
WHAT'S THEN THE TIMELINE OF THE ADA? WHAT HAPPENS THEN, I GUESS, IS MY QUESTION TOO.
HOW LONG DOES THAT DELAY ANY ADA OR UPGRADES TO SIWANOY AS FAR AS THE NEXT PHASES?
>> WE WOULDN'T BE ABLE TO MOVE AHEAD WITH ANYTHING UNTIL THE VOTERS APPROVED A DIFFERENT PLAN.
>> WE WOULD HAVE TO COME BACK TO THE BOARD.
>> YOU COULD GO BACK AND THEN REDO THAT PARTICULAR VOTE?
>> WE WOULD HAVE TO PUT IT UP FOR A VOTE AND THEN MONEY ALLOCATED TO THE BOND.
>> ALTERNATIVELY, IF WE KEEP THEM BOTH TOGETHER, INFRASTRUCTURE FOR ACROSS THE DISTRICT AND THE SIWANOY SCHOOL EXPANSION, IF WE KEEP THEM TOGETHER AND THAT DOES NOT PASS, THEN WE LOSE.
I'M SORRY. I WASN'T CLOSE ENOUGH? I'M SORRY. WELL,
[02:25:03]
I WAS TALKING TO MY COLLEAGUES [LAUGHTER].>> IF WE KEEP THEM TOGETHER AND THEN THE VOTE DOES NOT PASS, THEN WE LOSE INFRASTRUCTURE ACROSS?
>> WE TAKE THE INFRASTRUCTURE BACK OUT TO THE COMMUNITY FOR ANOTHER VOTE INTO THE BOND BECAUSE WE WOULD NOT BE AUTHORIZED FOR THE FUNDING OF THE PROJECTS.
>> FOR ALL THE INFRASTRUCTURE AND SIWANOY, ALL OF IT?
>> I SAY WE LOSE, I MEAN THE COMMUNITY.
>> THE QUESTION WITH, HOW DOES THAT AFFECT THE HIGH SCHOOL? DOES THAT DEPEND ON HOW WE STRUCTURE THE PROPOSITIONS THEN?
>> THERE'S A SCENARIO WITH THE WHAT IF WORLD, WHERE LET'S SAY SIWANOY AND THE INFRASTRUCTURE IS IN PROPOSITION ONE OR A, THE HIGH SCHOOL IS IN PROPOSITION B, WE COULD STRUCTURE IT WHERE THEY'RE INDEPENDENT AND BE IN A SCENARIO WHERE THE HIGH SCHOOL PASSES, BUT THE OTHER THINGS DON'T.
OR THIS IS WHAT WE'RE TALKING THROUGH THIS.
>> OR ONE CAN ONLY HAPPEN IF THE OTHER ONE PASSES.
>> I DON'T THINK WE WANT TO BE IN A SITUATION WHERE ANYTHING PASSES WITHOUT THE INFRASTRUCTURE PASSING.
>> YES. I AGREE WITH THAT, I THINK. MAKES SENSE.
>> I MEAN, YOU'RE TRYING TO HONE IN, I THINK ON THIS FIRST QUESTION.
>> I GUESS IT'S THE SEPARATE OR TOGETHER.
>> I THINK THE UPSIDE IS THE GENERAL INFRASTRUCTURE CAN CONTINUE IF THE SIWANOY DOESN'T, WHICH IS A BENEFIT.
THEN THE DOWNSIDE IS THAT IF SIWANOY DOESN'T GO THROUGH AND THEY'RE TOGETHER THEN EVERYTHING IS SCRATCHED.
>> THEN THAT BUILDING BASICALLY STAYS TRAPPED IN TIME FOR HOWEVER LONG IT TAKES.
>> FOR THAT BUILDING ALONE, NOT ANYTHING ELSE?
>> THE INFRASTRUCTURE, THE URGENT, THE AGING INFRASTRUCTURE CAN CONTINUE.
>> MY LAST YEAR AT THE BOARD, I'M UP THREE YEARS NOW.
>> IT'S THE THIRD YEAR OF YOUR TERM.
FOR THE LAST THREE YEARS I'VE SAT IN THE FACILITIES COMMITTEE.
SINCE DAY ONE WE'VE TALKED ABOUT AGING INFRASTRUCTURE.
NOW, WHEN I STARTED WITH THE BOARD, IT WAS A DIFFERENT TIME.
WE HAD JUST GOTTEN OFF OF COVID AND OUR FOCUS WAS REALLY ON GETTING THE KIDS BACK TO SCHOOL AND EDUCATION AND MAKING SURE THE CURRICULUMS WERE RIGHT.
BUT EVEN BACK THEN, EVERYBODY WHO SAT AT THIS BOARD IT WAS VERY DIFFERENT BACK THEN, WAS VERY CONCERNED ABOUT OUR AGING INFRASTRUCTURE AND I WAS HERE FOR THE HUTCHINSON VOTE.
THE POPULATION OF SIWANOY WAS REALLY UPSET BECAUSE NOTHING WENT THEIR WAY.
THERE WAS ABSOLUTELY NO ADA FOR THEM, THERE WAS NO INFRASTRUCTURE AND THINGS WERE TAKEN OUT AT THAT BOND BECAUSE WE HAD HUTCHINSON AND WE HAD OTHER THINGS WE HAD TO DO.
WE KICKED THE CAN DOWN THE ROAD.
NOW WE'RE HERE FROM 2018-2019.
NOW WE'RE 2025. I'VE SEEN THOSE BOILERS EVERY YEAR THAT I'VE BEEN ON THIS BOARD.
WE HAVE GONE TO MANY SCHOOLS IN WESTCHESTER EXAMINING HOW OLD BUILDINGS HAVE INTEGRATED AC AND DONE ADDITIONS AND WE'VE MET AT THIS COMMITTEE EVERY MONTH FOR THE LAST THREE YEARS.
IT SCARES ME IF WE DO NOTHING FOR INFRASTRUCTURE.
IT REALLY SCARES ME, BECAUSE TWO YEARS AGO, WE APPROVED TO USE RESERVES FOR ONE OF OUR AC UNITS AT THE MIDDLE SCHOOL.
WE FINALLY GOT APPROVAL THIS YEAR.
UNFORTUNATELY, ONE OF THOSE COILS FAILED ON US AND WE SAW OURSELVES HAVING TO DISMISS KIDS IN THE MIDDLE SCHOOL.
I DON'T EVEN WANT TO THINK OF WHAT IF A BOILER FAILS, OR WHAT IF IF THE ROOF IN ONE OF OUR SCHOOLS IS LEAKING.
I WON'T BE ABLE TO SLEEP AT NIGHT IF WE DO NOT PASS AN INFRASTRUCTURE BOND.
IT WILL EVENTUALLY DOWN THE ROAD, AS WE KNOW, PROJECTS TAKE A LONG TIME TO MATURE.
IT WILL BE TAX-NEUTRAL. I UNDERSTAND.
THIS IS A TAX BURDEN, BUT IT IS WHAT WE HAVE TO DO TO KEEP OUR SCHOOLS OPEN.
WE HAVE BEAUTIFUL OLD BUILDINGS.
UNFORTUNATELY, WE'VE DONE THE BEST WE CAN WITH WHAT WE HAVE.
IT IS TIME TO MAKE A DECISION ON INFRASTRUCTURE.
I REALLY THINK WE NEED TO MAKE THAT DECISION AND PUT THAT UP FOR A BOND.
IF IT NEEDS TO BE SEPARATED BECAUSE THE COMMUNITY IS NOT READY TO MOVE FORWARD WITH SIWANOY, I THINK WE NEED TO DO IT.
[02:30:04]
IF WE PUT IT TOGETHER AND IT FAILS, IT WOULD BE REALLY HARD FOR US.I'LL SAY AS A BOARD MEMBER THAT EVERYTHING THAT WE'VE BEEN DISCUSSING ALL THESE CAPITAL PROJECTS, I'M BEHIND ALL OF THEM.
I FEEL THEY'RE ALL VITALLY IMPORTANT.
ONE THING I WANT TO MAKE SURE THE COMMUNITY UNDERSTANDS AND I KNOW WE'VE SAID IT A NUMBER OF TIMES, BUT I UNDERSTAND THE COMMUNITY IS NOT INVOLVED IN THE DAY TO DAY INTRICACIES.
I THINK MANY OF YOU ARE BECAUSE YOU'VE BEEN VERY COMMITTED TO COMING TO THE MEETINGS AND SHARING YOUR THOUGHTS, WHICH WE REALLY APPRECIATE.
I THINK A LARGE PART OF THE COMMUNITY DOESN'T UNDERSTAND THAT IF WE DON'T LOOK AHEAD WHEN IT COMES TO INFRASTRUCTURE BECAUSE OF THE REGULATIONS AND THE STATE REQUIREMENTS FOR US TO GET APPROVAL, WE'RE BEING IRRESPONSIBLE.
FOR EXAMPLE, IF I DECIDE I NEED A NEW ROOF, WHICH I PROBABLY DO, I CAN START TALKING TO CONTRACTORS AND MAYBE WITHIN A COUPLE OF MONTHS, THEY'RE WORKING ON A NEW ROOF FOR ME.
IT DOESN'T WORK THAT WAY FOR SCHOOLS, WHETHER WE LIKE IT OR NOT.
RIGHT NOW I'M JUST TALKING INFRASTRUCTURE IN GENERAL.
IF SOMETHING IS STILL WORKING TODAY, BUT IT'S AT END OF ITS LIFE, IT'S IRRESPONSIBLE OF US TO NOT CONSIDER THE FACT THAT WITH THE HRC UNIT THAT YOU JUST DESCRIBED, NATALIE.
IT TAKES TIME BECAUSE OF JUST THE REGULATIONS THAT A PUBLIC SCHOOL IS UNDER FOR LARGE PROJECTS.
I TOO WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO SLEEP AT NIGHT IF WE DID NOT PASS AND PUT OUT AND PASS AN INFRASTRUCTURE PROPOSITION.
LET ME SHARE MY THOUGHTS ABOUT SIWANOY.
I UNDERSTAND AND I TRULY HAVE BEEN LISTENING TO AND READING COMMENTS.
I THINK WE ALL ARE VERY AWARE THAT THERE ARE VARYING FEELINGS, OPINIONS, BELIEFS, WHATEVER AROUND THE SIWANOY PROJECT.
FROM MY PERSPECTIVE, I'VE LIVED HERE FOR 17 YEARS AND I HAVE HEARD NUMEROUS TIMES CONVERSATIONS AROUND, WHAT ABOUT SIWANOY? WHEN ARE WE GOING TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT SIWANOY? HAVING HAD THE CHANCE TO TOUR IT AND TO SEE THE CLASSROOMS IN THE BASEMENT, AND LET ME BACKUP, LET ME JUST SAY THE FACT THAT IT'S NOT ADA COMPLIANT AT THIS POINT AFTER, WHEN DID THE LAW PASS? I DON'T REMEMBER.
I'M NOT HEARING ANYMORE AND I'LL SAY ANYMORE THAT ANYONE IS AGAINST MAKING SIWANOY ADA ACCESSIBLE. I'M NOT HEARING THAT.
I'VE TALKED WITH A VARIETY OF SIWANOY COMMUNITY MEMBERS.
WHAT I DO KNOW IS THAT IF WE ARE INSTALLING ELEVATORS, WE'RE TAKING OUT CLASSROOMS. WE HAVE KINDERGARTNERS IN THE BASEMENT.
WE ARE NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR JUST TAKING CARE OF OUR SCHOOLS FOR OUR OWN KIDS, OBVIOUSLY, OR FOR ONLY THE KIDS THAT ARE IN SCHOOL TODAY.
WE HAVE TO BE FORWARD-LOOKING, MUCH MORE SO THAN MAYBE ANYONE REALIZES OR MAYBE SOME PEOPLE DO REALIZE THAT.
WITH THAT, SOME OF THE THINGS THAT I'VE HEARD PEOPLE SAY ARE NICE TO HAVE, I'M OF THE OPINION, IS IT A NECESSITY TO HAVE A SEPARATE CAFETERIA? CLEARLY NOT. THE KIDS ARE EATING.
IT'S NOT LIKE THEY'RE NOT HAVING IT DONE.
>> BUT I MOVED TO PELHAM BECAUSE OF WHAT THE SCHOOLS ARE LIKE, BECAUSE OF THE QUALITY OF THE EDUCATION AND MY KIDS WENT TO THE OLD HUTCHINSON, SO I KNOW WHAT IT'S LIKE TO HAVE A WHATEVER THEY CALL IT, ALL IN ONE.
[OVERLAPPING] I SEE WHAT IT'S LIKE NOW TO HAVE A SEPARATE CAFETERIA AND WHAT THAT DOES FOR STUDENTS FOR JUST PHYSICAL SPACE, THERE ARE NEEDS AT SIMONI THAT WE HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO ADDRESS NOW,
[02:35:06]
THAT I FEEL STRONGLY ARE IMPORTANT FOR THE SIMONI STUDENTS.THIS IS IMPORTANT FOR ME TO SAY.
I'VE TALKED WITH A NUMBER OF DIFFERENT PEOPLE AND I'VE DEFINITELY HEARD THE OBJECTIONS FOR SURE.
BUT I'VE ALSO HEARD FROM PEOPLE WHO ARE SUPPORTIVE BUT ARE UNCOMFORTABLE SAYING THEY'RE SUPPORTIVE.
EVERYONE ABSOLUTELY HAS THE RIGHT TO HAVE THEIR OPINION AND VOTE THE WAY THEY WANT TO VOTE WHEN THEY GO TO THE POLLS ON MAY 20.
BUT I'VE HAD PRIVATE CONVERSATIONS WITH PEOPLE WHO HAVE SAID, WE THINK IT'S A GREAT IDEA, BUT WE DON'T WANT TO GET INTO IT.
WE DON'T WANT TO GET INTO IT ON FACEBOOK, WE DON'T WANT TO GET INTO IT BLAH, BLAH BLAH. THAT JUST MAKES ME SAD.
NOW, THE OTHER THING THAT I HAVE TO SAY, AND I'M THE HUTCHINSON PTA.
WE EACH REPRESENT A PTA OR GO TO THE PTA MEETINGS AND SHARE BOARD INFORMATION.
SOMETHING THAT I STRESSED LAST NIGHT TO THE PTA WAS THAT I HOPE THAT EVERYONE IS GETTING THEIR FACTS, AND I'M ASSUMING BECAUSE YOU'RE HERE YOU'RE INVESTED, YOU'RE EITHER COMING TO THE BOARD MEETINGS, YOU'RE WATCHING THE BOARD MEETINGS, YOU'RE GOING TO THE WEBSITE OR GOING TO THE COFFEES AND THE TOURS AND THE INFO SESSIONS.
WHAT I ASK IS THAT YOU SHARE WITH YOUR NEIGHBORS AND YOUR FRIENDS WHERE THEY CAN GO FOR INFORMATION.
IT'S NOT FACEBOOK, AND IT'S NOT IN LETTERS TO THE EDITOR.
I'M NOT SAYING THAT THERE ARE THINGS IN THERE THAT ARE WRONG NECESSARILY, BUT YOU WANT TO ACTUALLY GO WHERE THE INFORMATION IS AND WHERE THE FACTS ARE.
I JUST IMPLORE EVERYONE WHEN YOU'RE TALKING WITH PEOPLE AND THEY HAVE QUESTIONS TO DIRECT THEM TO THE WEBSITE, TO DIRECT THEM TO US.
I KNOW BOARD MEMBERS ARE WILLING TO HAVE ONE ON ONE CONVERSATIONS WITH PEOPLE.
THAT'S THE POINT I WANT TO MAKE.
THEN FINALLY, AS FAR AS STRUCTURING IT, I'M GOING TO SAY THAT I BELIEVE IT NEEDS TO BE SEPARATE.
THE REASON I BELIEVE IT NEEDS TO BE SEPARATE IS BECAUSE I HEAR FROM THE COMMUNITY MIXED FEELINGS FROM DIFFERENT PEOPLE ABOUT THE PROJECT AS A WHOLE.
I'M NOT COMFORTABLE COUPLING IT WITH THE MUCH NEEDED INFRASTRUCTURE.
I'D RATHER LET THE COMMUNITY GO ON MAY 20 AND VOTE THE WAY THEY FEEL IS MOST APPROPRIATE FOR THEM AND THEIR FAMILY.
>> THANK YOU, EMILY. SURE. ANYBODY?
>> OKAY. THANKS WELL. I'LL ADD MY THOUGHTS AS WELL ABOUT SIMONI, AND INFRASTRUCTURE AND ALL OF THE PARTS THAT WE'RE THINKING ABOUT.
INFRASTRUCTURE, TO ME, THROUGHOUT THIS PROCESS, HAS REALLY STOOD OUT AS THE MOST CRITICAL PIECE FOR OUR DISTRICT, ENSURING THAT OUR STUDENTS DON'T LOSE OUT ON SCHOOL DAYS DUE TO ANY FAILURE IS CRUCIAL.
ALSO CRITICAL TO ME IS THE ADA PIECE AT SIMONI.
THIS ONE HAS BEEN, I THINK THIS ONE HAS BEEN AN EVER PRESENT ISSUE.
I THINK IT'S VERY CLEAR THAT NO ONE IS OPPOSED TO ADA.
I APPRECIATE HEARING THE COMMUNITY OR HEARING PEOPLE CHANGE THE WAY THEY WERE THINKING AND EXPRESSING THEIR VIEWS ON ADA.
THAT WAS NOT THE CASE AT THE START, AND SO I APPRECIATE THE HEARING US OR HEARING OR CHANGING THAT CONVERSATION AROUND ADA BECAUSE HAVING A SCHOOL THAT IS NOT ADA COMPLIANT MEANS THAT WE ARE LEAVING PEOPLE OUT IN OUR COMMUNITY BECAUSE PEOPLE CANNOT ACCESS THE SCHOOLS, STUDENTS, FAMILY MEMBERS, VISITORS, TEACHERS.
WE THOUGHT A LOT ABOUT HOW TO DO THIS AT SIMONI IN THE MOST FISCALLY RESPONSIBLE WAY WE CAN.
[02:40:02]
IT WASN'T JUST AS EASY AS ADDING ELEVATORS LIKE WE COULD DO AT PROSPECT BECAUSE THERE WAS SO MANY FACTORS.I THINK IT MIGHT JUST BE HELPFUL AT LEAST FOR ME TO GO WE THOUGHT A LOT ABOUT THAT.
WE COULDN'T ADD THE ELEVATORS TO THE FRONT OF THE BUILDING ON THE OUTSIDE.
THE EASIEST THING TO DO WOULD BE TO ADD ELEVATORS JUST TO THE OUTSIDE OF THE BUILDING.
BUT WHERE DO WE DO THAT? YOU CAN'T ADD THEM TO THE SIDE OF THE WINGS BECAUSE THEY'RE TOO CLOSE TO THE PROPERTY LINE.
THAT LEFT THE FRONT OF THE BUILDING OR THE BACK OF THE BUILDING.
WE COULDN'T PUT THEM ON THE FRONT BECAUSE WE REALLY HEARD THAT THAT WAS GOING TO CHANGE THE WAY THE SCHOOL LOOKED FROM THE STREET, AND WE NEEDED TO MAINTAIN THE HISTORICAL IMAGE OF OUR SCHOOL.
LET'S ADD THEM TO THINK ABOUT TO THE BACK.
WE CAN'T REALLY DO THAT BECAUSE THEN THAT'S GOING TO TAKE AWAY CRITICAL SPACE IN THE BACK. GOT IT.
WE ALSO CAN'T JUST ADD ONE BECAUSE THE WAY THAT SIMONI WAS DESIGNED, JUST THE AGE AND THE WINGS, YOU CANNOT GET FROM ONE SIDE OF THE BUILDING TO THE OTHER ON THE SAME PLANE.
IF YOU'RE IN THE RIGHT WING, YOU CANNOT WALK ALL THE WAY THROUGH THE BUILDING IN ONE STRAIGHT LEVEL.
THAT MEANS WE NEED TWO ELEVATORS, BECAUSE YOU HAVE TO BE ABLE TO GET TO ALL THREE FLOORS ON EACH SIDE OF THE BUILDING AND WE COULDN'T ACCOMPLISH THAT WITH ONE, SO WE NEEDED TWO.
THAT MEANT WE WERE LOSING CLASSROOMS. WE HAD TO FIGURE OUT A WAY TO AT LEAST ADD BACK THE CLASSROOMS WE WERE LOSING FOR THE ELEVATOR BANKS.
WE COULD HAVE DONE THAT AND SPENT MILLIONS OF DOLLARS WITHOUT ADDING ANY CLASSROOMS, AND THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN THE SMALLEST RENOVATION POSSIBLE.
BUT THE OTHER THING THAT WE HAD TO CONSIDER WAS THAT PART OF OUR RESPONSIBILITY IS THINKING ABOUT HOW TO STEWARD THE DISTRICT, AND THAT MEANS, WHAT DO WE DO? LONG TERM PLANNING, WE CAN'T SPEND MILLIONS OF DOLLARS TO HAVE A SHORT TERM SOLUTION TO A PROBLEM.
WE HAD TO REALLY THINK AND OF COURSE, WHEN YOU'RE LONG TERM PLANNING, YOU HAVE TO MAKE A LONG TERM DECISION USING THE BEST INFORMATION YOU HAVE TODAY, WHICH WAS WHAT ALL OF THE SURVEYS AND ALL OF THOSE PROJECTIONS ARE AND THEY ARE JUST ESTIMATES THAT WE HAVE TO USE OUR BEST JUDGMENT FOR.
BECAUSE WE ARE SPENDING THE ENTIRE COMMUNITIES MONEY.
LOCAL SHARE IS WHAT WE USE TO DO ANY UPGRADES.
THAT COMES FROM THE ENTIRE COMMUNITY SO YES, THIS PROJECT WAS MOST IMPACTFUL TO SIMONI, AND WE REALLY WANTED TO HEAR WHAT THE COMMUNITY HAD TO SAY, AND WE HEARD YOU AND WE TRIED TO INCORPORATE AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE WHILE STILL ALSO BEING AS RESPONSIBLE AS WE COULD FOR THE ENTIRE COMMUNITY BECAUSE THAT IS WHO'S PAYING FOR IT.
THAT'S HOW WE ENDED UP AT OPTION B, WHICH IS A PRETTY GREAT OPTION.
WE GET THE THREE EXTRA CLASSROOMS, WHICH GIVES US THE FLEXIBILITY MOVING FORWARD, I THINK THE GREATEST GIFT WE CAN GIVE TO A SCHOOL DISTRICT IS FLEXIBILITY IN ANYTHING, WHETHER THAT'S FLEXIBILITY IN SPENDING, WHICH IS WHY WE SPENT SO MUCH TIME ADVOCATING FOR FOUNDATION AID FORMULA, BECAUSE THE MORE FLEXIBILITY WE CAN HAVE IN THE DISTRICT MEANS, THE MORE POSSIBLE PROGRAMMING PROGRAMS WE COULD HAVE OR TEACHERS OR SERVICES FOR STUDENTS.
IT DIDN'T FEEL RESPONSIBLE TO DO THE MINIMUM AT SIMONI.
EVEN IF THAT MEANT THAT THAT WAS THE SMALLEST SCALE RENOVATION TAKING UP THE LEAST AMOUNT OF SPACE, IT DIDN'T FEEL RESPONSIBLE BECAUSE WE'D BE SPENDING MILLIONS OF DOLLARS AND GETTING NOTHING OTHER THAN JUST TWO ELEVATOR BANKS, WHICH ISN'T NOT ADDRESSING THE CURRENT SPACE CONSTRAINTS, BECAUSE WE WOULD JUST BE ADDING TWO ELEVATORS AND ZERO CLASSROOMS OR CAFETERIA, LIKE NOTHING.
>> YOU WOULD BE LEAVING CHILDREN WHO RECEIVE SPEECH, IF I'M NOT MISTAKEN TO REMAIN IN RECEIVING, LOSING MY WORDS.
>> SERVICE. THANK YOU IN A JANITOR'S CLOSET. I DON'T KNOW [OVERLAPPING]
>> I KNOW I'M LIKE IN A LOOP HERE BUT, I FEEL LIKE IT WAS IT'S IMPORTANT TO JUST REMIND OURSELVES LIKE HOW WE GOT TO OPTION B, BECAUSE NOW WE'RE TALKING ABOUT
[02:45:02]
HAVING IT BE SEPARATE BECAUSE WE DON'T WANT SIMONI TO IMPACT ANY OTHER PEOPLE'S MIXED FEELINGS ABOUT SIMONI AND TO INTERRUPT ANY OTHER PARTS OF THE BOND.I WANT TO SEE SIMONI BECOME ADA COMPLIANT. I WANT THAT.
I WANT THAT FOR OUR ENTIRE COMMUNITY.
I WANT THAT FOR EVERYONE THAT I KNOW THAT HAS MOBILITY ISSUES THAT CAN'T ACCESS THAT SCHOOL.
AND ALL OF THE STORIES THAT I'VE HEARD FROM PEOPLE AT SIMONI THAT HAVE HAD TO APOLOGIZE TO PEOPLE IN A WHEELCHAIR, SOMEBODY USING A CANE BECAUSE THEY CAN'T USE THE BATHROOM WHEN THEY GET IN THERE.
THEY HAVE TO PREPARE BECAUSE IF THEY NEED THE BATHROOM, THEY HAVE TO COME BACK OUTSIDE AND WALK ALL THE WAY AROUND THE BUILDING BECAUSE THEIR WHEELCHAIR CAN'T GET IN AND OUT THROUGH THE FRONT OF THE BUILDING.
THAT'S CERTAINLY CATEGORICALLY NOT.
OKAY. I STRUGGLE BECAUSE I THINK INFRASTRUCTURE FOR THE WHOLE DISTRICT IS REALLY IMPORTANT.
I THINK THIS SIMONI PIECE IS REALLY IMPORTANT, AND I STRUGGLE BECAUSE THE OPPORTUNITY THAT WE COULD, I ALSO KNOW IT'S A BIG ASK.
IT'S A LOT OF THIS WHOLE BOND.
BUT WHAT WE CAN DO FOR OUR STUDENTS AND OUR TEACHERS WITH A NEW SPACE.
WE TALKED ABOUT 21ST CENTURY LEARNING.
WE TALKED ABOUT THIS AT THE BOARD COFFEE THIS MORNING.
I THINK TRACY HAS TALKED ABOUT THIS AT MEETINGS IN THE PAST.
WHEN WE ARE DESIGNING NEW SPACE, OUTDOOR PLAY SPACE.
WE HAD A MOTHER SIMONI MOM AT THE COFFEE THIS MORNING TALKING ABOUT HOW HER [INAUDIBLE] CHILD RECESSES A NIGHTMARE.
IT'S NOT THE RESTORATIVE EXPERIENCE THAT MOST PEOPLE WANT FOR THEIR KIDS AT RECESS OR THAT MOST KIDS EXPERIENCE A RECESS.
WHEN WE CAN GIVE OUR KIDS NEW PLAY SPACES WHERE WE CAN HAVE BUILT IN WITH THE PRINCIPLES OF UNIVERSAL DESIGN, ACCOMMODATIONS THAT ARE JUST BUILT INTO THE LANDSCAPE SO THAT NOBODY NOTICES WHEN A KID NEEDS TO MAKE A DIFFERENT CHOICE FOR THEMSELVES BECAUSE THEY NEED SOMETHING DIFFERENT THAN SOMEBODY ELSE.
WE CAN DO THAT OUTSIDE AND WE CAN DO ON THE PLAYGROUND AND WE CAN DO THAT INSIDE IN THESE NEW CLASSROOMS THAT WE'RE BUILDING AND WE'RE RIGHT SIZING FOR SIMONI BECAUSE THEY CURRENTLY HAVE THE SMALLEST PER STUDENT SPACE.
IT'S BEEN A STRUGGLE FOR ME TO THINK ABOUT THIS.
I'LL WRAP THIS UP. I DO THINK IT NEEDS TO BE SEPARATE.
I THINK WE NEED TO HAVE INFRASTRUCTURE.
I THINK WE NEED TO HAVE SIMONI, AND I THINK WE NEED TO HAVE THE HIGH SCHOOL.
I'M NOT SURE HOW TO BEST DO THAT BECAUSE ONE THING WE HAVEN'T REALLY TALKED A LOT ABOUT IS THE HIGH SCHOOL, AND THAT'S SUPER IMPORTANT TOO.
>> BUILDING ON THE HIGH SCHOOL LATER.
>> I WANT TO STOP, SO I DON'T KNOW HOW TO STRUCTURE IT, BUT I DO THINK THAT THOSE THREE THINGS NEED TO BE SEPARATE.
>> GEOTHERMAL OBVIOUSLY NEEDS TO BE SEPARATE.
>> OKAY. I'LL TRY AND KEEP THIS SHORT.
THIS IS HOW I FEEL, WHAT I THINK WE SHOULD DO IN TERMS OF HOW I FEEL ABOUT THE CONVERSATIONS.
FIRST OF ALL, I WANT TO ECHO SOMETHING ANNE MARIE SAID, WHICH IS, MANY OF THE FOLKS WHO HAVE BEEN EXPRESSING AN OPINION ON SIMONI VERY ARTICULATE, VERY ASSERTIVE, VERY ORGANIZED, AND I WOULD ENCOURAGE PEOPLE WHO MAY NOT NECESSARILY AGREE WITH, I WOULD ENCOURAGE THEM TO EXPRESS THEMSELVES, EVEN IF THEY DON'T AGREE.
WE HEARD A LOT OF DIVERGENT OPINIONS TONIGHT AND THAT'S GOOD.
THE SECOND THING I WOULD SAY IS ONE OF THE THREADS THAT I'VE HEARD THROUGHOUT THIS WHOLE PROCESS FROM PEOPLE OPPOSING THE PLAN FOR SIMONI WENT AWAY IS.
MY KIDS WENT THROUGH IT, THEY CAME OUT, IT WAS GOOD ENOUGH.
IT WORKED. WE HOW BAD COULD IT BE? I JUST THINK THAT'S COMPLETELY INCONSISTENT WITH EVERY OTHER SINGLE CONVERSATION I EVER HAVE WITH THE PARENT IN PELHAM, AND IT'S INCONSISTENT WITH THEIR EXPECTATIONS FOR THE DISTRICT.
GENERALLY WHEN YOU'RE ON THE BOARD, PEOPLE ONLY TALK TO YOU WHEN THEY'RE LIKE MAD ABOUT SOMETHING, AND WHEN SOMEONE APPROACHES ME AND EXPRESSES DISPLEASURE WITH THEIR KIDS EXPERIENCE.
THE ANSWER IS NOT, COME ON IT'S GOOD ENOUGH, IT'LL DO.
THAT SHOULDN'T BE THE LEVEL OF OUR ASPIRATIONS.
THIRD THING I WOULD SAY IS, THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF ANALYSIS AND GOOD AND INTELLIGENT AND THOUGHTFUL ANALYSIS AROUND POPULATION GROWTH.
[02:50:03]
TO ME, THAT'S A SECONDARY POINT.I DON'T THINK IT'S THE POPULATION CHANGE THAT IS THE PRIMARY DRIVER OF WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO ACHIEVE HERE.
IT IS THE TYPE OF EDUCATION THAT WE DELIVER.
I'VE SAID THIS MANY TIMES, OTHER PEOPLE.
BUT IT'S TRUE, SO I'LL SAY IT AGAIN.
I HAVE BEEN IN PTA MEETINGS IN SIMONI. I'VE LEFT THE LIBRARY.
I'VE WALKED THROUGH THE BUILDING, OUT THE EXIT, AND THERE ARE LITERALLY KIDS BEING GIVEN INTERVENTIONS AND ONE ON ONE INSTRUCTION IN SPACES THAT ARE COMPLETELY INADEQUATE, AND FRANKLY, JUST BORDERLINE SHAMEFUL, HONESTLY.
KIDS SHOULD NOT BE GIVEN ANY INSTRUCTION IN A CORRIDOR.
I DON'T BELIEVE IT'S LESS THE NUMBER OF KIDS IN THE BUILDING.
ALTHOUGH THAT IS IMPORTANT, IT'S THE TYPE AND THE INDIVIDUALIZATION OF THE INSTRUCTION THAT THEY'RE RECEIVING.
THAT'S THE IMPORTANT THING FOR ME.
THEN I JUST WANT TO PICK UP ON ANOTHER THING JUST BECAUSE IT DIDN'T SIT WELL WITH ME THAT WAS MENTIONED LAST NIGHT, WHICH IS THAT THE PROCESS HAS BEEN SORT OF DISJOINTED OR THERE HASN'T BEEN A CLEAR VISION AND WE'VE LURCHED FROM IDEA TO IDEA.
I DON'T THINK THAT'S HOW THIS PLAYED OUT AT ALL.
I THINK WE STARTED WITH SOME IDEAS, SOME CONCEPTS.
WE GAVE THE COMMUNITY SOMETHING TO REACT TO AND THEY REACTED TO IT, AND THEREFORE, WE REFINED IT AND WE REFINED IT AGAIN.
THERE IS NO PARKING LOT ANYMORE.
THERE IS A CAFETERIA UNDER THE GYM IN THE LATEST ITERATION OF THE DESIGN.
I DON'T THINK THAT'S INCONSISTENCY.
I'M JUST TRYING TO REFINE AND ITERATE BASED ON FEEDBACK.
>> THAT'S HOW I FEEL ABOUT SOME OF THESE THEMES IN TERMS OF WHAT WE SHOULD DO UNSURPRISINGLY BECAUSE OTHERS HAVE SAID IT.
RULE NUMBER 1, I THINK ONE OF THE ARCHITECTS, I THINK EITHER WALTER OR HIS COLLEAGUE SAID IT, ONES LIKE IN THE SAME WAY THAT DOCTORS HAVE A FUNDAMENTAL RULE WHICH IS DO NO HARM.
WHEN YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT PUBLIC BUILDINGS AND PUBLIC EDUCATION, RULE NUMBER 1 IS KEEP THE WATER OUT, KEEP THE HEATING ON.
I THINK ADA IS NON-NEGOTIABLE, TOO.
BUT IN TERMS OF THE PRAGMATIC WAY FORWARD, IF WE BUNDLE INFRASTRUCTURE WITH SIMONI AND SIMONI FAILS AND BRINGS INFRASTRUCTURE DOWN WITH IT, THEN WE ARE REALLY EXPOSED AND WE ARE GOING TO BE IN A VERY BAD POSITION.
RELUCTANTLY, ONLY OUT OF PRAGMATISM RATHER THAN FROM WHAT I BELIEVE IS THE RIGHT THING TO DO, I AGREE THAT WE SHOULD SPLIT OUT INFRASTRUCTURE FROM SIMONI.
ALL OF THE SIMONI PROJECTS OR ALL THE ELEMENTS OF SIMONI, INCLUDING INFRASTRUCTURE OF SIMONI SHOULD BE CARVED OUT ITS OWN THING.
IF THAT FAILS, THEN WE CAN PROCEED WITH INFRASTRUCTURE FOR ALL THE OTHER BUILDINGS THAN THE SCHOOL.
BUT JUST REALIZE THAT THAT BUILDING WILL STAY JUST TRAPPED IN TIME UNTIL WE GO THROUGH THE NEXT CYCLE AND THE NEXT CYCLE.
I HAVE NO IDEA HOW LONG THAT'LL TAKE.
I HAVE NO IDEA WHAT APPETITE PEOPLE WILL HAVE FOR THAT.
THERE IS A DEFINITE DOWNSIDE TO SPLITTING THEM OUT AND PEOPLE NEED TO BE CONSCIOUS OF THAT, BUT I THINK WE SHOULD. THANK YOU.
>> I'M GOING TO JUST SAY A COUPLE THINGS. THANKS, WILL.
I'M GOING TO BE REALLY QUICK AND I WON'T REITERATE.
JUST AS A REMINDER, TOO, BECAUSE I DID HEAR INFRASTRUCTURE AND IT IS ALL THE AGING THINGS THAT WAS SCALED DOWN SUBSTANTIALLY.
IT'S A MUST. IT IS NOT NICE TO HAVE, IT IS NOT EVERYTHING ON THAT LIST IS LIKE WE HAVE TO GET THAT THROUGH, I THINK FOR EVERYTHING.
I JUST WANTED TO SAY THAT AGAIN OUT LOUD.
THERE WERE THINGS IN THE INFRASTRUCTURE THAT WE SAID, WE CAN PUT IT OFF BECAUSE THERE'S SO MANY HIGH COSTS.
I JUST WANT TO ALSO REMIND FOLKS BECAUSE WE'VE HEARD MIXED REVIEWS.
I THINK IT WAS DISAPPOINTING TO HEAR FROM FOLKS THAT THEY WERE NOT COMFORTABLE SHARING THEIR OPINION BECAUSE IT BECAME SO POLARIZING FOR FOLKS.
I JUST REALLY URGE US AS A COMMUNITY TO BE ABLE TO SPEAK AND LISTEN TO OTHERS AS WELL. THAT IS IT.
THERE ARE A NUMBER OF IMPACTED PEOPLE.
THERE ARE FOLKS THAT ARE IMPACTED THAT ARE RIGHT ON THE STREET FROM SIMONI.
THERE ARE OTHER FOLKS THAT ARE IMPACTED AND WE NEED TO LOOK AT IT MUCH MORE HOLISTICALLY AND LISTEN TO OUR EDUCATORS BECAUSE THEY'RE ALSO IMPACTED.
IT'S NOT JUST THE COMMUNITY MEMBERS.
THEY'RE THERE EVERY SINGLE DAY AND WE MUST HEAR THEM.
WE MUST LISTEN TO THE PRINCIPAL.
WE MUST LISTEN TO, THESE ARE THE FOLKS THAT ARE GUIDING US.
I WANT TO HEAR FROM THE COMMUNITY.
[02:55:02]
I WILL CONTINUE TO LISTEN AND IT IS THE VOTE AT THE END OF THE DAY FOR THE COMMUNITY, BUT THERE'S A NUMBER OF FOLKS THAT ARE IMPACTED AND WE NEED TO HEAR FROM EVERYBODY, NOT JUST SOME FOLKS, AND I JUST WANTED TO URGE US TO CONTINUE TO LISTEN TO OTHER FOLKS AS WELL.>> IN MY OPINION, YEAH, I THINK I ALSO RELUCTANTLY SEPARATED.
I'M WORRIED THAT SIMONI WILL BRING THE INFRASTRUCTURE DOWN AND THESE ARE MUST-HAVE.
I HOPE THE COMMUNITY DOES RISE TO THIS OCCASION AND DOES RISE TO THIS VOTE.
BUT I WILL BE HERE TO LISTEN, TO DIRECT IN ANY WAY POSSIBLE TO MOVE THAT FORWARD.
BUT I AGREE THAT I THINK WE NEED TO SEPARATE IT.
>> I'M GOING TO BE BRIEF. I AGREE WITH A LOT OF THINGS THAT HAVE BEEN SAID HERE, AND I CAN READ THE TEA LEAVES ON HOW PEOPLE FEEL ABOUT THE BUNDLING.
>> BUT WE'LL LISTEN TO YOU. YOU HAVE A DIFFERENT POINT OF VIEW. I PROMISE BOYS.
>> LOOK, I THINK IT'S A STRATEGIC AND PHILOSOPHICAL MISTAKE.
I THINK SIMONI INFRASTRUCTURE.
THE EXPANSION THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT IS PART AND PARCEL OF INFRASTRUCTURE FOR SIMONI.
I THINK THE RIGHT WAY TO DO THIS IS TO BUNDLE ALL OF THE INFRASTRUCTURE FOR ALL OF THE SCHOOLS TOGETHER.
CLEARLY, PEOPLE HAVE A DIFFERENT VIEW ON THAT AND THAT'S FINE, BUT I JUST WANTED TO SHARE MY PERSPECTIVE.
>> IS IT TO BUNDLE IT INFRASTRUCTURE FOR SIMONI WITH THE OTHER INFRASTRUCTURE OR INFRASTRUCTURE PLUS THE EVERYTHING ELSE WITH SIMONI WITH INFRASTRUCTURE?
>> I THINK THAT THE SIMONI PROJECT, INCLUDING THE BOILERS AND EVERYTHING FOR SIMONI.
>> THE EXPANSION, THE ADA. EVERYTHING.
>> IT ALL OUGHT TO BE PART OF THE SAME PROPOSAL WITH THE INFRASTRUCTURE FOR ALL THE OTHER SCHOOLS.
I DON'T THINK IT'S RIGHT TO ASK THE SIMONI COMMUNITY TO CONVINCE EVERYONE ELSE TO APPROVE SOMETHING JUST FOR THAT SCHOOL WHEN WE'RE NOT ASKING THAT OF ANY OTHER SCHOOL.
>> I THINK WHAT WE HEARD OR ALI IS WHAT I INTERPRET AND THIS IS HOW I FEEL.
IT IS WITH A VERY HEAVY HEART THAT I THINK WE'RE ALL SAYING AT THIS POINT.
>> IT'S OKAY. WE DON'T HAVE TO BE [OVERLAPPING].
I THINK IT'S THE RISK THAT IT'S LIKE, ARE YOU WILLING TO TAKE THE RISK? I HEAR LIKE THE HOPE IS THAT THE COMMUNITY WILL CARRY SIMONI [OVERLAPPING] I THINK IT'S THE RISK OF, TO ME, IT JUST FEELS TOO RISKY TO RISK THE INFRASTRUCTURE.
SO I THINK WHAT I'M HEARING IS LIKE YOU'RE HOPING THAT BUNDLE IT UP AND THE FULL COMMUNITY WILL CARRY IT ALONG.
AND I THINK WHERE I'M AT IS, I'M GETTING A LOT OF MIXED FEELINGS.
THERE SEEMS TO BE A LOT OF DIFFERENT OPINIONS AND I THINK IT'S A HIGHER RISK THAT I DON'T KNOW IF THE REST OF THE SCHOOL SHOULD.
>> I ALSO THINK IF WE SEPARATE IT, IT'S NOT GIVING UP ON SIMONI.
WE HAVE TO DO EVERYTHING WE CAN TO GET THE CORRECT INFORMATION OUT TO THE COMMUNITY SO THAT THEY CAN MAKE A DECISION.
I DO NOT THINK WE WOULD BE LEAVING THEM LIKE WE'RE NOT GOING TO LEAVE THE COMMUNITY TO DO IT ON THEIR OWN.
WE WILL MAKE SURE WE GET THE RIGHT INFORMATION OUT TO EVERYBODY.
>> LOOK, I THINK BASED ON THE CONVERSATIONS I'VE HAD IN THE COMMUNITY, I BELIEVE THAT MOST PEOPLE SUPPORT SIMONI, NOTWITHSTANDING THE NUMBER OF MORE VOCAL PEOPLE THAT HAVE BEEN HERE WHO HAVE TENDED TO BE AGAINST IT.
I JUST THINK IT'S NOT THE RIGHT WAY TO SET IT UP. IT'S FINE.
>> THANK YOU. WHAT I'M HEARING AND I WOULD SAY TO THAT POINT, I THINK IT'S OUR JOB.
CERTAINLY, IT'S OUR JOB TO WE BELIEVE THAT THESE ARE ALL NEEDED PROJECTS AND IT'S OUR JOB TO EDUCATE THE COMMUNITY ON WHY WE BELIEVE THEY'RE ALL NEEDED PROJECTS.
WHAT I'M HEARING IS THERE'S CONSENSUS TO MOVE FORWARD WITH SEPARATING
[03:00:03]
SIMONI FROM THE REST OF THE INFRASTRUCTURE PACKAGE.>> I'M GOING TO ASK IF WE COULD MAYBE GO TO THE AIR CONDITIONING QUESTION NEXT.
>> BECAUSE I'D LIKE TO BE ABLE TO GIVE US A CHANCE TO SEE WHAT TAX IMPACTS MIGHT LOOK LIKE.
WE HAD TALKED ABOUT AIR CONDITIONING POTENTIALLY, THEY'RE GOING WITH THE INFRASTRUCTURE PACKAGE.
INFRASTRUCTURE PACKAGE OR GEOTHERMAL. I DON'T KNOW.
I GUESS MAYBE WE HAVE TO START. THE QUESTION WAS, DO WE, I THINK THIS WHAT IT WAS AIR CONDITIONING WAS EITHER GOING TO GO WITH INFRASTRUCTURE OR WITH THERMAL.
>> IN THIS SCENARIO, PROSPECT AND COLONIAL ELEMENTARY AC COULD EITHER GO IN THE GENERAL.
>> NOW INTO THE SOLELY INFRASTRUCTURE.
>> YES AND THEN SIMONI AC WOULD GO INTO THE SIMONI.
>> PACKAGE OR NONE OF THAT AND IT GOES WITH GEOTHERMAL.
>> MAYBE WE SHOULD TACKLE THE GEOTHERMAL QUESTION FIRST, BECAUSE THAT WOULD IMPACT THE OPTIONS WHERE AIR CONDITIONING LANDS.
I GUESS IT WOULD ASK THE SAME QUESTION.
WE'VE HEARD A LOT TONIGHT. YOU GOT THE COST DIFFERENCE WAS $4.5 MILLION.
I'M JUST CURIOUS WHERE FOLKS, MAYBE A POST-CHECK OF WHERE FOLKS ARE TO BEGIN WITH ON THE CONVERSATION.
>> I'LL GO BACK TO MY TIME SITTING IN THE FACILITIES COMMITTEE, AND YOU HEAR A LOT ABOUT ENVIRONMENT AND CARBON FOOTPRINT AND AS A SCHOOL DISTRICT, MAKING SURE WE'RE LOOKING FORWARD AND MAKING SURE WE'RE SETTING UP ANYTHING WE DO, ESPECIALLY BECAUSE OF KIDS AND HOW DO WE HAVE THE CLEANEST AND THE BEST AND THE MOST SUSTAINABLE OF ANYTHING WE DO.
WE'VE HEARD A LOT WHEN WE BUILT THE HUTCHINSON SCHOOL ABOUT WHY WE DIDN'T HAVE A GREEN ROOF AND GYM.
I KNOW YOU DID A LOT OF WORK AND ANALYSIS ON THAT.
THAT WASN'T WORKED AT THAT TIME.
FOR THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS, WE'VE HEARD, LIKE WHATEVER YOU DO WITH FACILITIES, MAKE SURE IT'S SUSTAINABLE, MAKE SURE IT HAS THE BEST TECHNOLOGY GOING FORWARD, IT HAS THE MOST COST-EFFECTIVE TECHNOLOGY.
WE'VE STARTED DOWN THIS ROAD A YEAR AGO.
WHEN WE HAD THE FACILITIES MEETING, ONLY ONE PERSON FROM THE COMMUNITY SHOWED UP, AND WE WERE IN THIS ROOM AND I REMEMBER THAT BECAUSE IT WAS A LONELY, IS IT FOR US? IT WAS A LONELY LOOKING OUT AT PEOPLE BECAUSE IT WAS ONLY ONE PERSON IN THIS COMMUNITY WHO SHOWED UP FOR THAT MEETING TO HEAR ALL ABOUT THE FACILITIES AND WHAT WE WERE THINKING ABOUT BACK IN SEPTEMBER.
NOW HAVING HEARD MORE FROM THE COMMUNITY, PEOPLE ARE REALLY CONCERNED ABOUT THE FACT THAT WE WANT TO GO GREENER OR HAVE MORE SUSTAINABILITY OPTIONS.
MY THOUGHT IS, YOU PUT IT UP FOR A VOTE AND YOU LET PEOPLE DECIDE WHETHER THEY REALLY WANT TO DO THIS OR NOT.
DO THEY REALLY WANT GEOTHERMAL OR NOT? LET THE COMMUNITY DECIDE.
BECAUSE I FEEL LIKE WE HAVE TWO DIFFERENT PEOPLE AT PLAY IN THIS COMMUNITY, THE ONES THAT WANT IT AND THE ONES THAT DON'T.
I DO UNDERSTAND IT'S A COST ASSOCIATED TO IT, BUT AT 4.5 MILLION TO JUST PUT THIS IN THAT COULD POTENTIALLY SAVE US MONEY.
PEOPLE WILL HAVE TO MAKE THAT DECISION.
I FEEL LIKE AS A BOARD MEMBER, IT'S GIVEN THE INFORMATION WE HAVE.
SAME WHY WE ARE PUTTING IT UP AND THEN PEOPLE CAN MAKE THAT DECISION.
I DON'T BELIEVE IT SHOULD BE INCLUDED WITH THE AC.
I THINK AC SHOULD GO INTO INFRASTRUCTURE BECAUSE A NUMBER OF FACTORS WITH AC IF WE'RE GOING TO DO THE NEW BOILERS.
IT JUST LENDS ITSELF TO BE PUT THERE.
IF WE'RE LOOKING AT ALL OF OUR HVAC UNITS AND WHAT WE DO.
I FEEL LIKE THAT'S WHERE AC SHOULD BELONG.
I ALSO FEEL WITH THE NEW LAWS AND REGULATIONS THAT NEW YORK STATE HAS NOW PASSED, WE SHOULD DEFINITELY THINK ABOUT AC.
IT IS NOT JUST 20 HOT DAYS A YEAR THAT SOMEONE HAS STATED BEFORE. I'M HOT NOW.
>> I'VE BEEN IN THE SCHOOLS WHEN IT'S 75 DEGREES OUTSIDE AND I'VE BEEN HERE FOR A FEW HOURS AND I'VE BEEN HOT.
I COULD JUST IMAGINE A TEACHER OR A KID WHO HAS TO SPEND JUNE OR SEPTEMBER IN THESE BUILDINGS WHERE THERE'S NO ACS AND WINDOW UNITS ARE FINE, BUT THEY'RE LOUD.
THEY'RE DISRUPTIVE. THEY DON'T COOL THE ENTIRE SPACE.
THEY ONLY COOL THE ROOM THEY'RE IN AND WE HAVE A LOT OF ROOMS AND A LOT OF PLACES WHERE THOSE KIDS ARE BEING INSTRUCTED.
IT IS A STOPGAP. WE'RE GOING TO PUT WINDOW UNITS BECAUSE WE HAVE TO TODAY.
BUT IT SHOULDN'T BE THE SOLUTION FOR 20 YEARS. THAT'S MY VIEW.
>> NATALIE, I AGREE WITH YOU ON THE AC POINT AS PART OF THE INFRASTRUCTURE.
[03:05:05]
THE WAY I'M LOOKING AT IT IS IF IT'S POSSIBLE THAT HEAT WILL SHUT OUR SCHOOLS AND THE KIDS WILL LOSE DAYS OF SCHOOL, WE SHOULD BE LOOKING TOWARDS HAVING AC AT LEAST IN THE ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS.WE TOOK IT OUT OF THE HIGH SCHOOL PROPOSAL BECAUSE MUCH OF THAT SPACE IS ALREADY AIR-CONDITIONED.
I THINK GOING BACK TO WHAT HAPPENS IF SOMETHING HAPPENS WITH SIMONI AND THE INFRASTRUCTURE GOES THROUGH AND THAT WOULD MEAN PROSPECT AND COLONIAL WILL HAVE ESSENTIAL AC.
WITH SIMONI, WE'LL STILL HAVE THE WINDOW UNITS ON THE TOP FLOORS.
>> YOU'RE TRYING TO KEEP A SALLY HERE.
>> INFRASTRUCTURE IN EACH OF, YES.
IN TERMS OF GEOTHERMAL, I THINK GEOTHERMAL IS A GOOD OPTION AND I APPRECIATED THE DISCUSSION TONIGHT ABOUT IT TO KEEP LEARNING MORE ABOUT IT.
I DON'T THINK WE TALKED ABOUT NEED-TO-HAVES AND NICE TO-HAVES.
I DON'T THINK IT'S A NEED TO HAVE, WHICH IS FINE TO HAVE IT AS A SEPARATE PROPOSITION.
MY ONLY CONCERN WITH KEEPING IT AS A SEPARATE PROPOSITION IS NOW THAT WE'VE SPLIT OUT SIMONI.
NOW, THERE'S FOUR PROPOSITIONS FOR PEOPLE TO CONSIDER.
THAT'S A LOT ON A BALLOT AND WE WILL HAVE TO DO A LOT OF INFORMATION PROVIDING TO THE COMMUNITY ABOUT SIMONI.
WE KNOW THAT. THE INFRASTRUCTURE, TOO.
I DON'T WANT TO TAKE ANYTHING FOR GRANTED AND THE HIGH SCHOOL PROJECT.
WE'LL HAVE TO BE INFORMING ABOUT GEOTHERMAL AS WELL.
>> JACKIE, I'LL JUST SAY I ALSO AGREE THAT THE AC SHOULD BE IN WITH THE INFRASTRUCTURE. THAT'S WHAT YOU SAID, RIGHT?
>> YEAH. BECAUSE WE ALL KNOW THAT YOU CAN'T LEARN IF YOU'RE MELTING OR FALLING ASLEEP AT YOUR DESK AND IT GETS HOT.
WE HAVE TO GO TO SCHOOL TILL THE END OF JUNE. IT GETS REALLY HOT.
YOU'RE NOT GOING TO LEARN VERY WELL IF YOU CAN'T STAY AWAKE BECAUSE YOU'RE TOO HOT.
ALSO, IT WOULD GIVE US THE FLEXIBILITY WE DO USE OUR SCHOOLS IN THE SUMMER FOR PROGRAMMING.
THAT WOULD GIVE US MORE FLEXIBILITY TO DO THAT, AND I AGREE.
I THINK IT SHOULD BE IN WITH INFRASTRUCTURE.
I THINK THAT'S JUST PRACTICAL TO DO.
THEN THAT WOULD MEAN GEOTHERMAL IS A SEPARATE FOURTH ONE.
>> NONE OF US ARE THINKING ABOUT TAKING IT OFF AT THE MOMENT.
>> I HAVE NOT HEARD THAT YET. NO.
>> WE CAN TALK ABOUT TAKING IT OFF.
I THINK I LIKE THE OPTIONALITY.
>> I KNOW THE ADVANTAGE OF TAKING IT OFF IS [OVERLAPPING].
>> TO ME IT'S JUST SIMPLIFYING THE LOWERING COST.
>> SIMPLIFYING THE COST OF WHAT WE'RE PUTTING PUTTING I KNOW WE'RE PACKAGING THESE THINGS, BUT LOWERING THE COST OF WHAT WE'RE PUTTING FORWARD.
THERE'S THERE'S A LOT TO INFORM ABOUT AND PUSH FORWARD. THAT'S IT.
>> I AGREE WITH WHATEVER I THINK WHATEVER HAS BEEN SAID.
>> LOOK, I THINK THE GEOTHERMAL IS REALLY GOOD TO HAVE, AND I THINK ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I KNOW I'VE TALKED TO A LOT OF FOLKS LIKE THE SUSTAINABILITY AND TOWARDS POINT LIKE, LOOKING DOWN THE ROAD.
I THINK IT WILL BE AN INCREDIBLE IMPACT.
IT PUTS IT ON US TO REALLY EDUCATE THE COMMUNITY.
I THINK THERE ARE SOME GREAT POINTS.
I THINK IT HAS TO BE THOUGHTFULLY DONE.
WE REALLY NEED TO MAKE SURE WE HAVE THE RIGHT SYSTEM, THE MOST COST EFFICIENT SYSTEM.
THAT IS SUSTAINABLE AND THAT'S GOING TO DO IT.
I THINK AGAIN, IT PUTS A LOT ON US TO MAKE SURE THAT THE COMMUNITY IS EDUCATED OF THE BENEFITS.
BUT I THINK I SEE IT AS OUR RESPONSIBILITY TO THINK DOWN THE ROAD FOR SOMETHING BECAUSE IT IS GOING TO BE ANOTHER 20 YEARS.
THIS IS A BIG DECISION, AND I THINK I VOTE 100% TO KEEP IT ON.
[03:10:05]
EVEN IF IT'S A LOT OF VOTING.>> [LAUGHTER] THE MORE VOTING DEBATE.
>> [LAUGHTER] I AGREE, AND LOOK, I EXPRESSED BEFORE MY PERSPECTIVE ON THE CIMINO INFRASTRUCTURE STUFF, AND I THINK THE LAST MEETING, I TALKED ABOUT WHAT I THOUGHT THE RIGHT BUNDLING WAS WITH AIR CONDITIONING AND GEOTHERMAL.
I THINK GIVEN WHERE WE ARE NOW, IT MAKES SENSE TO INCLUDE THE AIR CONDITIONING WITH THE MORE INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS.
WHICH SEEMS TO BE WHERE PEOPLE'S HEADS ARE AT. I'M OKAY WITH THAT.
>> I'LL GO. I AGREE WITH EVERYONE.
I THINK AC NEEDS TO BE WITH THE INFRASTRUCTURE PROPOSITION, AND I'M 100% FOR IT, OBVIOUSLY, LIKE I SAID AT THE BEGINNING, I WOULDN'T BE BEHIND THESE PROPOSITIONS, THESE IMPROVEMENTS.
BUT I'M ALSO LISTENING TO THE COMMUNITY, AND WE NEED TO BE PRACTICAL.
IF IT WERE UP TO ME, I WOULD WANT ALL OF IT TO PASS, OBVIOUSLY, AND WHETHER WE'RE PUTTING IT IN ONE OR WE'RE SEPARATING IT.
IT DOESN'T MEAN THAT WE VALUE ANY ONE OF THESE ANY LESS.
WHAT WE'RE DOING IS TRYING TO BE PRACTICAL ABOUT THE FACT OF WHAT IS THE MOST CRITICAL THINGS THAT WE NEED TO DO TO KEEP THE SCHOOLS OPERATING, AND BY SEPARATING OUT GEOTHERMAL FROM AC AND PUTTING AC WITH INFRASTRUCTURE, MAKES SENSE TO ME AND WITH GEOTHERMAL, THERE'S VARYING OPINIONS.
LET THE COMMUNITY DECIDE AT THE VOTING BOOTH.
>> THEN THAT BRINGS US HIGH SCHOOL, I ASSUME.
LAST TIME, THAT'S A SEPARATE PROPOSITION AND WE AGREED THAT WE'RE GOING FORWARD WITH THAT.
>> CAN I JUST TALK ABOUT THE HIGH SCHOOL A LITTLE BIT JUST BECAUSE WE DON'T TALK A LOT ABOUT THE HIGH SCHOOL.
I'VE ONLY HEARD SUPPORT FOR THE HIGH SCHOOL, WHICH MAKES ME HAPPY.
BUT I JUST WANT TO HIGHLIGHT IT BECAUSE IT IS GOING TO BE ITS OWN PROPOSITION.
NOW IT SOUNDS LIKE ON THE BALLOT.
THE IMPORTANCE OF HAVING A SEPARATE CAFETERIA SPACE, I KNOW WE'RE CALLING IT A COMMON AREA FOR THE HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS IS CRITICAL.
IF YOU HAVE KIDS WHO ARE IN THE HIGH SCHOOL NOW, YOU UNDERSTAND THAT.
IF YOU HAVE KIDS NOT YET IN THE HIGH SCHOOL, LET ME TELL YOU THAT THEY EAT ON THE FLOOR IN THE HALLWAYS AT TIMES BECAUSE THERE'S NOT ENOUGH ROOM IN THE CURRENT CAFETERIA.
SECONDLY, WITH THE SCIENCE LABS, I DON'T KNOW THE YEARS, HOW LONG AGO THEY WERE UPDATED, BUT IT WAS A LONG TIME AGO, AND I COULD ANTICIPATE SOME PEOPLE SAYING, WELL, LOOK AT THE AMAZING SCIENCE RESEARCH PROGRAM THAT WE HAVE.
ABSOLUTELY, THEY ARE, AND WE'RE SO PROUD OF OUR STUDENTS.
THEY'RE DOING GREAT WITH WHAT THEY CURRENTLY HAVE.
BUT WHAT THEY CURRENTLY HAVE IS VERY OLD.
BUT AN EXTENSION OF THAT THAT WAS BROUGHT TO MY ATTENTION, WHICH I THINK IS REALLY IMPORTANT IS NOT ALL STUDENTS TAKE SCIENCE RESEARCH, BUT THEY STILL TAKE SCIENCE AND MANY OF THEM STILL LOVE SCIENCE.
RIGHT NOW, MANY OF THEM ARE TAKING CLASSES, LET'S SAY, A PHYSICS CLASS IN A REGULAR CLASSROOM, OR WE HAVE A SCIENCE TEACHER, I FORGET WHICH ONE IT IS PUSHING THEIR MATERIALS ON A CART TO GET TO THE NEXT CLASSROOM.
EVERY SCIENCE LAB IS USED ALL THE TIME.
THERE'S NO TIME FOR TEACHERS TO SET UP THEIR LABS IN ADVANCE.
WHAT WE UPDATED A QUARTER OF THE WAY INTO THE 21ST CENTURY? WHAT IF WE UPDATED OUR SCIENCE LABS TO THIS CENTURY, AND WE ACTUALLY GAVE STUDENTS WHO MAY NOT HAVE CHOSEN TO BE IN SCIENCE RESEARCH FOR WHATEVER REASON, THE ENVIRONMENT AND GIVE THE TEACHERS THE TOOLS THEY NEED TO MAKE SCIENCE EXCITING FOR ALL STUDENTS.
I'M NOT SAYING THEY'RE NOT DOING THAT NOW.
THEY'RE DOING AN AMAZING JOB NOW.
WHAT I WANT THE COMMUNITY TO KNOW THOUGH IS THAT I THINK IF YOU WERE TO VISIT SOME OF THE LABS,
[03:15:02]
YOU'D RECOGNIZE SOME OF THE THINGS MAYBE FROM YOUR OWN TIME IN SCHOOL.IT'S TIME FOR THAT UPGRADE TO HAPPEN.
IT SOUNDS LIKE WHERE WE ENDED UP WAS INFRASTRUCTURE IS GOING TO INCLUDE HIGH SCHOOL AND MIDDLE SCHOOL INFRASTRUCTURE.
HIGH SCHOOL WOULD JUST BE THE EXPANSION, IS THAT RIGHT?
>> THE OTHER THING I WAS GOING TO SAY WHAT I'VE BEEN HEARING THROUGH THIS CONVERSATION, WHILE EVERYTHING IS IMPORTANT AND NECESSARY 100% AGREE, THAT INFRASTRUCTURE IS THE NON-NEGOTIABLE.
I WAS JUST GOING TO OFFER SUGGESTIONS BY WAY OF POTENTIAL STRATEGY FOR STRUCTURE BECAUSE WE DON'T WANT TO BE IN A POSITION WHERE INFRASTRUCTURE DOES NOT PASS, BUT SOMETHING ELSE DOES.
WE WANT TO BE IN A POSITION WHERE EVERYTHING PASSES.
BUT THAT BEING SAID, I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT SINCE WE KNOW THAT THAT'S WHAT KEEPS THE LIGHTS ON, THE HEAT ON, AND THE SCHOOLS OPEN, THAT WE THINK ABOUT IF THAT'S THE FIRST PROPOSITION THAT WE MAKE ANY OF THE OTHER ONES CONTINGENT UPON THAT.
FOR EXAMPLE, THE CIMINO PACKAGE WOULD HAVE TO BE CONTINGENT UPON INFRASTRUCTURE PASSING FOR THE DISTRICT WIDE.
THE HIGH SCHOOL EXPANSION PASSING, ONLY IF THE INFRASTRUCTURE PASSES.
THEN AS I'M LOOKING AT IT JUST FROM A PRACTICAL PERSPECTIVE, THE GEOTHERMAL.
>> CAN'T PASS. IT'S OF NO USE.
>> IF YOU DON'T PASS BOTH THE DISTRICT INFRASTRUCTURE AND THE SIWINI PACKAGE.
BECAUSE IT HAS ELEMENTS IN BOTH.
IT'S GOT CYANIDE THERMAL AND PROSPECT TILL.
THAT HAS TO BE CONTINGENT ON BOTH OF THOSE. OR YOU SPLIT IT.
>> I GUESS ANOTHER PROP SPLIT IT.
>> THEN YOU CAN SPLIT IT. BUT NOW YOU'RE UP TO.
>> IT SHOULD PASS ONLY IF YOU'RE DOING THE WORK ON THE OTHER TWO.
>> ON THE RESPECTIVE BUILDING.
MAYBE JIM, MAYBE YOU CAN WORK WITH DAN ON THAT.
>> I FEEL GOING BACK TO WHAT I SAID EARLIER, I FEEL LIKE THE CIMINO INFRASTRUCTURE IS PART OF THE NECESSARY INFRASTRUCTURE.
TO ME, GIVEN WHERE WE ARE, THE RIGHT SPLIT REALLY IS TO SAY THAT THE HIGH SCHOOL IS CONTINGENT ON ALL OF THE INFRASTRUCTURE PASSING, WHICH IS INFRASTRUCTURE FOR PROPOSITION A, WHICH IS THE PROSPECT AND COLONIAL AND THE MIDDLE SCHOOL AND HIGH SCHOOL AND CIMINO, WHICH IS THE CIMINO PROJECT.
THOSE TWO NEED TO PASS BEFORE AND IT ALSO SIMPLIFIES THE IF THEN BECAUSE IT'S THOSE TWO NEED TO PASS, AND IF THOSE TWO PASS, THEN THE HIGH SCHOOL OR GEOTHERMAL CAN PASS.
>> I'VE HEARD FROM THE COMMUNITY THAT THEY DON'T WANT THAT.
NOT THAT THEY DON'T WANT THE CIMINO PACKAGE.
>> WANT TO ME CIMINO IF I WANT THE HIGH SCHOOL.
THAT'S WHAT I THINK YOU'RE SAYING.
>> I THINK WHAT I'D ECHO WHAT SOME OF THE OPINIONS THAT I'VE HEARD FROM PEOPLE WHO CARE DEEPLY ABOUT THE HIGH SCHOOL PROJECT AND HAVE MIXED FEELINGS ABOUT CIMINO ARE SAYING, I DON'T WANT TO BE FORCE FED CIMINO JUST TO GET THE HIGH SCHOOL.
>> IT'S THE SAME THING WE COULD RISK HAVING INFRASTRUCTURE.
YOU COULD JUST PASS INFRASTRUCTURE IF YOU DID THAT.
BUT I HAVE HEARD THAT THEY DON'T WANT TO BE CONSTRAINED IN WHAT THEIR CHOICE IS.
>> BECAUSE WHAT IT WOULD MEAN IS IF CIMINO FAILED, THEN THE HIGH SCHOOL JUST DOESN'T HAPPEN.
BUT THE HIGH SCHOOL INFRASTRUCTURE WOULD HAPPEN.
THE HIGH SCHOOL INFRASTRUCTURE.
>> I'VE HEARD THE SAME THING SAID EXPRESSED A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENTLY WHAT I HAVE BEEN HEARING JUST THAT THEY WOULD WANT TO I'VE HEARD FOR MULTIPLE PEOPLE NOT TO RISK THE HIGH SCHOOL.
BASED ON WHATEVER HAPPENS OF CIMINO BECAUSE IT'S RECOGNIZING THAT ALL OF IT IS IMPORTANT?
>> THAT CONNECTING THOSE TWO AND MAKING THE HIGH SCHOOL CONTINGENT ON CIMINO WAS NOT SOMETHING THAT THEY.
>> I THINK IT'S A TOUGH DISCUSSION BECAUSE IT FEELS.
THE WHOLE COMMUNITY WILL NEED TO VOTE.
CIMINO IS A SMALL PART OF THE COMMUNITY, AND SO THERE'S A LOT OF FOLKS THAT MAYBE THEY DON'T CARE ABOUT CIMINO, THEY SHOULD.
BUT YOU KNOW THEY'RE [OVERLAPPING].
[03:20:01]
>> I THINK THE STAKEHOLDERS ARE ACROSS THE WHOLE DISTRICT FOR THIS WHOLE PROJECT BECAUSE IT'S EVERYONE'S, IT'S 100% OF THE TAXPAYERS MONEY AND TAXPAYERS ARE ACROSS THE WHOLE DISTRICT.
>> WHETHER YOU'RE AT HUTCH OR AT PROSPECT, YOU SHOULD CARE ABOUT CIMINO, BECAUSE YOUR TAX DOLLARS ARE FUNDING THAT PROJECT.
>> THE MOST IMPACTED PART OF THE COMMUNITY FOR THAT PROJECT WOULD BE THE DAILY USERS OF THE BUILDING, BECAUSE A H FAMILY AND CHILD DON'T THAT'S NOT PART OF THEIR DAILY, COMMUNITY EXPERIENCE, BUT THOSE ARE STAKEHOLDERS TOO FOR THE PROJECT.
THEY SHOULD CARE ABOUT CIMINO.
>> NO. I AGREE WITH YOU, THEY SHOULD, BUT I THINK [LAUGHTER].
>> WELL, THAT'S ON US [OVERLAPPING].
>> IT'S ON US TO EDUCATE WHY IT'S IMPORTANT THAT THEY ARE AS INVESTED WITH THEIR RESOURCES, WITH THE DISTRICT'S RESOURCES GOING TO ANY SCHOOL ACROSS THE DISTRICT.
>> CAN I GO BACK TO THE HIGH SCHOOL BECAUSE IT'S IMPORTANT.
I FEEL WE DON'T TALK ABOUT IT.
IT IS WHERE ALL OF OUR CHILDREN GO THROUGH.
IT IS THE JEWEL OF THE COMMUNITY.
IT IS WHAT SENDS OUR KIDS OFF TO COLLEGE BECAUSE AT THE END OF THE DAY, NO ONE'S LOOKING AT YOUR GRADES IN FIFTH GRADE.
BUT THEY ARE LOOKING AT THE HIGH SCHOOL GRADE.
[LAUGHTER] AGAIN, GOING BACK TO THREE YEARS BECAUSE IT'S IT'S BEEN A MEANINGFUL THREE YEARS DOING THIS WORK. BELIEVE IT OR NOT.
IT SEEMS LIKE A LOT OF WEDNESDAYS LATELY, BUT THEY'RE ENJOYABLE.
IT WAS WALKING THROUGH A TIME ZONE WITH ALL THE DIFFERENT ADDITIONS BECAUSE YOU COULD SEE WHAT?
>> THE 50S, THE 60S, THE 70S, YOU SEE EVERY DECADE, THEY ADDED SOMETHING INTO THAT SCHOOL.
WE VISITED DIFFERENT HIGH SCHOOLS.
THEN WHENEVER I WAS AT A SPORTS MEET, I WOULD TRY TO USE THE FACILITIES JUST SO I COULD GO INSIDE THEIR HIGH SCHOOL.
I WENT INTO THE BRONXFLL HIGH SCHOOL.
I'VE GONE INTO THE SCARSDALE HIGH SCHOOL AND I VISITED, I LOOKED AROUND HOW THEY DO AC AND HOW DID THEY DO ADDITIONS AND ALL THINGS THAT SITTING IN A FACILITIES COMMITTEE WOULD WANT ME TO LOOK AT.
WE NEED ROOMS. WE NEED SCIENCE LABS.
I'VE SEEN THE SCIENCE LABS IN THE OTHER SCHOOLS.
WHILE I LOVE PELHAM, WE HAVE A LOT TO GO.
THERE'S A LOT OF ROOM FOR IMPROVEMENTS.
WE NEED TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT THE HIGH SCHOOL.
I KNOW PEOPLE ARE GOING TO SAY THE STUDIES ARE WRONG IN TERMS OF HOW MANY PEOPLE WERE PROJECTED TO GROW.
THE WAY I LEARNED 30 SOMETHING YEARS AGO, IS NOT THE WAY MY CHILDREN ARE LEARNING TODAY IN THE HIGH SCHOOL.
WE KEEP TALKING ABOUT 21ST CENTURY LEARNING.
IT'S NOT THE SAME AS WHEN I WENT THROUGH SCHOOLS IN THE 80S AND 90S.
IT IS VERY DIFFERENT WAY OF GIVING INSTRUCTION.
WE HAVE TO THINK ABOUT THAT WHEN WE THINK ABOUT ADDING CLASSROOMS. IT'S NOT JUST WE HAD 100 KIDS HERE IN IN THE 2000, 2005, WE HAVE THE SAME HUNDRED KIDS OR MAYBE 110 NOW, BUT THE WAY WE'RE TEACHING THEM IS SO DIFFERENT.
WE ARE NOT NO LONGER PUTTING 30 KIDS IN A CLASSROOM AND JUST TEACHING TO THAT ONE MIDDLE OF THE ROLE KID.
WE ARE NOW DOING SMALL GROUP INSTRUCTION, WE'RE TAKING PEOPLE OUT.
WE'RE HAVING DIFFERENT WAYS OF TEACHING.
ALL OF THAT HAS TO BE TAKEN INTO CONSIDERATION.
WHEN PEOPLE COME AND SAY, WELL, THEIR STUDIES IS WRONG.
PERHAPS NO ONE HAS A CRYSTAL BALL AND PREDICTS EVERYTHING.
>> NATE, ARE YOU PROPOSING THAT IN TERMS OF THE STRUCTURE OF THESE PROPOSITIONS THAT THE HIGH SCHOOL SHOULD NOT BE DEPENDENT ON ANYTHING?
>> I DON'T THINK IT SHOULD. I'M SORRY. I JUST DON'T THINK.
>> YOU SHOULDN'T BE DEPENDENT ON ANYTHING OR?
>> IT SHOULD NOT. JUST ON INFRASTRUCTURE.
>> BUT IT SHOULD NOT BE DEPENDENT ON CIMINO.
IT SHOULD BE DEPENDENT ON INFRASTRUCTURE PASSES BECAUSE WE NEED TO KEEP THE LIGHTS ON.
EVERY PROJECT IS IMPORTANT JUST BECAUSE WE'RE SEPARATING DOESN'T MEAN THAT THEY'RE NOT IMPORTANT TO US.
WE'VE SPENT OUR TIME AND ANALYZED THIS LONG ENOUGH TO SAY THEY ALL ARE IMPORTANT.
>> HOW DO WE STRUCTURE THIS THEN SO THAT THEY'RE NOT I KNOW WE DON'T WANT THEM CONTINGENT ON EACH OTHER.
HOW DO WE STRUCTURE IT SO IT'S NOT COMPETING AGAINST EACH OTHER? DOES THAT MEAN [OVERLAPPING]
>> I'M THINK I'M GOING BACK TO MY INITIAL THOUGHT WAS CIMINO IS CONTINGENT.
[03:25:01]
IT HAS TO PASS AND ONLY IF INFRASTRUCTURE PASSES AND CIMINO PASSES, THOSE TWO PASS.IF INFRASTRUCTURE PASSES AND THE HIGH SCHOOL PASS, THOSE TWO PASS.
HIGH SCHOOL, NOT CONTINGENT ON CIMINO IS WHAT I'M HEARING FROM EVERYBODY, BUT I THINK [OVERLAPPING]
>> I THINK THAT WOULD BE HOW THE STRUCTURE THERE.
THEN THE OTHER PIECE IS GEOTHERMAL, WHICH HAS GOT ELEMENTS OF CIMINO AND PROSPECT THAT WOULD HAVE YOU CAN'T PASS IT ON ITS OWN EITHER BECAUSE YOU CAN'T DO GEOTHERMAL WITHOUT INFRASTRUCTURE AT THE RESPECTIVE SCHOOLS.
THAT WOULD HAVE TO, AND I DON'T KNOW IF WE CAN WORK WITH DAN BIRMINGHAM ON LANGUAGE THAT WOULD MAKE THAT PROPOSITION DEPENDENT ON ONE OR TWO FOR ITS RESPECTIVE SCHOOL, OR IF WE WOULD NEED TO LITERALLY SPLIT THAT INTO PROSPECT GEOTHERMAL, CIMINO GEOTHERMAL.
THAT WOULD BE THE CLEANER ONE, BUT THAT ADDS YET ANOTHER PROPOSITION.
>> ON YOUR PIECE OR THE HIGH SCHOOL PIECE?
>> ON HIGH SCHOOL. I THINK HIGH SCHOOL SHOULD NOT BE CONTINGENT UPON SIWANOY.
IT SHOULD BE CONTINGENT ON INFRASTRUCTURE.
IF INFRASTRUCTURE PASSES, THEN YOU CAN HAVE EITHER SIWANOY OR YOU CAN HAVE HIGH SCHOOL OR BOTH.
I'M HEARING A CONSENSUS AROUND HIGH SCHOOL CONTINGENT ON INFRASTRUCTURE ONLY.
>> I DISAGREE, BUT I HEAR CONSENSUS.
>> I'LL JUST SAY, I THINK THE HIGH SCHOOL IS A REALLY IMPORTANT PROJECT.
I THINK IT'S VIEW OF WHAT HAPPENS WHEN WE'RE NOT THINKING AHEAD IN THE SENSE THAT WE'RE NOW BUILDING A CAFETERIA, COMMON SPACE THAT PEOPLE VOTED ON 25 YEARS AGO AND DIDN'T PASS AND WE BUILT A SMALLER MIDDLE SCHOOL AS A RESULT.
WE'RE FIXING A DECISION FROM THE PAST.
I THINK WHEN WE LOOK AT SIWANOY, THAT'S ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE'RE TRYING TO AVOID.
>> YES, BECAUSE WE CAN'T MAKE EVERYBODY HAPPY WHEN WE HAVE A GOOD NUMBER OF PEOPLE SAYING BE BOLD AND THEN A GOOD NUMBER OF PEOPLE SAYING BE CONSERVATIVE, WE HAVE TO TRY TO FIND THE BEST MIDDLE GROUND THAT WE CAN FIND AND FEEL LIKE WE'RE BEING RESPONSIBLE. AGREE.
>> I'M GOING TO I SIT ON THIS, BUT I DON'T REALLY SEE NOT SEPARATING.
I DON'T SEE A PATH NOT SEPARATING IT.
>> THEN I GUESS THE GEOTHERMAL.
I KNOW WE WANT IT IN FOR BOTH BUILDINGS.
WE NEED TO GET LANGUAGE DRAFTED BY BOND COUNCIL.
WE CAN LEAVE IT AS ONE AND WE CAN WORK WITH HIM ON HOW TO DRAFT THAT IN A WAY THAT WOULD MAKE SENSE.
>> I THINK YOU ASKED THIS, BUT I DIDN'T HEAR THE DEFINITIVE OR I DIDN'T SEE IT.
IS THERE A WAY TO DRAFT THE LANGUAGE WHERE IT DOES STATE LIKE IF SIWANOY DOESN'T PASS, BUT IT GEOTHERMAL PASSES, THEN WHATEVER GEOTHERMAL CAN DO GEOTHERMAL WE'LL DO.
>> WE'LL HAVE TO TALK WITH BOND COUNCIL ABOUT THAT.
I THINK THAT'S ULTIMATELY THE ANSWER TO THAT.
I GUESS, CAN WE HAVE THE LEEWAY OF EITHER IF IT STAYS ONE, IT STAYS AS IS, IF IT HAS TO BE SPLIT IN ORDER TO BE CONNECTED TO ITS RESPECTIVE INFRASTRUCTURE PACKAGE? THAT WE CAN SPLIT IT TO A SEPARATE PROPOSITION.
I JUST WANT TO BE SURE THAT WE'VE GOT THE AUTHORIZATION TO DO IT.
WE'RE NOT HAVING TO COME BACK TO YOU.
WE WANT TO GET THIS RIGHT, SO WE'VE GOT IT FOR NEXT WEEK.
>> WHICH WOULD MEAN FIVE, RIGHT?
>> DON'T FORGET WE HAVE A HOUSE BUDGET.
>> PLUS THE HOUSE IN THE BUDGET.
>> ALSO I'M GOING TO TALK ABOUT IT.
>> DOES THE HOUSE GO WITH THE BUDGET?
THERE WILL BE THE BOARD ELECTION VOTE, THE HOUSE AND THEN INFRASTRUCTURE.
WE HAVE SIWANOY HIGH SCHOOL, GEOTHERMAL 1 OR 2.
>> WE'LL WORK WITH LANGUAGE. GET IT STRUCTURED.
I THINK WE HAVE A CLEAR PICTURE OF WHERE WE ARE.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THOUGHTFUL CONVERSATION.
I THINK WE ALL APPRECIATE I KNOW THE FOLKS HAVE SAID IT, BUT I APPRECIATE YOU HOW HARD IT IS FOR ALL OF YOU TO BE THE DECISION-MAKERS IN THIS. JIM AND I.
THIS IS ONE OF THOSE THINGS WE CAN SAY, THANK YOU, WE'RE NOT THE DECISION-MAKERS.
BUT THANK YOU JUST FOR THE THOUGHTFUL QUESTIONS AND
[03:30:01]
FOR THE WAY THAT YOU ALL REALLY ENGAGE AND LISTEN TO THE COMMUNITY.I THINK IT'S SPECIAL AND IMPORTANT TO HAVE A BOARD THAT REALLY DOES THAT.
I JUST WANT TO GIVE MY OWN THANKS FOR THE GREAT WORK YOU HAVE DONE UP UNTIL NOW. THANK YOU.
WE'LL WORK WITH DAN BIRMINGHAM.
WE'RE GOING TO GET THAT MOVING SO THAT THE ACTUAL ADOPTION OF THE LANGUAGE WILL BE AVAILABLE FOR YOU NEXT WEEK.
IT HAS TO BE DONE NEXT WEEK IN ORDER TO MAKE OUR LEGAL TIMELINES.
>> I HAD TWO THINGS THAT I WROTE NOTES DOWN ON THAT WERE THINGS THAT PEOPLE ASKED ABOUT THAT I WAS THINKING MAYBE WHILE WE HAD THE PEOPLE HERE TO ASK REAL QUICK.
KEVIN, I THINK ONE OF THESE IS FOR YOU, WHICH WAS THE QUESTION ABOUT UTILITIES AND PROTECTING THEM AND WHAT HAPPENS IF YOU DON'T DURING CONSTRUCTION.
I THINK THERE'S A FAIRLY SIMPLE ANSWER THERE, BUT I WAS HOPING MAYBE YOU COULD TALK FOR A MOMENT ABOUT THAT TO JUST ADDRESS THAT.
THE CONCERN WAS THERE WAS A RECENT OUTAGE OF VERIZON IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD, I DIDN'T KNOW THIS, BUT APPARENTLY IT WAS SOMEONE HIT A CABLE LINE SOMEWHERE IN TOWN.
>> WELL, I DON'T KNOW EXACTLY ALL THE DETAILS IN REGARDS TO THAT OR HOW THAT MIGHT HAVE HAPPENED.
>> I THINK IT WAS MORE LIKE WHAT YOU GUYS DO TO PLAN AROUND THAT.
>> WHENEVER WE WORK IN NEW SITE LOCATIONS, WE DO WE CALL THE PUBLIC ENTITIES.
I'M NOT SURE. 811? IT'S A NO DIG CALL.
YOU DON'T DIG UNTIL ALL THE UTILITY COMPANIES COME OUT AND THEY MARK ALL THE STUFF THAT'S EITHER IN THE ROADWAYS, THE SIDEWALKS OR EVEN ON YOUR PROPERTY, DEPENDING ON WHO OWNS WHAT.
HOPEFULLY, WE HAVE ALL THAT STUFF IDENTIFIED ON SOME OLD DOCUMENTS TO BE ABLE TO DO THAT.
ACCIDENTS DO HAPPEN ALONG THE WAY FROM TIME TO TIME.
THE QUESTION IS, NUMBER 1, HOW PROACTIVE YOU ARE IN TRYING TO MAKE SURE THAT THAT DOESN'T HAPPEN.
THERE ARE PROGRAMS THAT WE PUT IN PLACE TO MAKE SURE THAT WE MINIMIZE THE POSSIBILITY OF HAPPENING.
THEN THE SECOND PART IS HOW REACTIVE ARE YOU WHEN AN EVENT DOES TAKE PLACE.
WE HAVE A LIST OF ALL EMERGENCY CALLS FOR ALL UTILITY COMPANIES SO THAT IF WE HAVE AN ISSUE, WE CAN GET THAT ADDRESSED RIGHT AWAY.
WHENEVER THERE'S AN EMERGENCY, THEY'RE PRETTY GOOD AT RESPONDING.
THEY LOVE THE OVERTIME, SO USUALLY RESPONSES FOR THOSE TYPES OF UTILITIES HAPPEN PRETTY QUICKLY.
BUT THE CRUCIAL PART IS TO MAKE SURE WE KNOW WHERE THAT STUFF IS.
>> THEN THE SECOND QUESTION WAS FOR JIM, SORRY TO PUT YOU ON THE SPOT.
MY UNDERSTANDING THERE WAS A BUNCH OF DISCUSSION ABOUT OPERATING BUDGET AND REDUCING THE TAX LEVY.
>> THANK YOU FOR THIS QUESTION.
>> IF WE DIDN'T INCUR NEW BONDS AND WE JUST LET THE OLD ONES ROLL OFF.
MY UNDERSTANDING WAS THAT THE TAX CAP DOESN'T REALLY CHANGE BASED ON THAT.
THE BURDEN OF THE BONDS WOULD GO DOWN, BUT WE WOULDN'T HAVE THE ABILITY TO INCREASE THE OPERATING BUDGET WITHOUT BURSTING THE TAX CAP ANYWAY.
THE INCREASE WOULD BE THE SAME REGARDLESS OF WHETHER THE BONDS WERE THERE OR NOT.
>> IF YOU THINK BACK TO THE PRESENTATION FROM LAST WEEK WHEN WE SHOWED THE TAX CAP CALCULATION, YOU SEE HOW WE BREAK IT UP INTO TWO PARTS.
THE PART WE RAISE FOR THE DEBT IS THAT PART IS NOT PART OF THE 2% TAX CAP CALCULATION.
SUPERINTENDENT ASKED ME TO PUT SOMETHING TOGETHER FOR THE NEXT MEETING, JUST A SIMPLE EXAMPLE TO SHARE FOR THE BOARD AND THE PUBLIC.
REALLY, WHAT YOU'LL SEE I JUST WORKING IT THROUGH MY HEAD RIGHT NOW, YOU COULD ACTUALLY SEE YOUR BUDGET COULD GO LET'S SAY ALL THE DEBT AND YOUR DEBT SERVICE, YOU DIDN'T HAVE ANY DEBT SERVICE FOR NEXT YEAR.
YOU WOULD HAVE LOWER TAXES THE FOLLOWING YEAR, BUT YOU STILL WOULD BE BOUND TO THAT TAX CAP CALCULATION.
IF YOU WANTED TO GO ABOVE THAT AMOUNT, EVEN IF IT WAS MEANT YOUR TOTAL TAXES WERE LESS THAN THE PRIOR YEAR, TECHNICALLY, YOU WOULD STILL BE IN A TAX CAP-PIERCING ENVIRONMENT WHERE YOU'D HAVE TO PIERCE IT TO RAISE MORE MONEY.
IT'S PART OF TECHNICALITY, THE TAX CAP AND I GOT A WEEK TO PUT TOGETHER HOPEFULLY A SIMPLIFIED EXAMPLE TO SHARE WITH THE BOARD AND THE PUBLIC.
>> IT'S THE INVERSE OF WHAT'S HAPPENING THIS YEAR, WHICH IS THE OPERATING BUDGETS GOING UP 2.5% OR SOMETHING,
[03:35:01]
BUT THERE'S ANOTHER POINT AND A QUARTER OR SO OF BOND COSTS THAT ARE INCREMENTAL THIS YEAR RELATIVE TO LAST YEAR.>> THIS YEAR, WHAT'S DRIVING THAT IS JUST WE HAVE A DROP OFF OF SOME STATE BUILDING AID.
THAT'S WHAT'S DRIVING THAT PORTION.
>> NOTHING HAPPENING AT THE STATE OR ANYTHING ELSE, BUT WE RAN ITS TERM AND WE HAD THAT EXPECTED DROP OFF.
NEXT YEAR WE'LL HAVE ANOTHER SMALL DROP-OFF.
BUT AGAIN, THOSE ARE THINGS THAT HAPPEN.
BUT THERE IS A AGAIN, THE TAX CAP ALLOWS AN AREA WHERE YOU CAN RAISE THOSE MONIES WITHIN THE TAX CAP FORMULA.
LIKE I SAID, WE'VE GOT A WEEK TO TRY TO TEST OUT A COUPLE OF DIFFERENT EXAMPLES ON THE PEOPLE I WORK WITH AND THEN I'LL WALK IT UP TO THE SUPERINTENDENT AND WE'LL SEE WHERE WE GO AND HOPEFULLY I CAN PASS THAT TEST NEXT WEEK.
>> JIM, I HAVE A CLARIFYING QUESTION.
>> IN REGARDS TO THE DEBT SERVICE, I'M JUST GOING TO MAKE UP THE NUMBER.
LET'S SAY YOU PAY $100 A YEAR IN TAXES AND YOUR DEBT SERVICE IS $10.
THAT MEANS TOTAL YOU'RE PAYING THE DEBT SERVICE PORTION IS $10, SO $110 A YEAR.
THEN WITH THE 2% TAX INCREASE, THAT 2% TAX INCREASE IT'S NOT AFFECTING ANY DEBT SERVICE-RELATED PORTION.
IT'S JUST AFFECTING THAT BASE $100.
>> CORRECT. FOR THE ADJUSTMENT.
LET'S SAY IT WAS A PURE 2%, WE KNOW IT ISN'T.
YOUR TAX CAP ALLOTMENT THERE WOULD BE $102, WHICH IS A 2% ON THAT $100 AND THEN WHATEVER YOUR DEBT SERVICE PORTION WOULD BE ABOVE THAT.
>> ANYTHING THAT'S ADDED TO THE TAXPAYER'S TAX BILL BECAUSE OF THE BOND WILL NOT BE SUBJECT TO ANNUAL INCREASES RELATED TO JUST LIKE OUR TAX CAP.
>> WELL, IT WON'T FIT INTO THE PORTION OF THE TAX CAP FORMULA.
BUT IT MOST DEFINITELY WILL BE PART OF THE TOTAL TAX BURDEN.
AS THE SUPERINTENDENT SHARED, THIS IS ALL OUT OF YOUR POCKETS AND YOU'RE ALL GOING TO EXPERIENCE THAT.
BUT WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE WE FOLLOW THE PROPER USE BECAUSE IF WE RAISE THE MONEY FOR DEBT SERVICE, WE'VE GOT TO BE SURE TO YOU THAT WE'RE EXPENDING IT ON DEBT SERVICE.
>> WE'VE GOT A WHOLE PORTION ABOUT DEBT SERVICE ON THE BUDGET REVIEW.
>> WERE YOU DONE WITH? [OVERLAPPING]
>> I JUST HAVE MAYBE NOT FOR YOU.
JIM, SIT DOWN OR MAYBE YOU CAN.
>> I THINK IT'S JUST COME UP AND I KNOW WE'VE TALKED ABOUT IT, BUT JUST THOSE CONCERNS AROUND THE CONTROLS OF COSTS AND I KNOW WE ANTICIPATED IT.
THESE NEXT FEW YEARS ARE DIFFERENT AND UNPRECEDENTED, I THINK, WITH THE TARIFFS, CAN YOU JUST TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THAT? JUST SPECIFICALLY THAT.
THERE'S OBVIOUSLY A METHODOLOGY THAT YOU DO TO ANTICIPATE UNEXPECTED THINGS AND PUTTING IN A LITTLE BIT OF A CUSHION.
IT CAME UP AGAIN TONIGHT AND IT'S COME UP BEFORE, BUT I JUST LIKE A LITTLE CLARITY AROUND THE POTENTIAL FUTURE DIFFERENCES.
>> YOU MEAN FOR THE CONSTRUCTION? [OVERLAPPING]
>> [INAUDIBLE] DID A GREAT JOB A THE LAST MEETING.
>> YOU DID AND I FEEL LIKE MAYBE ONE MORE TIME WOULD BE REALLY GOOD.
IN ADDITION TO WHAT YOU DID LAST TIME, CAN YOU TALK ABOUT TWO IN PROCESS? BECAUSE I KNOW ONCE WE GET TO DESIGN AND ONCE WE GET TO IMPLEMENTATION, BIDDING, AND THINGS LIKE THAT, THERE'S A LOT IN THERE THAT HELPS US STAY WITHIN BUDGET.
WE GET TO VALUE ENGINEERING WHERE WE MAKE DECISIONS ABOUT WHAT GOES IN, ADD ALTERNATES.
THERE'S ALL STEPS IN THERE TO HELP CONTROL COSTS ALONG THE WAY.
COULD YOU JUST ADD A LITTLE COLOR ON THAT TOO?
>> ABSOLUTELY. LAST WEEK WHEN WE WERE HERE AND I TALKED ABOUT THE BUDGET, I DID MENTION THAT THERE IS SOME GOOD CONTINGENCIES THAT ARE BUILT INTO THE OVERALL BOND COSTS, FOR DESIGN, FOR CONSTRUCTION, FOR ESCALATION AND VARIOUS OTHER MARKUPS WITHIN THE BOND STRUCTURE TO TRY AND CAPTURE POTENTIAL COSTS AT THIS STAGE USING VERY SIMPLE INFORMATION.
WE'RE USING NAPKIN-TYPE INFORMATION, GROSS SQUARE FOOTAGES AND THINGS OF THAT NATURE TO TRY AND COME UP WITH THESE NUMBERS.
THERE ARE CHALLENGES ASSOCIATED WITH THAT.
BUT BASICALLY, THE BUDGET THAT WAS PRODUCED BY KG&D WILL WORK.
[03:40:05]
IT'S WHAT I WOULD CONSIDER TIGHT IN THE SENSE THAT IT RELIES ON A CERTAIN THINGS HAPPENING.IT RELIES ON THE MARKET STAYING SOMEWHAT WHERE IT IS.
WHEN I'M TALKING ABOUT THE MARKET, I'M NOT TALKING ABOUT TARIFFS.
IT RELIES ON GENERATING A GOOD CONTRACTOR BASE WHO'S BIDDING ON YOUR PROJECTS AND CONTRACTORS THAT ARE REALLY SHARPENING THEIR PENCIL TO WIN THE BIDS.
WHEN WE LOOKED AT IT A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENTLY, WE LOOKED AT IT AS WHAT THE REAL COST WOULD BE IF YOU DIDN'T HAVE THAT CONTRACT TO SHARPEN IN THE PENCIL, THAT MIGHT BE THE SECOND OR THE THIRD LOW BIDDER.
THAT'S WHY I INTRODUCED A RANGE IN TERMS OF THE OVERALL COSTS THE LAST TIME WE TALKED.
I DO THINK THAT THE BOARD SHOULD CONSIDER A LITTLE BIT OF THAT RANGE.
>> WHEN YOU ARE CONSIDERING THE OVERALL COST OF YOUR PROJECT.
IN REGARDS TO THE TARIFFS, WISH I HAD A CRYSTAL BALL.
THE FACT OF THE MATTER IS THAT IT'S VERY UNCERTAIN HOW, IF AT ALL, TARIFFS WILL IMPACT YOUR PROJECT.
WHAT I CAN TELL YOU IS THAT I'VE HEARD SOME RUMBLINGS FROM SOME VENDORS OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SOME TARIFFS COMING DOWN THE PIPE, BUT NOBODY HAS CONFIRMED ANYTHING AT THIS POINT.
I CAN'T STAND HERE TODAY AND TELL YOU THAT I HAVE ANY SENSE OF ANY TARIFFS THAT ARE GOING TO BE IMPOSED THAT ARE ACTUALLY GOING TO STICK IN THE NEXT AT ALL.
SINCE WE WERE PLAYING THE WHAT IF GAME? [LAUGHTER] WHAT IF ONE OF THE WORST-CASE SCENARIO CAME UP.
I WOULDN'T EVEN KNOW WHAT TO KNOW, BUT LIKE THE VERY WORST CASE SCENARIO AS FAR AS TARIFFS AND THESE COSTS? JUST TALK ME THROUGH HOW WE WOULD NAVIGATE THAT.
>> SURE. THE REALITIES THAT WE REALLY DON'T KNOW.
BUT IF WE WERE GOING TO MAKE SOME ASSUMPTIONS, WE CAN DO THAT.
WHAT WE DID AND I ACTUALLY WORKED WITH WALTER.
WE TOOK A CERTAIN PORTION OF THE PROJECT THAT WE'VE HEARD THESE STORIES ABOUT STRUCTURAL STEEL, ALUMINUM-BASED PRODUCTS LIKE WINDOWS AND WE CALCULATED WHAT PERCENTAGE OF THE OVERALL PROJECT THAT WOULD BE.
WE ANTICIPATED TO BE SOMEWHERE BETWEEN 18, 19% AND THEN WE TOOK THAT INFORMATION BASED ON A 25% TARIFF.
WILL IT BE 25%? I DON'T KNOW, BUT WE USE 25% AS OUR BASIS, AND THAT'S HOW WE GENERATED THE NUMBERS THAT WE TALKED TO YOU ABOUT LAST YEAR LAST WEEK, SPECIFIC TO SIWANOY AND THE ADDITION PROJECTS.
>> MIDDLE SCHOOL HIGH SCHOOL ADDITION PROJECTS.
WINDOWS, THAT'S AS PART OF THE INFRASTRUCTURE.
THINGS LIKE, SAY, FOR INSTANCE, NOW WE'RE DOING WORK IN THESE EXISTING BUILD INFRASTRUCTURE, BUT WE HAVEN'T REALLY FULLY DEVELOPED THE INFRASTRUCTURE WORK, WHAT HAPPENS IF WE HAVE ADDITIONAL SAY ASBESTOS, SOMETHING LIKE THAT? I DO THINK THAT THERE'S ENOUGH MONEY IN THE DESIGN CONTINGENCIES TO ABSORB SOME OF THOSE TYPES OF THINGS.
I THINK WHEN WE CAME UP TO THE NUMBERS LAST WEEK AND I'M JUST PULLING THIS OFF THE TOP OF MY HEAD.
> THANK YOU. 2.1 AND 1.52 0.1 BEING FOR SINI, AND 1.5 BEING FOR THE MIDDLE SCHOOL HIGH SCHOOL WAS WHAT WE GENERATED BASED ON A 25% TARIFF NUMBER ON APPROXIMATELY 18 OR 19% OF THE PROJECT.
TWO, ONE AND 15 WAS MY ASK FOR THE ADDITIONAL CONSTRUCTION COSTS.
AND THEN THE ONE POINT B IN RANGE WAS A MILLION FOR CYANI WAS 1.4, I THINK IT WAS AND A HALF FOR THE HIGH SCHOOL IN TARIFF ADDITIONAL COSTS BASED ON THAT 25%.
IF IT BECOMES 50%, YOU CAN ESSENTIALLY DOUBLE THOSE NUMBERS IF YOU WANT TO TAKE THAT SAFETY FACTOR.
I DON'T KNOW IF YOU WANT TO TAKE THAT SAFETY.
>> NO. I MEAN, THE TAKEAWAY IS RIGHT, THERE'S CONTROLS, THE WORST CASE.
THIS IS WE HAVE WHAT WE HAVE, AND THAT'S WHAT THE UNCERTAINTY.
THERE'S ONE THING THAT CERTAIN IS WE WORK WITH.
WE'LL BE ABLE TO WORK WITH THIS BASED ON ALL THE UNCERTAINTY.
>> ABSOLUTELY TRUE. WE CAN ONLY DESIGN AND WE CAN ONLY BID AND ONLY SPEND AS MUCH AS THE COMMUNITY ALLOWS US TO.
SO WHATEVER THAT NUMBER ENDS UP BEING THAT GETS APPROVED, AND WE'VE GOT A LOT OF OPTIONS HERE, SO IT COULD VARY.
[03:45:02]
WE'LL DESIGN TOWARDS THAT, AND WE'LL UTILIZE SOME OF THOSE TACTICS AND STRATEGIES THAT WE TALKED ABOUT A BID ALTERNATES AND PROGRAMS SO WE CAN REALIZE SOME BASE BID.THEN IF WE GENERATE ANY COST SAVINGS SO AS IN THE PROJECT, PERHAPS WE CAN REINTRODUCE THOSE THINGS BACK INTO THE PROJECT.
EXACTLY WHAT WE DID ON THE LAST PROJECT, BY THE WAY.
>> I THINK IT'S JUST IMPORTANT FOR THE COMMUNITY TO KNOW IT'S NOT CAN GO BACK AND ASK FOR MORE IT IS WHAT IT IS.
IT IS WHAT IT IS. THAT'S WHAT WE'VE GOT AND CLAN BACK OUT ABOUT IT NOT OUR INTENTION.
>> YEAH OUR INTENTION IS TO WORK WITHIN THE APPROVED BUDGET.
JIM, JUST A QUICK QUESTION BECAUSE I WANT TO SHARE THE TAX IMPACTS BEFORE WE WRAP UP.
WERE YOU WITH THESE CALCULATED BUDGETS THAT RICH GAVE US, DID THAT INCLUDE THE TARIFF ADS AS WELL OR JUST THE INCREASED PROPOSAL FROM LAST WEEK OF THE 2.1?
>> THEY ONLY CONSIDERED AT THE ESTIMATE CHANGES OF THE 2.1 AND THE 1.5.
THEY DID NOT CONSIDER ANY ADDITION OF TARIFF TO THAT ADDITIONAL COST.
>> MAYBE I'LL SHARE WITH THOSE ARE I KNOW THE BOARD HAS THESE FOR THE SAKE THE PUBLIC. I'LL SHARE THEM.
THEN I GUESS WE NEED TO KNOW ONE FINAL PIECE BEFORE WE WRAP UP TONIGHT, WHICH AGAIN, WHILE IT'S TONIGHT.
WE NEED TO KNOW IF YOU WANT US TO ADD THE ADDITIONAL TARIFF TO THE BUDGET OR NOT.
THE INFRASTRUCTURE ON ITS OWN, AND IT'S HARD TO SAY HOW THE WAY THAT THIS IS STRUCTURED.
IF THAT ALONE PASS, THAT IS A $56,205,000 PACKAGE, AND KEEP IN MIND THAT INFRASTRUCTURE MINUS ANOI PLUS AIR CONDITIONING FOR ELEMENTARY IS MINUS SANI.
THAT WOULD TOTAL THE 56 MILLION.
IF THAT WAS THE ONLY THING THAT WE WERE LOOKING AT, THAT WOULD BE TAX-NEUTRAL.
THERE WOULD BE NO ADDITIONAL TAX LEVIED FOR THAT PROJECT ON.
>> CAN YOU REPEAT FOR INFRASTRUCTURE NAP?
ALL INFRASTRUCTURE MINUS ELEMENTARY.
>> ELEMENTARY AIR CONDITIONING MINUS SINI.
YES. THAT WOULD BE TAX-NEUTRAL ON ITS OWN WITHOUT ANY OTHER PACKAGES INCLUDED.
SINCE EVERYTHING ELSE WILL BE CONTINGENT UPON THAT, IF SIMINI WERE TO BE PASSED, THAT WOULD BE ADDITIVE FOR THE LOWEST VALUED HOME, 850,000, THAT WOULD BE $343 ANNUAL INCREASE.
FOR THE MID VALUED HOME 1.189 MILLION, THAT WOULD BE A $481 ANNUAL INCREASE.
FOR THE HIGHER VALUED, 1.5 MILLION DOLLAR HOME WOULD BE A $616 INCREASE.
>> CAN YOU READ THE FULL AMOUNT OF THE SYMANOI?
>> YES, THANK YOU. THE TOTAL FOR THE CYANI PACKAGE, NOT INCLUDING GEOTHERMAL, BUT WITH ALL OF THE CYANOI INFRASTRUCTURE AIR CONDITIONING AND EXPANSION AT WITH THE ADDITIONAL 2.1, IS $42,570,000.
>> IF I COULD JUST TAKE A MOMENT TO JUMP IN AND AGAIN, BRING EVERYONE BACK TO THE FIRST ITEM, WHICH WAS THE INFRASTRUCTURE AT $56 MILLION.
AS OUR FISCAL ADVISOR SHARED WITH US ON A BASIC TAX-NEUTRAL BASIS, YOU HAVE THE CAPACITY TO BORROW UP TO ABOUT $65 MILLION.
SO WHEN WE TALK ABOUT THE $56 MILLION HAVING NOT A TAX IMPACT, THAT'S TRUE.
NOW THERE'S ALSO A BIT OF YOUR UNDER CAPACITY A LITTLE BIT THERE FROM THAT $65 MILLION.
AS DOCTOR CHAMP READS TO YOU THAT SECOND NUMBER FOR CYAN AND SHARES WITH YOU THAT NUMBER.
THAT CONTEMPLATES UTILIZING THAT REMAINING CAPACITY.
THAT'S REFLECTED IN THIS NUMBER.
I UNDERSTAND THAT THE BOARD'S GOING TO WANT TO HAVE ALL OF THESE ITEMS STANDING ALONE.
WE'RE GOING TO SHARE WITH YOU.
WE'RE GOING TO GET THAT INFORMATION FOR YOU WHAT THAT DEDUCT WOULD BE FOR EACH ONE AND WHAT IT WOULD LOOK LIKE.
SHOULD ALL OF THEM PASS OR DIFFERENT VARIATIONS PASS? BUT AGAIN, I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE YOU'RE FULLY UNDERSTANDING THAT NUMBER AND THAT IT'S NOT BUT IF IT WERE TO COME IN HIGHER OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT, DO YOU UNDERSTAND WHY THAT AGAIN, WE'RE UTILIZING SOME OF THAT ADDITIONAL SAY NINE?
>> TO THAT NEXT QUESTION, THE WAY THAT RICH STRUCTURED THIS PARTICULAR PAGE IS IF INFRASTRUCTURE PASSED AND SWANY PASSED, THAT WAS THE NUMBERS THAT I JUST SAID.
IS THAT THEN ON TOP OF THAT IF THE HIGH SCHOOL PASSED? SO WHICH IS DIFFERENT THAN WHAT WE'VE TALKED ABOUT BECAUSE THERE IS A SCENARIO WHERE INFRASTRUCTURE PASSES AND THE HIGH SCHOOL PASSES, WHICH WOULD CHANGE THE NUMBERS ON THESE SHEETS HERE.
>>> YEAH. THIS IS IF YOU PASSED ALL THREE.
YEAH. SO THIS IS BUILDING TOWARDS A FULL? SO IF YOU WERE TO PASS INFRASTRUCTURE SAN SO,
[03:50:04]
A CIMINO, AND THEN THE HIGH SCHOOL IN ADDITION, THAT TOTAL PACKAGE.THE HIGH SCHOOL WOULD ADD 40,350,000, AND THAT WOULD BE, AGAIN, THE LOWEST VALUE HOME MID AND HIGH, WOULD BE AN ADDITIONAL 337, 752, 964.
THEN IF YOU ADDED GEOTHERMAL ON TOP OF THAT FOR THE EVERYTHING THAT 537 IT'S GETTING TOO LATE. LET'S CHECK ON MY HAND.
THEN IF YOU ADDED GEOTHERMAL IN ADDITION, AS WAS SAID EARLIER, $466482.
IF THE FULL PACKAGE ACROSS THE BOARD, NOW YOU KNOW WE'VE GOT A LOT OF DIFFERENT ITERATIONS BUILT IN HERE.
BUT IF THE FULL TAX IMPACT OF WHAT IS BEING OFFERED WOULD ADD GYM I TOTALED UP ACROSS THE COLUMNS.
WE'RE LOOKING AT $850,000 HOME, THAT WOULD BE 41 PLUS 752 PLUS 64. YOU'RE DOING MIDDLE.
>> APOLOGIES, 343 PLUS 537 PLUS 46.
>> RIGHT. I CAME UP WITH $926 TOTAL ANNUAL INCREASE ON THE TAXES ONCE FULLY IMPLEMENTED.
926 FOR THE SMALLEST COST HOUSE, THE AVERAGE WOULD BE A TOTAL OF 1297, AND THE HIGH PRICE OF 1.5 ASSESSED VALUE HOME WOULD BE 1,662 ALL IN TOTAL ANNUAL INCREASE.
>> YOU READ THE FIRST ONE AGAIN, 926.
>> THANK YOU. NOW, THESE ARE WHEN IT'S FULLY IMPLEMENTED, MEANING AT THE END OF BORROWING OR WE BORROW BECAUSE WE DON'T BORROW EVERYTHING UP FRONT.
>> THAT'S RIGHT. WE'RE GOING TO HAVE SOME DEBT SERVICE FUND, SO WE'RE GOING TO AGAIN, UTILIZE THAT DEBT SERVICE FUND THAT'LL BE COMING BACK TO HELP TEMPER THAT GROWTH AT DIFFERENT TIMES.
DEPENDING ON THE PACE OF THE PROJECT, WE'LL BORROW, WE'LL DO SHORT-TERM BORROWINGS AT DIFFERENT TIMES.
SO THAT'S PART OF ONCE THE PROJECTS APPROVED AND DESIGNED, THEN WE START SEEING WHAT THE MONEY DRAW IS GOING TO LOOK LIKE.
>> THEN I BELIEVE SOME OF THAT STRUCTURE WAS LAID OUT WHEN RICH WAS HERE WITH US LAST TIME.
THE NUMBERS OBVIOUSLY HAVE CHANGED A LITTLE BIT AS WE'VE ADJUSTED THE PACKAGING AND THE ADDITIONAL BUDGET THAT WAS RECOMMENDED IN LIGHT OF THE ECONOMY.
WE CAN GET ALL THAT RERUN WITH THE UPDATED PACKAGES WHERE WE ARE TODAY.
>> THANK YOU. JIM. KEVIN, THANK YOU, WALTER. YES.
>> IT'S A LOT OF WORK PUTTING TOGETHER ALL THESE NUMBERS IN THESE DIFFERENT ITERATIONS. SO THANK YOU.
>> WAS THERE A QUESTION ABOUT WHETHER WE WANT TO ADD IN THE TARIFFS?
>> THAT'S RIGHT. YEAH. DO YOU WANT TO KEEP THE BUDGETS AS WE WANT TO ADD ANYTHING FOR TARIFFS?
>> THE NUMBERS THAT WE JUST WENT THROUGH DID OR DID NOT INCLUDE.
>> THEY DID INCLUDE THE ADDED BUDGET FOR ADDITIONAL.
>> BUT WE'RE ONLY TALKING ABOUT 2.5 MILLION DOLLAR MORE FOR THE TARIFFS, RIGHT?
>> NO. WHAT WE JUST SAY EARLIER? IT WAS ONE AND 1.5 AND ONE?
>> IN ADDITION TO THE 2.1 AND THE 1.5.
>> WHICH IS ALREADY FACTORED IN.
>> YEAH. SO WE'RE ADDING ONE AND 1.4 RESPECTIVELY.
>> ANTICIPATING APPROXIMATELY 25% ARO.
>> YEAH. SO IF THE TARIFFS DON'T HAPPEN. WHAT HAPPENS?
>> WE HAVE AUTHORITY TO BORROW. WE DON'T HAVE TO.
>> BUT THE VOTERS ARE PROVING AN UP-TO-BUDGET.
BUT WE DO NOT HAVE TO USE ALL OF.
>> CAN'T USE COULD BE HOPEFUL.
CAN'T USE MORE, BUT WE CAN USE.
>> OKAY. I THINK THAT'S ALL THE ANSWERS WE NEED.
>> THAT'S THE LAST QUESTION THROUGH OUR BUSINESS AGENDA.
>> YES, WE DO. WE HAVE ALL THE I DO IT? WE GO THROUGH IT. LET'S GO.
>> ACTUALLY HAVE. DO I HAVE A MOTION TO TAKE 4.1 TO 4.6 AS A CONSENT AGENDA.
[4. Financial Reports and Motions]
>> SECOND. OKAY. WE JUST WANT TO 4.1 IS THE CALENDAR THAT DOCTOR CHAMP TALKED ABOUT.
>> ALREADY TALKED ABOUT. I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU FOR GOING BACK AND DOING AND WANT TO REITERATE THAT.
WE STILL HAVE TO ADD SOME THINGS IN AN YOU.
>> WE'RE TRYING TO BE THOUGHTFUL ABOUT THAT.
WHICH TYPICAL TREASURES REPORTS, BUDGET TRANSFERS.
WE DO HAVE AN IPA THAT'S A I FORGET WHAT IT STANDS FOR AGREEMENT.
IT'S BASICALLY PURCHASING FOR OUR COMPUTERS,
[03:55:02]
THE REFRESH OF THE CHROME BOOKS PREDOMINANTLY.NEXT YEAR, WE DO IT NOW JUST TO GET IT IN PLACE FOR THE BUDGET CYCLE.
I JUST FORGET WHAT IT STANDS FOR.
>> IN PURCHASING INSTALLMENT PURCHASING AGREEMENT.
>> THANK YOU. INSTALLMENT PURCHASING AGREEMENT.
I SHOULD JUST READ IT. YEAH. INSTALLMENT PURCHASING AGREEMENT FOR MOST OF OUR TECHNOLOGY HARDWARE.
>> WE WORK WITH BOSS, SOME THAT WE DO EVERY YEAR, AND THEN WE WORK ON THIS WITH THE BUDGET, BUT THIS HELPS THEM GET THINGS PLANNED FOR THAT REFRESH THAT WE NEED EVERY YEAR.
>> THAT WOULD BE CONTINGENT ON THE BUDGET PASSING, OF COURSE, THE ACTUAL IMPLEMENTATION OF.
>> I WOULD SAY I JUST WANTED TO MENTION 4.5.
>> I WAS JUST GOING TO GO THERE.
>> FOUR-POINT FIVE. WE'RE REALLY FORTUNATE THAT MANY OF OUR ADMINISTRATORS PURSUE THEIR DOCTORAL, CULMINATING DEGREE.
SO SUZANNE ARE SHORT, OUR INTERIM HUMANITIES DIRECTOR IS IN THE PROCESS OF WORKING ON HER DOCTORATE.
SO WE'RE ASKING THE BOARD TO APPROVE TO ALLOW HER TO DO HER RESEARCH IN DISTRICT.
IT'S WONDERFUL AND THAT IT'S SOMETHING THAT WILL HELP US ON A CURRICULUM AND LEADERSHIP PERSPECTIVE.
SO SHE'D BE WORKING WITH TEACHERS ON THEIR BELIEFS AND UNDERSTANDING AROUND USE OF STUDENT DATA, WHICH IS REALLY EXCITING GIVEN OUR MTSS WORK AND THE THINGS THAT WE'VE BEEN WORKING ON FOR SUPPORTING STUDENTS.
THEN FINALLY, 4.6, THERE IS ONE BOARD MEETING DATE THAT I BELIEVE YOU HAVE IT ON YOUR CALENDARS, BUT IN OUR LAST RE-APPROVAL OF THIS, WE MISSED THE DATE.
WE'RE GOING TO GET TO SEE EACH OTHER FOR THE NEXT COUPLE OF WEEKS, STILL EVERY WEDNESDAY.
IT WAS APRIL 2, WAS THE ONE, I BELIEVE THAT WE CAUGHT THAT WAS MISSING.
SO WE ARE HERE NEXT WEEK AGAIN, THE NEXT TWO WEEKS TO CONTINUE OUR LINE-BY-LINE BUDGET REVIEW.
THE FOLLOWING WEDNESDAY IS OUR BUDGET DISCUSSION, NO NEW INFORMATION, BUT DISCUSSION OF WHAT YOU'VE HEARD, FINAL ADJUSTMENTS, AND DIRECTION FROM THE BOARD SO THAT ON THE 22ND, WE'LL GIVE YOU A WEEK OFF BETWEEN ON THE 22ND WILL BE OUR FORMAL BUDGET ADOPTION.
WE'RE ADDING IN ON THIS CALENDAR, APRIL 2.
>> CAN I JUST SAY THE ONLY REASON WHEN WE GET A WEEK OFF IS BECAUSE WE'RE ON HOLIDAY?
THEN OPPOSE, SO THESE ALL CARRY.
LET'S GO TO 5.1. DO I HAVE A MOTION TO DO THE SECOND READING FOR THE.
[5.1 Policy 5640 - Smoking/Tobacco (Second Reading)]
>> CAN I ACTUALLY ASK IF THE BOARD MIGHT CONSIDER WAVING?
THEN I THINK IT'D BE A MOTION TO WAIVE THE THIRD WAIVE.
>> BUT YES, POLICY 5640 IS AN UPDATE ON OUR TOBACCO AND SUBSTANCE USE ON SCHOOL PREMISES AT SCHOOL-SPONSORED ACTIVITIES.
OBVIOUSLY, YOU SAW IT LAST TIME, THERE WERE SOME SIGNIFICANT UPDATES THAT ARE IN LINE WITH OUR POLICY SERVICE AND CURRENT REGULATIONS.
THEY'VE BEEN REVIEWED BY OUR LEGAL COUNSEL, WE ARE EAGER TO GET THIS APPROVED BECAUSE WE WANT TO PRODUCE SIGNAGE AS PER POLICY AND GET SOME IMPROVED SIGNAGE AT GLOVER FIELD AS WE HEAD INTO THE SPRING SPORTS SEASON.
THAT IS UPON US AS OF THIS WEEK.
IT'S NOT GOING TO TAKE TOO LONG TO TURN THAT SIGNAGE AROUND, BUT I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT THAT FOLKS ARE AWARE THAT THERE ON SCHOOL PROPERTY.
CODE OF CONDUCT APPLIES FOR ALL PEOPLE, NOT JUST FOR STUDENTS, AND WE WANT TO GET THE SIGNAGE UP SO THAT FOLKS ARE WELL-INFORMED.
SO I WOULD REQUEST THAT THE BOARD CONSIDER WAIVING THE THIRD READING SO THAT WE CAN APPROVE THIS TONIGHT AND MR. TOMS AND MR. CONDON CAN MOVE AHEAD WITH PRODUCING SIGNAGE.
>> THERE'S NOT SIGNIFICANT CHANGE.
>> IT UPDATED IT CURRENT PRACTICES.
INCLUDING THINGS LIKE VA PENSARAE, MEANING.
NO. CURRENT PRACTICES AND SUBSTANCE USE IN THE WORLD.
SPECIFIC APPELE JUST UPDATING THINGS LIKE LISTING CANNABIS, CABOID, AND, THINGS THAT MAYBE WERE NOT NECESSARILY INCLUDED IN THIS LAST TIME IT WAS REVISED THAT ARE NOW SOME THINGS HAVE BECOME LEGAL THAT WE'RE NOT THEN? WE'RE STILL A SCHOOL PROPERTY.
SUBSTANCES AND SUBSTANCE USE IS STILL PROHIBITED BY ALL INDIVIDUALS ON SCHOOL PROPERTY SO WE WANT TO UPDATE IT TO BE MORE CLEAR ON THINGS SINCE THEY HAVE CHANGED.
>> ANY MORE QUESTIONS ON THAT? DO I HAVE A MOTION TO WAIVE THE THIRD READING AND APPROVE THE POLICY 5640 SMOKING AND TOBACCO?
[04:00:01]
>> ANOTHER ONE FOR UNDER THE BOOK.
>> CAN WE PUT THEM? LET'S NOT FORGET FRIENDSHIP AND COMING IN THROUGH THE BACK SIDE OF FRIENDSHIP? PUT IT RIGHT RIGHT BEFORE THEY GO UP? DRIVEWAY THEY COME THE DRIVEWAY DOWN THE SIR.
>> OKAY. DO I HAVE A MOTION TO ADJOURN?
>> GOOD NIGHT.
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.