[00:00:01] >> THANK YOU. HELLO, AND WELCOME TO THE BOARD OF EDUCATION MEETING OF OCTOBER 21, 2025. [1. Public Session - 7:30 p.m.] LET'S RISE FOR THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE PLEASE NOTE THAT DR. CHAMP IS NOT WITH US IN PERSON THIS EVENING, DUE TO A FAMILY EMERGENCY, WE SEND OUR BEST TO HER AND HER HUSBAND, PATRICK. TRUSTEE DARRA GORDON IS JOINING US REMOTELY THIS EVENING DUE TO WORK-RELATED TRAVEL. WE DID NOT HAVE AN EXECUTIVE SESSION TONIGHT, SO WE CAN MOVE DIRECTLY TO MY REMARKS. I HOPE MANY OF YOU WERE ABLE TO ENJOY HOMECOMING ACTIVITIES LAST WEEK. I ALSO HOPE OUR STUDENT ATHLETES FELT CELEBRATED AND THAT ALL STUDENTS FELT A SENSE OF BELONGING IN THE PELHAM PUBLIC SCHOOLS. AS THE YEAR CONTINUES, THERE WILL BE MANY MORE OPPORTUNITIES TO SUPPORT OUR STUDENTS THROUGH ATTENDING PERFORMANCES, COMPETITIONS, AND COMMUNITY EVENTS. I LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING MANY OF YOU THERE. TONIGHT'S WORKING SESSION FOCUSES ON NEW YORK STATE'S NEW YORK INSPIRES PLAN, WHICH REDEFINES WHAT READINESS LOOKS LIKE FOR HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATES. AT ITS CENTER IS THE PORTRAIT OF A GRADUATE, WHICH IDENTIFIES SIX KEY ATTRIBUTES EVERY STUDENT SHOULD DEVELOP, CRITICAL THINKING, PROBLEM SOLVING, COMMUNICATION, COLLABORATION, CREATIVITY, AND RESILIENCE. I'M LOOKING AT DR. COMERFORD, TO SEE IF I'M CORRECT. [LAUGHTER] THREE POINTS TO HIGHLIGHT ABOUT NEW YORK INSPIRES. ONE IS RIGOR. EVEN THOUGH REGENTS EXAMS ARE BEING PHASED OUT, STUDENTS WILL CONTINUE TO MEET HIGH STANDARDS WHILE DEMONSTRATING LEARNING IN MULTIPLE WAYS. ALIGNMENT. PELHAM ALREADY FOSTERS MANY OF THESE ATTRIBUTES, AND TONIGHT'S WORKSHOP WILL HELP IDENTIFY WHERE WE'RE STRONG AND WHERE WE COULD GROW FURTHER. INTENTIONAL PLANNING. THIS WORK IS PART OF THE DISTRICT'S EFFORT TO ALIGN CURRICULUM, PROFESSIONAL LEARNING, AND SCHOOL CULTURE TO PREPARE EVERY STUDENT FOR LIFE BEYOND GRADUATION. AFTER THE WORKING SESSION, WE'LL HAVE A PRELIMINARY 2026/2027 BUDGET DISCUSSION. THE FINANCE COMMITTEE MET LAST WEEK. AGAIN, THIS MORNING, AS WE'VE DISCUSSED, WE CONTINUE TO FACE COST PRESSURES IN SPECIAL EDUCATION, TRANSPORTATION, EMPLOYEE BENEFITS, AND MORE. OUR GOAL IS TO MAINTAIN THE ROBUST PROGRAMMING THAT MAKES PELHAM EXCEPTIONAL WHILE BEING MINDFUL OF HIRING AND MAJOR EXPENDITURES. WE'RE ALSO PREPARING TO BORROW FOR THE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT BOND APPROVED BY VOTERS IN MAY, SO WE MUST KEEP THE BUDGET IN A STRONG POSITION FOR BORROWING. WHILE WE WILL AGAIN AIM FOR A TAX CAP COMPLIANT BUDGET, IT'S IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT MANY NEIGHBORING DISTRICTS HAVE ALREADY PIERCED THE CAP, AND WE MAY FACE THAT REALITY SOON. THE TOUGH CHOICES THE DISTRICT MAKES REFLECTS RESPONSIBLE FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT. WHILE WE ABSOLUTELY WANT THE DISTRICT TO KEEP INNOVATING, WE MUST PRIORITIZE WHAT IS REQUIRED BY LAW AND WHAT WILL HAVE THE GREATEST IMPACT FOR OUR STUDENTS. ON FEDERAL FUNDING. THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION RECENTLY LAID OFF STAFF WHO ADMINISTER SPECIAL EDUCATION FUNDING. THE FUNDING ITSELF REMAINS INTACT, AND ANOTHER AGENCY IS EXPECTED TO TAKE OVER ITS ADMINISTRATION. FOR CONTEXT, PELHAM RELIES ON ROUGHLY ONE MILLION DOLLARS IN FEDERAL EDUCATION FUNDING, THOUGH MOST OF OUR SUPPORT CONTINUES TO COME FROM STATE AID AND LOCAL TAXES. FINALLY, A CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT BOND UPDATE. AS A REMINDER, WE HOLD MONTHLY BOND STEERING COMMITTEE MEETINGS, REVIEW RECOMMENDATIONS AT SUBSEQUENT BOARD MEETINGS, AND INCLUDE WRITTEN UPDATES IN THE BOARD WRAP UP. LAST WEEK, THE COMMITTEE MET WITH RICK GANCI FROM CAPITAL MARKET ADVISORS TO DESIGN BORROWING THAT SECURES THE BEST TERMS FOR PELHAM AND TAKES ADVANTAGE OF UPCOMING DEBT DROP OFFS. AS SHARED BEFORE THE BOND VOTE, INFRASTRUCTURE WORK WILL HAVE NO INCREASE IN TAXES, WHILE THE SIWANOY EXPANSION AND RENOVATION WILL HAVE A TAX IMPACT. BUILDING AID IS CURRENTLY AT 51.5% OR SO FOR ELIGIBLE PORTIONS OF THE BOND PROJECTS. WE EXPECT MORE THAN 70% OF THE 99 MILLION IN PROJECTS TO QUALIFY FOR AID. THIS REPRESENTS THE LOW END OF ELIGIBILITY AS OUR ARCHITECTS WHO ARE EXPERTS IN SCHOOL CONSTRUCTION WILL OPTIMIZE AID THROUGH THE DESIGN PHASE. AAA BOND RATING, ONE OF ONLY THREE IN THE STATE FOR SCHOOLS, POSITIONS US WELL FOR THE MOST FAVORABLE BORROWING TERMS IN THE NEAR TERM. THE COMMITTEE ALSO REVIEWED THE PROSPECT HILL ROOF REPLACEMENT AND RECOMMENDS SLATE, [00:05:03] LIKE REPLACING WITH SLATE. IT LASTS TWICE AS LONG AS ALTERNATIVES LIKE FALSE SLATE OR METAL, WHICH WE LOOKED AT METAL TO SEE IF THAT COULD SUPPORT SOLAR. PRESERVING THE BUILDING'S HISTORIC CAP SLATE PRESERVES THE BUILDING'S HISTORIC CHARACTER AND PROVES TO BE MORE COST EFFECTIVE OVER TIME. SOLAR WAS EVALUATED. IT WAS NOT PART OF THE BOND, BUT THE ARCHITECTS EVALUATED THE POSSIBILITY OF IT AND WE FOUND IT UNSUITABLE FOR THE PROSPECT ROOF DUE TO LIMITED SUNLIGHT AND THE AVAILABLE SURFACE AREA AFTER THE HVAC IS INSTALLED. REGARDING TIMING, COLONIAL AND PROSPECT INFRASTRUCTURE PLANS WILL BE SUBMITTED TO NYSED BY YEAR END, SO WORK CAN BEGIN THIS SUMMER OR NEXT SUMMER. SIWANOY DESIGN WORK WILL FOLLOW THIS YEAR WITH THE GOAL OF BREAKING GROUND IN THE SUMMER OF 2027. DR. CHAMP AND KG+D HAVE ENGAGED USER GROUPS AND NEIGHBORS TO IDENTIFY OPPORTUNITIES AND ADDRESS CONCERNS, AND A COMMITTEE HAS BEEN ESTABLISHED TO COORDINATE WITH NEARBY RESIDENTS, PELHAM RECREATION, AL TERRACE, AND OTHER STAKEHOLDERS TO ENSURE SIWANOY'S OUTDOOR SPACE MEETS COMMUNITY NEEDS. THAT'S MY UPDATE. WITH THAT, I'LL HAND IT OVER TO DR. COMERFORD TO KICK OFF OUR WORKING SESSION. [2.1 Work Session - Blue Ribbon Commission/ NY Inspires] >> GOOD EVENING, EVERYONE. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US THIS EVENING. A SPECIAL THANK YOU TO THE BOARD OF EDUCATION FOR ENGAGING IN THIS IMPORTANT SHARED LEARNING AND EXPLORATION OF THE PORTRAIT OF A GRADUATE THAT NEW YORK STATE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT FINALIZED THIS AUGUST. I ALSO WANT TO GIVE A SPECIAL THANK YOU AND SHOUT OUT TO OUR CURRICULUM TEAM OF ADMINISTRATORS WHO IS JOINING US THIS EVENING TO HELP US THINK THROUGH THE PORTRAIT OF A GRADUATE AND HOW WE ARE ALREADY FOSTERING THESE ATTRIBUTES IN PELHAM AND WHAT THESE CHANGES MIGHT MEAN FOR US, AS WELL AS THINKING FORWARD AND BEGINNING TO THINK ABOUT STRATEGIC PLANNING IN TERMS OF PHASING IN THE NEW GRADUATION MEASUREMENTS LONG TERM HERE IN PELHAM. THANK YOU SO MUCH TO DR. THOMAS CALLAHAN, WHO IS OUR DIRECTOR OF SCIENCE AND MATH HERE IN PELHAM, TO DR. SHORT, NEWLY DOCTOR. LET'S GIVE IT CONGRATULATIONS TO SUZANNE SHORT, WHO JUST LAST MONTH GRADUATED FROM HER DOCTORAL PROGRAM, AND NOW WE CAN REFER TO AS DR. SHORT, WHO IS THE DIRECTOR OF K-12 HUMANITIES HERE IN PELHAM. OF COURSE, JOHN SEBALOS, OUR DIRECTOR OF TECHNOLOGY. THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE AND JOINING US THIS EVENING. OF COURSE, SUPERINTENDENT CABINET, WE'RE GRATEFUL TO YOU, TOO. NEW YORK INSPIRES PORTRAIT OF A GRADUATE IS THE FRAMEWORK THAT NEW YORK STATE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT HAS FINALIZED TO GUIDE THE WORK OF SCHOOLS THROUGHOUT NEW YORK STATE. TONIGHT WE'LL DIVE A LITTLE BIT INTO THE PORTRAIT OF A GRADUATE. OVER THE PAST FEW YEARS, THE NEW YORK STATE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT AND THE BOARD OF REGENTS HAVE BEEN ENGAGED IN A MAJOR EFFORT TO RETHINK WHAT A NEW YORK STATE HIGH SCHOOL DIPLOMA SHOULD TRULY REPRESENT. THIS WORK BEGAN IN 2019 WITH THE LAUNCH OF THE GRADUATION MEASURES INITIATIVE, A STATEWIDE CONVERSATION THAT INVOLVED EDUCATORS, STUDENTS, FAMILIES, HIGHER EDUCATION, AND BUSINESS LEADERS. THE CORE QUESTION GUIDING THE INITIATIVE HAS BEEN, WHAT KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, MINDSETS, AND ATTRIBUTES SHOULD EVERY GRADUATE POSSESS TO SUCCEED, NOT ONLY IN COLLEGE AND CAREER, BUT ALSO IN CIVIC LIFE, AND IN SERVICE. IMPORTANTLY, THIS IS A FULL K-12 INITIATIVE. THIS IS NOT JUST A HIGH SCHOOL REFORM. THE GOAL IS TO ALIGN WHAT WE VALUE FOR OUR GRADUATES WITH THE EXPERIENCES WE PROVIDE ALL THE WAY FROM KINDERGARTEN THROUGH 12TH GRADE. THE RESULTING PORTRAIT OF A GRADUATE IS MEANT TO SERVE AS A UNIFYING VISION, SHAPING HOW WE THINK ABOUT TEACHING, LEARNING, ASSESSMENT, AND STUDENT PATHWAYS AT EVERY LEVEL OF A STUDENT'S JOURNEY. IT'S LESS OF A CHECKLIST OF REQUIREMENTS AND MORE OF A SHARED VISION OF THE KIND OF LEARNERS AND CITIZENS WE WANT TO CULTIVATE. NEW YORK STATE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT AND THE BOARD OF REGENTS ENGAGED IN RESEARCH AND ALSO STAKEHOLDER ENGAGEMENT. THIS INCLUDED REGIONAL AND IN PERSON VIRTUAL MEETINGS, PUBLIC FORUMS, THOUGHT EXCHANGE SURVEYS, AMBASSADOR FORUMS WITH THOUSANDS OF PARTICIPANTS. AT THE SAME TIME, THE DEPARTMENT REVIEWED RESEARCH, COMPARABLE EFFORTS FROM OTHER STATES AND LARGE SCHOOL DISTRICTS AND ITS OWN DATA REGARDING STUDENT OUTCOMES. THE RECOMMENDATION BY THE BLUE RIBBON COMMISSION IN NOVEMBER 2023, [00:10:01] THE BLUE RIBBON COMMISSION ON GRADUATION MEASURES DELIVERED A SET OF 12 RECOMMENDATIONS DESIGNED TO ADVANCE EQUITY AND CURRICULAR ALIGNMENT WITH STUDENT READINESS. THE POLICY FRAMEWORK REPRESENTED IN NEW YORK'S INSPIRES PLAN WAS RELEASED IN 2024 AND NYSED UNVEILED THE PLAN TO TRANSFORM EDUCATION IN NEW YORK STATE, WHICH LAID OUT FOUR KEY TRANSFORMATIONS WITH A PHASED IN APPROACH. THOSE FOUR KEY CHANGES ARE A SHIFT TOWARDS THE NEW FRAMEWORK OVER THE PORTRAIT OF A GRADUATE, AND THAT IS THE WORK WE'RE DOING TONIGHT IS FOCUSING ON THAT PHASE. THE PORTRAIT DEFINES THE COMPETENCIES AND ATTRIBUTES THAT ALL STUDENTS SHOULD DEVELOP BEFORE THEY GRADUATE HIGH SCHOOL IN NEW YORK STATE. ANOTHER MAJOR CHANGE WILL BE TO SUNSET AND DECOUPLE TRADITIONAL DIPLOMA ASSESSMENTS AND REQUIREMENTS. THIS REPRESENTS MOVING AWAY FROM THE IDEA THAT A REGENTS EXAMINATION AND REGENTS EXAMINATIONS ALONE DEFINE MASTERY AND READINESS. INSTEAD, MULTIPLE MEASURES OF LEARNING AND GROWTH CAN BE VALUED, GIVING SCHOOLS MORE FLEXIBILITY TO SHOW WHAT STUDENTS KNOW AND CAN DO. ANOTHER IMPORTANT SHIFT, NEW YORK WILL MOVE TO A SINGLE DIPLOMA RATHER THAN MULTIPLE DIPLOMA TYPES. STUDENTS CAN EARN ENDORSEMENTS OR SEALS. FOR EXAMPLE, SEAL OF CIVIC READINESS AS WE ARE ALL FAMILIAR WITH OR STEM, BUT THE CORE DIPLOMA WILL REPRESENT A CONSISTENT, STATEWIDE STANDARD OF ACHIEVEMENT. ALTOGETHER, THESE CHANGES SIGNAL A MOVE TOWARDS A MORE INCLUSIVE, HOLISTIC DEFINITION OF SUCCESS THAT VALUES BOTH ACADEMIC MASTERY AND ALSO BROADER LIFE SKILLS. IF WE LOOK AT WHAT IS SIMILAR AND WHAT WILL CHANGE. THE PHILOSOPHY AROUND IT WILL SHIFT FROM STANDARDIZED ONE-SIZE-FITS-ALL ASSESSMENTS AND REQUIREMENTS TO A MORE PORTRAIT OF A GRADUATE FRAMEWORK, MORE PERSONALIZED EXPERIENCE FOR STUDENTS THAT TAKES INTO ACCOUNT THEIR PASSIONS, THEIR INTERESTS, THEIR STRENGTHS, AND THEIR PATHWAYS. WE'LL ALSO TRANSFER FROM A STRICTLY TIME-BASED ACQUISITION OF CREDITS TO A MORE PROFICIENCY-BASED CREDIT EARNED BY DEMONSTRATING MASTERY, NOT JUST SEAT TIME, NOT JUST NUMBER OF MINUTES IN SEATS. THE WAY STUDENTS CAN SHOW LEARNING, CURRENTLY, IT'S PRIMARILY THROUGH COURSEWORK AND TEST, AND WE HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO VARY EXPERIENCES FOR STUDENTS, CAPSTONE, PROJECT-BASED, ETC, WHERE STUDENTS CAN PROVE MASTERY AND SHOWCASE THEIR LEARNING IN DIFFERENT WAYS. THE DIPLOMA ASSESSMENT RIGHT NOW, AS WE ALL, I THINK, KNOW, THERE'S A REQUIREMENT IN NEW YORK STATE TO PASS 4+4 COMMENCEMENT REGENTS EXAMINATIONS PLUS ANOTHER. SO ENGLISH MATH, SOCIAL STUDY, SCIENCE, PLUS AN EXTRA FOR AN EXTRA PATHWAY TO EARN A DIPLOMA PLUS 22 CREDITS FOR GRADUATION. THIS NEW PLAN WILL SUNSET AND DECOUPLE THE DIPLOMA ASSESSMENTS, AND THE EXAMS WILL NOT BE REQUIRED FOR GRADUATION, BUT THEY WILL REMAIN AN OPTION FOR STUDENTS WHO WOULD LIKE TO DEMONSTRATE THEIR PROFICIENCY IN THAT WAY. ALL OF THIS WILL BE PART OF A VERY LARGE PLAN THAT WE'LL PHASE IN OVER YEARS, WHERE STAKEHOLDER ENGAGEMENT, INTERNAL WORK WILL DECIDE WHAT DO THE GRADUATION MEASUREMENTS FOR PELHAM LOOK LIKE IN ALIGNMENT WITH THE STATE. THEN FINALLY, THE MULTIPLE DIPLOMA TYPES THAT EXIST CURRENTLY WILL PHASE OUT, AND THERE WILL BE ONE SINGLE DIPLOMA. THERE'S QUESTIONS. EVERY EDUCATOR HAS QUESTIONS ABOUT WHAT THIS MEANS AND WHAT THIS MEANS FOR ALL STUDENTS AND WE AWAIT GUIDANCE FROM THE STATE TO EXPLAIN FURTHER ON ALL OF THAT. EVERY TIME TRACE AND I ARE MEETING, WE ASKED THE QUESTION, WHAT DOES THAT MEAN AND WHAT DOES IT MEAN FOR ALTERNATIVELY ASSESSED STUDENTS, AND WHAT DOES IT MEAN? WE DON'T HAVE THE ANSWERS YET. THEN THE IDEA WITH THAT IS ONE SINGLE DIPLOMA WITH THE OPTIONAL ENDORSEMENTS THAT A STUDENT CAN EARN. THE GOOD NEWS IS THAT ONCE THE STATE STARTED PUTTING OUT THEIR INFORMATION ON THIS MEASURES AND THE GRADUATION MEASURES, WE STARTED TALKING AND THINKING DEEPLY ABOUT HOW DOES THIS ALIGN WITH OUR OWN MISSION AND VISION STRATEGIC PLAN. THE GOOD NEWS IS IT'S IN GREAT ALIGNMENT, AND WE'LL TALK A LOT ABOUT THAT TONIGHT. THE PORTRAIT OF A GRADUATE ALIGNS CLOSELY WITH PELHAM'S OWN MISSION AND VISION. IT REINFORCES OUR BELIEF THAT EDUCATION IS ABOUT DEVELOPING THE WHOLE CHILD, BALANCING ACADEMIC RIGOR WITH SOCIAL EMOTIONAL WELL BEING. OUR STRATEGIC PLAN ALREADY REFLECTS MANY OF THESE SAME PRIORITIES. WE STRIVE TO INTEGRATE DIVERSITY, [00:15:01] CREATIVITY, AND SERVICE INTO WHAT WE DEFINE AS EXCELLENCE, EMPHASIZING THAT SUCCESS IN PELHAM CONTINUES TO INCLUDE STRONG ACADEMIC RESULTS, AND THAT IT IS ALSO ABOUT NURTURING STUDENTS WHO THINK CRITICALLY, ACT WITH PURPOSE, AND LEAD WITH EMPATHY. FINALLY, THIS ALIGNMENT POSITIONS US TO PREPARE STUDENTS TO ADAPT, COLLABORATE, AND LEAD ETHICALLY IN AN EVER CHANGING WORLD. THE PORTRAIT HELPS MAKE THAT COMMITMENT EXPLICIT, SERVING AS BOTH A VISION AND A ROADMAP FOR HOW WE WILL CONTINUE TO GROW AS A DISTRICT. AS PART OF THE FIRST PHASE OF THIS, WHICH IS FALL OF 2025, WE BEGIN OUR IMPLEMENTATION PLAN, WHICH BEGINS WITH OUR COMMUNICATION PLAN. WE ENGAGED IN SHARED LEARNING AROUND NEW YORK INSPIRES AND THE PORTRAIT OF A GRADUATE STARTING LAST YEAR WITH OUR DISTRICT ADMINISTRATORS. AGAIN, THIS YEAR, ONCE THE NEW PORTRAIT, CAME OUT WITH OUR ADMINISTRATORS. NOW WE'LL ENGAGE THE BOARD OF EDUCATION. WE WILL CONTINUE TO ENGAGE THE COMMITTEES, REVIEW THE PORTRAIT IN OUR COMMITTEE WORK IN OUR FACULTY, WITH OUR FULL FACULTY AND STAFF, AND EVENTUALLY DOWN WITH ALL OF OUR COMMUNITY AND FAMILY MEMBERS. WE WILL BEGIN THIS WORK AND SHARE THIS LEARNING THROUGHOUT OUR WHOLE ORGANIZATION AS WE ALL BEGIN TO UNPACK AND UNDERSTAND THE DIFFERENT GRADUATION MEASURES. THIS GROUP, OUR WORK SESSION WILL FOCUS ON THE PORTRAIT OF A GRADUATE. THE SIX ATTRIBUTES THAT NEW YORK STATE HAS DECIDED, EVERY HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATE IN NEW YORK STATE WILL FOSTER TO SHOW THAT THEY ARE READY FOR THE FUTURE. TONIGHT, THE BOARD OF EDUCATION, OUR CURRICULUM LEADERS, AND OUR DISTRICT LEADERS WILL ENGAGE IN CONVERSATIONS AND DISCUSSIONS ABOUT EACH OF THESE ATTRIBUTES. THEY ARE ALSO GOING TO HAVE DISCUSSIONS AND START BRAINSTORMING. HOW ARE WE ALREADY FOSTERING THESE ATTRIBUTES IN OUR STUDENTS, IN OUR K12 SYSTEM? THEN WE WILL END OUR WORK SESSION WITH BRAINSTORMING, HOW WE CAN EXPAND, AND HOW WE CAN IMPROVE AND GROW THE CULTIVATION OF THESE ATTRIBUTES IN ALL OF OUR STUDENTS K12. THAT WORK SESSION WILL LAST APPROXIMATELY 35 MINUTES BECAUSE WE'LL BE ENGAGING IN SHARED LEARNING AND ALSO IN TABLE DISCUSSIONS. THE MICROPHONES WILL BE OFF FOR THE DISCUSSIONS FOR THE TIME OF OUR WORK SESSION. THE CAMERAS WILL STILL BE ON. IT'S STILL A PUBLIC SESSION, AND WE STILL CERTAINLY WELCOME AN AUDIENCE HERE IN THE ROOM. THEN ONCE WORK SESSION PART IS OVER, WE WILL TURN THE MICROPHONES BACK ON AND COMMENCE OUR BOARD MEETING AS USUAL. WE'LL BEGIN OUR WORK. [00:31:01] [00:47:10] [01:02:22] [01:22:20] >> DARA AND CHERYL, [01:22:22] CAN YOU HEAR US ON THE MEAT? [01:22:26] >> YES. [01:22:29] >> THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH FOR ENGAGING IN THAT SHARED LEARNING WORK SESSION [01:22:33] AROUND THE PORTRAIT OF A GRADUATE AND THE SIX ATTRIBUTES THAT NEW YORK STATE HAS [01:22:37] IDENTIFIED AS THE ATTRIBUTES THAT ALL STUDENTS IN NEW YORK STATE SHOULD [01:22:41] MASTER AND GROW AND WE SHOULD CULTIVATE [01:22:44] IN THEIR K THROUGH 12 EXPERIENCE IN OUR SCHOOL SYSTEM. [01:22:48] AS PART OF OUR DISCUSSIONS, [01:22:50] WHAT WAS CLEAR TO ME IS THAT THE PORTRAIT OF A GRADUATE DIRECTLY SUPPORTS PELMS MISSIONS TO PREPARE STUDENTS FOR LIFE BEYOND OUR SCHOOLS AND NOT JUST FOR COLLEGE, BUT FOR MEANINGFUL PARTICIPATION IN THEIR COMMUNITIES AND THE WORLD. IN PELHAM, WE ALREADY EMPHASIZE CRITICAL THINKING AND PROBLEM SOLVING ACROSS DISCIPLINES FROM INQUIRY BASED SCIENCE AND PROJECT BASED LEARNING TO OUR HUMANITIES TEACHERS WHO ENGAGE STUDENTS IN ANALYSIS AND DISCUSSION. THE PORTRAIT ALSO REINFORCES OUR COMMITMENT TO FLEXIBILITY AND CREATIVITY, SKILLS, OUR STUDENTS DEVELOP THROUGH OUR ARTS PROGRAMS, DESIGN THINKING EXPERIENCES AND OPPORTUNITIES TO TAKE INTELLECTUAL RISKS IN A SUPPORTIVE ENVIRONMENT. WE ALSO SEE PAYOFF AND STUDENT ENGAGEMENT AND MOTIVATION WHEN LEARNING FEELS AUTHENTIC AND CONNECTED TO REAL WORLD ISSUES. STUDENTS LEAN IN AND TAKE PRIDE IN THEIR WORK. FINALLY, THE VISION REFLECTS PELHAM'S BELIEF IN INTEGRATED LEARNING, HELPING STUDENTS SEE HOW IDEAS CONNECT ACROSS SUBJECTS AND HOW THOSE CONNECTIONS PREPARE THEM TO LEAD, TO SERVE, AND TO ADAPT IN A COMPLEX AND QUICKLY CHANGING WORLD. ALL OF THAT REFLECTS OUR BROAD CONVERSATION THAT TOOK PLACE IN OUR WORK SESSION. THE SUMMARY WILL BE FOUND IN OUR BOARD WRAP UP THAT'S USUALLY SENT OUT FOLLOWING A BOARD MEETING APPROXIMATELY A WEEK AFTER. ANYONE WHO HAS QUESTIONS CERTAINLY CAN FEEL FREE TO CONTACT ME OR DR. CHAMP OR ANYONE ON OUR TEAM. SPECIAL THANKS TO EVERYONE IN THIS ROOM FOR PARTICIPATING IN THE LEARNING EXPERIENCE. JUST A WRAP UP OF WHAT THE IMPLICATIONS FOR THE NEW GRADUATION MEASURES MEAN FOR PELHAM IS THAT STUDENTS ENTERING NINTH GRADE BEFORE THE FALL OF 2027 WILL STILL BE UNDER MANY THE CURRENT GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS. THE FOUR PLUS ONE REGIONS, THE CREDITS, ETC. STUDENTS ENTERING NINTH GRADE IN THE FALL OF 2027 OR LATER WILL BE PART OF THE NEW SYSTEM. A NEW GRADUATION MEASUREMENT AND REQUIREMENTS WILL APPLY. THAT LEADS US TO THE PHASE IN THIS FOR US IS THIS PART, NOW, THE COMMUNICATION PART, THE LEARNING PART, AND THEN THE PLANNING AND IMPLEMENTATION PHASE TO START IN 2027. [01:25:01] THAT'S JUST FUTURE THINKING FOR EVERYBODY. THE NEXT STEPS FOR OUR TEAM, CONTINUE OUR SHARED LEARNING AROUND THE PORTRAIT OF A GRADUATE STAKEHOLDERS. WE'VE DONE ADMINS, WE'VE DONE BOARD OF EDUCATION. NOW WE'LL MOVE ON TO COMMITTEES, STAFF AND FACULTY, AND EVENTUALLY COMMUNITY AND FAMILY GROUP. WE CONTINUE TO WAIT FOR GUIDANCE FROM THE STATE. THIS IS ALL STILL PROPOSAL. THEY JUST FINALIZED THE PORTRAIT. WE'RE WAITING FOR RUBRICS. WE'RE WAITING FOR STANDARDS AND MORE GUIDANCE FROM THE STATE. WE CONTINUE TO PLAN WITH WHAT WE HAVE, RECOGNIZING THAT THE STATE WILL BE SENDING MORE GUIDANCE TO OUR DISTRICT. WE PLAN WITH THE KNOWLEDGE THAT EVERYTHING IS SUBJECT TO CHANGE. THEN EVENTUALLY, WE'VE ALREADY STARTED INTERNAL PLANNING, BUT WE NEED TO GAIN FEEDBACK FROM ALL STAKEHOLDER GROUPS AND THEN BEGIN REVISING THE GRADUATION POLICY. WHAT DOES THIS LOOK LIKE FOR PELHAM, FOR PELHAM STUDENTS, FOR OUR PELHAM COMMUNITY, FOR OUR PELHAM FAMILIES? WE NEED TO START ALIGNING AND THINKING ABOUT ALIGNING THE CURRICULUM TO PORTRAIT OF A GRADUATE COMPETENCIES. PREPARING OUR FACULTY AND STAFF FOR ANY CHANGE IN CREDIT OR PROFICIENCY MODELS, AND THEN WE NEED A COMMUNICATIONS PLAN AND HOW WE CONTINUE TO COMMUNICATE THIS PLAN AND THE HOW AND THE WHY, MOST IMPORTANTLY OUT TO ALL STUDENTS, FAMILY AND FACULTY AND STAFF. WHAT I HOPE, WHAT I HEARD IN OUR CONVERSATIONS WAS VERY POSITIVE AND THAT THE WORK THAT WE HAVE ALREADY BEEN DOING IN PELHAM FOR MANY YEARS, THE MOVE TOWARDS AUTHENTIC LEARNING EXPERIENCES, THE MOVE TOWARDS INQUIRY BASED LEARNING, THE CHANGES, IF YOU'VE EVER GONE TO A PRESENTATION THAT DR. CALLAHAN HAS GIVEN OR DR. SHORT HAS GIVEN, EXPLAINING THE SHIFTS, THE PEDAGOGICAL OR THE INSTRUCTIONAL SHIFTS THAT ARE OCCURRING IN OUR CLASSROOMS THAT ARE RESEARCH BASED AND THAT MATCH COGNITIVE SCIENCE AROUND LEARNING THAT ARE CONNECTED TO REAL WORLD EXPERIENCES THAT INVOLVE COLLABORATION AND EXPLICIT SKILL DEVELOPMENT IN STUDENTS. ALL OF THESE THINGS ARE HAPPENING AND THEY'RE ALREADY HAPPENING IN OUR DISTRICT. WE ARE WELL POISED TO TAKE ON THIS INITIATIVE WITH OUR AMAZING TEAM THAT'S ALREADY BEEN DOING THE WORK FOR A LONG TIME. EVERY DISTRICT IN NEW YORK STATE IS IN THE SAME POSITION WE ARE EXCEPT WE ARE AHEAD OF THEM BECAUSE WE'VE DONE THIS. WE'VE DONE THIS AND WE DID THE WORK WE DID LAST YEAR AND THE YEAR BEFORE ALREADY. WE'RE IN A GREAT PLACE TO EMBARK ON THE CHANGES THAT WE KNOW ARE COMING AND THAT WE ALSO KNOW ALIGN WITH OUR OWN MISSION AND VISION AND OUR STRATEGIC PLAN THAT WE CREATED BEFORE THIS EVEN EXISTED. IT'S GREAT THAT THE CROSSWALK SHOWS SUCH ALIGNMENT AND THAT THE WORK HAS ALREADY STARTED AND THAT WE KNOW THAT IT WILL ONLY GET BETTER. THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH TONIGHT FOR YOUR TIME AND FOR ENGAGING IN THAT LEARNING AND CONVERSATION AND THERE WILL BE MANY MORE TO COME. >> THANK YOU [APPLAUSE]. >> THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU. >> NOW I'LL INVITE JIM TO THE PODIUM. NO. NOW I WILL I THINK CHERYL WANTED TO SAY A FEW WORDS. DOCTOR CHAMP WANTED TO SAY A FEW WORDS. IS THAT POSSIBLE? >> YEAH. >> CAN YOU HEAR ME? >> YES. >> YEAH, I'M HEARTBROKEN TO NOT BE THERE WITH YOU TONIGHT, ESPECIALLY TO HEAR ALL OF THE WONDERFUL ENGAGING CHATTER AND LAUGHTER THAT'S COMING FROM THE SHARED LEARNING. I JUST WANTED TO THANK CLAIRE AND THE CURRICULUM TEAM, DR. CALLAHAN, DR. SHORT, MR. SABALEZ FOR BEING HERE TONIGHT, FOR THE REALLY THOUGHTFUL PLANNING THAT WENT INTO TONIGHT, AND REALLY TO FOR THE LEADERSHIP THAT THEY HAVE PROVIDED AND CONTINUE TO PROVIDE TO OUR CORE DEPARTMENTS AND TO OUR BUILDINGS TO REALLY DRIVE THIS WORK FORWARD. THEY HAVE INCREDIBLE VISIONS WITHIN THEIR DEPARTMENT. THOSE ALL AS CLAIRE HAS ILLUSTRATED SO BEAUTIFULLY, REALLY ALIGNED WITH PELHAM'S VISION, WHO WE ARE IS ONLY GOING TO CONTINUE TO MOVE FORWARD AND BE BETTER AS A RESULT OF THE OPPORTUNITY TO USE THIS TRANSFORMATION THAT'S COMING FROM THE PROFILE OF A GRADUATE IN THE NEW YORK INSPIRES INITIATIVE TO REALLY HELP US TAKE THOSE NEXT STEPS THAT WE'VE BEEN BUILDING THE FOUNDATION FOR OVER THE LAST 5-10 YEARS. THANK YOU TO THEM FOR THEIR LEADERSHIP AND THEIR WORK TONIGHT. I WISH THEM ALL A GOOD NIGHT BECAUSE I KNOW THAT IT'S GETTING LATE, AND I KNOW THEY'VE GOT TO BE BACK AT SCHOOL EARLY. THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE AND DO FEEL FREE TO GO ON WITH THE NIGHT. THANKS CLAIRE TOO FOR TAKING THE LEAD AND REALLY RUNNING A VERY TIGHT SHIP, AS YOU ALWAYS DO. LOTS OF GREAT LEARNING. I THINK WITH THAT, IT LOOKS I BELIEVE I SEE MR. RICKY NEAR THE PODIUM. [2.2 2026-2027 Budget Discussion] I THINK WE'RE READY TO TAKE A TRANSITION JUST TO A LITTLE BIT OF TIME TO TALK ABOUT SOME BIG PICTURE BEGINNING OF FINANCIAL PLANNING FOR THE YEAR TO HELP SUPPORT ALL THIS AMAZING WORK THAT WE WANT TO PROVIDE FOR OUR KIDS. [01:30:03] JACKIE OR JIM, I WILL LET YOU TAKE IT FROM HERE. THANKS AGAIN. >> THANK YOU, MADAM PRESIDENT. IF IT'S ALL RIGHT, WE'LL ASK DR. CALLAHAN AND THE OTHER DIRECTORS TO GET OUT OF HERE. >> YES. THANK YOU, DR. SHORT, DR. CALLAHAN, AND MR. SABALEZ. THANK YOU SO MUCH. >> THANK YOU. >> ENJOY YOUR EVENINGS. >> THE GOOD TIME WHEN YOU LEAVE AT THIS TIME, THERE'S NO TRAFFIC. >> THANK YOU. GOODNIGHT. >> I'M SORRY, JIM, I JUST WANT TO THANK THE TEAM AND THANK DR. COMERFORD FOR YOUR HARD WORK. I REALLY ENJOYED THIS PROCESS. I JUST WANT TO LET YOU KNOW, JUST AS A BOARD MEMBER, I APPRECIATE BEING A PART OF IT AND KNOW THAT A LOT OF WORK HAS GONE INTO THIS AND WILL BE GOING INTO IT. I CAN TELL, SO THANK YOU. >> TERRIFIC. THANK YOU. AS WE GET HERE IN OCTOBER, WE'RE AGAIN TALKING AND THINKING ABOUT HOW WE'RE GOING TO WORK ON OUR ANNUAL OPERATING PLAN FOR NEXT YEAR, WHICH IS OUR ANNUAL BUDGET. WE'RE ABOUT FOUR MONTHS POST BUDGET NOW, AND WE'RE INTO THE NEW SCHOOL YEAR, AND IT'S A PROCESS THAT NEVER REALLY SEEMS TO ENTER. UP HERE, I JUST GOT TO HAVE A PROCESS DEVELOPMENT CHART THAT WE HAVE ABOUT OUR BUDGET PROCESS. THIS EVENING, OVER THE WELL, I SHOULD SAY OVER THE LAST TWO WEEKS, WE'VE MET WITH THE FINANCE COMMITTEE. WE'VE SHARED SOME OF THE DEVELOPMENT OF OUR LONG RANGE PLAN, OUR FIRST QUARTER FORECAST. I THINK WE'VE HAD SOME VERY GOOD DISCUSSIONS AND DEEP DISCUSSIONS ABOUT THE PRESSURES THAT THE DISTRICT FEELS THAT ALL DISTRICTS AND OTHER PUBLICLY FUNDED ENTITIES ARE FEELING IN THIS AREA. THIS IS A GOOD PART TO HAVE A DISCUSSION ABOUT WHAT TYPE OF BUDGET GUIDANCE THE BOARD CAN PROVIDE TO THE DISTRICT AND HOW WE WANT TO MOVE FORWARD IN THE NEXT FISCAL YEAR. AS YOU SEE, THIS IS JUST THE EARLY PHASE OF WHERE WE ARE RIGHT NOW. OBVIOUSLY, IT'S OCTOBER, WE'RE GOING TO SEND OUT OUR BUDGET REQUESTS NEXT MONTH. I CAN GO THROUGH THE WHOLE STEPS, BUT YOU CAN READ IT AS WELL. AS YOU'LL SEE IS, IT STARTS NOW AND IT ENDS IN MAY, AND THEN I NEVER GET IT REALLY NEVER SEEMS TO END BECAUSE WE'LL BE BACK HERE AGAIN BEFORE WE KNOW IT TALKING ABOUT BUDGET GUIDANCE MOVING FORWARD. BUT REALLY, THERE'S A LOT OF FACTORS INVOLVED IN DEVELOPING A BUDGET. HAVE A CIRCLE HERE, THE CENTER OF IT BEING THE BUDGET, BUT ALL THOSE DIFFERENT PRESSURES THAT REST AGAINST THE ANNUAL SCHOOL BUDGET, COMMUNITY PRIORITIES, ENROLLMENT, MANDATES, TECHNOLOGY, FACILITIES, COLLECTIVE BARGAINING AGREEMENTS, INCREASED COST OF ITEMS. THAT SEEMS TO BE ONE THAT'S PLAYING A LOT MORE PRESSURE ON ALL OF US LATELY. ANTICIPATED STATE RESOURCES OR LACK OF RESOURCES. WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO SEE WHAT HAPPENS THERE. WE'LL TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THAT. THE NEW YORK STATE PROPERTY TAX, THE USE OF OUR DISTRICT RESERVES, OUR INSTRUCTIONAL GOALS, AGAIN, THAT PLAYS INTO THE FIRST PART OF OUR MEETING THIS EVENING AND HOW WE WANT TO ACHIEVE THE GOAL AND THE MISSION OF OUR DISTRICT AND THAT VISION. WHEN WE LOOK AT OUR ECONOMIC STATUS AND OUR OUTLOOK, THIS IS WHERE WE ARE. 2008 DOES SEEM LIKE A LONG TIME AGO NOW, WHICH IS NICE BECAUSE THAT GREAT RECESSION TIME PERIOD WAS NOT A FUN TIME PERIOD. BUT THAT'S WHEN WE SAW THAT THERE WAS SOME REAL RESCISSIONS IN STATE AID. WE ENDED UP GETTING THAT BACK. IT WAS FINALLY PHASED IN BACK IN 2023/24, SO NOT THAT WE WERE EVER FULLY FUNDED, BUT THIS BROUGHT US UP TO FULL FUNDING. NOW WE GOT OURSELVES IN THE 25 26 AND PUSHING OUT TO 29/30. WHERE ARE WE NOW? WE'RE GETTING SOME EARLY WARNINGS THAT WE SHOULD NOT ANTICIPATE ADDITIONAL STATE AID FOR NEXT YEAR. WE KNOW THAT WE'RE NOT GOING TO EXPECT ANY MORE ONE TIME FUNDING AS WE DID DURING THOSE COVID YEARS. WILL THERE BE AN ECONOMIC DOWNTURN? WE HEAR A LOT OF CONFLICTING STORIES. HOW FAR WILL INTEREST RATES DROP? WE KNOW INTEREST RATES WERE VERY LOW FOR A LONG TIME THEN THEY WENT UP. NOW, WE HEAR A LOT ABOUT IT IN THE NEWS? ARE THEY GOING TO GO DOWN? THEY NEED TO GO DOWN? THEY DIDN'T GO DOWN ENOUGH. THEY'RE NOT GOING DOWN FAST ENOUGH. WE'RE HEARING A LOT ABOUT THAT. THIS WEEK, WE HAVE A CPI NUMBER THAT'S GOING TO COME OUT, SO THAT'LL PROBABLY PLAY A LITTLE BIT INTO THE FED'S THINKING OF INTEREST RATES AND THAT GOES INTO INFLATION. I WAS LOOKING FOR COFFEE THIS WEEKEND. THE BAG THAT USED TO BE $15 IS $20. I THINK WE'RE ALL SEEING THAT. WHETHER IT'S INFLATIONS TWO OR 3%, 15 TO $20 A LOT MORE THAN 3%. I THINK WE'RE ALL FEELING THAT AND SEEING THAT IN DIFFERENT WAYS [01:35:01] AND MODIFYING OUR BEHAVIORS IN DIFFERENT WAYS. WHAT DOES OUR ENROLLMENT LOOK LIKE? BECAUSE AGAIN, WE'RE A PUBLIC SCHOOL. WE EDUCATE THE KIDS THAT COME TO US. BACK TO STATE FINANCING. YOU HAD THE BIG, BEAUTIFUL BILL. WE'RE NOT REALLY SURE WHAT THAT FINAL IMPLICATION IS GOING TO BE ON THAT STATE AID. WE KNOW OBVIOUSLY, THERE'S A SHUTDOWN AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL RIGHT NOW, HOW LONG WILL THAT LAST AND WHAT WILL THE FINAL IMPLICATION BE FOR OUR STATES? SOME EARLY WORDS WE'RE HEARING IS THAT IF THE STATE HAS LESS MONEY FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, THEY'RE GOING TO HAVE TO REALLOCATE INTERNAL RESOURCES. NOT THAT WE'RE HEARING THAT THE STATE IS IN BAD SHAPE, I THINK, BUT WE'RE HEARING THAT THEY'RE GOING TO HAVE TO THINK ABOUT HOW THEY'RE GOING TO PAY THEIR BILLS AND HOW THEY'RE GOING TO SUPPORT OTHER ENTITIES. THEN WHAT'S THE IMPACT ON THE GLOBAL ECONOMY TARIFFS? WHAT ARE WE SEEING? THERE'S A LOT OF DIFFERENT FACTORS OUT THERE THAT WE'RE ALL GOING TO BE IMPACTED BY THAT WE JUST DON'T HAVE A LOT OF CONTROL OVER, BUT WE HAVE TO BE AWARE OF. WHAT WE HAVE HERE IS WHAT INFLATION LOOKED LIKE OVER THE LAST 10 YEARS. NO SURPRISE THAT BIG JUMP IN THE MIDDLE, THOSE WERE THOSE COVID YEARS. MORE RECENTLY, YEAR OVER YEAR, FOR THE SEPTEMBER DATA, WE'RE EXPECTING TO GET THAT ON 1024. IN THE MEANTIME, WE'RE NOT MEETING ON 1024. I'D USE THE FANNY MAE NUMBER, 3.1%. I DON'T EXPECT IT TO BE FAR OFF FROM THE FANNY MAE NUMBER, MAYBE IT'S THREE, TWO, MAYBE IT'S 30. BUT WHAT WE DO KNOW, FOR USE OF TAX CAP CALCULATION, THAT THAT INFLATION NUMBER IS GOING TO BE NORTH OF TWO. WHEN WE USE OUR TAX CAP WHEN WE HAVE TO COMPLY WITH THE TAX CAP CALCULATION, TWO IS OUR CEILING. AGAIN, WE'RE GOING TO BE CONSTRAINED WHEN WE LOOK AT WHAT'S ALLOWABLE TO TAX TO HAVE A TAX CAP COMPLIANT BUDGET. WHAT YOU SEE HERE IS THIS IS KIND OF OUR STUDENT ENROLLMENT OVER 10 YEARS. FAIRLY STABLE. I DON'T THINK THAT'S REALLY A BIG SURPRISE TO ANY OF US. YOU SEE FLUCTUATIONS YEAR TO YEAR, BUT JUST VISUALLY GIVE YOU AN UNDERSTANDING OF WHERE WE STAND YEAR TO YEAR. >> HERE'S ANOTHER INTERESTING GRAPH. THIS IS A GRAPH THAT SHOWS OUR STUDENT NEED FACTORS. THERE IS THREE FACTORS THAT CAN MEASURE STUDENT NEED IF A STUDENT IS ECONOMICALLY DISADVANTAGED, IF THEY'RE A STUDENT WITH DISABILITY, OR IF THEY'RE AN ENGLISH LANGUAGE LEARNER. WHAT I FOUND INTERESTING HERE IS AGAIN YOU SEE THE DIFFERENT SPLIT UP BETWEEN THE THREE. IF YOU LOOK AT THE BOTTOM, THAT'S WHERE WE WERE 10 YEARS AGO. SO OUR NEED FACTORS WERE, LET'S SAY AN ESTIMATED ABOUT 680 NEED FACTORS. LAST YEAR, IF YOU LOOK AT THE TOP, OR AT 780? I THINK THE MESSAGE THAT WE'RE JUST TRYING TO SHARE HERE IS THAT NEED HAS INCREASED OVER THE LAST 10 YEARS. WE'VE BEEN OPERATING IN A TAX CAP ENVIRONMENT FOR THAT TIME PERIOD. THAT TAX CAP DOESN'T ALLOW US TO ADJUST FOR STUDENT NEED. THAT'S JUST SOMETHING THAT HAS TO BE ACCOMMODATED WITHIN THE TAX CAP. >> THE NEED HAS INCREASED ACROSS ALL THREE NEED CATEGORIES? >> YES. I MEAN, THE GREATEST NEEDS WERE IN ECONOMICALLY DISADVANTAGED AND STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES, BUT WE HAVE SEEN INCREASES IN THESE AREAS. AGAIN, I THINK IT'S JUST AN OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO SHARE THAT THESE ARE CATEGORIES IDENTIFIED BY THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT AS HIGH NEED AREAS OR NEED AREAS. BUT THE COLLECTIVE PICTURE, I THINK THAT'S IMPORTANT TO SHOW IS, OVER THE LAST 10 YEARS, WE'VE SEEN THAT NEED FACTOR IS INCREASED AS A DISTRICT, AND THAT NEED JUST REQUIRES ADDITIONAL RESOURCES. WHAT WE SEE HERE, IS THIS INSTRUCTIONAL STAFF OVER THE 10 YEARS. AGAIN, NOT SURPRISINGLY, WHAT WE SEE IS A FAIRLY STABLE AND RUNOUT OF OUR STAFF OVER THOSE YEARS, FLUCTUATING SLIGHTLY FROM YEAR TO YEAR. THIS ONE, THIS IS A LONG CHART. THERE'S A LOT OF INFORMATION HERE. AGAIN, THIS IS ALL INFORMATION JUST TO KIND OF GIVE US PART OF OUR SHARE SOME OF THE DISCUSSION POINTS THAT THE FINANCE COMMITTEE HAD. WHAT YOU SEE HERE IS THESE ARE ALL SCHOOL DISTRICTS, AVERAGE COST PER STUDENT. IT'S JUST MEANT TO KIND OF GIVE EVERYBODY A FLAVOR OF WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE. SIMPLE. IT JUST CAME OUT OF OUR BUDGET BOOK, SO IT'S A DOCUMENT THAT WE HAVE. IN THE GREEN, YOU'LL SEE WHERE PALM RANKS AND WHERE OUR SURROUNDING DISTRICTS ARE. ON THE RIGHT, YOU'LL SEE THE AVERAGE OUT OF ALL OF THOSE SCHOOL DISTRICTS THAT ARE PART OF THAT GROUPING. I THINK, AGAIN, THE MESSAGE THAT'S IMPORTANT TO SEE HERE IS, WE'RE NOT THE HIGHEST, WE'RE NOT THE LOWEST. WE'RE RIGHT IN THE GROUPING WITH OUR FELLOW DISTRICTS. IN SOME YEARS WE MAY BE HIGHER, AND SOME YEARS WE MAY BE LOWER, BUT WE'RE NOT AN OUTLIER. AGAIN, WE'RE LOOKING AT OUR MAJOR COST CATEGORIES OVER THAT 10 YEAR TIME PERIOD. [01:40:02] THESE ARE SALARIES AS THEY'VE INCREASED OVER THE YEARS. UPWARD SLOPING, YOU SEE THERE'S SOME FLAT YEARS WHERE SOME YEARS WHERE THERE WEREN'T INCREASES, OR VERY SMALL INCREASES ESPECIALLY DURING THE COVID YEARS. TRANSPORTATION. SO 10 YEARS AGO, WE WERE SPENDING LESS THAN $1 MILLION IN TRANSPORTATION. WE'RE OVER $2 MILLION A YEAR NOW. THESE ARE NOT OPTIONAL COSTS WHEN WE TALK ABOUT HAVING TO TRANSPORT STUDENTS. SOME OF IT MAYBE YOU MAY CONSIDER OPTIONAL WITH ATHLETICS, BUT THEN OTHER PEOPLE MAY SAY ATHLETICS IS NOT AN OPTION. BUT THESE ARE ALL COSTS THAT PLAY A ROLE IN HOW WE OPERATE OUR BUDGET. >> TRANSPORTATION IS IT JUST STUDENTS WE'RE TRANSPORTING FOR SPORTS EVENTS OR IS IT TRANSPORTATION THAT WE'RE GIVING STUDENTS THAT ARE NOT ATTENDING PALM SCHOOLS? >> IT WOULD BE BOTH. HERE'S A LOOK AT OUR SPECIAL EDUCATION COSTS OVER THE LAST 10 YEARS. AGAIN, AS YOU CAN SEE, THE TRENDS THAT YOU HAVE THERE. OUR MEDICAL INSURANCE. WE WERE PRETTY GOOD FOR A WHILE THE LAST TWO OR THREE YEARS. IT'S REALLY TICKED UP. AGAIN, I DON'T THINK FOLKS WHO ARE IN BUSINESS AND PEOPLE WHO PAY FOR THEIR INSURANCE. THESE ARE BIG SURPRISES. I THINK THESE ARE TYPES OF THINGS THAT WE'VE ALL SEEN IN OUR OWN BUSINESSES OR IN OUR OWN LIVES. THEN AS WE LOOK AT THE BUDGET, WE'VE GOT KEY DATES. AGAIN, WE'RE GOING TO SEND OUT THAT IF WE'RE GOING TO TAKE YOUR GUIDANCE FROM US. WE'RE GOING TO TAKE YOUR GUIDANCE. WE'LL SEND OUT OUR BUDGET MATERIALS TO OUR DEPARTMENTS. THEN EVERYONE TO HAVE A MERRY CHRISTMAS. THEY'LL GIVE US THEIR BUDGET SUBMISSIONS BEFORE THEY GO AWAY FOR THE HOLIDAYS, AND THEN WE GO WE DO OUR WORK FOR THE JANUARY, FEBRUARY TIME PERIOD. SUPERINTENDENT WILL PRESENT THE BUDGET THE SECOND MEETING IN FEBRUARY, AND THEN WE'LL GO THROUGH THE BOARD'S NORMAL BUDGET PROCESS THAT WE HAVE. WE'LL HAVE OTHER DISCUSSIONS AS WE GO ALONG THE WAY. HOPEFULLY IN THAT TIME PERIOD, WE'LL LEARN A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT WHAT'S HAPPENING AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL AND HOW THAT'S GOING TO IMPACT THE STATE? HOW LONG THE SHUTDOWN LAST? AGAIN, WE DON'T KNOW. WE TALKED A LITTLE BIT EARLIER ABOUT THE IDEA FUNDS. WE JUST GOT OUR MONIES FROM LAST YEAR, SO THERE'S SOME TIME TO FIGURE THAT OUT. THEY'RE ON A DIFFERENT CYCLE. BUT THOSE ARE ALL THE THINGS THAT ARE PLAYING INTO THE DEVELOPMENT OF BUDGET. WHAT WE DO IS WE WORK ON A LONG RANGE PLAN. EVERY YEAR, WE WORK ON A FIVE YEAR LONG RANGE PLAN. WE WORK ON DIFFERENT ASSUMPTIONS THAT WE HAVE OUT THERE. WHAT'S OUR HEALTHCARE ASSUMPTIONS? WHAT'S GOING TO BE OUR INTEREST RATE ASSUMPTIONS FOR REVENUE? WHAT ARE OUR COLLECTIVE BARGAINING AGREEMENTS LOOK LIKE? WITH THE FINANCE COMMITTEE, WE SHARE THOSE ASSUMPTIONS. SOME ASSUMPTIONS ARE CHALLENGED. THERE'S DISCUSSIONS, THEY'RE CHANGED, AND THEN WE CAN SEE WHAT THOSE IMPACTS ARE. AS WE'VE DEVELOPED THE BUDGETS THE LAST FEW YEARS, WE'VE DEVELOPED THE BUDGETS USING OUR FUND BALANCE, WHICH IS A FINE. I MEAN, IT'S NOT A PRACTICE THAT'S UNUSUAL. OVER THE LAST FEW YEARS, WE HAVE DRAWN DOWN SOME OF THAT FUND BALANCE, THOUGH. RIGHT NOW, OUR FIRST QUARTER FORECAST IS SHOWING ABOUT $1 MILLION DRAWDOWN OF FUND BALANCE AT YEAR END. BETTER THAN BUDGET, BUT IT STILL TURNS INTO A FUND BALANCE DRAWDOWN. SO THESE ARE THINGS THAT WE HAVE TO BE MINDFUL OF, ESPECIALLY AS WE WORK ON OUR CAPITAL PLAN. WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO GO OUT TO THE CAPITAL MARKETS, AND WE WANT TO MAKE SURE WE PAINT OURSELVES IN A POSITIVE FINANCIAL LIGHT. AGAIN, I THINK WHAT WE DO IS SETTING THE TABLE A LITTLE BIT FOR THIS BUDGET DISCUSSION FOR THIS GUIDANCE DISCUSSION. WE TALKED ABOUT ALL OF THESE THINGS THAT ARE OUT THERE, THE PRESSURES THAT WE SEE, OPPORTUNITIES THAT WE MAY SEE. THEN WE JUST HAVE AN OPEN DISCUSSION. WE TALKED LAST WEEK. THE FINANCE COMMITTEE MEMBER SAID, COME BACK TO US AGAIN, GIVE US A DIFFERENT LOOK, GIVE US MORE INFORMATION, SO SOME OF THESE GRAPHS THAT WE SHARED TODAY JUST REPRESENT SOME OF THAT ADDITIONAL INFORMATION THAT THE COMMITTEE LOOKED FOR. WITH THAT, I CAN KIND OF STEP BACK A LITTLE BIT AND LISTEN TO YOU AND SEE WHAT YOUR THOUGHTS ARE, AND SEE WHERE WE GO FROM THERE. >> I'M LOOKING TO WILL AND SAID, BECAUSE I WENT THROUGH IN MY OPEN WHERE WE LANDED IN FINANCE COMMITTEE, BUT I'M SURE YOU HAVE MORE POTENTIALLY THAT YOU WANT TO DO. >> I MEAN, I'D SAY THAT, YOU KNOW, THAT THE INFORMATION THAT JIM SHARED. JIM IS, BY NATURE, A FAIRLY SORT GLASS HALF EMPTY KIND OF PERSON. [OVERLAPPING] I SAID THAT WITH ALL THE LOVE IN THE WORLD, WE SPENT SOME TIME POKING AT THE NUMBERS THIS MORNING AND TRYING TO UNEARTH. GOOD NEWS THAT PERHAPS, [01:45:01] JIM, WAS KEEPING IN HIS BACK POCKET. IT DOESN'T REALLY FEEL LIKE THERE'S A LOT OF THAT. I MEAN, I DON'T HAVE MUCH TO ADD TO WHAT JIM SHOWED IN THE MATERIALS, WHICH IS NEED IS INCREASING, AND IT DOESN'T FEEL LIKE THAT'S SLOWING DOWN. MEANWHILE, OUR REVENUE SOURCES THAT WERE REAL TAILWINDS OVER THE LAST FIVE YEARS ARE EITHER BEGINNING TO EXPIRE OR THERE JUST A SENSE OF UNCERTAINTY AROUND SOME OF THEM, PARTICULARLY AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL. I WISH THAT THIS COULD BE THE YEAR WHERE WE COULD GREEN LIGHT THINGS THAT WE WOULD LIKE TO DO THAT WE DON'T HAVE TODAY, BUT IT DOESN'T FEEL LIKE THE YEAR TO DO THAT. >> COULD I JUMP IN FOR A COMMENT? I APPRECIATE THAT TOO, AND ONE OF THE THINGS I WAS JUST GOING TO ADD TO WHAT JIM HAD SHARED IS, THE BOARD KNOWS AND WE TALKED ABOUT IT OFTEN. WE'VE TALKED ABOUT IT. HOW OVER THE LAST 5-10 YEARS TOO, WE'VE BUILT A LOT THROUGH THE DIFFERENT STRATEGIC PLANS. THIS IS THE THIRD STRATEGIC PLAN NOW THAT WE HAVE IN PLACE SINCE I'VE BEEN IN THE DISTRICT. WE'VE TRIED TO BE VERY JUDICIOUS IN FOCUSING RESOURCES IN ALIGNMENT WITH THE PRIORITIES THAT WE'VE DETERMINED THROUGH THE STRATEGIC PLANS. THE NET RESULT, IS IN ADDITION TO THE INCREASED NEED THAT JIM'S ILLUSTRATED, WE HAVE ALSO INCREASED PROGRAMS AND OFFERINGS FOR OUR KIDS, WHICH I THINK IS WHAT WE ALL VALUE AND BELIEVE IN. WE'VE TRIED IN THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS IN PARTICULAR TO BE JUDICIOUS ABOUT STAFFING BECAUSE WE RECOGNIZE EXACTLY THESE PRESSURES THAT WE'RE ALL LOOKING AT HERE. I THINK EVEN WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE SLOPES OF SOME OF THOSE LINES, WE'VE WORKED REALLY HARD TO CONTROL THAT WHICH WE CAN CONTROL. WHEN YOU LOOK AT GROWTH AND SALARIES AND GROWTH AND BENEFITS, WE HAVE SOME CONTROL THERE AND I THINK YOU SEE A DIFFERENT SLOPE OF THOSE LINES AS COMPARED TO THINGS LIKE TRANSPORTATION AND THE OTHER THINGS THAT REALLY ARE SET BY THE MARKET. I JUST WANT TO GIVE SOME KUDOS TO JIM AND HIS DOM AND GLOOM ADVICE, HE'S A GOOD INTO MY YOUNG IN THAT REGARD. I WANT TO BUILD THE PROGRAM AND HE KEEPS IT REAL AS FAR AS KEEPING US ON TRACK WITH HOW DO WE SUSTAIN THIS LONG TERM. I JUST WANTED TO ADD THOSE PIECES OF COLOR TO SAY, I THINK WE'RE REALLY PROUD OF WHAT WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO BUILD GIVEN THE CONSTRAINTS OF THE TAX CAP. KUDOS TO THE ADMINISTRATIVE TEAM WHO'S WORKED REALLY HARD IN THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS TO BE VERY THOUGHTFUL AND STRATEGIC ABOUT HOW DO WE KEEP RESOURCES IN THE PLACES THAT ARE GOING TO BEST BENEFIT OUR STUDENTS. WE KNOW IT'S GOING TO BE WITH ALL THESE HEADWINDS COMING. WE RECOGNIZE THERE ARE CHALLENGES AHEAD AS WELL. JUST TO KNOW THAT IS ALWAYS IN OUR THINKING, HOW DO WE DO THE BEST FOR OUR KIDS AND PROVIDE WHAT WE THINK IS THE BEST PROGRAM FOR THEM GIVEN THE LIMITED RESOURCES THAT WE HAVE. >> THANK YOU, DR. CHAMP. I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT. PART OF THAT DISCUSSION THAT WE HAD WAS ABOUT THE TAX CAP. AS I MENTIONED, TAX CAP IS CPI OR 2%, WHICHEVER IS LESS. IF WE GO BACK TO THAT SCREEN THAT I SHOWED WHEN WE HAD CPI OF 1% OR ONE POINT 1.5%, THAT WAS OUR FACTOR. BUT WHEN WE HAD CPI OF 7%, 2% WAS OUR FACTOR. WE ARE HELD BACK BY THAT, BUT CERTAINLY OUR DELIVERY OF SERVICES, AND WHAT WE'RE REQUIRED TO PROVIDE THOSE THINGS ARE NOT HELD BACK. YOU TALK ABOUT YOU GO BACK AND YOU LOOK AT THE NEED FACTORS. THERE'S NO NORMALIZATION OR ADJUSTMENT TO THE TAX CAP THAT ALLOWS YOU TO GET A GIMME OR AN EXCEPTION OR SOMETHING WHERE YOU CAN SKIP ON THAT. IT ADDS PRESSURE, AND THAT'S JUST PART OF HOW YOU HAVE TO DO THIS. I THINK WE'VE TALKED ABOUT ALL INSTITUTIONS, PUBLICLY FUNDED INSTITUTIONS BOUND BY THE TAX CAP. EVENTUALLY, WE'RE GOING TO FIND OURSELVES AT A PLACE WHERE YOU HAVE TO HAVE A SERIOUS DISCUSSION ABOUT BREAKING A CAP. I THINK AS PART OF THAT DISCUSSION, I DON'T I DON'T THINK THERE'S A DECISION TO DO THAT AT THIS POINT AS WE WERE COMING FORWARD AS A COMMITTEE, IS IT RIGHT? >> RIGHT. WE WANT TO TRY NOT TO DO THAT THIS THIS COMING BUDGET CYCLE. BUT THE ONE THING AND YOU MENTIONED THIS EARLIER, IF SOMETHING HAPPENS DUE TO THE INSTABILITY IN THE STATE BUDGET. IF SOMETHING HAPPENS WHERE THE STATE BUDGET GETS CUT AND THAT TRICKLES DOWN TO THE SCHOOL DISTRICT, [01:50:02] THAT COULD CHANGE WHAT NEEDS TO HAPPEN. >> I TALKED TO COUNTERPARTS, AND I KNOW DR. CHAMP DOES AS WELL, AND I'M SURE YOU PROBABLY TALKED TO A SCHOOL BOARD COUNTERPARTS. OTHER DISTRICTS ARE DOING THAT ALREADY. THEY HAVE DONE THAT ALREADY, TALKED ABOUT BREAKING THAT CAP. THAT'S SOMETHING THAT THEY'VE DONE, AND I THINK THAT'S NOT A THIS YEAR. THAT'S NOT A THIS YEAR ISSUE. BUT EVENTUALLY, I THINK IT'S SOMETHING THAT WILL HAPPEN TO MOST INSTITUTIONS. >> IF I MAY ADD TO THAT, I THINK IT'S NOT JUST THAT SOME DISTRICTS ARE PIERCING THE CAP THIS YEAR OR THAT EVEN MAYBE LAST YEAR. BUT SOME HAVE HAD TO TAKE REALLY EVASIVE ACTION AND TAKE SOME PAINFUL AUSTERITY MEASURES REDUCING HEADCOUNT FAIRLY DRAMATICALLY, AND WE DON'T WANT TO DO THAT, EITHER. I THINK WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO IS, DEFER A TAX CAP, WHATEVER WHAT IS FOR AS LONG AS WE CAN REASONABLY, WITHOUT GETTING INTO A POSITION WHERE WE HAVE TO TAKE SORT OF EVASIVE ACTION AND DO THINGS THAT ARE GOING TO BE VERY PROBLEMATIC TO THE DAY TO DAY OPERATIONS OF THE SCHOOLS. >> WE WANT TO MAIN MAINTAIN OUR WONDERFUL PROGRAMMING. >> THAT WAS PART OF THE COMMITTEE DISCUSSION AS WELL. THAT DELIVERY OF SERVICE THAT PEOPLE REALLY EXPECT AND THAT ELLEN DOES A GREAT JOB OF DOING. >> I DON'T REALLY HAVE ANYTHING TO ADD TO THAT. YOU GUYS COVERED ALL OF IT. >> THE OVERALL DISCUSSION AND THE GUIDANCE WAS, REALLY, LET'S BE TAX CAP COMPLIANT. >> CORRECT. >> LET'S DO OUR BEST TO PRESERVE PROGRAM AND STEADY AS SHE GOES. BUT REALLY LOOK FOR THOSE OPPORTUNITIES WHERE WE CAN FIND THEM, OBVIOUSLY, BUT BE VERY JUDICIOUS IN OUR APPROACHES. WE MOVE FORWARD TO TOWARDS BUILDING AN ANNUAL PLAN. >> YES. >> YES, AGREE. THANK YOU. >> I THOUGHT THE CHARTS WERE VERY HELPFUL. >> THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU. WHEN WE DO THE FINAL LONG RANGE PLAN, AGAIN, WE'LL PUT THE LONG RANGE PLAN IN FRONT OF THE BOARD, AND THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WILL BE A PUBLIC ITEM FOR A PUBLIC VOTE ITEM. WHEN THAT'S MORE FLESHED OUT, WE CAN PROVIDE OTHER INFORMATION. AGAIN, WHAT WE DO TOO IS YOU LOOK AT OTHER DISTRICTS. WE ALL FIND OURSELVES SIMILARLY PLACED. IT'S NOT LIKE PALM FINDS ITSELF IN A ONE OFF OR AN OUTLIER POSITION. I THINK WE ALL FIND OURSELVES IN A SIMILAR SITUATION. THAT'S THE PURPOSE OF A LONG RANGE PLAN, TOO. THAT'S THE PURPOSE OF THE BUDGET DISCUSSION. IF YOU SEE SOMETHING ON THE ROAD, FIVE MILES AHEAD, A MILE AHEAD. LET'S NOT WAIT UNTIL WE'RE ON TOP OF IT. LET'S TAKE THAT OPPORTUNITY AND DISCUSS IT AND MAKE SMART MOVE AHEAD OF TIME. I THINK THAT'S THE GOOD PART ABOUT HAVING THAT DISCUSSION AND THAT ANNUAL LONG RANGE PLAN DISCUSSION. THANK YOU. >> THANKS, JIM. >> THANKS, JIM. >> THANK YOU. WE DON'T HAVE COMMUNICATIONS AND COMMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC, SO I'LL TAKE A MOTION TO ADJOURN. >> SO MOVED? >> SECOND. >> SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR? >> AYE. >> AYE. >> THANK YOU. * This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.