The meeting commenced with an essential discussion on the investigation report revealing eight reported cases of harassment, intimidation, and bullying since the last meeting. Notably, six of these cases were founded. This raised concerns among board members as the system diligently tracks the underlying causes of bullying, such as race, gender, and sexual orientation, although most incidents were non-violent. A specific incident at Eisenhower School related to a school musical was mentioned.

Emphasizing accountability, the importance of initiating reports by those directly involved was underscored, with a reminder to report issues to the building principal first. The discussion also highlighted the need for tracking repeat offenders, as state law requires action plans for students with three confirmed incidents within the same year. Fortunately, no students had reached this threshold in the current year.

Following the investigation report, the meeting transitioned to budget discussions, where it was certified by the school business administrator that the financial obligations of the district were soundly met with no overexpanded line items. The budget presentation detailed how additional state aid had influenced staffing decisions. This financial support allowed the board to consider adding a special education teacher and teacher assistants in response to increased enrollment.

The budget process, beginning in October, involves budget managers developing proposals reviewed in January. For the upcoming year, concerns were raised about class sizes and offerings, particularly in middle school related arts programs. This led to a conversation about the necessity of hiring a custodial supervisor to manage facilities effectively, addressing the increasing responsibilities of current managers. The budget, which remained largely unchanged, outlines total revenue and appropriations, factoring in state funding and local taxes.

A significant increase of $351,000 in state aid was noted, though changes in funding formulas affected allocations for special education and transportation. Challenges such as a 10% increase in healthcare costs and rising energy prices were also acknowledged. The board discussed charter school costs, which were lower than anticipated, and maintenance reserves, particularly the costs associated with mold remediation at Laura Donovan School.

The repurposing of budget dollars was another focal point, especially in transportation. The board discussed previous expenditures that included upgrades to routing software and a transition from paper to electronic systems for bus inspections. A new initiative was proposed to provide students with swipe cards for boarding buses, aimed at enhancing safety and reducing phone communication reliance with the transportation office during busy times. However, logistical concerns about issuing these cards, especially for younger students, were raised, along with the potential responsibility of parents for lost cards.

Security enhancements were also on the agenda, focusing on increasing camera installations at elementary schools. Transportation needs were addressed with the requirement for three new buses, and plans for replacing aging vehicles, including commercial lawn mowers and scrubbers, were discussed. The cyclical cleaning of the UVS buildings and continued purchases of Chromebooks for fifth graders were outlined, along with a shift from individual classroom printers to centralized copiers to improve technology team’s workload without affecting the budget.

The board also addressed the impact of the tax levy, projected to increase due to a rise in assessed property values. Despite this increase, the average tax rate was expected to decrease, with an estimated tax impact suggesting a $210 decrease for the average household. The next steps included sending the budget to the county office for approval, with a timeline set for advertisement and a final budget hearing scheduled.

In other discussions, the Curriculum Committee reported significant student growth in reading and math, with a notable improvement in students reading at or above grade level. The board celebrated the recent production of “The Little Mermaid” at Eisenhower Middle School, with positive feedback from parents emphasizing the musical’s impact on students’ self-esteem and sense of belonging.