The special education budget presentation stood out as a focal point of the meeting, with a detailed outline of allocations for supplies, contracted professional services, tuition for out-of-district students, and specific programs. A presentation highlighted the collaborative efforts with community partners and the support from the Mental Health Partners. Concerns were raised about the significant cost increases in special education and challenges in managing these expenses. The board also tackled the proposal for a rotating nurse to address daily substitution needs, estimated at $35,000.

In line with the special education focus, discussions also centered on digital versus paper resource allocations in the district. The debate aimed to strike a balance between the two, considering the potential for budget additions to create more space for self-contained classrooms and to implement positive behavior incentive programs. The budget for Campbell Elementary School, presented by Dr. Stanza and Campbell, included allocations for Tech sets and pickup Patrol, an aid for student dismissal. Mr. Harvey presented the budget for Moss School, noting a 2.1% increase mainly allocated to classroom supplies and reading materials.

The student advisory board members’ presentation was another topic of discussion, where they shared insights into the food service discussions and excitement about upcoming changes in school facilities. They described their engagement with the Pomptonian lunch service to explore new food options and snacks and their bus tour to observe the referendum-related changes across schools. The board interacted with the students, inquiring about their information-sharing methods with peers.

New personnel introductions also featured prominently during the meeting. The board welcomed new hires and emphasized the importance of personal interaction in the hiring process. Trey Jorski, a new high school biology teacher, and Adero Solomon, a high school special education math teacher, spoke about their positive experiences within the district. Although Lexi Walford, an Edgar special education teacher, was not present, the board acknowledged her commendable performance. Sean Raper, another new high school math teacher, touched on the welcoming and collaborative atmosphere at the school.

Budget presentations were expansive, with discussions on curriculum, technology, and special education. The curriculum budget, presented by Dr. Herzog, covered expenses related to curriculum writing, professional development, and office supplies. A focus was placed on the percentage changes compared to the previous year. Mr. Thurman presented the technology budget, highlighting the need for increased internet bandwidth and the renewal of Pure Storage support. The debate extended to the necessity of enhancing school connectivity and the annual charge for schoolboard.net. The board also questioned the viability of leveraging cloud storage solutions and scrutinized the cost-effectiveness of various technology options.

The bandwidth and technology budget discussion delved into the district’s bandwidth usage, with graphs illustrating that usage was at its capacity ceiling. The possibility of prioritizing bandwidth increases intra-school versus to the outside world was debated. The new paper cut system’s impact on reducing paper and ink costs and a shift towards digital resources in the library media center was also examined. Budget presentations for the high school and Edgar Middle School focused on decreases in the instructional and textbook budgets due to effective resource management, while targeted increases for certain subject areas were noted.

The Equity Committee’s efforts were acknowledged, with emphasis on inclusiveness, faculty and staff representation, student outcomes, and a safe environment for all students. Committee reports covered a range of topics, including curricular updates, district-level procedures for overnight trips, high school program studies, and professional development days.

The meeting concluded with administrative items, including the approval of minutes, personnel items, finance items, policy items, and curricular items. It was announced that the next meeting would take place in the cafeteria to accommodate a spring musical tech rehearsal in the auditorium, followed by a motion to adjourn that was seconded and approved.