[1. Meeting Opening]
[00:00:02]
ALL RIGHT. CALLING THIS MEETING TO ORDER.
LET'S BEGIN WITH THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE.
ALL RIGHT. THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, FOR WHICH IT STANDS, ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR.
[2. Information Items]
THANK YOU. JEFF.I KNOW THAT THIS IS VERY, VERY INTERESTING FOR YOU GUYS, RIGHT.
OR VERY INTERESTING FOR ME, I THINK IS WHAT IT IS.
SO THIS IS AM I THE ONLY ONE THAT HEARS THAT? HMM. I'LL PROBABLY BREAK IT.
THE REFERENDUM IN THE DISTRICT FINANCIAL INFORMATION.
I THINK AS THE BOARD IS AWARE, WE HAVE A CURRENT OPERATING REFERENDUM THAT WAS LAST RENEWED IN 2016 AND WE HAVE A RENEWAL THAT WE WOULD NEED TO RUN IN 2023 IN ORDER TO CONTINUE THE EXISTING OPERATING REFERENDUM.
THIS IS THE AGENDA OF SOME THINGS THAT WE'RE GOING TO COVER TODAY.
DR. STOKES. AND I THOUGHT IT WOULD BE HELPFUL TO PROVIDE THAT HISTORY AND SOME BACKGROUND TO IDENTIFY THE KIND OF WHY AND HOW HSC WAS AT THE POINT THAT WE REQUIRED AN OPERATING REFERENDUM TO MEET THE NEEDS OF OUR STUDENTS AND HOW THOSE FUNDS HAVE BEEN UTILIZED.
JUST KEEP IN MIND THE AGENDA ITEMS SORT OF DOVETAIL INTO ONE ANOTHER.
I'M HAPPY TO ENTERTAIN QUESTIONS OR YOU CAN KEEP THEM TILL THE END.
PLEASE. SO GOING THROUGH A VIEW OF THE PUBLIC SCHOOL FUND.
PRIOR TO 2018, WE HAD A GENERAL FUND AND FROM 2010 PRIOR THAT.
OKAY, MAYBE IT'S JUST MY MAGICAL VOICE.
IN 2010 TO 2018, WE HAD STATE REVENUE.
SO REGARDLESS OF THE SOURCE OF REVENUE, JUST SO EVERYBODY UNDERSTANDS, THE GENERAL FUND ALWAYS COVERED BOTH OF OUR INSTRUCTIONAL AND OUR OPERATIONAL EXPENSES.
SO THOSE THINGS WERE ALL CO MINGLED TOGETHER.
SO YOUR. ANYTHING DOWN TO ALL YOUR TEACHERS, YOUR MAINTENANCE STAFF, CUSTODIANS, TECHNOLOGY, THEY WERE ALL IN THAT GENERAL FUND TOGETHER IN 2018 WHEN THE GENERAL FUND WAS ELIMINATED THAT CREATED THE EDUCATION FUND.
THIS CHANGE WAS AUTHORIZED 20 TO 40.
DASH FOUR. THAT DIDN'T GO WELL.
ALL RIGHT. I THOUGHT I WAS THE ONLY ONE THAT WAS HEARING THAT METALLIC LIKE NOISE TO ACCOMMODATE THE FACT THAT OPERATIONAL EXPENDITURES STILL HAD TO OCCUR, EVEN THOUGH WE HAD A NEW REVENUE SOURCE BEING STATE REVENUE.
AND. THE STATUTE CREATED NOT JUST EDUCATION, BUT THE OPERATIONS FUND.
AND WE'RE ALL DISTRICTS WERE ALLOWED TO MAKE A TRANSFER FROM EDUCATION TO OPERATIONS WHICH REPRESENTED ESSENTIALLY IT WAS THAT ACKNOWLEDGMENT THAT THE GENERAL FUND DID PAY FOR OPERATIONAL TYPE EXPENDITURES.
AND SO AT THAT TIME, DISTRICTS WERE ASKED TO LIMIT THEIR TRANSFER TO 15%.
THAT 15% NUMBER, I WOULD POINT OUT, IN MY OPINION, SEEM TO BE FAIRLY ARBITRARY.
IT WASN'T TIED TO ANY DATA WHEN THEY CAME UP WITH IT, BUT IT'S BECOME THE MEASURE.
WE DON'T TRANSFER ANYTHING OUT OF EDUCATION JUST TO BE CLEAR UP FRONT.
[00:05:05]
SO WE'RE NOT SUBJECT TO THE NAUGHTY LIST BECAUSE WE ACTUALLY NEGATIVE TRANSFER, BECAUSE WE TRANSFER MONEY IN TO EDUCATION AND WE'LL GO THROUGH THAT A LITTLE MORE.BUT IF YOU GO OVER 15, THERE IS A PENALTY.
YOU HAVE TO GIVE A REPORT, YOU HAVE TO GO IN FRONT OF, I THINK THE DO WEB AND OUR DISTRESSED UNIT APPEALS BOARD AND GIVE THEM YOUR PLAN FOR HOW YOU'RE GOING TO GET THAT TRANSFER AT OR UNDER 15%.
THE OPERATIONS FUND IS OUR OTHER MAJOR OPERATIONAL FUND.
IT'S FUNDED THROUGH PROPERTY TAX PRE 2018.
WE HAD A CAPITAL PROJECTS FUND, A TRANSPORTATION FUND AND A BUS REPLACEMENT FUND, ALL PROPERTY TAX.
AND HOW THEY WERE FUNDED, THEY WERE CONSOLIDATED AND IT CONFLATED EVERYTHING INTO ONE WHICH HONESTLY MADE THINGS A BIT EASIER FROM AN ACCOUNTING STANDPOINT.
SO I THINK BACK TO THE LAST YEAR, WE HAD THIS IN CROWN POINT.
MY ASSESSED VALUE GREW BY 8%, BUT MY CAPITAL PROJECTS FUND GREW BY LIKE 27,000 IN REVENUE, EVEN THOUGH WE WERE GROWING EXPONENTIALLY AND IT WAS BECAUSE OF THIS COMPLICATED FORMULA.
IT'S BASED ON THE SIX YEAR AVERAGE OF NON FARM PERSONAL INCOME.
THEY CERTIFY THAT TO US AND THAT'S BASICALLY THE MOST THAT YOUR LEVY CAN GROW BY.
BUT IT WAS FOR US EASIER TO MANAGE BECAUSE YOU WEREN'T.
THESE THREE FUNDS ALL HAD DIFFERENT WAYS YOU HAD TO CONFIGURE THE LEVY.
NOW WE HAVE ONE WAY AND IT'S JUST IT'S A LITTLE IT'S A LITTLE SIMPLER.
A NOTABLE CHANGE, I WOULD SAY WITH THE OPERATIONS FUND COMES A CAPITAL PROJECTS PLAN THAT WE HAVE TO ADVERTISE FOR ANY CAPITAL PROJECT OR CAPITAL EQUIPMENT PURCHASE.
WE HAVE TO FILE THAT, ADVERTISE IT WITH OUR REGULAR BUDGET.
IF IT DOESN'T MAKE THAT REPORT, YOU BASICALLY CAN'T PAY FOR IT OUT OF THERE.
THE NEXT SLIDE WE'LL TALK ABOUT IN THE PUBLIC SCHOOL FUNDS, THE EDUCATION OPERATION FUND.
SO I MENTIONED STATUTORY PROVISIONS FOR REVENUE TRANSFERS AND HOW WE HANDLE THIS PROCESS IN OUR OWN BUDGETARY SYSTEM.
SO. WE HAVE NEVER TRANSFERRED MONEY FROM EDUCATION TO OPERATION.
100% OF OUR STATE REVENUE GOES TO OUR INSTRUCTIONAL EXPENSES.
WE ACTUALLY TRANSFER ABOUT $1.5 MILLION EACH YEAR FROM OUR OPERATIONS FUND TO OUR EDUCATION FUND.
AND AT LAST COUNT, WE WERE ONLY OF SEVEN ONLY OF SEVEN DISTRICTS THAT HANDLES IT THIS WAY.
WHY DO WE DO IT THAT WAY? BELIEVE ME, I ASKED THAT QUESTION TOO, BECAUSE IT DOES MAKE IT A LITTLE MORE COMPLICATED TO ARTICULATE TO YOUR COMMUNITY.
AND SO I'VE HAD A LOT OF CONVERSATION WITH MIKE REUTER ABOUT WHAT WAS THE REASON.
AND SO AS HE EXPLAINED IT, THEY FELT LIKE IN 2016, DURING THE REFERENDUM CAMPAIGN, IT WAS IMPORTANT TO DEMONSTRATE THAT WE WERE PUTTING ALL OF OUR STATE TUITION SUPPORT FROM THE STATE TOWARDS OUR INSTRUCTIONAL EXPENSES AND THE INSTRUCTION OF OUR STUDENTS, PLUS SOME.
I DON'T WANT TO SAY A BETTER ARGUMENT.
I THINK THEY FELT THAT IT DEMONSTRATED THE NEED BETTER IS WHAT I WOULD SAY IF WE TRANSFERRED 15% OF OUR EDUCATION FUND TO OUR OPERATIONS FUND, IT WOULD EQUAL ROUGHLY $22.65 MILLION.
AND SO WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT THE FACT THAT THE REFERENDUM GENERATES ABOUT $26 MILLION AND THAT OUR EDUCATION FUNDS ABOUT 151, THAT 15% COMES STRIKINGLY CLOSE TO WHAT THAT TRANSFER WOULD BE FROM FROM HOW THINGS WERE SET UP PREVIOUSLY WHEN WE HAD A GENERAL FUND. THE NEXT SLIDE.
JUST FOR YOUR INFORMATION, WE HAVE DEBT SERVICE FUNDS THAT ARE ALL FUNDED THROUGH PROPERTY TAX.
THEY'VE REMAINED FAIRLY UNCHANGED FROM A FUNDING PERSPECTIVE.
THERE IS AN EXEMPT AND A NON EXEMPT DEBT FUND.
EXEMPT IS EXEMPT FROM THE PROPERTY TAX CAPS.
[00:10:01]
MEANS IT'S NOT EXEMPT FROM THE PROPERTY TAX CAP.SO BASICALLY TAXPAYERS ARE STILL GETTING THE RELIEF THAT THEY WOULD GET.
BUT WE DON'T WANT TO GO UP IS REALLY WHAT IT WHAT IT'S MORE ABOUT.
WE'VE WORKED REALLY HARD TO GET IT AT A PLACE WHERE THE REVENUES SUPPORT THE EXPENDITURES, AND THOSE ARE KEPT IN A COMPLETELY SEPARATE FUND AS REQUIRED BY THE USDA AND THE STATE BOARD OF ACCOUNTS, BECAUSE IT DOES RECEIVE FEDERAL REIMBURSEMENTS.
SO WHEN YOU THINK OF FOOD SERVICE STAFF, THEY'RE ENTIRELY SELF FUNDED.
WE'RE NOT PAYING FOR THEM OUT OF EDUCATION OR OPERATIONS FUND.
ON THE NEXT SLIDE, SOME BACKGROUND ON SCHOOL FUNDING AND REFERENDUMS IN INDIANA.
AND I DO I USE PRE 2010 BECAUSE IN THE SPRING OF 28 2008 CAME THE EDUCATION REFORM BILLS AND THIS INCLUDED MAJOR CHANGES IN HOW SCHOOLS WERE FUNDED, HOW PROPERTY TAXES WERE LIMITED, AND THE CHANGES TO OUR STATE CONSTITUTION THAT AUTHORIZED THOSE.
MOST OF THIS WASN'T FULLY REALIZED UNTIL THE CALENDAR YEAR 2010.
2010 IS ANOTHER MEASURE FOR ME, BECAUSE THIS WAS THE FIRST YEAR THE CHANGES WERE FULLY IN PLACE.
YOU REALLY CAN'T DISCUSS SCHOOL FUNDING OR REFERENDUM IN ISOLATION BECAUSE THEY'RE RELATED.
I DON'T WANT TO SAY BATTLES, BUT THEY'RE CONSTANT THINGS THAT WE'RE MANAGING AND GETTING INPUT ON.
GOOD, BAD OR OTHERWISE, IT DOESN'T MATTER.
IT'S THE IT'S THE IT IS THE ENVIRONMENT THAT WE OPERATE WITHIN.
BUT THAT'S WHY I SAY THEY'RE SO CONNECTED BECAUSE THEY'RE ALL RELATED.
IF YOU'RE LOSING 4 MILLION IN OPERATIONS, YOU HAVE TO MAKE THAT UP SOMEWHERE.
I'M ASSUMING YOU MEANT 300,300 MILLION TO PUBLIC EDUCATION, NOT JUST TO HSC.
ALL RIGHT, THANK YOU. THE NEXT SLIDE, PRE 2010.
SO THIS IS WHEN WE HAD A PROPERTY TAX LEVY.
PROPERTY TAX, MY OPINION IS CONSIDERED TO BE MORE STABLE, MORE LIKELY TO BE RECESSION PROOF.
THE CONS TO PROPERTY TAX WERE SORT OF THE HAVES AND HAVE NOTS, RIGHT? MORE, MORE AFFLUENT OR GROWING COMMUNITIES CONTINUE TO SEE GROWTH IN THEIR EXCESS VALUE.
THEY HAVE HIGH COLLECTION RATES.
AND THEN THEY GENERALLY HAVE LOWER OVERALL COLLECTION RATES.
AND I SAY SOME OF THAT FROM MY OWN EXPERIENCE.
SO LITERALLY HALF OF WHAT WE LEVIED, WE KNEW THAT WE WOULDN'T COLLECT EITHER DUE TO TAX CAPS OR DUE TO COLLECTION RATES, MUCH DIFFERENT THAN A CROWN POINT, WHERE WE WERE A 99% COLLECTION RATE WITH GROWING ASSESSED VALUE.
AND SO THAT'S JUST A FACT OF WHAT PEOPLE SAW.
AND SO I THINK THERE WAS A BELIEF IN THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY THAT THAT NEEDED TO BE LEVELED OUT AND HAVING STATE TUITION SUPPORT DOING THAT TO SUPPORT SCHOOLS WOULD LEVEL IT OUT WHERE THEY COULD CONTROL IT AND CREATE OR ELIMINATE, I SHOULD SAY, SOME OF THAT HAVE AND HAVE NOT PIECE OF IT.
THE CONS TO IT, I WOULD SAY BEYOND THAT, OR YOU GET IT TWICE A YEAR.
THE NEXT SLIDE BACKGROUND ON REFERENDUM.
SO PRIOR TO 2010, REFERENDUMS DIDN'T EXIST.
IF A SCHOOL CORPORATION HAD A PROJECT, THEY WOULD FOLLOW THIS PETITION.
REMONSTRANCE WE ACTUALLY HAVE SOMETHING VERY SIMILAR TODAY.
COMMUNITY COULD REMONSTRATE AGAINST IT WITH SIGNATURES.
AND THEN IF IT WAS MET, YOU HAD A HEARING THAT WAS CONDUCTED.
[00:15:01]
THIS IS BACK WHEN THE DEPARTMENT OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT FINANCE, WHICH IS WHO APPROVES OUR BUDGETS, ALL PUBLIC ENTITY BUDGETS, WAS ACTUALLY THE BOARD OF TAX COMMISSIONERS.THAT IS WHEN THE STATE OF INDIANA IS NOW THE PRIMARY REVENUE SOURCE FOR SCHOOL GENERAL FUNDS.
THIS IS ALSO THE TIME WHEN WE FEEL THAT $300 MILLION REDUCTION IN K TO 12 PUBLIC ED AND WE ALSO SAW THE FULL IMPLEMENTATION OF PROPERTY TAX CAPS. JUST A WALK.
I DON'T KNOW EVERYONE WHO MIGHT HAVE BEEN IN PUBLIC EDUCATION AT THAT TIME.
IT CHANGED HOW WE WERE FUNDED.
IT PUT PROPERTY TAX CAPS IN PLACE, WHICH AREN'T A BAD THING.
I THINK IT'S JUST YOU HAVE TO THINK DIFFERENTLY ABOUT WHAT YOU'RE DOING.
BUT IT WAS A HUGE CHANGE AND IT HAPPENED RELATIVELY QUICKLY.
90 OF THE 92 COUNTIES IN THIS STATE HAD TO HAD TO OFFSET TAX CAPS LITERALLY WITHIN A YEAR OF THIS ALL BEING PASSED, WHEREAS THERE WERE TWO COUNTIES THAT GOT A TEN YEAR SORT OF HIATUS UNTIL IT PHASED IN THERE.
THIS WAS ALSO, LIKE I SAID, THE FIRST STEP FOR THE PROCESS OF THE CONSTITUTIONAL TAX CAPS, THE PRIMARY REVENUE FOR STATE GOVERNMENT, AS YOU'RE PROBABLY AWARE, TAXES, INCOME, SALES, CASINO, THE PROS AS I MENTIONED THAT MONTHLY DISTRIBUTION SUPER HELPFUL TO GET, ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU HAVE A HUGE OPERATING FUND THE WAY THAT WE DO AND THE FUNDING IS UNIFORM IN THE AREA OF BASIC TUITION SUPPORT AND THAT'S THE SINGLE BIGGEST PART OF THE FUNDING FORMULA.
THE CONS ARE, YOU KNOW, IT'S VERY SUSCEPTIBLE TO ECONOMIC DOWNTURNS AND RECESSIONS BECAUSE WHAT'S THE FIRST THING THAT GOES YOUR INCOME TAX AND SALES TAX IF YOU'RE IN A IN A RECESSION, WE LOSE APPROXIMATELY $4 MILLION TO THE OPERATIONS FUND TO TAX CAPS.
THE 2010 WAS ALSO THE ONSET OF THE SCHOOL OPERATING CONTROLLED PROJECT REFERENDUMS AND THAT PROCESS THAT GOVERNS THEIR APPROVAL AS IT STATES ON THEIR. THE BIGGEST CHANGE IS HAVING TO GO TO THE VOTERS AND BE VOTER APPROVED.
YOU CAN ALSO GO TO THE BOARD, GO TO THE COMMUNITY, PASS A RESOLUTION.
IF YOU'RE GOING TO KEEP YOUR DEBT RATE LEVEL, YOU DON'T ACTUALLY HAVE TO PUT IT ON A BALLOT, BUT YOU HAVE TO FOLLOW THE STATUTORY PROCESS, WHICH IS A 30 DAY PERIOD PETITION, REMONSTRANCE, ETC..
WE'VE UTILIZED THAT HERE AT TIMES.
IT'S REALLY ABOUT HOW YOU MANAGE YOUR OVERLAPPING DEBT.
AND SO IT'S IT'S HELPFUL IF YOU HAVE IF YOU HAVE THE DEBT CAPACITY TO DO IT, IT'S A BENEFIT TO YOUR TAXPAYERS BECAUSE THEY STILL GET THE PROTECTION OF THE TAX CAPS AS OPPOSED TO GOING OUT AND HAVING THEM VOTE OR APPROVE IT.
THAT'S GOING TO BE ON TOP OF WHAT THEY ALREADY PAY IN TAXES NO MATTER WHAT.
YOU GUYS LIKED IT BETTER WHEN I HAD A SENSE OF HUMOR, DIDN'T YOU? I KNOW. ON THE NEXT SLIDE, THERE'S BEEN SOME OTHER PROPOSED AND RATIFIED CHANGES I THINK ARE WORTH MENTIONING.
AND THOSE ADDITIONAL DOLLARS INCREASE THE FOUNDATION AMOUNT.
BUT REALLY YOUR THE BASIC AMOUNT IS THE THE MOST IMPORTANT AND THE LARGEST AMOUNT.
AND WE HAVE BENEFITED BY THOSE INCREASES.
IT'S NOT FOR AN OPINION ONE WAY OR THE OTHER.
THE REALITY IS THERE HAS BEEN AN EXPANSION OF CHARTER SCHOOL FUNDING, BOTH VIRTUAL AND IN-PERSON, AS WELL AS PRIVATE SCHOOL VOUCHERS AND THEN FUNDING INCREASES IN INFLATION. THE FUNDING INCREASES THAT SCHOOLS HAVE RECEIVED JUST SLIGHTLY OUTPACE INFLATION, AND THAT'S REALLY ONLY BECAUSE OF THE AMOUNT THAT WAS PUT INTO SCHOOL FUNDING THE LAST BUDGET CYCLE, THAT IT PUT THEM A LITTLE AHEAD OF INFLATION.
BEFORE THAT, THEY WERE REALLY UNDER INFLATION.
JUST TO GIVE YOU SOME CONTEXT.
AND THE NEXT SLIDE, SOME OTHER PROPOSED OR RATIFIED CHANGES.
SO THERE HAVE BEEN SOME CHANGES TO THE BALLOT LANGUAGE THAT WILL GO THROUGH.
THERE WERE SOME AND THEN THERE WERE SOME MORE THERE WERE ADDITIONS OF SOME ADDITIONAL REFERENDUM OFFERS OR OPTIONS EXCUSE ME, AND A MAY PROVISION WITH PROCEEDS.
[00:20:04]
SO IN 2021, THE CHANGES WERE RELATIVELY MINOR.IT ESSENTIALLY LOOK PRETTY SIMILAR TO WHAT WE WOULD HAVE PASSED IN 2016.
AND I ACTUALLY THROW THEM UP THERE A LITTLE BIT LATER, BUT I JUST WANT TO TALK ABOUT IT GENERALLY.
WE HAD ADDITIONAL CHANGES THAT BEGAN IN 2022 THAT WE WILL BE SUBJECT TO, AND IT IS A HUGE CHANGE IN THE LANGUAGE ON THE BALLOT AND IT DOES MAKE IT MORE DIFFICULT TO PASS A ADDITIONS OF THE SCHOOL SAFETY OPERATING AND LIKE THE SCHOOL SAFETY CONTROLLED PROJECT, THOSE HAPPENED SORT OF AFTER YOU SAW THE INCREASE IN SCHOOL VIOLENCE.
SO HAVING JUST A SCHOOL SAFETY WASN'T SUPER NECESSARY.
IT REALLY WHAT YOU TELL THE VOTERS YOU'RE GOING TO USE IT FOR IS WHAT MATTERS.
AND THERE IS A MAY PROVISION IN THE STATUTE WITH OUR REFERENDUM THAT WE MAY SHARE PROCEEDS WITH WITH A CHARTER SCHOOL, NON VIRTUAL CHARTER SCHOOL THAT IS WITHIN THE SCHOOL CORPORATION BOUNDARY.
BUT IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING IT'S BACK INTO A BILL FOR THE 2023 LEGISLATIVE SESSION.
NEXT. QUICKLY, THERE'S THREE DIFFERENT TYPES OF REFERENDA.
WHAT WE HAVE IS AN OPERATING AND WE HAVE AN OLD DEBT PROJECT, BUT WE DON'T HAVE ANY PLANS TO GO OUT FOR ANY ADDITIONAL CAPITAL AT THIS POINT IN. THE OPERATING.
IT'S LITERALLY ANY LAWFUL SCHOOL EXPENSE.
THAT'S NOT ACCURATE. THOSE DOLLARS CAN'T BE USED IN THAT MANNER.
AND THEN THAT MAY PROVISION THAT'S CONCERNING TO ME BECAUSE, I MEAN, I THINK IT'S CONCERNING FOR ANYONE WHO HAS A REFERENDUM, RIGHT? BECAUSE WHEN YOU'RE LOOKING AT YOUR RATE, IT'S HELPFUL TO KNOW THAT IF WE'RE GOING TO NEED TO SHARE, HOW MUCH ARE WE GOING TO HAVE TO SHARE BECAUSE ANYTHING IS GOING TO BE A DECREASE TO WHAT WE ALREADY TAKE.
SO IF THAT'S 10%, THAT'S $2.6 MILLION.
I MEAN, THAT'S SIGNIFICANT DOLLARS AND.
BUT I LISTED FOR YOU GENERALLY.
I MEAN, IT'S EXACTLY WHAT IT SOUNDS LIKE.
IT'S SCHOOL SAFETY RELATED, IT'S SROS, THREAT ASSESSMENTS.
SO YOU CAN SEE THERE'S PROGRAMS TO ADDRESS MENTAL ILLNESS EXCUSE ME, ADDICTION, ANGER MANAGEMENT.
WE DON'T USE OUR REFERENDUM DOLLARS IN THAT MANNER.
WHEN WE DID OUR RENEWAL IN 2016, THIS LANGUAGE DIDN'T EXIST, SO IT WASN'T FEASIBLE AT THAT TIME.
AND I'VE JUST GIVEN YOU THE CONTROLLED PROJECT STATUTE AND THE LIMITATIONS WHICH ARE DEBT SERVICE, WHICH IS PRETTY NORMAL DEBT SERVICE LEASE PAYMENTS AND THEN THE SCHOOL SAFETY, IF YOU WERE, I THINK SOMETIMES IT'S THE I CALL THEM THE CONTROL DOORS, RIGHT.
WITH THE DOUBLE ENTRY, THERE WERE A LOT OF BUILDINGS THAT DIDN'T HAVE THAT BACK IN THE DAY.
SO YOU HAVE SOME DISTRICTS WHO DID THAT TO MAKE THEM MORE SAFETY COMPLIANT.
NOW, GOING INTO THE 2016 HSC OPERATING REFERENDUM, WHICH IS ON THE NEXT SLIDE.
SO ON THE LEFT SIDE, YOU'LL SEE HOW IT WILL BE UTILIZED.
AND THAT INFORMATION CAME DIRECTLY FROM THE REFERENDUM FILES AND INFORMATION THAT I HAD FROM MR. REUTER. AND SO IT'S PRETTY STANDARD, RIGHT? REDUCING CLASSROOM SIZE, RETAINING RECRUITING QUALITY TEACHERS, EXPANDING PROGRAMING.
AND THEN I KNOW SPECIFICALLY THE ADDITION OF ASSISTANT PRINCIPALS IN ALL ELEMENTARY BUILDINGS.
WHY IS THAT IMPORTANT? I KNOW SPECIFICALLY, I THINK REDUCING CLASSROOM SIZE AND RETAINING AND RECRUITING QUALITY TEACHERS, I THINK THEY KIND OF GO WITHOUT SAYING AND THE ASSISTANT PRINCIPALS AND THIS IS MY UNDERSTANDING FROM WHAT'S HAPPENED HERE, AS WELL AS I THINK WHAT YOU SEE IN OTHER PLACES WHEN YOU DON'T HAVE ASSISTANT PRINCIPALS AND BUILDINGS THAT HAVE 600 KIDS IN THEM, YOUR SCHOOL COUNSELOR STARTS TO BECOME SORT OF A DE FACTO INSTEAD OF BEING ABLE TO DO THE THINGS THAT THEY'RE THERE TO DO.
IT IS RELATIVELY COMMON TO HAVE AN AP AT 500 KIDS IN A BUILDING.
[00:25:05]
THAT'S PRETTY STANDARD.I MEAN, IT'S IT'S A DIFFERENT WORLD THAN IT WAS WHEN WHEN I WAS IN K FOR EDUCATION.
RIGHT. BUT THOSE PIECES WERE KEY TO SUPPORT PRINCIPALS.
WE WERE IN THE BOTTOM THIRD AND TEACHER SALARY COMPARED TO AREA DISTRICTS, AND THEY LISTED SPECIFICALLY WITHOUT FUNDS THERE WOULD BE A REDUCTION OF 176 POSITIONS, WHICH WOULD EQUAL A REDUCTION IN PROGRAMING.
I'VE LISTED THE SAME HOW WILL BE UTILIZED, BUT I WANTED TO GIVE YOU THOSE OUTCOMES.
AND SO WE HAVE CLASS SIZE TARGETS IN K FOUR AND FIVE SIX AND BUILDING AVERAGES.
SO GENERALLY FOR US, K STARTS AT 21 AND IT GOES UP BY ONE, GRADES FIVE AND SIX.
WE TRY TO KEEP BETWEEN 26 AND 27.
BUT BEFORE WE ADD STAFF, IF WE LOOK WHERE WE'RE HIGH ON A CLASSROOM AVERAGE, THEN WE'RE LOOKING AT WHAT THE BUILDING AVERAGE IS, IS A SECONDARY POINT BECAUSE YOU MIGHT JUST HAVE A BUBBLE AND SOMETIMES ADDING A STAFF MEMBER DROPS A CLASS SO FAR BELOW THE RANGE, IT BECOMES IT BECOMES INEFFICIENT FROM A AND NOT SUSTAINABLE FROM A COST PERSPECTIVE.
AS YOU CAN IMAGINE, IN 712, WE HAVE TO HAVE RANGES BECAUSE OF THE WAY WE SCHEDULE.
IT'S NOT FEASIBLE TO HAVE CLASSROOM TARGETS AT THAT LEVEL.
OUR SALARIES ARE COMPETITIVE AS COMPARED TO PRE REFERENDUM.
WHAT DOES COMPETITIVE MEAN? WE'LL TALK ABOUT THAT.
AND SO THAT'S WHY IT'S IMPORTANT.
SO WE MONITOR IT FROM TOP TO BOTTOM BECAUSE THE STARTING ISN'T THE ONLY THING THAT MATTERS.
IT HAS TO MATTER ALL THE WAY THROUGH THE SCHEDULE.
SO I THINK THIS IS A QUESTION WE GET A LOT.
WHY DO YOU NEED A REFERENDUM? WE'RE STILL THE THIRD LOWEST FUNDED DISTRICT IN THE STATE OF INDIANA.
AND THIS I DON'T HAVE THE NEW DATA BECAUSE IT'S NOT AVAILABLE YET.
IT WON'T BE AVAILABLE UNTIL CLOSER TO SPRING.
BUT IN FISCAL YEAR 21, THE AVERAGE TUITION SUPPORT FROM THE STATE WAS $6,444.48.
IF WE WERE JUST FUNDED AT THE AVERAGE.
IT WOULD BE AN ADDITIONAL $13.4 MILLION TO THE SCHOOL CORPORATION.
AND SOME OF THE TROUBLE IS BECAUSE BECAUSE OF OUR SIZE, RIGHT.
WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE THREE DISTRICTS THAT ARE AHEAD OF US AND SIZE, YOU KNOW, FORT WAYNE COMMUNITY SCHOOLS, INDIANAPOLIS PUBLIC SCHOOLS AND EVANSVILLE, THEY'RE ALL FUNDED ABOVE THE AVERAGE.
AND SOME OF THAT IS ABOUT THEIR COMPLEXITY.
BUT JUST BECAUSE YOU DON'T HAVE COMPLEXITY DOESN'T MEAN THAT YOU DON'T HAVE NEEDS.
AND SO BEING BELOW THE AVERAGE, IT'S DETRIMENTAL TO US.
WE'VE SEEN AN INCREASE IN PROPERTY TAX CAP LOSSES, EVEN IN SPITE OF THE GROWING ASSESSED VALUE.
WE'RE UP TO ABOUT 4 MILLION FOR FISCAL YEAR 2023.
AND AS I MENTIONED EARLIER, INFLATION THROUGH 2010 THROUGH 2021.
NOW, THERE IS A SESSION GOING WE DON'T KNOW WHAT THAT'LL WHAT THAT WILL BRING.
SO I WANTED TO TALK A LITTLE ABOUT.
HOW WE CONTROL NON CLASSROOM COSTS.
AND I WILL TELL YOU, WHEN WE EXAMINE COSTS, WE'RE LITERALLY PEELING AN ONION.
SO WE'RE STARTING AS FAR AWAY FROM THE CLASSROOM AS YOU CAN GET, AND WE'RE PEELING LAYER BY LAYER.
THAT'S HOW WE DO IT. SO SOME THINGS THAT WE HAVE IN PLACE THAT HAVE HELPED US THROUGH THIS PROCESS.
[00:30:04]
EXCEPTION OF OUR DIRECTOR OF SCHOOL NURSING SERVICES, THE DISTRICT FUNDS, BUT THE NURSES AND ALL OF THE BUILDINGS, I BELIEVE THERE'S OVER 30, IF I REMEMBER, IT'S ABOUT TWO AND ONE HALF MILLION DOLLAR SAVINGS TO US.WE HAVE A PARTNERSHIP AGREEMENT WITH COMMUNITY HEALTH, PROVIDES OUR NURSES, PROVIDES OUR ATHLETIC TRAINERS, ALSO HAS OUR EMPLOYEE WELLNESS CENTER THAT SAVES THE DISTRICT ROUGHLY TWO AND ONE HALF MILLION DOLLARS.
AND THAT WOULD BE COMING STRAIGHT OUT OF THE EDUCATION FUND.
THEY HAVE BEEN OUTSOURCING A MAJORITY OF OUR CUSTODIAL STAFF LAST CHECK.
WE'RE ENGAGED WITH A COMPANY THROUGH THE STATE CALLED SPEND BRIDGE THAT'S LEVERAGES OUR PRICING.
SO BASICALLY WE WANT ALL OF OUR SPEND THAT CAN FOR LIKE SUPPLIES.
IT'S IT ACTUALLY EXTENDS INTO CURRICULUM, BUT WE HAVEN'T EXPANDED IT QUITE THERE YET.
BUT IT'S JUST THE NORMAL LIFE, RIGHT? BIGGER SPEND, BETTER PRICING.
SO THAT'S WHAT WE WANT TO DO AND WE WANT TO STANDARDIZE SOME THINGS.
COVID CREATED AN ENVIRONMENT OF A LOT OF REIMBURSEMENTS BECAUSE PEOPLE WEREN'T IN PERSON.
YOU CAN DO REIMBURSEMENTS, BUT WE DON'T LIKE.
I'M NOT A FAN OF REIMBURSEMENTS.
AND SO THAT'S ONE OF THE REASONS WE'VE REALLY KIND OF HIT THAT PRETTY HARD, THAT WE NEED TO USE THE NORMAL PURCHASING METHODS EVALUATION OF WHAT I WOULD CALL NON STRATEGIC SPENDING. RIGHT? LIKE WE KNOW WE HAVE TO PAY FOR ENERGY, GAS, ELECTRIC FUEL, BUT WE DON'T WANT TO PAY ANY MORE THAN WE HAVE TO.
AND SO GAS AND ELECTRIC THERE, WE HAVE AN ENERGY SAVINGS PROGRAM.
WE'RE LOOKING AT INVESTING MORE THAN WE ALREADY HAVE IN OUR EQUIPMENT AND SOLAR.
YES, SIR. I WAS JUST GOING TO BACK UP ONE SECOND ON THE STANDARDIZED PURCHASING.
CAN YOU SAY THE NAME OF THAT GROUP? ENBRIDGE, ENBRIDGE, ENBRIDGE? YES, SIR. THANK YOU.
YOU'RE WELCOME. WE TOOK THIS YEAR DUKE ENERGY'S RATE INCREASE IS ANYWHERE FROM 6 TO 800000 ADDITIONAL DOLLARS TO US BECAUSE OF OUR SIZE.
SO THOSE ARE THINGS WE'RE LOOKING AT WITH OUR BOND DOLLARS THAT WE JUST HAVE TO DO BETTER.
WE NEED MORE HIGH EFFICIENCY BOILERS.
WE NEED TO GET THOSE THINGS REPLACED BECAUSE ENERGY, I JUST SINCERELY DOUBT THAT DUKE OR CITIZENS IS EVER GOING TO BE LIKE, YOU KNOW WHAT? Y'ALL ARE JUST PAYING TOO MUCH.
IT'S NEVER GOING TO HAPPEN. WE HAVE TO TAKE CONTROL OF THAT FUEL.
IN TERMS OF I PUT ALTERNATE FUEL BUSSES, THAT IS A PIECE OF THIS AS WE INVESTIGATE THAT.
THE REALITY IS ELECTRIC BUSSES ARE SIGNIFICANTLY MORE EXPENSIVE.
THE ONE THAT WE'VE ACQUIRED, WE ACQUIRED THROUGH A GRANT.
SO IT DID NOT COST US MORE THAN A TRADITIONAL BUS.
BUT THE REALITY IS WE SPEND A TON OF MONEY ON FUEL BECAUSE OF OUR SIZE.
SO THOSE ARE THINGS THAT ARE WORTH INVESTIGATING WHEN YOU CAN OFFSET, RIGHT.
THE COST. BUT THE SECOND THING IS WE ENTER INTO AGREEMENTS LONG TERM WHERE WE'RE LOCKED IN FOR FUEL COSTS, WHICH HAS BEEN VERY BENEFICIAL FOR US OVER THE LAST YEAR WHEN FUEL'S BEEN THROUGH THE ROOF. SO WE'VE BEEN LOCKED IN AT TWO AND I THINK MAYBE TO 75 TO 45, IT'S IT'S SOMETHING WITH A FIVE SOMEWHERE IN THAT HALF.
WHEREAS THAT'S NOT WHAT DIESEL HAS LOOKED LIKE.
AND SO THAT SAVED US A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF MONEY.
SO BEING STRATEGIC ABOUT THOSE AGREEMENTS AND LOCKING OURSELVES IN TO PROTECT OURSELVES FROM THINGS YOU CAN'T PREDICT, WHO COULD HAVE PREDICT THAT GAS WAS GOING TO GO UP THE WAY THAT IT DID. AND THEN PARTNERSHIPS THAT WE HAVE IN PLACE TO REDUCE COSTS KNOW WE DO HAVE AN MOU WITH THE CITY OF FISHERS FOR GROUNDS MAINTENANCE AND SNOW REMOVAL, WHICH MEANS WE DON'T HAVE TO EMPLOY THOSE STAFF MEMBERS, WE DON'T HAVE TO RENT THAT EQUIPMENT.
I THINK IT'S DIFFICULT TO PUT A DOLLAR AMOUNT ON IT, BUT I THINK IT'S A GREAT PARTNERSHIP THAT BENEFITS US FOR A LOT OF REASONS BECAUSE AS YOU CAN SEE, IT'S 50 SUPPOSED TO BE 50 DEGREES TODAY.
AND SO IF YOU'RE RENTING ALL THAT EQUIPMENT, YOU HAVE ALL THAT STAFF.
I MEAN, BETTER FOR US TO SHARE THEM WITH THE CITY OF FISHERS.
AND SO THAT'S BEEN VERY BENEFICIAL TO US.
SO. WE DON'T EMPLOY A WHOLE CREW OF HVAC OR ELECTRICAL STAFF.
THERE'S SOME LIGHT MAINTENANCE WORK THAT CAN BE DONE.
BUT WE HAVE THESE PARTNERSHIPS WITH BUSINESSES THAT CAN COME IN AND DO THAT WORK FOR US.
AND I THINK IT'S WORKED BETTER BECAUSE OF THE SIZE OF STAFF YOU WOULD NEED FOR A DISTRICT THIS SIZE, WHEREAS A MEDIUM SIZED BUSINESS IS EQUIPPED TO HELP US MORE EFFICIENTLY THAN WE'RE ABLE TO DO.
AND THE NEXT SLIDE, THE FUTURE OF REFERENDA.
SO THE BIG THINGS FOR US, WHAT HAS CHANGED?
[00:35:03]
I MENTIONED EARLIER THE BALLOT LANGUAGE AND THE REPORTING REQUIREMENTS FROM THE STATE.SO FIRST, THE BALLOT LANGUAGE.
NEXT SLIDE IS OUR BALLOT LANGUAGE FROM 2016.
BUT THE HIGH POINTS THERE ARE THE PURPOSE OF FUNDING DAILY EDUCATIONAL OPERATIONS, ACADEMIC SUPPORT PROGRAMS, INCLUDING THE REDUCTION IN CLASS SIZES AND FOR ANY OTHER EDUCATIONAL NEEDS OF THE SCHOOL CORPORATION.
THAT WAS THE LANGUAGE FOR THE RENEWAL THAT WE SAW IN 2016.
GO WITH. THANK YOU, JEFF. I DIDN'T.
IN 2021, THE LANGUAGE BASICALLY WOULD ALLOW YOU TO CONTINUE THE RATE.
SO WHAT WOULD BE DIFFERENT IS IT WOULD SAY THE HAMILTON SOUTHEASTERN SCHOOLS SHALL CONTINUE A PROPERTY TAX RATE OR IF YOU REDUCE YOUR RATE FROM THAT TO TO SEVEN FIVE, IT WOULD ACTUALLY ALLOW YOU TO SPELL THAT OUT, TO SAY THAT YOU HAD REDUCED THE RATE AND THEN THE LAW CHANGED AGAIN.
THE NEW LANGUAGE USES THE TERM INCREASE FOUR TIMES, WHICH IS CONCERNING BECAUSE IT IS A CONTINUATION AND NOW THERE IS A PERCENTAGE USED THAT.
IT JUST. TRYING TO THINK HOW TO SAY THIS DELICATELY DIPLOMATICALLY.
WELL, IT DOESN'T GIVE A TRUE FIXTURE.
IT DOESN'T GIVE A TRUE PICTURE OF WHAT INCREASES YOUR AVERAGE HOMEOWNER FELT.
AND THAT'S I CAN'T SPEAK TO WHY THAT IS.
IF YOU GO TO THE BALLOT AND IT LOOKS LIKE IT'S SAYING 13% OR 12%, THEY'RE LIKE, I'M NOT PAYING THAT.
WELL, THAT'S SOMETHING THAT'S MISLEADING.
SO THE INCREASE IS THE FIRST THING.
BUT THE REALITY IS THIS IS THE LANGUAGE THAT WE WILL WILL HAVE TO CONTEND WITH.
NOBODY'S TAXES WENT UP, SAY, 25%.
THE USE OF THE TERM INCREASED MULTIPLE TIMES WHEN IN REALITY WE'RE CONTINUING.
ADAM YOU KNOW, I'VE NEVER HAD ANY INTENTION WITH THIS THAT WE WOULD INCREASE THAT RATE AT ALL.
IT WAS EITHER GOING TO BE FLAT OR A DECREASE.
SO THE FACT THAT YOU CAN'T RELAY THAT OR SHARE IT IS CONCERNING.
THE DR. STOKES ALLUDED TO THERE, ACTUALLY.
SO WE'VE HAD TO WAIT NOVEMBER AND MAY 20, 22.
NOVEMBER WAS NOT AS SUCCESSFUL, AND I THINK CLOSE TO HALF OF THOSE FAILED.
SO THEY'VE DONE A LOT OF POLLING ABOUT THE INFORMATION.
AND WHAT THEY'VE REALLY FOUND IS IF YOU DON'T PROPERLY EDUCATE YOUR VOTERS, YOU'RE LITERALLY GOING TO LOSE 14% OF YOUR YESES TO NO SIMPLY BECAUSE OF THAT LANGUAGE. AND WE DON'T LIVE IN A WORLD ANYMORE WHERE YOU'RE PASSING REFERENDUMS BY 70% OR 80%.
CAN YOU WORK THROUGH WHAT WHAT THAT ACTUALLY MEANS INSTEAD OF THE X X X? I SURE CAN. JEFF, WOULD YOU GO TO ONE MORE? THANK YOU. THE REPORTING REQUIREMENTS HAVE CHANGED.
WHAT I DIDN'T WANT TO DO WHEN I DISCOVERED THE WAY WE HANDLED IT WAS SUDDENLY CHANGE THE ACCOUNTING TWO YEARS BEFORE WE WENT OUT TO VOTERS, BECAUSE FRANKLY, I THINK THAT LOOKS LIKE SOMEBODY DID SOMETHING WRONG OR WE WERE HIDING SOMETHING.
[00:40:08]
SHOULD THE REFERENDUM MOVE FORWARD.AND SO WHY IS THAT IMPORTANT? BECAUSE THAT MEANS I CAN LITERALLY RUN YOU A REPORT AND SHOW YOU TEACHERS, ASSISTANT PRINCIPALS, ETC.
I CAN DOCUMENT THAT VERY CLEARLY.
IT MAKES IT A LOT EASIER TO EXPLAIN.
AND I THINK THAT I THINK THAT'S WHERE THE STATE'S MIND WAS WHEN THEY ADDED THIS TO THE STATUTE.
SO IT'LL BE A CHANGE FOR US THAT WE'LL TAKE IN 2024.
NEXT STEPS FOR THE SCHOOL CORPORATION.
SO THERE'S A PIECE OF THIS ADDITIONAL INFORMATION WHICH WILL MAKE MORE SENSE AT THE NEXT SLIDE.
A BOARD KIND OF CONSENSUS THAT WOULD TAKE PLACE AT A PUBLIC MEETING.
THERE'S A FORMAL PROCESS THAT WE HAVE TO GO THROUGH THAT INVOLVES SOME PUBLIC HEARINGS AND SOME OTHER THINGS, AND THAT'S WHEN SOME STATUTORY PROVISIONS ON WHO CAN WORK ON THE REFERENDUM AND WHAT MONEY CAN BE SPENT KICK IN.
WE'LL HAVE TO FORM A REFERENDUM PACK COMMITTEE.
UM, QUESTIONS, FEEDBACK AND ELEPHANTS.
AND THERE'S. THERE IS A REASON FOR THIS, SO.
DR. STOKES AND I HAVE BEEN HERE FOR 18 MONTHS.
I CAN GIVE YOU 5 MILLION REPORTS.
I DON'T KNOW THAT THOSE REPORTS ARE GOING TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTIONS, YOUR CONSTITUENT QUESTIONS, THINGS THAT YOU ARE UNCOMFORTABLE ABOUT THAT HAVEN'T BEEN EXPLAINED, OR THE HIGH POINTS OF WHAT NEEDS TO BE EXPLAINED.
AND SO I SAY ELEPHANTS, BECAUSE MY QUESTION TO YOU ALL IS WHAT INFORMATION DO YOU NEED TO SEE? WHAT QUESTIONS DO YOU HAVE ABOUT THE FUNDS THAT HAVE BEEN UTILIZED? WHAT ARE YOUR ELEPHANTS? AND I SAY THAT BECAUSE THEY'RE HERE.
I HEAR THEM, AND I'VE LIVED HERE FOR LIKE 18, NOT EVEN 18 MONTHS.
I'VE ONLY BEEN HERE FOR THAT LONG.
I HEAR YOU GUYS WASTE TOO MUCH MONEY OR I SEE IT ON SOCIAL MEDIA.
YOU GUYS NEED TO TIGHTEN YOUR BELTS.
IT'S NOT HELPFUL WITHOUT THE SPECIFICS.
AND SO I'M GOING TO THROW MY FIRST ONE OUT THERE, RIGHT, BECAUSE I HEAR IT ALL THE TIME.
WE HAVE TOO MANY ADMINISTRATORS.
HSC IS TOO MANY ADMINISTRATORS.
AND SO I SAY THAT AS AN EXAMPLE, BECAUSE IS IT HELPFUL TO THE BOARD AND WOULD IT BE HELPFUL TO OUR COMMUNITY IF WE HAD A REPORT THAT SHOWED HOW WE MEASURE WITH LIKE TEN DISTRICTS OUR SIZE PLUS THE ONES IN HAMILTON COUNTY TO SHOW THE STUDENT POPULATION VERSUS A NUMBER OF ADMINISTRATORS? THIS IS ALL DATA THAT WE REPORT TO THE STATE OF INDIANA ANYWAY, I KNOW MR..
MR.. R MENTIONED IN AN EMAIL, YOU KNOW, A TREND LINE WITH HOW THOSE STUDENT EXPENDITURES LINE UP WITH WHEN THE CHANGES IN THE STUDENT POPULATION DOABLE. BUT I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT I'M PRODUCING WHAT THE BOARD FEELS LIKE THEY NEED TO SEE AND WHAT WE FEEL LIKE THE COMMUNITY NEEDS TO SEE.
IT WILL CHANGE BECAUSE IT'S GOING TO BE A LOT EASIER TO REPORT ON IT.
BUT I NEED TO KNOW WHAT ARE YOUR ELEPHANTS? WHAT ARE THE THINGS THAT YOU NEED TO SEE? BECAUSE I DON'T WANT TO FLY BLIND, BRING YOU A BUNCH OF DATA THAT DOESN'T HELP YOU UNDERSTAND OR FEEL ANY MORE INFORMED THAN YOU WERE BEFORE.
AND SO THAT'S WHY I SAY, GIVE ME YOUR ELEPHANTS.
YOU KNOW, WE SPEND CLOSE TO $300 MILLION A YEAR.
I DO NOT PHYSICALLY TOUCH EVERY SINGLE ONE OF THOSE EXPENDITURES.
AND SO EVERYBODY HAS A DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVE.
EVERYBODY KNOWS DIFFERENT PEOPLE.
THERE'S DIFFERENT THINGS THAT PEOPLE SEE.
AND SOME OF THEM AREN'T ALWAYS TRUE EITHER.
AND I THINK THAT'S IMPORTANT TOO, THAT WE HAVE TO DEMYSTIFY SOME THINGS.
SO THAT ACTUALLY CONCLUDES MY PRESENTATION.
BUT I'M HERE FOR YOUR FEEDBACK AND ANY OTHER INFORMATION THAT YOU WANT TO SHARE.
AND THEN FROM THAT I WILL GENERATE ADDITIONAL REPORTING AND SUCH FOR THE BOARD.
YEAH, I THINK THAT'S THAT'S EXACTLY RIGHT.
AND I HAVE I HAVE THAT WRITTEN DOWN.
I THINK JUST IN GENERAL, BIG PICTURE.
IT'S REPLACING WHAT'S ALREADY BEEN GOING ON.
[00:45:03]
BUT IF WE'RE GOING TO DO THAT, I THINK WE ALL JUST WANT TO KNOW THAT EVERYTHING WE'RE SPENDING IS AS FINITE AS POSSIBLE.BUT I THINK IT WOULD JUST BE GOOD TO TRY TO.
SUMMARIZE, AT LEAST WITHIN THE BUCKETS, HOW MUCH WE'RE SPENDING ON ON EACH OF THESE AREAS.
SO HAS THAT ADMINISTRATIVE COSTS KIND OF GROWN AS OUR AS OUR SCHOOLS GROWN? OR AS AS THE ADMINISTRATIVE GROWTH OUTPACED.
THE WAY OUR ENROLLMENT IS GROWN.
UM, I THINK THERE'S AN EXPLANATION.
SO I THINK IF WE CAN ANSWER SOME OF THOSE QUESTIONS AND TRULY SHOW THAT WE DO NEED EVERY PENNY AND EVERY PENNY IS GOING TOWARDS ACADEMIC EDUCATION OR CLOSELY RELATED THINGS, THEN IT BECOMES A NO BRAINER.
AND OF COURSE, WE NEED TO WE NEED TO SERVE THESE STUDENTS.
SO I THINK WE'D START, LIKE YOU SAID, WITH ADMINISTRATIVE AND THEN KIND OF DRILL DOWN FROM THERE AND SEE IF THERE'S OTHER OUTSIDE THINGS THAT THE SCHOOL HAS MAYBE GOTTEN INTO AND GOTTEN OUT OF ITS CORE FOCUS, WHERE WE CAN NOT NECESSARILY TIGHTEN OUR BELT BUT TIGHTEN OUR FOCUS.
STOKES, SHE'LL SHARE THEM BACK WITH ME AND WE CAN PULL THAT DATA.
MAYBE THE BOARD CAN SEE WHAT THE.
IS. CAN YOU GIVE ME THE EXACT IS IT 2524 MILLION.
I THINK IT'S 25.8 MAYBE THIS YEAR, BUT I SAY 26.
AND THEN THE QUESTION TO GO WITH THAT IS, CAN THAT CHANGE, IN OTHER WORDS, BEING PAID DIFFERENTLY? AND THEN THEY USE THE FUNDS ON A DIFFERENT.
SO AND AGAIN, I'M BECAUSE I'M NOT A FINANCE PERSON, I'M JUST ASKING THE QUESTION.
SO IF FOR SOME REASON I'LL MAKE SOMETHING UP HERE, WE'RE PAYING ASSISTANT PRINCIPALS OUT OF THAT REFERENDUM, RIGHT? IF WE MOVE THAT AND WE PUT THE ASSISTANT PRINCIPALS IN IT, YOU KNOW, IN A DIFFERENT PART, THEN WE HAVE THAT MONEY TO PAY SOMETHING ELSE INSTEAD THAT WE SWAPPED OUT. IF YOU HAD THE MONEY ELSEWHERE TO PAY IT, GO TO SLIDE 18.
YET THE 2016 SLIDE HAD THE ACTUAL BALLOT LANGUAGE.
SO. YET COULD YOU MOVE? MOVE IT? SURE.
BUT YOU HAVE TO HAVE SOMEWHERE TO MOVE IT TO THAT CAN FUND IT.
SO I DON'T KNOW THAT NUMBER RIGHT NOW.
OFF THE TOP OF MY HEAD, LET'S SAY IT'S LET ME DO QUICK MATH.
YEAH, I MEAN, I WOULD SAY NO IF 13 AND THEY'RE PROBABLY 150,000.
YEAH. SO WE'RE GOING TO SAY 2 MILLION.
KEEP IT BROAD. SO I NEED $2 MILLION TO PUT THAT SOMEWHERE ELSE TO FREE UP 2 MILLION IN REFERENDUM.
IS THAT FEASIBLE? WELL, I MEAN, IT JUST DEPENDS.
ARE THERE OTHER THINGS WE'RE SAYING THAT WE'RE GOING TO ELIMINATE? ARE THERE OTHER THINGS THAT WE'RE GOING TO DO INSTEAD? OR ARE WE SAYING AND I'M NOT SAYING THIS IS WHAT ANYBODY IS SAYING.
ARE WE SAYING WE DON'T THINK WE NEED THEM AT THE LEVEL THAT WE HAVE THEM? THOSE, I THINK, ARE ALL THE DISCUSSIONS THAT WILL HAPPEN.
IF WE MOVE FORWARD AND PUT THE REFERENDUM RENEWAL ON THE BALLOT.
THANK YOU. BUT AGAIN, IF YOU'RE.
IF THAT IF WHAT'S GOING AWAY IS ROUGHLY 25 MILLION, $26 MILLION.
[00:50:03]
AND I WAS THERE WAS A WORK SESSION BEFORE WE WERE HERE TWO OR THREE MONTHS AGO.I THINK THAT IF WE GO THROUGH IT, WE'RE GOING TO FIND SOME AREAS WE CAN CUT.
BUT YOU'RE NOT GETTING TO 25, $26 MILLION.
SO THAT'S KIND OF MY MY WORKING THEORY BEFORE WE ACTUALLY GO THROUGH ALL THE NUMBERS.
BUT WITHIN THAT, I WANTED TO CLARIFY BECAUSE THIS IS AN OPERATIONAL REFERENDUM SO THAT MONEY, IF WE COLLECT IT, THAT GOES INTO THE OPERATIONAL FUND, IT GOES INTO A REFERENDUM FUND, GOES STRAIGHT.
YEAH, IT'S IN A SEPARATE FUND FOR REFERENDUM, BUT IT FUNDS OPERATIONAL EXPENDITURES, IF YOU WILL, BECAUSE WE'RE NOT TRANSFERRING THAT 15% REVENUE OUT OF THE EDUCATION FUND.
BUT IT'S JUST CALLED AN OPERATIONAL, AN OPERATIONS REFERENDUM.
IT CAN BE USED FOR ANY LEGAL EXPENSE OF THE SCHOOL CORPORATION EXCEPT.
SO LET'S SAY IT COSTS 150 TEACHERS DISTRICT WIDE.
I'M MAKING THAT NUMBER UP, SO DON'T HOLD ME TO IT.
TO KEEP THE RANGES, TO KEEP THE OFFERINGS, TO DO EVERYTHING WE'RE DOING.
AT FIVE SIX, I WOULD PUT 150 TEACHERS IN THE REFERENDUM FUND BECAUSE THAT WOULD BE MY DEMONSTRATION THAT IT'S GOING FOR CLASSROOM SIZE, RETAIN, RECRUIT QUALITY TEACHERS.
I JUST THINK THAT SPEAKS TO THE WHOLE PACKAGE, RIGHT? IT'S NOT JUST SALARY, IT'S BENEFITS.
YOU KNOW, WE'RE ONE OF THE DISTRICTS THAT STILL HAS A PPO WHICH IS BECOMING LESS AND LESS NORMAL.
WELL, THAT'S SOMETHING WE'LL LOSE IF WE WEREN'T TO HAVE A REFERENDUM, BECAUSE I DON'T KNOW HOW WE WOULD SUSTAIN IT, WHICH WOULD THEN IMPACT OUR RETENTION AND RECRUITMENT OF STAFF. I WOULD ALSO SAY I'M NOT A FAN AT ALL OF LIKE THE FEAR MONGERING.
OH MY GOSH, IF YOU WEREN'T TO APPROVE THIS, WE'RE ALL GOING TO THE WORLD WILL END.
THAT'S A FOCUS DR. STOKES'S INDICATED.
AND PEOPLE GET JUMPY AND YOU'RE GOING TO START TO SEE TURNOVER THAT WE DON'T WANT TO SEE.
SO THAT BUT I MEAN HERE, I MEAN, WE WOULD HAVE TO CUT AND I MEAN, I TELL PEOPLE WHEN THEY TELL ME YOU DON'T NEED IT, TELL ME WHERE TO CUT IT, I'M OPEN TO SUGGESTION. I JUST ASKED LAST WEEK IF WE COULD ELIMINATE CABLE AND SAVE 11,000 A YEAR.
BUT THEY HAVE TO SEE HOW HOW? BECAUSE BUILDINGS UTILIZE THAT.
BECAUSE I'M LIKE, WHAT ARE WHAT ARE WE? AND, YOU KNOW, I KNOW WHAT PEOPLE THINK.
THEY DON'T CALL ME THE CFO FOR FOR NOTHING.
11,000. WHAT ARE YOU WORRIED ABOUT? YOU KNOW HOW MUCH WE SPEND. BUT, YOU KNOW, THAT'S THE POINT IS WE DO LOOK AT ALL THE DIFFERENT THINGS, NOT JUST THE BIGGEST THINGS.
RIGHT. SO WILL THERE BE SOME SORT OF PLAN? I MEAN, I'M SURE THERE MUST BE, BECAUSE EVEN IF WE APPROVE TO PUT IT ON THE BALLOT, THERE'S NO GUARANTEE THAT IT PASSES.
THAT'S VERY TRUE. SO WE WOULD HAVE SOME SORT OF BACKUP PLAN IN PLACE AND READY TO GO.
AGAIN, YOU CAN CUT CABLE AND GET RID OF A FEW BUSSES AND DO THINGS LIKE THAT.
BUT AT SOME POINT I'M SURE IT GETS INTO TEACHING STAFF AND OTHER STAFF.
SO THAT WOULD BE ANOTHER GOOD THING TO SEE.
I THINK FOR ME PERSONALLY AND WHAT'S BEING RELAYED FROM THE COMMUNITY TO MYSELF AND I'M GOING TO BE BLUNT AND HONEST ABOUT THE ELEPHANT IN THE ROOM IS THERE HAS NOT BEEN ONE OF THOSE PLANS OF WHAT WE'RE GOING TO HAVE IF WE DO HAVE IT AND WHAT WE'RE NOT GOING TO HAVE.
THERE ARE TEACHERS THAT ARE CONCERNED, THERE ARE ADMIN THAT ARE CONCERNED.
SO I WOULD LIKE TO CLARIFY THAT AND WORK TO NOT HAVE THAT.
AND I THINK THAT WOULD BE A GOOD STEP FORWARD TO HAVE THE FURTHER DISCUSSION ON IT.
[00:55:02]
ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I KNOW WE WILL HAVE TO DO AND, YOU KNOW, OF COURSE, HAVING BEEN IN OTHER DISTRICTS IN OVER 30 SOMETHING YEARS, SEEING THE IMPACT OF EDUCATION, WE HAVE TO MESSAGE WHAT IT IS THAT OUR COMMUNITY WANTS.FOR EXAMPLE, OUR PARTNERSHIPS.
WHEN YOU START TALKING ABOUT WHAT WE HAVE, WHAT WE ENVISION BEING THE SUPPORTS FOR OUR CHILDREN AND THAT NEXT STEP LEVEL, WHEN YOU SIT DOWN AT THE TABLE AND YOU SAY, OKAY, I'M USING THIS AS AN EXAMPLE, I'M NOT SAYING WE WOULD EVER DO THIS, BUT IF YOU SAID AT THE TABLE AND SAID, WELL, YOU KNOW, DO WE NEED ASSISTANT PRINCIPALS AT THE ELEMENTARY LEVEL, ONE WOULD THEN HAVE TO TALK ABOUT WHAT'S THE ROLLOUT IF YOU DON'T HAVE THEM.
YOU KNOW, THEY HELP SUPPORT IN SO MANY AREAS, INCLUDING DISCIPLINE, YOU KNOW, AND YOU THINK ABOUT THAT RATIO OF FIVE OR 600 TO 1 ADMINISTRATOR. IS THAT EVEN FEASIBLE? IS THAT WHAT OUR COMMUNITY WANTS? SO WHEN YOU START TALKING ABOUT WHAT IS IT THAT WE MIGHT HAVE TO LIVE WITHOUT OR BELIEVE WE COULD SHIFT OR CHANGE? YOU'VE GOT TO LOOK AT THE IMPACT BECAUSE ONCE YOU MAKE THAT SHIFT OR CHANGE, THEN YOU MIGHT HAVE AN ISSUE IN A DIFFERENT WAY WHERE THE COMMUNITY IS NOW NOT HAPPY.
YOU KNOW, YOU'VE GOT 600 KIDS BEING SUPERVISED BY ONE PRINCIPAL.
IS THAT REALLY WHAT WE BELIEVE IS EFFECTIVE? CORRECT. AND I THINK THAT GOING THROUGH THIS PROCESS WILL DISCLOSE THAT.
I MEAN, THERE WE HAVE A LOT OF COMMUNITY MEMBERS AT THIS POINT THAT I WOULD SAY THAT WE'RE NOT EVEN FULLY EDUCATING OUR CHILDREN OR GIVING THEM THE RESOURCES THEY NEED FROM A FOUNDATION LEVEL. SO THERE'S NO REASON TO ADD MORE IF WE CAN'T CONTINUE OR GET BACK TO BEING EXCELLENT AND ACADEMICS.
I THINK ANOTHER ANOTHER AREA THAT STARTS TO DRIVE UP THE BUDGET IS.
AS WE GET GRANTS APPROVED, EVENTUALLY THEY RUN OUT AND WE ABSORB THEM.
I THINK IT'D BE HELPFUL TO SEE WHAT WHAT GRANTS HAVE WE HAD OVER THE LAST FOUR OR FIVE, SIX YEARS, SOME SOME GOOD PERIOD OF TIME THAT WERE USED TO HIRE NEW STAFF, BRING IN PEOPLE THAT HAVE NOW RUN OUT AND WE'VE ABSORBED SO, YOU KNOW, POTENTIALLY STARTED AS GRANT MONEY. BUT NOW THAT'S PART OF OUR BUDGET.
I THINK IT MIGHT BE A GOOD THING TO SEE ALSO.
AND OBVIOUSLY WHAT RELATED POSITIONS AND WHAT DID WE DO WITH IT? AND I KNOW DR. KELLY.
I THINK WE'LL BE COVERING THAT TO SOME DEGREE IN HIS GRANT.
OVERVIEW. BY AND LARGE, MOST OF OUR GRANTS ARE CONTINUOUS.
SO PART B, WHICH IS SPECIAL EDUCATION TITLE ONE, TITLE TWO, THREE, FOUR, SEVEN, 12.
AND SO I THINK THAT'S DATA HE'LL COVER.
BUT WHAT I WOULD ALSO SAY IS DR.
LAWSON, WE GO THROUGH WHAT THOSE PLANS ARE AND LIKE HOW THOSE STAFF WOULD BE ABSORBED IF THE DATA IS THERE TO SHOW THAT THEY'VE MET THE NEED, THAT THE IMPACT IS WHAT THEY EXPECTED, ETC..
SO THEY ARE NOT BUILDING COMPETITIVE GRANTS AND THEN THROWING IT IN MY LAP LIKE WE DO.
TALK THROUGH THAT. AND YOU KNOW, SOMETIMES MAYBE THE DATA DOESN'T COME BACK THE WAY YOU EXPECTED.
BUT I THINK SOME OF THAT HE WILL DISCUSS.
BUT A LOT OF THEM ARE RECURRENT.
I THINK THAT PROBABLY THE LILLY GRANTS A GOOD EXAMPLE IS THAT ONGOING NOW, HAS THAT HAVE WE ABSORBED THOSE? NO. YES, IT ENDED IN DECEMBER.
IT ENDED. SO THAT DID SEVERAL THINGS.
RIGHT. THAT WAS ALL RELATED TO MENTAL HEALTH CELL D, THOSE KIND OF INITIATIVES.
DO WE KNOW THAT TOTAL, WHAT WAS THAT? AND AND WE NOW HAVE ABSORBED THAT.
DOES I ASSUME THAT WOULD BE MOSTLY OPERATIONAL? I WOULD THINK. AND I'D HAVE TO SEE.
WE'D HAVE TO LOOK. WOULD THAT BE MOSTLY OPERATIONAL OR DID THEY CROSS OVER TO BOTH? PROBABLY. MOSTLY. I THINK THAT'D BE GOOD TO SEE.
IN ADDITION, IF THE FUNDING FROM REFERENDUM CAN GO INTO X, Y, Z BUCKETS.
I'M TALKING MAYBE WITHIN 5 TO 10 YEARS, ONES THAT ARE CONTINUAL AND WHERE THOSE HEADCOUNTS COME, BECAUSE I THINK THERE'S ALSO A LOT OF DISCUSSION THAT THE AMOUNT OR OF FUNDING THAT GOES TOWARDS TEACHER SALARIES AND ADMIN SALARIES ARE LUMPED TOGETHER.
SO I'D LOVE TO SEE THOSE SEPARATED OUT.
[01:00:01]
AS WELL TO PLEASE. SOME OF THEM ARE, AND SOME OF THEM AREN'T.SO THE OFFICE OF THE PRINCIPAL, WHICH IS I'M SURE YOU GUYS HAVE ALL READ ALL THOSE LINKS THAT I GAVE YOU WITH ALL THE ACCOUNTS AND THE ACCOUNTING MANUAL TO 4100 IS LIKE OFFICE OF THE PRINCIPAL. THAT IS AN INSTRUCTIONAL EXPENSE PER THE STATE OF INDIANA.
THAT SHOULD BE I BELIEVE THERE IS SOME WIGGLE ROOM WITHIN TEACHING AND LEARNING.
I WOULD HAVE TO CHECK, BUT MOST OF US ARE COMING OUT OF AN OPERATIONAL ACCOUNT.
BUT THAT'S NOT I MEAN, THAT'S FEASIBLE.
I CAN ACTUALLY TELL YOU WHAT THEY ARE AND HOW THEY ARE.
I THINK WHEN I THINK ABOUT NEXT STEP.
SO I THINK THE FIRST THING IS RIGHT, WE NEED A TIMELINE.
AND THAT'S WHY WE'RE SITTING HERE TODAY.
AND SO WHAT I WOULD DO IS I CAN SHARE SOME OF THAT WITH DR.
STOKES AND MAKE SURE WE'RE ON THE RIGHT TRACK, BECAUSE WHAT I DON'T WANT TO DO IS HAVE A STUDY SESSION AND SHARE WITH THE PUBLIC IF YOU DON'T FEEL LIKE WE'RE ACTUALLY ANSWERING ANY QUESTIONS. SO WE CAN START TO WORK ON THAT AND PROBABLY FIND A MAYBE A WORK SESSION DATE.
I KNOW MATT'S GOT FEBRUARY, BUT EARLY MARCH, MAYBE.
BUT WE'LL SOONER I MEAN, FOR ME, THE SOONER THE BETTER.
I'M SORRY, DOCTOR, CAN I I'M GOING TO PIGGYBACK ON MR. ORR'S COMMENT.
SO CAN YOU REMIND US WHAT THE TOTAL OF THE LILY GRANT WAS THAT WE JUST FINISHED USING? WAS IT TWO POINT SOMETHING? DO YOU RECALL THAT? NO, I DON'T.
SO TO BE SAFE TO SAY THAT'S OKAY.
THE QUESTION FOR THAT THEN WILL BE SINCE IT'S NOW OVER IN DECEMBER, HOW MUCH OF THAT TOTAL DID WE ABSORB INTO OUR BUDGET? SO IT'S NOT JUST IF IT WAS THAT WAS HIS QUESTION.
THAT'S WHAT I WANTED TO CONCERN HOW MUCH OF IT WAS.
THANK YOU. SO I KNOW KATIE JUST STEPPED OUT FOR A SECOND, BUT I THINK ONE OF THE THINGS THAT SHE I'M GOING TO ASK HER, AT LEAST WHEN SHE COMES BACK, IS SHE NEEDS TO KNOW KIND OF LIKE A TIMELINE OF, YOU KNOW, IF YOU ALL ARE GOING TO GIVE US THE BLESSING TO GO FORWARD OR NOT.
LIKE WHAT BOARD MEETING OR WHATEVER, BECAUSE THERE ARE STATUTORY TIMELINES FOR THINGS THAT WE HAVE TO DO IF WE DON'T GET A BLESSING, BECAUSE WE WOULD KNOW WE'VE GOT TO CUT OUT THESE MILLIONS OF DOLLARS AND WE HAVE TO START PLANNING FOR THAT.
SO SO WHEN SHE COMES BACK, SHE'LL NEED TO SHARE THAT.
WHAT IS THE WHAT IS THE DATE BY THE END OF FEBRUARY? WAS THAT WHAT IT WAS? YEAH. MM HMM.
CAN YOU SHARE THE QUESTIONS WE'RE GOING TO BE ANSWERING? CAN YOU SHARE WHAT DATE WE NEED TO KNOW, LIKE WHAT BOARD MEETING OR WHATEVER.
WE NEED TO KNOW IF WE'RE GOING TO HAVE THE SUPPORT FROM THE BOARD FOR A REFERENDUM, BECAUSE I TOLD HIM THERE ARE THINGS THAT WE HAVE TO DO TO MEET STATUTORY GUIDELINES IF WE'RE GOING TO NOTIFY STAFF THAT IT DEPENDS WHAT YOU'RE USING AS A DEADLINE.
SO MY CONCERN IS IF WE WERE NOT TO HAVE THE SUPPORT TO GO FORWARD, IT IS HELPFUL TO KNOW THAT BY APRIL AND I SAY THAT BECAUSE OF THE STATUTORY DEADLINES FOR WHEN YOU HAVE TO NOTIFY ADMINISTRATORS, STAFF, THAT SORT OF THING, NOT TO FEAR MONGER, IT'S A REALITY BECAUSE ONCE WE GET PAST THAT JUNE 30 AND WE HAVEN'T TALKED TO PEOPLE ABOUT IT, NOW WE'RE ABSORBING ALL OF THOSE STAFF, AT LEAST THE THE THE CERTIFIED AND THE ADMINISTRATIVE THROUGH NOW JUNE 30TH OF 24 WITHOUT A REVENUE SOURCE.
BUT I'M NOT 100% SURE ON THAT.
BUT I WILL ADD THAT IN A TIMELINE.
[01:05:07]
SUPPORT, WE NEED TO KNOW THAT TO MR. ORR'S POINT, WE ARE GOING TO HAVE TO HAVE A PLAN B BECAUSE THERE EVEN WITH BOARD SUPPORT, THERE IS NO GUARANTEE.BUT IT DOESN'T NEED TO BE DONE IN A WAY.
AND CERTAINLY IT'S UPSETTING TO HEAR PEOPLE FEEL LIKE THEY'RE ALREADY BEING SCARED INTO IT BECAUSE WE DON'T REALLY TALK ABOUT THE NEGATIVES IN TERMS OF LIKE, WELL, IF YOU GUYS DON'T COME OUT AND DO THAT, THAT'S NOT GOING TO HELP ANYTHING.
MS. DOWLING WOULD IN YOUR EXPERIENCE WITH REFERENDUM, WHEN WOULD YOU MOST LIKELY SAY SOONER, THOUGH, IS BETTER THAN LATER AS FAR AS STARTING THE COMMUNICATION WITH OUR PUBLIC AS OPPOSED TO SAYING, BECAUSE I'M A LITTLE CONCERNED WHEN YOU GIVE THE DATES OF APRIL AND JULY, THAT'S ALMOST TOO FAR OUT, EVEN THOUGH THOSE ARE THE.
ISN'T THIS A CONVERSATION THAT THE SCHOOL DISTRICT AND BETTER FOR THE PUBLIC TO KNOW? SHE'S JUST SAYING THAT THAT'S WHEN SHE NEEDS THE DROP DOWN DEADLINE FROM YOU ALL ABOUT RATHER YOU'RE GOING TO SUPPORT IT OR NOT, IS THAT WHAT YOU'RE SAYING? NOT THAT YOU HAVE TO READ OF THIS BEING PUSHED OUT IN OUR PLANNING, THAT WE'RE GOING TO SAY, WELL, WE CAN WE HAVE LIKE WE HAVE MORE TIME TO THINK ABOUT IT.
AND I JUST AM ASKING, IN YOUR OPINION, DO YOU THINK SOONER IS BETTER THAN LATER THAN PUSHING THIS OUT TO APRIL OR MARCH TO DECIDE? I THINK SOONER OR LATER IS ALWAYS BETTER, BUT I UNDERSTAND THAT I NEED TO PRODUCE SOME DATA.
I MEAN, LET'S I'M BEING FRANK AND THIS IS IN NO WAY A CRITICISM OF MS..
WE AS A CORPORATION HAVE NOT DONE A GOOD JOB WITH COMMUNICATING ABOUT THE REFERENDUM.
I'M NOT GOING TO PICK IT APART.
IT WAS A DIFFERENT TIME AND I THINK PEOPLE'S AWARENESS WAS DIFFERENT.
AND SO WE KNOW I KNOW THAT IT HAS TO BE DONE BETTER.
THIS IS SOMETHING, EMILY CONSTANTLY I FEEL LIKE I KNOW WHEN I SEE HER, LIKE, OH, SHE'S GOING TO ASK ME IF I HAVE, BUT I THINK WE NEED TO TALK ABOUT WHAT THAT COMMUNICATION LOOKS LIKE AND WHAT'S ACCEPTABLE.
SO THE APRIL OR MAY OR MARCH OR APRIL DOESN'T IMPACT OUR ABILITY TO COMMUNICATE.
AND MAKE NO MISTAKE, WE ARE WORKING BEHIND THE SCENES.
YOU KNOW, I AM GATHERING DATA, GATHERING NAMES, NUMBERS, COMMUNITY COMMUNITY COMMITTEE MEMBERS, YOU KNOW, SPEAKING TO THE COMMITTEES FROM THE PAST, I MEAN, JUST GATHERING DATA, BECAUSE ONCE WE GO THROUGH THE EXCUSE ME, 1028 HEARING, THAT'S THE PART WHERE IT BECOMES DR.
KILEY AND MS.. LIBBY THAT CAN ACTUALLY WORK ON THE REFERENDUM AND OTHER STAFF CAN'T.
I ALSO KNOW THAT YOU DON'T WANT TO HAVE 14 WORK SESSIONS A MONTH.
I KNOW DR. KELLY HAS GRANTS AND SO I'LL DEFER TO DR.
I MEAN, THAT'S AND I APPRECIATE THAT.
STOKES WILL BE MORE INTO. DEFER BACK TO YOU AS FAR AS A TIMELINE FOR GATHERING THESE THINGS, WHAT'S WHAT'S REASONABLE IN YOUR EXPECTATION? I WOULD IMAGINE THE I AGREE THE REPORTS ARE FAIRLY QUICK.
WELL, WE'VE BEEN WORKING ON A PLAN B.
I MEAN, I'VE GOT A RUNNING SPREADSHEET, BELIEVE ME, OF OF THOSE THINGS.
NOT NOT BECAUSE IT'S BECAUSE IT'S REALITY, RIGHT? I MEAN, THAT'S THAT'S WHAT IT IS.
SO I THINK WHAT I'M MOST CONCERNED ABOUT IS HOW WE COMMUNICATE THAT BECAUSE I DON'T WANT IT TO CAUSE A OH MY GOSH, BECAUSE I FEEL LIKE IF THERE'S ANY QUESTION I MEAN, I THINK WE ALL KNOW, RIGHT? I'VE HEARD A MILLION DIFFERENT THINGS, WHICH IS WHY I ASKED FOR THE STUDY SESSION.
THE NEW BOARD MEMBERS AREN'T AREN'T IN FAVOR.
OH, OLD BOARD MEMBERS AREN'T IN FAVOR OF IT, ESPECIALLY SARA DON SPOT.
NO, I'M JUST KIDDING. BUT LET'S QUELCH LIKE, IF THAT'S OUR REALITY, FINE.
BUT IF IT ISN'T BECAUSE YOU DON'T WANT PEOPLE TO PREEMPTIVELY ACT.
AND NOW WE HAVE STAFF LEAVING AND YOU KNOW, MS..
LIBBY'S JOB RECRUITING TEACHERS IS FUN ENOUGH.
SHE DOESN'T NEED MORE. I WANT THAT TO TEMPER UNDERSTANDING.
WE CAN'T CONTROL THE OUTCOME IN NOVEMBER, SO WE HAVE TO BE REALISTIC.
BUT ENOUGH WITH THE CONJECTURE.
LET'S, YOU KNOW, BE REAL ABOUT WHAT THE SUPPORT IS AND WHERE WE GO FROM HERE.
AND IT'S IT'S SOMETHING TO SAY PUBLICLY.
[01:10:02]
AND SINCE THESE THINGS ARE NOW LIVE STREAMED AND RECORD AND EVERYTHING, I'LL MAKE A COMMENT FOR THOSE OF US OUT THERE IN RADIO LAND, FOR MYSELF GOING INTO THIS, I KNOW THERE'S A LOT THAT I DON'T KNOW.I NEED TO BE EDUCATED AND INFORMED ABOUT IT, JUST LIKE I THINK THE REST OF THE VOTING PUBLIC.
YOU KNOW, WHEN WE STEP AWAY FROM THIS BOARD ROOM AND BOARD TABLE, I'M ALSO A VOTER RIGHT NOW.
I DON'T HAVE ENOUGH INFORMATION.
SO I THINK THAT'S A REAL GOOD PLACE TO BE IN FOR FOR US TO JUST ASK FOR THE INFORMATION.
WE JUST STARTED STREAMING THESE THINGS BECAUSE THERE WAS SO MUCH DEMAND FOR IT IN THE COMMUNITY.
SO WE HAVE A UNIQUE OPPORTUNITY TO EDUCATE EVERYBODY.
AND I THINK THAT AT LEAST FOR MYSELF, I'D SAY AS LONG AS WE GET TO A PLACE WHERE WE HAVE A FIRM BELIEF THAT OUR THE MONEY THAT WE.
LAST AND RECEIVE FROM THE STATE, THE LOCAL TAXPAYERS FROM ANYBODY IS BEING PUT TO GOOD, EFFICIENT USE FOR ACADEMIC EDUCATION, THEN I WOULD ABSOLUTELY THINK THAT THAT WOULD BE A GOOD THING TO DO.
I CAN'T IMAGINE BEING AGAINST THAT, I'LL PUT IT THAT WAY.
BUT WE NEED TO GET TO THAT PLACE WHERE EVERYBODY CAN SEE THAT.
SO WE ANSWER ALL THESE QUESTIONS THAT ARE HANGING OUT THERE AND JUST SAY, OKAY, WE.
AGAIN, THERE'S SOME LITTLE FRINGE AROUND THE EDGES ON THAT.
BUT IF WE CAN GET TO THAT, THEN I THINK THE COMMUNITY WOULD BE IN A BETTER PLACE.
WE'D BE IN A BETTER PLACE AS A BOARD.
SO I THINK THAT'S REALLY OUR ONLY CONCERN.
WE JUST NEED MORE INFORMATION.
NOT YOU COLLECTIVELY, BUT TELL ME WHERE TO CUT IT.
BUT I JUST THINK IT WAS IMPORTANT.
LET'S KNOW WHAT THE BOARD NEEDS TO KNOW, BECAUSE AGAIN, I COULD HAVE BROUGHT YOU 50 REPORTS.
THAT DOESN'T MAKE THEM WRONG. IT'S JUST THE PERSPECTIVE.
BUT LET'S MOVE FORWARD, WHATEVER THAT MIGHT BE, AND THEN WE CAN GO FROM THERE.
SO I WOULD SAY IF IT'S FEASIBLE, I DON'T KNOW WHAT WORK SESSIONS THERE ARE IN LIKE LATE FEBRUARY, IF ANY, IF THAT WOULD BE ACCEPTABLE WITH A MARCH BOARD MEETING DATE FOR A CONSENSUS VOTE.
BUT I WILL LEAVE THAT TO TO MS..
LING AND THE BOARD MEMBERS AND DR.
STOKES. I THINK WHAT WOULD ALSO BE HELPFUL IS TO SEE FROM THE 2016 REFERENDUM THE TALKING POINTS AND THE LANGUAGE AND WHAT OTHER STAKEHOLDERS IN THE COMMUNITY WERE ALSO INVOLVED IN THAT MESSAGE DISSEMINATION AND THAT COMMUNICATION.
SO THAT WE CAN BE PROACTIVELY THINKING ABOUT HOW TO RALLY THE TROOPS, SO TO SPEAK.
NUMBER TWO, AND I THINK EVERYONE UNDERSTANDS THIS, WE LIVE IN A POLARIZING TIME PERIOD.
AND IT TAKES ONE THING TO GO VIRAL TO TANK YOU.
I MEAN, THAT'S THAT'S THAT'S THE REALITY WITH ELECTIONS OF ANY TYPE.
AND THIS IS VERY MUCH AN ELECTION.
IT'S VERY MUCH A REFERENDUM ON THE SCHOOL CORPORATION AND THE SUPPORT OF OUR COMMUNITY.
SO I THINK THAT'S A GOOD POINT.
I HAVE A LOT OF THAT DATA FROM BEFORE, FROM THE PAC, THE POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE CHAIR AS WELL AS FROM MR. REUTER. I WOULD TELL YOU THAT MIKE, MIKE REUTER AND DR.
SO TRYING TO FIGURE OUT HOW WE GET IN FRONT OF PEOPLE.
BUT THAT'S DATA WE'RE GATHERING.
YOUR TOES I THINK ARE KEY, BUT I THINK THE SOCIAL MEDIA AND THE VOTER DATA ARE JUST GOING TO BE KEY BECAUSE THERE IS A COMPONENT OF THIS THAT IS WAKING UP THE PEOPLE WHO SUPPORT YOU AND NOT THE ONES THAT DON'T.
I MEAN, IT'S VERY MUCH A STRATEGY.
VERY MUCH. I STILL HAVE ANOTHER HOUR AND A HALF.
[01:15:08]
NO, I'M JUST KIDDING. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? WITH THAT, WE ARE ADJOURNED.THANK YOU.
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.