All towns · plymouth

Plymouth Elementary School Board - September 14th

Video

Okay. So, it's 5:31. I'm going to call
the meeting to order. Uh, agenda review
disposition. Is there anything to add?
>> Yes. Just under other business, I have
snowplow proposals and end of year
report.
>> Okay.
>> All right. Minutes of August 10th, 2026.
Did everybody get a chance to read the
minutes?
>> All right. Was there any uh questions on
the minutes? Any corrections?
Someone want to make a motion to approve
the minutes as written.
>> All right. Someone has second.
>> I'll second.
>> All right. Perfect. Thanks, Sam. All in
favor?
>> Okay. Any extensions?
>> Uh, principal's report. Linda.
>> Yes.
>> Passing it over to you.
>> All right. So, we've got 373 kids
enrolled.
>> We 373.
We have
um
109 students. Do you want to broke down
by grade level?
>> I don't mind. I just
>> Yeah, if you have that, I would love
that.
>> Okay, sure. So, um in kindergarten, we
have 31. In first grade, we have 49.
In second grade,
we have 29.
Third grade is 41.
Fourth grade is 46,
fifth 37,
6 39,
7th 51,
and 8 uh 850.
>> Thank you.
>> Um, of course, we've opened school and
it's been a really good opening.
Everybody is was happy to be back in
school. They um given smiles on the
first day with exception some of the
little ones, you know,
but even that was not a major thing.
>> I saw a couple parents.
>> Yeah. [laughter]
Yes.
>> They um I had one parent uh that
>> said her child was really, okay, stay
with them. You know, we're fine. You're
good. Um the eighth graders went away on
their trip and they came back. They they
looked so tired when they came back,
which they should have, but they came
back. Um they had teas for them and uh
see I can't remember. Uh the parents
donated and helped set up the pizza.
They had as soon as they got back, they
u they were all excited about being
back, being tired, and getting ready for
the yard sale that was on Saturday. So
that was good. Um the one of the changes
that we made this year was having
breakfast in the class. Not in the
classrooms anymore. They're in the the
cafeteria. So that was a pulled over
from CO. So we've changed that. Students
come in. We start we open the doors
about uh 8:15. We make an announcement
outside. If you want breakfast, you can
come on in. And some of the kids go in.
Not a lot, but when the buses get here,
doesn't matter what time the buses come
in, they go to breakfast. They eat. So
far, it's getting better. The timing is
still a little rough uh because some of
the kids want to just socialize, you
know.
>> So, they're eating breakfast in the
cafeteria.
>> Yes. Okay.
>> Yes. And um then by 8:45 they're back in
the classrooms within reason within a
couple minutes and then the teachers
take attendance and that that sets the
the tone for learning. Um, one of the
reasons we changed that was because
there's a lot of grazing going on in the
classroom and uh I wanted to get to the
point where we just we're done and and
it makes me of course too.
>> Um, but it's it's really been it's been
a really good start to the year. Uh, Mr.
Simon is not here, but I'll tell you
that the discipline and things that we
put in place last year have really had a
solid effect on Owing. Um, there have
been minor things, minor imperfections.
And today I talked to a student who had
had a little bit of a bump and we talked
about what he had to do about finishing
the assignment that he didn't want to
do. I said, "Then tomorrow when you come
in, we need to talk about consequences."
And um so as he was leaving for the day,
he told the person that he was working
with, "Oh, wait. I've got to go see Dr.
Green. I've got to talk about my
consequence." And I went, "Yes,
[laughter] because now it's part of the
culture, right?" you know, and and yet
he he owned it, you know, which is
that's that's a big thing.
>> Yeah.
>> So, um only minor thoughts and things
that please
>> um coming up we've got the seventh grade
overnight trip to Geneva Point this
week, Thursday and Friday. Uh sixth
grade's going to Maine, which part Maine
next week. Um and next week we've got
Junk Defant coming in. And I have to say
that deliberately because I'm so afraid
I'm going to say something that's not
appropriate sometimes. Um but it's this
man is coming. His name is Jeff Irwin.
He's the artist in residence program
that we're coming in for. He's going to
teach kids how to make instruments from
junk. And then we're going to work with
third through fifth grade um Monday
afternoon through Friday.
We've got a performance Monday or Friday
afternoon for the whole school and
parents will get an invitation to come
to that as well. U it's funded of course
through our title program. So again
parents we'd love for you to fill out
free lunch form. So that helps with all
that. That's a little plug for that
parents listen. Um the things that we're
that are going on currently. Oh wait one
thing here the uh October 1st is the PES
cross country invitational. There will
be lots of extra traffic after school
and the lower parking lot will be
inaccessible during this evening. So
that's a good thing to remember. Uh Ames
web beginning of year things are in
progress and um teachers are doing that
periodically trying not to doing more
than what the kids can handle on given
day. Of course we're also going to be
we're starting our den times which is
our intervention
um thing things that are we're doing a
little differently this year. for us all
at the same time. That starts the week
of October 5th. And uh that means that
we're going to be assessing kids,
putting them in groups, and then trying
to make it. Doesn't matter what grade
level, it can be crossrade level. And uh
then we're going to teach the skill
that's the lowest skill. It's all it's
all math to begin with. And so I'm
excited about that. That's going to be
something new for teachers and kids, but
we're excited about it. Um, shout out to
a couple of kids. Eighth graders Avery
McCormack, Charlie Hampton, Frampton,
and Finny.
Have to say again. Uh, they've been
doing a great job leading the all school
pledge over the intercom every morning.
It's very they, someone told me
yesterday that they love the way the
kids are pacing that because sometimes
it's slow and sometimes it's real fast.
They made this that was really good. Um,
also want to shout out to our teachers,
our new teachers, Trevor Kitty Green,
they have just come in and just they act
like they're part they've been part of
this community forever. And Trevor has,
but [laughter]
he's part of this school community. So,
uh, and Kitty's just fit right in. She's
just a great asset to what we're trying
to accomplish here.
>> She's the language teacher.
>> Yes. Yes. And uh we we decided we're
going to do a um a color guard because
there's there's a brown, there's two
greens, there's whites. So, we might as
well [laughter] do something. We don't
have any purples. So, and we've got a
black. Our speech therapist assistant is
her classic is black. So, we've got some
of the colors. We're going to do colors.
Um PTA, the Merit Village Savings Bank
program starts this Thursday. students
can open up a savings account and
deposit funds every Thursday during um
the morning in the cafeteria. Um that's
that's really good program. I am really
pleased with what's going on there. Mr.
Cormier has a couple things. Um there we
are looking at the new signs to go
outside the classroom doors that say
that the number that's a little bit more
visible than what we have here
currently. They I think the high school
has already done that. So, it's much
more it's easily read.
>> Yes. Right.
>> And uh we don't put names on there. We
just put numbers, but it's
>> in the event that we need somebody to
put up what number is this real quickly.
It's visually appealing as well. So,
Rick's we're good for that. Um
and Mr. Detail has some things that's
going on with the the Oh, I'm
disciplined. It's going typically the
the other thing I wanted to mention is
our new policy about uh Chromebooks.
I've had it's it's been accepted very
well. There's been no push back about
not being able to take Chromebooks off
except for the eighth grade. They can
still do that. But no, I've had no push
back from anyone that I'm aware of. It
was not come to me. And uh dress code
policy changed that. So there's no Um,
haven't we got any push back about that
as well? Uh, it's it's a little bit more
forgiving that the way this one is, but
um, that that part's going involved,
too. Um, Mr. Dutale says, "It is a
fantastic start to the fall sports this
year. There's been a number of game
changes and cancellations and
rescheduled games and time changes, but
through it all, our students, athletes,
coaches, and families have been very
flexible and supportive. A big thank you
to all them.
Um he's got he's giving me some numbers
for the the different uh sports things.
So we got volleyball here's 21.
Field hockey 18.
Co-ed flag football 11.
Seventh and eight girls soccer 14.
Seventh and eight boys soccer 16.
Fifth and sixth co soccer 25.
any co-ed cross country 17.
>> Any questions for me?
>> All good. Thank you.
>> Thank you very much.
>> And as the town clerk, thanks for
letting us use gym to vote. Very
successful
>> and I appreciate John Cormier's staff
and John and everyone because they're
always really helpful. So as the clerk,
>> do you have a good turnout performance?
Yeah, it's a good turnout.
>> Yep.
>> Yeah. About 77352
new voters.
>> Oh, wow.
>> A lot more.
>> Yeah. So, November will be much busier,
but we're not the school's not in
session.
>> We none of our schools are.
>> Yeah.
>> The primaries are they sorry are they
every year?
>> Every two.
>> That's what it's called. Every two
years. So, maybe we can adjust calendar
days and those years too. Yeah, how we
would do it in September, but that's
when
>> Well, they're moving the primary in 2028
till June.
>> So, it won't affect schools at school at
all, actually, which is actually better.
>> Yes, it is.
>> Right. [laughter] Unless you have a
left, let's hope that doesn't happen.
>> Let's hope that fingers crossed that
doesn't happen.
[laughter]
>> Two hour delay.
>> Uh, privilege of the floor. Number one,
Geneva, thanks for being here.
>> So efficient. Um
and I are going to work on the I voted
sticker um for the town of Plymouth and
I like to tie that into the fourth
graders uh New Hampshire history
curriculum. Um we made this happen a few
years ago, three or four now. Um and the
town is really excited to have stickers
made by our students. So, we're gonna go
for that again.
>> And then the state of New Hampshire
copied the town of Plymouth because then
they did the statewide
>> because it was such a good idea.
>> Thanks, Geneva. [laughter]
>> And then the state said no digital
designs and so
>> um yeah, we like to tie that into the
fourth grade and what they're already
studying.
>> Great. And then we have the voters vote
on it. It's fun.
Is that it? Okay. Anyone on Zoom?
>> No.
All right. Discussion items. Bullying
prevention policy update.
So, the first uh policy tonight is an
updated one due to legislation. And the
the only changes from the previous
policy is one is that now if there's a
substantiated bullying complaint that we
must meet with the perpetrator as well
which is not in the law prior to the
other
>> who must
>> the administration. Okay. Yeah. Um and
then the other piece is tied into the
teachers and administrators code of
conduct that if we do not report
uh immediately it can tie into loss of
certification which is threaded through
lots of legislation. Um that piece um so
this policy reflects the updated law.
I I had a quick question just on the
definition of perpetrator that it's only
a student. It's a means a student who
engages in bullying. So is there a
separate policy if it's like an adult?
>> So this is always student to student.
>> Student to student.
>> Yeah. It's only student to student.
>> That's that's this one's only that.
>> Yes. Okay.
>> Yes. There's more. We have her
anti-harassment policies. staff staff
are a complete procedure for anyone
mistreating a child.
So
the catch all for all of them.
>> And then the last the very last
paragraph talks about immunity
and under 193-f
employees on students other persons
covered by this policy will be immune
from civil liability for good faith
conduct
>> just like a civil lawsuit separate from
Yes, this
>> correct.
>> All of the previous one too
>> as well. Yeah.
>> I mean it was pretty straightforward
when I read.
>> Yeah, if you're comfortable approving it
because it really the only it's two two
legislative updates.
>> Yeah,
>> that would require
>> that's that I have to follow anyways
right now. [laughter] The publicity,
>> right? So, I'm fine with that.
>> And the changes, just um make sure
because I'm sorry.
Um they're the highlights. The things
that are highlighted.
>> Um they are I don't know. She did
highlight. Those are the only two
changes.
>> Okay. So, what are the highlighted
things?
>> I think that
>> just the paragraphs. I think that that's
a piece that highlights that in the
original document. It's just yellow in
color.
>> Yeah. Yeah, it says so it's is it just
um directing us like a cross reference?
>> Yes.
>> That's what it seemed like.
>> Yeah.
>> Yeah. This comes right from your school
past school board association.
>> So would someone like to make a motion
to approve the policy?
>> I move that we approve the policy.
>> Okay.
So second
>> I will second.
>> Thanks Sam. All in favor? Hi.
>> Hi. Thanks.
>> Uh the next policy is the uh
non-enrolled students. So I talked a
little bit about this at our last
meeting about the changes in the law
around
um
basically there is no more [laughter]
>> that's the best way I can describe it.
>> Is no more what
>> law release about this. So, homeschooled
student, EFA students can now attend up
to 50% of the time without being um
charged anything. Uh homeschooled
students can attend as much as they
want. Um and then we do get uh 0.15
adequacy for every class beyond 50%.
So, we do get some
1.5
[laughter]
It's 0.15.
>> This it's it was incredible reading it.
If you reach capacity, it doesn't they
have equal
>> they have the same rights as anybody
attending full time,
>> but they have to be a resident of
Plymouth.
>> Correct. That is still true. Yeah.
>> Might not be true next year. We'll see.
>> They have to reside in Plymouth or one
of their parents has to reside in
>> this. Okay. So they have to be Plymouth
residents. The only time that it they
can choose is in a divorce situation
where one student, one parent lives one
place and one the other. That's separate
than this. But it's not 50/50% anymore
or where they lay their head the most.
It's just either one. So
>> that's what I thought.
>> Yeah.
>> Yeah. So they can just choose. Their
parents have to have their primary
residence has to be in one of the towns.
If the student is a resident of
Plymouth, why are they not enrolled?
>> They could be school. They could be
going to student
village charter school half the time and
then half the time here. They could be
going to um doing online school and then
attending here for
whatever.
So my other question is this specific to
all students including students with
special education needs or is that a
separate
>> all students?
>> All students
>> all students.
>> So
>> special education law is separate.
>> Yeah.
>> Um
and if they're not rolled it's a kind of
a separate set of rules.
>> Okay.
>> Yeah.
>> Okay.
>> So this is a change from the way it was
before.
>> Oh yes.
>> Oh yeah. This is the gateway for the
future.
>> This is the state trying to defundation.
>> Yeah.
>> Um
>> and not getting defunded anymore.
>> Correct.
>> Yeah.
>> And then so last year it talked about
the double dipping. I I did not we did
not allow BFA students to attend at all
>> because they were collecting a voucher
or payment
>> to go somewhere else. But now they can
do that and that school up to 15%
without a charge if they're a resident
employment
>> and potentially go over capacities to
bump another student
>> that's already
>> that's enrolled here out
>> I mean I I understand the conceptual
concern are there a lot I mean would we
do do we now anticipate an influx of
significant number of students because
>> had an increase sauy
of now EFA students attending public
their resident schools for
>> EFA is
>> education freedom account the voucher
the um voucher program really
>> so we we have had an influx
>> there's been an influx not necessarily
here at elementary but I've seen it
high school I've seen it at the other
elementary schools so it's a matter of
folks learning about
>> exactly
>> these new so it will be be that you have
many homes school students that take
advantage of different programs
>> it's not unusual
>> yeah would do you have an idea of how
many homeschool students we have just a
handful like
>> so remember the new law is they don't
have to tell us
>> so [laughter]
like that's new this year
>> that's new as of yeah this year
>> but we don't have there's not any
conflict with it.
>> There's what?
>> There's no conflict, you know,
it's it's not involved.
>> Okay.
>> So, so far not a huge impact there, but
>> I would imagine it would pick
the unified arts and sports most
>> typically. I have found that more
homeschool students are asking for
content area as well
>> in the upper grades and lower grades.
>> Interesting.
>> More so now.
>> And does this affect
teacher contract
>> or does it not matter because it's what
the law is?
>> Yeah, it doesn't.
>> So it doesn't.
>> Okay.
>> But there's the potential that more
families could stay home with a voucher
and pick and choose and choose what they
do at school. Yeah, it's hard, you know,
like if if there's more of an influx,
it's hard to kind of keep track of those
that are in and out constantly.
>> You know,
>> what would happen if you like these I
mean obviously these are what if
scenarios and potential scenarios that
you have an influx in a grade that would
reach capacity in math
for instance and then those students
leave like do you then need to bring in
you need to bring in another teacher?
Well, it could it could impact uh
resource allocation as well if it gets
Yeah, it it could do that in any
program.
>> Yeah. Okay.
>> But we have
[laughter]
>> the ball coming down.
>> Yeah. Yeah. Yeah.
>> So, we have to do it. We don't have a
choice.
>> I have to do it now anyways again. One
of those things.
>> One of those things
>> already being implemented.
>> Yeah. So if you're comfortable,
not that you're comfortable,
[laughter]
we have to do it. So we need a motion,
too.
>> So I'm not comfortable.
So I will make a motion. I'll second
that.
>> Okay. All in favor?
>> I move. [laughter]
>> Okay. All right. Thanks. And then we
have a snow plow contract and an end of
the year report.
>> Yes. So I have two snowplow bids.
>> Okay.
>> Um
>> Wow.
>> Proposals.
>> So launch one.
>> Uh we have one from Piper that is in a a
contract. We usually do a joint contract
with the high school. High school
already approved Piper to do it. So you
get a discount if you agree as well. Um
and which I do anticipate that. So it's
three-year contract. Uh, if Rumy and
Plymouth Elementary, Plymouth High
School all go together, it's 37,620.
If you all do individuals, your contract
is 396. I do anticipate that Rumpy will
probably choose Piper as well. You've
got one other quote for 36,000 from W
right landscaping
um which is the cheaper bid although I
do not recommend this from our
facilities department um we have
contracted with this company before and
they do not have the capacity to handle
this um job. So we've had had that
before. So I would recommend that you go
with Piper. Um they leave the machine
here. They're here on time. You've had
them for years. It's a big parking lot
to get going. They're here early before
school. They're they communicate great.
Um,
and so that's what I would recommend.
>> And that you said that you currently
have them.
>> Yes, you've had them for
>> as long as they for a long time.
>> They do the high school as well. Yeah.
>> I make a motion to go continue.
>> Okay. Second.
>> Okay. All in favor?
>> Thanks.
>> Who was the first and second?
>> Um, Jess motioned. Jen second.
>> And we all said yay. [laughter]
>> All right. And then end of the year
report. So, the next thing I'm going to
be sending around
is a signature page. two spots you have
to sign. Amy, you are above,
>> okay,
>> the group. Everyone else signs down
here. That's first, but it's all our
financials for the end of the year. All
of our
>> to submit to the DOE25s, which which is
all they're all approved and ready to
go. And here's the second page to sign
on. Again, Amy at the top, everybody
else at the bottom. I'm gonna pass
around and just briefly review the kind
of where we ended up at the end of the
year. Please keep these for your files.
These are super helpful when we go
through budget again.
So,
>> is this the same as what we're signing?
>> Yes. Yes. That's just the summary of
what it is.
Is there more than one place in each of
these?
>> What's that?
>> Nothing. I figured it out.
>> So,
the first page goes over your general
fund balance. So, you see there's a
historical piece there. What was great
is that the governor did veto um the
bill that that was going to get rid of
your quitting fund balance. So you
continue to are able to carry it over um
for emergencies such as special
education placements or facilities
issues. So if you look towards the
bottom you'll see second to last line
FY26 fund balance retain
379,482.
If that was not vetoed you would have
lost that and you would have had to make
up that piece in your next budgeting
cycle if the cap would have gone
through. the 3% went through
>> which would have been you're making up a
half a million dollars before you even
get started.
>> Yeah. So that was good that that go
through. Um and then your uh unreserved
fund balance was 195 um 217 that went to
offset taxes. So you did end up giving
back some. And then you could just see
the historical perspective above.
The next piece is the revenue. I'll
quickly go over this piece. Catastrophic
aid is whenever you have a student
placed at a district that exceeds three
and a half times the cost of tuition.
Um, we did not have anyone this year. We
did not expect anybody. So, at zero,
that's what we expected. Adequate
education grant is your adequacy. You
can see we were down 87,379.
That's partly due to enrollment, but not
all due to enrollment. So, the more you
decline in enrollment, the less money
you get. Um, it also has a whole bunch
of other factors that uh count into that
piece. National Forest Reserve, uh, we
did get a little bit more. It's always
around 2500 to 3,000. So, you're got
488. Good. Medicaid
are for students that are Medicaid
eligible that we can recoup for services
for anything from rehab assistance,
occupational therapy, physical therapy,
nursing, etc. that you provide in
schools. We expected 45,000 looked at
about 58,318.
So we were to the good 13,318.
So that worked out really really well.
There is a lot more oversight with
Medicaid and more restrictions. I'm not
sure next year will go the same, but for
now we'll take it.
Uh security grant is no longer here. The
idea reimbursement, that's your
allocation federally for your special ed
grant. That's what comes down federally.
Remember, we weren't sure if we were
going to get it. Um your allocation is
usually around 120,000. This year
136,223
based on um it's now sent to us in a
block grant and then the state just
disseminates it from there. The Office
of Special Ed has now officially moved
out of the Department of Ed federally
and is in HHS Health and Human Services.
So no longer under
that.
Side note, [laughter]
no services reimbursement. You used to
share your ELLL teacher with other um
districts. Uh you now have a full case
load here. So you have you are taking
100% of that cost.
>> Can I ask you a question? Side note on
the EL students. How many do we have?
Last year we had like 18. I'm curious
how many we have. if we can have that
for the next school meeting. It doesn't
have to be now.
>> It es and flows here and honestly I I
would guess to say you've lost some. Um
but from last year you had a huge
influx.
>> Yeah. I would just be curious what that
number is for the next board meeting if
you could get that for me. Thank you.
>> I think I know but I don't want to
fine. Next month is totally fine.
>> Thank you. [snorts]
>> So preschool uh special ed. So this is
your preschool tuition students. So for
tuition you get 16 824 for special ed.
Um
I'm sorry, [snorts] 16,824 more than
anticipated. So those are that's your
tuition you're getting from either other
schools or parents. Um special ed uh
that's what you're getting in addition
to so for special ed services $77,6
which is more than we anticipated.
>> Where does that money come from?
uh parents or school all the special ed
comes from setting schools.
>> Okay.
>> So if you have a student from RNE
>> Yeah.
>> because the only two two preschools we
have in the SAU are here.
>> Okay.
>> And in Hampton.
>> Okay. So it comes from other schools.
>> It comes from all over the place. All
right. Yeah. Special ed never comes from
the parent.
>> No.
>> Right.
>> Regular ed is zero.
>> But remember all your preschool tuition
is in there. So I think that's just
accounting piece.
>> Um individuals so other people getting
paid in addition to um so it can be up
that can be coming from parents as well.
And then PEP is the preschool
uh
I forget what PEP stands for so long
ago. Fran made it up I think years ago.
And it basically is the special ed team
that you're paying for here. So other
districts have to pay for like offset
the cost of the special ed teacher in
the preschool. And it's a shared
services piece. That's that's what put
>> That's not grant funed. I thought that
was grant funed.
>> Not all. Some is. Some of the IDA
allocation goes to offset the preschool
coordinator as well.
>> So we make preschool work in all
different ways.
>> Earnings on investment is 32. Sale bond
uh zero. transfer from capital reserve.
That's what you vote on 90,000.
Uh miscellaneous
is 5,161.
Unreserved fund balance we read over
earlier at the total bottom all the way
to the right you had 70,414
um that came in that was um
unexpected. So that that's really good
to kind of offset that that bottom line
as well.
So where does that money go?
>> So it goes into your bottom line and
then to offset the the taxes.
>> It goes into
>> Yeah. Yeah.
>> So that's the amount we're going to
offset
>> that too. Yeah.
>> Revenue. So food service fund is on the
next page. Breaks that piece out.
And then the capital reserve fund is the
next page to get a historical look at
your capital reserve. Your balance as of
63026 is 121,86356.
That does not include what you voted on
to transfer rates. So that will add to
it at that point.
>> I'm sorry, what what number did you just
give? 136.
>> 121863
um as of 6:30 26.
>> Yep. So just keep this on record. It's
good to have somebody who's like what
did you get back last year or you know
what what do we have in our capital
reserve to do the projects. It's just a
nice nice good to have there as we start
the budgeting process.
>> Kyla when you say that the it doesn't
include the amount we voted so that
50,000 transfer in from 2026 that's from
previous
>> that comes out seven. Yeah it's all from
the previous previous year.
So, we voted to add
>> if there was any money left over at the
end, $50,000 of it would go into the
unreserved fund balance. It's a war.
>> So, like so for Yes. But you also um
have some leftover funds that go to it
and you put in a certain amount on top
of it. So, it's actually more than that.
And then the 90
sorry, the 90,000 is what he took out
for the 25 26 school year. That was
taken out July 1, 2025 to do the
project, whatever we needed.
>> Yeah.
>> So, is the current balance higher than
12,000 each?
>> Absolutely. Y
>> does it does it include that 70,000?
>> It's going to include whatever you put
in there. Y
>> doesn't include the 50,000 that we voted
on.
>> It next year's will include what you put
in and then what you took out for the
project that you did over the summer.
>> Yeah.
>> Which I apologize. I don't have that
with me right now.
>> So that's just for your files
>> and and then the retain fund balance the
379 for 882.
>> Yes.
>> So that is
can you please give a quick refresher on
that that number the definition of that
number the retained fund balance. So,
you can I'm gonna I wish Dan was here.
He's a little bit better at it than I
am, but you can take a portion of your
undeserved um balance up to a certain
percentage and I believe it used to be
five and it's now either two or three.
Don't quote me on that. Um but you can
basically save
for any catastrophic issues that happen
whether it be special usually special
education act is replacement or
facilities the boiler burst or some do
you have a savings
>> yeah and sometimes we've used it in the
past to offset the current budget like
if our budget was up a certain dollar
amount I believe that you could use that
money to offset the budget.
>> You could have a quick hearing.
>> Yeah.
>> Yeah. And so if you get an out of
district placement now, right,
>> that you didn't budget for, you could
have a quick hearing say, okay, 300 of
this is going towards that. So you don't
have to put a freeze on your own budget.
>> So quick question. Suppose um this 3%
tax cut goes through.
um that could very well impact teacher
salaries
um that have already been negotiated and
voted on and everything else. Um could
that retain fund balance be used? No,
>> it can't be used for that. It's got to
be more
>> and my guess is [clears throat] the
legislaturator is going to go after it
again,
>> right? My guess is as well.
>> Yeah.
>> Um I know in Bristol they ended up
calling in all of the teachers and
saying we can't fund you. Yeah, their
warrant article didn't pass, which they
thought it did.
>> So, they had to return all teacher
contracts with last year's benefits.
>> Okay,
>> that's a whole other [laughter]
>> I just can't even imagine.
>> So, I would imagine in a situation like
that
that we would fund the teachers and cut
other programs. Was it was it not that
the
>> I mean
>> the tax cap pass though
>> so the tax it's a simple but they got
there so they're collect they have
collective bargaining agreement warrant
article and they had a facilities
warrant to exceed so this is good to
know if you want to override the tax cap
it's not a simple majority vote it's 60%
vote
>> so it was a simple majority but not
enough to pass Oh,
>> because it exceeded the tax cap.
>> So, and they didn't know the forms they
submitted the DRA return says.
>> So, maybe it passed it like 55%.
>> Like I think it was 51%.
>> It was it was in the 50s. I know that,
but it when you have a tax cap to
>> Well, that was their own personal tax
cap.
>> They have that anytime.
>> Our tax cap warrant article was denied,
>> right?
>> It was not approved for the town.
>> Crystal is like
They have that. They have that in place.
>> That's already there. Yeah. Yeah. The
voters in Plymouth voted down the tax
>> and we had a couple other towns that
voted down tax last year.
>> Yeah. I'm just worried about the
statewide one,
>> right?
>> The one So,
one of our board members along with
another member of the public uh filed a
lawsuit last week against this the the
confusing wording of the um warrant
article. It was heard by the courts in
conquered on Friday. Uh they asked for
an injunction basically so it doesn't
get put on the ballot. Oh,
so a decision is going to be made within
the next day or two because the ballots
have to be printed and out um by
Thursday. So we will get a decision in
the next couple of days. It's really a
tossup if it it's going to happen. The
state's argument was too little, too
late, doesn't fall within its we didn't
even know on the contents of the lawsuit
itself. They went on the timing of it.
So,
>> it's going to be interesting to see.
>> And there's some issues with the wording
apparently.
>> Well, because and and that, you know,
and I can't explain it. There's been no
technical advisory and I'm not going to
try to explain it because I don't know
what it means and neither does the DRA
or anybody. So,
>> that's helpful. So there's my [laughter]
bananas.
>> So we'll see.
>> We might not be voting on it, but other
towns might be voting.
>> No, that was from the state.
>> That's for the state.
>> So it might not even get on the ballot.
>> If the injunction is granted this week,
>> let's hope.
>> But it's really
>> it's it's going to be interesting to
see.
>> Yeah. And I I wouldn't be surprised if
there isn't um the decision made
tomorrow.
>> True.
>> All right. Privilege of the floor number
two.
All right. Did everybody sign the
>> Okay, perfect. And is there any
comments?
>> It's one of those things I have to
>> that. And then the um Do you have the
Oh.
Take your time.
>> All right. So, [laughter] we just need a
motion to go into
>> Oh, do you have something else?
>> Did you put anything you want to say?
>> Geneva didn't say anything.
[laughter]
>> All right.
>> I will go into non public.
>> Okay.
>> I'll second.
>> Thanks. [laughter]
>> All right. Thanks [laughter] for coming
to Nemo.