Minutes were tabled to next meeting. 

Mr. Michelot began the discussion on his suggestion to fund capital items as part of the FY24 budget as prioritized below:

• Tech upgrades – projects in the classroom and devices.
• Food service – new milk coolers.
• Bobcat approved in FY23 did not get delivered until early winter of FY24.
• Updates to high school gym – add project, sound system and screen.

Discussion ensued. In response to Mr. Yezukevich’ question on the purchase order for the bobcat, Ms. Calvert stated that due to lack of communication from the manufacturer, the purchase order did not remain open.

In response to Mr. Martin’s suggestion on purchasing items as operating expenses rather than as capital, Mr. Michelot stated that there were items that could be funded in operating expenses like the cutting down of trees and purchase of paint for the middle school project. Ms. Berkowitz added that marketing materials like banners for staff and student recruitment , fairs and conferences and updating the website could be funded from operating expenses. Posting banners across the campus could also be purchased for beautification and curb appeal. Ms. Calvert stated that she had asked Ms. Foley for her list of items.

Mr. Yezukevich was in favor of reallocating available budget balances across accounts as they saw fit. The only items that would need to be pre-approved would be those items that may be controversial and may need full Board approval. Capital expenditures could be moved along by the end of June, but at any rate small allocations from the operating budget should be made by the end of the fiscal year. Mr. Dweik was in favor of spending the resources we have for the benefit of the students.

Ms. Berkowitz will assemble a list of items that may be funded through the operating budget. Mr. Martin stated that if there is money available that needs to be spent, it should be spent wisely.

Mr. Yezukevich left the meeting.

Discussion ensued on groups of items that could be purchased out of the operating budget and those that needed to remain as capital items, like the upgrades to the high school gym in the amount of $74K. Items under $5K/each that can be broken down to purchase this year and some next year were projectors, milk coolers, chromebooks and staff laptops and docking stations.

Discussion ensued. Mr. Michelot stated that, insofar as there is no auditorium and the cafetorium does not have capacity, the gym is the largest space used as a quasi-auditorium for graduation, professional development and other events both by teachers and students. This upgrade would not affect the present HVAC project.

Mr. Michelot also stated that purchase of new furniture for the cafetorium is needed, to replace the rental of furniture five or six times a year at a cost of over $10K.

Mr. Dweik was concerned that other more valuable projects would be delayed, like the development of a soccer field. Mr. Michelot stated that he had received architectural quotes on doing a feasibility study on property to be utilized, i.e. the three existing houses, a playing field and a redesign of the parking lot at the elementary school or additional buildings for office space. Installing a commercial kitchen would enable the school to cook its own meals and not rely on vendor-supplied meals for school lunch. Also included would be ways to improve the traffic patterns for buses and parents and a redesign of the redesign of the pit area.

Mr. Dweik noted that these changes would have a greater impact than the projector project on the retention of present students and recruitment of new ones.

Mr. Michelot stated that the new kitchen building would require the district connecting to town sewer at an approximate cost of $100K.

Ms. Calvert will discuss changing the capital threshold to $8K with the auditors.

Other projects to be funded from the operating budget were the landscaping project for beautification. Mr. Michelot is obtaining quotes on the adding more windows in certain parts of the high school for security purposes.

No executive session.