Rebecca Connolly presented the March financials to the board. 

The FY25 budget surplus is projected to be $103,240.00 for FY25 Draft Budget. Mr. Sneed explained that this number reflects the $300k he needs to move out of the budget to continue to fund previously grant programs. Mr. Sneed is reporting that the budget of next year will be "tight" because COVID grant money will not be available next year.  COVID grant money is going from $1.7M to $0 next year.

The school will be hiring a full time principal and special education coordinator next year. All salaries at the school were increased by 3% which is the same as the district. The school will not be hiring contract teachers next year to save on the premiums charged and the school will not be contracting with SchoolWorks next year. We are decreasing our contract behavior health technicians but will still be assisting and offering services for behavioral health needs of the students through other services. Mr. Sneed reviewed with the board how money will be moved around within the budget to keep the budget at a $100k surplus next year. While we will be cutting costs, we will not be cutting services for the students or teachers. Mr. Sneed believes that the outcome will be the same using TAs for behavioral health needs instead of working with the consultants and far more cost effective. The capital budget is projected to be at $200k. The gymnasium project has been taken off the table for the time being. 

Mr. Sneed reviewed staffing with the board. Full time employees have increased by 21% since 2020 for all employees across the board, not just teachers. Offer letters for staff will be going out tomorrow. Mr. Sneed also reports that he has started the interview process for principal candidates. 

Mr. Sneed reports that the numbers jumped this month for suspensions, we had 33 suspensions this month from 9 last month. Mr. Sneed also reports that the school is monitoring this. R. Connolly asked "what has changed" in school policy that would result in this increase in suspensions. Mr. Sneed reports that there are still 2 hall monitors. Females are 60% of the suspensions while males make up 40% (year to date suspensions). The school is concentrating on how teachers can change their behavior around discipline to hopefully change these numbers in a more positive direction. 

The BACPS School Culture plan was outlined for the board. The goal is to decrease suspension, improve restorative justice practices and improve classroom management and the culture at the school. 

The school will continue with its uniform policy but is expanding it to a clothing policy (Baystate Academy clothing available on a specific website). The school will also be implementing cell phone pouches and will continue using bathroom passes.

The school has a goal of reaching 90% for leaders to regularly observe instruction and progress monitor the structures to ensure accountability. As of March 2024, we are at 11%. 

We are also looking at chronic absenteeism. We are at 87% attendance as of March 2024. This includes excused, unexcused and suspensions.