Special Budget Meeting

Note: Transcripts are generated from video auto-captions. While highly accurate, they are non-official and do not meet State Archivist record-keeping requirements.

• 0:00
  Call to Order and Roll Call

  The meeting is called to order, and the Superintendent conducts the roll call of board members.
• 0:02
  Chair's Opening Remarks (DeAngelis)

  Chair DeAngelis apologizes for not previously acknowledging the hardship of job losses and reads a statement from the mayor clarifying the cancellation of a City Council meeting. She outlines the meeting's procedure, starting with a budget update, then board positions, public comment, and finally the votes.
• 0:05
  FY27 Budget Update (Dr. Jo Prince)

  Assistant Superintendent Dr. Jo Prince begins an overview of the budget proposal, starting with the rationale for elementary school reconfiguration.
• 0:07
  Academic Data and Equity Rationale (Dr. Jo Prince)

  Dr. Prince presents data showing significant academic achievement gaps between the district's elementary schools and among student subgroups. She frames the reconfiguration proposal as a necessary step to address these inequities and improve outcomes for all students.
• 0:09
  Elementary Transition Plan Overview (Dr. Jo Prince)

  Dr. Prince outlines a roadmap for the elementary transition, regardless of which option is chosen. The plan includes stakeholder meetings, a transition committee, and assigning the Kaler principal to lead the effort, drawing on lessons from the previous middle school merger.
• 0:17
  Proposed Administrative and Staffing Changes (Dr. Jo Prince)

  Dr. Prince details the latest changes to the budget proposal, including the reduction of the DEI Director and an Assistant Director of Special Education, reclassifying them as instructional strategist positions within the teacher's union. She notes this increases the percentage of cuts from the director unit to 23%.
• 0:27
  Board Discussion on Budget and Reconfiguration

  Board members begin asking clarifying questions about the budget presentation, reconfiguration plans, and the process.

  • 0:28 Daniel Feller
    Member Feller asks about the status of state funding, health insurance rates, the proposed new duties for bus drivers, and the cost savings associated with reclassifying director roles.
  • 0:32 Elyse T. Richardson
    Member Richardson asks about the process for union consultations on changed working conditions, the comparative costs of moving for different reconfiguration options, and the rationale for cutting the percussion ed tech position.
  • 0:49 Adrian Risch
    Member Risch raises process concerns, referencing a teacher survey showing a desire for more administrative cuts and asking if the board can go back to the City Council for more funding.
  • 1:01 Rosemary DeAngelis
    Chair DeAngelis questions the rationale for changing the DEI position from a coordinator to a strategist, noting the minimal cost savings and the potential to lose a key BIPOC leader for no financial gain.
• 1:21
  Board Positions on School Closure

  The Chair asks board members to state their positions on the proposal to close an elementary school.

  • 1:22 Daniel Feller
    Member Feller states his support for closing Kaler Elementary. He argues it is the school that minimizes harm due to its low enrollment, underutilization, and the proximity of its students to other schools.
  • 1:27 Tyler Smith
    Member Smith concurs with closing Kaler, adding a long-term perspective that the city is unlikely to build new schools and that enrollment decline will likely continue, making consolidation necessary.
  • 1:29 Elyse T. Richardson
    Member Richardson emotionally agrees to close Kaler, stating she had to keep the decision simple based on student numbers, building size, and location, despite the devastating impact on the community.
• 1:37
  Board Positions on Reconfiguration

  Board members share their views on whether to adopt Option A (reconfiguration) or Option B (keep K-4 neighborhood schools).

  • 1:38 Tyler Smith
    Member Smith states his support for reconfiguration (Option A), arguing it is the best way to equitably distribute resources, mitigate future enrollment decline issues, and provide stability in the long run.
  • 1:42 Daniel Feller
    Member Feller states he cannot vote for reconfiguration at this time because he doesn't have a detailed enough plan to understand what it will look like, despite seeing its potential benefits.
  • 1:45 Elyse T. Richardson
    Member Richardson opposes immediate reconfiguration, arguing the timeline is too rushed, the plan lacks detail, and the district is taking on too much change at once while staff morale is low.
• 2:11
  Public Comment

  Dozens of community members speak. Major themes include opposition to the rushed process, concern over the loss of specific beloved teachers and programs, the negative impact of transitions on young children, and calls for the board to seek more funding from the City Council.

  • 2:15 Sarah Gay
    As SPTA President, she shares survey results showing teacher concerns about the rushed process and cuts. She requests the board meet with the City Council and clarifies the process of impact bargaining if changes to working conditions are implemented.
  • 2:23 Susan Lyden-Smith
    Speaking for bus drivers, she expresses serious safety concerns about the proposal to assign them custodial duties, a role they were not hired or trained for, and questions the financial savings.
  • 2:40 Matthew Emery
    A middle school student makes a passionate plea to save the computer science teacher and the percussion ed tech. He argues that related arts are critically important for student engagement and future careers.
  • 2:44 Connie DiSanto
    As SPESPA President, she expresses disappointment with the rushed process and the deep cuts to student-facing support staff, instructional support, and special education, while administrative positions remain largely intact.
  • 2:50 Kara Kralik
    An ESOL teacher, she argues strongly in favor of reconfiguration as a necessary step for equity that has been delayed for too long. She challenges the interpretation of achievement data, explaining how it fails to capture the progress of multilingual learners.
  • 2:56 Jen Fletcher
    A middle school band director, she refutes the administration's claim that other districts don't have percussion support and invites the board to see how vital the role is. She questions how the proposed cuts align with the district's stated goals for student belonging and attendance.
  • 3:09 Alex Mills
    Reading a statement from his wife, Cathy Mills, he criticizes the board for inaction that led to the current crisis and strongly supports reconfiguration as crucial for equity. He dismisses concerns about the timeline, stating the issue has been discussed for years.
  • 3:23 Jennifer Christensen
    As a parent with 19 years in the district, she expresses frustration that redistricting has been discussed for two decades and urges the board to make a decision and move forward. She notes that large class sizes and school transitions are not new to the district and that the staff will ensure the kids are okay.
• 4:08
  Answering Public Comment Questions

  The Chair and Superintendent briefly address a few questions from the public comment period. They clarify that the full $8.4 million in cuts is in the budget, summer special education services would not be impacted, and that a process for intra-district waivers for school choice already exists.
• 4:23
  Vote 1: Kaler Elementary School Closure

  The board takes a formal vote on closing Kaler Elementary School. The motion passes 6-1.
• 4:35
  Vote 2: Elementary School Reconfiguration

  The board votes on whether to adopt Option A (reconfiguration) or Option B (K-4 model). Option A passes with a vote of 4-2.
• 4:44
  Vote 3: FY27 Superintendent's Budget

  The board discusses and votes on adopting the Superintendent's budget. Several members state they cannot support it as is, citing specific cuts or the need for more discussion, and the motion fails 2-5.
• 4:51
  Second Public Comment Period

  A few members of the public speak again following the votes, expressing disappointment with the reconfiguration decision and the rushed timeline. A follow-up board meeting for Thursday is confirmed.
• 5:01
  Board Communications and Adjournment

  Member Feller gives a brief update on the city's inability to take over snow plowing for the schools. The meeting is then adjourned.