May 4, 2023 at 6:45 PM - Board of Education Resource Management & Business Operations Committee Meeting

Rationale:  We are preparing for the end of the fiscal year. Final payrolls are scheduled to be processed on June 30th. At that time, we will know what funds remain and if possible, could make a positive impact on our district during the final week of June. We ask for your authorization to focus year end spending on areas that support our strategic plan or have been discussed by the BOE this fiscal year.

• Science of Reading - Implementing the Science of Reading per the CT Right to Read Act is one of our key instructional initiatives. If we are able to purchase or partially purchase an evidenced based, approved reading program we would like to go forward.
• Cyber Security - Protecting the data privacy of our students and staff is one of our obligations. If we are able to purchase software or services outlined in our cybersecurity plan we would like to go forward.
• Technology - One of our goals is to have technology as a catalyst for teaching and learning. There is a long-term chrome-book replacement plan for our 1:1 strategic plan initiative for Grade K through Grade 12. If we are able to purchase the next planned replacements, we would like to go forward.
• Special Education - The SPED department is still closing their books especially for outplacement tuition and transportation and necessary student evaluations and outside services; this will all be reconciled. Budget transfers will be needed to cover Special Education overruns in certain areas which will be finalized and brought to the BOE in August 2023 as usual.
• Facilities - With a reduced 460 budget there are a few critical maintenance items that we had this year and may need to transfer funds to cover these expenses.
• Unexpended Funds Account - Knowing that we are facing rising Special Education costs, not addressed through ESSER, we might need to withdraw funds from the Unexpended Funds Account in order to cover these expenses.

Rationale:  Pursuant to Board of Education Policy, the following tuition rates for non-resident students attending Bethel Public Schools are recommended:

                     2021/2022        2022/2023       2023/2024    % Increase
Elem/Middle $13,900             $14,499           $15,064            3.90%
High School $16,038             $16,729            $17,381            3.90%

These tuition rates do not include transportation. Additionally, Special Education rates will be calculated as needed based on the costs of a specific program with related services. The Special Education costs are not discounted.

Rationale:  Key Points of the Briefing:

• CSDE requires annual certification by the Board of Education for participation in the Healthy Foods Certification Program
• In participating, Bethel can only serve beverages, foods, snacks, and à la carte items that have been specifically approved by the CSDE.
• For participation, the District receives an additional 10 cents reimbursement from the State on each meal served. This is important to the financial success of our program.

Rationale:  Summary of the Briefing:

1. Proposal is to maintain current school meal prices during 2023-2024 as the non-profit Food Service account is sufficiently funded at this time from CSDE assistance allocations.
2. Maintaining current pricing will help ease families back into paying for meals after two years of free meals for all due to Covid.
3. To set the price for reduced-priced breakfast at $0.00 instead of $0.30 for the year 2023-2024.  This will continue to encourage participation in the breakfast program and ensure that our neediest students are fed each morning.  The cost to the board should be less than $3,000