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Arizona time and we we close it we close it down then and it must be complete and I I've as they come in I review them carefully if they're not complete and they's still time I contact the candidate and say say you didn't do this and this and this so if you don't do those things we will not continue your candidacy so so they get plenty of warning on that right if you don't have a deadline you never get it finished we have to have a deadline right yeah because then this triggers the screening process and interviewing and unless you want to and my understanding is you don't want to you want to beat everyone to the punch so to speak correct so this is I think this will work then we lay out the dates and the bottom the search timeline vacancy announced September 18th then on the next page deadline for applications applicant screening now on that I will change that to with your permission applicant screening by the governing board and committee or do you want me to just add that because we're kind of com no the committee isn't screening the committee is interviewing correct okay sorry I did actually get that I added finalist interviews if needed because sometimes you have a group like you're envisioning and you come down to two candidates and they're both very strong and half half the members want one half the members want the other and and you say you know what I'd like to have them both come back and probe more deeply in my experience the last seven or eight that I've done that has not happened what's happened is the opposite sometime you had one board interview seven candidates which is a lot of people to interview that's s hours of interviews right there after the seven hours they when we started talking they said they all wanted one candidate who stood up and that was it other questions comments concerns additions changes to this posting document to the content the visual will look a little different any questions anybody no questions I guess I need to ask for a motion to vote on item 2.2 I have a motion from Jennifer have a second from Margaret all in favor I'm uh Diana do you want to say I thank you for letting me take part do you want to vote on this item Diana I or nay I thank you Diana all right thank you item 2.3 board discussion and action concerning stakeholder participation and involvement the governing board will discuss and may consider approval of the extent of stakeholder involvement that may be included in the search proess process for a new district superintendent and direct the school Arizona School administrators in conjunction with District administration to develop specific plans which may include Community meet and greet I think we kind of hashed that over already and we we have a a consensus on that what we would like to see I just have one question how frequently is a community meet and greet and how productive is that probably three the four districts I work with do that how productive is it I I wouldn't say it's been influential in the decision making at all just being honest based on without violating executive session I won't give any specific districts but when they've gone in to to weigh carefully at the very end it's the interviews and that really Absol it very do you ever do like lunch or something that the community can come and meet and greet during a like a lunchtime many of them have it right after school because that gives staff members who have a strong interest a chance to to meet and greet I've also done very formal sessions where the the finalists sit up on a little stage like this one and I'm the moderator and I ask them questions submitted by the audience there's not a questioning by the the audience because that gets into a a situation in which the loud voices which aren't always the most thoughtful voices Prevail um so a controlled environment like that I have not seen it to be honest in eight or nine searches influence the final decision of the board by then the board has spent quite a bit of time with the candidates even though they haven't discussed it one thing is when we interview a lot of candidates we don't at the end of each interview when that person leaves we don't chew the fat on that candidate we wait till all of we talk to all of them but what about the Buy in so afterwards you know we live in a community that likes to have a say and a lot of things so if they get to meet if they if there's a meet and greet I think that's the only benefit is the meet and greet is they're able to see all those candidates because we we live in a community that might say Well they're trying to withhold the candidates from us you know I I think we had kind of against that I am too I am I'm kind of against that because then that opens it up for everybody to have an opinion yeah which and that's just going to water down the process and it's going to be that's what we're here for yeah we've got to make the choice we've got to make the decision and and honestly I think if you had those people come up I think that would just be add another day to what they would have to take I could note that you've given the kind of community input that you're proposing here is is beyond any search that I've done I've done about a dozen of them in in terms of envisioning a committee actually participating in the interviews that's that's huge Community involvement not by the whole you can't get the whole community in the right but you got Representatives your new incoming board you've got uh some of the the teacher leaders the staff leaders I you're giving very good I mean that that's critical input because that's decision making input sitting in on the interviews that's I think too one of the reasons we decided about this with the with the um principles especially and the financial person is that we have a team that works really well together right now and I think they have a right to participate in it so that doesn't bother me at all I think that's something we have to do but having a meet and greet before we've made a final decision I you you already got quite a bit of activity for that day depending on now maybe you only end up interviewing three go a little more quickly than usually an interview is an hour 15 minute break between each interview so even three people ends up being four hours five or six people ends up being 9:00 a.m.

half million there was $2 million that you needed to pay um to Serita you collected that $75 million total subtract the state a and the total tax levy for the Continental Elementary School District um residents was5 and half million in 2023 however still that same $5.2 million for the Continental Elementary School District budget but then because they didn't include the high school students under that cap you had to pay 2.1 million to the state to reach the minimum and then they taed the $2 million for um high school students on top of that so your total tax Ling came out to almost $8 million for 2023 compared to the 5.4 million in 22 and that's why your taxpayers saw an increase in their primary property taxes due to the Continental School um School District increased by almost 45% now it was important and I made this comment over and over again and time it was important to note that one it didn't have anything to do with a decision this board made a decision that the treasurer's office made or a decision that the County Board it was a legislative enactment and it required their fix second of all the Continental Elementary School District did not get the money the money went into a pot that will now be remitted to the state and because ele um Continental Elementary um school district is in unique position you were one of only six districts across the state that were affected this way so that's why there wasn't a Statewide out there were only six districts that were affected in this way and the Continental School District was by far the one with the largest magnitude the only other comparable one is the Oracle School District in in inal County um your neighbor to the west the alter Valley District which is also an elementary only District was not impacted by this um nearly nearly as much because they weren't a minimum State a district right they were basically just a one for one swap what they were paying to Mirana and Flowing Wells to send their student students to was replaced by the new left they didn't in a sense work double tax all right if we move forward a slide so it did require a legislative fix and that legislative fix came in two parts the first was a bill passed with an emergency cause during the regular session um uh it was the bill that eventually passed was sponsored by representative and the house education chair Senator G had also introduced the bill in the Senate his bill basically said let's just never minding go back to the way it was um Senator Pell's Bill attempts to fix many of the problems that were created with the the initial enactment the legislature in the end decided to go with representative P's Bill and so they fixed some of the problems one being okay now that I've collected that money where do I send it I will be sending it to this to to the state the second was um putting the money that is collected due to that new Levy underneath the minimum make it part of the calculations for the minimum qualifying tax rate and then it also made some changes in that way the students count it and um the the overall average while we are a large County and the initial legislation had it based upon this countywide average some of the very small counties had skewed countywide averages because they had dists in unique positions they now moved it so that the the they'll take the high school student number and multiply it by the Statewide average so your lever going forward will be the number of high school students that are enrolled in other districts times the Statewide average for our high school high school student you going Advance the slide okay um this appears to be an old not the correct presentation if I could have you exit out of that one the one that says Continental ESD board presentation yeah okay um the the slide there no wonder the slide was off if you go up to the slide uh next one up next one up there we go okay those are those are the actual bill numbers as as they got passed the second part of that fix that I was talking about was okay what do we do about the overpayment of taxes in 2023 and that happened as part of the budget reconciliation bills um and basically what it said is okay if you were a minimum um qualifying tax rate district and you um paid the the new type three Levy in 2023 you will take that 2023 Levy and subtract it from your tax levy in 2024 so if you go to the next slide so this is what's going to happen this year you'll notice I've transferred the the values from 2023 so this year your Revenue control limit your budget comes out to $5.1 million I have yes please ask questions um 2025 look like is it going to look like an increase it is well we'll get there we'll get there in just a second okay so 2020 2024 your um the Continental Elementary School District um portion of that is 5.1 right about where it is historically historically been the levy for the um high school students comes out to $1.9 million a little bit less because now we're using the Statewide average and not just them thema County average um and then you would need to throw an additional $800,000 into the pot to me for minimum qualifying tax rate so it brings your total Ley to$ 7.8 million we'll subtract the $1.5 million in basic state a um and then instead of adding more money um to that we will subtract the $2 million uh for high school students that you essentially already paid last year which will bring the entire tax levy for the Continental Elementary School District resents down to $4.2 million total for 2024 yes um last time you were here you said the county the the fund that the county had um that $2 million in we did legislation in order to move it apparently that's been done and it went to the state um that fix uh was this budget set up included in that legislation is that why it's going to be done this way well the like it's just be all applied to okay so what they did and the legislature did not make this simple okay um so what the legislature actually did was told in the legislation that was passed to during session before the budget they instead of just saying just send us the money now we're not going to try to monkey with County Equalization just send us the money they actually wrote the language to say the Board of Supervisors shall direct the treasurer to so when the um Board of Supervisors adopted the tax levy um last month they also adopted a resolution that we put in front of them to say this $3 million that we've collected in um uh type free money will remit to the state um and then um the interest to the general fund and then the um and then going forward and that happened in the third in August so our next state remit is actually uh the 15th of of this month so we will send that $3 million to the state and then going forward every month on our monthly remit to the state we will send them any type three money that we've collected on the regular schedule just like we do the parking um in any event so the total um the total value uh the total Levy for the conal elementary school district for 2024 will only be $4.2 million which means it's is a total decrease to the primary property tax levy of 3.5 million which is 45.6% it will go now again this doesn't mean that and as just like you didn't get the money last year this doesn't mean you're going to lose money this year your guys's budget right your operating funds are all the same and again this doesn't have any impact on um um voter approved initiatives and bonds U bonds and overruns those are still an important part part of the process but totally not affected by this so property tax Lev will will go down now most people want to know is okay how does this affect me so if we'll go to the next slide I kind of like to view things visually so this is a graphic resentation of basically what happened 2022 you PID Continental Elementary budget high school student tuition little bit to kick up to get you up the minimum qtr 2023 only Continental Elementary School District budget you had to kick in a big chunk of money to get to minimum qtr and then they added high school students on top so essentially you paid it twice so since you paid it twice last year you don't have to pay this year and so Elementary Continental School District budget um we're going to subtract the amount that you paid last here and a little bit to get you back to minimum qtr and then to your question going forward in 2025 it will return to normal right so uh property tax levy for continent Elementary District will go back to between uh five and a half to6 million um just just like it has always been so in 2025 Elementary Continental District School District budget um High School type f money and then a little bit more to kick you maybe depending upon how the numbers go up to kick you up to minimum minimum qtr so it will go back to historical Norms next year so the 2022 to 2025 change that would be similar to alra Valley's um because you said they're SW so yeah so alter Valley um alter Valley's I imagine that's what the original IDE was they're because they have again because they're different they have within their District boundaries this is mostly agricultural land right um their their School District budget alone takes them above minimum qtr right so they never have to worry about um kicking in money to to to hit minimum and then what people will see on their tax deals because this one of the things because as we were discussing over the course of the year the fact the legislature was trying to give you your money back some people got the impression that they were going to get a refund check um that is not the case it is going to come back as a tax levy deduction right however because of the way that the U that the statements are not just for the Continental Elementary School District they include all the jurisdictions there was there's no way if you could Advance the slide one there is no way to identify it specifically on the tax statement bill so there is no line on the 2024 tax statement that says this is the reduction this is the amount that we're subtracting from your from your web it just simply shows up in that second line so this is the same property this is a this is a a a town home in Green Valley that was in 2022 had um an assessed value of $200,000 the average assessed value and so in 20 um in 2023 they saw their taxes jump from $178 for Continental Elementary primary to 304 so they saw an increase of $126 on just that line this year they will see a corresponding decrease so the Continental primary district line this year the con Elementary primary taxes for this same property which by the way is now valued at $210,000 because we're a year later The Limited property value raised by 5% um we'll see a property um property tax of $144 actually less than it was in 2022 despite the increase in uh in valuation right for for a decrease of 158 um um and change so that's where they will see the decrease now unfortunately because of the way the tax notices are compared year to year next year when the taxpayers see it they're going to see a big jump again because they're not going to be comparing it to 2022 where it should have been right they're going to be comparing it to 2024 and so it's going to go up from there so unfortunately it is going to show an increase but there's no way we tried um there was no way to get it to list separately on everybody's tax statement now two of the questions that I most commonly I should say and I'm anticipating a third two of the common questions that I get are going to be one why didn't we do it as a refund check well um it wasn't the legislator's will first of all it wasn't our decision to make and second of all you put that into context our office cumula throughout the course of the entire year issues between eight from our office not including all the warrants that schools produce and all the warrants that counties produce but our office directly um issues between 8,000 and 10,000 checks annually there are over 34,000 properties in the Continental Elementary School District and we would have had to cut 34,000 plus checks by the time you add in the additional staff that it would have taken to do that the cost of check printing printers which is which are expensive right and the cost of mailing in order to do that we would have spent hundreds of thousands of dollars just to accomplish that task whereas this did not add any addition cost to our processing it was merely subtracting it when when the board adopted adopted the now personally I would have loved to have handed out $ 3,400,000 $34,000 refund checks but again it wasn't my decision it was the it was the will of the legislation the second question um that we that people get asked is especially when comparing notes to notes you will notice that this property is a primary residential property and that means that that less state aid to education that I said comes into play that only affects primary residen so this person's Neighbor Next Door who might not be an Arizona resident might be a snowbird from Michigan who only spends you know three months of the year here they might have the same assessed value but they won't qualify for that state aid to education right and so their their statement will look different they will get a corresponding decrease right in the taxes but they will notice when they're comparing their Continental primary property taxes in instead of saying for the same exact um a townhouse side by side if it's not classified as primary residence their overall tax bill will be 145 plus 113 so almost double what the the Primary Residential um tax bill for the continent School District now the other thing is is well why did my taxes go but down by that much that's the third question we're going to get and that is remember this the tax bill is cumulative across all the jurisdictions well the um the taxes for the El Continental Elementary District went down by $160 the taxes for Puma County went up by $60 and then there are some other jurisdictions that had increases so their overall decrease for the um for the year only came out to 77 to $77 but they did get the money that they prepaid essentially for the Continental Elementary District High School students um um subtracted from from their bill this this year um and I don't know exactly how many properties it's going to affect but um the um the folks that were newly annexed Into the sanarita Fire District um will now have that added to um their their tax bill as well so they're adding properties that are both in the Continental Elementary School District and newly annexed into the San Marita fire district they obviously will see an overall tax increase into because of the addition of the Santa Ric fire district and with that I would be happy to answer any further questions that anybody might have Chris will we see you are you on the ballot this fall I am good luck to you thank you Chris you've been doing presentations also did you do them already at the oh thank you thank you for they thank you for reminding me um yes if any if anybody in the public would like to ask many more questions about this whole process or how it how it all came about or other questions about other taxing issues from other jurisdictions and other issues with the taxes um this Thursday the 12th I will be doing an ask the treasurer session at the Joiner library at 11 o'clock and then on Saturday and forgive me because I don't have the time right off my my head on Saturday in the afternoon I will be doing a presentation at the Quincy Douglas Library um and then for those people who are involved I will also be um um going over some of these issues at the Green Valley Council um um board meeting Bo of Representative meetings next thank any further questions well thank you guys so much and again I is the last time I hope I have to come here and discuss this this issue thank you for being available to oh absolutely app okay with that we move to the authorization of hearing I to off officer [Music] second yes I hope that that you utilize the hear from other districts more often that's does does that provide a um I don't know sense of Detachment that is but our our board policy says um the superintendent or an appointed officer so I would agree dire emergency no's Avail [Music] to Mrs Le yes somebody yes yes Mrs alen yes yes and now for the exciting read of the 55 pages of the new board policy advisory these were a lot of the ones that we had discussed with title n with open enrollment with uh board qualifications and hiring in terms of before that check box that said if you um if you're a felon or not now the questions are more have you ever are you attending a trial or a hearing have you ever been um so there's more detail in terms of what we can ask for and it's also saying that you cannot be a board member if you're a sex offender and you also cannot have multiple people in your household and you both be board members so it's just basic stuff that we heard at the law conference and things that you've been hearing about so it's first read for discussion so look them over and again if you have any questions um we had discussed before if there are specific questions we can do a study session thenor to the board meeting with that it is time to have a resolution which we I don't know how many years in a row but um for legendary teacher day september6 motion to approve our resolution for leg a second can you tell me a little bit more like so um what what it is is um Dr Nick Clement legendary teacher day he established it so what we can do is we can recommend and recognize teachers so what we'll do is get together like how we do student of the month and um we can recognize our teachers that we want to highlight and so it's just a so it's just um working on building relationship engaging um with students creating high expectations so it really is just a way to get our school and our teachers highlighted on the legendary teacher [Music] website yes yes yes yes and next one is request to increase the cooking club to approve the increase anding [Music] I just say they could bring some samples to our I make that happen but you have to waiver releases I'm sure yeah from what to what it was a month ago that we put that together um it was like a dollar and so I think we moved it to like 10 or 15 something like that maybe maybe 20 it was it was mainly for they came and said where's a budget and there is no budget for that club and so it was for materials for making different products and she submitted what she was going to be making and so that's what that was still in comparison for what they're doing very low but with the the the previous I was a dollar or5 dollar and that wasn't enough to get anything and just for clarity um if there is a hardship we still have a bu for that ju just like any of this stuff Craig and I work through that where I present a piece of paper to him um and the parents have that option it's not something that we like send home with every k but if they come to us then we absolutely we look at free and reduced lunch if they qualify for that it's a Shue Mrs yes yes Mr sh you're up all right so let's open this up and go through it line by line because it's not 8:00 good job been so you know as I said at the last meeting we still have over our fiscal year we're still waiting to get uh Grant completion reports completed and everything else um good news is is they are all done except for idea they kick that back today so we got I gota make some corrections some questions on that one so the numbers that you see are not reflective because we don't have Z opening balances and things like that so everything you know the cash balance from last year are still there they haven't rolled into the new year yet um right now we are still sitting at about five and or just over a half a million dollars on incumber funds so we're still looking okay to approve the district finan report discuss I have questions though they're just technical questions um why is the cash balance not showing yet I'm sure it's a system because we haven't rolled a new year over until this current year so once we roll that over the cash balances and everything else and you don't want to roll it over until the grants are until the grants are all complete so will that be by next I hoping to be able to do it tomorrow because all of our other all of our grants are done um we started working on just what was it yesterday school safety Grant we got our our carry forward so we were able to add that as well as our character education grant um we started looking at title because those funds have rolled over from the previous year so we you know all we have left is idea [Music] Mrs yes [Music] yes and next you'll see uh every week's pretty busy here we've got the grandparents Mingo coming up in a couple days we get pretty good partip Theo time change so it'll be from 5 to [Music] 6 and with that we'll roll over oh so our next board meeting is for the 15th the county um asba or superintendent County state county state meeting is that day so what do you guys think about moving it to the 16th which is Wednesday or push it to the next week so the the P is and we really would like to attend those are worth well I've been do a couple of so that would it would be October 15th if we if you all can make the pting don't know where it's at yet last year was hosted it's usually at a school right yeah it's usually at a school that's right so we don't they didn't tell us where it was yet so it would be um we know what time it's in the evening so it's usually 5:00 dinner with the school presentation and discussion prices trivia Rich posted last year yes so it would mean two nights for board members if we do the 15th for the county meeting and haveth or would you rather do the 22nd Tuesday I prefer the [Music] 22 to make it earlier spring break I have a quick question is fourth grade going to Madera Canyon in two groups no one group um they're going on the 17th and the 24th yeah so they do go together cles go and the other you okay for the 22 the 22 inform and the 22nd the 22nd you have anything [Music] for all out of well good I have so I would like to take this to present a check for the yes for Continental fund which is the override fund y thank you thank [Music] youting your colleagues to perhaps if it's in your heart he'll take cash or check okay thank you yes for Continental those signs are really those blue signs are cool good good job thank you yes so please help us get some funds in we have cour donated we have new flow donated we're waiting for pleed mechanical still so he was looking into it today and find out what's happened in the mail

Madame secretary roll call please sure Mr alre here Mr gagos here M rup is here Mr swales here miss s stumbras here Dr Hall here president Brown here let us stand to take the Pledge of Allegiance led by board member Mr Alex gyos led by our mission statement following shortly thereafter by Dr Hall I pledge alance to the flag of the United States of America and to the Republic for which it stands one nation under God indivisible with liberty and justice for all for all our mission statement engage and Empower our students to positively impact their community and future thank you both all righty I would like a a motion do I need motion open yeah like a motion to open up the public hearing for the 2024 2025 budget some move second moveed by board member Nelson second by board member Alex any comments if not roll call please miss site stumbris I Mr swales hi M rupis and I Mr gagos I Mr alra I Dr Hall hi president Brown I motion carry like we're going to have our business director of business speak first on this ran jnon good evening everyone my name is Brian Johnson Director of Finance for the school district this is our 2425 budget hearing Cher Do we have any public comments we do have okay um so this is the official version of what we presented the tenative budget last month a few small changes based on some more accurate information so this should be very familiar just feel free to stop me if you have any questions throughout the presentation as an introduction here are the steps we need to do to formally adopt our budget post our notice of the hearing and availability of the budget to the public prior to the hearing that was posted in the Chicago Tribune on August 9th we will vote to adopt the budget next week will then post the budget to the district website and submit it to the State Board of Education within 30 days as an overview some definitions for you our sources of revenue our main source is property taxes taxpayers pay their property taxes the county levies that dishes it out to the school district that's our main source of funds state revenue federal revenue that's our evidence based funding grants and then other revenue is just additional sources that don't fit in anywhere else that could be donations field trip Revenue at a school level and then expenditures our main source of expenses our salaries and benefits purchase Services is anything we're paying an outside contractor to perform a service supplies and materials is purchasing of physical Goods Capital out that's our building and grounds upgrades capital projects other objects are just things that don't fit elsewhere and then non- Capital Equipment are items that will last a while but don't cost enough to require being considered Capital Outlet so we don't need to worry about depreciating those our tax levy is the amount the district needs from property taxes which we submit to the county in December every year our tax extension is the amount that the county gives us after we request our Levy and then our debt limit as of June 30th the district's long-term debt liability is just over $125,000 with an outstanding Bond principle of just over or I'm sorry $125 million with an outstanding Bond principle of $96 million here's an overview of our budget in all funds our revenues did go down some compared to our tenative budget in August which we'll get into more when we talk on the next slide for the operating budget but again we got some more concrete information based on evidence-based funding and our property replacement tax amounts so our deficit did increase some our projection compared to what we presented in August so the next slide is our operating funds we did see a decrease in our overall projected revenues we originally were told to expect about a 10% decrease in our County replacement tax we got our actual number that's going down closer to 40% which the good thing is we got a more official number for evidence-based funding and that went up to help bridge that Gap a little bit more and for those that aren't familiar the property replacement tax is revenues collected by the state that are given to the school district to replace money that was lost when they stopped being able to impose taxes on corporations and Partnerships so that's one that we also didn't receive the full allotment we were told of last year so that's something we're going to have to keep an eye on because again we don't know what that looks like in practice right now so you'll see we're showing just under a $570,000 projected operating deficit which is an increase of about $80,000 from what was projected in our tenative budget in August so are there any questions there before we move on so Brian on the column there that says the 2023 2024 approved budget revenue and expenditure is that that's the amended budget that we approved in June correct so that's really it's a fairly close to actual yes um although we we did a fund balance trans we got rid of the deficit because we received the transportation funds in July so it's a it's just a timing issue correct okay and then again on our audit it might look a little different because we present on a cash basis and then they were able to acrw back right for instance our big construction payments that are made in July is for work performed in June so we'll acrw that back for audit purposes so it does get a little bit tricky When comparing our audited financials to these numbers but yes that is but that wouldn't be in operating funds anyway right it was just a okay I just one quick question Brian and you mentioned we got quite a few outstanding bonds out there that we need to pay back can your team look at just see what we have that what bonds that we have out there that could be callable that possibly we can refinance those bonds given the fact that it look like the Fed made lower interest rates and I just don't know where we are percentage maybe they are at a good interest rates you know but just it may be an opportunity there to start watching that yes and if you can see what we have outstanding that's callable that we may have a opportunity to refinance those bonds yes and that's something where PMA is our banking firm that we use for those bonds and they're also very diligent and giving us updates when it makes sense to keep an eye out to make maybe have those conversations as well but that's something that we do look at monthly at a minimum okay excellent thank you so then this next slide is all funds this is our projected cash balances month by month as of July 31st again there is that big gap between our 180 days cash on hand and where we expect to end up again this is all funds so this is including bond funds that we showed in Prior years that aren't reflected here as a source of Revenue because those are already in our accounts and then o sorry and then here's our projected cash balance in the operating funds we are currently showing just under $2.9 million below our 180 days cash on hand as of June 30th 20125 again at the beginning of the year these numbers do tend to fluctuate just because as actuals come in these numbers can change our tax levy cash is coming in we got a big bigger payment than expected in August which will help bridge this Gap so again we're keeping an eye on this and it's something that we're definitely cognizant of to make sure that we're meeting all of our goals for our financial profile score and just maintaining a healthy cash balance for the district does the um property tax revenue include the at least half the Levy annual Levy for the University Park Tiff that's rolling off we did not account for that in our budget just because it's not nothing's official yet okay so that this doesn't have that projected in here correct okay good yeah so again that's a big question mark that it could make these numbers that if they different they do vote to dissolve it we would get at least half of that in E June next year yeah correct yeah I think it's around 40 45% that we would get in June because that's when we get one of our bigger tax ly payments for the year so that should help this okay uh so that being said this is our budget for July 1st basically to June 30th right and so if we get x amount of dollars prior to well we we don't do a cash method we we have an acove method I guess but if we get just say $10 million on a book in June that would not go into revenues obtained during this fiscal year no it would you say it would yes M cash received in June of 2025 would apply to the fiscal year 2425 all the way up to June 30th so so that will wipe out any type of deficit that we have all things being considered right so we can feel pretty comfortable just from that if this Tiff were to be signed off from up that we receive x amount of revenues in June of next year that at the end of our fiscal year we would show a surplus in the everything filed correctly yes that would be a safe assumption okay and best that it's not in there you know what I mean until it happens yeah right believe me Murphy's Law always but also it would sh up that $2 million difference in our projected cash balance at the end of the year which would help our financial ratios yes absolutely yeah yep good any more questions here before we move to the final slide so we always end with the current year goals for the business department our first Milestone would be completing the prior year audit by October 15th we had a great meeting with our audit firm last week all of the substantial information's been provided they're hoping to get us drafts of our financial reports by next week so we should be on Pace to meet that goal and hopefully present the audit at the October 8th Committee of the the whole meeting wow everything's been moving forward as expected same conversations as last year where you know they're always helping us improve and increase our efficiencies and correct some small errors that happen around the way but it's been pretty positive so far and then a big project that we have is finalizing our policies and procedures manual for the business department and training manuals for external departments we've done a lot more training externally this year than we have historically and we have a good foundation for a lot of this but now it's time to formalize those documents get everything in a usable form so that the next people up to perform tasks have those helping tools and they can be more efficient and effective moving forward and then as always keeping an eye on our capital projects and facility planning which Jason's been doing a great job with that as we wrap up our current short-term facility plan and then we look forward to the 2024 through 2026 capital projects this year the the um audit that's a new firm right last year was our first year with the new firm and it's going pretty good yes which our audit manager from last year got promoted so she's now the audit partner partner so we have a new audit manager who it's just you know he's learning us we're learning him so it's it's a little more back and forth towards the end here just cleaning up some of the small things but again she's still on board and helping to keep things moving so shouldn't have any issues meeting our deadlines sounds good any further questions all right well I appreciate your time thank you thank you thank you thank you Brian thanks Brian okay there's no further discussion or comments on the public hearing public comments there was none Brian speaking so can I have a motion to close the public hearing on the 2024 2025 budget so moved move by Nelson second second by Alex any comments or any questions if not roll call please Mr swales I Mr alook I Mr gigos I miss s somus i RS and I Dr Hall I president BR all right motion carried any other public comments non related to public hearing or could be related to public hearing any public comments any emails okay hearing none board updates um we had a Beek meeting uh yesterday um that's the uh bilingual parent uh advisory committee um we had an announcement that mon uh will be having their first annual Hispanic heritage mon month event uh that will be on uh September 20th at 4 P.M uh so I'm excited about that um we are going to be having a uh family night uh the last Friday before Halloween um for our Beek families it will have um uh a harvest theme uh we'll have like pumpkin decorations um maybe a movie maybe like Trunk or Treat um uh things like that we just spit balling ideas um and then um we got to meet um Miss ES uh our new family liaison she was at the meeting yesterday so that was that was uh uh very good and then um I had something else um I think that's about it I think that's it if I remember something I'll just blurt it out but I think that's it great job Alex you're really doing a great job you know representing this position that you have here and what was that date say September 20th uh it's in it will be in Moni I'm not uh exactly sure um on the location um M Mr mon do you know Mr Mo the location for the uh the event yep yeah that's our homecoming yeah yeah wow so is that a Saturday that's a Friday it's a Friday a Friday yeah Fireman's Park Fireman's Park Fireman's Park okay okay well bill will be out here right at the homecoming I'll be at the high school yeah yeah you can't set off fireworks in two places huh or maybe you could okay so then you plan on yeah I'll be I'll be at the um at the uh uh mon um The Heritage Month celebration and then that's early that starts at 4:00 so um and then I should head over and meet meet you guys at the uh homecoming game so okay we'll see you at the inzone yeah I'll be there all right reserve for the homec a box Reserve that's what a home come we had a box reserve for the board it we are working on okay I'll be in concessions visit me there yeah we have a concession thing well we have a concession truck oh they bring the truck back very mobile the warri booster Warriors bought a truck okay cuz it was a tent last game well okay we're growing every day all right okay and we are not going to partake in that one bullet item understanding the relationship between school finances and property taxes Robert gry illuminated Crystal Consulting I understand he's under the weather yes and we'll take a look at maybe rescheduling that in November a timely timely uh training okay very great uh any other board updates okay I would like to just add one I just want to thank this board my colleagues for us being recognized by the Illinois Association of school board for outstanding board governance and I tell you what I could not be more proud or than this than I am to have you guys as colleagues and be representative for that outstanding award so thank you guys for all you do each and every one of you I I when I heard about it I actually cried like Mo Never Cry yeah right so thank you thank you thank you for all you do each and every one of you getting out there into the community you know and and our superintendent has a lot to do with it too she she like to fly up under the radar and your whole cabinet as well has a lot to do with helping the board function as a high performance group here so I really appreciate that and I did seek to recognize and correct me if I'm wrong I recognize one of your cabinet members or someone in the central office but they have to have five years or more in that position yes for our board the board secretary yes so the board hold on come on now the does she have five years or more she does not okay so any one of your cabinet members has five years or more in the position that they are in now we got a young team over here okay so you kind of straddling the fence there huh okay uh Pam do Pam have over five years H okay see what I can do all right well thank you guys really thank you so much and I think we are going to be officially recognized in the April time frame April yes it's the April um Three Rivers Three Rivers okay all righty if everyone can make it there I would appreciate it so we can wear our shirts being Unison okay what they are I don't know but we'll find something that we all look unified thank you so much administrative update okay I've got three items uh I was surprised none of my board members mentioned this but we had the mon parade over the weekend on Sat want you to mention it yes so um it was a lot of fun as usual we had the van and we had all of our candy it was a little bit shorter parade because so much is going on in mon with their rep paring streets and so forth but they had a a marvelous parade they had uh sea lions out there uh if anyone had a chance to go see them but um we had um several of our board members uh come with us pass out candy uh for those that attended so it was a it was a fun day yeah a shout out to Jean Kahan for driving the driving the bus yes yeah yeah he was loading down I saw the back tires kind of down because of all that candy they had something they called a mo box yes we did it was a very big box he was right all time I was you know I was just I mean I was really giving out candy and he was right he saw my bucket empty he gave me another one so yeah he was great give that guy a raise um and the other thing I just wanted to school years off to again another great start as we're getting deeper into our September school year and I think we've already mentioned we've got our homecoming uh game which is Friday night September 20th I believe it it's at 6 o'clock so I have met with the boosters as well as um the administration to really fine-tune some of the last things we believe and I'm going to knock on this wood table here that this will be our last home game or Homecoming in the stadium that we have so we have uh sought out a videographer that was going to be taking a video of this we have a drone that will go and take some aerial pictures of it so we can start archiving The Stadium as in its existence um we working with uh the team to uh find some special seating for our alumni that will be there and we'll be writing some special scripts so when we can recognize those in the audience we are really focusing on getting our alumni back here um we are going to have an alumni table up as well um the boosters I think is going to be again having that food food truck um there's going to be tailgating as usual and right now starting in January we are starting the homecoming committee for the kickoff in 25 and we're going to do a big so we're looking at having going back to some of the things that homecoming used to be with the bonfire if any of you have been around long enough they used to do a bonfire here we're going to have thinking about having a parade in every town which might be starting you know the week of um some other things that we would be having we were looking into getting some floats that will be here in our we've got a a mascot costume that we've got ordered so we're really who's gonna be the mascot Alex me oh well we will be looking for volunteers the warrior right a warrior right so anyway we're really looking forward to it so we're going to have a just a huge committee pdon me what type of what kind of costume yeah right now we have to be sensitive of you know some of the logos so we were looking at um an Arrow Head perfect thank you but it's been kind of an odd shape because it goes this way yeah so uh Mr you still want to be the mascot Mr opinski has been working with u our vendors to try to find one and where are we at in that process I think uh we're going to customize it and then uh it's like yes um we're actually in the process Miss p is assisting me she's over here in the business office uh she's our system auditor but also helping me in other capacities and we're currently reaching out to uh meet with the student government representatives from the high school in an effort to start an introduction and get some student input on said masat design yes so we're really excited about that um so again the committee that we're uh going to form we're reaching out to stakeholders and all of our communities so it's going to be our First Responders since they're going to be part of the parades the fire departments um we're going to be looking for uh people that have access to alumni relationships we're going to be looking at each of our Park District Partners as well um as well as many others so um we're actually looking forward to this it's going to start in January if any board member would like to be involved with that um please let me know we're going to meet once uh we're looking at maybe just once a month um to get this going because by June we need to be ready to go because it does take quite a few months to get everything organized um and then of course we're going to be advertising this a lot um and make this part of the community where looking at maybe getting some benches for each of the towns with the students they decorate them and then there might be a bench in every town and so forth so anyway I'm not going to give away too much there's lots going on we're super excited about that well we havei know about the Drone for Friday night yes he does okay he was at the table okay he was at the table and there's certain um there are certain requirements that are for that like it can't be over the game it can only be on the sidelines I mean we we uh because we've got to preserve that Focus Focus uh for our players so anyway do we who do we play Doc one of the Thorns I think yes th Thor is it Thor thoron I think th I thought Thor was this weekend you might be right about that I have to it's one of them it's one of them my fault I did see the yeah that is this weekend that's senior night that was on my mind prior so it's probably Thorn wood either one I think I yeah we're going to regard that's what I was hoping you say cuz I think we're getting off to a kind of a rough start right so anyway we hope to see everybody out it's going to be a lot of fun uh for this event and uh hopefully show our Warrior pride and that is all I have for my good news I can move on to press if that's all right please sure I just I just remember what I forgot oh remember what you forgot all right yeah did you forget what you remember no I I remember what I forgot uh this is uh the first uh will be the uh the uh Education Foundation uh Fun Run uh five forgot to mention that so yeah that'll that'll happen uh the day after this uh the homecoming game so don't you know go out parying too much because uh we have to get up uh bright and early for that 5K and I will be there walking I will be there walking so thank you for that it's it's a 5k regardless is if you walk or run so yeah yeah m m r you can certainly walk with me we carry the team there pardon me push you push you okay all right I wanted to bring attention to our first press re um I emailed you a little bit late today but we did uh Cheryl and I were reviewing a few things and we wanted to tighten up the the press release so what I have is a hard copy for you in front of you this we wanted to tighten this up because as you recall anything with a two colon Something is all things we've already covered in our um our board uh self- evaluation so I didn't want to go redundant and go through all of that again so I I left it off the only one I wanted to bring attention to and that's in front of you was the board member expenses so wanted to make it very clear I think this is where we left off I have it in green and I think what we put in here is um uh expenses per board member it says once you exceed the $4,500 the board member will seek approval that was the one verbiage that I think that was agreed upon at that time and then to a company that we've put we've added in as the exhibit the form that some of you you've already seen so we've labeled it an exhibit and basically this just outlines it's in a um a signed dock that you would get if you're going to go to anything such as the triple ey conference you'll receive this it basically just outlines um the param ameters for you know collecting your receip uh itemize those kinds of things miles and so forth so we now add that so I just wanted to bring that to your attention the rest of the uh items in here um there were really were no substantive changes other than the legal references in each of those so I'm not going to go through those with you um but basically we just need to update these that these have been reviewed so um I have a hard copy so you can feel free to look at those over the next week as we get ready to vote on that um next week any questions okay that's all I've got okay thank you Dr coges any no questions no concerns any old business any new business we have no reason to go into close session can I have a motion to adjourn so moved move by Nelson second second by Dr Hall can I take all in favor all in favor say I any Nays we are adjourned thank you public for joining us today enjoy took the

we'd love to see you thank you Mr MC and M so uh we do need a motion to approve that school Improvement plan we we do thank you guys for the work that you put in out there we get a motion second to approve the school Improvement plan at whites second motion second to approve the Improvement plan at White Junior Senior High School all those in favor say I I oppose all right motion passes now to nipco project Heartland C Center discuss about that I just say one thing and then I'll let Matt go ahead a little bit more with it just as a reminder um that we have been um charged with each School Board of the five School boards to vote on this um and so we put it on the agenda to tonight um to vote on it I don't know if that um you know better do you want us to vote on tonight or can still be some discussion and we can uh I don't think we're going to get much better out of that at this point as as you recall it did go from the permanent uh value for acre went from like 10,000 was the starting point to 25 I think thousand um I did show Mr mcor uh some of the areas because they wanted to see what some other land values were so obviously we have technology we can look on uh Deon Snider I showed him where there's land that goes for more than that per acre and so then that's what they settled on was the 325 here again it's only one acre um it's you only get 50% of it so how we arrive at the 50% that affects more than right I don't understand it uh possibly because you can drive over the top of it to Future Yi damage how was that future yield damage down here where that line right there is that like after construction they consider uh I think they're trying to figure out if they start it now when they're going to take out things the way they go right now they may have from the East coming in and that's what he explained they were going to start from the East side and come in and harvest possibly could be over before the even start of this section so future yield damages depending on timing of yeah yeah is is it acceptable to the T I believe so did not contact me and say no so they were aware of all that oh yeah we had we brought them in in a couple of the neighbors to to present this stuff to show them what what possibly could be happening and because I wanted they're in put as much as mine because they're the ones that going to be affected with tiles and stuff like that well the adjacent landowners that they're Contra or they're doing this agreement for numbers are about the same one of them asked me what we were getting and I showed him this he go oh really so he's going to have more discussions with this go I said well there you goer is worth you know for the most part yeah doing it just on a AC valuation yeah basis so I shared that with them too so public we doing I'm okay with it if you guys are I mean that's we brought it to you I'm happy that they at least were willing to move those that value up to begin with was not there's a no go I guess I'm I'm just still you know long as there's no nothing there that says that you know you can't go across it with any other utilities you said that was in there was they said it should be fine to do that what they say but back to the prepaid crop damage I guess you don't understand that that's not between that would be the tenant right ten yeah and so we're not voting on that part I mean that we are I think that's all it's all in yeah and I just put this page on of course there's a there are four or five other d i put that there but this is the basic me potatoes of it and you know it's four for meter box they are good yep to us the community or so I don't have a problem with voting on it discussed in a few meeting approve the agreement disc second all right we've had a motion of second uh to approve the nipco project agreement with Heartland Care Center all those in favor say I oppos all right and then we have this you okay U I'll say things too okay which one we going to look at first let's look at the first one that was brought by m his sturch um she's wed to change the way Harland is the board of managers has done and her reasoning as it says in there I believe uh we've had a hard time getting quarrels from people um which is very disappointing because you volunteer to be on this board and then people don't show up and you have to move a meeting you got people coming and it's just been very uh unhandy at times uh her idea was to have the superintendents be the board of managers because they obviously meet once a month at Heartland at a different time and the other problem we have run into is the building is needing work and we've been working on a roof three or four years and and the prices just keep going up instead of being an $800,000 project it's now like 1.2 million because we just can't get people to say yeah we're going to vote to do that because we still have to come back to our boards to vote for that kind of money get funding one way or another through taxes or whatever and it would be nice to have the superintendent there to have better control or knowledge of what each school can do and so her her thought was to let's have the superintendent do that so we aren't layered up because m m meets with them and he meets with us to get conflicting stuff I see advantages to that because it's just one it's streamlined some the thing I dislike I I like being on that and having participation from our board members being there that's okay but with the amount of money that's going to have to be spent in the next few years for controls electricity hbac if it takes as long as that they'll have to use wood sticks to keep it hot I I just dislike the delay that's been there that's this uh proposed we've had another one proposed uh by Mr buer from Manchester he was adamant that we had to have board members there to do it and he says let's just make the superintendent be there at the same time the board members are I said that's cool you going to come at noon when the board superintendence come like that but you have to consider that what how often did you want the superintendance to meet with him it'd be just the one time are we going to sit around with their educational part I don't know uh the other thing that's not included there that okay instead of having five people there we're going to have 10 it's still one vote for school district but if the board member is not there they don't get the vote superintendent cannot vote so what is the advantage of having two there if I can't vote as a school so you know we don't have to vote on this tonight this is just being thrown to us I would like we have our meeting at Heartland next week or whatever I would like to talk to Mr Boer about superintendent I mean if we're going to have 10 people there let's have each school have one vote I mean just to have 10 people there and you not show up what did we get I don't think M that be that the superintendent can vote in that instance he doesn't SE that way because it does not say that anym each one of the board of managers said well I kind of like this hybrid thinking but then I hav thought about the timing of the board meetings typically yours are in the evening 6 o' just like that yeah which is and Know M we like to have another evening out but at the same time when you guys are doing your meetings during the day I don't know what time you guys have that but so I guess my question is when you guys meet do you talk about this stuff already yeah so they're already are me yeah they're talking about it so not specifically on like voting like we do in these kind of Bo meting because they do they take care of the [Music] payroll we talk about the big projects so do you guys talk do you guys talk about the details that he's saying that's not getting accomplished in those meetings like can it be funded so are you think they're not taking it back to their board I mean you you know obviously it's been three or four years we've been working on it so are the superintendent not getting that information back to the boards to talk about like we do we do at the same time if we don't have board members from other school districts there to take this information back to their board that's part of the problem that's big part of the problem board that's been very good about this tenant and not everybody has so that that affects things too and which delays it which you have to cancel meetings and then resched just curious what do you get paid for what do I get paid I think it's 25 well that's that's what I thought we approved the organization meeting beginning year 225 yeah that's why [Laughter] especially when you're F yeah especially now well I didn't know that was some barrier why you know why people don't commit if they're going to take the position like you're willing to do for us graciously every January they make that commit want they follow through because I think in other school corporations it's a short straw that has been told or like the new gets it several times the new one gets it so next but uh no because there's not very much continuity in other schools a lot of times I mean well that depends on who gets eled who doesn't come back and stuff like that so I know at the beginning of next year there's going to be at least three new on so you honestly Phil you've been on a long time been on board a long time do you think it'll solve the problem I mean I would hope so and then you have to trust your superintendent to bring it back get you still have to get the financial approval for all this stuff but that's what I was getting at is they're already doing that so in the same school corpse is not getting done you think it's still going to get done because if they're not doing it now I don't know I mean it's pretty obv obious to me that they you know Mike says they talk about it and if he's not taking it back to him what's going to change if they how would that work then let's say I'm a major decision like approving a rooking contract for x amount of dollars then the superintendent if that's just way it goes they vote Yes but they don't vote Yes until they come back and we we we have to I think the way the contct written though not the contract the agreement the agreement really needs to be overhauled the whole thing needs to be overhauled because really the only thing that's supposed to come back to the boards is the change of the agreement so in other words it makes sense that if you have you know a multi-million do project and you're doing it that that board of managers say it is the superintendent that would come back but really right now it does not say any place in agreement that it has to come back it does not say that that doesn't mean that's not the right thing to do but it doesn't say that well you know my concern all along is because we're Trustees of public money that we should have thumbs up or down some of that expenditures Chris and I agree that I the whole thing should be reamped but I mean is that something else that you could change in that you know Amendment somehow that the superintendent CH but then every I think you should put a third one in there just for fun been thinking about it because we don't have to have this done until like November this is just discussion and talk about and to go along with that comment too if you recall a few years back we made a recommendation proposal to change the agreement some people didn't even vote on it so it's not even voted on and nothing's going to happen with it you know just stay the same um that's not necessar my recommendation but right now you don't have to vote on any of these we don't vote on them and because it was President setting last time because there were some boards that voted on what we did some people didn't vote if you don't have three positive votes it's not going to change is there a possibility know we've looked at over the years changing like Mike saying the agreement to reflect more accurately how it should be funded overall is there a greater opportunity for that to happen with just the superintendent involved I you tell me Mike I I don't know because it's the same actors that don't want to change it because it's going to hurt them whether it's just a board member superintendent yeah because in that particular case it still does right now agreement says it would go back to each board so depends the board that agreement that's part of the agreement it's part of the formula right now so it probably would have passed last time but one person was being reelected or was hoping to and so he didn't push it continue to have conversations anybody want to come to the board meeting next I get half the 25 puppet C on the way home we can split it up all right going to table that yeah okay well I think obviously it's it's something that has to be fixed I'm not sure if it comes from Mr Court to kind of push the issue to say we got to get something done or or what but he's kind of in a tough spot yeah he can't be saying this because he's hired by us and he takes everybody off you know people want to say here get out of here and he's doing a good job so all right move on we need have a recommendation to approve an overnight out ofate trip for Southwood 6th grade to Chicago Illinois on March 13th and we might as well just do all the field trips and then we have a recommendation to approve an overnight out ofate trip for Southwood history of rocks History of Rock and Roll class to the rock and roll h of Fame in Cleveland Ohio October 11th and a recommendation to approve overnight extended trip for sh Creek fourth grade to Camp Kuma and Brookton on October thir 3rd and 4th and we get a recommendation for those field trips all right Motion in second to approve all three of these field trips all those in favor say I I any opposed all right uh last one recommendation to salvage buses 17 18 21 and 35 yeah those were just buses that we took out of circulation after the last inspection so the Sal 2500 to $3,000 bus if you want to buy one we get a motion second to approve that move to accept second motion second to approve the salvages those buses 178 21 and 35 all those in favor say I I any oppos passes I don't think there's any unfinished business any board policy public comment any items from board members all right we're

in ages 3 and a half through 6 on Thursdays 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. safe sitter babysitting classes preparing teens to care for younger children Friday November 15th from 4: to 6:30 p.m. for grades 5 and Up following we have safe at home for students interested in staying home alone this will take place on Friday November 22nd from 4:00 to 6: p.m. grades 3 through 6 we have some preschool crafts and stories Halloween themed crafts and activities for ages 2 to six will take place on October 22nd then we have some October early release days with half day explorers fun adventures for grades K through five on early release days will pick up from school and return to the community center by 5 p.m. for more details and a full list of programs visit the Ashland Recreation website and check out the fall events Brer next up is the department Spotlight this week it is it information technology for those of you who do not know Ashlin stands out with its combined it Department serving both town offices and school which is a rare setup for Massachusetts this approach has been successful thanks to the efforts of director Paul Carpenter and his team by merging schools and it departments Ashen has reduced staff while efficiently managing a wide range of tasks from setting up new employees to Distributing hundreds of Chromebooks to students each year this team is crucial to the town's operations and success now we have some facts and polls and some news from the Ashen Public Library the Ashen public library and the residents of town sure we're busy this summer in regards to reading with 558 people participating comprising of 433 schoolage kids and 86 infants and toddlers there were about 4654 reading minutes logged equal to about 7668 hours or 7,768 we are so grateful to our amazing Library team for their hard work to make this so special for our residents the many events they provide are wonderful hats off to a great team of professionals and way to go everyone last week poll results the question was what after school program would you like Ashlin Recreation to offer for middle school kids the results were as followed I will read from the results from least popular to most so art received 8.9% of votes followed by Sports which had 11.1% of votes coming up next was homework help receiving 13.3% of votes and then music with 15.6% of votes and my personal vote in addition next up our drop in programs with 20% of votes and last but not least cooking with 31.1% of votes remember the total number of responses was 45 so if you want to play a role in future results make sure to cast your vote another Community shout out we have the ashin election poll workers as we wrap up the September State primary and prepare for the November presidential election a big shout out goes to the election poll workers their dedication and hard work are crucial to the election process with some starting as early at 6:00 a.

all right so without further do public comment if you would like to speak to just raise your hand you can just go in order down this way so I'll start with back and when you stand make sure you state your name and um your where you live I live in barin um I went to yesterday's policy subcommittee meeting to listen to the discussion of policy I understand and appreciate what Mr V said in regards to the rule the SCH commit making broad policies to oversee the entire district and they should not be overly specific and and is the role of the individual schools to see how they can accomplish their own goals within the parameters that the school committee has set with the policy I don't disagree with this I think it's very clear that this policy would mainly cover activity that is almost exclusively happening at toono so it warrants a little more care in making sure it's workable specifically for Tanto I imagine that the policy involved and get edited if a member of the schools brings to the attention of the school committee that a current policy has become impossible or difficult to follow or implement or has become obsolete so the appropriate adjustments can be made to it in this case the policy has not been implemented and voted on and the committee has an opportunity to reive the feedback of very real concern being expressed by at least four members of The donda Faculty the concerns are multi-layer and has been noted that not only did this policy interfere with the state required Civic project be viting student rights yesterday Mr gam suggested forming a working group to come up with acceptable language after the apy vote today with amended language I'm asking the school committee instead conar not voting for the policy with any of the proposed amendments and put the policy in place exactly as written by Ms so that the working group can start with the same slate hopefully come up with an additional language that satisfies any concerns about how surveys are conducted in District without opposing any unnecessary constraints and taking care to protect vulnerable groups within our school dist great thank you okay all right perfect three minutes each by excellent the first um I'm speaking for Bill wheh oh yes y thank you um so de uh dear members of the Berlin W Regional school committee I'm sorry I cannot in attendance for tonight's meeting but appreciate my colleague reading my statement in place I I'm now writing on behalf of any group but simply as I'm not writing on behalf of any group but simply as Bill whad a high school English teacher at Danto since 2008 I have worked with past School committees countless administrators both at the building and central office level and have been part of numerous committees I can tell you what works and what doesn't work in our district from firsthand experience what Works having all stakeholders work collaborative to achieve a goal what doesn't work having one group fight to convince others that their view or solution is the best and only viable option in the end collaboration with all parties starting on equal footing will Garner much more desirable results than one group trying to convince another group to listen to them which only ends in resentment and a sense of unease making future endeavors much more difficult to tle yesterday the police uh policy subcommittee was gracious enough to open their meeting up to a discussion with some of our high school teachers regarding the survey policy language that will be voted on tonight it was in positive exchange with all parties offering their C putting forth questions identifying potential issues and listening to other perspectives I was happy with how our time was spent except at the very last minute where it was decided that the proposed language from the subcommittee was still going to be through and that teachers could form a a teacher group to meet discuss and bring their suggestions to amend or update the language to the school committee in the future when the school committee would listen to what they had to say and take it into consideration such a uh such a decision is disheartening as it seems a decision has already been made if the language as presented tonight is approved there will be no re real reason for the school committee to sincerely listen to any suggestions made by ad teachers or students I want to get this right we all want to get this right I do not want the district teachers administrators students or anyone else put into an unfair position I want to protect the rights of students and parents equally I know there is a solution I do not think it is necessary the language uh it is necessarily the language being put forth and is as it is overly burdensome my suggestion adopt the federal policy as written no additions or amendments so that there's at least a policy on the books then form a committee to fine-tune the language so it works for all parties involved I urge the members of the school committee to vote no on the language as presented by the subcommittee and vote to Institute the federal language as is allowing for more discussion and collaboration in the truest sense to uh to be had so that we can get this right the first time thank you for your time and consideration Bill Whitehead thank you do I have now very sure okay he pretty much said everything that I I just want to kind of address one thing the only thing I would like to add to Bill statement is that I would like first of all like to thank everybody for the time and effort to construct the policy but it's my belief that the original IDL addresses parental rights and it does so fairly well but does not address the potential impact on students who wish to do research with sensitive topics that are deeply important to them unfortunately the amendment do nothing to alleviate this now time and circumstances will naturally draw our energies towards other future topics if we can take the time to be patient and collaborative now we can strike fire now while the coals are hot and balance these two very important goals let's go back to the original uh Federal idel as our foundation and build the balance from there thank you thank you thanks okay anyone else hi my name is Danielle ler I am a teacher at um good evening members of the Berlin Boon school committee and um first off I would like to thank again the policy subcommittee uh for allowing myself and other teachers to meet with you yesterday it was an extremely valuable discussion but I would like to reiterate what my colleague the white had presented to all of you this is a discussion that needs to continue I strongly urge you to vote no on the amended language of policy IDE and instead adopt the federal policy as from there we can convene a committee that includes all parties perhaps even more importantly we can reach out to other districts to better understand how such a policy is implemented and respected in regards to student generated surveys as a teacher this is always my most pressing concern what are the logistics what procedures need to be in place in order for both parental and student right to be protected how do I ensure as the Civic action guidelines put forth by the state outline that we continue to foster a classroom of trust and openness to ensure that all students feel supported while exploring real world issues having answers to these questions is crucial information to inform any amendments the committee times necessary I understand wholeheartedly the urgency of addressing the issues technology moves much faster than any of us into face and having a policy in place protects all of us however if we move too fast ourselves and put in place the amended policy which is problematic and will create inequalities it is my professional opinion that you will be creating more problems than we solve thank you all right goad Peter Dy English teacher at be very brief I completely concur with Danielle uh Steve and Bill's sentiments sentim I thought this's meeting was fantastic right up until the very end unfortun um I would just like to say that I that we should adopt the I as ferally instituted reject the Amendments um and I also want to offer to be here for the rest of the meeting as this discussion comes up um if any other school committee members like to ask questions be willing to thank you thank you very much does anyone else want to speak okay all right okay great uh Communications does anyone have any Communications um we did receive I'm sorry we did receive an email from a parent today um regarding IV oh yes um and basically the parent said that um the feeling was that surveys in general regardless should be um we should ask the parents for permission and the reasoning was that a survey is a research study and that generally accepted guidelines for human subjects and research studies require informed consent of the human subject and those that are under 18 cannot give their consent so the suggestion was to make it Equitable across and send all surveys for I also reached out to Tracy knowb from MC about this policy and I got some feedback so I can say it hour discuss uh sure go ahead um so I had sent her the edited version and so she had some concerns that it put um The District in a dangerous position um because it singles out a a single population um who in a vulnerable population and so you know it seems we have discriminatory intent um for a legally projected class um and she thought it was reactionary to a single incident um and that be handled carefully okay thank you okay more communication okay so we have the consent agenda next there are two items on the consent agenda um could I please have a motion to approve two items on the consent agenda second Lisa Lor any discussion on that I have something yes I read through the six 17 minutes I just I don't think they are complete enough I think there are some things from that meeting that we should get included in there so I would ask if you can vote on those tonight so we can go back and look at the recording once it's sorted out is it sorted out yet yeah so actually yeah so actually I watched the recording and did your phone run out of battery it did but then Lori recorded some and also sent so there was two recording oh there was only one recording she should have my recording was you it was there was only one I could not find it there were some things that during the meeting that we offered to the town of Berlin that they rejected that didn't get captured in a minutes i' like to make sure that's there yeah so it got cut off at 45 minutes in and I think we were there for like an hour and a half so I think to your point there was another recording that somehow never Nicole you never got that right yeah it was not on I looked through Theo whatever you call it site I could not find it Nicole and I worked on that this morning so she was going off of Sally's notes and yeah that's fair I just think it's important that these get captured I agree I didn't know there was another recording so if that is the case that would be wonderful if you have that and you can send that to Nico all right so then um side okay so that's just minutes from our last meeting that we'll be approving so we should amend this y so um can I amend it I move to amend the consent agenda motion to remove the June 17th 2024 minutes from the vote all right any discussion on the amendment all right all in favor I I'm an i as well now we need to vote on the original motion which is to approve the consent agenda this includes the amendment so we're just approving minutes from August 27th Nicole can work on the June 17th when you get stuff from julan we'll P approve that next meeting um all right so the motion's on the table of seconded any other discussion all right all in favor as well motion passes okay so we'll go through a few reports tonight so we have um Mr gam is GNA give a superintendent report we have our interim Director of Finance here Mr Daniel de um who has been working around the clock for us to try to get everything cleaned up um and it's greatly appreciated so thank you um so we're going to do that first and then what we're going to do is we have a um individual here who was interviewed uh last week um yes last week by an interview subcommittee I was not on the committee but we had um members from both select boards right we had members from the community we had two school committee members um I think we had some the principes were there we had our curriculum director as well as our director of people y so we had a huge Committee of people that um sat down there were two candidates that came in and interviewed and um the committee decided to move forward with um one candidate who we will be voting on tonight and if you would like I you can introduce himself Aaron sure you want to go with now yeah Aaron would you like to stand up introduce yourself to the committee and then um yeah hi Aaron Osborne uh I'm I guess the candidate for uh for uh direct finance and operations uh born and raised in Massachusetts Liv in California for 10 years uh started my career in uh Corporate Finance moved over to uh the public side uh started out working for a Housing Authority in California uh got the teaching bug moved back to Massachusetts and became a teacher uh about six years into teaching uh a principal who uh knew I had been in finance in the past I needed someone to sort out grants at the district she would moved to uh she called me similar to the way Alice called me um and asked me to consider coming there I went there uh I bounced around a little bit uh I did a short S as Superintendent at Hampshire Regional Schools um and am now the Director of Finance operation sh the assistant superintendent of Finance operations and human resources at handing overand Regional Schools that's great great thank you so much so I hire Aaron my Director of Finance operations and human resource H wam um so he wor worked together um and we had some Financial concerns when we when we we moved that district and Kon was great and helping us thought out that and um certainly uh successful the school district well now to with the finan and operations there so um we' be we very fortunate to have them move into our district and do this work with both that's great yeah thank you so much so the way this works is technically the superintendent makes the job offer and the school committee we kind of are just approving your um offer to for employment to Aaron sure um so since we're kind of right here I don't know if we'd like to if anyone wants to say anything about this or if we want to just I I'd move to take a vote unless there's any discussion get that business item out of the way all great great great okay so could I please have a motion to approve um the hiring of Aaron Osborne as our new Director of Finance and operations jie are there any discussion all in favor I'm an i as well welcome to the [Applause] I know we talked about maybe addressing the committee for a couple minutes just um sure by me I can put right on SP you know it's it's obvious to me that there are some Financial challenges within the district uh I think some of that stems from the assessment formula um and sort of the using the assessment formula uh as well as maybe some staff turnover that's led to some loss of maybe some institutional knowledge I know there's some payroll challenges I know there's some payables challenges I know Dan's working tirelessly to sort that out um I've been backing for be back and forth again now um I think the best thing I can do um you know leading up to my entry I have a copy of your Regional agreement my hope would be to develop um aort sort of proor assessment profile uh for the district um I can't payroll from home and you know easily until I start I can certainly help um but I think what I would look to do is when I came in um sit down with members of the committee as well as the community probably the fins of each Town um and go over that sort of performa uh assessment and take a look at it make sure we have something that the school community and the towns can both that and feel comfortable with and try to rebuild that trust I think we have a lot of trust rebuilding to do with both communities as well as probably some staff I mean knowing um there's been some payroll challenges and things like that I think collabora I think everyone in the district thank you that's great and actually that was one of the goals I think we had last year was um I don't know if you've had the chance to take a look at our regional agreement but yes I actually have a copy of super complicated and I think one of the things that every consultant that we've had or every you know every person that's kind of come across at least since I've been here has said wow your Regional agreement is really complicated any you know plans to to change it or so I think that's kind of been uh on the dock for a while and I think that's great that you want to tackle that because I think the assessment calculation kind of stems from that one of the things that and I did really really well and I can say that is we we Revis the Strategic plan in handon wolver that was about 20 years on the shelf right so we put together and so um it was a lengthy process but we're able to give a completed and updated strategic plan that's being now used in that and that's some of the work that we need to do here as well right yeah great well thank you yeah very excited to have you on board great okay so Al um so the only thing I have is we've kind of all broached the only thing I wanted to talk about quickly was we've all kind of approach the topic of payroll and again I said this two weeks ago I'm G to say it again please be patient if you are an employee of the district and you still have an issue with your paycheck please come see One of These Fine men tomorrow asap don't sit on it don't assume that you know we know or or people know um you need to make sure that you've emailed and and made yourself known and they will take care of fixing um whatever issue you have with your paycheck um and making call all right okay Al if you want to so so I'm going for my report the the majority I want to talk to you about soort would make it just said um so this is Dan and I have a running joke right day 11 for me um day four five for for the so we're really still learning the district and learning the process um but I want to start out by really addressing uh the room which is such an old expression but I I apologize for that but it's the payroll issue that Megan Megan spoke about um so as I'm sure you're aware and I certainly have done my best to keep Megan and the school Comm be informed that there has been some major payroll issues and some mistakes that have taken place um I I want to publicly acknowledge and let both our town communities know uh that it was nothing more than truly was human error it really was human error um I know I've been approached in question by many people about their ideas and why they believe this has taken place it truly has nothing to do with school committee has nothing to do with any other theories or practices it truly was human error and it's the lack of training and the professional development that needed to take place and I truly um the the work that Sally does in professional learning is it's not just as an educator but we need to do it in all areas right so one of the things that we lacked is that training that that the individuals should have um I've always I've always acknowledged the importance of that training in professional development so please know that we we got to rectify the issues and begin the process of making all the necessary corrections to the payroll uh of the many staff members that are off and and we're getting into a really good swap um I I do apologize as your superintendent for for this taking place and please just be patient as Megan said as we begin to fix and adjust these mistakes um as i' I've always said even in my first interview with the school committee when when there's uh something that happens in this District good or bad the stuff that hits the and that's me and and I'm responsible for that so even with this we're working to inove this and and making sure that we make this right um but be patient we'll take us some time um but we are getting there we' already started that process of doing it as well so um needs to say this has occupied many uh hours and days Dan and I were 8:30 9:30 last night trying to fix these errors we're still continue to do that um I'm appreciative of the work that Dan Dei and cyia Henderson at Treasure who you met um last week or two weeks ago she's been working I know her contract is seven or eight hours for the month but she's been working like every single day in that office trying to help out because she had that knowledge and expertise as well too um so I'm very appreciative of them and all the others that have actually pitched in and worked along with us so I also thank the union um in the staff of um Berlin bison Regional School District for their patients understanding we had a chance to meet with many people meeting with the Paris tomorrow afternoon as well too tomorrow Megan I mean Megan sorry ni tomorrow I'm meeting with them as well too um just to talk about their concerns that um so what else do you need to know about what I've done in the last few days um I had a great first admin Administration meeting with what our our principales and admin um we've been dealing with some bus issues I have a meeting with the bus company on Thursday um figure out some of those minor issues that and some of the issues in berland as well too so I'm happy that that's going to be doing that as well too um I've had the opportunity to reach out as well to Tracy noic um she has a date that I'd like to share with school community that she's available the training that she's trying to to give us she's giving to so many other school commes um her first open available date and we literally just texting each other trying to get that file date is October 22nd which is a Tuesday I try to keep the Tuesdays if that works for you guys um but that's the date that she is available so if you guys agree on that as the school I'll let her know so she can book that as well too um and then lastly with permission from the school Comm I'd like to honor this book um by Michael fulin for you guys so we can do our book study we're doing one as an admin um a great book it's called Spirit work and it talks about collaboration in an educational setting um and I got some some background knowledge of that book Michael Fen is is is um well known in the educational field and I think that would be a great stop book to stop with us as as a school kid um I think that's really important for the community to know and I I talked to Megan the school committee that we're doing a book study as well too we're continuing to learn as our admin team is doing as well too in book study so um I'd like to move forward and and that's only one book inone has another book certainly would take that in the recommendations but that would be um my recommendation now for our school as well um and the last thing I guess I need to apologize to my principales because I promised them I was going to be in classrooms and I have not gotten those classrooms yet and and I plan on getting there um I was able to get into a couple of the high schools today and get to meet some of the students and that's the real work I want to do and hopefully once we get all of this fixed um and with the hiring of Aaron and and with Dan working together in um will'll be able to move forward and get by doing the work that a superintendent should to and respectfully that's my that's great okay thank you Al does anyone have questions for Al please what is the training for the school committee I'm just the book the book study oh for oh I'm so sorry sorry yeah for Trac so there's a couple different things roles and responsibilities one um there's there's a couple different ones I'm going to talk to Mega about and see what type of training that we want there's a couple one but there's one that she does basically at the very beginning of all new school committees is basically roles and responsibilities of we have not had as the committee yeah had it when I rolled on Mike la Julie there yes October 22nd but it might be waiting October 20 if you have it October 22nd that would be the last meeting that all of us will be together Julie's term ends and I am in the seat that someone is running against me so there could be two people so the only thing I do about October won't include every yeah you could do it in the November meeting only if she's available right she's available so the only thing I can say through the chair uh is Mike one of the things that happens on the October 22nd it's an open meeting so that everyone can invite it so people that are running for school committee anyone it's important for all of us to know all that so just the only I'm not sure what her her bookings out that's the first one I could get right now is that 22nd date yeah that's a great point to make all right so we'll talk about that we could we have that on the calendar as our ads needed meeting November 26 so we can talk about Al and I haven't really even opportunity to catch up on Stu so all right great thank you anything else all right we're gonna move on to Dan thank you so much Dan thank you madam chair um I'm standing before you in front of my imaginary Podium here so improvise for a little bit so just by way of quick introduction I I believe I've met most of members and most mostly on the table here but for those that haven't meant DD your interim uh School Bas administrator so who is the ndd or interm scho administrator so in 30 seconds or less um a retired scho official um I some Ease on on some um in public education um for the first 25 years I worked with two educational collaboratives the eal collaborative in Boston and and the great collaborative um and in um Lawrence great Lawrence education CL in Lawrence probably sometime in the early 80s Dr Phil deer one day when I was at the G school at wam said to me Dan someday I see you as a school business official I don't know where but I but I see that and he was prophetic he was prophetic um in 2005 I began my career as a school business official and the are public schools I spent about 20 plus years plus if you will as a school business official at several districts in in Central Mass primarily um I've had the the privilege the privilege of working in small bicio districts um and working in Regional districts and also in large urban districts from 19 um yeah 19 uh 2013 to 2016 I served on the board of of the m board and uh one of my uh opportunities if you will uh was to uh cheer um a conference in 2014 um on the whole federal grants um um oversight of Federal grant manual in in the structure I'll get straight the structure probably script be better of of Grant's management that being said um I retired in 2022 um shortly after retirement I thought that I could probably share my my 40 plus years experience um I was appointed as an Adjunct professor um at w State University riveting class riveting class managing the politics in the public sector RI class and for some reason for some reason no one enrolled in my class no one so for the 12 semester of 2022 for the spring semester of 2023 I had I was overwhelmed with with students uh uh zero and I said I think I better reink this at about the same time I did receive a call from a superintendent um up at appal royalston um ask me if I could assist him um for a couple of months being interim school be official I said be happy have a conversation and happy help you out uh what was supposed to be three months ended up being about 12 months thereabouts I gave new meaning uh to the term interim for sure um I wrapped up uh this past July so that's me in probably two minutes I apologize ch um and that's who I am here before you this evening um as I would say last year to to school committee um and with finance a little bit different is I'd like to give you this evening a very brief overview and I'm going to say 30,000 foot overview of just my impressions of of what's Happening Here in the district particularly in the business office over the past several days number one fy2 24 this is probably my first meeting as scoop is official where I did not share a budget report on the general fund with with the committee we still have some work to do uh we have some work to do in FY 24 and and we're working on that those those tasks until those task get done we can't complete and for those who may know we can't complete our end of the year reports that's on my radar as well and we also won't be able to to process our end however however end is not due until the end of November so we have several months there so the point is is that we need to still wrap up some work for FY 24 fy2 I saw in the report that was shared with you at the last uh committee meeting that one of the challenges that there many of the lines I'm just going to speak for the time being the general fund if you will is that there were many lines that were not encumbered okay so the numbers that you saw in that report fy2 they're they're not accurate but I don't mean that bad way it's just that it it it doesn't express your bottom line in in the general fun at this point in time primarily because because there are many lines in the general fund there were some but not many um that uh that have not been covered so we're tackling that as well payroll I I think the superintendent um spoke to to many of the issues but I but I stand before you as your school business official interim School business official but I also assume responsibility for that work I I do I take that role quite seriously I I I do so I I stand before you to the folks in the audience and to the folks who maybe watching on TV is that you know I I'm I'm not happy about what happened um and we need to move forward we need to move forward and we will um if it's not going to get fixed overnight and I'm not going to say to that it will get fixed overnight it's it's going to take some time but but there is an urgc I I I I I I'm flattered that in my 20 plus years as a school dist official I've had the opportunity dare I say the privilege of working with some really really quality people and when I make a phone call and I have made phone calls I've made several phone calls they' said to me I'm there for you Dan tell me when I'll come in because because at the end of the day this it will take a village I it will take a village to to to write the ship if I may I see this as an opportunity an opportunity to reset the business office and to reset some other things relative to school Finance I I see it's a great opportunity to aon's point earlier we were also looking at the regional agreements uh we're looking at the assessments calculations and and we'll get it done we'll get it done I stand before you is that we'll get it done what happened overnight you know I don't want to say to me hey uh Dian you said uh three weeks ago that this was going to be done it it's going to take some time it's going to take some time busing um yes I am your busing Guy full disclosure with with all the activity that I've been about over the past several days um I I haven't had the chance to really tackle any busing issues um superintendent and I uh last week U had the opportunity to meet with a public citizen from one of the towns and gave us a great presentation and some bus busing issues and so we're going to tackle that we're to tackle that a months going to tackle um probably the the 20 emails to my colleagues the principals were here uh probably the 20 emails on busing that uh I I haven't tackled yet but I will get there I I I will get there um again I mentioned uh we'll be working on the end of the year report um as the committee knows that's typically due to September 30 or October one we might be a couple of days late but we have a game plan to get it done it's going to get done um for for end um exent deficiency your cash certification if you will again as I mentioned earlier that's due the the end of November there's still some things from FY 24 um you know that we need to do before we can file that and you know as as one of my DOI reps uh said several years ago she said I'm gonna tell you right now and this is Gospel truth I'm gonna tell you right now that if you were to submit that on November 30 that um you probably won't hear from me sometime in December there about this is this one rep only one rep and she said because I'm too busy um getting uh the the free cash certified for all the cities and towns that can get the tax rate set I get that I get that uh but that is very much on our radar screen and if I am here um certainly I'll be I'll be working with with Aaron and the superintendent to get that done because that's an important piece uh it's an important piece of your budget I haven't checked my cheek sheet yet to see if I covered everything um we we are also working and and to the point that the superintendent said earlier um you know I I sincerely believe uh in in training and you know there there are some folks within the business office who who who needed some need some some good training and and so we're we're going to work on that and we're going to make that happen um and I know that you have a h stop at about six o'clock uh uh typically my superintendent would like wake at me and it's say okay you're done so uh this is my this is my 30,000 foot overview and in approximately five days there about being through interim School business official um I I want to thank the superintendent publicly uh for extending the offer to me and and the privilege to to work with you and assist and support you and at the end of the day at the end of the day what we do is about the students in the classro and the teachers and staff that enable them to be 21st century students and adults um mam chair that concludes my um my brevity report um if you will in front of my makeshift I'd be happy answer any questions from members of the committee if we have any does anyone have questions or Dan we're very lucky to have him on board and we'll have Aaron starting couple weeks whatever he has to figure that out but we I feel like we've got a great team so I'm I'm really hopeful of the future yeah all right thank you so much thanks thank you all right we are going to move into business items um so we already voted on the Director of Finance and operations um we're gonna skip over I because we're going to vote on the last two things and then we'll do I last um so Mike did you want to give a quick update we need to remove policy JH because it's not yeah we're gonna table attendance policies because there was some that's right that's right JH and J there was some confusion as to which one administrator want to work with there's apparently a third one in development so we're gonna hold off on that that's right sorry we talked about that yep all right and we need to work so just through the chair we're gonna work with all principles for next I'm doing one day at time next Wednesday right after our admin meeting that we're goingon to be sitting at this so we're hoping that we can bring to the next subcommittee meeting um a document that this way then we can bring to the full School commit after that as well okay great all right so the LA uh the next thing should be pretty easy um a resident from Boon Dan did you want to speak to this lawn mower elementary school so gentlemen search for into the exe dual deck 34 walk behind zero turn it's cool would benefit from it definitely so it's uh gathered at $1599 and all right so he he just gave it straight up to the school straight up to school all right that's great so thank you whoever you are s that is amazing um so can I please have a motion to approve the donation of the arens WW 34 walk behind zero turn lawn mower to Boon Elementary School Le yes is there any discussion on that Megan just theair send a thank you card we absolutely do I think Cindy I don't know we we can do that yeah we yeah that's a great idea yep perfect awesome thank you all right anything else great idea thank you all in favor I'm as well that motion passes thank you so much again that's amazing is all right so now we have I we have 17 minutes to discuss it this is great so I'm going to set the time for 20 minutes so I'm gonna allow discussion on the topic so we have this policy I'm gonna ask for a motion it needs to be seconded and then we'll do the discussion in there okay if we want to amend the policy that can happen after we make the original motion all right so please have a motion to approve policy I student submission to educational surveys and research Mike all right Lisa any discussion Megan may I do a little brief overview yes I'm gonna start take that right out of your stove literally bought it today got one my stove 20 minutes guys okay so you have in the drive the document it's got a lot of information a lot of history on the Genesis of this whole uh policy uh we started talking about this in the spring I don't remember if it was March April May but it was other spring we decided to revisit it because there was some language that some folks didn't like uh when we met yesterday with the policy subcommittee meeting and the group of teachers who were there were still here tonight uh I thought it was a pretty good conversation as well my understanding of that conversation was that there were two main issues with the policy one being the original language of opt in uh everyone seemed to have an issue with that so we immediately took that out that's already been out that's no longer there uh the other issue was around the logistics of how would you actually implement this um the original policy from masc uh allows parents the right to inspect any materials that might go along with the set survey and that doesn't give any information about when they can expect it inspect it how long they have to inspect it when a survey does come out so we made a change to that language um to say uh they will be sent the materials when the request for permission goes out how exactly was worried in there so that seems to be a bit of an issue as well I don't really have strong feelings either way the reason we put that part in there is uh felt it might just make it easier that if you're sending it out for a permission anyway why not just send all the materials the survey questions at one time uh if you're sending a survey to 500 students and every parent has the right to look at that material maybe a parent calls in and says says well I can't give my permission until you know I come in next Tuesday and then another parent says well I don't have time to come in and look at it until Thursday or Friday or two weeks from now whatever the case may be so it seems like that would delay it and one of the issues uh in the Civics course was timing you how long've got a limited amount of time to complete these and that would just delay things so if we want to go back to the original language on that I I don't think that would be an issue it just seems like it would be easier to send it all at once uh as far far as any other changes that we made they're in there for you there's a detailed explanation and reasoning as to why specific changes were made and if anybody has any questions on them from the committee Lor and I are happy to discuss it there's um one other thing so in that package of information too there's a I took a look around other districts to see what they might do for this policy uh I put two in there one from Lexington public schools and one from Welsley Public Schools uh just show showing their versions of the policy there was some discussion both yesterday during the meeting and then some people reached out afterwards suggesting maybe to get around all this just make it easier we just sort of copy what Lexington has on their website uh so if we want to make an amendment to do that tonight too that might be something we can discuss so that's that Jak I just had something I'm not sure if people are and I don't mean to speak for Sally but she's done some good work and I'm not sure aware that she surveyed um other school districts in asking um how they handle situations like this um and again I don't want to speak for your do you mind ifed people in different it was a big list I only heard back from about 12 people but um in all their districts they have an opt out which was was interesting to see that um and when I reached up to my col wees and that was just by phone calls over these last couple days after we had meeting the majority of are using the the verbiage that Lexington public school uses which is an opt out version as well to and I think is that part of the yeah so the current uh if I may the current version out there it is essentially opt out um we can't write a policy to get around any legal issues or any laws so where it says um I believe the language is uh requires prior written parent consent in the case of minors when asking them certain things uh so that uh call it opt out call it opt in I don't know what you want to call it but it is required it's not something that we can actually policy ourselves out of uh but that's that's that yeah J yeah so um I actually reached out to Lexington public schools last night via email and again today for a phone um and so I did a reply back from Marine Dr Marine C who's the director of data and strategy from the Lexington publico schools um and so that I policy is generally conducted on um for external organizations and I'm happy to send this to the committee she just sent it to me right before the I didn't see it till like literally right now um and so they actually have a different process for um research partnership within the Lexington public schools and she sent me the link for that so kind of you know to address Adan Wilbur's email or he said there's a process where where board um approves it you know ethics board approves the survey um they actually have a similar process for internal surveys um so that might be interesting to look at but I think adopting the verbage of the I from Lexington um public schools in their District it is actually for external surveys not internal surveys um Meg yeah so I think it's it's um I know we've all read these policies compared to policies I think it's difficult to really have the discussion when we're just using um clips of we don't really know what policy people are referring to so what I would like to do let me explain first because um and a little of this information too um if we can't see the policies and say that verbage there compared to this verbage here makes it hard to vote on that right um I I'm going to be completely honest and not in support of the Amendments that the subcommittee is proposing um especially hearing we have three four SE High School teachers here saying why um and if I can just summarize that Bill whad said he knows it's somewhere in between he's not sure the amended language but fourth is the answer Mr Cho says keeping the original ideal as the foundation and building from there um Danielle had said possibly reaching out to other districts to see how they keep both um parental and student rights protected which was done we found that the op up version was there um and and then of course um Mr um Dory as well these are esteemed teacherss in our district advocating for their students saying that the language that we're adding into the amendment just just goes beyond what the original policies and I agree with you I watch the policy sub community meeting also we can't change what's coming from the federal guidelines right we can't change that but we we have that so I I I don't understand why we're adding all this language in after hearing what other districts are doing and what our teachers are recommending to do so what I would like to do is to make an amendment to the policy or to the amendment on the floor I'd like to make a motion for an amend to the main motion which stated and strike the edits by the subcommittee and replace with the original words of an ASC policy updated in 202 and perhaps then do what's being suggested find that we collaborate with the teachers and IND I ask me questions on this discussion all right so yeah there is a motion there's a second and now we have some discussion Julie two things you said the opt out language that's there so that exists so everybody can press easy um the you said it's hard to look at these when we can't see the policies you have them both in a document right on your your screen you may even have it printed out is there a specific question or specific from what you can see that you would like to discuss um yeah when you made the comment about the time frame you said I don't really remember what it is so I think if we're voting on something we have to be very clear with the language where are you which one of you live yet no that's what you said uh I think so I I think it's the instructional materials yeah that paragraph So the Highlight is sent parents of the event at the end it's doesn't it say that 10 days ahead time uh is that the form at the end of the yeah yeah yep yep sorry further down okay so be clear parents must be given the opportunity to off their children out within a reasonable time frame before any survey is sent to students a reasonable time frame would be no less than at least 10 gor duties in advance of sending such survey perhaps longer as the situation may be I'm curious I know we just signed it but for the current opt out for like photos is there I agree to or do not agree to or is there just a do not like opt out right there's a we've transition to a form you know but I'm curious does it have both an optin and an opt out option on those forms I don't or was it just an OP out just an OP out just op out so that would be different from you mean for like School photos no I think school photos or health curriculum I don't know about health curriculum but the one that I did yeah you have to sign because I remember like you got to sign your kids name and my kids are like seven and nine to to agree to it and if you don't then you don't you opt out at least that's the one that I signed for boyon elementary school I have no idea how they are are you referring to the third paragraph no she's referring she wants to know what we how we make people often in and out in our district currently because this is this is opting in and out so if they fill out nothing it should be then they opted in but if they click oh you're talking about are you talking about the form that we put in there at the end yeah the end of the okay um it says that uh yeah I mean if you want to change that to opt out I just you know you know Meg yeah um you know I think a lot of the procedures had changed after you know the the survey that out there was some concerns and valid concerns and so it seems like the procedures had changed significantly so I don't know if I know I've not seen the verbage that now is supposed to go on the top of a survey um are are we able to hear what that that is down so can I through the chair yeah I I I appreciate the teachers I appreciate but the leg work is going to be right here with these three people sitting right here so can I can I hear from the principles if you're okay with that like how's this going to work for you guys as well too that are the instruction leaders of the building in terms of overseeing so any survey that even goes out for teachers F us to go through this to this there's a procedure now after that survey went out Lea sat down with bunch of people and and now so I'm just asking what is a procedure that now with survey so for anything in terms of any surveys right or any anything that goes up off out so my um so my understanding is that this policy is around the eight topics correct okay surveys with this right surveys so um right now um any survey that's a student generated survey has to have an indication of what the survey is for how the information is being used and identifying that the survey is and that it is optional and those are all requirements that we've sent out to the entire staff for any survey and so we sent that out as a a you know a procedure that must be done for all surveys so a survey has to have all of that information prior to it all surveys um have to be approved by the teacher um and it it is concerning a potential Ally sensitive to topic as deemed by the teacher um then we would identify whether it's going to high school or middle school or both depending on that um and there was a question on the floor um for the T for the photo and video commissions we've trans transferred our forms online um and so it's kind of a we do a yes or a no a yes or a no and that is automated so we don't have to manually record everything so it's I don't know how that would that's another issue in itself because it's totally inconsistent for the elementary school nothing's online we do everything in paper forms and you know obviously for elementary children to justice points like one form and you either sign if you agree or if you don't I think there's no we check the box you have to sign so um oh not I'm sorry oh does anybody have any questions about the procedure have I missed anything that I sent out M Mike has a question I think the thing to remember here in this particular case is it is the eight items that you mentioned the right maybe this is a lesson pafic class I don't know people have rights students have rights this talks about a student's right that right shouldn't disappear depending on who's sending a survey so you mentioned if a student is sending a survey or the school is sending a surve the whole point of this is transparency to let parents know what we're asking their kids in school that's what it comes down to however you want to have that happen whether it's through this or or something else the point is if you're going to ask kids to become a data subject a research subject you have to have their per their their permission that's it and so in order to get that permission from a minor child you have to go to their parents and as it says here in in the law receive written consent from parents so to to the chair required school's not I'm I'm I'm speaking so the whole thing is about transparency and letting parents know what is being asked of their their kids so if we can go through this and if you have questions about certain changes the changes were all made in an attempt to provide transparency so the first one uh the first change highlighted any other part of bbrsd included in will be sent that's just clarifying that this isn't just for a Civics course isn't just for a a school photo survey or whatever it might be it's any survey uh in the district if you're asking about these eight topics eight eight subject areas it says right there prior the masc policy itself starts off un that's not highlighted there without prior written consent of the students's parent guardian or the student in thir least 18 right we then made a change to number three because number three was fairly short and we want to be crystal clear that this is an additional protection for students right uh the survey in question again this is not about the Civics course survey that's simp the tool that is was or the survey that was used to bring this to the school committee's attention nobody went looking for this nobody went searching for this this was brought to the attention of the committee we realized we don't have this policy in place MC suggests we have it in place the minimum requirement is what masc gives us we felt that it was important to add additional uh Protections in there uh regarding orientation gender etc those are additional protections not um not attacks or not uh singling out certain groups or anything uh and I'm happy to explain why those are and not anything else the next change was excuse me could you please do that yep okay so let's assume hypothetically you're a student you're 11 years old and you get the survey that says are you a member of the LGBT community now this is an 11-year-old kid maybe they're Advanced and they know what that means maybe they don't maybe they're not sure they're not sure of themselves they're not sure what they are maybe I am maybe I'm I've had some feelings whatever it is they're not sure but now you're sending them a survey and at the top it's marked in red this is a required question to answer it's not though not anymore but it was so these protections would help that and the the student says you know if I I don't really know but if I answer yes and I you know I'm not ready to tell my parents this I'm not ready to tell my friends this uh if I answer no uh maybe I'm not being true to myself I don't really know can you just imagine the turmoil going on in that student's head so this is an additional protection that we thought we would put it in uh it doesn't change the fact that if we leave this out you still have to follow this because this is federal guidelines so these sorry Mike so these seven topics are in the masc policy yes only addition is the clarification of what sex Behavior or attitudes is and you define it correct so so the original I policy refers to local Education Agency so external agencies coming in doing research within the schools um which is not what's happening I I'm not arguing that there needs to be an opt out or not I feel that there should be but I do not feel that we should go outside of the Nic I policy as Al said yesterday they have a room full of lawyers developing these policies and the closer we stick to Mac policy the better you know what Tracy Novak said today that it's a dangerous position to what the district in and I I I really feel that we need to stick to the masc policy just one quick thing uh our attorney M McConnell did review the policy and said it is legally sound so that that email is also in backage so is the only piece that is uh causing strife between people the the part that's highlighted to be clear parents must be given the opportunity to off their children out within a reasonable time frame for any survey sent to students a reasonable time frame would be no less than at least 10 calendar days in advance of sending such survey perhaps longer is it the part that we have number or that the number of days is in there or is it something else because these other changes I'm seeing seem and again maybe I'm missing something they seem minor to me uh it's the addition for number three I believe it's defining what sex Behavior it's singling out certain population within the school which does not Foster a sense of belonging um and also just to go back to the lawyer's email several through the please okay yes I am keep it in order J yeah so the lawyer's email also went on to say there was several logistical concerns with the policy and so I think yes he said legally you might be okay but he said there's several logistic concerns can't find his email but it's in there and there were several concerns that he had yeah if I may address the logistical concerns that was the language change for um requiring parents to review material at any time so the question was like you know can they come at 8 o'clock at night someone has to be here to show them uh we did change that and we could change that again I am with Megan very confused as to why defining what sex attitudes or behaviors are is singling out a particular group in this context I think it it seems to add protections to students who might not want to give that information up so Meg through the chair being respectful you've given so if if scoop agrees and you agree as the chair it seems like there still conversation needs to be taking place with this so Mike as the chair of that the policy maybe we could push it back into policy again I think it needs to have I know that I'm coming late to the game with this right so but maybe we need to go back to policy again and it seems like we're not ready to bring it in front the full school committee and hav a vote on it yet because I see I think there's still some conversations that need to take place with this as well we have a motion on the table for the amendment so we should probably V on that oh wait what was the amendment so sorry Nicole can you read did you no okay to amend it it was amended to be the just masc policy strike it's correct to strike all edits and to adopt the because currently we do not have I in place that's correct and okay all right so the amendment on the table is to just adopt I as is to have something on the table I make a motion to table the top okay but we have an amendment on the table we have to vote on first that Julie made right and then you yeah and then and then you can make amend another amendment y all right so the motion on the table is to adopt the masc policy without any of the edits put forth by the policy subcommittee there was a second right y all right so is there discussion on that or do we want to vote on that have discussion what yeah we just have all right you guys ready to vote on that Amendment all right all in favor adopting the masc policy I as is without any of that is hi all right any opposed all right I'm a nay as well all right so now we're at the regular this policy that we have on the table that has come forth with the with the edits okay so I now make a motion to table the topic as suggested we've not had Sally's okay I don't think you can make a motion on top of a motion correct we got to we got to clear up the first motion I believe and then you can make a motion okay so Mike what what did you want to clarify I just lost my train of thought but um the clarification is regardless of what vote we take we left the meeting yesterday Al when everyone was still in the room we would revisit this but this like Megan said is not currently in there so I would move if we vote on the original but I'm sorry but you're not um I and I watch that meeting you want to get together a team of thinkers right got the idea it's called a working group I love it working group right but the working group is not the masd policy we're not working on that policy we're working on the policy that the subcommittee voted and maybe this committee would vote in essence right isn't that aren't we voting on aren't we voting on the edited we're voting on The edit but I think my understanding of this working group is that they would make proposed changes to the entire school committee or would it go back to the policy subcommittee so I guess that's what you're trying to say right Julie um we're voting on the amended masc Poli that's the current motion correct okay the what I was trying to clarify was that regardless of what we I'm gonna finish my train thought thank you Michael to so we are voting on that then what is the point of having this working group that's what I was trying to if these folks here are saying we we we want to do this we this is not the language this is not the answer they're all saying that but yet we could potenti we could potentially be saying we hear you sort of we're still going to put this policy for that's not what they're so through the if I can just add one piece to a working group I I respect the gentlemen ladies are are sitting behind you and giving us information and I'm new to this whole thing but that that's one sliver I'm hearing right now we have a lot of Staff a lot of Administrators a lot of my people my directly here that we need input from this wel so I I appreciate this sver I'm getting of information here but I I don't I want to know how this is going to impact the Elementry as well too I just need to get a a perspective of everybody so I that's what a working group does let's bring some people together so why don't we start them with the foundation that masc designates as the foundation why why are we creating a foundation saying Al do you want us to not vote on this policy tonight and say we're going to vote on it on October 8th is that I'm trying to catch up I'm trying to catch up what everything's going on I I I think we need to have some policy in place we have nothing right now we have nothing and I think this is going to hold up the work that teachers wanted to do with trans but I think there's a lot of conversation that still needs to play take place and I want to get some other stakeholders involved which is what we should be doing and and only because these people came which is great but there's a lot of other people that I need to get input from and so that's what I'm asking let's get some groups of people together and get some knowledge so whatever you guys as a school be want to do in terms of whether you you table it for the time being are you vote on what's Happening where either in place right now are the amendments that take place that's your work as a school P my work our work is to bring it look at it bring it back to you guys no different than the attendance policy that we talked about today we should be coming to you with a clean policy that we're bring in place and saying this is what works for us and then have you guys vote on it I think what's happening it's the opposite we're voting on it up here and then trying to get it down here to the to the to the teachers and the administrators it should be the other way we should be working on stuff bringing it to you guys as a Schoop and say this is what works for us we're the boots on the ground doing the work and does this work for you guys as a Schoop so what we do it now isn't that what they're saying I'm confused yeah isn't that what put I it's 611 and I move the question okay that needs a second please he wants to go he wants vote all right we're going to vote all right so so the motion on the table is to to vote on this as is and the only part I'm hung up on is the 10day thing which you said maybe we don't put 10 days we just maybe we delete that last a reasonable time frame will be no less than 10 days and that gives is that what you were saying before you're indifferent on that and what's a reasonable time well that's that's what Al that's I'm if we want to remove that that's fine I put 10 days because it's a five day or four and a half days sometimes four days five days school week giving time for a week vacation if something comes around that'll be 10 days but that would make it easier I think for the staff to figure out what they need to do to send if it's not just a survey that's going on if it's something else might be more difficult to get the information to parents that's the only am I going to point a harer inquiry please yes yeah so I just clarifying Robert's wolves so a motion to lay an item on the table does take precedence over all other motions at the time that is made okay so you wanted to make a motion to lay lay the topic on the table to table the topic table the topic table the topic yall second okay all right does it all right we want to vote on tbling topic all right all in favor I recommendation Al you think we should able to talk to I I think I need to do some more work on this soever you guys want to vote to but we don't have anything in place have in place we just don't send any surveys until so there there's a vote currently taking place all right opposed y yeah May again I move the question two votes the original question it needs a second and then we can vote oh so we're voting on this vote on the current policy as it it is 6:14 we had our stop at six yep all right he needs a second for his motion to move vote okay all right all in favor of keeping the policy with the current amendments I I'm an i as well all right oppose can start through the chair just one cab about before we vote with the understanding that we'll have a working group yes that I think that's an important part that's an important part I so that doesn't that doesn't need a vote we agreed yesterday in the r that doesn't need a vote we can this next month I mean we have it's on their radar so we've agreed we have to have something in place only language I think is kind of iffy is this stuff that's highlighted in yellow other than that I don't see any issues with this all the edits yeah she's talking about I can sense the frustration for some people in the back so let's get the working group together let's get let's get the working group together so we can start this okay all right SOA sorry did you want to say something I just want clarification because as the student ccil moves forward they will always put surveys out for like spirit days this is only on the eight topics seven topics yes seven top okay I or is it all surveys or it's the eight topics that list there all about the eight okay I just want to I just want to make sure this is no you're not no you're so the answer question other surveys that don't involve this topic can go on thank you so I'm curious sometimes they have like lgbtq Ally would that not Beed it appears as though that wouldn't be able to part of the survey I missed your question just in the past some of the spirit weeks have been lgbtq Ally days and so that would be affected by this policy but there's a Ser that goes along with that you can still have events you can still have those days just only if you're surveying just if you're surveying the students that's it that's the only we got to remember that's not going to stop list it doesn't say you can't do it all it says is you have to talk to the parents first yeah you can still send it it's making much more and it's making a certain population feel very unw and unsafe just it's also making criminals feel unsafe andal all right but I have a motion to adjourn the meeting and move into executive session Mike all right all right all in favor all right thank you

we have Cherry Brook that'll be very crowded at Cher Brook at that time Wednesday September 18th K high school at 6:00 Thursday September 19th 5:30 p.m. K in mediate school and Wednesday September 25th 6 p.m.

to 6 p.m. where folks can see electric lawn care equipment in a action hear from lawn care service providers and experts about their experiences with electric equipment and pollinator aware practices get questions answered view live electric lawn care equipment demonstrations and for anyone who's interested can um RSVP uh there's an online one but you can send me an email and I will get you connected with that and before I turn it over Missy has something as well yeah awesome and I'm sorry y I know this is a lot Joe did mention we have a lot of events this month there were a few that didn't get grabbed I want to let you know about we also have the local uh food festival that is on the 26th so I think that's right uh yep that's on the 26th we our free tree giveaway I think we might have a few trees still left uh that will also be coming up so the free tree giveaway itself will be on the 21st but you register now for those actual saplings uh they go hot and fast and then uh two last things I wanted to share with you all our americore members are getting ready to hit pavement so they're going to knock on every door in the city of an arbor to make sure people know about a20 and the programs we're talking about hopefully we'll be doing this twice a year going forward to have more interactions with people on the doorstep but if you uh if you do hear this your neighbors talking about it is true uh we will be out in the field and then lastly hot off the press this isn't finalized yet we're waiting on the administrative law judge and the npsc to make their ruling but we have intervened for the first time ever in a series of gas cases and the gas depreciation case a very captivating case I might say uh is it's pretty tedious but we argued that we needed to have a future of gas proceeding similar to what you've seen in New York Massachusetts Minnesota where we really are pushing the gas utility to to understand what comes next and that way we can protect rate payers and make sure we're not sinking investments in an asset that is just not going to be around and uh the judge agreed so if the npsa takes it we will have been the only intervenor and in fact the other interveners didn't understand what we were doing and fought us and so we would we would have won a future of gas uh for the entire territory so fingers crossed we'll let you know when that's that's real but hot off the press you're some of the first to know what do you mean about the entire territory uh DT and consumers would likely have to do for their entire system what what comes after gas bless you thanks p thank you for all those updates um and congratulations on the awards and for and thanks again for all the hard work that the OSI team's been doing it's it's it's great to hear um let's move on to a report from let's how about council member council members city council thanks um I will be relatively brief uh considering that they just covered a ton um but one of the pieces I wanted to highlight um were a few of the things that Council has worked on the last uh couple of meetings um that might be of interest um the you may remember the leaf blower ban that was put into effect a couple of probably months ago at this point um we did have to make some adjustments to that um I know that it's relatively small in the term in terms of the amount of carbon output but um one of the things that we ultimately found through City Testing was that unfortunately the um commercial leaf blowers that are Avail Electric commercial leaf blowers that are available right now are not meeting our needs for being able to do controlled Burns in the city um and so we had to make an exception for around controlled Burns specifically um obviously for safety reasons there um but also to make sure that the controlled burn program can continue to to happen um we would actually like to be able to do a lot more uh control burns throughout throughout the year um but if we pursued without uh without doing the exception we either would have probably had to stop the program or we would have actually Fallen even further behind where we would like to be so that was an amendment that we had to make um another thing that that is um not like immediately impactful but could potentially be helpful into the future as we look towards reducing vehicle miles traveled and trying to create um do more kind of placemaking within neighborhoods and things like that is that um we passed a resolution at the last council meeting to explore uh increased flexibility around accessory commercial units um so you'll remember that the city did accessory dwelling units uh a while back um one of the things that we're looking at is more about how you can um support your your startup business or your um your idea in your community or in your neighborhood and so um that's something that we're looking at we know that as we're looking to um try to create more walkable neighborhoods where folks may be able to uh choose other options than driving all over the city um that this is a potential tool that we want to explore a little bit more and so that's something that we're looking at as well um that was just a resolution at this point asking staff to explore it further as we continue planning um but just wanted to to put that on your radar as something else that we're working on thank you are there any updates from the environmental Commission did you say environmental commission yes commissioner yeah yeah my internet was a little bit unstable yes um first of all uh the environmental commission uh had two presentations focusing on um natural features issues first was uh conserving native Forest fragments in the city um a gentleman from the University of Michigan um affiliated with matthi and Nichols arber presented um on on that um and that's important because Force fragments are one of an Arbor's uh few and significant natural cars um so there was a presentation on that and then there was a presentation on deer impacts in Ann Arbor um as everyone probably remembers anab used to have a deer Call funding for that was cut and uh the environmental commission will be cons considering whether or not to recommend that that be funds for that be reinstated um the only other thing I wanted to say is uh uh Echo uh commissioner OSI on weighing in on on the with the mpsc on natural gas um that that's that's fantastic there's a really well-known um business uh consultant philosopher uh um probably one of the best known of the 20th century um Deming and he said uh that leaders should be F be working on the system to improve it continuously and not working in where osis that's fantastic news and it's really working on the system and it potentially has congratulatory comments from commissioner peek thanks very much thank you okay um I think I don't believe we have any other updates um seeing No Hands raised um we'll move to the last moment for uh public input and this is an opportunity for people to speak for up to three minutes if you're watching on CTN please call 888 78899 or 877 853 5247 and enter meeting ID 956 8718 7876 this information is also displayed on the meeting agenda and video feed City staff will select callers that have raise their hand one by one using the last three digits of your phone number to electronically raise your hand to indicate your desire to speak please press star n on your phone you will hear an automated announcement that the host is allowing you to speak when speaking please move to a quiet area and mute any television or background sound so that we may hear you clearly and please state your name and address at the beginning of your comments um caller ending in [Music] 411 hello um I'm assuming I'm being heard uh this is win we Garten uh 1411 Granger I am a property manager in town um I've uh I'm I support um just you know John mery's comments um he puts a lot of thought into what he said also I am another landlord who cares and wants to do the right thing um so uh we need to be careful when we talk about landlords cherry picking to pad let's assume that all people are trying to do the right thing uh and want to do the right thing um and that's why it is important to me uh there were questions asked about uh can the program be uh how can it be changed if you realize uh uh there's a need and it's a little the answer was a little distressing I have to say um because it seemed I what I heard was well you know a lot of it's been vetted through legal and that's what I've been told the last two and a half years when I've asked to be involved is that well it's going through legal though I'm getting a feeling that a policy gets approved it's going to be hard to change anything likewise uh which is why it makes it difficult to listen to uh um some of the answers that I've heard um you know they said well we've conduct we've consulted experts and we've consulted with landlords well uh you know what uh I'd feel a lot more comfortable if you'd actually list them and put references down on those slides um so um you need to add references because you haven't proven to me that any of the uh how the items on the checklist are actually going to uh make a difference in and I'm a quantifiable person you should know I am uh a member of uh the uh uh 2030 districts uh and one of the things that makes us different than for example regular lead is we ask for numbers and proof uh not just uh not just lip service so um I think you need to do that other thing as a landlord the city needs to move needs to make sure that uh it updates its policies with time for example there are documents that we are required to apply to tenants all tenants everyone should have access to the internet these days and I should be able to give them a lead pamphlet online um I should be able to do the likewise I should be able to do a training uh uh online tenant training uh and that should be uh acceptable so three minutes thank you uh no further callers um I will note if folks refer to in the um in the attachments there is a um file called the green rental checklist methodology it does have a lot of the information on how those numbers were determined um I I didn't attach to here but I I can provide as well the um the overall work that went into creating that as well if that would be helpful that might be very useful for folks if you're able to mail that mail that out um that might be useful for folks and I want to thank all the callers um who who called made comments today as well um the last item aside from adjournment is any items for the next agenda um commissioner Mery uh I mentioned in the last meeting I mentioned again this time I'd like to see a presentation of uh the annual greenhouse gas inventory uh as well as osi's performance measures dashboard uh in the past we've always reviewed that in August the earliest we would do it now is in October so hopefully we can do that soon um the other thing that I would uh ask be uh considered maybe not um near term but um uh this whole topic was related basically to um efficiency disclosures and driving ecm's um energy conservation measures and renewable energy um one component of that as Joe showed is the commercial benchmarking uh that ordinance was passed with a clause that says that there's supposed to be an annual report issued on that uh we should have had two reports uh I'm not aware of those being posted anywhere but if we're passing these kinds of ordinances and we're saying we're writing reports I think it's really important that we uh do a check function um where we go back and look at takeaways and Lessons Learned and hopefully those reports are doing that and would allow us to um evaluate progress that's being made in the commercial area as well as the ordinance and any tweaks that might be made to that so those are uh my requests for future agenda items I can sorry Peck I see you if I can respond real quick I just wanted to note a couple things um one if I I think I've mentioned this before if I haven't my apologies um again noting that the the person who had previously been doing our greenhouse gas inventory and did the city's performance uh or OSI performance metrics dashboard did um leave the team earlier this year uh we've just hired someone in to kind of fill that role um but as that person did one not do the greenhouse gas inventory um nor did they do that original process of it they don't have that context at this time so we are not planning on doing a presentation on that I can direct people to the materials I can walk through the materials but you know like I said we don't for this year have someone who's able to do that but we can get you to those things and we'll definitely be doing that in future Years also noting with the benchmarking like that don't have those reports from my understanding there was um issues they were working through on getting right now were very very heavily investing in getting everything updated on benchmarking um our you know staff person who's been working on that they're currently in the like the final phases of compliance for this year there were some extensions that needed to be done um and his time is incredibly over spent on benchmarking right now from where it should be trying to get all these buildings into compliance and that's kind of the first Focus once he has gotten the buildings into compliance once we are there that's when we'll be looking to do the report hopefully um again want show over PE yes uh thank you uh Joe for all the uh work going into this meeting um I'd also be very interested in in it's unless someone else sees a reason not to do this I would love to hear have a list presented of the challenges uh that OSI sees in meeting the goals of um Net Zero in ranked order and then uh have us discuss use that as a discussion vehicle to get a sense of of uh and you could and maybe what we need is a ranking of you know you know annotate it a little so we have an idea of what the challenge is how serious is it um and um you know then we can go through them and really help you brainstorm or find others that can help us brainstorm each of those challenges you you know so it's taking a just a big you know it's essentially an assessment of where we stand and where we're going I think everyone on the call here today probably feels like no fault of yours or osis we're going too slow you know the whole planet is going too slow but I think Ann Arbor provides a real opportunity to show the world how you do it and to do it at in a real world uh context and it would be good for us to really uh make sure we're doing all we can and I think this is a way you know with University of Michigan's commitment to doing a lot more in the climate space Maybe to help you know at least one benefit might be to help get um the University of Michigan to help with some of these in a more serious way but I also think they're going to be other folks other entities that can help us in a serious way um just an idea thanks that's a great that's a great um suggestion to help us help us I think throughout this as we're sort of navigating how to how to shape the agendas moving forward too and and support of um Council and and OSI and and all the work um any anything else from commission members council members uh once again please feel oh yep sorry yep one more it's been a long time since I've done a meeting like this where every single face is a male you know we really do need to diversify this committee um but anyhow um I understand that's a hard thing to do sometimes we still here tonight right that John you broke up when you were you were talking I said we still have two openings that would have not been filled let's make a priority maybe to think of who we can get it doesn't look like us council member Rina yeah uh and I just want on that front I spoke with mayor Taylor at the end of our last council meeting about some of the vacancies and I know that um we're having some discussions about um getting uh the commissions filled and what the what that looks like going forward um with respect to this I think we also had a new vacancy that occurred this morning um so we have another person that has left the commission and so we want to make sure that um we're looking because we're also getting close to potential Quorum issues if we start missing people and so we need to start looking at um what we do so I will um um continue talking to him but to the extent that anyone knows of folks that should apply um one of the things that we are often lacking is diverse applicants when trying to fill positions on commissions so um please encourage people to apply if you know folks and that goes for all commissions not necessarily just this one okay um thank you everyone for your time uh and preparing for the meeting and and and for the time you're going to put put towards uh preparation also over the next month um and I know there's a number of follow-ups uh with with uh a few of you as well in terms of uh different different comments and things like that um so I just want to say thank you and um looking forward it's 7 48 and so as chair I declare this meeting adjourned thank you everyone have a good week

to 5:00 p.m. in a little break and it's challenging well and then we would require all of the candidates to be present all day correct and waiting for that meeting I think we're getting ahead of ourselves a little bit yeah these are the thoughts Che we'll think about you have any thoughts on that we have to vote right you have any thoughts on that opinion okay Diana do you have any questions about uh the input from community no I think we just need to be sure that we get it okay thank you I think youall heard that di said I think we just need to make sure we get it and I think we're going to get it so any further discussion on on item 2.3 if not can we have a motion to accept item 2.3 as presented that one's not oh that one is an action item okay pardon Jennifer I got confused I have a motion from Chuck a second from Margaret all in favor say I I Diana we lost her we lost her that passed unanimously okay item 2.4 is also an item that is an action item so we'll have to vote on that this is U governing board will discuss and may consider approving questions specific to District to be included in District superintendent position application advertise to Arizona School administrators you went through that already uh Bard there any other questions or qualifications that need to be in that uh public notification you actually have this this refers to custom questions in the application custom yeah and you you have a you have a um a short one pager on that that you should have is this is just This concerns now the application itself we use right this is on the anything we want specific on that application if you want to add a custom question to right to what you are to supplement what you already have yeah I understood that is there anything specific you have listed the the questions that they're asked to provide no I think it's great it's this first page correct it's the one that says Blue Ridge Unified School District superintendent search September 10th M potential custom questions for application I really think it's thorough it's toward the end of the packet I would think it's this one very it's we've got it we got it all let me let me just point out a couple things about the and I'll be be uh quick for example one of the questions that's included is describe your management leadership style they can do a maximum of 200 words it's really interesting what you sometimes find out some people's management style they'll say love all the kids that's it then the next candidate will have a beautifully crafted five paragraph essay of 199 words hitting on the highlights of their management style and it's up to you as a board to decide who spent more time on the application who didn't it's interesting what's what's revealed by questions like that or what's not revealed so do we want to add any more specific type questions like that are we pretty well covered then so I think we're ready to vote I think this is very thorough that's wise because the more you include the more you have to re exactly right I think this is thorough yeah I agree all right so item 2.4 I have a motion to accept item I mean to vote on item motion from Chuck second from Margaret all in favor say I I I thank you Diana okay item 2.5 is just uh information uh and I you probably covered this already but it's um Consulting will Pride an overview of the next search and discussion details and we went through that in your presentation already yeah and we you discussed it extensively on the screening and and I think we're right is there anything else you'd like to add while you have the mic in your hand no I commend you on really working a complex uh situation out and rather successful I think it'll work just just fine if I have questions as I'm really trying to prepare a written version of this I will can relay them directly through superintendent Mike or if you want to I can call you as you can call me anytime okay except after 9:00 yeah I'm just kidding all right thank you very much appreciate you being here thank you board members for your thank you patient cauti we it's not an action item so thank you next item on the agenda are the goals uh to be presented to us um for the upcoming 2004 2025 year who wants to start everybody's pointing to Ryan so we'll start with Ryan we'll do you Courtney and then we'll do your Lauren okay and we have your goals here right if if the principles could keep the mic close to their mouth so we the board could hear it'd be great um so at the elementary school uh just to start off by sharing some of the great things that are happening um here and I don't I don't think this is my updated presentation get an update no we have is this is this your updated one that is four pictures in the bottom yes yeah we have it we have yeah all right I'll go off memory you want to borrow mine if you know mine I'd love to see one thank you so just to kind of start off one of the biggest things um since I've been here this back to school night is our biggest event of the year uh we typically have people overflowing into to what used to be range grass and now it's mud when it rains but we had over 1,600 people show up to back to school night this year which was just incredible I mean our hallways were filled people were happy the the kids were happy to be back it was it was a tremendous night um we got a lot of people registered that night and our staff just did an outstanding job trying to manage that many people going through the building um we had a couple things that we had to to change up in the moment and we were able to take care of those the following week like printing badges for everybody um and we were we were able to get it done and the the following week when we started school we printed I don't know 225 badges in one day made sure everybody got one and had what they needed uh it was really good so back to school night it was a it was a blast um I'll just leave that one up there uh we all recently as recently as today actually so this really nice Banner that's back here we to I took it down and took it over there and we used it as our backdrop so we have we don't typically allow parents down the hallways on the first day of school um it prolongs students getting into the classroom it prolongs that attachment between between the parents and the kids and it's just easier if we do it all outside and then we can get our day started and most parents almost all of our parents are really on board with that uh so I I hauled this giant Banner over there um and we we got one at the elementary school so it's something that we'll be able to use for all of our photos moving forward and everything like that so we got a new one um to use as a backdrop but it worked really well people loved it uh and so back to school went off without a hitch we didn't have any any issues with uh our transportation or anything like that coming in on the first day and it was it was great um a couple additional changes this year we got a new PE teacher uh it is Mark calesi um he came on with the understanding of we want to make sure that kids are seeing teamwork and foundational skills to sports um not a bunch of for lack of another word to say made up games that don't get them anywhere we wanted to help our Athletic program by getting kids to understand the basic rules of sports and understand that teamwork is necessary and so he started off with with soccer and he I walked in there at one point and he had 24 kindergarten kids all with soccer balls and it was absolute chaos um but he had his whistle and he was coaching and he was I mean he didn't know all their names on the first day but they were kicking soccer balls and by the end of it they were they were dribbling the ball down the the court um when they were playing inside and kicking into the goal and doing things like that um and our bigger kids they were learning the art of passing the ball and he had them doing touch passes which is I have a soccer team myself we have not mastered that skill yet um of when the ball gets to you just pass it on to the next person and so he was he was doing that and um he has moved into basketball which is the sport that he actually prefers and so they're they're moving forward with that but it's great to see our kids seeing that teamwork and those skills being built from from the lower levels um he also goes over the rules and things like that with them which is an area that I I visit our recess and rules are of sports are lacking um slide tackling is a thing that they all think they can do and and it's just not um and so has been working on that really hard uh the next slide shows a couple things that we had that were centered around literacy um so we had Bas a high school from down in their academic decathalon team from down the valley come up um Miss D organized all of that they came up and did a full day of community service uh at the elementary school and they donated over 6,000 books to the elementary school um that they they fundraised for down in the valley and they had donations for down in the valley and they brought them up sorted them out by grade level with our librarian and they were able to pass those out um we were also uh joined by Wendy Winters she is part of the Arizona kids need to read program she came in um once again facilitated by Miss Dy and every single kid preschool through six got a book like she gave them a book through her program every kid preschool through Kinder preschool in kindergarten they also got a stuffed animal that had a light in it and if you would press the middle of it and my daughter got one she absolutely loved it if you press the middle of it the light comes on but you have to read to it before you can do that and so my daughter came home and she had this this stuffed bear and she read to it and pressed it and the light came on and and that was the power that that Lit these these things up and and it was great our preschool absolutely loved it um our kindergarten kids she came in and read to them and they got to act out one of her books with her it was a it was a great day um we also had several service dogs come in through Miss D class as well that kids could read to so some of our lower levels some of our kindergarten kids they got to read to the service dogs which is just a great opportunity kids the kids don't see any um pressure to do that they they could sit there and read and the dog doesn't care um if they're reading the right words or not and and so for our younger kids they're just telling a story they're flipping the pages and telling a story and and it makes it a great experience um following Pages show some of our staff we have a great staff at the elementary school like I couldn't be more blessed with the staff that we have they are I would assume that it's parent conference week right now and probably 60% of my staff is still on campus holding parent conferences right now um and they were yesterday and they will be tomorrow and they want to make sure that every parent has the ability to come in and talk about their kid and what they they can work on and what they're doing great and and areas that we can improve and so we have an absolutely outstanding staff we had four people retire last year that impacted this town and this community and in ways they'll never know um they are missed this year there's no question about that but um our our staff is is just great I mean I don't have a whole lot of other words for that so forgive me on that one um a couple other things that we did we had our yellow tracks were back last year we had almost a hundred kids that came over and our high school track program put on the track itss program for our kids and taught them field events and um some of the sprinting events and things like that it was an after school program that we it was free we provided the transportation over for them and we had about a 100 kids take up on that which is just great um especially be a be able to interact with our high school track team um who did a fabulous job uh last year we had four kids from Blue Ridge go to the County Spelling be three of those four were from the Elementary School um and so in that the packet that you have you can see some pictures of them they were all finalists and then we had one of our students that is at the junior high place second in the County Spelling be um which is great they spell words that I could never dream of um and so it's just outstanding experience for them perfect attendance has been on the rise for us I know that's been something that that has been kind of all over recently on chronic absenteeism and things like that our our attendance Is On The Rise um when we started our perfect attendance breakfast we had 79 kids that first quarter that had perfect attendance so just shy of 10% of our campus showed up every day um to end last year we had over 187 kids with perfect attendance in the fourth quarter of the year which is a difficult quarter to have perfect attendance in the first place but I mean we are just working that one and and making huge strides we also had 11 kids on campus that had perfect perfect attendance they didn't have any tardies they didn't get checked out they didn't show up late they didn't leave for an appointment and come back or anything we had 11 kids with perfect perfect attendance and so we had a uh Apple iPod Touch donated that we let them draw for um as well as some gift cards and things like that that were donated to us from the community um our ELD program is is growing and they're showing growth we had three students at the elementary school show proficient last year on the aella test which is is Big um we're getting a lot of students these days that that are uh emergent to know English and and so we're making progress and and getting kids moved into that proficient and into the monitoring stage following that um as far as our goals go to be able to support this strategic plan um we implemented a PLC classroom on campus to reduce distractions and and be able to show visible data uh you can't have the kind of data we want up to see all the time in a classroom because of of privacy laws and things like that and so we have that in our PLC room and we have visible data showing where kids are at and tracking how they're doing and how the progress is going so that we can Target our in instruction to be what they need um and that's how we're going to to make the next steps in our our journey forward is by really focusing in and looking at what we're doing and and evaluating that based off of the data um the other one is to continue the implementation of our data management system we are taking more meaningful tests now than we were um which is important to our first goal um we need data that is actionable data that shows up quickly that tells us you know that lesson today didn't work but if we take a test and nothing happens with the data from that then we just waste a little bit of our time and so that's that's a big goal for us is to make sure that those data in or those data conversations are happening um that we have the right people scheduled to be in those rooms to be able to best affect students um um and then lastly we are working with uh with our committee on campus some parents our site Council to try to involve and get people in the doors um it's a partnership at especially at the at the youngest of Ages it's a partnership with these kids education and so getting their parents to show up is or meeting their parents where they're at is uh is something that we have to do and we have to constantly be looking at any questions on all of that so far all right um as far as professional development for the 2425 school year it's in it's coming down the pipe that by August uh 27 correct 27 28 uh all all staff that are teaching all teachers that are teaching an English class or reading class in K5 must be literacy endorsed now if you have a reading endorsement you are already covered there but you have to be literacy endorsed in order to teach English in the K5 setting um and so we were able to work with with uh the district office and and Kimberly and and uh part of preparing for that is taking Parts A and B and it's a training and it's a two-year training and we were able to enter into a partnership with Susan Midkiff for that she has a couple kids in our school district and she presents the letters training um and so we are starting that in October so October 14th will be our first day for that um the letters training is language Essentials for teaching reading and spelling um and it'll be an eye opening experience for for a lot of our staff because it is a very deep professional development that will help them understand exactly what the child's mind is going through as they're trying to grasp these Concepts and so I'm really excited about that I know Kyla's really excited about that um and we were able to get all of our teachers at the elementary school signed up for that training um and we're going to be able to to help them towards that at the end they'll still have to take their test for their literacy endorsement but there'll be a big step closer there and and we'll have teachers that that have seen that very good professional development any questions there all right um as far as upcoming events we have our book fair going right now and we have grandparents day breakfast tomorrow um just coincidentally they're together uh it makes our book fair very good for our campus um but the book fair is going and so that's that's an exciting thing and then uh we are gearing up to for the parade um we are the reigning best school entry from 2023 um just saying got a plaque uh we are the reigning best school entry and so we are gearing up to uh to have some more students even this year than we had last year um it's it's a little bit more difficult because we have to our students have to be more closely monitored um than than they are when they get a little bit older and so we have a lot of parent teers that are chipping in for it and we have a lot of students so we should I think probably have around 70 students 75 students participating in the parade this year which is is great um and then the last photo was one that we took last year uh that is the class of 2024 so the outgoing seniors and the kindergarten class and so we took it out back behind the building and so our their last year and their first year so we took that one and I just thought it was a pretty cool photo to to include in there um and so yeah that the elementary school we're moving forward and and I'm I'm super happy to be a part of it so if there's any questions love this thank you Mr Grace appreciate appreciate everything you've done there Elementary School looks like a fun place to be right now we are trying cool thank you very much all right Junior High uh so I'm going to do a quick recap on our 23 24 year uh and then go into our goals for this year so uh I just want to so I um one of the focuses we had last year and we continue is kindness uh and so the uh be kind to show kindness every day um we're on a good start for that again this Year too we've got a lot of leaders in our students that are are really stepping forward and showing a lot of kindness and we saw a lot of that last year as well um we do try to strive to make sure that that we we give that message to the students that they matter and they belong uh and we feel like it's it's working there are for junior high they are a happy Bunch for the most part I'm looking at Miss Gro for some wouldn't you say they're pretty they're a pretty fun Bunch um so it's on I guess for the raid is what I'm hearing we've got some competition here with the elementary school um we had a great turnout last year this was our uh our parade turnout for elementary junior high and high school and so it was so great to see all of the Blue Ridge uh schools out in attendance for that so we are going to be working on trying to have that same kind of attendance this year as well it's a great time for the kids and although we asked them to just Loft candy really carefully at the uh at all the parade attendance it turns in into we have to have people dodging candy because those kids get into throwing candy at the at all the parade uh attendees so we had a huge amount of student engagement last year I owe we owe a lot of that to our student council and Miss Gro actually um is has been our student council sponsor for quite a few years um and Miss Pollock who runs yearbook and they actually put so many different events together for our students last year and made it such a fun school year uh but above that all of the engagement that the teachers have just different events that they have going on in their own classrooms different engagement strategies we you can walk into any classroom in the junior high and see students engaged in learning uh and then all the extracurricular activities as well we had a great turnout for sports last year and our music program and I'll get to that in a little bit as well um but aside from that we also had some uh some field trips that students got to participate in a lot of dances uh at the junior high that were super fun and Coach Robins actually led a lot of those line dances and taught students some really awesome moves at the junior high and so we appreciate all the involvement from our teachers and our staff because they really put these amazing events together for the students um a little bit more we had our um we had our talent show at the end of the year we have some really amazingly talented students at blidge and so we were we were blown away by some of the things that we were seeing from that talent show um also that bottom picture of the student we the I just have to go back to kindness really quickly with our students at the junior high sometimes sometimes junior high students can be tricky but they will always surprise you with the amounts of kindness that they show to others uh and so we love that about those 13 and 14 year old students couple of achieve achievements that we had last year um a lot of community service work and that again teachers uh put together community service projects for the students we had some students that built a little Library Library where in our hallway where students can just take free books and return them when they're done um we also had our second place winner uh Spencer whitting at the Navajo County Spelling be and then we had two patriots pen we actually we had a few Patriots pen essay contest winners we do this uh project with the VFW every year and we always have winners that go on to uh to District region and state and so uh jet gerardi was our first place winner in uh the school or excuse me in the District um and then parley uh Brandon I think was was third or fourth place but then went on parley went on and what received first place in the region and then fourth place in the state so we had some State winners as well at the Junior High in that writing contest and that's a really great it's always on patriotism and democracy um and so it's a really great contest for the students to be involved in we also had our performing arts or uh all of our band choir and Orchestra all received either Excellence or per or um superiors at their festivals last year and the numbers are growing in our music program which is really exciting we have so many Elementary School students that are that are already participating in our after school music program um and filtering up to the junior high so we're excited to see the growth there um and then our Veterans Day assembly another great turnout um that's always a really big event at the junior high and again with the help of our student council uh it was an amazing event and this is our class of 2028 who are now current freshmen and uh they brought all their energy to the high school this year and so the teachers and staff were just very grateful to all of the help that they give and the support they give to the students I apologize for the small font I was trying to keep my slides a little bit less but if you look at our math goal and our Ela goal for the 2425 school year they're very similar because what we're looking at is two things we um we want to bring our achievement up for sure in our proficiency levels that the in our uh in our meets and exceeds we are we're looking at the we have actually a a large number of students who are partially proficient and they're just about to that point and so we're recognizing that those students that are right there at that cusp need a little bit of extra support um to get them to this to that proficiency level and so we're working on looking at some standards just what are our gaps and so we'll be looking at at at pulling those um pulling all that data and we'll go into that in just a minute um with our uh with all of our action items but we do want to make sure that we're bringing those levels up um we weren't happy with our scores this year and just as Mr Grace had mentioned uh attendance for sure plays parts of that um and so we already have some different incentives for students to be at school every day and so we're excited about some of those that are those things that are happening the other piece is that we're looking at our community engagement and and improving our are increasing our parent engagement as well as our community engagement and so we have some different action items on there and that's on the next slide so here's a couple of our action steps uh in math and Ela we're looking at analyzing our scores from last year and and we're looking at some Coral um corollary uh information as well like attendance and how much did it impact students on their scores um and then what other gaps are we seeing in what areas um also implementing targeted intervention for students um administering regular Benchmark testing our teachers are already very involved in adjusting some of those uh those uh benchmark assessments so that we can we can really hit those standards that we see that are lacking um progress tracking instructional alignments to standards and then um apparently student progress tracking is very important because I put it on there twice um and then as far as our community engagement we are we already had our first stakeholder meeting uh yesterday and so we'll have our quarterly stakeholder meetings where we invite different uh community members to uh to give us input on things that are happening in the school quarterly family events we have our sporting events but we also are looking to open up some more engaging activities for families as well um providing a little bit more language and accessibility support to our our parents um especially our non-english speaking non-english speaking parents um and then communicate through multiple platforms I feel like our social media platform has really grown and so we're getting a lot more information out that way um and then our newsletters that we're sending out every couple weeks as well to the parents um and we'll be sending out our first parent survey this week as well just to get some feedback from our parents on how they think we're doing and what kind of things we can do to improve we want to make sure that all of our goals are aligned with our district strategic plan and so we were uh strategic in making our goals um we're also going through the cognia accreditation this year and so we want to make sure that all of the pieces that we're looking at and everything that we are um analyzing is Meaningful to student achieve and student wellness we also have some upcoming events we've got our parent teacher conference this week on Thursday and Friday um and then we would love to have you join us for our band concert we're actually splitting up the band concert and the orchestra and choir so our band concert will be on the 23rd and then on the 30th will be our Orchestra and our choir performances um and then I also wanted to share with you this was just uh this plaque was just installed today just this morning in the new Diana Butler student Commons and so um if you can I'm not sure if you can read the piece underneath it we you can make that can you enlarge that a little bit teacher administrator and Schoolboard member five Decades of dedicated service to blidge uh schools and the community of Pinetop Lakeside um and so that is hanging up on our in our comments as well as um can I move to the next one or that okay awesome as well as the sign that's uh up in the Commons as well for the Diana Butler student Commons I did not have a chance to work with Diana personally um you know other than through the school board but I can I have heard so many stories of people who just have loved working here so what an honor to have this up in the junior high Commons um because she is she's a legend at bluid uh and so that is all I have any questions for me questions thank you thank you I think that's uh very special about Diana did you hear that Diana I heard that Dr Wright sending you pictures I don't know who she's talking we can hear that she said I don't know who she's talking about thank you Diana thank you all right I just want to begin by saying that the elementary they had a a great float last year but they didn't win the overall award the high school won the overall award so that's up for grabs too so we that back to just saying exactly but who got the plaque the the high school has it so it's actually in the student council room okay so um begin with some of our celebration CTE shout outs we had eight students plac in the state FBLA to qualify for state and then we had some of those students go on to the National comp competition as well first place winner in the theater skills at EAC competition that student actually got a full-right school scholarship to EAC which was incredible that that student wouldn't have gone to college had she not done that program um silver and bronze winners at the state culinary competition and then we also the other CTE programs they've had um success at the competitions that they're required to do as part of their ctso their Carl Perkins participation Fine Arts the um theater production this last year uh they were nominated with the ASU gamage High School Musical Awards and they were one of seven of 25 finalists in The for The Sound of Music so they did a great job for such a small school and all these big schools that have all of the population to come into these plays we're surprised that here's the little bluid you know making a show and then also um coming away with the first place winning for best sound in the state so Mr bloomstrand and his tech crew did an amazing job with the sound so if you saw the sound music you saw what a great performance it was and we're looking forward to the next play that's coming up um as Courtney mentioned same thing at the high school choir band and Orchestra they received the superior ratings in their competitions this last year as well um additional celebrations we had AP courses that were continuing to even with uh making Cuts were able to maintain our AP numbers except for one class this this year which is incredible for the size of our school um increase the number of students taking AP exams and a record number of exams taken and then the number of students that pass with the three or better that's the highest number that we've ever had in that area as well um again we're the only School in the area that offers this type of and the number of AP courses that we do I think there's only one other school that offers an AP class and that's one um we had an AIA scholar athlete this last year Josiah gel was one of the finalists um he did was not the finalist but just being a finalist is pretty incredible um that we also had um brick horn was a National Merit scholar semi-finalist so a huge accomplishment there um next one we've had since by been at the high school this last year we've had the most participation in athletics and extracurricular activities that we've had since co co head it took a while for the kids to have that initiative to get back in there and participate um we had our state pickleball team our first year at doing it and then they got the they were actually the state pickleball Champion so that's pretty cool um we have a state wrestling champion Eric gindo his second time and we're going for a three Pete this year and and hopefully his senior year next year as well so great he did a great job in in representing the district um first second and third place winners in voice of democracy this is the older brother to the Patriot pens that Courtney was talking about out so our our school's always done well within that area and so this last year we took we swept it with first second and third place winners um we also had a Heisman State scholarship winner in Leilani hlin so a lot of individual recognition a lot of cool things that the kids are doing um and then just within these pictures just kind of as I go through the the next slides it just shows how many different activities and um things events that are going on I thought that the junior high was busy with all things that you had going on but then you get to the high school holy cow there's just something every night tonight we have volleyball game we have um the spaghetti dinner that the soccer team is putting on and then there's also the talent show the White Mountain um Talent Show competition that's the finals are tonight so that's just one night and you've got three different events going on a lot of different things happening at the at the high school here's some of our sports athletic teams um you can see the bottom picture the just theed representation that's our uh I believe our track team coach gineo is there and just track is amazing it gets those kids out there they they have a blast and and they they're competitive while they're at it too but they also build some really strong relationships not only with our kids but with kids from the other schools so they can see that you know what we're we're competing but we're still we can be nice and we can have that Brotherhood Sisterhood within the team and then also with other schools in the area and that's great that we have that ability to do within our our athletic programs here's some of our other other teams you can see the chess team our fbaa organizations our construction trait um they there's robotic competition that they participated down in White River um any chance that the kids can participate outside of classroom activities that's what builds the engagement and we want kids to be involved and that's what we start off the beginning of the year in our assembly and say hey get involved if you're not doing sports if you're not they're going to stay engaged in their classwork and they're going to be successful students so that's why we encourage so much participation here's some of our our navat programs we you hear when Matt Weber comes and talks about how great how strong the participation is at blage well here's the proof of it with the kids and and they love going to navit they get to spend half a day um in their Nava class and they come back on campus and then they finish the other half here on campus and they come out with some amazing amazing skills they're working after graduation the picture of the firefighters I see several of them that were hired within fire departments and are busy working and you know there's they have a start for a great career and here's some more of our um the drama we see some of our drama participants um chess band again just more areas that kids can participate in um and even though you'll see a lot of students repeat in some of those you're go like oh they're got kids popping up again but then you have others that like this like the top left picture where that's our our theater crew um Miss Evans has a great program where these kids they wouldn't be involved had they not had this opportunity to to do technical theater and so we're seeing doors open for students in many different areas all right so one of the things that the high school has been historically great at is our CC College and Career Readiness index and again we had a great showing with with what the school did and that's a combination of college preparedness and then also the career PR preparedness with our CTE programs our Nava programs the skills assessments and then also the participation in dual enrollment classes both with um CT classes and then also the academic classes um here's some different numbers that you see we had 95 college level English math and social studies courses that were passed um that's eight eight higher than the year before um 106 CTE classes passed with a a sear better and that's college credit so each one of those college credit that's a that's basically a scholarship for those kids and you've got 151 CTE classes completed with a CR better um the 30 the industry credentials are in this is within the CTE program you you have a test that you have to test to see what what skills you've acquired within the class um and then this is up high we did what one one skill better than where we were the year before and then our CTE sequence and skills assessment um we had 75 that was up 11 um and then the bottom one is just that's another factor that we look at within the um College and Career Readiness index with the number of students at met the cut scor on the acts testing um same diagram that Courtney shared showing our district strategic plan um within what the high school is looking at doing we want to make sure that we're in line with that as well so what we're doing is we're focusing on a composite score with the act all Juniors take the ACT exam and they start the as their High School career they do the ACT Aspire they don't do a test their software year then they take the ACT their junior year so what we're doing within the school and this is taking advantage of our um DNA testing our our program that we use to help the classes prepare for testing and so we are giving mock act and then act like questions within that these Benchmark testing so it's going to help prepare our kids for the ACT once they finally get to do that through Junior year um we're going to do ACT Testing earlier to where the kids and another thing that's going to help it is actually the structure of our schedule our master schedule where you're you have math and English and science year round so where a kid may take it first semester they may not have that skill and then in second semester when they take the ACT so hopefully we're going to see an increase in the ACT scores by having those year round classes and we're going to focus on changing our school culture for testing encouraging the kids like hey do your best we have a lot of kids I'm not going to college why do I need to do the ACT test so we trying to encourage a participation have some incentives for them schoolwide we're going to do some vocabulary reviews so kids are familiar with those the different vocabulary that they're going to see within the AC test ACT test um and our final one that we're looking at is increasing our parent involvement and that's through our district communication communication at the high school we're sending out the newsletters that we've done um and we thank the district for getting us the s'mores newsletters it's a great tool and and I think it's really increased the engagement with those that are reading it so that's where we're looking at we're this was the end of the year celebration picture with our graduates and we hope to have another great year like this at the end of next in 25 so any questions no thank you I have one comment can we be included in the list that gets those uh newsletters that go out to the parents you bet at every level sometimes we don't hear about them until you come later and sometimes we know about it and we attend but sometimes we don't see that so that's defin thank you thank you um since goals were presented I think we probably need to vote on those goals and accept the goals as given I move we accept the goals all right I have a second on that second check all in favor say I I thank you Diana also appears unanimous okay next item on the agenda is the consent agenda um after reviewing the consent agenda board members are there any items that you'd like to take out and vote on independently if not can we have a motion to accept items the consent agend as presented which is items 4.1 through item 4.5 have a motion from Jennifer I'll second that motion all in favor say I I thank you di all right additional business today we have some new hires um I don't see any of those new hires here so um they don't need to be introduced so we have a motion to accept the new hires item 5.1 I have a motion from Chuck second Margaret all in favor hi sorry Jennifer I saw you all right item four 5.2 recommendation to approve the updated version of the Schoolboard model policies Dr wri do you want to go over the changes that we have in that if there are any these are um updates to keep us in alignment with ex these are all updates to keep his alignment with State Statute changes and federal changes um probably the most publicized is Title 9 and the a the trust that models the policy and provides it has taken a neutral position and just says that it encompasses the changes such as Title 9 coordinator and the informal resolution we haven't made any changes um the I'm aware of the board and the community's position on critical things such as bathroom use and we are managing it to those expectations there's no drastic changes the other changes are just rather perfunctory Food Service you have to make changes based on that foundational Child Nutrition uh the statutes of false reporting uh by folks and what those penalties are and then school safety generally the emergency plan which we exceed every year and notification of registered sex offenders that want to run for school boards some of those things teacher contracts cannot be administered before March 15th we normally did it around so it's not a a subsi of change for us and a disclosure of background checks by all applicants if they fail to do that we can terminate them or rather the board can and uh there's also protections for vulnerable adults and U the graduation just sets forth the standard by which we observe academic CR uh credits uh the state is making sure that the public school districts do not have a pejorative effect on kids coming from homeschool in Esa we have to effectively receive those and we do that doesn't change any of our practices uh foster care there are some uh adjustments with that to make sure the foster care students are protected we adhere to all of that Student Records it tightens that up a bit we adhere to the the educational records the federal and state requirements and then um foster care there's a couple of minor changes and that's that's really it there they're not any big Monumental changes in any of that we're adopting the policy model as a whole so you don't get confused with well I thought we adopted this one last time and we haven't dropped this other the whole group of policies numbering now about 208 are updated regularly I'd say probably twice annually so that that is uh the information there any particulars needed just for clarification this is recommendations from the trust right yes sir okay any questions we have a motion then to uh accept item 5.2 to approve the updated version of the Schoolboard model policies I have a motion from Jennifer a second from Chuck all in favor say I I thank you Diana all right item number six Dr Wright will let you give us a give us an update on things that are happen in the school district yes sir given we've been well updated I I'll be as brief as I can I think I'll lead with our 301 payout this year we're going to be able to pay $9,200 for our teachers 301 pay a third of which will be paid in December and their balance in the last week of May or the first week of June um that has to do with pay cycle and the faster how fast we can get that uh completed on time and the goals and all those things gathered uh this is in addition to the 15 $100 stien that we just had paid last year I think the number was $7500 so $9,200 represents our best effort um we're doing the very best we can we recognize that everyone is feeling the impact of inflation the cost of living is tough and so it represents our best efforts uh the tomorrow we'll represent and honor the heroes of September 11th ordinary citizens and First Responders alike we do have instruction at all great at well I think it's 7 through 12 has to have dedicated instruction time toward that end we've done a good job before that was mandated um we will recognize those fallen heroes and continue to do that there's also a food drive that is in place tomorrow from 7 to 8: p.m.

and working until 9:30 p.m. whether it's their first election or their 50th these unsung heroes are the backbone of our democracy upcoming events we have some really exciting ones first off is Kitty fenwall car show on September 14 2024 join the community at Kitty fenwall and Ashland for a car show supporting the relay for Life movement the event aims to raise $45,000 building on the $40,000 raised in previous years enjoy a fun afternoon with beautiful cars live entertainment and tasty food all for a great cause the event will take place on the spacious lawn front lawn at kitty fenwall next up for events is the ashon line 16th annual charity golf tournament the date is Monday September 16th 2024 and will be held at the highfields golf and country club in graph Mass celebrate 58 years with the ashy lions at their annual charity golf tournament enjoy a day of golf and camaraderie while supporting the Lions Community efforts all proceeds will benefit their charitable work then this is followed by Ashlin day on September 21st time will be 10:00 a to 4m mark your calendars for ashin day a Beloved Community event returning this year enjoy a day filled with delicious food games boost prizes rides and jumpy houses there's fun for all ages last but not least is the dragonfly street fair this is going to take place on October 5th from 1: to 6:00 p.m.

Camp Middle School we also will have an early dismissal on September 24th and on October 3rd schools are closed for the holiday very excited for Mr Bishop to speak tonight about updating the build updating the board on the build discussions regarding CH primary school things happen very quickly over the the the summer and it kind of slowed down a little bit based upon information that we received and Mr Bishop will be providing the the board an update and I'm glad that this meeting is being recorded so we can also send uh this update out to uh Mr out to the community and I'm also going to ask Mr Bishop to do an update with the board of Finance on uh Monday night at the board Finance meeting I do want to let everyone know that I just received word this afternoon that Canton athletic department was honored for the 23 24 school year as a Michael's cuck Award winner it's been a few years that we've been a Michael's cup Award winner and that's for sportsmanship and overall athletic department that when Miss per is here to speak to us little of the year she'll talk uh about that but that's fresh off the presses and then I know Mr Daniels spoke to you about the the C caps conference I'm just going to add a little bit into that that I did put a proposal together for to present at the C caps conference on school safety and school security and was selected to speak at the C CS conference on School Safety and Security so I'll be traveling with Mr Bishop will be with me our chief of police will be with me and uh I've asked Mr Daniels uh to come also and and our director of school security Mr Cole to speak overall about School Safety and Security because we are viewed as one of the the leading school districts in in school security and the knowledge base that we have so we're we're excited to present on that at the C CS conference I'll take any questions at a superintendent's office questions for the superintendent okay here we go thank you for that report Dr grman um we are now going to move to the assistant superintendent report Mr Bish thank you chair Daniel I'll I'll address everyone from the pass all right I want to I appreciate the opportunity to uh share a couple things first before we get to our uh uh uh our building update wanted to share first an update on our summer program uh we had a tremendous success with our summer program again this year I want to say a great thank you to Kathy Watson and Stor who are Co leads for our summer program this year you'll know that it was truncated it we did have aut um based on uh our budget meanss that we had this year we were able to shrink uh through a number of different uh adjustments to 3 weeks but still we're able to lead a really robust program that uh welcome 73 participants in uh I also want to thank U Miss Jess oslander she was the leader of our extended school year we really work to be able to collaborate between the two programs and Mrs McLean for her great work and Leadership being able to support those two programs coming together I'd like to thank uh nicholet Marinelli cor mut Molly Hanbury Megan wood Hanah Clark for are teachers in our program this summer and I'd also like to thank our support staff Kim alen Lisa Bry Ellen raposo Brandy Scott Jack Marano Sten Juliana Vol brova and Ty jeson who have assisted us this summer as well we also had programming at the bill school for the summer steam Fair which was led by Miss Ashley Le uh Miss Tina olon and Miss Megan R had 21 students participating and that a cross three weeks as well which is fantastic um to our our VIs from the uh the temporary traffic and Safety Committee uh and to the board I wanted to be able to also share with you something exciting K has been named uh an award winner for the vision zero award by the department of transportation for the work that we're working to be able to implement within our community in support of uh Safe Transportation and uh uh bike friendly Community work that we have here as well so we're excited that that would be Friday that'll be that'll be Friday this Friday is is there award ceremony or is there it's it's a it's a simple meeting that I'm uh attend over in at the state har take pictures I'll take pictures now I think this is the information that folks are really looking forward to being able to hear a little bit about I'm going ask my my student board reps over here to be able to pass out copies of the presentation for everyone uh our goal here tonight is to be able to uh tell a story that has occurred over a number of different years that has brought us forward to the the time that we're finding ourselves now and the circumstances that we find ourselves in to be able to move ourselves forward I want to let you know this will be a 10 to 15 minute uh conversation tonight K and I timed it earlier we went right within that time frame so I think we'll be good but I am going to ask you to hold your questions until the end until the end of the the presentation you do have copies of it with your packets there for you to be able to review so please feel free to be able to note any questions I'll happy to be able to work on those along the way but our our goal is to be able to tell you um the story of where we where we started to where we are and hopefully being able to bring a little uh some additional transparency to everyone to help you to be able to see where our next steps are and where we're head mod here if you wouldn't mind so I want to be able to provide some background information here the concerns regarding SPS at cherryb Primary School were brought to the board in the fall of uh 2021 uh in that time the district has been working with the town on this as it is a municipal Capital project uh the district went out to several different folks to be able to work with partnership uh the district worked with the New England School Development Council nezda to complete a demographic review and space study in Winter of 2122 so really quantifying the need that was out there the study at that time found cherryb Primary School to be at capacity while also noting a growing population Trend set to impact the district in the 25 26 school year I think it's important to be able to note the the Bold elements there um the the school was at capacity and already Beyond it at that point and noting the possibility of of growing enrollment for the 2526 school year uh the following slides represent information reported by ndaq dated 419 2022 next the nzda study focused on two PS enrollment Trends and instructional program and facility best use the enrollment Trends looked at overall student yields that we would expect to get based on current demographic data and the instructional program review and facility best use analysis looked at each of our schools not just ch but each of our schools to determine is there is there space is there opportunity is there place this provided information to guide a process moving forward as part of the demographic work here you'll note uh the trend of live births a term that I learned along the way the trend of live births we know that leading to 2008 there were there was a higher number of of birs at that point at that point we jump into the recession of 2018 not some some slowing of those numbers and then we come back to 2020 the height of the pandemic when we have 102 Li versity uh we'll note that that that is a a very uh distinct Trend uh separate from what we had seen in previous years the next piece that they provided for for us is uh a step chart I'm not going to ask you to be able to to read this or discern this but I want to help you be able to see what we've been provided along the way it gives us a sense of the birth year in columns the birth year the number of live births and then the school year that they would be expected to be attending the projected prek then first K12 all the way through with projected numbers along the way what they do is every year they look and they reconcile based on what the actual numbers are to be able to make the next projection we actually receive analysis from nesda NASDAQ twice a year as part of our membership and that helps to be able to Define uh and project our needs as we go year to year additional consultative Services have also been secured in order to support projections in particularly challenging time frames um as we tried to quantify the need and be back one slide here sorry as we tried to quantify our need previously and to further quantify the challenges around the legislation of the kindergarten birth age we we did reach out to some additional folks as well for that but the projections are used to continue to refine our understanding current capacities here's an example of projections that we see from 2021 at the time it was alarm it was projecting a number of 1638 by 2031 the reason I share this with you is as you look at the next page just two years later things began to flatten themselves back out as some of the spikes that they were seeing as Trends started to be able to even themselves out again we continue to gather information in support of our programming and we know that this continues to be a steady thank you this like focuses on housing and its impact on enrollment uh this is a major question within the community as well to be able to better understand um the the impact of of housing in the current real estate market um and how that impacts our schools uh I'll say New England has a disproportionately large share of of 65 and old older senior citizens who are are looking to be able to change the home sizes within their within their areas uh particularly post Great Recession and on uh the demand for apartments and Condominiums uh they report as nzda reported is likely to increase while the three and four vroom homes vacated by Boomers will likely will most likely be purchased by families with children they also Shar that Millennials many of whom postpone home buying due to college debt are now purchasing single family homes in record numbers they shared that school enroll enrollments are majorly influenced by the number of real estate sales as new families move into The District in over 80% of the districts the number of of real estate sales is four to five times larger than the number of building permits for a new residential construction thus the number of real estate sales often is a more important factor than the number of building permits overall and what they share there is um what I find most interesting is to the far right the K12 students yielded per household and how that trend has changed over time you knowe at the state 1990 2020 2020 the K12 students per household uh undulated a bit to uh become 37 per household Canon is somewhat similar but by 2020 it's come to 36 so we've actually seen an increase in the number of households within the community um but the actual number of students who are yielding from that is decreasing B that thank you this SL showcases inventory relevant uh uh relevant based on the information that nzda provided which impacts enrollment predictions and Trends so this just shows overall inventory I will note that this is from 2021 22 so there are some changes post pandemic that we don't have represented within this as that was outside of the scope of the survey that we did at the time in continuing the conversation regarding housing um Apartments do present themselves as another location uh for for um housing within the community and uh the community apartment complexes are also considered as we look at our projection for our numbers within within the camp public schools there are four uh four apartment complexes that we're looking at with this one is at C Ridge which is by Cherry Brook of 102 units the second is maple Glenn at 121 Dow that's 73 units bearwoods which is on 300 Commerce Drive and the Laurel at 401 Albany Avenue which has 32 units um as of as of this morning just ensuring the data is correct again the current cumulative net number of students across all properties together is nine so uh nearly 230 uh properties we have nine students that were netting at present and again all we can ever do is be able to go based on the current data that we have and then not broadly from the demographic information that we may receive from external fors uh it is important that nezda shared with us at the time too that studio and one-bedroom apartments do not have an impact on enrollment uh two bedroom apartments have a minimal impact on enrollment typically only 10 students per 100 two bedroom apartments are yielded we also had a conversation engaged in work in conjunction with kon's economic development agency as they look to be able to better understand some of the presentation that that uh uh is occurring throughout the town as well so we'll come back to this this uh slide then the Capacity Analysis uh and I I really like that we've got we were able to have some historical pictures on this and I want to thank Kira who reached out to the C Historical Society to be able to gain some of these images um part of it comes back to the sense of of uh a longstanding community with a long love for a really important place within its Community people love Cherry primary school because of so much of what it represents the new starts for kids the the kof in education for kids just a wonderful place to be able to to learn um as as we look at the needs for Cherry brick and we see what it has been uh oh so long ago to what it looks like off to the right to what it's been built out into to now there are needs that the school is presenting using information gained from the analysis the enrollment projections coupled with its instructional programming facility Capacity analys Analysis Nez and the P administrative team have analyzed potential alternatives for the district to review as it moves forward and devel of a long range facility plan Cherry Brook Primary School currently exceeds operational capacity again that's April 19th of 2022 based on alignment of programs and spaces as they are currently situated with additional reflection and prioritization the projected capacity of Cherry Brook may increase and I want to assure you that we've done that I'll share a little bit more about how we've done that as well with reconfiguration current known data projects uh data projects that cherry grook May maintain its operations without extensive remodeling or construction for the next 3 years it is critical to know that within four years the operating capacity of the school will go far beyond any current possible organization or orientation and so when we think about why is chor full um wasn't it always good enough within the within a relatively short period of time we' shifted from half day kindergarten to full day kindergarten we've shifted from no prek to prek to two sections of prek in order to be able to continue to meet the expanding needs of our youngest Learners and it's best to be able to meet meet the needs of those Learners as soon as we possibly can we've needed to be able to expand programming in thrive in our learning lab we have expanding needs in occupational therapy and physical therapy tutorial spasis there may be a wondering whether or not tutorial is a requirement or a need tutorial is a sound multi-tiered system of support which impacts students earliest to be able to support them getting the information that they need so that they can stay within the tier one curriculum um and and limiting their need for extensive special education services um in additional needs for office and meeting spaces we have a number of different Specialists who are working with our youngest Partners to be able to better showcase this I'm going to show you our colorful staff part here it's important to note that this is a present day look as of September 10th we use this tool to be able to identify our capacity and need and then make projections on where we may need to be able to move based on the current capacity of the the school the school has 28 classrooms of the 28 classrooms then we split that to be able to provide access to a number of different programs if you look at the actual of 24 to 25 smack in the middle you see two rooms needed for prek with about 42 students you'll notice two stars there in order to be able to work around the program to deliver our program and still be able to work within the constraints of the space that we have we have one preschool over at K Intermediate School and one preschool over at ch primary school we were able to limit the number of uh sections of kindergarten based on actual enrollment moving from six to 5 and we anticipate that this this smaller bubble will move itself through which will provide us some range but you'll see that we have space for six C six first grade six second grade and six third grade now along with those rooms so all together please follow me here so one room at cherp right now which really makes for 24 classrooms for those spaces we also are using a classroom for music construction for art for a learning lab and we're fortunate to be able to have this year because of one smaller class a space for Thrive that still places us at 29 out of 28 class spaces needed because we have one that's still over at the intermediate store it's important to know as well that OT and PT they have been using smaller instructional spaces that are tutorial occurs in a common hallway and multiple staff and service providers share office spaces now this is what we see and what we experience The Next Step was for us to be able to engage in a real feasibility study uh we were we were charged by the board to be able to quantify the need that was in place and compare that against the actual physical space that we have within the district and present possible options of movement or construction based on what might be available here we go to the next slide so again we're looking to anal our school infrastructure to more accurately determine need location next steps and plausible costs and then the following slides represent the work of PR architecture from the spring of 2023 fire worked with the district to identify the overall need of space evaluate possible space options and or Solutions within the district and create plausible solutions from which a direction may be moved again it's important to note that each of the schools was looked at again to be able to identify possible solutions on to the next slide they were able to showcase the number of students the square footage of each building and then an analyze based on the setup of each building uh the amount of requisite square footage for programs so perfect thank you so I want to share with you that these are the initial findings and preliminary recommendations from June 16th of 2023 So based on the information that was made available to them at the time this was their best guess at what might be a solution to move forward the study confirmed the nzda study finding that cherry birg primary school required IR additional operating space at present now and would need additional space to accommodate a trend of growth what you'll see in the uh in the slide here in the information presented was where they saw deficiencies or needs for space within our program knowing that this was extensive we move to the the next slide and they moveed through possible solutions continuing to be able to refine their projections to say what might actually work to be able to fit the needs and the fiscal reality of a community and that brings us down to the to the bottom section now no it's listing the names or the the locations of classrooms that is merely for illustrative purposes not because of that being a defined U determination at this point altogether they came up saying that there would be about 5,000 square ft of of space which would be needed uh and developing a solution for that go on to the next [Applause] slide so Fri just overall a few things fire recommended approximately 1,000 square ft as good practice for primary schools that's where their their number has come from based on their experience and their recommendation uh they did share based on location that there may be additional Associated needs um whether there needed to be um access access issues or uh increased bathroom uh access they had a number of different caveats that they had provided for us so it still left us in a little bit of a gray Zone uh they also shared that state reimbursement for a reasonable monthly lease may be possible for a portable or a modular however they also shared with us that an outright purchase would outweigh a solution any solution needed Beyond 3 years that anything beyond that you may be you might be throwing your money away that okay so that brings us to as of June of 2023 some of their best guesses and each of their best guesses comes with a price T their best guess in in this scenario was Cherry Brook is the school that presents with uh space challenges it's the school that presents as not being able to uh continue to tolerate the stress that it has in place on the uh the infrastructure and the other schools will likely be able to handle that uh fine as it as students matriculate through but Cherry Brook presents as a as a challenge so they shared could produce portable and or modular classroom additions at some location of cherry again this is preliminary and illustrative under the next slide they came out with four other additional options again to be able to help you see the number of different scenarios that were uh developed along the way uh another was to expand Cherry Brook further out and about and possibly building a new gym behind Cherry Brook and expanding the uh reusing some of the space within the gym to reconfigure into classrooms uh another was to be able to expand out further and replace all the leeching fields CH grook is on septic uh and all the leech Fields the drain fields are off just to the uh West uh of the school building they also said Intermediate School does not have space to be able to provide continued expansion but perhaps the high school could we reconfigure to be able to provide additional space and have reconfiguration of grades and all this then came to be able to present to us with a price tag projected price tag you'll see this on the next slide um prior determined several possible solutions Each of which presented variability in programmatic alignment cost and timeliness the chook solution was determined to provide the best fit due to programmatic needs fiscal responsibility overall need and Timeless if you look at the the projections there and again this was projection as of 616 based roughly on the numbers and information that they had um the portable modular Clum addition to Cho at an estimated cost of 4.47 was presented with subsequent extensional cost uh as it moved on down at that point trying to be fiscally responsible timely provide accurate uh accurate supports and programmatic design there's a determination to be able to move forward uh with with a planetary also understanding that any of the further below elements uh the four below each would require durational Portables as well as construction so this lead us to December of 2023 and to this point forward really um the idea needed to be able to come um out of the The Ether and be able to move down into practice and really be able to have definition of what might an actual cost be where might it actually need to be and how would we move that forward uh again the district has worked to be able to partner um with the the the town along the way and at that point it was determined that with this being a major Capital project and in line with Town ordinance the selectman had tasked the per dis building committee with overseeing the process of securing design cost estimates for the project beginning 12523 the contract for services went up to bid and included interviews of potential service providers again Fri architecture was selected by the committee an interdisciplinary team then has worked with Fri architecture since that time to develop possible designs of which leads us to an illustrative image given the infrastructure challenges at Cherry gr the need to ensure that we're not carrying a electrical conduit uh further than it needs to be not that we're not having to be able to co uh Drive additional funding to be able to support uh infrastructure and expanding the work it was determined that the the easiest threshold of access to be able to develop a solution would be within the uh Courtyard area on the east side of the school you'll know four spaces reminiscent of the recommendations that we're distilled down to in the prior feasibility study part of this work as as we looked at the the cost of Portables versus modulars the the concern from the committee was this is a need that's going to present itself for a long time the the survivability of a portable which is typically trailered in on the wheels taken off the wheels and left but that's a shorter term fix modulars can be built in a controlled environment and craned into place and then stick build is built on site the modular to be able to fit into that location uh would provides a bit of a challenge and so the recommendation from The Architects was that the the net price differential between a modular and a stiff build was negligible there are are questions what classes might be there who might be taking up those spaces that would be yet to be determined based on the uh the needs of the school but you can see in previous slides where we have those those needs within our within our operations so we go to Next Step um recognizing that information was was brought forward to the board of Finance um and relatively quickly with that um the the district would like to be able to work uh with the board to be able to refine the opportunities as they come forward to be as as responsible as we can be but also align to the needs that we have presented within the district for the support of our students within that uh and we have a meeting actually uh moving forward this week to engage in further conversation with the Architects to really quantify what a cost would be for Portables what the cost would be for permanent construction and what might be the cost for permanent construction if we were to go for support state gr understanding that sometimes with State funding comes addition comes with additional um uh state requirements and ultimately our goal is to provide transparency and inform next steps in the building process very good JN with that I'll take questions before before we take questions I just want to U summarize for the board just a couple points which I think are important one was there was an extensive study done several years years back uh verifying the need for additional space it was confirmed that we were at capacity sh school was at capacity is it stands and then through further study there was a bubble coming through that was only going to compound that issue um so U the issues that John talked about I think are important the reason why we're at this point is because of full day kindergarten because of um preschool because of Occupational physical therapy tutoring that's gone on if you've walked to school you know we've already given up the stage it was one time many won't even remember this it was a stage there had been boarded off for more space uh and those on the board that have seen it we have tutoring going on in hallways teachers as John mentioned sharing space uh we're using hallways and Shar space um so uh nzq was uh nzq as they went through the uh through this uh analysis they landed on Cherry book School um and what was decided was through this that if we were going to be a short-term fix it's better to lease but if it's a long-term fix then it requires something a little bit more uh either a stick build or the the uh the modules that were established they provided four options and the most important thing is the project we've established the need we passed the project on to the board of Select it becomes a board of selectman project at this point and that the Board of Education or its Representatives become advisory to make sure that the building that's being put up or whatever the decision or solution has been selected it meets the needs that have been identified so we act an advisory position at that but it is a board of Selectmen project that goes forward um and it looks like apparently there's instant conversation that it'll be more of a a STI go so I just wanted to make make the point that this has been a long going ongoing project um we participated all way along the way but when it comes to the building in town it's up to the board of Select to work with the board of Finance on what we can afford on how we meet those needs so with that now John will take questions I just wanted to make that clear for everybody Jordan okay thank you very much this was great to see um I do have a couple of questions I apologize for not having numbers on the slides to be able to refer to follow I vot the name of the slide with my question but thank you so for the ne projected enrollment the okay that seems to be work if I'm understanding this correctly it seems to be working outside of what we're seeing in the NASDAQ percentage of K through 12 students per household unit so it almost because the K through 12 students per household is going down is what we're seeing correct but we're seeing an increase in productive enrollment I I guess I would say that we have well the first thing that I would say and I'd be happy to be able to share with you the the regular updates that we have and the projections with this this is from 2021 and this it looks a little bit different today so in full transparency it does look a little bit different today okay back to your question about the the yield of a student for household remember there are more households yeah so even though that that that that fact that it's being adjusted by slightly lower we do have more households so it is stabilizing us and you would and you do see evidence on that two slides later when we see the projected enrollment staying staying stable one of the things that that presents itself to then sometimes I'm just going to go to another end but before the the question continues with this but folks might wonder if the if the um projected enrollment is staying steady why is there a but again it's important to remember that there was all need in place in the first place and the challenge that we have that's coming through that's compounding it is the projection of more students that may be coming through kindergarten and the challenge of the uh the the new legislation for the the sedon uh uh enrollment okay no that makes sense and I calculated out the 2010 the per households and it still is a decrease even though there's an increase in households that percentage still decreases which was just a little a little bit confusing as to why but we are seeing higher enrollment I have one question in regards to the apartments um so is there a I see print in world is nine but you use live births for Canton is there a way to tell how many live BS are coming from that because I am thinking maybe there is a little bit of the bubble that will be coming through in those apartments as well that's a that's a great question um it's hard to be able to ask and be able to to know because you never know where folks may make the the choice to be able to to educate their child what what I can be able to bring to you is the actual numbers that we have verified for this um I think what also is helpful though um and what was helpful in my practice was to to take that consideration down below of typically 10 students for 102 bedroom apartments yeah and that's we do have data on the number of on the the unit structures at the at the individual so do we know what that would be because we have the is the nine aligning with the two bedroom apartments per uh T student like is that Al I would need to be able to go back further to be able to identify that okay that's fine um one other question I had is I did one of the walkthroughs at Cherry Brook and I did see the students out is there a Poss possibility of um sharing any of that with how like the actual students out in the hallways learning that like is there any impact or I guess if this was if we've been at capacity since 2022 and arguably we have we could have possibly been a capacity prior um to that we just decided to study it in 2022 um and it's noted that it's critical to note that was years meaning in 2026 the operating capacity of the school will go far beyond current so when we when I did the walkth through currently there are students learning out in the hallway at tables right next to each other one student was sitting on the floor using a chair as a desk we're pretty creative right and that might be the argument as to why if this has been an ongoing issue why do we feel the need why do we have to change it not that I necessarily agree with that but at the $5 million ticket price ticket for this why now and and I think it's important to be able to to maybe slow the slow the range on the 5 million as we as we look to be able to determine what an actual price might be in further conversation um it's a great question sometimes we do things to be able to try to survive for a time and it needs to be for a time um I would say that the school has done an incredible job of squeezing water from a stone from a long for a long period of time and I think it comes back down to where we try to place our value and what we want to be able to try to provide for our students um again there is an there is a a necessary realization of of uh a population amount that's going to be coming to us as well with this um and and how we would like to be able to try and and run our program as best as possible so so that that question may be out there from folks I I'd submit that we were we were a little slow too because the NASDAQ uh study took longer than we thought that uh we were having a change in superintendent or superintendent knew he was going to be leaving so I think that was part of it we should have been a little bit faster draw I believe okay um that makes sense and I have one final question so on page the N study I think the third page y um it mentions that there were on-site visits of cherryb primary Canton intermediate Canton middle school and Canton High School and that it it's possible to do the additions you showed the prices for all of that but is it possible to have some of the capacity issues rolled in are we having capacity issues at any other schore uh and might might the problem just keep bumping itself up through yeah um so so we did an analysis of um that we went in previously in 2022 23 to be able to show what the PL class size um the CL the board of education class size and what the average class size and capacity would be for the buildings with that and that that the bubble passes through um well enough with that we actually we've had 130 students at the middle school even 10 years ago the challenge and the difference was you know 15 16 years prior to that we had different programming needs and in different um class structures at uh uh cherryb primary at that time as well okay so what and I'm really just asking this question because I think the public might ask it as well is why can't we put third grade in the middle school why can't we put kindergarten why why can't we do that in stuff well and I think what answers that too is is the U the the price tag on the other the other work that needs to be done so if this is where it gets to be um uh one turtle on the log or one duck on the log another falls off so continues to be able to move itself through right um if you're going to move one to one place you've got to be able to have a program and an alignment and a design that will allow it to be able to work um if and I'll just tell you practically if we were to try and move everything up to to the middle and high school and have a middle school here of a 6 througha um we don't have capacity or size right now to be able to offer the music program the gym the PE program the scheduling just does not allow um and so that's where you saw these well then it would require temporary space at Cherry gr and then further expansion at the middle and high school for a larger overall sum in in the future for that um so it really is I think that's the best analogy of if you move one then where does where does the other and we are we are operating in sweet spots at our other programs right now outside of that it it doesn't put us into optimal educational alignment really good question thank you thank you Sydney anything no Peggy uh I have a question about the stage Cherry Brook does that come back somehow with this uh um that's that's a great question Peggy that at present that's not one of the elements that we're looking to be able to prioritize as and ask back um it would be a wonderful thing to be able to to have provide some opportunity there but that's not on the the priority list for us right now it's to be able to provide the space for the classes and be able to provide the the space for tutorial as we have the opportunity that as well I just wondering you know what what's if we don't have a stage what's missing like you know is it because they don't have place for the kids so where when they have speakers that come just I I don't know you know it's like it's not fair but I I would not say that there's been a Quantified need that I or qualified need that I've heard back um from anyone in the in the recent uh recent past with that I do recognize that that was a historical piece that was part of the building that might have represented some historical value to the to the presentation of the building at present they're doing okay without it and they're doing okay for the most part with with a great number of things um but they can do they can do better uh Felicia do you have a question on line for chance I do not thank you John thank you Joe just a couple John um the enrollment figures uh the green bars yes uh they changed significantly in the year by 10% on Manis right Mr shler that is an excellent question that is an excellent question and the only thing that I can tell you that I can believe is how how the statistics meter themselves out over time so what I've shared with you are a lust l two elements I purposefully didn't give you just the one that projects us to 1600 because I don't think that that represents exactly accurately where we're projecting I pres I provided you with another one several years later that helps no no no not several years just like 13 months later okay so I did provide you with another one that had updated uh updated information with that and Mr sh I provide you with another one uh in this uh um from this past fall and spring as well that fall more within the lines of of that information right there that is why we also when there are turbulent times we also went out when we saw that 1638 we went out and we qualified that number with another external source with that at the at the time it was within a couple percentage points with that then moving forward it started to be able to bring itself back to reality The Challenge and I would need I would need the folks to be who did the projection for us to be able to speak more about their mathematical modeling but I know a lot of it has to do with um the the numbers that they're seeing coming in at that can as well it's it's a tough call Pro going to be six years down the road sure 100% that's very challenging because you're also talking about kids who haven't been born yet we looking years right that's a really important thing to be able to know and Lord only knows what our world might look like with things as As Time continues to progress for us so but but Mr sh that's why we look for that information twice a year every year in our partnership with n second question the the tutoring issue and we all many of us walk CH B and it's just unsatisfactory to have youngsters and tutors in the hallways counsel share office heart the council when there's two people in the office and that sort of thing um how much of that is a CO hangover where trying catch us up from Co that will go away in a year or two yeah as I shared earlier that the tutorial pieces is absolutely a part of the uh early intervention that we look to be able to do for our younger our youngest winers um we we have had tutorial staff in place a cherry broke well prior to the pandemic and are going to continue to be able to um uh project that home forward I think it's really important for us to be able to have that in place um as far as other needs it's hard to be able to project what what things look like we're dealing with uh young students who uh require needs who require supports and and these are the students that we have right now and we have a need that's presenting itself and has for a number of years for us too so this is not a postco phenomenon I think it would be hard for me to be able to definitively say this is or is not I would say that this is the reality that we're living in right now with our students and the the support that we are providing for students in um social emotional in counseling in tutorial work is foundational to being able to set those youngsters up for Success well beyond those K three 3K PR years in the preschool uh class at the Intermediate School why is that a problem that's a good question there there are a couple elements um for it financially the the transportation for another group of students over to an alternate location is a challenge uh the program opportunities for students and I can speak a little bit more about the prek program it is offered as a part of an extension of the birth to three program which uh invites uh some of our our youngest neediest Learners and for c for earliest intervention and with that we try to be able to support them with uh typically progressing peers as well so that they have an opportunity to learn but also be able to receive intervention and supports when we have bifurcating our services for those students across two locations it does tax our system by being able to bring them back into one location it allows for alignment of services OT PT um thank you very much speech and language thank you very much uh those things are really important to be able to have continuity of services there thank you thank you question M thank you um this page is this current process sure is that an indication that this is like the path that Administration would like to continue down so it's it's the the slide that has the the graphic that represents where the um where an anticipated location might be for the uh for the classrooms um I I would say that I would bring your attention into the bottom right hand corner of draft for that that that is a that is illustrative of where the location might be for that I think based on the um this interdisciplinary committee that was in that area in some configuration was the location that was was being determined as the most uh plausible or likely based on the proximity to um to resources the lack of impact that it might have on some of our other resources um access to the well head access to the uh um the uh leech fields and drain Fields as well so least restrictive or or or impeding would be in a location over there but based on based on need and based on working to be as fiscally responsible as possible it's requires some continued evaluation of what that space might be to be able to bring forward a real accurate ask okay and we don't have any idea of the cost for this that's what we're continuing to be able to work forward with we got an initial number and want the opportunity to go back and keep working on that number let me CH thank you so there's definitely been talk in the town the at the board of Finance meeting that this was um tried to get to a referendum or a town meeting in either at the election time or sometime in October so there was this group as John was saying was working with architect to try to get that time and um at the last Board of Finance meeting board of Finance was even number that I'm not going to say I disagree was not a number that they thought was coming to them and that that cost estimate that was provided to to the that committee was provided four or five days before that meeting so um what's happening right now as John mentioned is we're slowing this down um that this is a longterm solution to an issue that is facing Char brck and as John put it it nicely in the slide that it needs to be explained in a transparent way of why Portables or why not Portables why modules why not modules or why a stick build or not a stick build or why not or why or why not going out for a state Grant the architect that was hired and was interviewed was hired on the notion of not going out to State reimbursement and through that process so all that and that's the topic of the the meeting this week needs to be discussed again so the the model that that that John shared that is where that group is right now but all the facets of of the cost estimates need to be looked at again and really explaining of why each one of those is either a good thing or a bad thing and the the board representative on this committee is Russ Bush and Russ bush has a very good technical background in what makes sense and what doesn't make sense so it went from Portables which members of that I think you were refed as an inter Advisory interdisiplinary interdisiplinary Group the more they spoke the more it was going away from Portables and that's where the transparency when you're doing meetings over the summer could have been lost and it it was to try to get to a referendum so that's where it it's been pulled back and really looked at in a way and being I like how John said it in a transparent way knowing that yes the question probably out there well we have this bu in 25 26 coming in when I became your superintendent that wasn't one of the reasons that I said that we need to have look at space that chro even though before I arrived the board event actually was provided on almost every slide that John was presented tonight I'm not sure all that information was presented out to the the the different boards so that's why we're going to start presenting that information out to the the different boards but I never grounded in that I grounded it in just walking around Cherrybrook like you did some of you did and we had a few um board and finance members walk around and I know our communications director Kira is working on a video to be able to show the community at large what it looks like within chook that's the story the story is where we presently are that long term if the the community decides and the board of selectman and the board of Finance decide on something that is Affordable okay or module okay um in addition to STI okay but that needs to be laid out there of where we are but the committee they really went for what is the best long term and we're going to have to make it work as an Administration that if the best long term is that something is not on the campus of chord Primary School in the next year that's all right we will make it work one of the benefits that we had was this year we were down one kindergarten that in the projections said we were going to have an extra kindergarten and as we all know we had one less kindergarden so that freed up a little a little bit of space so I I really liked how how John laid this out I think some of this was given to the board two years ago but it's very clear we have to re-educate uh the community on where we are and where we're going and we're committed to that but I I really like what Mr Daniel said it it's a town project we just need to make sure that we as a board are educating the need of where we are and that that's what we've learned during this process thank you I'm going to close up the conversation just saying again to reiterate she's got one more I just had one one more quick question um these two slides that show uh additions onto the high school corre if if the I guess I'm just confused why why are we even why are they even on there great great question and and they're on there for because of transparency so I wanted you to be able to know that as we looked and and there was the question well the ducks on a log the ducks on a log well what would we do well that that's what it might look like based on based on the uh the recommendation of the architect and on the next page even more importantly with that you'll see the numbers the option uh 01 B 02 a yeah so along with those options so those two two points that you that you pointed out there and I think that they're both lovely but they come in at 16.8 million and 26.5 million so it does help to be able to set the stage of those dos on a log of of where it sits and why and why some of the some of the recommendations are coming in a particular toward a particular direction so to be able to provide transparency okay so I I just don't want the public to be confused thinking that we're actually considering either of those options the issues at charity GR correct and and it was it was ideally it was considered only to be able to say might need support you like that but again that was as a and to to be perfectly clear that was only a part of the process uh as of June 16th 2023 and that was determined at the time to not be the direction can I just say because you said something important we don't decide uh even though those were those were options that's that's not our decision our decision well our our job was to demonstrate the need it's the town's job to help us solve that need we we participate in that but we don't we don't decide whether it's stick or modular or Portables we don't decide on what the price is we don't decide on what the bonding is the board of finance will decide that the board of sele will decide that and then we have to is superintendent said we'll work with whatever confines we're given so I just want to make it clear when the public comes to you and says you know why why are you not modulous now well that that's not our decision that was the committee decision on how that works if you want to talk about justification in need that's us if you want to talk about anything about the building we're on it and Russell's representing us but it's made up of Selectmen finance and everybody else uh in the in the permanent Municipal Building committee so I just want to make that straight because we get kind of sucked into this on the board is doing this the board is it's not the board there there's a committee that's been established to be able to do all this so everything that John showed you about drawings and and options it comes from the committee it's not the Board of Education I just want to make that clear now thank you for your time tonight it was an excellent presentation we appreciate you thank you for the opportunity to share all right we get to move to the student reports Maggie Juliana and Lucas who wants to go first tonight um I'll start with I'm shra so okay um on Friday August 23rd shook held its annual uh kinderg inry and bus orientation um on Wednesday August 28th grades uh 1 through 3 students and families intended a meeting GRE on Tuesday and on September 3rd uh the preschoolers also have a um at Cher Brook the staff has started to show students um the classrooms and classroom Traditions like morning meetings and uh Team building your activities like that uh cherb students and staff gathered for a welcome back all school meeting on Friday September 6 this introduced uh honey the bear and also introduced the goals of the school and of course rules um on Thursday September 12th coming up uh we'll be chair Brooks or thank you Julian you want to go yeah I'll be reporting on CIS uh students got to know their teachers and class while practicing routines classes engaged in morning meaning activities to help build community all grades began band and course rehearsals and CIS held its first all school assembly on Friday they clapped in our fourth graders met all the staff members who are here to support students and discuss themes of family teamwork and respect students have been eating outside in the courtyard enjoying the wonderful weather and permission slips went home for the first field trip of the Year fifth grade will be participating in Project oceanology in Groton again later this month I thank you Mar and Lucas your first report yes uh middle school and high school so Wednesday the 28th of um August the seniors came in for their first welcome day where I mean a couple of you guys spoke so you guys know it happened and then Thursday 29th the rest of the school population came in and we had a great first day uh we met all of our new teachers and um said hi to something we've do for the past years um this P just this past Wednesday Thursday and Friday um all students had their first uh chat STS of the year we also had our introductory assemblies which reviewed school policy with emphasis on cell phones considering the state is considering new legislation for cell phones in schools um false sports are now in full swing teams having their first games the last couple days right now volleyball's downstairs playing their first I believe their first home game of the year um the Brad Canton Bears first home game for football uh well can't first first and only can game of the year for football is uh this Friday and many students are very excited to attend and support our boys out there and um this week is also the athletic spirit week uh with many teams having their first home game of the year this week fantastic good important by the way with regard to the football game they're looking for volunteers if anybody would like to be a ticket taker help out in the U been I've been asked to make this announcement ticket taker at the indoor in the parking lot meet at 5:45 at the UHS Stadium down there so they're looking for volunteers okay thank you for that report excellent job any questions for the student Representatives on any of the schools n and Julian any feedback on the senior day prior to the start of school your start to school if you will good day yeah I think a lot of people enjoyed it um it was a nice like kind of Yeats back in um and again we did our senior Sunrise so we tried to make make it a little bit fun and I know people felt good with kind of getting getting a kick start on like college stuff because I know that all those deadlines are coming and part of that day we got to meet with our counselors and talk about like Comon app up and getting a transcript that we can start to use when applying so yeah I think people thought it was a cool idea and yeah it was great to he back in things especially just see everyone get back together after the Sumer sum and to not have classes on that first thing it was nice to get back with everything and then just sort of feel like we're ready for the school year for meeting our counselor something we should institutionalize do it every year that's up for Lucas Mr Depo mentioned how well everybody Bond it it was a good chance for you guys to really sit the classroom and bond it well so that's great news any other questions for the screen reps okay we'll move right along we have our business management report from Mrs Robbins Robins good evening um two items to report on tonight first is our fiscal year 24 results um we were able to close out the year um by using our excess cost Grant um and a part of our special education Bill to other Town Revenue provided by the town along with some regular education Savings in order to basically break we also were able to um provide that the town um had the ability to use the remaining um education funds from other towns um to fulfill their $300,000 budgeted line item for Revenue with an additional $143,000 um back to the town so um all in all um fy4 ended on good note um fy2 of course we're only 8 days into the school year um most categories are within budget um and um right now our only line item that we're watching very closely is special education which appears to be um over budget with the um um with um we're watching uh that budget because we have additional um out placements that are still in planning stages so we um are expecting that number to Rise um transportation arrangements for out of District um students have not been finalized yet so that's not included in our report um but next month we'll will have um a little bit more information you on those topics thank you man very good any comment Dr G no so uh next month We'll add to the agenda for October for to approve the UN audited end of the year 24 and then we'll ask you to approve the financials from September and October at great thank you very much okay uh we'll move on to uh to new business and we have K Middle School Washington DC trip Dr G super in your pack in later in the agenda we're asking you to approve the Middle School field trip uh the only reason that with our new policy the only reason that this trip is on the agenda is because according to the policy you must approve all trips that have fundraising involved in this this trip does have fundraising involved in it with PTO giving money and there's also a gift card uh program that kids are elaborates other than that the the trip is the same that ad my complete support so later in the the agenda I'll ask the chair will ask for a vote to approve and it's based upon the new policy of the fundraising but I'll take any questions if anybody has any pretty standard correct okay moving on uh superintendent annual goals Dr super so in your packet each year and I I I really like to do it at the the first meeting that we have you add the superintendent goals so in the the beginning of the year I I'll give you my goals and and I purposely put them in in your packet so you had the opportunity to review it during my midyear evaluation uh we will just talk about my goals and I I'll give you some updates and then at the end of the year I will give you the the progress that we made on the goals what is very important to realize with the superintendent goals is that the superintendent goals are directly aligned with the uh Board of Education goals and that the superintendent goals are also aligned because I it's preview The Continuous Improvement plan PL from the the schools so I know what the schools are working on so board goal number one I'm just going to go through a few for student growth and achievement continue to advance all student academic performance and growth across the district one of the things that I want our team to do because of was a discussion is to investigate with district and School administration culminating experiences including field trips for students following units and end of the year activities for the each grade level to see what type of things that we are doing to celebrate and one of the questions that came up at curriculum committee was looking at field trips also uh a big highlight is to work with the c Middle School administration to implement the school plan for the commissioner Network we're really going to continue to look at developing our assessment practices and one of the things that we're going to bring back to the can Public Schools is the introduction of the learning walks that I anticipate that we'll do learning walks during at the second half of the year we're going to ask board members to be involved in those learning walks and our student board members to be involved and then other students to be involved and Mr Bishop will eventually explain what learning walks will will look like ex one of the big things is implementing the the new reading program at the primary school that we're going to have to implement for next school year board goal area number two Partnerships in Community engagement uh and we're going to talk about this tonight is really focus on the development and implementation of the new K Public School strategic plan we need to bring back the Kent High School Wall of Fame it's been non-existent for the past 3 or four years so we need to bring that back maintain a high level of communication and visibility within the community continue looking at our board policies continue to develop and understand understanding of the relationship with the Board of Education continue to look at communication between families create opportunities for students to activ actively participate in community engagement efforts and continue to meet with uh Business Leaders Civic leaders Faith leaders political leaders Financial stability and efficient operations as you heard tonight we need to work closely with the the town on possible bonding building projects for additional classroom space at CH for primary school and the roofing project for Camp Intermediate School continue to really create with a new business official that understands the multi-year financial planning to really look at forecasting model which we started last year and really continue that model but also work with the the board of finance and Anna is working on that I know Joe intended to possibly come up with a budget guideline that will help within the process of us forecasting out developing systems and practices for the business office to ensure professional development explore partnership with local businesses and Community organizations to secure additional funding is there anything that we could do that our local businesses or other people will assist us as you know we're going to be hiring chief administrative officer so it will be my job to continue to build on the relationships with new Cal as always work with a business official to obtain all state and federal grants and as we know we successfully voted on the you voted on the administrative Association contract we need to a bargain this year with the secretarial Union and the custodial Union learning environment and belonging you can see that we need to continue to um work with our community to access Mental Health services including counseling and social emotional learning programs I want to create a a pilot superintendent advisory council at Camp high school that help be meet meeting with two or three times a year to meet with high school students so they can have a a platform for student voice conduct Community engagement forums that focus on community needs continue to really on a regular basis look at our campol schools emergency operation plan and then one of the big ones that we need to do relative to State Statute is develop School climate plans in alignment with state law and Implement initiatives that promote kindness respect and inclusivity so you're going to hear more about that as the schools develop their uh School climate plans and we have our consultant through Ed advance that will be helping with that embracing Equity continue to implement the Ken Public Schools equity and belonging plan really looking at professional learning opportunities for staff and involving students in that I really want us to go back after during budget season to see if we can support educator diversity by being involved in the correct teacher and service program that had to be omitted I will continue to meet with the University of St Joseph's to come into our school to uh assist in the recruiting of our own K public school students to become teachers in workforce and development Mentor model professional leadership for our administrative team collaborate with edance to design professional development activities I'll continue to participate by state senate appointment as a chair of the commission on women children seniors equity and opportunity ensure as you know we have an implementation of our new educator and administrator evaluation plan I'll continue to chair for the State uh the Cap's Early Childhood State committee and then I'll continue to chair the capital prek through 12 safety and Emergency Management committee so these are the superintendent goals that I'm excited to work with the the team on this year I'll take any questions from the board so that was a lot to digest so we may we may have to uh have conversation on it put it's it's all U pretty uh comprehensive so any any quick questions right now so I just had two one is uh one has to do on goals um we we seem like uh I know you mention it in talking specifically about safety in uh in learning environment belonging number four you talked about safety and social emotional learning uh which is important and then uh I know you're you're chering uh on on the Emergency Management committee should there be more well remember this is a superintendent go understand so the continuous Improvement plans there also perhaps specific things that need with in um that goal area Okay so just because I have specific things that I'm looking at the schools each if you remember have goals that they're going to be doing within the the learning and Vol okay and then the final thing is which I'd like to encourage and I'd like to have more discussion about it's been a thought of mine a goal of mine have Legacy giving in town your kids go to school here just like you do in your college you may be leaving a piece of life insurance or something like that because you love your town we we don't really promote that is there a way that we can maybe do more on leg you know to look at Legacy giving well that was the the the part that I put in here relative to Expos partnership with local business and in community organization to secure additional funding and also one of the reasons that the the wall of fame was established was just that hope for that so hope for that and um it and that is something that um I I believe that that would be something that would be bored yeah I'd love to send a letter out to those 30 40 50 people on that on that wall to say y we appreciate you so yep okay great all right well thank you for that good report and um we can have more conversation about that later um final is a discussion on the uh campon schools strategic plan today is just a primer on this uh this is going to be something we're going to be diving into at every meeting practically so I'll leave it to the superintendent so just to um I want to just to re-educate the the and who discussed this at our Retreat the other day that one of the things when I was hired as your superintendent I I I was very clear that the Kim Public Schools does not have a strategic plan and one of the first things we set were goals and the last strategic plan was uh ran out in 20124 we're we're approaching 2025 so that means for the past four years the can public schools did not have a strategic plan so what I wanted to give you here was the the copy of the the prior strategic plan and this was done with a a a committee and um I I I'll leave it at that um this is a plan that I'm really not sure that there were were measurements throughout the plan and and reports were given to the board and remember that the goal of a strategic plan is that is the overarching of the Board of Education and then the board goals are embedded within that strategic plan superintendent goals align with that strategic plan and all the continuous Improvement plans aligned with that strategic plan I can't say in the past that we had a document that aligned with all everything that was in the Strategic coherence plan so one of the benefits that you had when you hire a new superintendent is that the new superintendent myself actually spent a year really studying the the cam Public Schools talking to people really gaining some insight of where we were and where we are as the K School community and then what we also did within the end of the year survey was to include in there the can Public Schools the board of education is working on their next strategic plan what are some of the things that should be within the Strategic plan so we're able to solicit feedback on that so in discussions with u the chair and the vice chair what I tried to do this summer and I was thinking about it all last year and I did this in in my previous District was put a draft together of what my thinking was as your superintendent of schools of coming in a year where I think we could go for the next 5 years one of the things that is important is that when I shared the draft the the administrators actually just saw this for the first time two weeks ago and they started going in what about this what about that and that's important for them to do also and it's important for them to do with their staff and then come back it's important for us as a board of education that you are elected officials to discuss a strategic plan but do it in public so my recommendation would be when I share this draft strategic plan is not to start tonight it's just a draft for you to go back and read it and then my recommendation would be each Board of Education meeting for the next several months that we take a board goal and we go over what I put in this dra draft strategic plan doesn't make sense are we missing anything where do we want to go and you're going to see a major Le difference between the Strategic plan from 2015 and what I'm going to give you for 25 to 2030 and the major difference is there's board goals that we're already familiar with and our staff is familiar with but then there's specific things that we're looking to accomplish over the next 5 years so let and F I'm sorry you don't have this let me pass this out one of the things with a strategic plan is you don't want a strategic plan just to go on the bookshelf and never look at it the goal for the Strategic plan is that you have as a board member a copy of the Strategic plan right with you at every single meeting and that when the superintendent presents the superintendent's goals you're able to go into the Strategic plan and check things off and then if the principles are coming to you to speak about their continuous and improvment plant that you're able to open up this document and be able to say yep that aligns with both role number one and specifically 1A so if you go you have the table of content we have a welcome from the board ofed chair and reminder this is all draft that's why it says draft all over this is not the can Public Schools strategic plant this is something that I spent time on for the past four or five months then you go into the vision of The Graduate you may say why didn't he include the mission statement or the vision statement that the board of education has previously had this is just Jordan Grossman's opinion I think when you ask someone what the vision is what the mission is and a vision of a graduate is which one is it what's the most important thing and what we're trying to work within our schools is talking to children and staff about what the vision of a graduate is to be a creative thinker a communicator a collaborator a critical thinker and a compassionate citizen that's what we're asking kids to be starting at our youngest learners and then you can see we have in there a on page four just a background of uh each one of the schools and then this is what you you become familiar with your board goal number one this is on page five student growth and achievement I put down there a through K what are some of the priorities that we need to work on over the next 5 years that align with student grow the achievement then if you go to page six board goal Partnerships and Community engagement we have a through e so if we're sitting in a continuous Improvement plan and a principal is talking about Partnerships and Community engagement what you will see directly in their strategic plan in their continuous Improvement plan they won't be able to do it now because we don't have a strategic plan but in the future you're going to be able to see whatever they put in the continuous Improvement plan they're going to align with your strategic plan so they would say in their continuous Improvement plan let's say they were working on a partnership and Community engagement and they were doing a family night they would put down board goal number 2 B something like that so this way there's a lot enlightment all the way across the the district then you go to board goal number three there's our board goal then you can see recommendations for a through L of some of the things that I think now again this is Jordan grman sitting in it when I gave the ministrators and we only went through one during the retreat we only made it through student achievement in about an hour so we're kind of just where you are right now and bringing things together same thing with B go number four what did the asist mean it's it's just no it's just different things the budget process is a critical aspect not known for us that would be in okay y Claud did a great job this is Claudia putting things together I gave her the words she's kind of Designing it and we can change anything with within the design the thing you can see board goal number five embracing Equity board goal number six Workforce Development we have in closing and then we have a glossery of terms on on page um 12 so I would recommend that this is a starting point for us and that I would recommend that you take this with you and then up to uh the board and the chair that I would recommend us taking 30 minutes at the the next meeting just like we did with the policy but at the next meeting in public and we would put this this one student growth and achievement in our board um agenda and we talk about student growth as achievement and what are some of the things that we would want to achieve over the next five years in student growth and achievement um so this was you or or you and Lou and Joe this was me just this was me spending a year in your District in our district really looking at what I see us doing in the next four or five years knowing that this is one L now we come together as a board the administration is going to be doing the same thing and we come together but you do it in public do we do some at our committee meetings too put it on the agenda there as well you could I would recommend starting in in in public um as a whole board um but there there could be things that I I think if the board comes ready for board go number one to discuss at the next meeting in in October that's where we'll start to uh Dr brossman's point we'll allocate 20 or 30 minutes for your input and um we'll publicize it pretty well into the public that we're going to be talking strategic plan so for the next several months you can see we're going to be going over this until we can get to a final and you may need two or three meetings to do student growth in achievement you may need just one meeting to do partnership but what I I think is important strategic plans have to be a user document even though my name is in here from 2015 I'm going to say that I grow a lot as an educational leader and this wasn't my plan I was just part of the the committee but for me as a superintendent of schools I want to be able to say to my team my administrative team here are here is the Strategic plan and make your continous Improvement plans aligned with the Strategic plan and the board goals and that this is a document that we all are carrying around with us that becomes a living and breathing document that just doesn't sit on a a bookshelf that we could report out to where we are as a a board any questions to Dr G on this so we're set and we'll do this we'll attack this the next I think this is a fantastic start lot of time went into this appreciation okay let's move on to St committee reports Russ is not here uh andna explained what we're going to be doing with Finance uh in October so I don't think there's anything more to add to that uh Mr shy on policy tonight we met tonight who came uh a pretty good meeting I think the state graced us with long list of legislative changes to policy uh some of which will apply to us most of which will be barely straightforward uh there are two big issues we're looking at Title 9 has been revised by the federal government and we're obligated to revive revive Li our policy the advice of Dr gr we decided to bring the court attorney in to brief us on the changes law long policy long and complicated series of regulations and we want to know exactly what we're voting on we'll be doing that hopefully before our October Mee um second big issue we'll be looking at is cellone person device schools all been all over the news lately and sure you've seen that uh and we'll be looking at Gathering some information as to what uh folks think students teachers ad and the public U the uh High School asked for revision to the homework policy uh that they're not getting longwinded they want to be able to assign homework the day classes meet classes don't meet every day so if you if you don't meet Friday you don't meet until Monday so you assign home Thursday be Monday or Friday do Monday that sort of thing it's a simple change and effect it was discussed with us a couple years ago I believe the committee informally said okay have do that want to put it into the policy now it's one word be a on line change simply says homework can be assigned on the day of class meets U we're also looking to get some general feedback about the status of homework across the district and there were big issues when we created the policy have those issues going away or the problems any questions from board members we'll meet we'll meet the day before the day of the next board meeting try to meet attorney FR Tuesday sometime in the next couple of weeks us on that let everybody know okay thank you Mr sh um curriculum in technology uh we haven't met yet to start this year off but we're meeting September 25th 9:00 a.m.

a group of combined members in different churches faith-based organizations uh and other community members want to gather more food stuff for the backpacks that will take place over in the portable that is between the Frank gerardi gym and the high school the last little portable building adjacent to the parking lot where we have our special education and the church have signs up for that there'll be some signs directing people to that um I'm not sure if they will or not we'll put social media and get it out on all the options there and that's what we're trying to do right now we're not doing the signs they should be doing the signs I just hope there's some signs up some sign we'll work on getting that there thanks and and we're looking for food stuffs that can be sent home to uh children in backpacks granola bars nutritious things cans of tuna things that can be used over the weekend uh the need is growing it is has never been greater and so any help would be much appreciated homecoming week is is the week of September 23rd it'll culminate with the football game on the 27th and homec coming dance the next night is that location here at the high school Mr Webb and then uh the the pinp Fall Festival is the 27th to the 29th br will continue to participate and dominate on the floats there's a little bit of competitiveness going in there we love it a pair of teen year conferences are going on at the elementary school and Junior High Level this week and uh those are really the most important announcements and if there are any questions I'll be glad to share thank you sir thank you Dr right next item on the agenda is is call to the public and we've got one call to the public we'd like to have you keep your comments to a minimum of three minutes you can't seed that to anybody and if you're angry don't direct your anger comments to any individual or we'll have to ask you to leave anyway come on up okay okay so for the record it was Michael gel and he said everything has been answered doesn't need to address the board at this time thanks Mike um okay next item is uh just noting when our next meeting will be it'll be October 15th at 5 o' on this location um conflict yeah okay thank you wanted to make sure that was after fall break I believe it is but I wanted to make sure hope so if not we'll send a letter out to everybody notifying so uh what we need now is a motion to adjourn I'll make the motion to adjourn have a second from Margaret all in favor say I

and it will be located in downtown Ashland Main Street the dragonfly Festival returns bigger and better than ever enjoy a day filled with nine musical acts on three stages dance performances Street performance face painting and food at various locations including The Corner Spot Ocean House and historical society and clover Road Brewing tap room 25 vendors support local businesses and engage with five nonprofits offering kids activities beer and wine will be available at The Corner Spot in Clover Road parking is available on the street and in Municipal Lots the event is free but support for local vendors and businesses is encouraged note that there is no rain date so we're really hoping for some sunny weather stay tuned um for another event a big one sep nber 20th 7M where the Ashlin clocker football team will be playing Wayland this will be commentated by Rob silver and Josh Abrams and to wrap things up I just want to give a special thank you to our town manager Michael Herbert and St Town staff for providing this newsletter and I want to thank you all for tuning in today for our very first segment uh thanks for tuning in on waa my name is hi silver and go clockers [Music]

okay great thank you very much uh Felicia anything on Communications uh sure so our meeting schedule will be the fourth uh Monday of every month at 1M starting the on uh September 23rd we did have a meeting on August 12th prior to the start of the year just discussing the communication that will go out to the community on the space on plan that we that John discussed today so we're still kind of working on that and and talking about what that will look like once that goes out to The Community that's all thank you very much okay um in your packets you have a calendar of events so you can stay in tune with all the different things that are going on you also from our student reps some the things that are going on in school R um as far as board member announcements I do forgive me for not doing this at the beginning of the meeting but Hannah Bryant now is our board uh recording secretary at our meetings and uh as you know she all she works in the finance office but she's agreed to take on this this role we're thrilled that she's going to be doing this and of course we have the GL to the organization KIRO right there so uh these these two will keep us straight the whole time through so thank you than you again for taking the the job stepping up okay um recommended actions Dr grman anything my motion all right uh can I get the approval of the minutes for June 4th June 11th and July 19th we have a motion thank you Cindy second thank you Felicia any any uh discussion on the approval of those minutes any changes additions dels okay hearing none all those in favor I uh what are we eight tonight or eight eight oh eight yeah yeah Eight's here thank you very much okay um I'll take a motion now that the can't Board of Education approved we did that we did that basically okay um this is authorized signatures on bank is that another motion yeah so so what it is with Han coming and myself we have you have to vote on authorizing and myself for bank accounts oh so this is the right okay so I'm sorry so m a motion to the Board of Education authoriz superintendent schools Jordy Gman and Anna Robins business manager is authorized signers on the board of education bank accounts and the prior off authorized signers be removed motion thank you Jordan thank you Joe first and second any questions on that motion hearing none all those in favor I so we're uh eight again um now we'll move to the uh the field trip I I need a motion to the camp board of education approved the C Middle School field trip to Washington DC from April 23rd through the 25th and 2025 motion thank you Erica second thank you Kim um any questions hearing none all those in favor I O perfect and finally the one that you were waiting for by 8:20 tonight whove the camp board of education journ the September 10th 2024 Board of Education meeting special meeting at 8:20 motion thank you Jordan and thank you Peggy first and second any questions all those in favor I 80 thank you Felicia and with that we are adjourned thank you very much for your attention your time and your volunteer

it's working with these guys have been great work for a couple years here and this good family they've been good to me and I feel good about doing working do and our our final first responder to receive a certificate of recognition once again this certificate is an appreciation for your in service County Community we are all grateful for your dedication and the pride and insation we demonstrate every single day while conducting your job performing duties grance know you get old you look coach everybody I still say the best Victorian speech I ever heard with is when she she was in high school was fantastic prepared won't take you right so Dr mentioned September 11th was you know one of the worst tragedies in our country um 20 753 people died in the towers and the it was so terrible you know that 40% of the people were never identified so 40% of the people they never were able to to even have funerals for and these are just normal people going about their lives going to work that day when they left their homes they never expected anything bad to happen right So Fire EMS and and law enforcement agencies from across the city the county the state they all responded there and they came from departments small and large they were volunteer firefighters there I don't think a lot of people realize that and they had reports that there were 25,000 people still in the towers not 25,000 people and These Guys these firefighters they were the best they were New York City Fire Department they had emergency response teams there that would be the equivalent of SEAL Team Six right these guys were were experienced and trained and they had Chiefs that had been on the job 34 40 years they were very experienced Chiefs but nobody had been to anything like the World Trade Center right nobody had been there before when they got there they realized quickly that they couldn't extinguish the fire so now their whole thing was what get people out of the towers right and this what they did so they took the assignments from their Chiefs they're on the bottom floor they knew what they were getting into there was no thought of not doing it nobody left to go to the bathroom you know they took their jobs they had on 35 Plus pounds of equipment and they started climbing stairs to get up to these victims and as they went along they were met by hundreds of thousands of people coming down the stairways and they assisted those people down if they had a lot of them never would have got out of the building there was a lieutenant by name of Patty Brown and he was up on it made up him and his truck had made up to the 43rd floor the South Tower had gone down and they called them and told them to evacuate to get off get out of the building and Patty Brown re go down we have too many victims here we're not leaving huh that was the last time anybody heard from him were his drug so 345 firefighters were killed that day they included the chief of the department one of the assistant Chiefs of the department several battalion Chiefs and the chaplain of the department they were all killed at the towers so what is the legacy of this toward for us as First Responders in the public well we realize the sacrifice that is made every day by all First Responders whether you're a volunteer fire department firefighter in y Arizona or you're in New York City when they're the fire when there's the police event when there's an EMS call you never know you never know what you're getting into but we all do it and you know what none of us want to be left out of it right we want to be there we want to be in the middle of it so I just want to bring up real quickly other day there was a school shooting in Georgia and that was stopped it could have been worse except for a teacher who was a math teacher and a defensive football coach and he confronted the gunman and he gave up his life and then the school resource officers were there in less than 90 seconds or who knows how many people that kid would have killed so this service continues all the time we in the community we have the example of Chris egley a park ranger that was just a few miles from us when he was killed serving on the border and so this sacrifice continues um people stepping up to protect the citizens of the of the community and um so thank you all you guys for what you do we really appreciate you and thank you Dr s for the recognition thank you Lonnie also Mr President uh that just about concludes my superintendent rep I would just like to ask if the president of the board and and members in the community you're in attendance you can just engage in in a very brief moment of reflection at this time in honor of the victims and all the First Responders who lost their lives but also in honor of all the First Responders we have here in this great a community ha why community so if we could have a moment of reflection this day Mr President members of the board thank you I to also make sure there is a First Responders dinner going on at the same time right now at the outage so I was able to speak to Mr EV Miss alen so our First Responders we would love to have you stay for the rest of the meeting but I know that you would also love to take part in the First Responders dinner at the AL Lodge so go have a great dinner enjoy yourself thank you for all that you do and um thank you for being here go enjoy your dinner thank you thank you okay so next thing on our agenda is the awards Mr Pres the board we have our first superintendent student of the month Awards and I'm going to call our teachers up here and just give them the certificate and they will present to their student we have Miss Bautista go Miss btia we have Mr alvarito we have Mr espa and uh M Fernandez you guys you guys got it take thank you okay um good evening everyone to start I am delightful to introduce our sophomore class student of the month before I do I want to highlight her why as a student so her why is to become an oncologist or pharmacist to help that which Inspire her to excel in her studies she was selected based on various criteria including academic performance character Behavior effort social relationship and attendance now please join me in welcoming our sophomore student of the month Christina Brown Dr oh con [Applause] good evening everybody faculty students and guests it is an honor to present Morgan Olen as our student for the month in junior class Morgan has shown impressive academic growth consistently contributing with thoughtful participation and completing her work with discipline her commitment to improving is clear in everything that she does beyond academic Morgan's character shines she embodies responsibility respect and kindness beaing by example and uplifting her peers her strong work ethics and Flawless Behavior set a high standard for others to follow please join me in congratulating Morgan on this well-deserved recognition dad family [Music] good evening each and everyone it's been only six weeks since I met a student for my see resemblance of myself because I was an epom of an outstanding student like he is or not even the way he approached his his studies with an unwavering commitment and the thirst for knowledge that was trly inspiring because it is unlikely for me as a student back then it is about communing every day that I can relate see myself and testify how challenging it is to be in that situation but he arrives at school with a smile on his face ready to tackle any challenge that came his way despite the predicament of riding the Vass for around 40 minutes before reaching school he demonstrated exceptional focus and determination setting an example for his classmates with his unyielding work I mean unyielding work ethic and enthusiasm for learning if you will be wondering what keeps him going you will get a well admiration knowing that his motivation has always been the people in front of him family friends teachers and the like who help guide and more importantly Drew him to a moral life a life where he can seek and follow his biggest why which is his future once again help me in doing the privilege of recognizing our superintendent student of the man among seniors none other than Manuel Mr President members of the board we have a special student presentation I believe right a presentation of their testimonial on 91 present okay I am privileged to announce to you that we have a student to step up to share her all reflection about what happened this very day in the past 23 years ago please help me welcome Miss is it yeah please help me welcome Miss Christina r on this day 23 years ago 19 terrorists hijacked four planes and crashed into the World Trade Center into G I don't have a personal experience with 911 but my parents do my mom was a young mother of two children my brothers and she was in the shower at the time of the attack one of her siblings came and knocked on the door and told her come or come out watch the news we are at War my mother wondered what would happen to to my father who had just entered the military my she didn't receive any news about what would happened to him until a day later when he called saying he was fine my dad on the other hand who as I said before had just entered the military was rushed into this conference room with his colleagues and they were left there for hours no they had no instructions of what to do or what was happening and honestly they were forgotten in that conference room it took him a year to see any footage of what had happened and it was while he was walking in the hallways of suu we remember 911 for those who fought and died to save others um it's very important for us to remember this state for the lives lost and The Bravery of others y thank you that concludes our Awards and recognition Okay the next I'll second all [Music] all so first it first it person certifi 242 boardy mandz bro who was a teacher at office schools from 2015 to 2021 has been interviewed for a position as a read intervention teacher recommend the employment ofo as a intervention for 245 have ation I'll make the motion all those in favor all those oppos pass sir should we let parents go if they need to um you guys are welcome to to stay if you want to we're going to finish our meeting but we also understand if you have to go and have dinner do homework or do whatever else you want to do so you're welcome to stay where you understand thank you for coming for us teacher domion has interviewed for position as aute teacher recomend the appointment of elected Dominion as a substitute teacher for the 24 25 school year those in favor all those oppos pass okay ER are you still there I'm still here okay you read the votes so um next item we have is classified hourly increase for Paro teachers and Candace Mo Mr pres members of the board pray the board approve 2425 classified hourly salary schedule classified employees can increase hourly wages by completing College of professional development hours on April 19th Candace Mar gave notice to the H analist she intended to complete the final two college classes to complete her bachelor's degree Candace has completed these hours is eligible for a pay increase starting 9:16 2024 recommend the approval of the hour increase to 1615 to Candace more starting 916 2024 second all those in favor I those oppos pass next item I didn't know there was a delay there okay our next item is certified classified employment for fall intercession Mr President members of the board a teachers and for professionals from K12 will work with students who need additional support in math and Ela during the fall break from October 7th to the 10th for five hours per day the teachers in a Below have expressed an interest in teaching working fall intercession recommend the approval of the above list of teachers and teachers aids to be employed during the fall 2024 intercession from October 7th to the 10th 2024 have a motion I make the motion second all those in favor i i i those oppos passes 5 to Z next item is volunteer position employment and volunteer football coach for Nicholas Mr President members of the board uh Nicholas aary is interested in volunteer coaching for The Voice football team his volunteer employment has been approved by the co-head coach and athletic director recommend the approval of the volunteer employment of Nicholas a as a volunteer coaching position for the fall 2024 season okay I will make that motion I will second all those in favor all those opposed pass Z next item is the appointment of the title n coordinator investigator andion Mr President members of the board per governing board policy that was a have an error in how that's stated it should say AC a a uh Title Nine the district shall designate an authorize an employee as a timeline coordinator to comply with its responsibilities pertaining to sexual harassment title n the administration is recommending appointing followed individuals M de Aroma title line coordinator Mr D Cory Williams Title line investigator Mr B call Char tiine decision maker recommend the approval of the appointment of said employes have a motion I a motion so do they get any additional pay for this or they just something we'll we going to have to figure out a compensation but we'll we'll work that out all those in favor all those opposed on to business items the first of which is the approval of the prek solicitation Mr President members of the board in an effort to increase funds for the out prek program the solicitation letter has been dra drafted by the prek director and approved by the district's attorney the district's attorney has suggested the letter be approved by the governing board before publication recommend the approval of the attached prease solicitation letter is recommended motion second noce probably the same thing you just did which is that Dr Tri still listed yeah I I didn't change it I'm sorry that'll be changed before it goes outly I'm sorry okay thank there any more discussion all those in favor all those oppos pass 5 Z next item of business is 2425 proposition 301 Mr President members of the board a committee made up of te representing a variety of grade levels and subjects T reviewed subjects Tau reviewed and revised the attached prop q1 plan 100% of teers voted to approve the attached plan on Wednesday August 28 2024 approval of the attached proposition 301 plan is recommended I will make that motion I will second all those in favor all those opposed passes by next item is the possible new agenda item for next meeting and we have from to jrc discussion anybody else theer um I guess it's from Administration can we get maybe like a report or um something regarding our new reading intervention teacher so when I asked the other night about um I guess how we were going to go about providing that intervention I'd like to know some details are we going to be a pull out model are we going to be pushed in what resources are we using what student population are we going to address because the dibles data showed two different data groups of data and made me feel uneasy seeing that so we've identified who's most at risk and I want to know how those students are going going to be given the intervention by that new teacher and if there's anything this new teacher needs I would hope it's there day when she arrives instead of waiting weeks so I just want I guess some sort of report what's going to happen when she gets here what are we going to do I want her to hit the ground running on day one instead of waiting weeks so I want that Vision created now and kind of like what do we see anybody else on the board and I will make the motion to Journey second in favor those oppos [Music]

e e e hello hello goodbye e e e okay e e e all right like to call this meeting to order uh our work study uh the work study portion of our meeting will call to order tonight it is September 10 10th 20124 want to welcome everybody that's here in person um and the hundreds of thousands of people that are joining us online uh we are going to start with 2.01 GPS celebrations Dr McCord thank you Mr Thompson governing board members um we're going to let things change over back there Sarah's Flying Solo in the back so we're going to give her some Grace and here we are okay so tonight we wanted to share with you some celebrations from um last school year and things we're working on or heading towards this year uh we'll mix in some Athletics some academics also some technology and we'll finish it up because no board meeting is complete without Bonnie going over some numbers so poor thing but it'll all yeah you'll be good no we're we're excited for it uh I'll start off and all all of my colleagues here are going to present different sections and so uh we have uh assistant superintendent of secondary schools Marcy Taylor assistant superintendent of teaching and learning Mr Jared Ryan associate superintendent of Business Services Bonnie Betts an executive well Chief technology officer was a pretty close is that is that we're calling you today okay Mr John calano that's right um CTO there you go CTO all right starting off with some celebr ations and Foundations um who we are so we are over 100 years old as a school district as many of you know we service the town of Gilbert as well as a portion of East Mesa about a third of our districts in the Eastern side of our of our boundaries and uh we're very proud that we serve both those communities we have 39 schools preschool through 12th grade we have over 31,000 students for the 2425 school year we have 4,000 plus staff members and we are an a-rated School District uh by the Department of Education and we are one of three a districts with more than 15,000 students so that's that's pretty noteworthy and we're pretty proud of that if you look off to the right there 23A schools 12b schools 92% of our schools are a or b letter grade and 11 schools increase their letter grade um this past school year we don't believe the new letter grades will be out until November uh November 1st and so but we look for good things coming out of that as well next um Dr mord yes sir before you go any further um could you give us a brief synopsis on the application process for our schools that they go through to apply for uh these letter grades so the letter grades are not from the state department are not application based they're based on performance and they're based on a lot of different things related to a formula but when you look at the next page for this one that you're talking about probably uh we have A+ 15 A+ Schools of Excellence that's for the Arizona Education Foundation and each year there is a long laborious application process for our schools to go through and there's certain requirements that they have to meet and then they submit those applications and they're reviewed by a certain group or Committee of people and if that application deems worthy of a site visit then a team of people come out and they basically check this is what you wrote on your paper is this what's actually going on in your school and they go through probably a two or two- day process and then after that they'll submit whether or not they believe they are worthy of an A+ uh notification and so um most of the time that's what happens and they are and so we're pretty proud of it we've we've gotten to the point to where we've had numerous schools go through this process so they're very big on helping other schools get through that process as well and so it's very uh we we think it's prestigious and we think it's worthwhile and I think it really gives the school an opportunity to showcase what they're all about and so we also have two National Blue Ribbon Schools and we were V Ved best of the best school district by the East Valley that includes Gilbert Mesa and Chandler and then we got the N award for music education for the fifth year in a row and that's districtwide n is National Association of Music merchants and uh that's a prestigious award for our music programs and then we have a 2425 a teacher of the year semi-finalist Jenny feedler agular um she did not make it to the top five um but we're g to Tout all the great things she does and we'll bring her to a board meeting to recognize her at some point in the near future because uh we truly believe that uh she represents uh the great things that happen in gilberg public schools and she made it to the top 10 she made it to the top 10 correct we're very proud of her and I think she deserved yes academic highlights I'll turn it over to Mr Ryan Mr Ryan I'll drive you just tell me give me that nod yes sir Dr McCord governing board thank you so much this was kind of an exciting process actually Bonnie just said a little while ago how much fun she's having going through this presentation I think we learn as much about other departments and all the great work going on across the entire School District um through this process which is super helpful for us um initially I'm going to focus on AP examinations some of what we added here is coming back to you from previous discussions AP exams and AP participation has certainly been a point of conversation as you know we've we've started programs at younger ages including acceleration and traditional and gifted identified and whatnot and how that builds and so um one of the questions that came up was regarding Student Success so as you grow AP participation can you continue with the level of success and so kind of reporting back on that um over 2200 students took one or more AP examinations last year this is an increase of 16 163 students with 54 46 more exams given a year ago um this is up over a thousand from 2 years prior and our total pass rate meaning a three or above actually increased by 5% and so I think what we're seeing is a number of students in our community are are absolutely capable of being successful in in rigorous courses and demonstrating that now on a uh more Global basis and so we're excited to see that the College and Career Readiness index as Dr Co presented during our last governing board meeting and she went through the specific details within that rating that's one of the ratings that's actually tied to the state label that Dr McCord was pointing at earlier with the a rated schools this is a piece of that so the college readiness College and Career Readiness index receiving all 20 points in this area within all of our schools for the first time ever is a huge accomplishment once again this includes um International baloria act performance CTE completers IND certifications and a variety of other things um the advanced placement uh in international borate so there are some new Honors that college board is actually um identifying students who are achieving at a high rate percentage of students who are taking part in advanced placement courses the percentage of students who are passing those courses um typically we're looking at graduating classes and what have they done through the course of their four years the international borate program um also as you know is expanded to Patterson Elementary School with our primary years program U moving then into Gams which is our Gilbert accelerated Middle School on the Gilbert High School campus um and then the international Balor program diploma program there at the high school um what we're seeing across the board if we go back in time just a few years we were at between 54 65 seats depending on the time of year within our IB program and now at the high school 602 um seats are filled in students are participating in the IB program so we've seen tremendous growth at well over 100% annually um as the students have become more comfortable with the concept and we begun um kind of building that program at a younger age and so the teachers are fantastic the administrators on campus are fantastic and the parents are are supporting it um at tremendous levels um one final piece with regard to an AP AP diploma uh the Capstone diploma which is available in each of our high schools other than Gilbert High with the IB Program um this consists of students completing AP seminar AP research four additional AP courses scoring three or higher and three or higher in all of them and we had 29 students this year complete that uh very rigorous series of courses and and and I think demonstrating at a high level that um across the board math science English and social studies along with Performing Arts Visual Arts it's exciting that they're all kind of coming together other in that way the accelerated programs as we mentioned um Gilbert accelerated Middle School 112% increase year-over-year in terms of participation and enrollment expanded accelerated classrooms k6 moving from five to eight campuses across the school district um for the first time we're seeing more students enrolled in our accelerated programs in a few of our campuses at the in the primary years then we're seeing um otherwise and so that's that's exciting that's a good sign in terms of families supporting students academically and and really pushing them to be successful at a high level um gifted programs Robert burcher um did a great job along with a team of of individuals and really going through our elementary schools and identifying um particular particular groups of students who maybe were previously unidentified as having gifted capabilities and really needing to be served in a different way and so uh newly identified 607 students across our elementary campuses who qualify as gifted and so um that's a wonderful thing and we're we're working hard at identifying the best ways to serve students moving into the future so that is our academic update and if you have any questions I'm happy to answer this oh I'm sorry our these are some of our graduation rates and our Dropout rates really positive trend data that we're starting to see um out of both special education as well as our CTE program um this is exciting because we talk often about connection to schools and the importance of connection to schools and ultimately then what we see in terms of graduation rates and so we know that that's one of the critical components is not just having students here but ensuring that they're successful um programs like our career in technical education programs we're seeing a 96.6% graduation rate uh we attribute that to the connection with teachers connection with Community Connection with industry um and so Doug Daly and his team have done a fantastic job The Faculty members on campus um students and families of really um not just participating in that program but ensuring um that they get the other side of the stage um graduation rates and special education we're seeing percentages increase annually we're seeing Dropout rates decrease annually um specific statistics are in front of you um and 100% of our CTE programs earned quality ratings during their on Department of Education evaluation so proficient or distinguished ratings so we're proud of every one of our programs it's hard to highlight in just a few minutes uh the number of things that are going in a great Direction um once again we know it's it's our families it's our students um and the teachers on our campuses and administrators doing all of the work so uh we're just proud to to celebrate a few of the accomplishments tonight good evening everybody governing board Dr McCord as always thank you for having me um we have a few highlights that I want to share tonight um each one of these bullet points uh cannot uh uh have been done without the collective whole of tech services um our our inner departments um they cannot operate as silos right we have to work with one another because every uh department is so dependent on one another so I want to thank all the tech staff as always for the amazing job that they've done um just a few highlights we're very excited to have the data and research team finally all moved together Under One Roof at tech services so um a big thank you to maintenance and operations who helped us this summer um take some existing space um but we were able to move um we had a number of people around the district that worked with data not just Ryan Nelson and tech services or our programmers or our student information system people but a number of people in different areas uh and we felt that bringing them together Under One Roof would make make a collective Powerhouse um and and that they are it's amazing to see under Ryan uh Ryan's leadership um how they've so quickly come together and are focused uh kind of moving in the same vision and I mean if there's a piece of data in the district that team can do something with it and it's not just student information data I mean we could take any Department's data which is really the the powerful piece right there's a lot of backend of the house things happening um and that team can take that data and if we can collect it we can disaggregate it and get it back to them in a in a meaningful format that would allow them to actually better their Department as well of as of course always down to the student in the classroom so it's been really great to see that team come together and it's almost like you have to have them pump the Brinks every once in a while because they could put out so much stuff that it would be overwhelming quite honestly so we're happy to have them together so that's been a great big highlight for us um we wrapped up I've talked about this before but we wrapped up our districtwide um Network refresh so every switch and wireless access point access point in the district has been refreshed as late last year so that that should be a kind of a seven-year project for us moving forward hopefully technology doesn't move too quickly where we'd have to go quicker to refresh um but we're sitting really well there so we're very happy about the work that Scott hosi and his his team has done um that same team also just finished a phone upgrade for the whole District so we didn't physically replace phones but we replaced the back in and push that all to the cloud so none of that resides on Prem anymore so it's allowed them to do some some really neat things with with control of our phone system and that's of course tied into to everything whether it's our security systems um it's it's a cohesive system now so that that went really well um we also finished up a two-year um staff uh uh laptop desktop computer refresh so we finished that up at the very end of last year and this summer and we do that cycle in a fiveyear refresh so four years from now then we'll we'll start over with the elementary teacher laptops and desktops so so we're sitting sitting pretty good there there so we're really really happy about that work uh and as always we did we finished our our second annual GPS girl stem powered event we plan to do that again this year sha a and her team of ties do a wonderful job of of putting that together uh and that's where we bring a few girls from every school in the school district together for one day of stem activities um it's always very well covered by the press and I know some of you have dropped by as well so very very proud of that we will continue that um we also just started the The District copy or refresh so we have our three pilot schools going there and then we'll continue that over fall break and hopefully before Christmas time we'll be done districtwide of replacing uh all of the copers in the school district so a lot of full District stuff going on it takes a lot of logistics and coordination Jim Woods does an amazing job with that and keeps us all on track so wanted to give him a shout out as well so yeah we're we're we're happy rolling along and enjoying our time so thank you for letting me share that all right Dr McCord governing board members again as everybody has said thank you for letting us share I get some of the fun pieces the outside of the classroom opportunities that we are so fortunate to be able to uh share with our students they have so many choices and so many ways to get involved so this is just a list of uh last year's state championships we are competing different schools compete at different levels but we're part of 6A we have schools at the 6A level 5A level 4A level and 2A level uh and every year we're very fortunate to have lists like this of state championships and that's not always the case in a lot of districts so uh these were some of the examples that were uh from last year and our current fall season is off to a good start now as well I think the next page has more on there um highlight was the the last one the last bullet point there the Gilbert High School boys 110 M High hurdles and 300 meter hurdles state champ uh Vance neelsen then went on to not only break the state record in both but he was the National Record Championship uh or hel holds the record in the 300 meter hurdle so it was pretty exciting and there was a lot of press surrounding that one as well uh we have a very competitive Athletic program at our comprehensive Junior highs as well so we're fortunate that that feeds into our high schools and we have extended that um those opportunities now for our junior high students to four different seasons so we have four seasons and each of our Junior Highs are now recognizing a male and female athlete of the quarter at each of their schools and then at the end of each year they get together as athletic directors and look at how many of the winners have participated in all variety of different sports and kind of add in there all the things they're doing outside of the classroom as well and in the classroom and select a female and male athlete of the year so we're going to start recognizing them at board meetings this year as well so you will be able to uh meet those uh female and male athletes of the quarter from each of our Junior highs uh let's see next one of course performing arts and other programs uh we would have a long list of accolades to con uh I guess recognize our Performing Arts departments on all of our campuses as well uh they continue to get Superior with distinction when they go to any sort of marching band competition when our orchestras our choirs our theater groups all perform in uh competitions they are usually ranked right at the top uh so that would again go on for several pages but a couple things to uh point out the state championship with our AIA robotics uh team at Desert Ridge High School and they qualified for the world championship that was held in Dallas Texas it's the it was the 2023 Vex robotics world championship and that was last year so it was pretty cool to see them go on to be able to travel and share a different type of competition other than just through Athletics or Performing Arts uh all four of last year's Gilbert sister cities representatives were from Gilbert Public Schools so we know that when the town goes through the process of selecting their sister City's represent Representatives they include pigley schools because they're in the town of Gilbert's boundaries some of the Chandler schools as well uh so we like to some there's Charters that apply as well so it's nice to see that last year one was from Camp overie two from Gilbert High and one from Highland uh right now the application for the summer of 2025 is open so we are trying as hard as we can to get the word out to our Juniors and they're coming back they're bringing back leean China for the last few years since covid uh we have not I think the last time was in 2019 that we had Representatives that traveled to Lesean and since Co they've only been going to our other sister city which is uh antram Newton Abbey Northern Ireland uh so they are resuming the China travel now and they are planning to select six Representatives so we're in the process of making sure that that word gets out uh to our high school campuses uh Dr McCord already mentioned the N award for music education this was the fifth year in the row and what this organiz ganization it's a national organization that uh recognizes the best communities for music education districts so pretty prestigious again that's an application process that our district goes through and has been recognized uh by that with that award for five years uh we have opportunities for our students to display their art at our school district art shows uh most of you probably are familiar with the elementary one that is held each here at Norwood furniture and then our uh secondary art show has been the last few years has been at HD South so that will uh continue again this year and then the last bullet on there um was a pretty cool opportunity La last the year last year is it last year yeah that uh Disney would again it was an application process uh you had to earn the rights to produce Disney's Frozen the uh Broadway musical and they selected one high school from every state so there were only 50 that were selected to perform this and Highland High School was uh selected to do that and it was an amazing absolutely amazing show if you had the opportunity to take advantage of seeing that so I think that's it for me thank you so after all that fun stuff now's the numbers um so um good evening governing board members uh Dr McCord as you know we could not achieve all of these uh great successes without having resources available to um to be able to to help them along uh so to speak so I wanted to share the the largest highlight that we share annually is our district spending report reflective of the 23 school year that's the last year in which we had this presented um again in comparison to all of our East Valley uh school districts we still are ranking number one in terms of dollars into the classroom I think that's an indicator that we put our money where we say we are going to put them and support our academic achievement as well as our Athletics and Performing Arts so you can see that our um dollars uh in the classroom were 73.3% um which outshines everyone on that list so uh to move on to the next slide um wanted to make sure that you all knew that that we as a leadership team are very intentional with how we allocate out our our limited dollars here in gilber public schools um and that we're also uh in the finance department are also very careful about ensuring that we are accounting appropriately for all for each individual dollar so uh gfoa and ASO International excellence in financial reporting we've got 37 consecutive years of receiving this award um in addition we have been focused on cash management and investing over the last couple of years so in unrestricted Capital we just initiated a process by which every dollar that comes into the school district first is allocated to unrestricted Capital the reason is is because unrestricted Capital earns interest that we are able to increase our budget capacity so we've so as the the first money is coming in we get to determine where it goes we're putting it into unrestricted Capital because of that of last two years we've earned over a million dollars that's real money a million dollars in interest earnings to um extend our budget capacity and unrestricted capital in addition as you know we've had a a pretty good run with our self-insured employee benefit trust as you if you recall um I think it was two years ago that we moved to uh having the employee benefit trust within our own accounting um environment and we created with the governing board uh policy and investing policy we have been utilizing that and to date over the last two years again we have exceeded $1 million in interest earnings keep in mind that that absolutely allows us to control how much we have to increase premiums on behalf of our employees and makes us more competitive in terms of what we're able to offer to our employees moving forward uh Risk insurance premiums we began this in the 2020 school year uh based upon information that we received from our insurer they said you know if you went to a high deductible plan on your Risk insurance you actually could benefit so we've been monitoring it um over the last five years now and to date we've seen Savings of over 2 and A5 million or about a half a million dollars annually again just to reiterate that means we avoided paying a half a million dollars uh half a million dollars worth of insurance premiums every year for the Last 5 Years um in addition we went ahead and uh had an opportunity to to prepay our insurance um with the risk retention trust uh they require us to put a certain dollar amount down because we are at a high deductible but because of that we are able to earn interest on that as well so that's about a $60,000 um increase in in our available resources and then finally uh we took advantage last spring of a new statute allowing us to prepay our Arona State retirement um so we were able to put $20 million in as a prepay and in the short four or five months we um actually earned uh over a half a million dollars and to date we've exceeded over a million which means today the value of that prepay is now $21 million so again these are all very intentional moves to to give us an opportunity to drive um additional earnings that give us more flexibility into the the future so on the next slide I wanted to talk about facility management and then an intentional Capital spend so again as you remember you all approved going out um and uh procuring a master Capital planning process we were able to do that we did a facility condition assessment uh analyzing all of our facilities so today just to give you an idea we are nearly 5 million square fet under roof our total current replacement value of all of our assets is $1.8 billion and then most notably 75% of the portfolio uh was U actually built in 19 in the 1990s and the 2000s which means our average age is 32 years old so that's the time in which there has been a lot of uh stress and needs for reinvestment so going to the next slide because of that you can see on this one this is actually the bond spend since the uh associated with the 2015 uh and 2019 Bond Authority so this is since 2016 and you can see that we've distributed the monies across all of our schools um and you can see in addition that this graph if you look at 2021 and 2022 in comparison to the prior years we've really quickly spent the dollars um we had high needs we had an ability to take advantage of extraordinarily low interest rates during that time and so we went ahead and were able to manage the acceleration on behalf of all of our schools so on the next slide you can see this is our bond spend by grade level again an indicator that we are spreading out the um the spend across all of our schools on an as needed basis and then finally I think the next slide is the last one um so minimizing taxes and tax there's a couple of slides here as I indicated before we accelerated that Bond spend in 2021 and 2022 prior to that we were spending maybe $5 to $10 million a year and then um in speaking with Albert he said yeah I could probably spend 20 to $25 million a year so since that time we accelerated that if you remember the interest rates were less than 1% that means we were able to sell our bonds out on the market and the investor the overall aggregate interest rate was less than 1% that our taxpayer had to pay so it was extraordinary savings so you can see um again our tax rate history today in comparison to 2016 we have dropped um o over a dollar per $100 of assess value uh even in 2016 when we did not have the override the tax rate was about um what is that up there about $6.50 right and now it's a right now it's $5 $20 so we've been able to take advantage of assess value growth and also take advantage of the fact that because we've accelerated the spend we were able to sell our bonds at an extraordinary low interest rate which decreases the tax rate for our taxpayers can I just add a a note here I I want to point out I mean what you've just said we're in a very good financial position but we've worked really hard since 2015 to get here uh prior to that because of circumstances and not having our bond and not having our override we had some very lean years and I think that um we've done tremendous work to put us into this um position it wasn't overnight and certainly Mrs bets you've had a lot to do with that but um we have worked really hard I think as a board and as a district to make sure that our kids have financial resources and it's it's not it wasn't overnight it it took a lot of work and effort it's the work of all of us yes definely all of us so um this is just an um a table of the tax rate 2023 to the current year so you can see uh from last year to this year our change in the tax rate is nearly 42 cents per $100 of assessed value a significant reduction in our tax rate uh going into this fiscal year and the next slide so this is a an indicator of how the acceleration of the spend and the sale of our bonds U made a huge difference on our taxpayer so because of that we anticipated when we did the voter in uh the voter information pamphlet in 2015 and in 2019 that we would have interest earnings of about 70 million but because of the acceleration our interest earnings again this would have been interest that our taxpayer would have had to pay because of that we actually saved our taxpayer over $27 million in interest payments into the future so again just being able to be aware and taking advantage of the circumstances having a terrific operations team that was able to to manage the the spend at a high level along with um John castalano and the technology department so we've been able to um to absolutely make a positive impact on our taxpayer as well and very much meeting the needs of all of our students districtwide I think that's the last one oh this is just our M budget at a glance just to show you 287 million is our M budget right now we expect that to fortunately be a little bit higher because we've seen growth and we have additional carryover um but that's what we look like today and then um and then this is um this is just a conversation about uh what what would happen if we are not successful this November uh so we'd have to reduce uh nearly $12 million going into the 25 26 school year and then in year two another 11.7 million so a total of 23.4 million and then finally in school year 28 the full 35 million again to try to put that into perspective uh you have noticed that we reported in June 30 that we were estimating a carryover in both unrestricted capital and maintenance and operations of about 50 million well over the next three years if we just drew down fund balance we would um we would have a need of $70 million here and we only have 50 so we would be in the negative by 20 million so it's an indicator that that the uh that the override is extraordinarily important for us and then uh this is what we're sharing with all of our staff members these are some of the items that are kind of on the on the list of what we're anticipating um may be reduced so keep in mind that class sizes um are always um uh something to consider so if we increase class sizes by three students that would realize the savings of 3.6 million if we eliminated the school and Department Capital allocations that came back in 2021 when we finally received all of our unrestricted Capital if we we we would potentially make a um a recommendation to eliminate all our part of that uh District Department level decreases programmatic decreases again none of these are decided upon but $2 million and then finally that draw down of fund balance please remember that we do not have um any bond dollars left they're all accounted for and so red uh drawing down fund balance to $1 million is still a little bit uncomfortable because we have 5 million square fet that we have to be concerned with and if we lose a chiller or a cool a cooling tower yeah 5 million square foet yeah um and so uh we're very careful about anticipating how much to draw down fund balance just because of that I think it's important to note that all of his cabinet members are going out to every campus and going over factual information regarding uh the override and so we do share this slide we also preface it like this is what these dollar amounts would equate to if this was a route we would go um and it it it does open some eyes out there because it it makes it a little bit more real for those sitting in the audience and so uh it's not an intent to scare them but it is an intent to keep them alert about what's going on and and what these override are paying for and so uh that's why we share it well sometimes it doesn't seem like $12 million is very much but when you start putting specific things up there it kind of gives you an idea oh my gosh it is quite a bit of money well and this would just be the first round if if we lost so yeah I mean think of doing that three times it gets harder and harder each time so thank you guys are there any questions you may have for us we wanted to we we did this presentation with our uh with the Gilbert Education Foundation uh Business Leaders breakfast and we thought it was important to share it here with all of you as well uh I think it gives a a quick snapshot of where we're at and what we've been doing and it also ties into how important those things that we are doing uh relay uh rely on the dollars that uh we use and I believe we use them extremely wisely within our district so we want to make sure you guys have the same information as well so I I personally want to say thank you to each of you for putting this presentation together and and showing uh the board this tonight um it's a testament to uh to your uh to Gilbert public school's dedication to our students and their families and our community um just by looking at this present presentation tonight it's clear that that uh that there's there's a there's a place for just about everybody all of our kids that live within the district boundaries here in GPS and we understand that um that uh it's not going to be Gilbert Public Schools may not be a fit for 100% of the kids out there but but there's no denying that we are making you guys are making every effort to make sure that we can accommodate and um a and offer opportunities to uh to just about anyone and so thank you very very much for that we know that that it's it's more than just a a presentation on paper um but it's what you guys do day today uh and what you guys um the the vision that you share with each of the schools and the administrations and the teachers and so thank you and um a small note about the uh the financial uh about Miss bets's presentation tonight um the voters do have a decision to make in November um and it's a it's a tricky time our economy is much different than it was last time we made this vote uh and it's I I think it's uh it's weighing heavily on our voters minds and on their pocketbooks but from this presentation tonight the things that I couple things that I've uh that I've observed is um is the the the complete transparency that you have with us and with our voters on where their tax dollars are being spent um and the other uh comment that I'll make is in regards to uh this slide right here about the tax levy savings I don't think that anyone based on on what you've presented tonight and based on these facts I don't think anyone could accuse Gilbert public schools of of not spending every dollar wisely may not everyone might not agree with how dollars are being spent and that's understandable but I don't think there's anybody that can disagree that that we're not that we're not trying our best to make every dollar accounted for and to make sure that every dollar is is being spent with our students and our District's best interest in mind and so I commend you for your hard work and for uh making this available to us and for just doing a doing a fantastic job I think that's this is a a tremendous presentation that I think every uh everybody that's interested in this uh in this ballot question could benefit from learning and or benefit from seeing and uh and getting a better perspective of of uh the the the stewardship that the good stewardship that we are um that we are uh utilizing their funds with so thank you very much uh Mr Thompson I just wanted to add something um I I I really appreciate the voters and the support that they've given our district um and I know when we were able to pass our override in 2015 and we had some of those Bond dollars to buy new buses um that at the beginning of one school year we had quite a few bus breakdowns so um getting new buses was very helpful and we haven't had that problem since we've been able to replace those buses and I remember um I think it was about 2018 we had to purchase new curriculum for elementary La uh and we had to negotiate doing those payments in two separate years because we didn't have the money to keep up with the governor's promise of 20% by 2020 and to purchase the curriculum so we had to kind of work with the company that we was delivering that curriculum to us and they were you know gracious to us but again over time we've been able to rectify those deficits and build a very solid Financial Foundation but it has taken us a long time so I want to appreciate the voters for that and appreciate the hard work that everyone here has put into making those Maxim ing the use of those dollars thank you miss humph any other questions or comments from board members I I just wanted to add my comments as well um this was exciting to see this and I think that Gilbert Public Schools is a value proposition for our community and this override is a value proposition with over 31,000 students and think of who we've how many we've served over the last five years um or four years since our last override and the things that we've been able to do what you guys just showed us the impacts on each student as well as our 4,000 employees who have directly been impacted by the funding that we've received both from the state as they've increased that 20 x 20 but by the override and we've been really deliberate and focused as a board these past eight years on providing competitive salaries for our teachers and and all employees and I think that we uh our students directly benefit from that because we have the very best outstanding employees it takes competitive salaries to attract the best and to keep them here and I think that's one thing that an override if our community our local funding will will help and support us with that and has in the past that helps us be able to provide those competitive salaries which are so important to have the outstanding employees that we need that's where I think that's one of the biggest differences that we can have in students lives is having those outstanding teachers being able to support them with um training and with materials and with resources it's critical it's exactly what all of us want who live here in Gilbert this is the kind of District that we want we're one of the best in the state when you say that there was only by the state standards and their grading skills we are an a district they determined that they we made the cut off from that with all of the work that we've done and it that covers a broad amount of academics Financial graduation rates I mean you name it all kinds of things it's it's a it's a great way to show all of the individual work we're doing with each student on each campus and we're an a district one of only three a districts in the whole entire state that have over 15,000 students in their District truly one of the top in the state I mean I celebrate that we're we're doing great things and what I really love is that we are continuously looking to improve every time you come back and talk to us where how are we getting better how are we helping students how are we helping teachers where can we look to improve how are we Gathering the data to again help teachers staff districtwide find ways to improve and give our students the best opportunities that they can have I think we know we're fiscally responsible financially conservative all the things that you shared every single one of your strategies though has been very Del Li conservative so that you don't put anything at risk but that we can use the funds that we've been given that we are so grateful for and and maximize them in the best ways that we can to put them again toward our our um salaries toward our students toward our facilities being what they need to be for students to have the learning opportunities I think again we've shown that through focused and deliberate efforts we've given our students tremendous opportunities and ability to succeed um outstanding academics College and Career Readiness outstanding extracurricular opportunities Arts music RTC um I can just go on and on there are great things happening throughout our district and it's a great place to be I especially appreciate again that we care about our students are are we care about our staff we believe in them and we again again have made this we've made this area a great place to live and an great opportunity to come receive a tremendous education no matter what you're looking for there's opportunities and we want to be the best at what we're doing and everyone's working toward that so I'm just I'm just thrilled to celebrate with all of us and commend everyone who's put so much time and effort into not just creating this celebration it's this celebration presentation but who actually created the content that we can celebrate and then also just look at our financials and ask our public to look at the facts and again to support us as you have in the past which we have been we've taken it seriously we've appreciated the funding and we've done it's again we've made the most of it we've turned around and it's been a a win for your dollars so thank you guys thank you very much so we're going to move on we know you people have to leave this room we don't want your heads to get too big so we're going to end this portion we're going to move on to uh agenda item 2.01 curriculum implementation updates Dr McCord thank you Mr Thompson governing board members we thought it'd be a good idea just to bring you up to date on uh some curriculum implementation that's been going on throughout the district uh you guys gave gave us the time and effort and money to be able to do some of these things last spring we're very grateful for that and um we just wanted to share with you where we're at with that as of September what is it 10th so uh let me give you guys this and I'll turn it over to you Mr Ryan Dr McCord governing board thank you so much a few things were said in this last presentation that just um really pointed to what these fantastic ladies we're going to be sharing with you tonight which are uh responsibility um really taking serious um what it is that the governing board has approved and given us authorization to ensure that our classrooms and students and teachers are are well equipped to take on the needs of of all students and when we said that earlier it really struck a chord because this process process has been very um deliberate in terms of ensuring that all students regardless of level meaning grade level um or level of learning meaning everything from um a self-contained special education classroom through a gifted or an accelerated or AP classroom conventional classrooms every student deserves to have quality teachers in front of them which we're grateful to have and blessed to have along with curriculum and resources that they can learn from and be prepared for the next level and so uh tonight uh Jenna Corelli Buck our Ela secondary coordinator Len bomb our math secondary coordinator and Crystal Udall our elementary Ela coordinator are with us math math coordinator sorry are with us and um you know what's exciting about this team and you mentioned attracting people to our district gen joined us and she's fantastic Len and Crystal have been with us and we're keeping great people and I'm going to turn it over to them because this is their show this is their their work and I'm just extremely proud of what they've been doing as of fall 2023 the uh math adoption committee started making new selections of new resources in the spring we were fortunate to Pilot that for K12 material and began a partial Elementary training to kind of set the stage to um get ready for the big implementation and then as of fall we had a full 712 implementation and additional Elementary trainings for a lot of our teachers moving forward our elementary training will be completed by the end of 2025 here you can see that um our wave two which began in July um this school year 435 teachers were trained which is 65% of our current teachers um in December we'll have another 115 teachers approximately trained and in the end of 2425 we'll have another set of 115 thus totally 100% of our elementary teachers being implementing program at one time so I have a question how when you say trained how long do they spend in training on this curriculum thank you that's a good question the first training is a full 8 hour day the next training is another half day and then the next training is another half day so there are three trainings three touch points if you will after the initial that they come to and we'll have further trainings to help gain more knowledge and use of the program and utilizing it to its fullest intent all right thank you appreciate that and for our Junior highs we went with a full implementation so all of our seventh and eighth grade teachers were trained in a similar fashion um and we're rolling next we want to see what's happening in classroom so we're here to share some strengths that we are seeing across the board in our K8 area we see that the use of curricular materials is being utilized we see teachers using it we see slideshows being happening we see uh manipulatives being used we see students using the works workbooks talking about the text and moving into having lots of conversations the conversations are deepening with the mathematics intentional instruction is happening and teachers have some clarity of how they are to move through getting this new curriculum and maneuvering and so that's been exciting to see that the teachers feel sustainability and being able to help students in a very intentional and direct manner um student discussions happening are happening at deeper levels and there's a safety in that feeling safety meaning I feel safe in making mistakes and I learn from mistakes and I grow from them so whereas answers were only just right or wrong now we're learning how processes help us learn to get exact answers so that is exciting to see um at the elementary level we are seeing the my path and learning games influency flight being utilized by students and I'll share more of that in just a moment at the junior highs we're seeing the same amazing results I've had the opportunity to be in almost 100% of our Junior High math classrooms um so far this year I haven't been in all because some teachers were absent or lack of time on a campus but I've been in a lot of them and we're seeing the same things this student discourse is phenomenal and it only helps with our literacy initiative um the academic and content vocabulary that is becoming a consistency across our district is going to help us grow our students students learning all the way through K through 8 um so all of those things are great and the other thing I wanted to share specifically is yes we're using the personalized instruction at the Junior High um and the data that we're getting from not only the diagnostic assessment but that personalized instruction which is my path teachers and students are learning to utilize so that is evident in classrooms in the junior highs I I just wanted when I looked at the curriculum I do remember one of the things I thought was outstanding was so way that um the curriculum was designed to help students talk about math to each other and to share and to problem s together and I thought that was very outstanding a very different way of learning math than maybe it had been taught in the past but just to ask along with that teachers are still though the primary instruction givers and are helping and then facilitating discussions but then bring it back and let's have a teacher say great great idea this is good and kind of move it forward with is that true with teacher absolutely you are spot on and helping to guide students into that leveling of how do I get further in my Educational Learning how do I move through the mathematics to get to the pieces that we need for the ONG grade level standards to be full and robust so they like they're not just wandering talking trying to figure it out but they're like teachers are the facilitators of discussions and help students see the differences in the levels of the mathematics so that they can always always continue to raise the level of mathematics within their classrooms so yes they are very much the facilitator and director help me understand what were you talking about the ma my path sure my path is individualized instruction based on students needs so every student that goes into I ready gets to take a diagnostic that diagnostic will then place them in four domains of mathematics and we'll level them so that they can have specific instruction on things that the students need to um help strengthen and enrich on so the teacher will see that Diagnostic and then say okay right off the bat I know I need to focus on these kinds of things with this with this group of students and with a totally different group of students oh they're kind of have a hole with these kinds of things so it kind of helps them way it helps them see instructional groupings absolutely what's beautiful about uh this diagnostic is that it helps the students with the levels that they're on so every student at the table can have very individualized learning paths along the way and then the teacher can take the on-grade level material that they're learning and scaffold what are the prerequisites to help me support what students might have some weaknesses on if there's students that have all the prerequisites met how do I enrich and it will give them guided instruction to help those instructional groupings okay absolutely I would like to add to your question because you asked about classrooms what do they look like what do they sound like and I think an important part of this implementation has been leadership training because it does look and sound different from math classrooms of maybe when we were in school and so that that training is ongoing as well and our leaders are learning what does a good math classroom look like and sound like so that's also occurring here fluency flight are for grade levels 2 through five and so after students have learned strategies in K And1 so they use fenic flight to to help them maintain and learn more strategies to help support them here I want to give a shout out that the um Pioneer Elementary actually has met by a very large supply the amount of Target days to be on the my path I'm sorry the fluency flight instruction the target days would be three days a week minimum or 30 to 49 minutes a week so they're targeting with that and they are also now realize we're in wave two we don't have 100% of our teachers trained 65% of their students are actually getting on fluency fly and learning that is a huge significance so I just wanted to give a shout out to that and saying that our programs so the online components that were're bought with this program are being utilized and being enriched in the classroom so we are very appreciative of our not only our textbooks but the online components that help and support um students along the way that being said um another piece that was supported by our board and uh we were able to purchase were manipulatives I know what the first two pictures look like are just a couple of blocks however the activity was to create a creative play school I'm sorry preschool bench that students might come and observe and then measure the surface area so here they got very creative and I love that fifth graders were able to take these tools and utilize them and see surface area and a new light rather than just a word problem that told about it so it's exciting to see those tools being used in all of our grade levels um next picture you'll see kindergarteners who are using that math discourse and talking about uh the materials in their hands and being able to talk about mathematic content um the next picture you see is a teacher working in a small group from the materials it I was talking about the instructional groupings here that teacher could find that instructional groupings were those exact activities they needed and be able to supportive um students not only do workbooks in I'm do work within workbooks but they also are up and moving and being able to talk with one another and having that rich discourse and so that's a picture that is shared there and then you will see on the next um slide sorry your mic thank you you will see on the next slide that the same is true in secondary and I wanted to emphasize these pictures of active learning where students are up and engaged with each other um at the whiteboard um on different activities throughout the day next as promised we said there were three touch points this is a picture of some teachers what a this is a a sampling of our teachers at the second training they received the first one in July here they are at the end of August having the training number two and they are giving feedback that our trainers that are coming to share information with them are fantastic and so just a shout out to teachers who are learning continuously and being able to have that positive outlook about this new program so that's exciting so what are we doing in the elementary area to help support mathematics and our teachers in the implementation of I ready well the biggest piece is we want to ensure that consistency is across all of our schools we want consistency with our scope and sequence our learning Maps our unit overviews so it was very important to create comprehensive scope and sequence components for curriculum documents that met conventional needs as well as accelerated needs um we also have 65% of our teachers that are trained that is more to come I'm going to all visit all instructional coaches giving them further support and trainings as they are getting ready to do Cycles with their coaching Cycles with their um teachers and getting that next wave of teachers ready for their training that will happen later in this school year um we have further follow-up trainings for the first group that happens in November we have administrators who will have further training they had their first one in may they will have another one in October and one more to come after that and then we are very much looking forward to wave implementation three that starts in January so right after the New Year any questions about IR which is our K8 I I do want to thank our teachers because this is a new curriculum it means that they have to to learn new things and teach new things and redo lesson plans and and just really adopt a new a new system in some ways that is different from what they've been done previously so I want to thank them for that hard work of implementing it in the classroom absolutely so faculty members have been incredible um site administrators have been fantastic particularly at the at the elementary and junior high level um Dr Cox and Robert burer have have led the way and been just positive all the time Relentless in pursuit of just greatness in the classroom and the support's been fantastic but ultimately students are learning and parents are supporting and so I just want to really thank our parents because it also looks sounds and feels a little bit different and that's that's hard for us to wrap our minds around sometimes as well and so they've been fantastic reaching out to teachers reaching out to campuses phone calls come our way and so um it's not a new math or anything along those lines this is just simply active engagement in the classroom the materials maybe look a little bit different sound a little bit different and so uh them really being committed to this process has been extremely helpful as well yeah if I can ask this um I actually probably have this question on all each of these things that we're going over but I know that we're looking at the implementation and training of our teachers and classrooms are measurables that we're watching to see if this is a successful implementation and how it's affecting our students but I guess what other measurables do we expect to see to show that this um I ready and math implementation is successful and is meeting our students needs and is I guess resulting in students learning and GR so other things we're looking at we have District benchmarks that we have um already in place we are looking at how these Diagnostics also follow along that beginning middle and end of the year how do those measure how does it look for that projecting for that Summit of piece so that is another measurement that we will look at and see how it Compares I will share also that um I I don't want to say for the first time I haven't been around Dr McCord said over 100 years right but I I I did I did I did begin here in 2003 and since 2003 there hasn't been this level of consistency across all of our campuses so the level of data that we're able to look at relative to student growth student proficiency um the diagnostic and where students are and how we can engage with them as Learners where we we haven't had access to this at this level before and so you'll hear also now from Len as we progress into the secondary level and then as well from Jenna and the ELA side this consistency across it supports professional learning communities it supports the grade level teams and the information that they're looking at the student grouping is vital to the student growth and development as well so um we're just excited to be able to I don't want to call this a benchmark year but truly establishing for the first time in a number of years the consistent across all grade bands is then going to give us the information necessary to understand how we need to to move forward and engage and you as you said earlier continue to improve I think for the first time we're really going to have access to that information at a high level so just to add to that there's been conversations across different um departments such as like special education we've heard from special education teachers as well as District members about how much conversation how many conversations have happened and how much clarification has has come together because of the use of one curriculum in the past social education has had a very different curriculum than what we have had and so there's been no commonality and now we're bringing it together in commonality in our elementary and our secondary world that to me is immeasurable having those conversations where we have more relatable communication between our departments and on campuses and those students that are shared between teachers that's true I've got a a couple of questions when we first rolled this out or talked about rolling it out and how we were going to implement it one of the concerns that I heard from parents was um switching curriculums in the middle of a student's uh educational career would be would be difficult and so we talked about a phased implementation um and I think think the concern was more was more prevalent among parents of uh kids on the older end of the spectrum maybe the Junior High kids um maybe maybe the fifth sixth graders but mostly Jun fifth sixth Junior High um and so my question is what have you seen in regard to those students that have been doing math a certain way or doing a certain math cre curriculum for you know four five 6 7even 8 years and then switching what has their experience been like and have you seen any hiccups have you seen um anything that would that would cause us to maybe need to look at giving kids that are struggling kids in that group that are struggling extra attention what have you seen there yes I can address the Junior High um I will tell you that through all of the classroom observations that I was able to do I already was obviously you being utilized in 91% of those classrooms now I wasn't in there for extended periods of time so I might have missed some but they're really diving in the teachers are are diving into I ready and they are utilizing it and what's happening is yes initially we knew it's it's a new approach um students need to get comfortable talking with each other um but even this curricul um has a unit zero that is designed to get kids comfortable with each other and just communication in the classroom so all of those parts of this curriculum as designed have really increased the comfort in the classroom and we've seen I I've seen in junior high classrooms because I went early in the year and then I've I've been as recently as last week I've seen an increase in that discussion and that collaboration and that comfort for students so I believe that teachers knew that challenge was going to happen and using the curriculum um but their own expertise as well I'm so proud of our Junior High teachers for sure um I'm seeing all of that occur and yes there are still challenges are there still students who are hesitant sure um that could happen in a in a room full of adults so the teachers are are working to overcome the challenges they're working in their plc's with those challenges um the campuses are coming to the district with those challenges and we're providing help and training in every way that we can and and so I don't see any as you called it major hiccups um there are bumps there are certainly bumps in the road in an implementation but the teachers and the students are working together um in ways that I hadn't seen in the past and so I believe that it's it's going very well at the junior high thank you um my other question before we move on to secondary Ed is specific to the younger the younger students um and I'm going to use my my own experience to try to illustrate what what I'm what I'm asking the the the the intent behind my question um so it seems like a number of years ago we switched to I think it was it core Common Core common new Arizona academic standards and and the the big complaint that that I recall hearing and and having was that it was different than any way that the parents had learned math and so it it kind of it it created a situation where parents were having a hard time helping their kids with math at home and my own personal experience just my my my son is in third grade um and he's coming home with math homework that I'm looking at and I'm thinking okay I know how to do this and I start trying to help him and he said no dad that's not how to do how to do it that's not how my teacher told me to do it and there's there's two or three different ways that he's supposed to demonstrate that he can you know be proficient at at at math um and so I just kind of have to sit back and and watch him struggle and not be able to help him because it's not the way that he was told that he has to do it as a parent that's extremely frustrating because it's like no here's how it's done here's how it's been done for decades um and really the goal is just to get the right answer um and so so that's the experience that that that I had and I know a lot of parents have had parents want to help their kids you know with their homework when they come home but the fact that parents don't know necessarily how things are being how their students are being told to execute these problems makes it almost impossible for parents to help and so my now to the question part is have you received any feedback from parents in regards to this program being um being helpful to them in being able to interact with their kids at home doing homework and being able to help them I can say I have not had feedback from parents that's generally not usually where who I hear from but I hear from teachers and they're reaching out for what is it we send home for parents how do we help parents to is their parent portal the answer is yes there is a parent portal yes there's a family letter established for every single unit that the teacher is teaching that goes home to the family that's family friendly that points out what are they doing and on the flip side has an activity that the parents can help and do and support so they can have an understanding of what is happening with the students so um as work is done in the workbook it can take they can take it home and see it and what is happening um this program actually has tutorials as videos that can be sent home also so that's another way support So teachers are reaching out what do we do how do we support if they haven't already figured it out many already have so um the next question that I'm getting and this beginning today what do we do what do we send home for parents and there are reports that can go home to parents that talk about their students specifically how they've done the on the diagnostic and give some suggestions on other supports that can they share and give as well okay thank you as we move to secondary um I'm going to speak a little bit about the um into a by hmh um which is our other large population um implementing the adopted materials and and I wanted to just bring these three photos to assure all of you and the public that we're still utilizing and it is teacher-driven um pencil and paper we are doing engaging activities just as we were at the junior high by having students communicate with each other and and problem solve um and then there is this online component the digital platform so we are utilizing all of them in our classrooms and these were recently taken in our high schools we are also in the process of um developing the remainder of our comprehensive scope and sequence we have first semester materials for our teachers so they can see where students are headed this semester um we are going to develop second semester um this week so very soon um this is our year to create our common unit assessments and they will begin using them next school year um again there's talk about ensuring consistency across schools and this new resource is is doing that again I'm seeing a common vocabulary in classrooms it's going to allow our students to go from one course to another and continue using that vocabulary and growing that vocabulary um we have had um training for teachers training for leadership um and lots of District alignment conversations um with Improvement plans and the instructional framework so all of that is happening with our secondary adoption as well can we just go back to the can we go back to the previous page that had H I just wanted to know the those an acronyms the yes yes hooton Mifflin hardcourt is the publisher and into Ag and a traditionally stands for algebra geometry Algebra 2 okay thank you you're welcome we are fully implementing this into a program in our high schools and again I have been on the high school campuses as well as the junior high campuses um I mentioned earlier that 91% of our Junior High classrooms it was evident and obvious that the I ready was in usage that's a little bit lower for our high schools and and again first year of implementation um we walked into some classrooms and they were assessing so it wasn't evident and obvious and so um it is not as As Nice of a percentage I guess I would say but we are are expecting that percentage to increase throughout the year as teachers get more confident and comfortable utilizing all of the aspects of that resource um and it is um research says that it takes teachers three years to be become comfortable with a new resource so I'm glad that I'm seeing what I'm seeing in the classroom and that teachers are helping each other and we're continuing our training to get that reach of that comfortable level yes so recently there was a follow-up training that had been organized and I was fortunate to be in a room with Canyon Valley Desert Ridge High School and Highland High teachers and during times where there were group discussion going on or um a break in the action I would walk around between the groups and talk a little bit and the feedback was hugely important and So within the classrooms where you're seeing the 20 23% maybe not evident what you're seeing and what you're hearing are teachers who are really trying to figure out best utilization of some of the resources uh one gentleman from Highland High School you could just kind of see him he he said there's so much that I'm trying to figure out what the perfect thing is to use with the perfect lessons so sometimes I'm going back and I'm pulling something that I know that I've utilized prior so it's not a bad thing it's just he's spending time really learning the resource and so I think to miss bomb's Point um a year or two and he even mentioned he said next year will'll feel different right like next year I'll know exactly what to use where to use it our PLC will know what resources is the best so the 23% I don't take is is a bad thing at all I think that's a reality I think that's a reality of learning something new reality that once the students are in front of you though I have to go to something I'm really confident with right and then I'll come back and I'll continue learning the other and so 77% evident utilization of classro I think is really positive at this stage of the game with those follow-up trainings occurring um I mean this just occurred two weeks ago right so they began they're using they come back in they receive another training they're together in their plc es and their and their disciplines and um you see a lot of really hard work being done but it just takes some time so be proud of that yeah yeah I absolutely am and I I am well aware of all of the hard work that is happening on all of our campuses um the one thing I would say is the bullet up there that says working through challenges by campus the campuses have been very communicative and and desire help in the areas where their teachers are struggling and so I've been able with my um secondary instructional specialist to go to the campuses to provide some of that assistance um it's nice to have another body to reach more campuses and more times um and so that's all been good the two main challenges that I'm hearing are um the number of resources and teachers are working super hard to be intentional in their selection of using those resources and so that's some of the challenge for sure um and pacing the first year of a new res Source pacing is a challenge and some of it's based on their needing to be intentional about all of the resources that are there and learning how to utilize them together um in a CO in a cohesive way um so for teachers implementing with Fidelity we're seeing the same things that was mentioned earlier with the IR increase in discourse and and discussion increase in productive struggle a lot of student voice being heard in the classroom student to- student conversations um um and problem solving conversations and so all of that is is evident within our high school for the into a as well can I ask really quickly so when you say all of the resources available what do you mean by that so this adoption for our algebra through Algebra 2 classrooms has that digital component it has a workbook um and it has a textbook and so in the past our teachers have utilized a consumable work workbook that was our most recent adoption and that was it and so bringing forward the workbook and finding ways to utilize it to best serve their students um and the digital platform for sure um it has its challenges because it's something that's new and any program that you are given especially um inputting math answers um it may have a way that they want you to enter the data and so teachers and students together are working on okay well I thought I entered the right answer and if it was written on paper it's all good so let's figure out how we have to enter that and that's just learning the platform um but those challenges um are I think important as well as students move forward and are going to be tested digitally um and so all of those experiences are going to help our students grow so you're saying all the resources within just the this new adopted curriculum absolutely okay where do teachers go or where should teachers go if they have questions about putting this all together you know they've had the training they're working with their classes and now you know the rubber hits the road and where do they go when they need help with some of this well luckily they have a math specific instructional coach on their campus and then they can also always reach out to us at the district so the um secondary math specialist as well as myself are great resource and we are more than willing to get out into the classrooms that's our joy okay so we're going to move into 712 English language arts curriculum um you may remember this I'm glad you guys brought this all up that research says that after 3 years people start to get more comfortable with it well here we are in year three of savis my perspectives okay so we did Implement that in the 2122 school year Well we did an initial training in the 2122 full implementation 22 23 so this is our third full year um and because of that uh our teachers are now feeling much more confident in the variety of materials that are within that program they have the student consumable they have the digital aspect of it um they're really starting to get a feel for how that balances out and when to use what where depending on what the needs are so um I've been in quite a few classrooms already and it is at 98% for sure I was on a high school today walking through English classrooms and it was 100% everybody was using my perspectives it was clear to see that the ninth grade teams had been talking because there was clear connections I mean obviously the conversations are different in every single classroom you go into because the kids are different but you could tell that these teachers were having conversations in the ninth grade team and so so it was it you could see the connections there and that um I think is going back to something that Mr Ryan said is that's a place where I don't think Gilbert has been like I might see this in one campus I'm going to also go to another high school campus and I'm going to see a similar thing and a lot of the conversations and that continuity has really helped our teachers sort of feel empowered they feel like their support system now is much broader they know they can reach out across campuses and they can ask questions because they finally seeing how it all fits together so it's it's been really cool um so again uh I think I talked about this last time I was here with you all about how English was the lucky lucky subject that got to do the comprehensive unit evaluation stuff we did all of the scope and sequence first and we implemented it this year um for the first time we brought all of our English teachers together at the beginning of the year in July 160 of them maybe in the camp of verie cafeteria and I was able to address them as a group um they sat with their full Ela teams they sat with their uh building leadership they had instructional coaches we had our special education people there as well all of them were at the table and they looked at our scope and sequence and our unit overviews and we talked about the common unit assessments and so they were able to start the year sort of as a GPS team and then they went back to their campuses to start this implementation and it really um made a big difference I think it's something that we're going to try and do um moving forward where we sort of have that place where we all get to touch base so instead of me trying to bring in different teachers for trainings at different times of the year just having that one you know and it was only like three hours it wasn't a ton of their time just to sort of really get them fired up and then they go back to their campuses and they're ready to go um it was it was really cool I loved it um one of the I'm so professional sometimes I'm sorry um so as English is the first one to do the common unit assessments um we are implementing those common unit assessments through the digital program realize svice realiz which is where the materials are held digitally um because they do have a remarkable uh Assessment program so we built the common unit assessments for the units at each grade level and we needed to see if they were going to work and I don't know if Mr our chief technology officer he's not here anymore the data and research team has been unbelievably helpful with that so um we created a pretest for the first common unit assessment which is coming up at the end of the first quarter and I sent it out to all of our teachers grade 7 through 12 everyone had a pretest for their particular unit and I said if you would like you can give this at the beginning of the year and it's going to give you some baseline data and then we can compare it to the CUA when you take it at the end of the quarter and what I really want wanted to see is what's this going to look like in our systems and it was amazing they all got it I was able to share it with everybody everyone was able to do it digitally and you can see the participation that we got across grades 7 through 12 with a preest and our teachers the response I got from teachers was extremely positive because now they had a common data source that was very specific to the standards and skills that they then could zero in on in that unit moving forward and they were able to identify some of those gaps uh so it was really important which is leads me to the impact on instruction having these common data points has really motivated a lot of our grade level teams and I'm starting to see a much um more effective uh much more effective conversations happening in our plc's at the grade levels because they're finally comfortable with materials they they're feeling good about it they have a data point they can work with um they're sharing with each other about how they're using different kinds of things um I'm kind of rambling at this point but I think the thing that makes me happiest is now we have you know five four Junior highs and five high schools and Canyon Valley and Gilbert Classical in the grade levels that use it finally feel like they are part of a bigger team and they aren't so individualized it's important that they have their own you know communities and and and all that kind of stuff but now I think our English teachers nobody feels isolated anymore they're not alone they are really starting to depend on each other and that kind of collaboration has really increased some of the professionalism that I've seen and their willingness to learn it's been really extraordinary I've had a lot of fun you know last year but this year going out on campuses this year has been really awesome don't ever AP don't ever apolog ol for rambling I personally appreciate your enthusiasm that's it are there questions from you I'm going to have questions um so when we look at how students are doing I mean are they i' I've just seen at the elementary level that kids are doing really well how are kids doing at the secondary level with um being able to write better and being able to understand and collaborate and uh do those those processes that are important yeah the the collaboration piece in my perspectives is key um but not only just in my perspectives which offers a lot of that our professional growth and development team and the work that we've done with our instructional framework and the focus that we've put not only on um our Clarity map so that kids are very clear about what they're learning and why it should be very clear to them that what they're doing um but the focus that we've had on instruction over the last three years too um has been in fact Mr Ryan and I were in a classroom recently where we got to see my perspectives in action but the teacher had really created an environment where kids were working with each other they were moving from one place to another and they were utilizing sort of those executive functioning skills and those problem solving skills that I mean you have to be have literacy skills to be successful but you also have to be able to work with people and you have to be able to communicate with others to have them understand clearly what it is you want or what you're doing and we're seeing more and more of that they're really starting to marry the instruction with the materials okay and taking it above and beyond and really tailoring it for their particular group at whatever campus they may be okay thank you I appreciate that Miss humph I think also um we'll be very excited when we get to November 1st um after the state has kind of gone through and finalized all of the details related to school labels or there will be a number of data points we'll be able to kind of point at and look at growth year-over-year from from over the last two years three years with my perspectives obviously it's early with our math implementation um but I think everything from Lexile level um literacy skill uh we've put into effect this year the uh led by Wendy Peterson and Jenna we have a middle years literacy initiative with a great team of folks that been brought together specifically for that purpose um the pgd team has grown exponentially because we've identified Specialists from across the district with true skill and not only content but as well as instruction and so we're leveraging our resources a bit differently ensuring that we're on campuses um as much as possible and so everything is working in concert together there's purpose intentionality behind each of the decisions that are being made with the Personnel that we have and so extremely optimistic um in what we're going to what we're going to see November one this year and then fast forward another year or two so um really proud of the work of these three and the teams that they work with that's awesome thank you I do have one more question I just know in past Generations we said oh boys are better at math and girls are better at language arts what are you seeing in the data because in my mind it's not a gender thing it's a teacher having a great teacher and helping you along that path so what are you seeing in the data as far as that goes well in my home women are always correct and and and then when I come when I come to work I think it continues I share a wall with Dr Cox and on the other side is Mr burer and Dr Cox wins and so that's the way and Sophia as well so um no I I mean I I think that particularly on the math side this is new right and so I think we're too early to see if if things are really changing I think participation is what we see that we would like to encourage more participation um from a particular um subgroup and subpopulation to participate whether it be engineering stem Fields um you know on the literacy side or the literature side I think as well and and so I think participation we're still seeing um areas of Improv M that we need to identify ways to to to build participation you saw earlier tonight when John was talking about the stowed events and so I think that that's what we're seeing more often than anything is a lack of participation um from specific subgroups than we really are uh a lack of ability or that we're behind I would say I did see today even um in a in an English classroom where um they had been reading a novel in conjunction with the unit they were using uh with my perspectives and she had them doing a uh a silent discussion and so every table had a question and the kids were going around and they were writing what they thought and then they would go around and then they'd respond to what somebody else had written and then the groups would get together and talk and I went up and there was four young men sitting at this table and they started arguing over whether or not um the C which of these two characters had better qualities as a leader and it was really robust conversation and so I'm going to say you know if young men you know can't care about or respond to literature I would say well no these four had very strong opinions about these things and I I I think sometimes the instruction that we're seeing in our classroom is seeing those skill sets being encouraged and so you see more everybody's participating not one or the other we don't see one gender necessarily dominating the conversation that's my experience okay well that's that's really good to hear I really appreciate that so thank you thank you any other comments or questions all right thank you so much well done to everyone thank you guys thank you all right appreciate uh both of those presentations tonight and the work that went into preparing those uh we're going to adjourn our work study meeting this evening and move into our brief board business meeting uh we will first call that meeting to order and we will ask Miss Wilson to do roll call Mr Chad Thompson here Miss Lori wood here miss Ronda pagee here miss Shila ug jetti is not present Miss Jill humph here Mr Thompson you have a quorum thank you Miss Wilson moving on to agenda item five the consent agenda items for consideration discussion Direction and possible approval is there a motion I move that we approve the consent agenda as presented thank you Miss Humphries is there a second second second thank you thank you Miss Paige uh we will now vote on the consent consent agenda genda items all those in favor of uh approving uh consent the consent agenda items as presented say I I I any opposed and those pass four to zero thank you and now we'll move to number six on our agenda adjournment is there a motion to adjourn so moved thank you Miss Paige in a second second thank you Miss Wood this all those in favor of adjourning say I I any opposed all right this meeting is adjourned thank you very much

in the future um as we have to go ahead and increase um the cost for curriculum and there's a limited finite resources on that with our daa so I just share that as a cautionary tale sure and that's um that's some of the intentionality it's a great Segway from Dr M and that's the intentionality that you can see as we've put together this adoption schedule um you can see on the top line there that those are our heaviest core adoptions um so we've intentionally developed an eight year cycle that has some smaller ancillary pieces in between so that we're not hitting major adoptions financially every year nor for implementation on the teacher lens as well so um that's why we've set it up the way we have we will have a little bit of a bridge year with the K5 Ela um the K5 Ela adoption that we have now is going out of print if you will um and so some of those digital components will have to work through in this next year we've got a great relationship with the vendor so they're helping support that we'll still have the print materials but some of those digital pieces um are going away and that'll be a factor for us um as we move forward on the Prof any questions on that sorry I didn't mean to all right on the professional learning front I'm really excited to share with you that um we are offering an aspiring administrators Academy this year uh this is something we've been wanting to do the last couple years and glad to get it off the ground um so our theme is empowering tomorrow's leaders building Vision excellence and Community uh the goal is of course to empower aspiring administrators by enhancing their leadership capabilities so this was put out to the entire District um as an offering regardless of what position they might currently serve in um we have four Dynamic sessions set up each focusing on a key aspect of our school leadership um so there'll be some interactive activities some case studies some expert guidance um and our session dates you can see are up there September 24 December 3rd February 4th and April 15th so if anybody wants to come by they're after hours um and love to have you be a part of that our session topics session one is crafting and communicating a shared Vision so we're going to work with them on how they establish that shared vision and bring that into the process of a leader for them um the second one is on is an enhancing teaching and learning uh the third session is on efficient School management and operations and then the fourth session in April is on building strong Community Partnerships as of September 4th we have folks signed up for that anywhere from classroom teachers Department chairs school counselors instructional coaches so we have a nice a wide array of folks who are interested in developing their leadership skills further and of course our hope is that we develop them to serve in our district and help bring strong leadership to our district any questions I got the easy one then all right okay that brings us 9.2 discussion information on student enrollment numbers uh it's again agenda item that we'll bring each month uh I shared the report with you for the last month uh last week so I don't know if there's any specific questions concerns uh based on the reports or anything you want us to do differently so I just bring it for that conversation I don't have any questions was good to see positive movement okay 9.3 team governance handbook uh this is just the governor's team handbook it will be updated uh for approval for next uh month what'll be updated is in the back end you'll update I'll update to reflect the strategic planning uh the strategic planning document that you guys approved uh that will be approved and so uh that will be the update brought to you guys next month for approval okay 9.4 discussion information on the annual financial report let's try this Mr President members of the board colleagues um on June 27th we brought to the governing board the outlines of all the budget reports and the financial reporting our annual financial report as indicated in that meeting must be filed and adopted by the board no later than October 15th this discussion item is merely to remind you that the forms were released by the Arizona auditor general and I will be bringing the annual financial report package to to you at the October 9th meeting the agenda item does include the notification from the Arizona auditor general that lists the changes to the package in summary they've added columns they've added fields and are really just asking for additional clarification on some of the funding source in expenditure items all of this data will import directly from school Erp Pro which is our accounting system we review the AFR on a regular basis I will definitely make sure that I review these specific fields to make sure that our data did import correctly but really there is no change from the annual AFR that you're that you receive each year are there any questions or did you have any questions about what they changed okay I'll bring that to you next month okay 9.5 discussion information about the 20242 prop uh proposition 301 performance base pay plan think his microphone's on your microphone isn't on is it go there you go as I was saying um uh Arizona schools are required to go before their staffs each year uh with the 301 plan and our committee uh actually just met yesterday with anticipation of bringing um our proposed plan to you in October between now and then uh each school will be voting on the proposed plan and uh based on that vote um and those results of plan is very similar to last year there's one minor difference that I can talk about in just a second um but we anticipate that passing at each school and then bringing that for your approval in October the one minor change that was made from 2324 to 2425 was on the schoolwide student achievement which is um 12% of that uh of that component uh for performance pay and um at a smaller school where the the N or the number of students is a little bit smaller that might not factor into getting a school grade assigned from the state uh we're looking at the the assessment tests and um for all schools if they show Improvement in two of the three areas then that would qualify for that that 12% but for a smaller school again because you have a little bit more turnover and again the the N is a little bit smaller uh what our committee talked about was if there's Improvement in one of those three they would be eligible for those 12 points so that's uh that is our plan that we anticipate again our schools passing and we would bring that back to you in October okay thank you all right 9.6 discussion information on the 2024 202 superintendent performance goals I'll just bring that forward to you guys next month we'll go into the executive session for it just for your own awareness if you want me to do something different I'm planning on utilizing the same format that I did last year which was there was three goal areas the first one represented three of the strategic planning goals the second one focused just on assessment and the third one was more of a catch off for different things that were happening so I'll bring that to you and we'll go into exec session uh in October I just wanted to bring it to your attention if you want something different than that just let me know otherwise I'll follow the format from last year okay I think the only thing that um I think that the Strategic plan that I asked for Baseline data okay so that will be in there too yeah we shared the the well I can put the Baseline in depending on the question yeah that's fine I'll go and put it in yeah okay that brings us to Tim one any requests for future agenda items I don't think I have any future agenda items no okay all right just uh you know Dr Ryman I think it would be a good idea just to send a reminder to all staff you know during this election time to re you know make sure that all teachers remain neutral and not bring that type of stuff up in the classroom I mean if that makes sense you know making sure that there's no questions about um any of that I think that would be a great thing for you to send out to you know teachers and just you know remind them of the importance of that so that we don't have any you know yeah I hate for our our staff to get theirselves in some hot water yeah I mean we I think it's a great we want to encourage everybody to vote and vote their conscience of course but you can do that by you know without sharing your own thoughts and feelings about things that might get you in trouble in the classroom so just I think it'd be great to send out a a reminder of that any other thoughts on that okay okay I remember my par my students would always ask me and I said well it's a secret ballot for a reason that was always my answer and and I stayed safe okay any other items okay I'll take a motion for an adjournment I'll make a motion to adjourn at 7:23 I second all right I have a first and a second all in favor I I that's

e e are all here and we hope that tonight's will tonight's meeting will be memorable um if I can have a an adoption of the agenda um I'll make a motion to um adopt the agenda with the exception of of 7.10 in the consent agenda uh put into uh the action items after 8.4 I'll second all right we have a first and a second all in favor I I I okay motion carries motion carries 40 um we will will go ahead and have the Pledge of Allegiance and we would like to invite gaana up for she has a special presentation for us good evening please stand and join me for the pleas of Allegiance ready begin D aliance to the flag of the United States of America into the Republic for which it stands one nation under God indivisible liberty and justice for all please sit please please join me for the moment of silence Gian thank you very much [Applause] all right next on the agenda um 4.1 approval of minut minutes for the board regular board meeting August 14 2024 I'll take a motion I recommend that I let's see where it is recommend the governing board approve the August 14 2024 meeting minutes as presented I'll second okay I have a first and a second all in favor I all right and I'll abstain I wasn't here okay all right next um superintendent report thank you Mr President uh number of things going around all the schools we started up uh as we started up School uh almost actually through the first nine weeks uh down in CTA they have celebrated parent teacher conferences with over 80% of families participating they partner with rural metro uh MCSO SWAT Mesa PD Banner Health and pcso for appointment Walk to Remember assembling assembly honoring September 11th I think they'll talk a little bit about September 11th in a few minutes and cona service league has gener generously donated funds to teachers uh to use for positive student rewards and they had a new NES induction ceremony in Harmon they celebrated students uh who achieved perfect attendance for the first 20 days of school with an award celebration they also did recognition today on 911 um with the freedom walk and uh they continue to uh look to host the first trunk retreats in uh events at the end of the month in October at the high school uh football teams kicked off to a couple wins at the start the season so congratulate the players and coaches big thank you to Conor Morgan for representing CHS with distinction at the uh Queen Creek business education Summit uh and also our CT programs also deserve praise for highlighting the diverse opportunities available to students at a recent Colmes Education Foundation business uh breakfast and we uh at uh com at comes high school they had 100 students who ear in their academic letters for outstanding performance at Ranch they're working on uh the turnout for um parent conferences also uh they looked at the uh the use of kids to talk about the achievements um for the first 30 days of school in hopes of of focusing on goal setting towards the hashtag forward framework students were engaged with their families and meaningful conversations setting goals and reflecting on on progress um and so appreciate everybody that showed up to that Ellsworth uh also has a bunch of things going on they've introduced the new behavior intervention rewards system for those students that adhere to the rise code uh by earning positive points for positive behavior students are motivated to make good choices and collaborate with their peers uh to accumulate points for the classrooms it's part of the PBIS program in addition the PTO hosted successful paint aav event where families came together to D decorate uh pavers and enhance our school grounds uh those pavers will be put in place and will be sealed throughout uh the campus and it'll be a nice little uh Personal Touch CMS is uh celebrating the Partnerships with the community they had students uh at the um comes uh business breakfast so they were able to Showcase what was going on with CTE along with the high school kids uh they're also having great success both in volleyball and basketball um theyve secured some local sponsorship from Cahoots and Ace Hardware to help with the baseball team new hats and game balls and cross country is getting ready to uh take off with their first meet the simonon stallions uh are held their student council elections and officers for 2425 um their PTO organized their first big family event the family steam night the Arizona the science center brought fund steam activities to our camp campuses for the students and their families and the PTO sold some shirts um they're also bringing Kona Ice on on a regular basis um so a lot of things happening at our at our campuses uh also bring uh to your attention this Friday at enanta the foundation will be having their third annual golf tournament money that's raised through that tournament are used for student scholarships uh we've changed up the student of the month and we're handing out uh uh some medals that are fed funded by them we also have uh uh Min grants for teachers that occur in January and then we do staff Excellence at the end of the year so it's a a big event for the foundation and helps us out and then next week is homecoming uh at uh the high school uh so there'll be homecoming activities all week long that's what I have all right okay so next we have com's Traditional School or well I'll go legendary and then we'll go com's traditional no that's okay we um tonight what we do we recognize uh different groups throughout the school year uh at the end of September what we've traditionally done is an event or an activity that occurs in Arizona called legendary teacher day sometimes a little confusion about it what it really is and I'll explain it more detail but the essence of it is we just want to take a moment to say thank you thank you to those people that that make a difference in a child's life every single day there's not a person in this room that did not have somebody in their life not necessarily just K12 that was a teacher that made an extraordinary difference in their life you can probably think of that person as I speak so what happened in state of Arizona through NE and a gentleman named Nick Clement is there was a chance to say hey let's recognize teachers we'll call them legendary teachers because they're legendary in your life they's somebody that's special in your life and they' chosen the last Thursday in September to always recognize the uh these legendary teachers the idea would be that even you as individuals sitting in our audience would take a moment maybe on that last Thursday and if that individual that was special in your life as a teacher is still around that you might even write them a note or give them a call and say thank you thank you for what you did for me thank you for what you did for my life and so what we've decided to do as a district is get 20 representative teachers from around approximately 20 representative teachers from around the district and call them up as just a way to say thank you not only to them but to all the teachers in our um District uh Nick clament who is part of this as I said wrote a book called how to catch a swamp frog it's a little small book and what it is is just his stories of those special teachers in his life that made a difference when he was growing up in Wisconsin and so what we do as a as a gift is we give all of them his book and we have a little glass frog just so they remember that they are special so we'll call them up we'll ask them to stay up here we'll also read as I read their name I'll also read that teacher or that person in their life that made a difference and was special um just as a way to recognize again the the the special teachers in your life so we'll go ahead and call them up for the and not all of them may be here because teachers are very busy but we want to get as many as we can from Ellsworth in the preschool we have Susan FL and her legendary teacher was Mrs allenon allander her high school English teacher for kindergarten at CTA Lisa Allison her legendary teacher was Miss Hill a seventh grade history and geography teacher for first grade at Ellsworth we have Rachel schwier hers was Professor David Spencer from as you for second grade at Ranch Lindsay Hart her legendary teacher was Mrs tripy a third grade teacher uh for third grade from Simington Kristen salanoa her legendary teacher was the algebra teacher in high school Susan witell for fourth grade from uh elth Kelly Brimhall and a full circle moment her legendary teacher was Miss Laura Ridge who's now a principal at comes middle school for fifth grade at Harmon Diane tibbon she she had two legendary teachers Mr J Brewer Mr Brady Kelo who yearbook in English for sixth grade from CTA Sher Heath her legendary teacher was Mr Sperling the a teacher and FFA adviser for specials at Ranch Elementary Daniel vquez and his legendary teacher was Mr vatel a PE teacher for math we have at CCS Jamie nean her legendary teacher was Mrs Carlson also PE in health K through 12 for English at the middle school we have Nicole Buckman Miss shot's fifth grade teacher is her legendary teacher in social studies at the high school we have Robert Testa he had two uh legendary teachers daon Thompson and Jared tzen for science at the middle school Jamie Calhoun her legendary teacher was Miss sens a fourth grade teacher for the Fine Arts at the high school we have Keith Pennington his legendary teacher Dr Elizabeth sta violin teacher and assistant concert Master uh at the Lexington philonic Orchestra for PE at the high school we have Lorraine Zapata her le Legendary teacher was Harvey Wellington World languages from the high school we have dinora Nash her legendary teacher was Rosara Alba a math teacher for CTE from the Middle School we have Daryl Lee his legendary teacher was Mr Barnes a high school math teacher for special education from Simington we have Karina galum her legendary teacher was Miss zilberman a first and fourth grade teacher as a counselor from Simington namisha to Johnny her legendary teacher will was Barbara black a math specialist and mentor and for social worker from Harmon uh Tanya Thompson and her legendary teacher was Dr Sadler who inspired her to go to college and what you'll see as you listen to those those legendary teachers is they come from across the board they could be your kindergarten teacher they could be your college teacher they could be every anybody in between they're the people that made the special difference in your life these people standing up here make a special difference in kids lives every single day and they represent all of our teachers and we're so proud of them and thank them for everything they do so thank you so very much for being a legendary [Applause] teacher come on back up so we can take a picture oh they're going to get close I think [Applause] you and now I'll invite uh Miss schner up for cta's presentation good evening Mr President members of the board Dr Wyman um this amazing audience that turned out for CTA thank you we appreciate that give those teachers one more round of applause they do they work hard they work hard every [Applause] day so um Miss Gianna Gomez did our pledge in moment of silence um we're going to recognize our flag ceremony that we do every single day on our campus um we bring our entire school together and we meet in the gym and we start our day together the students help lead that ceremony they do all the announcements they announce the lunch menu we do take our moment of silence to think about our day yeah take a breath um so I'm going to have some students share with you why we do that um Flag Ceremony every day and then obviously for 911 they did also ask me if they could read a little something for um in honor of that so at this time I'm going to ask Samuel Ford to come up and he is going he is going to read you his letter so good evening I'd like to talk to you about what we do in Flag Ceremony every day so in the morning at about 8 o'clock we head over to the multi-purpose room that's your cafeteria your gymnasium your stage room to select five to four students of each class corresponding to a week as well as two two student council members to lead a flag ceremony each morning during the flag ceremony the two student council members help run it by informing the other kids up there what to do slash say to make it smoother also helps with the littles too also they make the announcements needed to be heard every Friday a or more students is shouted out and brought up on stage in the multi-purpose room by a teacher or in special cases another student receiving special Applause near the end of every flag ceremony student SL staff birthdays are announced for that day and brought upstage for a happy birthday be yell that if a student SLA is birthday is over the weekend it'll be announced on Friday with a Friday birthday if there is one in between our Pledge of Allegiance and our school's code we take a moment of silence to think and talk about to think to think about our day and honor us American citizens also I have a poem here I made about the 911 that I'd like to read to you if you don't mind September 11th 2001 a day that is remembered by the tragedies done planes were used one after the other to take the lives of our sisters and brothers these brutal attacks s to our nation Rob us of Joy break our dedication we cried and mourn and stood in disbelief as an abundance of love striked our grief our First Responders ever Angels In Motion risk their lives to save those in devotion set the example as all Mir their actions diligently saving as many through their through any distractions many responding first for lives other than their own running toward danger leaving none alone we come together this day to fellowship and memory the darkness that tried to dim the light of Liberty and of our nation that clung together in catastrophe saving Life After Life in the worst tragedy we America B and free remember we're still here in every heartbeat you wrote you wrote that he wrote that yourself I think we need a copy of that we probably should put that on our website sure absolutely um our friend Samuel here is our student Council um president as well um when he ran for office his whole campaign was a rhyme everything he wrote rhymed and he got up in front of the whole school to make sure that he got to do that so yeah he's he's an amazing writer so thank you Samuel we appreciate that thank you thank you I'll make sure and get that for you guys yes that would be great he and the next student are some of our just outstanding students they are all about the the respect that we have on the campus our Honor Code that we use throughout our campus um they're first to try to report something that's not going right and how can we solve that um we might have been playing football on the stage later today trying to figure out a football issue um but they're just examples of what our students do on our campus so at this time I'm going to invite Isaac Butler up and he is going to do his part of the flag ceremony and um I believe he also wrote something [Applause] hi I'm Isaac Butler a fifth grader at CTA I'm here to talk about the flag ceremony and why it's special we start the day off by saying the Pledge of Allegiance to honor our country and stand together as one under the great flag of our nation this is important to me because I love our country and we are so blessed to be here we also say the night's code which focuses on on rigor responsibility and respect those are the core values of our school one of the students then describes the character trait of the month and what it means to them like this month's is problem solving it's really great because we get all the students involved involved then we recognize birthdays to make students feel special and of course the ever important lunch options I really like our flag ceremony because it starts my day off right I'd also I would also like to take a moment to thank all the First Responders and those who sacrif sacrificed their life on 9/11 you are very brave thank you for your service nice yeah so they're they're used to getting up at flag ceremony and and they lead the ceremony we just got student counil elected so they'll start bringing their officers up to start helping us but they're the ones that we we've handed over the Baton to let them be the leaders to run our flag ceremony every day and they do they have to get the kids organized they got to make sure they're they're on point they know what they're saying that they're moving through the ceremony as quickly as we can so we can get moving forward with the day so um they are amazing great job boys um at this time I'd like to ask Miss Celica gabart to come on up she's not nervous or shy at all [Applause] Miss Celica has been with our district for [Music] years yeah at least eight she's losing count um she has taught first grade and she is currently teaching second grade again this year um like I Celica is the first to be prepared the first to plan together with other people to make sure her classroom is prepared and ready that her students have challenging rigorous things to do throughout the day um she is very much The Quiet One on the campus but she is mighty in the classroom she meets challenges quietly but she she doesn't shy away from them she is part of our leadership team she has an intern this year she is a mentor to new teachers she's it's a lot um and she just she's our student council sponsor one of our co-sponsors and you know she takes that all and she never complains she comes in every day she's excited to do what she does even if she's a mess underneath she comes in and she's ready to go and she's just one of our Exemplar on campus that um shines and takes the time to make sure that what she's doing is Meaningful and has a lot of thought behind why she's doing it um and this year we kind of pulled her away from her team member um she was a little nervous about because we made one of our teachers um our instructional coach yes on our campus and so she had to step up up now and we wanted her to know that she's a leader we want her to shine as a leader and so this really allows her some time to kind of be that person that can shine on the campus um where's your dad happy birthday sir thank you so much for letting her come today CU she was like I'm not coming it's my dad's birthday and we're like oh so happy birthday we hope you guys enjoy that but Celica I can't tell you how much we appreciate what you do on our campus so give melica a big old Round of Applause we know how much you you don't like attention and now she's going to take your thank you thank you ma'am uh Miss Bianca lagona is our food service manager and um she couldn't be here tonight due to a family issue but let me tell you she is prepared every day she makes sure her kids have breakfast lunch she trains our new staff she works really hard to make sure that the kids have everything that they need on the campus so we'll make sure and honor her at our flag ceremony tomorrow so thank you so much for allowing us to come and tell you a little bit about CTA and you know if you got kids and siblings and we'd love to have you at our school and you could become a knight and then you can be a middle school and yeah and then you can go to the high school so thank you very much thank you are we moving on good job sure hi I'm Mrs schner I'm the principal here at CTA um tonight we are also honoring a volunteer in our community um so if I could have Miss Carol Klein I think she brought somebody with her come on up come on Carol you guys can do it so um they live in incanta right next to our campus and um tonight we are honoring her as a volunteer to our community and in our school community Community um every year CTA has what we call kids cringle and this young lady puts it on every single year she starts planning well in advance I think we already have our dates ready um she ensures that every student in our entire campus gets two gifts for Christmas for any caring adult in their life she brings the whole crew from incanta this is only one of the crew they bring the whole crew they set our entire gym up the kids get cookies and milk they each get to go choose their gifts and then the community members are there to walk them through the process and then they get to go to The Elves and the elves do all the wrapping for them and get their gifts nice nice and wrapped and ready to go and then they give them a bag and they put their gifts inside of a bag so that the students have the opportunity to take those gifts and give them to somebody special um and they get it's up to them how they want to choose and who they would like to give a gift to um we don't tell them that it has to be one or the other we just tell them you get two gifts so it's kind of like a shopping spree for them but she makes sure that they um get all of that done they get all the gifts purchased um they bring all the supplies they make the kids just feel excited about the holidays or just being able to give somebody in their family a nice gift um they donate things to our school they are just a huge Community positive member and we appreciate everything that you and that crew do cuz you guys work hard so thank you so much for doing doing that for our [Applause] campus thank you very much now I invite Dr Milton up for student of the month [Applause] good evening good evening members of the governing board and Dr Wyman all of our students and families and colleagues it's my honor tonight to present our students of the month for September and our character trait for this month is collaboration and I'm excited to share these nominations with you and to have share how our students exhibit collaboration becoming great role models not just for their peers but really for all of us so students when I call your name if you would come and join me right here by my side I'll share your nomination with the audience and after that you'll proceed across the room and you will get a medal and uh Dr Wyman has already acknowledged the the foundation I want to do another shout out to to the comes Education Foundation for donating these medals for our student achievement all right so our first student I'm calling up is Isaac Jeff coat I want to tell you a little bit about Isaac nominated by Mr hogland who says I would like to nominate Isaac Jeff coat for a student of the month for the character trait of collaboration Isaac is constantly working to make those around him better and bring them along I get to see this in action in my government class in sports PE and out on the football field with anything we do he was looking to find ways to work with others and strengthen the whole group not just himself congratulations good job next from the comb Center for Success I'm calling up Lorenzo [Applause] Rodriguez Lorenzo assumed to be graduating senior at CCs is showcasing his dedic iation and leadership as he wraps up his final coursework in addition to serving as an office student assistant Lorenzo stands out for his willingness to collaborate and contribute in his coursework whether helping prepare for important events like civic's day and the 911 remembrance or supporting faculty with Dr goby or organizing data notebooks for advisory class Lorenzo is dependable and an Engaged student making an positive impact on those all around him [Applause] congratulations from comes Middle School Aaliyah Shanks come on up Aaliyah's entire Aaliyah's entire 8th grade team of teachers wrote uh dedication but I'm going to read from Mr Palm's um uh his nomination and he writes that over the past two years in my TV and film class and student council Aliyah has consistently demonstrated exceptional qualities that truly set her apart during a Challen challenging short film Project she exhibited outstanding leadership skills successfully bringing together a diverse group of students and fostering an environment of collaboration and creativity her natural ability to encourage and motivate her classmates was instrumental in the Project's success and she always lends a helping hand to those who are in need ensuring everyone feels included and valued congratulations we have a number of CTA people here today so I know they're going to give a big shout out to auy chip welcome so it's written that it gives me great pleasure to nominate auy chip for recognition of her collaboration skills collaborating is a difficult task because so many things contribute to being a successful collaborator Aubrey is a team player she listens to her group members and respects their input she is consistent in her efforts and commits herself to completing a task and encourages her fellow students they trust her to contribute in order to make the group succeed these attributes make Aubrey a true collaborator here and lucky to have an art at CTA again [Applause] congratulations next let's have Jade Mills come on up from [Applause] Ellsworth I'll just read a little bit about Jade Jade is a a standard to what an outstanding student who follows the rise code looks like for willingness to accept and offer help with any task at any time or any place it's been very helpful to our classroom and our school Jade has accepted to be our class representative for student council and stood in front of her class on one occasion to pass on information presented to her at her first student council meeting furthermore she plays a critical role in our classroom by caring for the organization of our computer cart as we transition to online assignments her willingness to dedicate herself to per her performance in her academics and her dedication to her school Makes Her Shine as an example for her peers as to what a leader in the making looks like so Jade I hope you can watch this on YouTube and we just want to recognize your great work so congratulations next from Harmon Len [Applause] Ramirez let me tell you a little bit about Logan um he has been in uh teachers kindergarten class and second grade class and demonstrates working in groups on a daily basis when he is at his table he helps those around him by helping spell a word helping students with special needs even helps to find something in someone else's desk when we are working in teams for math he listens to other people's ideas and shares his own ideas on solving problems in fact using building thinking classrooms method for math is his favorite time of the day he never gets angry at others for their ideas but is patient with working with others in a group Logan congratulations [Applause] all right from Ranch can we have Arya come on up Arya tanler welcome Arya embodies the qualities of a team player and a supportive peer she exemplifies the spirit of teamwork and cooperation in our first grade classroom her enthusiasm for Learning and natural ability to work with peers has been evident her contributions to classroom collaboration make her a deserving CA candidate for the portrait of a graduate her efforts have been significantly enriched in our classroom Community AR you congratulations [Applause] and our last student that we want to recognize tonight for a character trait of collaboration is rker Larson from [Applause] simonon welcome rer Riker's being nominated for a student of the month for September because rker does a wonderful job collaborating with students rker is always willing and happy to work with other students in class individually or in small groups he models strong collaboration skills by being open-minded a good listener including others that may feel left out and always having a positive attitude Riker respects and welcomes others for their differences and opinions and our ideas Riker is a pleasure to have having class simonon is lucky to have a leader like rker [Applause] congratulations as we as we close we'll give another round of a um Round of Applause to our students is there not a better time for collaboration in our world and as I said let's look to our youth for role models and and thank them and so again congratulations to all of our students of the month we'll take a short break right now uh chance for you to leave if you need to if you want to get pictures uh with teacher somebody you can also do that and then we'll resume the meeting in just a few minutes e e e he's gonna be famous one day he is he is yeah all right that's brings to 5.5 anything from the governing board I don't have anything okay any public comments 6.1 any public comments all right that brings us to our consent agenda and if you remember we have removed 7.10 right right okay perfect got it it all just moved up yeah okay okay perfect so any questions on the consent agenda I don't know did Bob call you or did he text you or email you and no he did I was gonna he did go ahead I was just wondering if the ratios were okay for the overnight that that was not what he had talk to me about okay they must have been fine then but we we had the the final financial report is in there correct he wanted to make sure he wanted to make sure that you we talked about what the carryover is is that that's that's actually a agenda item for when you do that isn't it for okay oh [Applause] okay with that if if there's no questions I I'll take a motion to take it as a whole or item by item but I I'll recommend um that the governing board approve the consent agenda as presented now right okay yep I'll second okay we have a first and a second all in favor I I I all in favor motion carries okay that means my agenda is going to be off that brings us to 8.1 okay you're gonna have to just remind me at the end do you want to take it now since it's no it's 8.5 it's at 8.5 all right all right if you hit refresh it probably update well I'm refreshing now so you okay that brings us to um it 8.1 but the legendary teachers yep discussion and consideration of legendary teacher day obviously we just uh recognize those teachers and so this is just a resolution to the board can put out that that we are as a district just Rec saying that we want to recognize those teachers at the end of uh September for legendary teacher and so I would just recommend approval as presented I motion to approve the resolution recognized January 26 2024 as legendary teacher day in the J com's Unified School District from what I saw that's totally needs to be approved I'll a second okay I have a first and a second all in favor I all right motion passes 40 all right 8.2 discussion and consideration of approval for the 2024 2025 joms strategic plan this is just being brought again from uh last month uh and uh it reflects the work of the leadership team and the uh board members uh during the board retreat and this will be the uh goals that we'll set for this year uh for the district and then obviously at the end of the year in the in the retreat in June we would discuss how well we're achieving those goals and so uh recommend approval as presented UN list there specific questions I can answer okay if you don't have any questions I'll take a motion I'll motion to approve the J Coles Unified School District strategic plan 2425 District goals as presented second all right I have a first and a second all in favor I I all right I motion passes 40 that brings 8.3 discussion and consideration of approval of the changes to policy recommendations from asba these policy this is the second reading these policies are uh changes based on legislative action uh this past session um so again I would recommend approval us present unless there's specific questions about us uh anyone please note that tomorrow both the leadership team as well as uh the board will get a memo for me with specific uh regulations and Exhibits that have changed they're kind of embedded in what you have as a handout here but policy requires me to send them to you I'll also be adding an additional uh change to one of our exhibits um and I'll send those out tomorrow but I would commend approval is presented okay any questions all right I'll take a motion a 10 was it okay I just wasn't sure I'll make a motion to approve the changes to the policy as recommended by the asba and policy advisory 792 D800 I'll second okay I have a first and a second all in favor I I motion passes for I'm excited I actually get to make motions now usually as president oh all right 8.4 discussion and consideration of approval of aao and Ironwood Holdings developer donation agreement uh this is agreement with the developer for the um buildings that they're going to be putting in uh right where the clubhouse be used to be on aao behind the um Ace Hardware um as I brought to you last uh uh last month the only difference in this I would recommend approval as presented I'll just remind you that because those are those rental homes uh and they are uh Studio one two and three bedrooms uh the discussion was who's going to be using those as such that we probably would not see um students and Studios or one-bedrooms so the agreement is for two and three-bedroom homes uh and it is at 375 which is in line with what other districts are doing around the state because these are not traditional single family dwellings um and so I would recommend approval is presented unless there's any questions all right I'll take a motion I'll motion to approve donations agreement with aao and Ironwood Holdings LLC as presented I'll second all right I have it a first and a second all in favor I I I motion passes 40 all right now are we at 8.5 yes okay and and so the situation with this and the reason why I was asked to pull is it was in the consent agenda and it reflected uh a cost for a van within special Eda between 30 and 50,000 we weren't sure what it was going to come in it came in today significantly higher and so we in in order to have full transparency wanted to bring it forward to you guys to know that that right now the the price is exceeding uh 50,000 which legally would have to bring it to you anyway um we have not made a decision whether we're going to move forward with this van uh because the cost was more than we thought uh it would be um and the budget it be it'll be taken out of the special education budget special education budget may not support that increase I think the number that came in was 78,000 so there's going to need to be some discussion about what we do with it uh if if it does not go below BL if does not go below 50,000 uh when we finally if we finally dece to decide to purchase it we'll have to bring it back to you in consent agenda for your uh approval because it's the 50,000 threshold um and so we just wanted to be fully transparent uh that the numbers were different than what was in uh the agenda item and that's why I asked that it be pulled out to this so that you you understood if you choose not to do anything that's okay um uh because if we go forward with it we're going to have it bring it back to you if you choose to move forward with it depending on final cost if it's below 50 if we go out and get other bids and we can find a different one for below 50 then we'll be able to proceed because you approve that if it's above 5050 we'll have to come back on a consent agenda in a future board uh agenda to uh item to let you know about that so that's why we pulled it so I don't think there's any reason for us to motion then right well unless we we get other because it came in so high we may go out and and scour some more and if you get one 50,000 or below and you approve it today then we could go ahead and purchase did we already approve it though no you have not done anything with it this is the ver Oh I thought we already approved the 50,000 no that's why we pulled it before you had a chance to approve it so if you approve it and it's below if we find one below 50 then we can proceed with it if if if there any that are above 50 we're going to have come have to come back to you guys okay I think did we approve some other Vans for certain this is this is yes you improve some other right this you improve some some BS related to evit and some other things this is dealing with special education and and an issue with the special education students that we're trying to resolve okay so we can do we can make the motion of 50,000 or less right okay how much more over 50 is it right now the that we got was 78 yeah so significantly more and that that's that's created a problem because we we're not sure that the special ed budget can handle that that significant increase oh okay okay do you want me to make that motion I'll take a motion I REM I recommend that the governing board approve the purchase of a special education van uh for $50,000 or less as presented so the whole and all the rest as presented okay I have a first second and a second all in favor I I I motion passes 40 all right that brings us to 9.1 discussion information of student achievement not the CIA good evening Mr President Dr weinman colleagues I don't see any guests um we are back today to present to you the beginning of the year student testing information so maybe I can make the clicker work maybe I cannot Y and turn it back on that would be helpful there here we go thanks Dr Fountain okay um so we will start with our comparative data so what we've done here is just look at the practice test for the end of the year aasa assessment um this year compared to last year and so um we are definitely um seeing some improvements in some areas um one of the things we did adjust slightly on this assessment there's a normative window that is given um um for us to kind of fall between we took the assessment towards the beginning of that window as opposed to waiting um near the end of that window this year we were wanting to get that data into teachers hands as soon as possible to make some of those instructional decisions um quicker to the start of the year we then also took this data and looked at the cohort so students that um took last year compared that to their scores this year um overall we have more grades improving than what you will will notice is that um that middle kind of four five area tends to be an area of focus for us so that is something that we are um paying attention to and looking a little bit deeper into when we look at the math data again you will see um there's some slight decreases in some areas but there's some very positive changes happening in our third and fourth grade so with the implementation of that new math curriculum what we might expect to see is some of those changes starting in our lower grades sooner than they would be reflected in the upper grades so as students are solidifying some of those skills um and moving forward we're hoping to see that Trend continue in the next assessment that we see more of those positive changes moving through our grade levels and then this is that cohort data as well comparing students from last year to this year again that kind of middle area that fourth fifth sixth grade area is definitely an area that we have our eye on and that we are looking deeper into figuring out what what might be occurring with some of the students in those grades our fast bridge data is information that tests uh students Readiness skills that are associated with reading and math that will make them um more prepared for those grade level assignments and assessments so this is the data for the beginning of the year um in the various areas so each grade level takes slightly different assessments based on their need and those skills within that grade level um so this is where we have started for this year um um and when we compare that to our data from last year um again you're going to see some more of those positive changes happening kind of in some of those lower grade areas but overall there's a lot more positive occurring on here which is telling us that our kids do have some of those foundational skills we just need to solidify and move those into those grade level standards um as we work with them and then this is that cohor data so again there's some very nice positives Happening Here showing that the kids are um pretty solid especally in our early grades with those foundational reading skills moving forward um and we're going to work to continue to kind of push that Trend all the way through eth grade and then the same here with math so again slightly different assessments based on the students grade level and the skills that they are assessing um and that's this year's beginning of the year data and then looking for our um comparative data from the year prior so again um there's some slight variations but we're definitely um looking to see those positive changes continue from the the bottom up and then this is the um math cohort data so again um kind of those similar trends that fourth fifth sixth grade seems to still be our area of focus um so we will be looking closer at that and making some adjustments there um for the first time we took an Arizona Science practice test at the beginning of the year um our high school was focused right now on the horizon ACT practice so they have yet to take that 11th grade assessment so that is why that um says zero at this time um but what we're hoping is giving students more practice on what that assessment is actually going to look like will help prepare them for taking it in the spring um because there's it is slightly different than than some of our other assessments and then we also introduced the ACT Horizon test at the beginning of this year so this is um to be somewhat predictive of a potential score on the ACT at the end of the year so last year our 11th grade average ACT score was a 17 so at the beginning of this year you can see for each of the grade levels who took the assessment what their average score might be if that was the ACT today so as you can see when we're moving kids forward we have some really strong skills down there in the nth grade we're hoping to build upon those so that by the time they are in 11th grade and actually take that act assessment um they're scoring along with their peers Across the Nation so so some of the things we're working on um with our asasa practice tests um one of the things we're looking to introduce is some more practice more um frequently through some quizzes that um our testing bank has available to us so we are looking at adding some of those to the uh standards maps for teachers to access and have a kind of a starting point when they're assessing student learning throughout their teaching um we're also spending some time on the 7th with some data analysis continuing to build on things that we did last year taking the information um from just analyzing it to the next step so now what do we do with that information once we have it um we're really working with our coaches to build up some of those discussions around PLC time and um our sites are regularly using that assessment data in those plcs they're working through um some planning from um titled the 15-day challenge um and building assessments kind of throughout that learning right from the beginning in in terms of our fast Bridge assessment um we're working on progress monitoring making sure that's occurring more frequently we provided a schedule in case that was needed for people and there is a training um coming on October 7th for those that are interested in that um and then there's been some restructuring of some of those tier two and tier three interventions at some of our campuses so they're working to um try some different things to make sure that we continue to move our students forward who are in those um in in need there and then along with the science practice tests some of those very similar things to the asasa practice tests as those are very similar um science hasn't typically been something we spent as much time I would say speaking about but um a lot of our upper grade teachers are departmentalized so we're really working with them to give them some time to really dive into their specific content and their specific assessments and with the horizen act CHS has done a nice job meeting to analyze some of that data not only to find out um what this how the students performed but what skills and strategies go along with that so that when they take that into the next test they have goals they know what they're working on all of their content areas um all of their teachers were a part of those discussions so if one of the things the students need to work on um is some of those um maybe test taking skills they can all practice those if some of those are comprehension skills they can all practice those so everyone is aware of where their kids are and what their needs are and so are the students so they've done a really great job using that information so far what questions might you have surrounding data can we go back to slide 13 13 yeah just give me a little more insight here I mean that's a looks pretty dismal I don't know yeah so this one is the um screener data so those foundational skills right and a lot of these assessments um have to do with fluency and so sometimes at the beginning of the year that can be a little bit more challenging for the students but it's definitely an area that we are looking at um especially within that new newer curriculum that we've been working through and the unit maps that we've now adjusted um to that um change so we're definitely hoping to see some improvement as we move forward we definitely want to see a lot more positive than we are right now how how low in the grades does Combs I don't know this question this answer um how far down do you departmentalize do we departmentalize as far as grade levels I think sixth yeah okay okay I know other districts they go as low as depend on the school on first grade I don't know if if that's a benefit or not I know I know sometimes it's easier for a teacher because they can plan for instead of the in all the grades they can just do one or two depend on how number classes they have but I don't know if I'm fully bought into departmentalizing yet either but I don't I don't know I don't know yet I'm seeing it both ways I don't know if there's that what what do we think is going on here I mean summers are getting shorter in the what we got nine weeks felt like they were they've been longer but it felt very fast this summer I don't know um yeah and I and I don't want to um you know speculate too much or chop too much of it up to oh we took it a little bit earlier than we have in the past um but that that did occur um one of the goals was to try to get the the information into teacher hands earlier um so the window typically at the beginning there's like a five to six week window um from the company and then the um sites could take it at any point in that window so if I taught for four weeks and then my students took it um that might look different than us um taking it within the first two weeks of school which is what we did this year so we wanted to know that starting point so we could Implement those interventions and we could start moving kids right away into what they needed I mean the good part is you could see early on what's going on it could be a tremendous jump Hing yeah we're working real hard to make that that positive trend all the way through eth to coming at two weeks you may be really getting an idea of where they are to show some great growth through the school year but yeah still a little it's definitely we would want them to hold on to some of that longer of course over the summer for that to stick a little bit more um but generally overall our data is is showing that Improvement in those lower grades in those areas so we're really continuing to focus on those efforts and then move those students through and kind of shore up some of those things um as we go again with our our PLC Focus this year really questions one and two about what are students learning and how are we going to know that they've learned it so that's really that Focus that we're continuing to to hit so from this are teachers getting the data where it shows their greatest needs so they can focus whether it's intervention or tutoring or anything like that okay um they're able to analyze all all of the data um by their um their their grade level of course um across the district by their school by their their classroom and then individual students and part of our data analysis that we kind of updated this year was to say okay now I've looked at the data and I've identified those areas now what what are we going to do with that information what steps are we going to take what very specific things do our kids need um and that's what the PL on October 7th will really focus on is getting them right down to those pinpointed things that they can do in their classroom right now to positively improve this thanks you're welcome okay I will get back to Dr [Music] fountain's and I'm on the curriculum slide not the the data slide but I will say that I'm gonna give one final thought um we do have some Trend data uh that you see in there and I'm hoping you know I'm going to knock on wood because I never rely on ad too much but I'm hoping that we will be able to share our a through F data publicly by the next board meeting um and I would say you see some we see some similar Trends in our a through F data our kids are really strong in their foundational skills the work we've been doing the last couple years to really up those expectations and rigor that's the key next step for us and you can see it in the early grades where we see a lot of those pluses because those foundational skills they're fine when when the toughness comes the rigor comes we we waffle a little bit and so we really have to ratchet up those expectations it's going to go hand inand nicely with um a curriculum update so just a reminder that um these are the goals for our curriculum to be rigorous aligned to standards um contain clear learning outcomes have relevant learning experiences focused assessments and transparent learning um right now we have an adopted adoption cycle um that we go through our our standard process for our evaluation of Effectiveness our public review you're all familiar with that um we Rec completed a K12 math adoption which is part of sav's Invision um that's a popular curriculum that's out there in some of our neighboring districts as well and part of what we're bringing to you tonight is that we will begin a 612 Ela adoption starting on October 29th um and in processes for developing those structures um we're also headed into um bringing to the board in the spring semester an update of our supplemental materials that we're utilizing really trying to narrow the scope of what teachers are utilizing the classroom not wanting to take away autonomy but wanting to make sure that we have programs in place that are research based um and that we're able to support them with Coach coaching supports um it support financial support if we need to buy them so we're trying to narrow kind of some of what we're using into a handful of high quality programming um in all of our classrooms this is the previous adoption schedule uh which I presented to you in May of 2023 uh you'll see on here that we did the math adoption there there um and then this past year we worked on the Fine Arts electives component um that we implemented this year I'm going to offer to you tonight an update of that with a little bit of extra information in there um we would be slated to if I go back one slide sorry we'd be slated to do Ela this year to implement next year as we've gone through that process and gathered some feedback we really feel like our K5 teachers have had a big ask of them the last couple of years um because if you go back and see the they brought in a science adoption in those classrooms uh they were asked to bring on a math adoption the year following that they got a little bit of a reprieve this year as the electives was the one bringing something on and we really feel like we need one more year for them to get solidly into the science and math before we bring in a K5 Ela so we're going to split that adoption up we'll go ahead and move forward with the 612 we're in need of that at our secondary level we haven't updated in a number of years at the secondary level and then we'll launch um next year into the K5 to implement in the 27th school year so it'll look just a little bit different um we're going to then try to keep with our eight-year adoption plan so what we'll do is we'll do the 612 um we'll go out for bid as an eight-year and then next year we'll do the the K5 as a seveny year so it'll line up again down the road we just really feel like our K5 teachers need a little bit more time with the new stuff that they've been given um you'll remember we also brought in some new supplemental programs uh we dropped stmath and brought in DreamBox um and we went from Lexi to DreamBox as well so that we would have the partner program for Math and Ela so they've done a lot of new stuff what does DreamBox do different than I mean I'm not an stmath fan but uh dream boox is I would say it's similar to a lot of other programs out there like ISL or any of those um computer-based adaptive assessments um gives kids a little bit more I think there's a little bit more entertainment value in there you know it's got a little bit more of that gamification for kids to help connect and engage them um if you remember we did that as part of our summer programming where we did the DreamBox Summer Challenge in math

alance to the flag of the United States of America and to the Republic for which it stands one nation under God with liberty liy and justice for all I move on to item 1D adoption of the agenda some moved second L we have a motion to Second caram Lopez I adary no i t hi Patty coute hi Robert Downey I so moved we may move on to item two superintendent report Dr lman thank you president Downey with recent concerns about school threats and safety we invite parents and families to join us for an open dialogue with District administration and the Maricopa Police Department this is an opportunity to collaborate on safe safety strategies share concerns and work together on proactive Solutions we're all in this together and your involvement is key so we invite parents to join us on Wednesday September 18th from 5:30 to 6:30 right here in the district uh right here in the musd boardroom um for a town hall discussion uh questions and input are welcome as we work together to keep our students and staff safe we're proud to report that musd business department has been awarded the government Finance Officers Association certificate of excellence in finance financial reporting for the fiscal year 2023 this recognition reflects the district's ongoing dedication to maintaining transparency and upholding the highest standards in financial reporting their work continues to ensure the responsible stewardship of our resources benefiting every student and every staff member across the district at Desert Wind Middle School the Brilliance of our students was on full display during during the fourth annual toy expo 140 students from the Blended learning program applied engineering the engineering design process to design and prototype their own toys complete with custom packaging the Expo is a testament to their creativity teamwork and problem solving skills qualities that will serve them well into the future as we Mark Suicide Prevention month we are reminded of the vital role each of us play in supporting suppor in the mental well-being of our students parents and Guardians often recognize the early signs that something may not be right and it's important to act on those instincts we invite every parent to join our virtual event what parents need to know about suicide prevention on September 25th at 6:30 p.m.

out with our budget hearing so I'd like to invite uh danah house to the podium please yes thank a copy okay good evening and welcome to the 2025 budget hearing um so tonight my goal is to provide an overall view of the budget process and the proposed budget for 2025 so some things that we're going to go over tonight are the proposed proc or the budget process the budget principles proposed budget for 2025 advertised vers approved and then what our next steps will be and so this is our timeline for the presentation tonight so this is the um budget process per state statue that we have to follow so last week we did a budget Workshop um tonight we're doing the public hearing and then in October we will do the board adoption and then in December the budget will be approved by the dgf and then next we have our um so the budget cycle so it's um reviewing over the expenditures and revenue for 18 months so we're looking at July of 2024 to December of 2025 so um we have reviewed expenditures and revenue from July 21 2024 to December of 2024 um and then we collected data based on our needs for 2025 and then we um projected what we think our revenue and expenditures will be for 2025 and then next I'm just talking more about those a little bit so expenditures we want to identify and protect our needs we want to the conservative approach is to plan High because December 202 is a long way away and then we know we'll have some unknown costs um at this time as well and then also unforseen issues so emergencies additional Staffing we may need or repairs equipment needs and then Al then moving on to revenue so also we want to have the conservative approach we want to plan low for Revenue again December 2025 is a long way away and then we want to look at our um ADM count which is our student count that helps determine um our education fund dollars as well of a portion of our operations as well and that count is twice a year so October one and then again in February and then we look at assess value which helps determine our tax supported funds which is operations and Debt Service fund and then we want to look at miscellaneous Revenue like local taxes or interest earnings a few examples so now we're going to go over the proposed budget for 2025 um so there are three funds that we appropriate so education fund operations fund and Debt Service okay and so the proposed budget for 2025 in the education fund we have 23, 800,000 um for the education fund and then in debt service we have around 5.2 million and then in operations um 10.6 million um overall the appropriated budget um comes to around 39.6 million and then the advertise rate is a 1.18 to2 and so these next few slides I'm going to go over just some of the expenses and revenue that we have in each fund so in the education fund it's all instructional expenses so we're talking and benefits for teachers counselors isps nurses and then also um professional development or supplies Support Services also this year um curriculum materials are all being moved over to the education fund and then for revenue and the education fund is our stage ST which is determined by our student count that I talked about a little bit ago and then also this year we will be putting our curriculum material reimbursement into the Ed fund and then interest earnings as well and then our operations fund is all non-instructional expenses so things like um custodians maintenance our sro's our central office staff um Professional Services all of our utility bills um liability insurance uh transportation technology um building projects on the up as well and then our Revenue um comes from local property taxes and then um other local taxes as well and then also we do a transfer from the education fund as well and the state recommends that we do no more than 15% and we plan to do 6% and then The Debt Service funds our expenditures on there are debt and then our Revenue comes from local property taxes and other local taxes too and then this is just a breakdown of The Debt Service fund budget um it shows our lease payments our debt payments and then we have no new debt um anticipated for 2025 for this for next year and then this next slide is just a schedule little chart of our debt service and Lease rental payments um so you can see in 2026 we do have a drop in our payment so that gives us potential for um some new new debt that we could take out okay and then this is the 2025 adverti budget form three so this is what is posted in Gateway and what's posted on our website and it just kind of breaks down all the things that we've won over and then now I have our 2025 advertised bus replacement plan so this just helps us plan and budget for replacement of buses um and then I think on this next page so we do have one bus that we're replacing 12 years um due to mechanical issues and then we have our 2025 advertise capital projects plan so this is just a list of all again helps us plan and budget all our mainly facility updates and across the district and now I'm going to talk about advertis verse approved so as you can see we do always advertise higher than what we expect it to be approved this is just the flexibility since some of the estimates we have right now are or some of the numbers we have are estimates right now um and this is a line chart the next one here just to show a little bit of our tax rate history um so you can see it's remained neutral pretty fairly neutral since 2022 and even before that for 2025 we are expecting it to drop just a cent or two just due to S value increases um so in summary um I talked about the budget process the 18mon projection so looking at July 24 to December of 25 um and that high water mark approach and the conservative approach and then our advertise vers versus approved and then our next steps so back to our timeline here so tonight we're having our public hearing and then in October we have the board adoption and then in December we will get approval from the dlgs do you have any questions for me thank you Dan anybody from the public have any questions for Dan okay see done we'll entertain a motion to adjourn the hearing for the budget make a motion we uh adjourn the budget hearing the motion is there a second please second with a motion of second is there any comments from the board seeing none all in favor signify by saying I the opposed thank you Dan thank you thank you Dan okay we call to order our regular me meeting and ask Janet McCurry toed yeah we do the let's do the pledge first you want you okay everybody join me in the pledge I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the Republic for it stands one nation under God indivisible with libery and justice for all okay Mr J would you mind stepping forward and giving us the assessment update please all righty good evening so I'm just going to go over IAD we've already covered our I learn our SAT this is some of our um test assessment analysis from the state so this is kind of a brief overview of what we have going on first of all this is um just us compared to a few of our neighboring counties the um State average was 82.5% passing we were slightly above the state average at 83.8 um it's always good to be above the state average but that's not exactly where we want to be um I'll back up just a little bit I read the test that we give for all third graders um this is just the third grade average we do also assess our second graders on I 2 which is the same assessment um the state has Chang some of their guidelines in the testing I read so we are going to discuss some of those those pieces that are in place um while we're above the state average you can see in kind of comparison there are a few areas that are higher than us um and we want all of our kids at the end of the day to be reading and proficient readers by the end of third grade um but I want to take a moment to just kind of celebrate a few of the accomplishments we've had over the past year so the state of Indiana their average growth rate was 6% um Madison Consolidated Schools had a growth rate of 6.8% so I think that's it that's huge for our staff our teachers they worked really hard and huge for our students um we were able to administer the i in the spring we test them in March the first time around buiness so we test them the first time around in March and then um those students who do not pass have the opportunity to assess again in the spring so that gives us six weeks of time to work with those students um provide interventions and then we also have the opportunity to use summer school to um try to get the kids where they need to be to retest then they have the opportunity to test in um the summer so we grew by 59 places in the stain raking on I um that puts us in the top 45% of districts in Indiana so next steps I think this is important for us while you know we're right there with the state average that's not good enough um our steps to move forward for this school year we have and I've given you guys a copy of the letter that will be going home to all K through three families um because this starts at kindergarten that's where our work begins um so we will have this letter going home explaining to the parents the new state guidelines this is um new law that they're passing they're tightening up on retention of third graders who do not pass and we don't want to have to get caught in that and have students caught in that they are also requiring if a student doesn't pass um but it's decided that they can be promoted they would have to take that test up until sixth grade if they don't pass so um and there's some some reasons you wouldn't retain a child if they've already repeated third grade or they repeated a kindergarten first or second grade year then you know you can only hold them in third grade so long so that's where we would have to get into testing the kids repeatedly so some of the steps that we're doing we're sharing this information with our families through the letter um we are following that up with a parent meeting um to explain in person what's going on and then we our teachers will also be talking uh to families in third grade oneon-one um so that parents are fully aware of what's going to H what consequences are if they don't pass but we're going to get them there so I'm not worried about that um something else that we're doing we are part of the literacy Cadre um so the science of reading we're using that fully our K through3 three teachers are implementing hegr uh for phic awareness and youly for phonics um ensuring all five pill of the science of reading are fully addressed as I mentioned earlier all four elementaries are having parent meetings to inform the parents um with a question and answer time and then uh students who do not pass I 2 in second grade will receive direct and specific instruction based on their skill needs to prepare for I 3 um with regular progress monitoring sent home to parents uh and then they have the chance chance to retest in spring in third grade and the summer of third grade so they'll have three opportunities before being retained in third grade and our goal um for 2025 is to grow at least at least another 7% and to be in the 90 to 95th percentile any questions well Janna thank you for your hard work and dedication on such an important topic U probably there's nothing more important than the reading programs and uh we appreciate all your effort and uh bringing this to life to us thank you thank you te are doing the boost on the ground okay we'll move on to our Cass agenda boy that's loud is it Move On Target s agenda 24114 approval of the agenda of the September 11th 202 4 budget hearing and regular meeting 24 105 approval of am minutes of the August 15th 2024 work session and the August 21st 2024 regular board meeting and public hearing 24106 approval and payment of claims 2417 approval of financial report 24108 approval of construction payments uh the one is to Teton corporation pay app number five Cub Industries for 169,900 cents 2419 approval of personnel report 24191 addenda of personnel report 24110 approval of donations and grants to the Madison Consolidated High School uh the first one is from Royer Corporation donated $10,000 to the theater Department to be used for the Harry Potter flight system rental the second was from man Schwarz donated a trombone boach Aristocrat tb600 valued at approxim $400 to the ban number three is Fidelity charitable and the shy found