The previous bond summary, we went back over the identified needs. And real quick, as we went through the identified needs, uh bus replacements are sitting at 17 million. Now, these are conservative numbers in Pat's opinion, so this is just my opinion. Uh the new K elementary school 35 million, high school land 10, facility repairs 48 million. And as the current facilities and enrichment program manager for the district, I see these firsthand. I met last week with a lot of the city directors and stuff to speak to Countryside because it was one of the issues that came up on that. So, that's just one example, but we're looking at serious concerns about having to possibly shut some of that stuff down, their programs or our programs for the summer because the bond didn't pass and we don't have the funds appropriate to address it. That said, our maintenance department, my opinion, is doing a phenomenal job at addressing keeping these operational as we speak.
[Applause] The following student athletes from Asiggo High School were named Illinois Wrestling Coaches All State, Illinois Officials Associ Association All State, and National Wrestling Coaches Academic All All Americans Aaliyah Ralden, Ra Loveson, Riley Wilson, Michelle Busussy, um Kaia Chavez, and Kaia Chavez was also chosen for the Character and Leadership All-American Award by the National Wrestling Coaches Association. Congratulations to them all. Our district will be well represented by the Trover Symphonic Band and OS and OEHS Wind Symphonies at the University of Illinois's Super State Band Festival in May. Congratulations to these students for being selected to perform at this prestigious event. Congratulations to the OS Winter Guard who recently concluded an exciting season. Uh they took second in a in their division and third all overall at the Midwest Color Guard Championships. Additionally, uh Noelli Balinas was awarded the Commander Medallion and Liza Taylor Barry earned the McCormick MWCGC scholarship.
I think that's why it's going through the legislative process. Um, this next one is uh the ICE one, undocumented students. This is what they called a a policy to consider. And um more recently actually the state required school systems to put in our emergency response plans. um uh our protocols for managing u the removal of undocumented students or whatever. You guys have seen the stuff I put out around the protocols for that. Um but you know it's I would recommend we don't move this forward as a policy. Again, when I talk about the legal guidance, Shipman and um Bertram both started to become more uh vocal about policy manuals and saying that, you know, you could write a policy for everything under the sun, but more often than not, those policies that aren't necessary become the focus of litigation. Um sort of to create problem benefit.
Continuing safety and security was 17 million for a total cost of 127 million. That's what the last bond went out for. Uh currently this committee um was adamant across the board 100% lock step that we should continue with that because those needs have not disappeared. Uh just because we want to go out for less of a bond doesn't mean those other needs are going to disappear. So that was the recommendation moving forward. Now, that said, there'll be a formal recommendation to you on the 28th of April, but at the moment, that was something that went out. Um, of those, one of the number one concerns from the public, if you will, was safety and security, as it should be. Um, from there, we moved into um we moved into the override um information on that, the impact and achievement it would have. The override currently is going into year five.
Our boys and girls lacrosse teams started this year strong with their wins um with their season openers. Boys lacrosse posted a definitive 14-2 victory while girls recos celebrated their first win in program history. Congratulations. [Applause] We are looking we may have to the special board meeting for all our celebrations. So let's keep going students and staff and thank you for your leadership and thank you board. Okay. Now, we'll have [Music] our Well, let's we'll have our student board member report. Hello guys. We want to share what we discussed with SSA. Can you all hear me? Yeah. Okay. What we discussed with SSAC today? We discussed important points from our speak and spark event where students shared their voice, their views on various topics and the need for good relationships with teachers. These are the things we want to focus on for our next school year.
Um so with policy that isn't required by statute. Um they recommend reducing those policies. Now that's a collective decision that you guys can certainly make, but um I would recommend you check out the Weathersfield policy manual compared to ours. They fully adopted the the policy manual. It's like insane how different it is. Um how stripped down it is and you know worry about having to update policies from 1984 because they really don't have as many policies. Now I'm not that's that's a project that the board I'm not saying we go there but I'm starting to think a little bit more about um protecting the district by not adopting policies that um are stat anything statutoily required. Yes. But things that aren't statutoily required, I think we should start to look through that lens about like is this something that we are that compelled to adopt and that would be something like I could have Floyd talk to you if you want.
Uh, Miss Maridell, please, if I say anything out of line, please correct me, but I'm pretty sure I'm right. We're going into year five, which means in the fifth year, we'll be fully staffed and funded at the 15% rate. Um, we did do some some discussion about possibly going at a 13% rate or a 10% rate and some different options about how we make this happen. I do believe that the the 2025 the M adopted it was about 25.5 million is what we were being told. It allows us to retain approximately 135 teachers to help maintain current class sizes. It keeps teacher salaries competitive, keeps extra instructional and reading support in place, as well as maintains arts, PE, athletic programs, and allows DART to continue to offer all day kindergarten. um last time that the override um phased out, for lack of a better term, it may not be the correct terminology, but phased out because in year six and year 7, it goes down 33% 33% and then it finally fades out completely.
Additionally, we talked about how mental health starts at home, but teachers can help as trusted adults that students can talk to. A trusted adult is someone who listens, cares, and gives support. This is important for a supportive school environment. We also discussed leveraging programs like talk to help students feel more comfortable talking about their mental health. This aim is to create safe spaces where students can talk about their feelings without worrying about being judged. Additionally, we reflected on the candidate forum and how important it is to for students to be heard in these discussions. Students asked thoughtful questions about how we can better build strong relationships at school. We appreciate the candidates attending and responding to our questions. Thank you also to the student leaders who came to out to support. So looking ahead, we are committed to focusing on one main goal, increasing mental health support and awareness.
I know he's feeling now is very strong but you know so this is this is here this is what we're in essence what we're doing through our um response plan I can get you that for the next meeting if you want like what we've added in the emergency plan so the the document that we spent like 45 minutes on a couple meetings ago editing and all that stuff what was It was this. Yeah. And we we did pair it down like and again see so we could adopt this but we don't have to is my point and just and we I can share with you in the next meeting if you want to see the um the adjustment to the uh emergency response plan session. So we don't public. So lawyers say we don't need this. Correct. Okay. Yeah. So then what dictates what prevails?
Um so right now that's what we're facing. So coming up fiscal year 2526 fully funded, but as you know, if we do nothing right now and we do not go out for an override, those if the following year it will go down by 33%. you're looking at, you know, hard decisions as a board and as a cabinet. What do we do? Um, historically, we've had those in the past and then the following year all of a sudden it kind of jumped up. Um, a little history with our peer groups. So, this is looking at 10 very competitive, very comparative competitive districts that are very similar to us as far as where do they stand right now and what's the percentages of bonds they run. So, Chandler Unified, Deer Valley, obviously Daart, Gilbert, Glendale, Mesa, Paradise Valley, Poria, Phoenix, and Scottdale. All but two of those are currently running at 15% overrides.
We believe that if teachers and students have a better understanding of the challenges and obstacles we face, the relationships will improve. We also understand that wellness for staff and students is an important part of our strategic plan. So we believe that this natural alignment for us will lift to create an impactful and widespread student teacher relationships. Thank you. Thank you. Great summary. Yeah. And now we'll have our board committee reports. We'll start with the equity and learning and innovation. Uh so a great deal of what we um went over on April 2nd had to do with um achievement data and um and kind of that switch over if you will. Uh was one from SAT to ACT. There's quite a discussion about trying to figure out if there was a way to kind of identify growth as you move from one to the other which is is kind of a challenge but I think it's a learning opportunity again for us to kind of engage with the community when it talks about some of these scores.
The emergency plan. The we do have to have an emergency plan and it is in the emergency plan. I can share that information. What's in there? basically how do you it's more um I would say because I know I got questions on on like what we were doing here. Yeah. Didn't didn't we have like the conversation I want to recall that it like there were elements of the initial draft that felt um we didn't like Yeah. Yeah. And it was politically Yeah. charged. And the emergency response plan is more or less just the action steps that you take. Yeah. So if they show up, yes, this is what happen. This is what you do. You look for a judicial warrant. Pretty much I've been saying, well, the principal may call you or or knows to look at the warrant to let them in to not interfere because then they could be arrested on a federal crime, right?
Um, Glendale is running at 10 and Poria is running at 13%. So, those are the the history numbers of what we're looking at. We did look at how much budgeting wise it would matter to us. How would it affect us? The 15% would still run at the 26.4 million. 13 would be at 22.9. 10% would run at 77.6 million, but again, that would equal more cuts. At the end of the review, if you will, the committee, small but mighty, put our heads together and we had very spirited discussion on what what's the need, um what should we do? And I can tell you right now, the formal recommendation will come in a couple of weeks, but right now the the consensus from the committee is very strongly DARE needs both. Um it's it's no secret. I mean, school districts don't love the idea that have we have to operate, but it's business.
We also talked about I AR and listen none of us are immune to some of the talking points when it comes to test scores that are out there. And one of the things that I know stuck out to me in our conversation was, you know, um I has not been around forever. And here we are switching SAT to ACT. And the one thing that people need to to recognize and realize is that if you're comparing test scores now as far as standardized test scores to test scores a decade ago, um you're you're looking at a different test, right? Um and that doesn't mean there is not room for improvements that need to be made. We all recognize that. We all know that, right? Um but I I think it was a point that we need to um to make sure that we're reiterating again um that when we change these tests which we are changing again right they are not the same tests that the the students have taken in the past.
You know, or whatever. And that's sort of the gist of it. Y, you know, and obviously our parents have seen that too, by the way. And that's kind of what you set down, right? And that's more like I said the response part of it. Um, so do we have to vote on this or we just No, we just don't have to move it forward. Okay. No, but we need to vote to one one forward, right? We're moving to the board for a second. forward or do we do it after and then this one um this is policy for discussion and further reading. So I would just you know encourage you to to review this policy uh that's linked this is our old title N. So, it turns out, as Mark said to me, the final rule was not the final rule. Um, and I'm sure that given the way of the world, you know, there'll probably be a change in this through someday.
It's the way we do business, meaning we meaning the district. It's how we operate bonds and overrides, unfortunately. But it is what it is. Um, that said, I'll bring my formal recommendations in a couple of weeks, but as of now, I stand for questions. Hi, thank you. I have a couple questions for you. First is, how many times has the Daart Unified School District gone out with both a bond and an override? Uh, Madame President, members of the board, I would have to defer to Miss Spino for that. I don't know the number of times. Yes. I I would have to also look at the history because I know I did have a slide of that. I know the most recent one was in 2020. We went out for a bond and an override. And how did we do on the bond? The bond lost by 365 votes.
So uh I was also very uh pleased with how we're working in our um our priorities um that we've identified when it comes to looking at student data uh as well. So that was that was good to see. Um and um also providing if you will as we make these changes providing um uh assessment training for our our teachers as well was was another thing that stuck out to me. Um we had a big discussion on artificial intelligence as well. Um which I I thought was a a fascinating conversation. Right. Um, uh, Eugene certainly took more from, I would say, I don't want to say like maybe from the tech and the parent lens, and I certainly definitely took more of of the educator lens when it came to um, dealing with some of these things. And yes, of course, inevitably, you talk about cell phones, right?
But, um, this is the we reverted back to what our policy was prior to adopting the final rule policy. Um, and this is the 2020 version. This is what we were advised to do by our attorneys to revert back to this policy. This is again another one of those things where we have to follow the law regardless of what our policy manual says, but this is what we would be adopting. So, do we have to we don't have to go through the Yeah. So, we I mean, if there's anything we need to change, but I wouldn't recommend it. Um, so it's just That's it. It's That's it. Okay. And so this uh so reverting back back to 2020, does it get does that get rid of all of that newer language that was problematic as far as um sexual harassment uh like tribunals for lack of a better word that were being set up that violated furpa and all that stuff.
The override um loss was a little bit higher. Um and then the following year the district went back out um just for an override alone. And that's when it passed um in year five. The reason I'm asking is I understand the importance of the override, adding for the operation maintenance, increasing teachers pay, trying to maintain small classrooms. Our community is growing and if we don't have schools and we don't have buses and we don't have HVAC, I'm more concerned. Doesn't matter how much that override, our classrooms are still going to ex expand in size because we don't have rooms and we don't have any buildings to add more kids into and reduce class sizes. So, I was just wondering how that was going to play out if we go out with both and we lose the bond. I mean, we've already lost it once and the bond is really important.
And and and and all these electronic devices. And I'm a true Libra. Sorry, but I believe in balance, right? And and one of the conversations we had is um you know we tal we had student ambassadors talk about mental health and and and listen there's a lot of people out there making these connections between mental health and always being plugged in never having a chance to be down right and the adults are just as much like us if we look around I'm sure there's adults that are probably on their electronic devices right now right um those things happen right we're we're plugged in as well constantly um but I think that one of the things that we need to understand is how do we balance, right? And so, how do we get those moments where we do need to walk away and and unplug? But I agree with you, Mr.