So, I'm very excited and um looking forward I I've said that a few times today, but looking forward to see how that all unfolds. Thank you. I'll just go down the line. Miss Pucket, do you have any comments or you'd like to share? You know, I think I will. I don't know why I'm sharing this, but I'm going to go ahead and share it. Um I pay attention when people speak. I pay attention when things keep coming up. And it actually doesn't have anything to do with what we had talked about tonight, but um there's a lot going on around us. And one of the things that I have been trying to be active in is being present in the journey. Um I have a simple thing that I do driving into work. I have my coffee. I don't listen to music. I don't take any calls.
The part that's missing in there is is students, right? We ask that question about everybody else but not students. That's why we're here. That's why we're sitting in this job every day for our kids in our schools. That that's the number one thing. And what I can proudly say is when I walk through these schools, students know I am. I'm involved in what's taking place with them. Whether it be at the championship Super Bowl game, whether it be scoop and ice cream here, whether we at the play on the weekends, whether walking through the Carters, the the kids saying, "Are you heading to the family field right now, Mr. Gan?" They know who I am. And those relationships with students are so important. and and those are the things that I cultivate as well too. I think it's extremely important that we don't forget about our students because they're our number one reason why we do this job each and every day as well.
Um I will say that while this budget I certainly um am grateful for the um established relationships that Mr. Kylie has uh with uh the town um and the man in the going back and forth to come to an agreement on this and through the finance committee. Um but the really at the end of the day to um certainly some people in the audience's point that we we still this really doesn't fix the larger problem, right? This doesn't fix the larger problem. Um, we certainly we certainly need a general operating override in in this town. Um, I don't care who you who you speak to. Uh, when you look at the initial uh presentation, budget presentation from Mr. Kylie se uh several months ago, I think at this point now that we're pretty much at the bottom of all categories. Um, and I know that we can do better in this town, can do better in the town.
This is annotated a little odd. The numbers in parentheses are increases, not decreases. Normally you see negative numbers in parenthesis, but it's the opposite on here. Yes. So I see two of them that dropped and the rest of them went up fractions of a cent or whatever it works out to. Motion to approve the bid from Highland Dairy Foods Company LLC for the 2025 2026 school year as presented. Second motion second cherry apple juice that sounds delicious cherry apple juice in the fridge. Uh Craig, you want to talk about the Yes. Homeland Security? Yes. This is coming from emergency management. It's just something that we have to uh to adopt every uh to adopt for Kansas homeland security region 6 hazard mitigation plan. Plan's been approved by the county and we just follow along with the county's uh plan. And so I do have we have a number of things for you guys to sign.
So, you think May 12th is too late to give you? No, I think May 12th works fine. So, we'll consensus for the each option. Is it is everybody on board with what Kayla mentioned? Is a consensus 1.5 attached and 1.2 detached to make make a decision by May? I think with 1.2 2 detached. We still have to come up with 300,000. That's why we're even looking at the 1.2 design if we're going to have to spend 1.5 no matter what. Well, but that's on their side to come up. That's not that's not what we would have to come up with. They're going to have to show that on their side. That's the fear of being audited comes in with right with what Alison said. it comes in earlier or it comes in grant in August. Yeah. So if they get the grant then it's covered and we don't have to go over anything else.
I literally pay attention to my body, how my body feels. Um pay attention to my thoughts. I honor my body and the space and my mind. Why am I sharing this is that I ask that you guys also um be present in this journey right now. Things are changing. There's a lot of voices. There's a lot out here right now. And so it allows a space for me to be present in the duality of emotions. And so why am I sharing that with you? I don't know. But that that is something that has been extremely helpful. It's almost like my body tells me thank you on seeing me and hearing me. And so I just ask that you guys in all the chaos that's going on, I see you as educators. I see you as um just humans living this thing called life right now to be present in this journey.
Thank you. Uh this is Megan's question that I'll ask. What are your greatest strengths and weaknesses as a leader? Humble question. Greatest strengths and greatest weaknesses depending of course who you get asked what you're asking me. My greatest strengths and weaknesses um compassion and hard work. Um, I think those are my greatest strengths. Um, I I love the work I'm doing as you can tell whether it be, you know, working with students, whether working with a private Catholic school, working as a superintendent, I I I love this work. Compassionate hard work. Those are the two things I also look for when I'm hiring an employee. You got to have compassion, hard work. Anything else I can teach you? I can teach you. We can get professional learning for you. We can work with you. We can get you mentors. We can model. You either have that compassion or I have that work ethic or you don't.
Really, at some point, we need to put it out to this community and let them decide on is, you know, the school department a priority for everyone in this town. Um, I would like to see, you know, with the with at some point an override all the positions out of or all the school choice positions, the seven out of there into the general operating budget. I think we need we are going to continue to have a problem or will the problem will get worse with teacher retention in recruitment. I have no doubt about that as our workforce continues to approach retirement age. Um so there's certainly not a lot to think about there. But I I just hope that the the community hears us and hears me and um you know I hope they rally together to uh um you know ask those tough questions uh at at select board meetings and finance committee meetings and make a decision on whether or not um I you know we need an override.
So afterwards we can make sure you get uh uh things signed here. So it's just sorry I'm just a it's just a follow through with what the county is providing and there's no major changes from what we've done in the past on this. There's not a lot of information here. So no. Okay. [Music] We work with the county and emergency management and wolf creek in terms of that preparation piece and go through training and um yes motion to adopt the Kansas homeland security region J hazard mitigation resolution second motion second discussion All those people this job is what all those people know how to believe this [Music] job Coca-Cola beverage agreement. Okay. We um we can we we basically are a Coca-Cola's district. However, we haven't done a contract with them in a number of years. I don't know what the transition happened. Maybe when Dave Watkins left and came on board with a new, you know, leadership at the high school and and so long story short, um we uh felt like we needed to get something in place for with them.
So 1.5 attached and 1.2 standalone. I think that's what they're talking about still. That's what their consensus is. So it's like one point I mean why why so then I guess I mean that just comes down to point blank if if we have to if they don't get the grant are we prepared to put in the extra right I understand that. But yeah, I mean I almost consensus. So the the thing is is the 1.5 1.2 why even why even it's just the different come up with that schematic. It's just the different looks of them seeing how it would look with the community room. You're going to lose the community room in a Well, they he could tell you that what you're going to lose right now. I mean, is it going to look exactly like the ones that they gave us here? Option A, I'm not looking at it, but there's there's three classrooms and admin space.
So that's my share. I um I want to express first of all gratitude to the individuals that are sitting around the deis. Um we had an opportunity to attend NSBA um and appreciated the opportunity um to grow with and learn from each of you. Um I want to also thank you Dr. Smith um for your continued advocacy at the state level um as well as the members of the cabinet. There are so many things and all of you there are so many things that are happening in education right now um and it pains me. It makes me very very sad to see um what is happening. But what I know is that this district continues to put kids first and kids and families will always be at the forefront of what this district does. Um, and while I may ask questions and I may um, come across as, you know, too inquisitive at at times, I am so incredibly proud to serve alongside of each of you and to know that while it may not always come across that we are working um, together on behalf of our kids, we are um, we just all have different ways to go about doing it.
And I don't think anyone can ever question my compassion and my hard work for this job. So I think those are my my strengths. My weaknesses again depending on who get asked but I I I my number one weakness is probably sometimes I'm just moving too fast. There are a lot of things we got to get done and sometimes they want instant gratification, instant answers from us whether it be a parent, a student, a teacher, right? um principles select board. I'm on the phone daily with Kristen Rubin from from Berlin or April in the in the like they want answers, right? We need to move right and sometimes they just move a little bit too fast, right? And my job is to slow down a little but people want answers and and there's the superintendent, but there's no assistant superintendent. There's no human resource. It's it's me, right?
I know we do. Um so uh final question uh I had a conversation uh with Mr. Kylie briefly uh regarding you know in the past we've had conversations at joint meetings regarding uh we have this account or that account last year the elephant in the room was a school choice account even though we spoke about it at great lengths at multiple meetings school choice was the elephant in the room and we're hiding all kinds of school choice money I think one person said um so we know that's not the case we've been as transparent as I think we're we're ever going to be about school choice. The conversation I had with Mr. Kylie was around uh the uh the kindergarten stabilization fund uh that there is approximately I believe $250,000 300 $300,000 in the kindergarten stabilization fund. That also came up last year, not this year.
So, we were a identified, if you will, a Coca-Cola school district. They provide things for us being in Copa Cole School District like the coolers uh the different uh food beverage carts uh and so on so forth. And then they also are going to provide uh sponsorship fund $1,000 annually a year annually each year for a 5year time. Basically this is a 5year type of an agreement with them. They stock our buildings with Coke products so our administrators aren't having to go run the Sam's Club and get all beverages for concession stands and events and so on so forth. they come, they drop off, and we have much much less uh uh in the way of work to do. So, this uh like I said, this is kind of something that uh just we haven't we haven't done in a while. And uh just kind of wanted to make it official and with their sponsorship that sponsorship fund of $1,000 each year uh for 5 years.
Option B has the uh multi-purpose room and the covered patio. Would option A be the 1.2? I mean, that's option A be the 1.2. We've we've got that really moving some stuff around. When you ask why the 1.2, the 1.2 2 million schematic. The idea behind that is that USD12 is not going to put any money towards it and you're okay with it being detached and ABCC is the one responsible for figuring out the grant stipulations on the 1.5. And basically, you're saying like, hey, it's it's your deal. This is where you can put it. the 1.5 would be we're either gambling on them getting the Patterson grant and putting funds towards it to make up that difference to the 1.5. And if they don't, are you guys going to make up the difference? Not so much from the grant stipulation standpoint, but just the cost of construction because it is more expensive to do an additional on the building and add the multi-purpose and the tennis court restrooms.
and um know that I believe that the best is yet to come despite all the odds that are against public education. We have a strong LEA that's there advocating at the state house. We have wonderful educators who commit um to serving our kids and we have wonderful families and most importantly wonderful students who come to us each and every day who demand our best and I have no doubt that this township will continue to serve them to the best possible. So, thank you for this opportunity to serve with you all. Thank you, Miss Dunn. Um, to go along with that, thank you, board, Dr. Smith and the team. Um, we've been able to meet or at least talk with all six of our our Lawrence uh state legislators and both Democrats and Republicans and we appreciate the relationship um the advocacy that they'll listen and we have good conversations.
So sometimes we look at the answers and sometimes they move too quick and sometimes they make a mistake. We do. And if there's ever a profession where we can make a mistake, it's this job. It's this field. We're supposed to be teaching our kids it's okay to make mistakes as long as you learn from these mistakes. But instead of reading books about the anxious generation because we're making our kids so nervous about what what it looks like to be perfect on social media. We shouldn't lead by examples like it's okay to make a mistake as long as you'll learn from them. I have someone gave this to me 20 years ago and this is the paper still and this is the quote they gave me is not the mistakes that define us but the choices that we make after we send them but that's what education should be all about.
um not this year for sure because we you know um we're moving in the right direction but it certainly came up last year and you know from my point of view it's a stabilization fund it need I believe it needs I don't know what what it states in the chart or the town but it needs a a joint vote by us and the select board I think and a town meeting vote um in order to access it. So, I certainly, you know, have no problem, you know, having conversations with finance committee members, with select board members, you know, if if they have a need for it, um, I'm willing to reach across the table and work with them. Um, so I just wanted to put that out on the table that those conversations had had, uh, we've had those and, um, reach out. We're happy to talk.
Um like I say, we just felt like it was a something we needed to do to actually make it formal. What fun does that thousand go into? Uh, it can go into a number of different things. But I I would imagine this probably where you want to put that cuz we haven't we haven't had an official contract with the beverage provider. So that'll be something that uh Chrissy and I have to look into. [Music] Motion to approve the beverage agreement with Hartland Coca-Cola Bottling Company LLC as presented. I'll second motion discussion. Coach carry 6. Moving on to personnel. Motion to recess an executive session for 30 minutes to discuss supplemental duty contracts pursuant to non-elected personnel exception under Coleman and to return to open session in this room at the end of that time. Second. James, you said 30 minutes. 30 minutes. [Music] James has made a motion.
That's the driving factor, the cost difference on the the attachment, not so much the grant piece of it. So now I'm confused. What do you need from us today? So the consensus of the board is two things. Number one, if you want the two options, we can do that. Um, two, if we want to stick towards the 1.2 budget knowing what we're going to get, that's fine. Third option is we're willing to put money with this to get to the 1.5 if it comes to that in August. August. Dton, is that right? So, when would the remaining balance be due for lack of a better like is that next spring? It's a ninemonth project approximately. So, um I mean if we if we found out tonight proceed with the option A for 1.2 million, we'll probably start construction sometime around July 1st. Uh unless we run into hiccups.