So thank you >> and thank you for coming on. >> Um come check out Our Town by Thornton Wilder directed by Mr. Road Armor right here um this weekend uh in the Clearwater Auditorium. $5 to get in. It is 700 p.m. Saturday and >> 2:30 >> Sunday. Um, come check it out. Thank you for watching.
>> Um, they're they're really awesome. Um, in my five years at Mosquite High School, it kind of felt like a hard reset after the COVID and everything. And so we helped establish a new identity and a new vision for what Mosquite High School Band is going to be. And it is now a place to be for kids. It's a place for them to be at the beginning of the day, the middle of the day, end of the day, and in the late hours after school. >> Well, we appreciate all the hard work again that you guys put in. And again, congratulations. We're very, very proud of you. If you guys would shake hands with the board, please. Thank you. [applause] Well done. >> Thank you. Thank you. One more time. Mosquo. [applause] Congratulations, guys. Thank you. Well done. And now for the next set of entertainment.
I mean, there's no we don't look at as an adversarial or we're trying to beat anybody up. We're trying to work together to get the best. And so, he's going to go through that and also walk you through the study. We're going to show you a live study that we did. Um, so you can kind of see what's that what that's about. Jennifer is going to talk about solar. Uh, Jennifer Zlac, our president, she's awesome and Michael and we talked about that about the solar. And I'm going to talk to you about some different ways to piece the contract and things together to move forward so you get the most done for the least amount of money and how you can manage that debt because in a community tax rate is is can I mean you've got to so how do you mitigate that? How do you do how do you do more with less and then how do you communicate that with the community?
So obviously continued work can be done there. Um everything's still on schedule. Looks good. Looking forward to getting that white stuff off the ground at some point with no more snow hopefully. Uh but yeah, things are going well as far as that's concerned. Uh just to give you a little update on the Southwood projects. Um I think I kind of gave you a schedule of a time frame, but just wanted to kind of um remind you that uh advertisements for bids will start going out here middle of March. Um we'll have a pre-bid meeting uh on March 24th. Uh bids will be due uh April 14th. uh then we'll go through a review of those and then look for final board approval uh on the April 28 board meeting. Now, right now that's the current timeline for just Southwood Elementary. They're still working on what Southwood High School may look like.
>> Okay. >> Can I get a motion? >> Uh question. >> Uh superintendent. I see here under nonfoundation revenues uh GTS district E and D. >> Okay. >> Do you know what that's >> in reference to? >> That's excess and deficiency that uh we need to certify. That'll get certified. That's our excess and deficiency. That's nonfoundation money that uh we've uh that's revenue for this year that we've gotten over. So that's >> from 2026 or 2025 >> for 2025. >> 2025. Okay. Thank you. >> Yeah. >> Marie, >> please use your button please. people can't >> first of all these these these numbers here aren't going to change much right >> not unless the state makes a change so these are the governor's numbers at this time the legislators have voted on it you won't get the hard like a you could get a change it's rare that you get much of a change uh but it could change in July by July 1 depending on what the legislator do but typically this is pretty close if the legislative numbers come in different then we go back and we readjust our budget and we bring it back to the committee for a new vote.
>> Thank you. Thank you, board president uh Benides. Uh it is my uh pleasure and my honor uh tonight uh to introduce uh Dr. Verdugo and uh Dr. Smith. Um both of these uh gentlemen uh are going to be with the board of education on this journey uh on this search uh for the new superintendent. uh and tonight uh they're going to be partnering with you uh to make some decisions in terms of um the the process and how it goes. Um so at this point I'd like to turn it over to Dr. Verdugo. >> Thank you, Superintendent Ortega. Madame President and board members, I know I can speak for Dr. Smith and myself as well when we say thank you to each of you for the opportunity to be a partner in this process uh in this search process. I also want to thank Superintendent Ortega um and certainly particularly uh to hope near um for the support leading up to this evening's uh presentation.
>> Um so for me next year um I'm going to KU and I'm going to study biology um because I want to be a family phys physician eventually. Um so I don't believe that I'm going to continue theater. Um, I don't think I'll have time for it. As much as I would love to, I think I'm going to try to be involved in the theater program at KU as much as I can, but I'm not sure if you'll be able to see me on stage anymore. Um, I mean, don't really know what I'm going to do in college, but I have like a whole year to figure that out. Um, but I definitely do want to continue theater. I think that's like one of my only fores right now. It's definitely been a big passion of mine since, you know, I was like eight. So, I feel like definitely somehow continuing that, whether it be like joining theater groups because I feel like because I probably will end up going to KU and I feel like trying to get a role at a big college is going to be hard, but like >> either just like random theater groups or like even like directing eventually or something.
Okay. Um, the ortorial contest winners. Could I have now they're going to perform their speech for everyone so they get three minutes has to be on our American heritage. I go to this every year and uh Dr. Karen Coleman, please stand up. Dr. Karen Coleman uh organizes this event and it is something that many of our schools participate in and once a year we have a contest and there's a group for K through2 and then there's a group for junior high as well as elementary and there's winners from each one of those and then they able to go on to the state competition if they would like and uh when's that being held? a week from Saturday. And so, um, if you guys know how difficult it is to public speak to begin with and then memorize a speech and get dressed up and incorporate gestures and come with enthusiasm, um, it's it's it's a trick and it's almost a talent.
And part of our study is is we will work with your community. sit down. I learned um out of all the 10 28 hearings I had, I never had anybody show up. And I think that and the reason that I learned a long time ago, if you go sit down with people, you if you have the board, my boards in both places would identify who are your land owners, who are your biggest property taxpayers, who are they? I'd sit down with them and go over it. They look at it makes sense and then we would just go through and do it. So I I would do that and help Michael and help the board facilitate those facilitate any community meetings and talk through that because again you've got a lot um you've got a lot to do. You've got a very low debt service rate which can be good but can also be that double-edged sword.
It may be similar uh or it may be pushed back a little bit. uh in in that case uh you know the latest that it would go to as far as board approval for the high school uh would be that last board meeting in May since we only have the one uh but it may work out that they can get everything in related to that last one in April but they're still working out some of those details. So we're getting close close to the the um stretch on on those bids. Uh lastly, just kind of talk quickly a little bit about legislation. Again, this is the last week. Uh the general assembly is will try to conclude at the end of this week. Uh so we'll see uh where they get with that. Uh but hopefully this was their plan to finish up by the end of this week.
>> Okay. So, uh I'm all set with my question. So, I'm going to make a motion to accept >> or approve. Motion's on the floor. Do I have a second? >> Billy. >> Any further discussion, >> please? Jerry, can you shut your mic, please? >> Oh, sorry. >> just a couple of comments. Um I'm okay with the budget. Um just to remind the the chair um the when we voting for an item, it needs to be set in the line item. So I understand because now we're going to vote for the we don't even know if we're voting for the budget. It needs to be detailed. I mean I know he explained we are we are voting to send this to the so to share them to the different um cities. Um and then the other comment that I have is we have been asking question but it needed to be a vote with second for discussion first to discuss the item.
U it's been exceptional. We don't always get this type of support uh from other districts and so I think it speaks volumes of this district and the assistance and support that we've been able to be provided. So on behalf of Dr. Smith and myself, thank you. It's my understanding that you most likely have the materials in front of you that we're going to cover. The first thing that I'll bring to your attention is the open session agenda that I believe we can place on the screen for the audience as well. There you go. Good evening, board member Greer. We were just going to start with the uh process that you see on the screen there and perhaps at your screens well the screen as well.
I don't know. Anything to keep me involved somehow would be great. >> Maybe we could join the same group. >> Oh my gosh. Wait, that'd be so fun. >> But yeah. >> Um, well, that sounds great. Sounds nice. Um, and of course you got a a few years, like a year and a half, something like that, to kind of figure it out. >> I'm not going to have it figured out, but it's okay. >> Uh, and um, yeah. Um, thank you guys for coming on and, uh, we can bring on our special guest, but thank you guys. And, um, I'm excited to watch come this Friday and Saturday and Sunday.
And so, we're very it's one of the events that I go to each year that I I thoroughly enjoy watching these kids get up and and perform. And what you'll also notice is that a lot of these students continue to come through kindergarten through 8th grade. And it's amazing to see them mature and how their skills grow. So governing board members, if you would maybe find a seat, you can watch from there. And they're going to stand right up here and perform. Could I have my K through two division division winner? Is it Alisa? Come on up. >> [applause] >> We're going to get this set up for you. Okay. You got to speak right into the microphone so everybody can hear you. Is that about right? So, do me before you start, say your full name and what school you're from and who you are going to be speaking about tonight.
So how do you manage that debt service rate properly to get as much done without impacting community? So, right now I'm going to introduce Grant and Grant's going to take us kind of through the study and talk a little bit about what he does and has done and uh so it's all you. >> Okay. Well, hi. I'm uh Grant Piatis. I'm uh went to school for civil engineering. Decided I didn't want to be an engineer and sit in an office all day. So, I come out on sites and I run projects. Um so, I've been with PSG for coming into my fourth year. Um, and before that I worked in downtown Chicago working on highrises. I was doing curtain wall, glass and steel. Uh, the project I worked on was 102story building right there on Wacker AB. So if you're ever in Chicago, you see the big blue building.
Uh the big one, and I've mentioned this before, is the Belltobell cell phone ban. Uh that is most likely going to pass. Uh and it will require us to adopt a rule on whether we prohibit devices completely from school or that we allow the devices to be powered off and inaccessible by students uh during the day in some type of storage policy like lockers or something like that. Uh and so uh those will be some decisions that we'll have to make uh once that law gets finalized. Um related to that I I mentioned to you before about a a school technology bill uh related to just having uh parents having the ability to control filters when students are not in school. Um that has died that would not get a reading. uh so that not move on. I don't know if it'll show up somewhere else in these next few days.
Thank you. >> We have a second. We have a discussion. >> Mistler. >> Yes. >> Mr. Jones. >> Yes. >> Mr. Mahia. >> Yes. >> Mr. Mercedes. >> Yes. >> Mr. Tarbox. >> Yes. >> Miss Harris. >> Yes. >> Mr. H. >> Yes. budget update from uh budget transfers I believe from Miss Martel the update. We don't have any and we don't have her either. So skip over that. We're going to go to donations. I don't see any donations articles. We have one from Northern Essex. Uh and we also have one from the uh GLTS implements the ICE policy tribute. Do you want to speak on the northern Essics, Mr. So uh we were accepted uh as an early college uh planning uh to do a planning with Northern Essex Community College so that [snorts] our students can be part of the early college program.
But um what we want to do tonight is to make sure that we are reviewing the search process and answering any questions that you folks might have. So that is number one in that open session area that you see there. Number two, we'd like to ask the board to designate two leazison from the board for us. And that is not to say that the board would not be receiving mutually information and updates but typically we might have some simple question and generally if I may madame president it's the president and vice president that are typically the leazison to us as we might have a question we might want to make sure that we're extending the survey for example for three or four days so we want to make sure that we're telling you that as well but I would I do want to reiterate though that any updates and uh constant information consistent is going to be made available to the entire board as well.
Okay. >> My name [snorts] is Alisa Morelos. Alisa Yetszo Morales P. And I'm talking about Ameilia Airha and I'm from Spectrum Elementary. >> When you're ready, my dear. >> Do people ever tell you their dreams are too big? That boys or girls can't do certain things? Let me tell you something. Girls can fly, girls can lead, girls can dream big, and boys can, too. One girl from American history proved it to the world when she believed she could fly. when others said she couldn't. Hello everyone. My name is Alisa Merles Pñena and today I'm here to take you back way way back over 100 years ago with the story of a pioneer pilot Amelia. Amelia Hehart was born in 1897 in Kansas. One day Amelia saw an airplane in the sky and said, "I want to fly." But not just for fun. She wanted to fly across oceans and even the entire earth.
Uh, it's very hard to miss. Uh, but yeah, after wrapping that project, I wanted to get into something more focused. Um, Wall was not really for me. So, I started reaching out to solar companies and now I'm here getting into schools and uh helping you guys get the best bang for your buck. Um, I come from a family of teachers, administrators. My brother just graduated college. He's going to be a special education uh instructor. My mom's been a teacher for 30 years. My dad, he's a retired sheriff who went back into the classroom and is now a parrot pro for our special ed school. So schools really, you know, hit a home point for me. Um, and I love coming into these buildings and meeting the community and meeting the board members and seeing, you know, what we can bring to help you guys facilitate a better learning environment for your kids.