But this is the first time in my career I have had the privilege of knowing one of the athletes for as long as I have known my soaring eagle. Year after year our school team found success on the field. But for my soaring eagle it was not always that way. Sometimes the season was not so easy on him. Sometimes he didn't even know whether he wanted to continue to play. These were very difficult times for him. And it was especially difficult watching someone who loved something with such ferocity feel tremendous pain from that very thing. This situation's complexity was something that many of us can sympathize with. Each season this young man would question, did my love for the game outweigh the negatives I encounter each season? But even with the hardships, he continued to play. Even when he wanted to quit, he continued to play.
Without this, we're dead in the water for the project. So that's why this split up the way it is. >> Okay. >> You want to start with the bond project first? >> Yeah, we'll do the bond project first and then um Yeah, we do the bond project first. So I entertain a motion for the $186,560 come out of the bond proceeds for the current bond we are working under. So move >> a second and a second. >> Questions or comments? >> Know why these bids came in higher than what was originally anticipated? >> You know, it's hard to tell. You're you're at the the mercy. These are the the two lowest of two were a couple hundred thousand above that. So we're fortunate to get something as low as it is. And I guess my question is why didn't Geralter put this part to pull that horse?
I do want to mention the public health the joint public health committee is looking at this topic now there's been several studies and we're looking at input from people across the state who are experts as to what we can do as to state to help our communities and our residents. Uh more broadly, we are focused on bringing down costs for fam families and fighting actually the federal uh cuts and what what they are doing. Um we are not only looking at uh uh taxes and and making uh Ashland and other communities more affordable, but looking at energy. The House just recently passed an energy bill. It's coming to the Senate. We will look at that as well. We uh when I was sworn in in January, I asked the Senate chair of the housing committee to come up with housing policy. Last session, we did a $5.1 billion housing bond bill, which has some great provisions to build more housing units across the state at all levels to help affordable, to help our working families, to help market rate.
The procedure will be that three minutes to address the board on any closed session agenda or non agenda items. The board total time for input on each topic to 20 minutes. the board president that may may rule on the appropriateness of a topic and if the topic for suitable to be addressed at a later time. The school district governing board cannot legally take action on a matter at one of its regular meetings if that matter is not on the agenda. We're now open it up to comments. Good evening, board members of the board. I'm speaking to you not just as a student, but as an athlete who has put in the work for this program. I was the starting linebacker my freshman and sophomore year, and I know firsthand the dedication it takes to compete at a high level. This year, our team has something special.
they're they're working hard to provide incentives. I think that's the that's shown to be the the highest leverage point to increase drivers. So, you know, we had a six-year decline of 230 minus 230 drivers. Uh since the bus companies have implemented financial incentives for the drivers, we've had an upswing in a year of about 69 drivers. So they're giving higher wages, signing bonus, guaranteed hours, paid training, and that's resulted in the increase. So we're hoping that the the upswing continues, but we're continuing to have discussions with our contractors. >> Nobody wants >> Well, yeah. So question is, um, have you guys pulled the bus companies as to why they can't get drivers for school buses? >> I don't know if they have the answer to that either. I I I mean, I'm just speculating right now. I think the pay has been the most significant factor that's impacted the increase.
Any discussion on M2? >> Again, like the volunteers I just want to say um congratulations to Mrs. She works her tail over there and she retired. So I'm glad to see that her No further discussion is >> yes >> we're now on agenda item 10 finance items Any discussion on three? >> Yes. Yes, >> you do have one item. >> Thank you. discuss >> you and that brings us to agenda item P our second public comment. So public comment is for any topic to speak about your name, address one person signed up. So we'll be limit the only exception to the name of the address if you are a student. Just school on your way. Sorry, I'm nervous. Um, so I have three children and I know we talked about the budget. So this may have been an agenda item, but I wanted to hear what was said about my comment.
Even when it was hard to show up, he still played. He taught me about perseverance, grit, determination, and that the opinion of one does not tell the whole story. In fact, at the beginning of this year, his senior year, he wrote an essay about when he had to overcome a difficult situation. He wrote about his experiences with soccer. He told his story and his struggles. He ended his essay with some sage advice. You're not going to please everyone in life. And you just have to overcome the situation. The best thing you can do is just pray and forgive the person even if they're treating you wrong. So, that's why you're my soaring eagle, Connor Braley. >> [applause] >> I have a lot to say. You have a good heart. You are stronger than you realize and wise beyond your years. You will do great things in this world.
So because we we bid to do the piping, but we didn't have a bid in to do the removal. So seemed like to me they didn't. >> So on asbesus is hands off. Um they don't they don't want to do the fitting on on asbesus. So actually we have to we had to go out and see is in viral error. >> Yes. um to to complete that process. So they had to bid that they had to do the scope of that work because they're involved with that. So um on that asbesus removal, they were completely hands off. So we had to you'll see in the in the in the bid or not in the bid, in the in the project, there's about a $20,000 design for asbesus removal and that's what that is. But I I do agree that they should have waited to bid until we had >> Yeah, we should have had that before we did the other.
Um but as you know it takes a while for for housing to be built. So what I asked the Senate chair Julian Seir to go around the state talk to people what are the barriers what can we look at what are there similarities are there differences in different areas what can we do to make so that housing units can be built now and not have to wait three four five years. We need some change. We need some increase in that now. And and that is one of the the biggest things we're we're working on. We made brokers fees that it's paid by the person who hires the broker, not uh the the tenant all the time. That lowers the cost as well. And we're looking at at other ways uh to make things more affordable. Uh the other thing that I'm proud of that we did is is we we are um we banned in the se in September the Senate passed a bill to ban cell phones in schools from bell to bell.
We have more than enough talent to go far this football season. We have players who have trained, lifted, practiced, and sacrificed their time to represent our school. But talent alone doesn't take a team far. What we're missing is a strong leadership from a qualified coach. He can guide us, prepare us, and push us to be the best we can be. I know many of you may not realize just how important that is. Not the ones on the field putting in the hours, the sweat, and the work. But we are but we you are the ones making the decisions that affect all of us who are as students. We have spoken up. We have clearly expressed who we want to coach us. Our community has supported us and stood behind us. Yet the only thing we've been told is that the district will pay for us to go to camp.
>> So, it's pay and not student behavior. >> I think the the pay is the biggest one. So, speaking of student behavior, that does make the job very challenging. Um, you know, as a as a teacher managing a classroom of 30 kids in front of you, a bus driver is managing 80 behind you and driving the bus and you're on video. So, it's a it's a tough job. So, we're actually coming out with uh actually we just sent out a letter to all of our schools just kind of reminding uh schools to remind the community about behavior on the bus and that misbehavior can result in loss of bus privileges and >> but how many times have you guys done it? >> So, we our schools are good about following up with misbehavior on the bus. I think part of the the challenge is our our bus companies have a delay in letting us know.
Um so while you talked about additional in the schools as far as behavior was concerned, what was not mentioned is class size. And while without a teacher being able to assess the need in the classroom due to the fact that they went from having 17 or 18 kids in the classroom to up to 24 25 26 even classrooms I don't know or actually let me question what is your plan and is class size going to be addressed in the budget. >> So we do have a five minute time limit. What I would suggest is if you want to address all your concerns, so don't use the five dialogue back and forth with either myself or Dr. >> So thank you for the question. Um for clarification, two things. Number one is we're always class size. Uh so I am currently studying class size across the district, not just in the elementary but in the secondary to see where they currently are.
And I can't wait to hear about your adventures at Blackburn College and I will miss you next year. >> [applause] >> Good evening. I'm Rob Post and I've been blessed to have most of the kids that are sitting here uh in the gym with us today. They probably wouldn't agree, but it's been a pleasure for me in sophomore English. And this is a great night. It's nice to see so many deserving young people together in one place. Represented here are some of the kindest, most creative, intelligent, and talented students that Columbia has to offer. This room provides hope for the future. It's difficult to choose just one soaring eagle because so many of my students have such unique gifts and personalities. But my choice this year is someone I've had the pleasure of watching grow not only as a student but as a person. He is truly curious about the world around him and constantly seeks more information and a deeper understanding in a wide range of disciplines.
Correct. >> So, we could have covered it all under the bond. I would have thought that that was my thoughts on it. And then also would have been nice to know up front that they they weren't going to seek the bids for the asbestous there. What's the $30,000 deal? I believe you said there was something in the paperwork for $30,000 that they charged for asbestous for 20 whatever manager for the air quality testing and everything. So that was just for that that Okay. >> Is that common for architectural firms to not want to handle? >> I They did it the last time they were here. So that's why I find it hard this time, but they they because when we done the project when we had them and they did the middle school, they they took care of that. I find it why they changed their terms and conditions, I guess.
I have to say I've t sp spoken to uh many people who teach in other school districts across the nation. uh students. Uh one of the persons I spoke to was my son who happens to be a teacher, Ashland public school graduate teacher in the New York City school system and they adopted a cell phone ban from Belltobell and he said this has been such a gamecher. At first the students were against it. The parents were against the administration didn't know how it would work. But he said the students overwhelmingly support this now instead of being looking at their phone all day long. They are actually interacting with their peers a lot more. They're getting a lot more schooling and learning done. They're not going to the bathrooms as much to schedule meetings with their friends. I mean, just things that you wouldn't normally think about.
Camp is great, but camp doesn't replace a coach. Is the district also going to also going to provide the daily mentorship, the preparation, the leadership, the accountability that a real coach gives every single day. Because football camp alone doesn't build a program, a coach does. So I ask you tonight, please stop making promises you can't truly deliver on. What we need isn't another temporary solution. What we need is a coach. Give us the leaders, the leadership we deserve and let us prove what this team is capable of. Thank you. Six years ago, our community was told a lie. The lie spread fast. It stuck and damaged a lot of people and their reputations. But through time, a district investigation cleared everyone in the in the lie. Everyone. Sadly, those findings were never made public, and that also damaged people and their reputations. The truth was found that our boys were not sodomized.
So, we want to be able to follow up right away because when we're follow up with students about misbehavior on a bus or at school, when you talk to them 5 days later, they forgot what happened already. So, the more time it is, the better. So, I think that letter is also a message to our bus companies who we're sharing with them also that we want to work with you folks on this just we need to know as soon as possible if something happens so we can address the behavior right away. >> What is the pay for a bus driver starting? I believe it's now it's about 35 an hour. >> We can get people to be bus drivers. >> Yeah. And they have signing bonus to >> I'm not offering by the way. Just seems like pretty reasonable offer. >> And right now because of the paid training, you can you can actually sign up just with a driver's license and they provide you the paid training to get your CDL license.
Um I think it's important that when I'm look for me when I'm looking at class size, especially in the elementary, there's two things that I'm looking at. How many kids are in the home and then how many kids are in the core academic instructional box and there's a difference. So So we're looking at that. believe that there's a need to deploy capital in order to address class size to bring them down to a level that I am comfortable with. We will certainly do that. Um in the budget though, just for clarity, when I say we're adding academic interventionists, we are increasing staff. We are increasing teachers who are going to provide be providing tiered intervention to our students in our classrooms. We are adding academic staff, certified staff, not a we are adding Some of those teachers could have read specialist certifications, things of that nature.
I do not doubt that he will be a lifelong learner and a high achiever. He has a wide spectrum of interests and skills ranging from sports to trivia and everything in between. He's a good human being who is willing to help others, especially with math concepts that are over most of our heads. He's curious, insightful, and reflective. He's a good leader and also a good follower, which isn't always easy. It is my pleasure to select Mason Jamulius as my 2026 soaring eagle. >> [applause] [applause] >> Hi. My name is Jenny Van Breus again and I have the privilege of teaching English here at Columbia High School. My soaring eagle readily receives admiration and respect from peers and also readily gives admiration and respect. On the rare occasion when this student is absent from school, the entire atmosphere of the class is different. It's just that big of a difference.
But okay to sell, I guess. Awesome. All right. Any other questions, comments on that? Okay. We'll do a roll call because of bond money. So, to do the 186560 on the bond. So, >> ready. >> Dave Shlo. >> Yes. >> Greg Bington. >> Yes. >> Bedner. >> Yes. >> Alan. absent. Tim White, >> yes. >> Andrew Adams, >> yes. >> Robert Dane, >> yes. >> Okay. >> And then the next thing is the we'll have to do a resolution to earbark funds out of the rainy day fund uh to pay the rest of that $150,640. So, I'll entertain a motion to approve that resolution. >> Some moved. Second. >> Second. >> Comments, questions on that. >> Okay. Hearing? Um, roll call, please. >> Dave Shlo, >> yes. >> Greg Beington, >> yes. >> Rex Bner, >> yes. >> Absent. Tim White, >> yes. >> Andrew Adams, >> yes.