She is one of the most positive young students I have ever met and her enthusiasm is contagious. She is not only self-driven with her studies, but she really cares about others as seen with her leadership roles and overall school spirit. I'm also very impressed with her entrepreneur abilities as she is a small business owner as well. And she is going to be one heck of a productive citizen in society moving forward and that is one of my goals in government. But the biggest thing I'm impressed with is her ability to be her own person in a day where there is so much peer pressure and social media influence in the world today. A great champion of individualism and critical thinking, Ralph Emerson, said to be yourself in a world that is constantly trying to make you something else is a great accomplishment. My soaring eagle definitely is a champion of individualism, loves life, and is her own person.
Yeah, next week. And we love that. We love our partnership with the school department. Um, and I think there's some really important takeaways from this. Um, first of all, in Ashland, we depend on a special type of teamwork here. Um, I Dan, I think it was Dan. Um, and thanks to to everybody here. Dan said, you know, we think of them as another department, you know, when they need to have a pothole filled or anything. Can I Is it okay if I just >> real quick just So, is this being shared on Zoom so they can people on Zoom can see the slides that you're showing us? >> I hope so >> because that's WACA TV. >> It will be on the Zoom. >> Is that good? >> Okay. So maybe it's on the second screen because we're not seeing it on the Zoom. >> Oh, okay.
We pass Garmin in reach and we don't tell the kids this but there's one place we can actually get out with cell phones too. Try to avoid them using electronics up there. The um FFA has their protocols in place. We're first aid certified. We pack all the equipment. This is truly a fun trip and they will get the experience, a true wilderness experience in this. It is incredibly beautiful area. It's hard to explain. The kids will be riding in stock. We will pack all the supplies and so on. Talk. We may even do a midweek resupply trip where somebody else brings in more supplies. Just feeding 15 people for seven days. It's amazing how much groceries we go through.
Um and that is where um we want to get rid of all presuppositions. That's where the the debate is. Is a license a bureaucratic function or is the license um an extra layer of protection in um valuing the credentials of the profession. Is it an extra there to prevent I mean safety or >> um and and that would be the discussion of the work group um to um come to a consensus. There are many differing viewpoints on that. Um one um >> how do you to come to consensus? I don't see any kind of consensus to even get a board together. So um The other question is um will lensure requirements um help address the shortages or does it add additional barriers? I mean every time you have license it's a >> and no matter what profession is a group that want to keep keep people out and you have to jump through hoops to come in and it makes it harder and we keep trying to get more lensures but yet again you know it's this this group that want to protect their group.
Her family embodies success and she will follow in those footsteps as well. I can't wait to see all the things that she is going to do. Let's give a round of applause to my soaring eagle, Hope Schwartz. >> [applause] [applause] >> Good evening. I am Michelle Kleinschmidt. I teach science here at the high school. Um it is my honor to recognize Macy Highline as my soaring eagle this year. >> [applause] [applause] >> From the very first day of school, she made a lasting impression. She walks into the classroom each day with a genuine smile and a positive attitude that sets the tone for everyone around her. Very quickly it became clear that she possesses all the qualities of an outstanding student. She's hardworking, motivated, focused, and accountable. She consistently strives to do her best and never hesitates to ask thoughtful questions to deepen her understanding.
>> A bad idea just to share. >> This is where I back away >> because I want to make sure that as you speak to stuff, Michael, that people on Zoom can see it as well so they understand what we're reviewing. Thank you. >> Oh, that that's a good idea. Good catch. Um, >> you're welcome. >> You know this tech stuff pretty well, Yolanda. I work with it a lot. I'm on a lot of Zoom meetings lately. >> Wow, you did that quick, Katherine. >> Oh, great. This looks great. >> Um, it allows me to go on. Um, >> yep. Thank you. and and I I want to point out that this dependency on our teamwork which again is our special sauce uh really reveals an allaround resource issue just an issue not with just municipal departments or the school department it's an all-around issue and you know working this way it's great for sprint um but really doing it for the extended period of time that we have has been very very hard to sustain in fact it's unsustained And actually, you know how I like data and in and math sometimes even though I really stink at it.
Are there any questions I can answer for you? >> So, they're not going to be riding a horse or a mule? >> No, they will not be riding in. It would take an immense amount of stock to do that with not only packing the equipment and the food and and camp gear and and stoves on all that end. They will need to carry their backpacks with just their private gear. is pretty light because we're packing all the food, all the fuel for the stoves, the entire kitchen, all the cookware, all that goes in on the mules and all the tools and so on go in on the mules. The average pack load and we have we've had some funny ones on this too is probably about 30 pounds where a normal backpacking trip is 60 pounds or so. Um, we have had because we leave it up to them.
So is it >> uh I I I don't have a definitive answer. I I think there are varying opinions on that. Um the the bottom line is you can be a school psychologist in Hawaii without having a license whereas in the other 49 states you cannot be a school psychologist if you don't have a license. >> Okay. >> Do you know why it's taken so long to get a working group established? >> No. Okay. Sure. Yeah. Um so, uh do you think that this working group would help to fill the shortage? >> Um I I think I don't think it would help, but I don't think it would hinder. Um part of this shortage is um the availability of programs um to become a school psychologist. Um I I at this time without having the discussions of a working group I don't think it I'm I'm neutral.
What impresses me most about Macy though is her character. She is the true definition of inclusive. No matter who she is working with, she treats every peer with kindness and respect. She makes a conscious effort to ensure that everyone feels seen and included. In group settings, she lifts others up, encourages participation, and creates an environment where everyone feels comfortable. Her caring nature extends beyond the classroom and has not gone unnoticed. This year she was nominated by two different teachers and awarded student of the month for the trait of caring, an honor that reflects the way she treats others every day. One of the most remarkable examples of her kindness was on Valentine's Day when she took the time to write handwritten personalized notes to every other student in the freshman class. That act of kindness demonstrated thoughtfulness, effort, and a genuine desire to make others feel appreciated and included.
But um I can't you know what this really it leads to um two really simple equations which I think is if you invest in the municipal departments you're investing in the school department. At the same time if you invest in the school department you're investing in our municipal departments. I think the best example of this is uh the proposed uh building and grounds and kind of what we're doing with fields. Um part of the school superintendent's um work is you know creating a team that can actually absorb the uh fields um you know the the ownership of the school fields or they've always owned it but taking over the responsibilities of maintaining them and scheduling them. We're going to get more resources there. that takes a load off of our employees. Um so again an investment in in our respective departments is a respective or is a investment in each other and I think this is really really important to know that you know at the end of the day we really are in this together and it's important to know that we're all equal components to that.
We give them a list of here's what you need to have in order to be safe on the trip. Sunscreen, sleeping bags, so on. And then we go over that list with them prior to we've had a student show up and pack in a case of Dr. Pepper. Four and a half miles later, they're regretting that case of Dr. Pepper, especially when it's gone the next day. But it's a, you know, it's a learning experience for them. We talk about stewardship and and minimum impact whether it be with stock or without stock because our wilderness areas are suffering from a lot of lack of maintenance. They'll get to see there's there's a little over half million acres of of women's area in the training house wilderness area. We get up on one of the passes and if there's still some snow left, we can have a snowball fight in July.
I don't think it could help or hinder. >> Yeah. Because this uh working group says it is intended to study the issue. >> Mhm. >> Uh we already know there's an issue. So we don't need to create a working group to tell us there's an issue. What we don't have is we don't have the concrete pathways on what's going to fill those vacancies. So again, like we're kicking the can down the road, right? Is it is is we have psychologist shortages in the schools because we don't have those discussions or are we not getting to the root of the problem? So I mean creating working groups to keep talking about it, talk like we already know there's an issue. I don't need data to prove it. We have shortages, right? That that proves >> there is an issue. Correct. So okay. Thank you. Thank you very much.
Outside of the classroom, she continues to lead by example. As a member by various clubs and teams, she represents our school community with the same positivity and dedication she shows each day in class. Even as a freshman, she has already made an a meaningful impact. Macy's many traits make her not only an exceptional student, but an exceptional person. She reminds us all of the power of character and the difference one individual can make in the lives of others. Congratulations, Macy. We're lucky to have you here at CHS. >> [applause] [applause] >> Hi. Um I'm Joan Shepherd in the math department. Um it is my [clears throat] pleasure to introduce my soaring eagle, Madison McLean. >> [applause] >> Madison is one of 10 students who have doubled up in math their senior year taking both statistics and calculus and she excels in both. We bounced challenging math problems off of each other and it has been such a joy to collaborate with a student like that.
Oh boy, now it won't work. Hold that. Okay. Ah. Okay. So, let's uh everybody wanted some more data and uh I think I I think they've provided that. But let me just tell you some of the um adjustments I've made since the last tri board meeting. First of all, I removed that Valentine project discussion. Great idea. really confused the heck out of things. Um so we we threw that out. Um the health insurance stabilization fund, that's something that we're going to need to do. Again, we can wait until the fall. We don't have to do it now. It just confuses things. Um and then talk about confusing. Um, one thing that is a shift that we're thinking about, um, is switching the funding mechanism for that municipal department, um, increase, which is around $755,000. Do away with that whole debt exclusion shift and move it to stabilization funds in FY27.
That's that's pretty amazing for them. We've done that in August. This year it's going to be a little late. >> So what's the adult to kid ratio? Well, uh, that'll be up to Stephen. I hopefully we can get a couple more adults involved. Um, at least Stephen and I and then the other back on packers who will help me pack this in and then back out will not stay. I will stay with my stock the entire week. Um, but is there are do you know if there any other >> the hope is to have one more chap run along with with Sam and I up there full time with the students? Um, and Sam mentioned that he might have to to pack out one day to go help another crew. So, having a couple of eyes on those students as we take care of the struggling projects.
Thank you, chair. Okay, >> I have a question. I guess back to DCCA. What's the cost for someone say we decide they're going to be licensed licensed? So, what kind of hoops and what kind of cost is involved? >> Okay. Um, do you mind if I use the current for psychologist process? Um so a psychologist uh who wish to obtain lensure in the state um can do so through uh multiple pathways. Um three of them involve certification at the national level. Uh the board uh processing of those applications is nominal because the certification is nationally recognized by the federal government. >> What does it cost the person? So the person would be uh so it's a $50 application fee. Um and then the uh license fees I believe are u depend on when they get licensed within the 2-year bienium. Um on the first leg I believe it's around uh $280.
On the math team this year, she placed sixth among all seniors in our division and we got a good laugh when she had to compete in a team of four contest by herself because we didn't have enough people and um I got a great picture of her because she actually placed and ended up winning all four ribbons. So. Um she is determined, dependable, and dignified and just plain smart and sweet. She has a quiet strength and a grace that I appreciate and at times she reminds me of my younger self back in the classroom long time ago. >> [laughter] >> On the math team this year, um oh sorry. Um I'm so proud that she was accepted and has committed to Murray State um where she's going to study accounting. So, I look so forward to hearing about your future accomplishments, Madison. Keep in touch.
You know what? I still think that's the best way to do it is that debt exclusion shift. Best way for the taxpayers, best way for this moving forward. But the fact is, it's just confusing as heck. Um, hey, sometimes I can come up with some great things on paper and you they just don't work. Um, this one just didn't work. Um, I don't know why it's confusing, but it is confusing to everybody across the board. And so I think it's the more focus that's been on that, the less we've had to be able to talk about, you know, the 2.75. So let's just get away and fund that through stabilization funds this year. But what that means is it creates a recurring cost which we're going to have to continue funding. Um, and I need a commitment from that. And so what I would like from the select board as you think about this is we already need to put a general fund stabilization transfer on the warrant.
>> So, you're going to have how many students, Stephen? >> Uh, the hope is to we can haul nine in in a school van. Um, so hopefully we'll be able to bring in about 10 students, uh, 10 or 11 students, and then three adults going in there to meet our our pack limit for our permit that we have to go. And if we wind up shy there, I'm sure that I have a couple of background or members like to fill in on too. We were focused on getting as many FFA students involvement as possible because we are limited by the Forest Service on quotas as far as the permit. Normally the quota is 10, but because of the fact we're we're a working project. Um it's it's actually bumped up to 15 and I have to go to them for approval also be heard out on them on this too.
Um on the second half I believe that's about half. Um there are additional fees including the um the um compliance resolution fund which funds the RICO um function of the licensing. So um >> which is about how much? >> I believe that is u somewhere in the range of $100. >> Okay. So that's one way. What's the other? >> And so those are the certification. Um it's the same fees for whether you're going to apply by examination. Um so that would be to sit for the examination the EP. Um we they you can also apply this is for those who are already licensed in other states. Um you can be licensed through examination waiver. So you would supply the board with a examination that meets the requirements at the time you sat for that exam. Um after we've received all these documents, we also verify internship and posttock verification which requires notoriization from their supervisors.