001If you all stand and join me for the pledge of allegiance to the flag of the United States of America, to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. >> All right. First on the agenda is the tiger spotlights. >> Oh, tiger spotlights. Good evening, everyone. I get to do this one, so I'm really excited about this because it's really kind of a fun thing that Katie Hayes and I do. Um, every month we go around and we hand out our tiger spotlights. So, this is what Katie wrote up for us. Um, it's a program where anyone on staff can shine a spotlight on someone else by nominating them for the Tiger Spotlight Award. Anytime someone goes above and beyond, a form can be filled out
002describing what he or she did and that the staff member is then recognized with a certificate of appreciation. Our superintendent, that's me, and goes around the E school handing out the certificates with Katie. It's an absolute joy, a lot of fun, an honor to do that. And the non nominees get their picture taken and shared on social media. So far, we've been off to a great start. 37 staff members nominated in October and 38 in November. So, it's been going really, really well. um they are anonymous so people don't know who nominated them and then they have some fun trying to figure out who it was. So um it is a it's a great little thing that we started this year and we just wanted to share that with you as our spotlight. >> Awesome.
003>> All right. Next on the agenda is the WBE student art exhibit and awards. So Jules Martinez and Kaylee um Annis >> both got the award which you guys saw the uh the memo. So it's fantastic. So uh when we're down at the convention next month, they have all the art hanging out that you can walk around and see their exhibit. So that's pretty cool that we have two nominations at the state level for people to see. >> All right. Next on the agenda is the wellness center presentation by Jordan. >> Where do you want me? >> You have a right there if you'd like. Or you can walk around. You can maybe do some situps. [laughter] Want to do as you're doing it. >> I have to do them. Everybody else. [laughter] >> Keep
004that in mind. I'm not >> sorry. You're good. Oh, why it's not playing on this one? Oh, sorry. I got too many screens up here. Trying to monitor the stream and this at the same time. Otherwise, we're going to go stream PDF for that if that's okay. >> All right. >> Y. [laughter] All right. Well, okay. Well, thank you all for having me here. This is my uh first school board meeting, so do my best. Um, so my name is Jordan Marson. I'm the wellness center coordinator. I'm here to talk a little bit about the uh the wellness center. >> Perfect. Uh, so a little bit about me. Uh, I am a a Reichtown grad. I graduated in 2009. Um, I've always had a little bit of an idea to have a fitness center in
005Rtown. Um, in my junior senior year, we had an entrepreneurship class with Mr. disastro and my idea for a business was to place a fitness center in Reichtown. I think I called it Tiger Town Fitness, something like that. But um I've always had this this I guess you can call it a passion for for health and fitness. Um I mean that's why I'm doing what I'm doing. Um I went on to graduate from W Oshkosh and as part of the group project there. I had to create a fitness center and I get I I had I get to place it wherever I want in the world and I place it right here in Rice Town just because I knew uh how much it could impact our community, how much this community needs it and how
006much they are utilizing it as we're going to talk a little bit a little bit later. Uh when we opened in 20 uh January of 2018, I started off as a as our weekend evening supervisor. Um, and in March of 2019, I took over as uh the coordinator position that I'm in now. Um, personally, I live in Deer with my wife Sarah, our 2-year-old Thea, and my two dogs, Bailey and Wayne. Um, so, a little bit more about the fitness center. As I mentioned, we opened in January of 2018. Uh we offer a wide variety of commercial grade uh equipment including free weights, cardio, functional equipment um and some machine weights as well. Um and then we also offer a variety of fitness classes I'm going to talk a little bit more about too. Um
007this slide is just our current membership rates. So we have in district versus out of district. Um those membership rates have not changed since we've opened the center just about eight years ago. So, getting on to our current fitness classes. Um, Janette Rosskcom uh offers classes Monday through Friday at the fitness center. Um, Monday, Wednesday, Friday mornings from 5:20 to 6:00 a.m. She has her mixfit class. It It's a pretty popular class. I'd say gets anywhere from 15 to 20 people. Um, her mixfitit power up on Tuesdays and Thursday mornings is a kind of a different version of that class. um it gets a smaller amount of people but given the time that it's at um kind of speaks for itself and Janette also offers personal training. We do offer two yoga classes by uh
008two community members. Uh first one is Stephanie Scogman does a Tuesday night yoga class. She is a community member. She is also a retired teacher from the Seymour school district. Um, and then community member Christy Thompson also offers a yoga class and she's offered yoga kind of on and off at the wellness center for the past five or so years. Um, and we also have a senior strength and stretch class that I instruct um, Monday, Wednesday, Friday from 9:30 to 10. We offer that class free to our senior citizens and they they do take advantage of it. I get about 20 on average. I would say that that class is a lot more. Um some of the other things that we've been involved in in the past and currently um we've had health fairs in
009the past. We've had five of them. Most recently in March of 20 March of this year um we've done the St. Jude walk. So it's a walking program that we put uh we put on the last two years to help raise money for St. Jude Children's Research Hospital. Um we've over the last two years we've raised over $1,000 for that and we are going to be continuing that again this year. So, if you're interested in more information on that, check in with me at the wellness center, visit our Facebook page. I have a lot more information out there. Um, we've also helped out with the community community clothing closet, collecting clothes, uh, clothing donations. We've helped Sources of Strength with the Color Blaze run, handing out, uh, packets for that. Uh, athletic trainer Roland Schmidt
010offers free pain and injury consultations to any members who are interested. Um, and I get probably a couple a month for for those. Um, actually just had one earlier this week. Uh, our studio has been host to several American uh, Red Cross blood drives. We host the flu shot clinic. We've had several holiday fitness challenges. And something that I've recently added within the last few months are I share my recipes online with anybody who wants to check them out. I also have them printed off as well. Um they're just my versions trying to make certain recipes a little healthier, a little bit higher protein. It's my little my little thing. Um so I'm gonna get a little bit into the attendance. So this graph is going to show our attendance over the years. So this
011is our total number of visits each year um that since we've been open. So obviously we see a little bit of dip in 2020 but we've bounced back very strong since then and we've seen some pretty good growth each and every year. Um and yeah I don't really have much else to say on that. We attendance has been great. Um this chart is going to show our monthly averages. So it's going to give you kind of an idea of our busier months versus our quieter months. So, I would say October through March, we're pretty busy. Um, I'm currently seeing about 150 people every morning. That's just the morning shift. Um, which is fun to say hi, 150 [laughter] contact. Um Um, yeah. And then the summer months were a little bit quieter, but that's going
012to be anybody in the center really. We can move on to the next. Um, so this is just a little bit more of our membership breakdown. So, As of October of this year, we have a little over 900 current members that have active memberships, and that's not including staff or students. It's pretty even split between male and female. Most of our members are residents of the Writtown School District. It's about 96%. Um, and the chart breaks down our senior, our adult or college student, or military memberships. So, uh, what the outer ring is going to show you is the membership breakdown by type. So, adults had 54% of our memberships. Seniors 29, um, uh, military six, and college student 11. And then the inner ring is going to show you the percentage of our attendance.
013So, the adults account for 54%, but they contribute 48% of the total attendance. Conversely, the senior citizens pulled 29% of the memberships, but they contribute 37%. What that tells us is that the senior citizens in our community are using their memberships at a higher rate than anybody else, which is awesome to see. And they are consistent. They have they have their routines and they stick to them, which is great. And then I have a little bit more with the number of signups year after year. I have about 200 new people brand new. That's not including membership. some brand new members who haven't been members in the past. So, so far a little over 200 this year. So, to stay ahead of any sort of wear and tear, stay ahead of uh equipment maintenance, we do
014schedule regular uh regular preventative maintenance checks with Direct Fitness Solutions. So, they were our equipment provider when we first opened and they continue to service our equipment and uh help replace anything when that wear and tear does happen. Do our best to stay ahead of that um with those preventative maintenance visits. We also try to keep our equipment as clean as possible. We know that also helps with the longevity of said equipment. Um uh we'll rotate pieces of our cardio equipment. Um, if we didn't do that, the treadmill that's closest to the wall [laughter] would have been ran into the ground by Scott Thompson years ago. So, um, it's that's just one thing we try to do to stay ahead of that wear and tear so our machines last as long as possible. Um, we've
015recently updated our tablets that the students utilize for the workout programs. We've, uh, we've added equipment over the years. We've replaced a handful of pieces here and there just to stay ahead of that wear and tear like I've talked about. Um, we also post on our social media pages, our Facebook page. I recently Corey was very kind to help me get set up in Parent Square so I can um help get messages out to community members a little bit eas uh more easily with programs and if there are weather delays and updates. that way I can just send out one message and it hits anybody who signs up for it. So that's been wonderful so far. Um so we're getting close to the end here. Um so a little bit about our staff and our
016hours. So we are open Monday through Friday from 5:00 a.m. to noon. Um and 4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. in the evenings. Saturdays are 6:00 to 11:00 in the mornings and we're closed on Sundays. Summer hours we do expand a little bit from uh 3 to 8 in the evenings. Um, and one thing that I'll add is I looked into some of the other high schools that offer fitness centers uh to their community members and our hours. Don't even compare this. We we're open 60 hours a week. On average, I compared Kel, Holstein, Little Shoot, and Kimberly. On average, they're open about 30 hours a week to the public. So, I think we're doing an awesome job being uh being available, being open, offering classes, and all the other things that I've talked about. And
017then I want to touch a little bit on my staff members. So, these are my uh my evening and weekend people. U Terry Colts has worked with us since 2019. She recently started working here at the elementary school. She's been great. a recent graduate. Bull Colts, her nephew, um has been working uh for me for the last couple of years. He's currently in college pursuing a degree in computer science, I believe. Isaiah Penberg uh he's actually cousin of mine. Um started working for me in [clears throat] center shortly after graduation. He's pursuing a degree in firefighting and paramedic. Um Rowan Vanderstein, he's actually a senior. He's my first student that I've hired. he's doing the youth apprentichip program. Um, so that's why we allow him to work in the wellness center and he's been doing
018an excellent job. And then lastly, we recently hired Dan Sever for a little bit of help. He's a recently retired community member and he's just looking for something to do. He's actually top four in overall attendance in in the wellness. Something [laughter] that we do keep track of to share with uh the community. Um, and then some of the subs that I have are Terry Shyel, uh, Penny Barta, and, uh, former employee Haley Quinn. That's about all I have. If nobody have any questions, I do have one last little thing, but okay. So, at the end of my senior classes, ever since I found out I was going to be a dad, so this has been going on for a little over two years now, um, I tell a dad joke. So, I want to
019tell you my favorite. I promise it's appropriate. [laughter] What do you give a dog that has a fever? >> Give it ketchup and mustard because that's the best thing for a hot dog. [laughter] Thanks so much. >> I'm actually taking off because I have a 2-year-old and I need to put some good night. Thank you. >> Thank you, Jordan. >> All right. Um, next on the agenda is the cross country trip to Colorado. >> That is true. I am I have been the head coach of the Rightstown cross country team, boys and girls, for four years. Um, before that I was an assistant coach under Patrick Boyd for a year. But, um, we've been rebuilding and trying to increase commitment and team spirit and I've been um, enticing my team with the possibility of going
020to Colorado for a couple years. So I said if they worked really hard and they treated with summer last year and had really good attendance last year, we would [clears throat] get this trip underway. It didn't happen. So this year they came back. Uh we started training harder in summer including now that we have more um open um >> yeah more like unlimited contact days until July 30th. We started working out on Mondays and Fridays together. we had more commitment. People were more excited about it. And um early in I think our first meet in August, one of the students said, "Are you going to Colorado this year? You think you're going to go?" I'm like, "I don't know. I feel pretty good about it." Um and they did a really good job this year.
021So, just to preface this, this is sort of um partly to sort of reward them for a good job done and sort of increase their um excitement about the cross country program. So, um we are hoping to go to probably flying we're flying into Denver um between the dates of July 24th and July 29th of this summer. Um that's when everyone sort of agreed that that was the best date there available. And uh so we're flying into Denver, spending quite a bit of time probably around the Colorado Springs area. Um Colorado is range the um state with the most active citizens because there's so many things to do outdoors and we plan on taking advantage of that. So um we plan on running multiple days and um probably they get mad at me that we
022can run every day. So probably three days of the five and one of those days I plan on um doing just a community 5k race. So either a it's a fun run. Um, there is one in Boulder that's free that they do. It's monthly or bi-weekly. So, either we're doing a free run or whatever, just as a group, not as as not as a it's not a team event, but it's a fun run that we're all doing together. So, um, just to get out and get running with a different scenery, I mean, a beautiful scenery. Um, elevation, a little bit of elevation. And then other things we're doing is for cross trainining. There's a fair amount of hiking involved um around Boulder and around Colorado Springs. Students picked out places they'd really like to go.
023So, some of those places include going up to the top of Pikes Peak, which is an awesome experience to be at the top of a 14,000 foot mountain um and doing some hiking along the way. Um hiking Seven Falls. Uh it's a huge waterfall just outside of Colorado Springs. They also really want to go whitewater rafting. Um, which would be a very cool experience for them as well. Um, and then some of their hiking around Red Rocks, which is near Denver, and around Boulder, Colorado. So, very active mix of running and sort of cross trainining and hiking uh during those five days. So, um, what else do we need to know? Um, so I am going, my assistant coach, Betsy Keun, is going and then also, um, one of our parents, Tyler Yan, um, or
024Jan say, um, he offered to go with his son as well as a male chaperon, and he also is a bied teacher at Nino Middle School. So, he is on board with us. And then like I mentioned, we plan on doing a roundtrip flight to Denver and then renting a van while we're there to get around. Um so by my estimation, the cost of the trip is going to be between $900 and $1,000. And we've done quite a bit of fundraising or we have for the cross country program. So I think that should not be um an issue for students to sort of make up the difference of that. So, um, that's most of my plan. >> Yes. Any other questions you have? I don't know if you read this over in advance. I kind
025of just covered the highlights. >> You'll all be traveling together. I see in the passenger van separate vehicles. The plan is, yes, like a 15 person passenger van. The cost of that is about $1,500 for the five days. So the only thing that would separate that is if it's like too much over budget then we might split into two bands. Otherwise I'd prefer to keep the team together. >> How many total students? Sorry total students. >> Yeah we have nine I think nine students that who said they definitely want to go >> and then we have three chat rooms. >> So it's a good small group. >> Thank you. >> So later on the agenda they'll actually approve it. >> Okay. or take a vote. >> Sure. >> To approve it. >> Okay. >> I'm
026just guessing that they may approve it, but [laughter] >> but thank you for coming tonight. >> Thank you. >> All right. Um, next on the agenda is the Village of Rightstown 125th year celebration, >> which is kind of cool because I noticed I saw your picture up when I went to the fitness center the other day up on the wall there. That it's pretty pretty cool stuff. Congratulations. >> Yeah, it's definitely very honored to to have that. So, I'm here just to talk about our 125th year celebration. So for folks um that were in town in 2021, we had a 100red year celebration that was held at the high school um really what that was is I'll say um you know community festival. We had vans, we had food and beer tents. Um there were
027games and activities um for all of the above. Um believe there was some helicopter rides that we offered at that point too. Um this year we're looking to do that again. Uh I worked with Craig a little bit to find some availability on some of the grounds just that um truly the the school um grounds have probably the most opportunity for space and parking. Um so we kind of looked through some availability. A date we came up with was August 15, Saturday. Um and what we believe is going to be the best spot is back here at Walt Mackey Field. kind of utilizing the middle and elementary school properties for just parking and then overall um stationing of the different things. Um so what we're planning is a afternoon event starting probably at noon. Um
028we're still kind of finalizing some details and going to about 9:00 at night just so we're not disturbing the neighborhood too much with noise after that. Um what we're planning is um more or less again that same community type festival. So, we'll have um you know food and food tent and um that will have soda and or um beverages of of some type if if allowed on on school grounds. And then we'll have games and different um activities throughout and and um presentations from police department, fire department, different things that um around the community. um and maybe we might have a little bit of a vendor affair with that to help um uh keep people occupied throughout the day activities and things to do. In the 100redyear celebration, there was alcohol and the the board
029at that time did give approval to to sell alcohol on the property for that um community event. um back we did in 2001. And really that's the request again of the board just to see um if the school board would allow that on school property again for this event, this um um I guess community um celebration if um you know if they if they think that is something um that would be approved. I know by policy as I looked into [clears throat] the history of the 2001 how that happened by policy. I believe the board can can give that approval to to do so if needed. Um so at this point we are um I guess I think the the fields or the area is somewhat held for us at this point. Now we just
030got to give some confirmation on um you know with the board on on that space which again I I'll putting that have that request in with Craig and he's kind of has it on hold for us. And then um whether or not you want to allow the to say the local ball at that event or not. The food and beer tent will be ran by the right fire department. Um and we look for volunteers from from different organizations, but it'll be managed by the um fire department. We and then do all the um we'll also use utilize our police department and and volunteers to help with um all the I guess security that goes with that. making sure that um everyone that is consuming those are of age and in a certain spot so it's
031not necessarily intermingled in with the family activities as well. So we'll work with um that and we'll also work if there's any recommendations from the board on that whether there's any what I'll say is is is law and statute right that you have to follow is some of those things um if there's recommendations um by the board to be also to accommodate those. So, not sure if there's any questions on really the celebration. Again, we're kind of still in the planning stage. We have a few things. We have a band um that's on hold or booked right now um with some with some money held. Um we have Johnny Wad um potentially for the band if if the day everything works. Um and then we'll have some other music throughout the day and to go
032along with the activities. The Johnny Wad would be a band that would play. um in the afternoon worked up at 6:00 to 9:00 p.m. and then the village staff would work to um set up everything, tear down everything and then clean up after all the event that would be put on. We would expect the school staff to have to do >> questions from the board. um proceeds from sales. Has there been anything earmarked yet for that? >> Not necessarily. No, we've thought some over the fire department or police department, but nothing for that. Um, as far as putting that many people condensed in one area on grass, um, how would it be off the fields, I'm assuming? So, it'll be in the the center area is what we're kind of looking at. Yeah, we're kind
033of again that's one of those things where as we're planning for for the event, if the world was perfect, right, and mother nature wanted to cooperate, maybe we could do that, like I said, on on the football field or in that larger area with a stage where people could stand on the grass or sit on the grass and do those type of things. If not, I think we'd probably set it up kind of like our national night out with the band over here on the asphalt and people kind of congregating in one of the asphalt spaces. um probably here around middle school or elementary um and again it's it's hard to say right summer times are busy um from what I remember um because I was in the the fire department and the beer tent
034at the at the 100 year celebration there's a pretty good turnout from the community to come see that and I think you know like Johnny Wattling and stuff they also have a following so I think there'll be enough people but yeah by all means we'll definitely have to take that into consideration as you go is too wet. We don't want to be tearing up fields and and wrecking wrecking things for anybody. So, trying to keep that as as best we can. Now, again, if it's mother nature cooperates and things are dry and nice, maybe that won't be such a big deal. >> Travis, was Miller Park looked at uh looked at as a possible? >> We did. We looked [clears throat] at a lot of spots. We looked at Mueller Mueller. We looked at um
035even the village hall like using Zerbo Park. Um and and that could be an option. Um it just really parking using some of the the school facilities here. The parking is really the best. So we're looking to try accommodating people like that and and parking. High school I think was good, but truly I think this facility and Walt Macki facilities even better. A lot of the neighborhoods can walk and and get to there. Um you one thing we'll have to kind of think about um you know now with the ATV UTVs we have a parking spot for for that as well, right? to help maximize parking as far as um you know the the asphalt spaces for cars go and then maybe some grass spaces for those. But again, also looking to what we can
036do to make sure that we're not wrecking anything with all those options. But yes, we did look at some of those. We thought about maybe doing it downtown again, too. It's just um [clears throat] just overall parking is kind of the struggle of the places. I I know we we talked about maybe at at Village Hall to observe both, but we still probably have to work with you folks to um you know, probably lock in your facilities here just for added parking to to help out accommodate all that. And then with that um if we kept it here, we just thought maybe there be a little more safety issues, right? If we held it at Zerbo Park just to people having to walk from all these parking lots crossing the road, there's that chance of
037pedestrian connections too. Even though we have a lot of safe crossings without just being centered here would be better probably. >> If your proposal is possibly put the band on the asphalt, how does that help your parking situation? >> Um, it does or doesn't, but that's just one of those, you know, this this spot up here where I'll say the drop off areas for kids right now may be impacted by that, but um somewhat limited on on that section on parking. the bigger parking lots will be the middle school, the stuff at Wal Mackie Field, and then the elementary school functioning over here. It will limit some a spot for some of that, but um not not too. Then again, there is parking along the streets and around that block too that some can utilize
038other than 96 here too. The village hall obviously will be available if we're dealing at this facility too. just again looking at facilities is is probably the the best to pick one of the the schools if possible to hold and there is some availability based on athletic schedule and just things in between so >> so I don't know if this is a question for you per se or maybe Jim if he would know but so who fixes the damage to the grass and stuff like if it ends up raining and it's all just ruining the grass That's like who pays for that? >> We all do. Um, so I I would say this. I think these celebrations are really what makes our country strong and great and and being able to celebrate 125 years with
039police departments and fire departments and everything else. So this is a a wonderful thing. So, how do you make a really positive thing stay positive for the whole time? Almost impossible, right? So, you you've got to you've got to take into consideration things like that. If it was something that um we had, we do have more time to research. I really think if you look at the elementary school playground area, there's a little bit of a tree line there and that's where the the elementary kids say you don't go any farther in that tree line, right, Ellie? That that's where as far as they can go and then there's that little bit of parking lot up there and the drop off area. You got 10 to 15 acres of fields back there that we don't
040use for anything for anything. So if you tear up the grass, who cares because we don't use them anyway. >> Well, and I think to Melinda's point, like I think I I looked at some of the the facility use agreements that you have, but I think we can put in something for that. You know, I know it's one one factor when I talked to Jim like insurance, right? Like who's going to cover some of the insurance in case something happens to you, right? We have a lagged policy for when we're doing events and do all those things like that would be on our side. if someone got hurt here at the facility during this event that would that would be covered by the village and I would assume the same thing. I can I can
041check again on on grounds, but also I think if like I said if mother nature is just really not cooperative like I think it's one of those where we have to cancel we have to do things right like um you know unless it's some popup thing where else and it's not supposed to be bright and sunny and also monsoon hits you know as we're as we got everybody sitting here right but um I think we'll try to plan around that too again to to Jim's point to keep positive things positive we can we don't want we don't want to mess mess up fields or do all that too. But I think again on that we can we can put in um in the agreement basically that rental agreement or facility use agreement that you know
042if there's anything we by all means we okay to restore that I I wouldn't want to put that in the gas. So the the last half of my point was I would suggest that you put them out there, stay off the football field because that is used by the little kids. >> The baseball field by the end of August is pretty well the baseball season's over with by then. >> Yeah, you got 10 or 15 acres back there and you could set up a stage. You could have everything that you want. You could have your beer tents, whatever else, portaotties out there. You could use some of the parking lot and even use the end of the parking lot if it's really wet to have the staged area and everybody be out on the grass.
043And I think you could really limit the damage that you would do to um our kids being able to use that those fields. But I think there's >> easily done >> and and to Jim's point I think that probably is like we we'll have to strategize a little bit try to figure out what the best layout is, you know, for that [clears throat] event, right? But more than likely the the bands want a fairly decent size stage kind of like we set up for National Night Out. So more than likely that stage is going to be set up somewhere on the hard surface just because I don't think they're going to want to set up on grass much less do we want them taking that on the grass. Um, and then we'll just, you know,
044again, as we get the layout a little bit settles, we can work, we can work with with that here again, just to kind of burn because, you know, as we're putting in 10 stakes and all those other things, right, we got to make sure we're not getting any into any um, infrastructure that's that's out there and all that good stuff. So, um, we'll have to do that um, kind of either way, but I think that's probably a great idea. And then again, we we plan on trying to do everything right. Like there is some bath facilities, bathroom facilities throughout that this group, but we're so we don't want people necessarily in these buildings or those. So make sure we have porta bodies and wash stations, all the different things that go along with that stuff.
045>> Do you have any tennis projections? >> I don't really know. I tried looking at what that was in the past, but um you know, if I were to guess, I would probably say at least a thousand people that they you know, throughout the given day. >> Okay. >> Is that is that more than Fall Fest? >> Um well, it depends. So Fall Fest, you know, there's roughly 120 cars, right? Each one of those cars bring one or two people. I'll say for the car show, >> there's about 30 vendors. Each one of those vendors have that. And then, you know, so there's, you know, two 300 people just I'll say people that are exhibiting at at that fallest. And then I bet there's probably at least it depends on on the year, but between
046500 and that thousand people that kind of go through there throughout the day as well. Um, so yeah, it's it's I would think maybe more. Like I said, I don't remember what the attendance was on. Um, but I I remember the basically this where the soccer fields there are in between the baseball being pretty pretty full with people while they're listening to the band at that point. >> Craig, did you have something you wanted to add? >> Uh, just add for for outside groups that rent the facilities, they have to submit a liability form. All right. So from girl scouts used in the elementary cafeteria to taking a look at how it was used in our high school stuff and there has been damages and their insurance will end up paying for that and stuff
047like that. So, nobody kind of just uses it and we're not on the hook for it, >> right? That's a couple things I know I've worked with Travis and we just thought this would be uh Night Out has been a really big success and there a band that was set up and whatnot. It was really cool. All right. It just one of those it's it's not a youth sport event. It's not it's it's a community people event and uh it brings everybody together. So I think it's something that would be kind of cool. So I I told Travis I thought it was a good idea and work for it. Of course logistics wise you always got to work through everything and go through that. But I know um uh we have the power and we
048have the setup working with the village stuff like Chris crew and stuff is always flawless and fun working with Andy Vic always. So um you getting all that stuff. So that's nice that way. Thanks T. That was one thing too that it's it's a 125 year celebration for the village but it's also a 100redyear celebration for fire department. So combining those in in the celebration we really will be recognizing both of those. >> Right. Has there any initial stages? Nothing's approved yet, but in that the initial conversations, have there been any talks about like any of the FBA or sources of strength like have any kind of partner booth or something or anything in that? >> There hasn't yet, but it's not saying that they're there once. I know that FFA and FBA held at
049the night out, right? I think uh the night before we have our big football scrimmage, all right, so there won't be any high school event going on that day. Um, I think utilizing the playground over here, make it more of a family event that people can bring kids over and everything else. And and then obviously if if storms come out of the blue, all right, we can put people in the middle school gym or elementary gym to get them safe. I think that's one um other thing as well too. That's been a night out. We had plans, emergency action plans like that in place and everything else. So >> that's one thing as we work into that planning and use and we we will be looking to integrate everything in the in the community, right?
050Like I said, offering, you know, local businesses kind of like we do at Fall Fest and whatnot to to um you know, set up, giveaway things, do whatever. We looking to um have the different um groups within the schools um be there and maybe the band wants to do something and play something there. Um but we'll we'll be looking at that. Like I said, we're just trying to get everything finalized at a date and then really start working with the groups and open it up. >> Okay. >> With the fallout and everything being there, would we be able to also support like a little community softball tourn or kickball tournament or something? >> Those feelings. >> Yeah. Kind of with that, I would kind of compare it to kind of breakfast in the farm. >>
051I know the tinuses are holding it this year. All right. A lot of our school groups go out and are helping already, right? And also like when the carrots ran it, they used our high school parking lots for overflow, >> right? So it's kind of that's community events. They're kind of there. We're we're part of the community. So I think it's one we help each other out. Um so I I really see it kind of as one of those that that helps. But yeah, I think uh I don't know who the uh going to be over there at the village, but I'm sure there's going to be a lot of ideas going. Well, that's one thing too is we we work into it. We're going to try to get the create an event committee for
052this um right away after the first of the year. Um there kind of thought about it in November, but as you get into Thanksgiving and Christmas, it's kind of hard to get everybody into it pretty quick. Right after the first year, we'll be putting something out there on social media and whatnot just to try get together coordinate all those ideas that we have Jonathan and again just try to make that a really great community. >> Any other questions for you? So, this will be uh for approval for uh the board policy to one time day to approve a liquor license, beer license, whatever you want to call it. Um, and I'll coordinate with you exactly what you want to call that. Um, and that'll be on the agenda for the board meeting in January for
053the board to have a final discussion and and and a vote if we choose to. >> But appreciate you coming. Yeah, thanks again and thank you guys for the consideration on that and again thanks for we'll be working with Craig to get that facility use agreement and taken care of and thanks for the collaboration use of the facilities. Travis, on behalf of the school district, would you wish everybody at the village a merry Christmas and happy holiday season and uh enjoy your time. And maybe as a side note also, if this runs really well back there and that 10 or 15 acres that we don't do anything with, maybe the village might want to look at maybe taking over that land and putting a park in there or something and maybe put some baseball fields
054up and things like that. Just saying. Just saying. Just saying. >> You don't think there's going to be any need to expand buildings? Well, I think we have enough land to do that. >> So, anyway, thank you. >> Yeah. No, by all means, I think there's there's some good conversations that need to happen. And again, I think staff here is is amazing as you all know. If there's things that we work together on, whether it's community, whether it's, you know, I know Andy's working with staff on helping, you know, different things, snow removal, you know, different different stuff. By all means, if we can collaborate, I think I think we need to. we're we're all in this together as as as we see it. And one thing I do I should mention also too, Jim,
055is thank you for the information you put out there on the school district and then helping to educate a lot of folks on on our tax side of the world too as well as yours. Um, and it's kind of a shame sometimes as people don't educate themselves on really what's being presented because you guys present a lot of good information. And we have a lot of good information on our website and although none of us like to see increases, right? I think the rationale behind them are very are very good at explaining very well on both sides. So, um, thanks for doing that, too, because >> Thank you, too. >> Yeah, there's there's many of folks that I've talked to in the last few weeks that after you walk them through your information and you're
056walking through our information, they're like, I get it, right? I'm happy about it because none of us like increases. >> Nobody's happy. [laughter] >> But but they somewhat understand it better. And so thanks for putting that information out there and having that available. It's like I said, it's what helps most most people get fired up until they hit the hit the meat and potatoes of it. Thank you. >> Thank you, >> Brian. Did you get that last part? That last part about the tax thing. You got that partic [laughter] All right. Um, next on the agenda is upcoming events. Um, >> update on the middle school scheduling. >> We all came. [laughter] >> So, this is gonna be short and sweet. and I are just here to talk a little bit about uh what we
057are looking to do at the middle school as far as their schedule. So nothing is changing for this year. This is all for the 26 27 school year. This has kind of been a long time coming and so looking at the schedule uh change is really for three reasons. So the three reasons and what we're looking to change is number one, we want to look at getting increased instructional time. Number two is we want to look at doing their encore a little bit differently as far as band and choir. So we'll talk about band and choir uh for the majority of when we talk about the encors and the changes there. And then for the third we need to simplify their schedule as their schedule is more complicated than any schedule in all three buildings.
058So those are the three reasons why we're proposing a schedule change and I can start with this one. First of all, kudos to our middle school staff. Uh teaching middle school is always it doesn't matter what um district I've worked in middle school schedules are always really tricky. What's really unique about Brighttown is that they have four different grade levels and trying to make this come and so they're doing a great job but something one of our goals was to increase that instruction time for core content classes six through eight. So we'll talk about band and and choir and using that zero hour which has been wonderful. Uh, but this allows us to take away some of the home room, keep the guided study, but increase overall the math and ELA, uh, which really gets
059us to to the best practice mark and those minutes. So excited about that. And then also, um, probably the biggest changes are to our sixth grade teachers providing instruction. Um, and so they're going to be collaborating more in terms of teaching math and science, ELA, and social studies, uh, instead of teaching just one subject. And then the um course. So we briefly talked a little bit about how banding choir right now is in the zero hour. So if your child wants to take band or choir, they have to start at 7:40 and then that goes roughly to like 8:20 8:25 somewhere in there. Um and then those other students that are in a home room uh or guided study of some sort. And so what the whole point of this was to get the band
060in choir out of the zero hour and into the encore rotation. So by taking the van out of the zero hour, we ended up with an additional 35 minutes roughly in the beginning of the school day that we could stretch out into more instructional time. So by also taking band and choir out of zero hour, we are giving more students an opportunity to participate. So as a way to try to grow band and choir opportunities for our students, this is the perfect way to do that. So in sixth grade, band and choir will replace general music and band and choir will be required. They have to pick one of them in sixth grade. Band um will no longer be offered in fifth grade. Band will and choir will start in sixth grade and then band
061and choir in seventh and eighth grade will be an elective. They will get to choose either band, choir or computer. So we feel at that point they have an opportunity to kind of pick what path they want to go down. So that was the big push with band and choir. Uh we really feel like that's important to give all students an opportunity. And then fifth grade encore, that's pretty simple. You don't need to go back. Um fifth grade encore, they had 325 or 327 minute blocks. We are now putting them on the same schedule as the rest of the middle school with two 45 minute encore blocks of time. So we changed that up a little bit as well. With the removal of fifth grade band, what do we think that's going to do for
062impact with band and choir? >> We actually think it will help build it when they get to sixth grade. >> Okay. >> Because it will no longer be a zero hour >> and it's not >> that was one of those things that they were willing to give up. Okay. >> Like if you have to give up something, what are you willing to take up? And they they basically willing to do just about anything to give it out of the zero hour because banning choir right now is competing with social hour to a point. >> Um it's a home run time. It's a Yep. You know, Michelle's doing small group instruction, but the other kids who weren't doing small group instruction, you'd love that they're silent reading like they're supposed to be doing, but they're not.
063They're socializing, right? So, band choir right now is trying to compete with some sort of social hour. They're trying to compete with the kids who get to go play in the gym when they get to school at 7:30 in the morning with their friends rather than going and, you know, so it's just really a way to better um provide services for our students. >> And not all students are able to catch a ride to school in the morning for banning fire, right? if they have to ride the bus, they're not going to be there on time necessarily. So, this really makes a lot more equitable for all the students to have an opportunity during time. >> So, with seventh and eighth, that's a choice between band and choir or computers. Have an opportunity. >> So,
064they cannot I guess >> you'll be able to do band and computers have to choose one and the other. >> Yes. >> Same as choosing band or choir. not right now they could not pick both they could not be in and required >> um and computer our students receive computer class from kindergarten all the way through sixth grade as a required course per se. So once we get to seventh and eighth grade that does become a choice. Yeah, I am impressed in this district computer time they're offered. So I think that this all evens out and it would be really nice to build your band and choir program. A lot of male schools are are turning to this because we're just not seeing the numbers like we want to. So, this is exciting for me.
065>> We talked about >> Sorry, I'm like, wait, I hope if I don't throw you off track. Um, so will this be different than what computer is offering currently? Because then it kind of becomes an elective. So then I would imagine the curriculum for it is going to change. Yes, in seventh grade, a computer hasn't been taught in quite some time. So, we are really looking to just kind of like reinvent it. So, how can we make it more programming? How can we make it more robotic? You know what I mean? Almost more of a STEM type of opportunity for our students. Um, again, because of the amount of technology that they already received from four or from kindergarten all the way to sixth grade. What are some other fun things that we can do?
066And really tapping into what what are we looking to grow in the high school program? >> So, we look at high school business. How can we infiltrate some of that? or even some of the tech and STEM things. So, we would be looking to maybe just doing some things a little bit different as far as what that's offering and probably not computer. >> I was just going to say that. I'm like, yeah. Okay. >> I'm following you. >> That's the window that we were going with, but we really >> And just the final slide, if you don't mind, simplicity. Simplicity. So, we already know that middle school uh schedules are complex, but really trying to simplify this for the teachers, for the students um all around here. So, all grade levels will run on a
067similar schedule, not exactly the same, but really close. Uh consistency in the length of course times the sixth, seven, and eight where we're not seeing that right now. Instructional times do look different in math and literacy per se right now. schedules to provide common open times. So, more collaboration and planning, sub coverage when we don't always have subs in the district. Uh, and just a short story. So, uh, Jessica Beerwald is the administrative assistant. So, she helps me find students that I need to catch up. And one day I thought, you know what? I can call my own student. I know how to find them. I had to call four different classrooms until I finally found that student. So again, just trying to find something a little bit more simple, right, and clean for the
068kids. >> Have you gotten staff input? Specifically, like Mr. Baker from the band, um your sixth grade staff here, you're looking at changing the way that they're teaching. What's what's [clears throat] been the level of excitement or push back or whatever from >> that? [laughter] No, we think it's great. They was really nice. Um they came in, spoke with us, showed us things as far as with that. Um, our first things were mine was right away was like I was concerned about the band, the choir because that was a big part of my life growing up too is all the arts. Um, making sure that there's enough time for all that. So, that was one of our concerns as well. And you're also nodding your head because I know you're a part of some of
069those conversations as well. And yeah, we just think, you know, it's like I'm going from I thought, you know, math just math and now I'll be teaching math and science. But it's really good because um I know we're gonna have a chance to I have a chance to kind of like teach them the science. I'm like I've always been kind of interested in the science and everything, but I get to share my expertise with another teacher, another teacher that loves to teach math. And then he also gets to share his expertise with science with me. So we're going to have a nice collaboration with working together with other teachers and sharing our expertise that we have already that we can. And now I have someone I can collaborate with. I'm like the only sixth grade
070math teacher. or something goes wrong. I'm like, who do I talk to? Now I'm going to have another teacher that if something went well, when he was teaching, I compared to when me, we can collaborate together and we only get better. There's more ideas to spread around because put more minds together, you get a lot of great ideas. So, I think it's going to be good. So, and you too with the news, I guess. I can't speak for Zach and Rachel, but I can tell you that this is something that we've been talking about for many years and that this is something that they would very much welcome. >> Yeah. >> For them. I guess to build on to that, the whole conversation started with Zach. >> Um so that was kind of like where
071the conversation started from. Um knowing some historic history in the district that yes, we have been talking about this for a long time. We're actually going to make it happen uh for the next school year. But yes, we have brought people right along with us. We had an encore meeting. Anybody who had was going to be impacted. So, Mr. Deliver who was going to be impacted with the technology piece of it, like he was brought along. Um, and so we met with the BLT last night to go through more of like really diving in deep with the schedule. So, like what are you you've all lived it. We have not lived this. What are we not seeing? What are we missing? And so, we've done um a lot of communication really kept people um along
072with the ride uh with us. So feel like the third day. I mean, you know, changes changes can be hard, but I think they're all really looking forward to some of the the perks that we've just talked about. >> Any other questions? >> I got some questions. I haven't had a middle schooler yet, so I don't understand the the structure buildups in middle school. Like how many class periods are there in a day at the six through eight? So you're going to have your math, your ELA, your science, your social studies, and you're having two encors grade level. And that can change, right, per quarter. So of course it could be band, it could be choir, it could be music, but then encourse can also include art for a quarter, health, um, fed, right? I'm
073just trying to get them all. >> Tech ed, Spanish, >> science, >> egg, science. >> So it it changes. >> Some change every other day, some change every quarter. You said six periods. >> Six periods lunch and then depending on home room and >> so each, correct me if I'm wrong, the middle school starts every day with a home room and that's going to be the big change, right? That home room is going away. >> We we are looking um we're looking, this is just tonight's work, uh looking to see about maybe starting a 10-minute home room in every grade level if possible. Otherwise, their first their first quarter block just becomes a 10 minute and extra because most of their first core blocks are longer than their afternoon blocks. Lunch. We got to eat
074a lunch. Everything moves around the lunch. >> You gotta fit that within this really small window of time. So, >> and share teachers. >> Oh, yeah. >> All right. Any other questions? >> Um, I just was thinking as you how does the balance does this impact the balance of encourse, right? Like you do have a rotation or it's like too like is there concern that suddenly computers STEM whatever will be won't you see I don't I don't so as of right now will only be teaching one encore block and uh computer and technology will be in both blocks just because we're right now thinking seventh and eighth grade will have more students interested in computer class right now just due to building up the program we have to it's going to take time to build
075up the band inquire numbers So right now computer is offered more >> than wires. So on staffing do you think? >> No just we had >> then does that make the schedule better for music because I know for a while there their schedules were like I mean hopefully they'd get lunch every day. >> They actually it's it works beautifully. So they had a large chunk of time when they're at the high school. Um, and then they do have to travel back and forth. Like that's just the reality of it. But they do have large chunks of time that they are going to be able to spend at >> and they do get a lunch. Everybody gets lunch. >> So we'll affectionately call this the Baker plan >> because he was a real big impetus and
076put a lot of thought and effort in into that. So that needs to be made mentioned. Um, I think some of your questions are very valid and now would be a good time to let Mr. Ward know uh Ward know that uh in the se the January meeting we're going to talk about high school scheduling in that workshop. So that will make that'll make uh some of these things make more sense with the traveling teachers and the shared teachers because uh this the scheduling at the high school is >> an interesting proposition to say the least. >> Scott warned us. >> Excuse me. >> Scott warned us. >> Yeah. So we are going to be uh having to to uh really look at that and see how that works out. So that's why they're starting
077the scheduling as early as we possibly can and keep moving through it so we can get the numbers and we can meet the needs of kids and we can see where we need to put our resources. >> I appreciate this is really where the work needs to happen kids. So you guys >> very helpful. >> So don't stand up and say short and sweet next time. >> Really? [laughter] over. [laughter] >> All right. [laughter] >> Uh, next on the agenda is upcoming events. Um, not all inclusive, just a reminder. So, you want to roll through them or >> Yeah. Uh, tomorrow. Yeah, tomorrow we got the concert. Logan, good luck. Break a leg. Heard it went well today. 10 and 1 o'clock. Um Christmas break. Just a reminder, we're kind of closed between uh December
07824th and January 2nd. Um looking to see to make sure that we have it posted on all the different uh buildings when the office areas will be open. More than likely the 26th, the 29th, and the 30th are the dates that we're going to have somebody in district office to keep those office open. the other three offices possibly the high school office will be open some of that time but the other ones will be closed. Um the snowball dance I I've heard traditionally that's where the girl asks the boy instead of the boy asked the girl. So you know there's you know I'm I'm just gonna leave that one alone. I better just leave that one alone. [laughter] So yeah. So the 17th and 18th that's always a fun fun thing to uh make mention
079of. All right. Next is open forum and we do not have anyone that wants to speak. So, um, board of education minutes. So, discussion and possible approval of the November 19th, 2025 meeting minutes. They've all had a chance to review. Um, questions, concerns with them. >> Right. be looking for a motion to approve. >> I'll make a motion to approve the November 19th. >> I'll second them. >> All those in favor? >> I. >> Anyone opposed? >> All right. Discussion and possible approval of December 1st workshop minutes. Any questions on those? You're looking for a motion to approve. >> I'll make a motion to approve the December 1st workshop. >> I'll second the motion. >> All right. All those in favor? >> Anyone opposed? >> 70. All right. Next is uh action items. So, consideration
080to approve the month of bills listing and receipts. All had a chance to review those questions on them. I be looking for a motion to approve. >> Make a motion to approve. Receipts. I'll second it. >> All in favor? I. >> Anyone opposed? >> Zero. Uh, discussion and possible approval of cross country trip to Colorado. >> I'll make a motion to approve. I have a second. >> All those in favor? >> Anyone oppose? 70. All right. Discussion and possible approval to add agriculture science class at high school um for 2026 2027. So, you've had a chance to review questions on it. Okay. Looking for a motion to approve. >> I'll make a motion to approve. >> Second. >> All those in favor? I. >> Anyone opposed? 70. All right. Approval of early graduation request. >>
081I'll make a motion to approve the early graduation request. I'll second it. >> All those in favor? >> I. >> Anyone opposed? 70. >> Um, discussion on possible approval to reschedule the board meeting originally set for January 21st to either January 14th or 28th. So, open it up for discussion. >> Either of them work better. What do we have for um >> with um Aaron? Do we have anything with Aaron? January. >> Nope. >> Um >> yeah, >> it would be the next one. >> In my thought, the 28th. This I think Jim mentioned it too because it's after a conference. So if we want to bring anything back from there, it's a good opportunity to review and kind of discuss. So, >> so I'll make a motion to move the January 21st board meeting
0822026 to January 28th, 2026. >> I'll second it. >> All those in favor? >> Anyone opposed? >> 70. [clears throat] >> All right. Discussion and possible approval of resignation of Reichone Elementary School Music teacher. >> I'll discuss first. I just want to thank Mr. G. Uh my students or my my kids uh they they loved having you and I know when they found out they're really sad you go but I'm excited for this next chapter of your life and excited for the concert tomorrow. >> Yes. Thank you for everything you've done for our district. >> My kids did not attend elementary school but I knew who Mr. wife. [laughter] Yes, you had three of my and they loved you. >> Yes, I would say that you you'll definitely be missed. Um but also wish me
083well next. So >> looking for a motion to approve. >> I'll make a motion to resolution. I'll >> second. >> All those in favor? >> Anyone oppose? 70. Uh discussion possible approval of new Rightstown Elementary School music teacher contract. I'll make the motion to approve the contract. >> Second. >> All those in favor? >> Anyone opposed? 7. >> All right. Next on the agenda is um policy for discussion and action. So, the Neil policy volume 34 2 street. >> Yeah, you've had the updates. Um, kind of got a little bit uh [clears throat] wonky with the special update that we're going to discuss in January, but um it's a first reading. So, if you have any questions, outward questions now. Um, certainly feel free to ask them. If you're looking at them over the next
084couple of weeks, we do do a second reading on January 28th that we wouldn't formally approve them until then. So, just continue to take a look at them. I did add the three policies about student accounts to get us up to speed on that because that's kind of been a point of emphasis for us the last few weeks. So, we're we're in really moving forward on that in good shape. Um, so that will be the finishing touches. So, uh, please feel free to contact me if you have any questions about those. Um, and that includes also the next part, the compliance officer name change. Um, went through all the policies. Tim went through all the policies. Those are all the changing of that compliance officer to Angie to be up to speed. So there's no
085change in the policy. It's just a name change. >> Okay. >> All right. Uh next is discussion and possible approval of WSB resolutions for state convention in January 2026. So um J provided some notes on that. um questions with it. >> I did get all the [laughter] >> I didn't get anything in the mail. I do have the hard paper copies. >> Anybody wants an extra copy? [laughter] Yeah, >> uh looking for a motion to approve. >> One second. >> All those in favor? >> Anyone opposed? >> All right. Administrative updates and board reports. >> Select. We're going to go from this way that way. >> All right. So, the middle school held a penny war. It's really important to collect these pennies before they go out. [laughter] >> We raised we raised some good
086money. So, any extra pennies that the middle school will take out. Uh, behavioral incentives to keep students motivated with the tiger traits. Uh, so grade level buckets were out each morning uh for a pink in November and the more captains before school and during home room just so we didn't interrupt other content times. The grade level winner won the spirit trophy and a grade level treat. A total, are you ready? 2,12841 was made and the fifth graders won. If you know anything about this fifth grade class, they are [laughter] so competitive. They won the hungry hungry nipple uh competition the day I met them on that Friday way [laughter] back when. Okay. So, oh, and due to the huge success, we just decided that we would make sure that we rewarded all the students. Uh,
087so we're going to do uh next week, Monday, Tuesday, we're going to do hot chocolate for all the kids at lunchtime. So, we're excited [clears throat] about that. Also, um the staff at the middle school took part in an annual Christmas giving tree to support a local family. It was really fun for me to get to know my staff even better by watching them love on this family. So, kudos to Amber and Sarah for organizing the opportunity. Mobia did a great job of organizing a spreadsheet throughout the middle school so we can keep track of who's providing the various gifts. Uh it turned out that the staff added to the gift request for each of the family members. We had a lot of fun talking to each other based on who has what kid in
088their house at that age level of what they'd want. So we're able to give some extra things. That was fun. Uh and then also our Christmas concert was a huge hit. Uh thanks to Miss McCauley, Mr. Baker, Miss Shel, and the students for showcasing their choir and band talents. We had a full house. I feel like we need like a bigger gym. Special thank you to Mr. Marshall and Miss Barald for all the background work to make sure that the concert was a success. And um I'm only supposed to share three, but I had to squeeze in one more. Fourth one. Last but not least, a big thank you to the school board um from the middle school staff for the Whittown Pride t-shirts or the shirts. The staff was very appreciative and excited by
089this generous and kind gift. So, thank you. And I'm looking to my very first town prize. I'm introducing blue to my wardrobe. [laughter] >> It's going to end up your favorite color. [laughter] >> I also want to thank the board. Um there's been a lot of buzz about that. So, I really appreciate that. Um as well to our staff. I think um that little tidbit really the little gift really helped um I don't know just opened their eyes to your generosity too. So thank you for that. Um our first grade students along with their fourth grade uh reading buddies um they always partner up and find a project to do together and this time it was on the history behind the Macy's Thanksgiving Day parade. Um so they they learned some about all of that
090and were able to watch it. um at home I'm hopeful of but together they created balloons and held a mini parade to show off their balloon creation. So um staff and other students came in and got to see their little mini mini uh Macy's thing. So that was a hit. Um currently our elementary staff are participating in the 12 days of Christmas stories that is u being showcased on our Facebook page. So, every night a a new story comes out with a new staff member from the elementary reading to our students for their bedtime story um some Christmas favorites and um other nightly um favorites that our staff had that began on the 13th and go through Christmas Eve. So, um hope you're enjoying that and if you haven't checked it out, check out the
091Facebook page. Um also, it's time to continue to spread um Christmas cheer. It is our Christmas program at the elementary tomorrow. We have a showing at 10:00 and 1:00. Um and uh we did our dress rehearsal today and it was absolutely fantastic. Um the kids um are really ready to go and it was so great to just see their spirit um today as well. Um they will surely not disappoint tomorrow. Um thank you to Mr. G. Um thank you to Mrs. Shyel who has been um helping out with these music programs for so many years even when she was a teacher. So, um those people are um amazing that you just continue to give to our community. Also, um I want to shout out to our Encore team. They they really do pull together and
092help out with this. Um it's just amazing um how they you know, every part from putting up chairs to taking down setup um uh snowflakes. Goodness gracious, we've got um so many snowflakes. Um wait till you see the decor. Um it's it's wonderful. So, just a huge thank you to everyone who really came together for tomorrow's show. So, thank you. >> Get those bells back. [laughter] Jen, I just want to comment. My parents are spending some time down at Crers and they have discovered the staff reading on Facebook and it has been a highlight of their nights and they listen to >> names with staff that they've heard. They're like, "Oh, this is Miss Wall House and like making connections." So, that's been really neat. >> Great. Thank you. That was a huge huge thanks
093for reporting those two for us. So, >> [laughter] [laughter] >> So, we started our access testing, which is a state requirement for all of our EL students. Um, I have to give a huge shout out to Katie Meiser and Emma Wallander. Um, all of their work making sure that the students are all tested, that they're providing small groupoup instruction for those students, and all the work that they just do uh for our students. um is always greatly appreciated. We woohoo successfully submitted our December 9th snapshot. That was very nerve-wracking um as we had a completely new team. Um but we entered clean data. It was good. Um we we did it. Um so a huge thank you to the team who rallied around all of that. That was a huge task. Um and then very
094exciting. We are moving forward with the administration team of getting Next Path up and running. It is a data warehouse that is going to have data literally at the tip of our fingers. Um so we uh trained the admin admin team that was just yesterday. Um which went really well getting time to play in there and then moving forward with teaching um training the interventionist school counselors and school psyches in January. Again it's just going to be piloting getting into the system and playing around. So really excited about the direction that that's going to take us. >> [laughter] >> All right, mine will be even less exciting. All right, but we have successfully made the transition of adding a teacher mid year to the high school. I was a little bit nervous, but that additional
095ID classroom is up and running. Um, we are just doing ongoing planning to shape that classroom. Um, so there's a lot of work to be done yet, but at least we have another teacher and the kids are in their spaces, so it's pretty exciting. Um, I want to thank Eric just for his flexibility. I mean, he's Eric has been willing to make anything work for these kids. Um, so it's been great. Um, and also the teachers are just so excited to build something from the ground up. So, it's been really fun to watch that. Um, okay, here comes the boring stuff. [laughter] Um, All of our IEPs for the self assessment have been reviewed. Um, special ed teachers and sites reviewed those. Um, so I thank them for their time doing that. Um, all the
096corrective actions have to be completed by January 15th. Um, and then they'll pick a second sample in spring to ensure compliance. Um, snapshot again. I just want to give a shout out to our student services secretary. um she put a lot of hours into cleaning up that data as well um during a time that's already super busy with IEPs and evals. Um we always struggle to squeeze all of those in before the holiday break. So um that's it for student services >> for the most exciting part. Here we go. Um [clears throat] so it's definitely the season um senior citizen Christmas party was held last Thursday. Um, if you ever get a chance, just a side note, to go to an FB FBA just general meeting with the kids, it's organized chaos. I've never seen
097anything quite like it. [laughter] It's an agenda that is single space like this and they get through it in 25 minutes. Mr. D just cranks it out and the kids are with them the whole time. So, um, they took that and and put that on steroids and then hosted their Christmas party. Um, so the energy there was outstanding. There's tons of kids involved. Um, it's fantastic. It's a great thing for the community. Um I think said we had hundreds of people there. I think two 250 or something like that. Um unreal that we had that that many people here. Holiday concert on Monday at the high school was fantastic. Uh again Mr. Nau and Mr. Baker do an outstanding job uh to to pull that off. We had great attendance at that. Um so it
098was it was we weren't sure at first and it was packed. So it was it was fantastic. Um and and it really I a big shout out to Bobby Sue. So, um, between the scheduling showcase, which was the Wednesday night, and then we had the senior Christmas party the next day, the turnaround was like intense and Chris Nap and Bobby Sue just made it happen. It was really really quite impressive after that. So, uh, it is it is awesome to have these events this time of the year and really showcase the impact of our kids. We also had um sources of strength had a white bone homelessness night collecting paper products and donations. Um once we get that check, we're going to go up to St. John's homeless shelter in rebay and deliver that in
099person along with all the stuff. So we'll load the van, grab the check and and bring some kids up there to present that soon. Um we have our pick your path scheduling showcase and career fair uh Wednesday uh at parent teacher conferences. So we have reps from from many different colleges. Uh some as far away as Stout. I think that's like a 12-h hour drive. out there a local 400 type business that's what I heard I don't know [laughter] union the apprentichip was there national army um teachers had their displays out we got great period feedback about being able to talk to to uh teachers and talk kind of about pathways I think everybody would agree we want larger attendance and we actually talked today at our staff meeting about some ways to to promote
100that better and to really bump up that attendance um but I think overall it was a really good night. Uh it is part of our our emphasis on communicating good opportunities that we have out there for our students. As Jim said, as we get into that course scheduling process, part of that is really honing in on communicating what's out there, making sure students and parents are all on the same page. A lot of times parents aren't aware of all the opportunities. So just making that commun communication clear uh and giving people ample opportunities to take advantage of physics. Uh, and the one thing I won't mention, one opportunity that is fairly new, some of you might not know about it. It's called the Rising Phoenix Program through WGB. Um, and really the goal of that
101program when it started was to promote college access and break down barriers for students that might not have college on their radar or families that may not have college on their radar. And so, um, school districts have sophomores apply. They have to demonstrate that they're ready for prime time, right? Ready for academic challenges at a college level. Um, and then they can apply to be eligible for the fall of 26. So, we're going through that application process now. And what's really cool is that within the two years that they're a junior and a senior, they can earn their associates degree at the same time as their high school diploma. Uh, that's pretty powerful stuff. It really gives kids a jump start. Right now, we have one one student in that program. We're looking to expand
102that during next year. That's the great awesome news from the high school. >> All right. from the activities department. Uh unfortunately last Wednesday the weather didn't cooperate. I was planning on taking a group of students to the WIA student leadership conference that they do every other year. They [clears throat] are going to reschedule it hopefully in April and hopefully it's a time that works for students to be able to go there. Couple huge sporting events left before Christmas break. I know Christmas is coming very fast, but on Friday, this Friday, we have our huge wrestling event uh where our boys will be in a quad, the builder baby Classic will go against Brilliant Kiwani and Regional. And our girls will host an invite with over 30 schools. So, they'll be coming there. If you don't
103want to see parking space, get around here five o'clock. [laughter] Um next Tuesday, we're going to host our only home girl basketball double header. uh be pretty cool. Our girls program is going to play Manitwalk Lutheran. It was really good. They they made it to state last year at 4:30 and 6. And our boys program is going to play undefeated uh Kiwani team uh at 4:36 and 7:30. Uh very excited that I really like our boy girl um basketball double headers. Fans from both sides could get there. Uh, another little nugget with this, we are actually going to recognize our co teams of 1920 uh that had their seasons cut short. Uh, if you remember, we almost had the trifecta that year. Our wrestling team won state and our girls basketball team made it to
104the state championship game but got cancelled. And our boys basketball team was going to play in the sectional final. Uh, and they're honor roll so they could have made it down to state two so they could have had two state championships. Uh, but I contacted a lot of these players and coaches and they're going to come back. All right, since it's 23rd, so hopefully we can get a lot of people there. Over the holiday break, our Tigers will be flying around competing across the state. Our boys and girls wrestlers are going to lacrosse. All right, participate in the two two-day [clears throat] bystate wrestling invitational. And our boys and girls basketball team, we we got lucky. We got picked to play in the Sundrop Classic that's held at the Crescent Event Center on campus of
105WGB. will play at 12 pm and 1 pm on Monday, December 29th. And then our hockey players, uh, Ryan Lady, um, his team will be playing in the Nenina Rocket Rednos Classic tournament. All right, it's a three-day and that's be at the Champion Center down in Apple. So that's what we got cooking in the activities department. All right. um in tech services technology department. A lot of this is already wrong because it had to be written by Friday. So we'll update a few things as we go. So uh we did introduce the new website to the staff and the board this past Friday. Um we are not looking to go by January 2nd. We're actually going to switch over tomorrow morning at 9:00 a.m. So we're considerably ahead of schedule and an opportunity to work
106with the DNS professional. So we should be able to move forward. Um just for everybody that that once between 9 and uh uh and 11 there's going to be some people who see the old site, some people who see the new site. Takes about 24 to 48 hours to do a full change over depending on all variety of things. So if some people are still calling and going like it's not new to me yet, I've still have the old one. Like that's okay if it's not been 48 hours. It's still possible that your internet service provider all that kind of stuff just hasn't switched yet. So looking for that talk. I do think it's going to be great. I really want to thank the administrative assistant team, everybody that is at this table. It took
107an entire uh it took a lot of people to put this together to get the right information out there, to get the right staff members, to get the elements right, calendar, schedules, everything. Uh and so it was a really a good strong team effort and and I'm just I'm glad everybody was willing to work on. Um moving on, uh six staff members attended the school leaders advancing technology and education conference. It's also known as Slate. Um it includes school districts from around Wisconsin and all contiguous states as a major focus of the conference this year with an artificial intelligence how it's impacting every aspect of teaching, learning and school operations. Um our team was already planning to bring what we've learned back to to staff in the February of March services. We had one staff
108member I asked always ask them for feedback when we go to these thought this was a pretty nice donation. They said going to Slate uh the Slate conference was such an amazing experience. The information I'm bringing home is so valuable. One of the key takeaways was how easily I can use various AI programs to differentiate instruction in my classroom. Rather than seeing AI as the enemy to my teaching, I'm seeing how I can use it as a personal assistant in my classroom. So, we'll have a lot more to come on that um down the road. And then the tech services team has been hard at work getting the new IT infrastructure projects underway that have recently been approved. Um we held some open demonstrations to learn about interactive flat panels from the two different companies
109that we have uh engaged with. Um actually this is also wrong. We are had a schedule on this as well. So uh we met after school today. So thanks to the ITL team. Uh we selected a vendor for that and actually have are in the process of sending a PO. So we'll be ready to go with that already. Um I'll also add that we've received the entire phone system via pallets. We're switching over the uh in the gym uh over the course of break that we are redoing the entire audio system over the over the break. So thank you for being flexible and moving literally everything so that we can do that. Um, and then we'll also have a a short outage, uh, internet outage because we, uh, as you all know, we we blew
110up a a battery last year. We're putting in a transfer switch and doing a bunch bunch of things so that that won't ever happen again. And if something like that ever does happen again, we do have the ability to use power from two different sources. And so that's part of the reason we're taking that down. So, a lot of different uh, projects going on. And I want to start out my report by thanking everybody in the back row. Um, you get the little snippet of of their world and some of the things they're dealing with, but you don't you don't it's very humbling to see all the things that they're doing and everything that they're doing for the sake of kids. And it's it's just it's heartwarming. It it really is. So, thank you for
111all your hard work. And one other special shout out to Amber. Uh this giving tree, holy man, >> I have never seen so many presents in my life. I mean, we're talk I bet there's over a thousand presents that got delivered and the in the time that she's putting to organize it and make sure that it's done right and that there's some equalization and um coordination with Dicks and everything else. It it it's amazing. So, Amber, thank you for all your hard work on that. It is it is really really something special. Um, as they mentioned, the fieldhouse next week uh is going to get the new sound system and you know, the the goal is to have it done by January 5th. We have to have it done by the 6th uh because we
112have some home events that night. So, uh no pressure there. Um, so that'll that'll be good. Uh, we've already talked about the January 7th agenda for our next schoolboard workshop. On there will be two things of note. High school scheduling. So, Eric will put together a little bit of a and Sarah will probably help out with that to put together a a presentation on high school scheduling and our timeline and things of that nature. And then we'll go through that special update uh that was sent to us and do a first reading of that in January with a second reading in February and uh yeah did the second reading in January of this 342 and then uh we're we're getting close to getting caught up so we're doing well. Um want to make mention of
113the the Christmas concerts. Um congratulations to all those people. They do a fantastic job and I don't I think it's just great to come and listen to these to get in the spirit of Christmas. It's it's truly, you know, a very special thing and what we should be all about. Um, also wanted to mention that uh all of our incumbents have filled out the paperwork to run again for the school board. Um, so they've turned in their paperwork and I think that's a great sign for this community and for the staff that uh all the folks up here um five in total uh filled out the paperwork and want to come back. Um obviously they forgot that I'll be gone. So you know that's just kidding. All right. [laughter] Um, and then one other thing,
114just wanted to touch on what, uh, Travis said, um, with with the funding. We are getting some phone calls about tax increases and so on and so forth. And you said 12.9 and [clears throat] my taxes went up 30% and things of that nature. Just want to try to explain it in a very simple fashion. Uh, again, in a different way possibly. Um, our levy went up 12.9%. And so the money that we're taxing, that $1.1 million increase is that 12.9%. So the levy went up 12. How that gets uh filtered through and gotten out to local property taxes through nine different municipalities is going to take on a lot of twists and turns. And one of the things that you should be able to is the mill rate, the tax rate that went up
115to $599. So it's still below $6, which is still one of the lowest in the area. Um, if you take that and $5.99 per thousand and you multiply what your fair estimated tax market value on your house is, it should come up with that number. That's the simple way of looking at it. We we don't control anything to do with fair market value of your house. That's totally out of our control. Has nothing to do with us. It's just the formula that we have to use. You take that number, you times it by the mill rate, and that that should be what it is. What it was last year, what it is this year is contingent upon reassessments, how much your property value went up, how much they're saying your estimated fair market value is,
116and they do that to make it equal across the state. That's why it's called equalized value. Um, and so that's part of it. Um, and secondly, just to to put to bed a couple of of dare I say rumors, um, you know, each budget is its own pie, right? So, you had the 2425 pie, you've got the 25 26 pie. And so, in 24 and 25, you had a balanced budget. I think you had like $10,000 left at the end of the year. So, you didn't overspend your budget, but you didn't really put anything money in fund balance. So, you used your whole pie. There wasn't hardly anything left. There's a couple of tables racks. The slices in that pie got pushed around because of the things that happened. So, if you have to spend
117more on legal costs in that pie, you weren't able to spend as much maybe on student learning. And so, that's the push and pull, but every year's a separate standalone pie. So this year's pie started on July 1 and it goes until June 30. So the pie we're looking at now is what you're being taxed on. And so it really has nothing to do with what happened prior to June 30th. This is a different standalone pie. So the goal is of course is to spend as give the smallest piece we can to the lawyers, right? And so that's what we're trying to do is give them a very small piece of the pie. And if you looked at our our expenses, our monthly bills this month, it they've gone down significantly. And so that's good.
118Um, and as far as uh expenses to do with with uh quite frankly my salary or other things that went with administrative costs before they're they're that piece of the pie is in line with what other school districts across the state are spending. So I I want to make sure that people understand that. So, even with buyouts and my salary and everything else, if you look what the average is, which Aaron told us about last couple weeks ago, you put those numbers together, you're not spending any more on those expenses than the average what what you're going to do next year with a full-time superintendent. So, that worked out in your favor. And so you can feel confident that you you didn't excessively put money in that area and you're minimizing what you're doing in
119legal costs and knock on wood that we can continue to do that. So hopefully that helps people understand in a different way about those different pies. Okay. So thank you. >> You all right? Um before we look for a motion to adjourn, I just want to wish everyone a happy holiday. um enjoy your time off away with family whether you're in front of us or alongside me. So um wish you all a merry Christmas and a good new year. >> So >> thank you. >> Looking for a motion to adjourn. >> Motion to all those in favor. >> Anyone opposed? Minion during 7:37