001Thank you, Madam Chair. Um, as everyone is certainly aware, uh, we began the fall semester with our Miller school um, closed down and we are now at the point where we have to arrive at some decisions on the ultimate outcome of the building itself. And so we have put our um efforts together and internally administratively on some uh what we believe are the four categories of options for the ultimate uh disposition of the Miller facility. Um some pros and cons to each as as we brainstorm that. Um but ultimately um we u we're now at a point where we want to hear some feedback and some direction from the board as well. So with that, tonight we have our executive director of support operations, Mr. Andy Nap, who will walk us through um the four
002categories of kinds of decisions we may ultimately make. >> Okay, thanks. Um we'll start through this. Uh obviously we're talking about the disposition of Miller Elementary School. In May of 2025, this year is um was when the school had closed down. Um the final paperwork was filed in uh August of 26 and uh we'll have to look at some of these options and make a decision so we can go into our long range plan which is due in November 5. One of the first options uh that we have are to mothball the school. Some of you might have heard this term around the state. Um quite a few districts have exercised this practice. Uh some of the pluses and minuses with this uh what this means is basically this will get shut down and boarded
003up but we retain um the building in our inventory and uh if it's if it's mothball it's basically closed down and not in use. Uh some of the benefits to this is of course it given this facility it is adjacent to our facilities complex our nutrition um complex and then of course directly across from the administration building and story gym. Uh so it's it sits sort of in the center of this centralized campus that we have so to speak. Um we also it's a second access into the facility and nutrition building u which as you may may or may not know there are a lot of deliveries there on semis that come in um either off Persing um up Maxwell which is in front of our building that way or from the north side of
004the Miller Elementary School. Um a little bit of information there for you. um Maxwell where it goes in front of our facility building is not our property. So that parking lot that you might see between the National Guard there and our and our property um they let us use just to park on um that is not we we don't own anything there. Um and including the access we have about half of that access to get in there. Um so this is kind of an important access to the back side of of those properties. Um, some of the negatives on the mothballing is of course it it stands a better chance of vandalism, potential vandalism sitting there empty. Um, it's an unsupervised building. Uh, we still have to maintain it. Uh, couple things with mothballing. We
005can only have two schools mothballled at any given time and they can only be for the duration of three years. um unless we were to, you know, propose a renewal of it of some sort for some reason at that time. But, uh, given the fact that we do have some buildings with the new construction coming up in the district, uh, it's probably something to consider. And then, of course, if it's mothball, um, if there's any future need for it, renovation costs probably increase as it the longer it sits there. So, at the bottom of these, I'll go through them at the end, but each one sort of gives you the timeline, and they're going to look pretty similar with the exception of one. So all of them are in the same same timeline right now.
006If we were to mothball it in the three years, then we would have to make this decision again in 2028. The second option is to repurpose it. Um this would be repurposing it for the district. Uh it would probably be for a non-educational support use of some sort. uh whether or not you know that that leaves the options open to about anything that we would use want to use it for could use it for. Um again it's in a central location with some of our other support operation buildings um and it would have you know similar purpose as those retaining the building uh for district use and availability. Of course this any of these options can be done in the future. um this is an option that one of the benefits is probably that you
007could do any of the other options at any time going forward um beyond beyond now if we made that decision. Um and of course have minimal ongoing costs. Part of this uh by not mothballing if it was repurposed of course it's an occupied building to some extent would be maintained and watched a little closer and would probably have a little bit less risk of the some of the evangelism. Um repurposing costs of course if you were going to repurpose it for anything substantial you would have be uncertain of the funding that would would be provided for that. So and again this one here in the timeline it would go into our facility plan in November of this year and then it's immediately available for district for other use repurposing use >> immediately available after November.
008>> It's available now which is in our plan that's being repurposed. >> And then selling it of course is another option. Um I think this one's fairly self-explanatory. of course, eliminates all of our costs and risk as far as what we have in the building. Um, it would reduce our building inventory. Uh, some of the losses and negatives of that would be the fact that we lose that site in the center of the facility complex and of course we could potentially lose the north secondary access. um depending on how the split the sale looked like, we could potenti potentially have demolition costs and then of course um the utilization of it's pretty uncertain. We wouldn't know what it would be um and we would lose you know the practice field that we have there currently
009in in playground. This one also um would be if if this was the choice, it would go into the facility plan now and would be available for sale or disposal immediately. Um unless there were any exceptions we wanted to look at, such as retaining an easement through that north side or or um surveying that off as a separate piece of property uh to tie into that. So that's what it looked like. We're going to sell it. And then demolition. This one, of course, the timeline gets quite a bit longer. Um, if we were to demolish it and retain the site, then of course we still have, um, proximity to the facilities, complexes, central district location, uh, reduces our ongoing costs because there's not a building there. Um, and reduces our building inventory. Some of the
010negatives to that, of course, demolition costs, uh, something that we would request funding through the SFD. Um, so there's a little uncertainty in that. Also, this a pre97 building that if we were to sell it and we had de had demolition costs incurred from the state, they would recuperate those costs. So, sorry, we're asking question. Um, and then of course if we retained the land but had demolished it, we could possibly repurpose it in the future. Again, there's always uncertainty on funding. Um, anytime we're looking at funding for potential district use of anything there. So, that would also um be a loss of the, you know, the building in the neighborhood and and the future utilization be a little uncertain, I guess, on the demolition. I mean that's whether or not we kept the kept
011it for future use, right? So the uncertainty would come more from if we on some of these if we were to demolish it and sell the land at that point or demolish it and look for different distributors. >> This building isn't a historic building that requires permission to knock it down. >> Nope. >> Andy, may I have asked a question? if if it were ever to be knocked down to demo it. >> Does that money come from I mean we haven't gotten money from ARP yet. So >> that money would have to come from the state as well. >> Yes. >> To Yes. So this timeline if you look at the four timelines on that um of course mothballing it basically prolongs what you could do with it it basically just sits there right? So
012it's vacant. We incur still incur some cost to maintain it. Um repurposing it. We could do any of the others at any time. Of course, if you sell it, it's gone immediately. But then if you look at demolition, we'd have to make um if it went into our plan in November of this year, uh we'd have to have a public hearing um and that so that would be in in the interim of that. And then our funding request would go in uh next July 26, which would go to the session in 27. um if they allocated the money for demolition, we would start demolition after July of 2027. So it probably would we'd still probably be involved in the building up through 2028. So with that, those are our four options. Um I can back
013up to any of them if you want to talk about them. Those are the timelines that it would look like. And uh you have any questions about any of them? Expand on a little >> chair. Um so on the mothball in that three-year period from 25 to 28, if something came up and the board wanted to or the district wanted to do something else with it, could it roll into those other options during that three-year period? You're just locking it down for three years. >> No, I believe you can pull back out of that. I mean, it would be sitting there vacant. Um, maintaining it. It would be similar. Mothballing and rebirthing would be the same, right? Only repurposing if you were thinking of those two would be it could be used for whatever we
014wanted during that time. If it's mothball, it's just closed up and and locked down. um when it's over again where it shows in November of 2028, you'd have to make the decision to either repurpose it, sell it, or demolish it then. >> Thank you. >> Do we feel like there's things that we could do fairly quickly with repurposing it as is? >> Yes. I think in repurposing it um for support use, we have quite quite a few different needs. We have to determine what what we're going to do with that. But um we're pretty spread out in the district as far as support um whether it's storage type buildings, equipment buildings, different some of our different support operations, we could probably find we can definitely find a purpose. We just have to determine what it
015was going to be. >> So if we went to repurposing um is my understanding correct? We cannot use it for educational purposes, but we could use it like you're saying for storage or I mean we couldn't >> there's classrooms in there. Could we have offices in there? >> Correct. >> Um we could have offices in there. I don't know that we would choose to do that. Um we would not have any educational in there. >> One one thing that we've talked about a little bit is um often times we have equipment that needs to be indoors. It needs to be stored in a in a safe space, but most of our buildings have kids in it. And some of those buildings or some of those pieces of equipment we don't necessarily want out in the
016open where kids may um potentially hurt themselves or or mess with those things. It's it's awful attractive to see a big piece of equipment in the gymnasium or and the lunchroom or something like that. So, um I know that support operations probably has several items that fit into that category that you don't want to just put out in a shed somewhere that you would want to get protected. And so when we talk about purchasing for special support operations, um I would imagine it would be those kind of pieces and >> Yeah. Well, so we have some equipment that has to remain heated um or charged electrically. Some of them are scissor lifts. Um, we have a couple of different kinds of lives to go with that. Um, the striping machines for parking lots. All that
017stuff has to stay heated over the winter and some of them plugged in because they run out of batteries and we currently have those um kind of just stuck in different spots. We actually keep lifts at some of the schools um which creates a couple of problems, right? It's never needed at the one school that lift sitting at. And the other thing is sometimes we get contractors in that then end up on our lifts or we get a coach or a teacher or a kid that takes the lift and uses it. Um, so to, you know, kind of reduce the risk of that happening, it it would be much better to have them in a central location where we took them to where was >> I could also um imagine if we were to repurpose
018that over time we may repurpose for lots of different reasons uh that evolve over time as well. for a while. It might be um we might have some equipment storage needs. If we do big adoptions of some of our major curriculum areas, we always have um massive numbers of supplies that were we've got to eventually get out to buildings and having a good place to stage some of those things. So, the repurposing I think gives us some flexibility. Um we've given you a couple of examples, but it could be a lot of other ones as well. When we have new buildings, a lot of times furniture, truckloads of furniture come in early before they go in the building. And we we look for places to put that as well as we have a storage place
019out near the transportation complex that we keep um standard furniture in for replacements and changing out that sometimes gets over. any could um the electric um could could Miller stand to to support some electrical needs like those batteries and stuff that would need to be plugged in, can they support that? >> Yes, it um they're pretty available. >> Okay. >> And if we were to repurpose it, we could at a later date decide to Mont, right? I mean, we >> or even demolish it. >> Or demolish it. We could >> Yes. >> change course down the road if the district wanted. >> Yes. If it's currently being repurposed and um essentially under our control, I guess at any time that could be done, >> Mr. Nap um I was just curious. Do you happen to
020know the cost of maintaining that building on an annual basis >> if it's shut down? basically like for >> for the repurpose >> repurposing. I don't know that exact cost. I mean, we probably I probably would find out exactly what that is, but it would be pretty minimal because heat and it's going to reduce our insurance cost not using it. We're still going to have to insure the building, but we don't have it for the same purpose utilization. And then we don't have um you know as far as heat goes in there, it's probably going to be a a set point of 50 degrees year round or somewhere in there rather than being heated in the winter and not cool in the summer. >> Madam Chair, um I believe Mr. Cerelli might have some. >>
021Trusty Clawson, I believe, um utilities um while it's occupied running about $40,000 a year. Um certainly with a setback vote, it would probably be a little bit less. And then um the insurance probably be a little bit different if we don't have a lot of equipment um on the instructional side. But if we have utilities or excuse me equipment from the facility side, those be carried and make insurance. But um I would say roughly $40,000 just to to keep it heated, electricity and water. >> It's about the same you think? Um >> yeah, give or take, especially with increasing utilities the costs lately. Okay. >> Thank you. And what would the cost be if we mod all your number was for repurpose utilities? Um what would our numbers be if we just mock all the
022buildings? >> Um trust I think it would would probably be virtually the same. Um I think uh either way we don't receive routine maintenance for the building. So I would say they'd be pretty equivalent as Mr. Nav um explained. it wouldn't be um occupied in the sense that we wouldn't have people utilizing the building. It would just be for storage. So, they'd be pretty. >> Thank you. >> So, of all of the buildings that are currently on the list of uh and to be unused here in the next 10 15 years, I think it makes most sense for me to to repurpose this one. Um, I can see very different conversations about some of the others. Um, but because of where it is, because it has property around it. Um, I don't totally understand the
023point of mothballing it. Sorry. Um, so to me, I think repurposing makes a lot of sense for this particular building. And maybe if I just add on to that um it's easy when we think of Miller to think of the building itself but um you know to Andy's point and also to yours trusty Ashby um the land around it is a consideration as well um how we use it for our kids as Miller Field, how we use it for access um what we could potentially u do in the future with some of our educational programming not on the inside of Miller But on the outside of Miller, um we often have um a lot of outdoor projects with outdoor uh wreck kind of things, um science labs, uh career and technical education. there's there's probably
024um some considerations for the land separate from the inside of the building which to your point I think is very different with this particular school uh compared to probably any other school in town. >> Couple questions. Do you have to deal with it building and land? Could you ever separate it? >> You you could Yeah. As far as like repurpose part and sell part or >> Yes. Yes, you could. So you could I mean there's any option you wanted, but obviously you could keep the north access and sell the rest of it or repurpose the rest of it and and retain that north access just for the facility complex or you could probably split keep the building. Or if something was, you know, something was ever decided to be put out where Miller Field is,
025you could probably keep that and expose get rid of the building in the middle if you wanted. I mean, you pretty much can do about anything you want with it. >> In our work session, and you and I had this conversation about it breaks my heart when I drive past and see the playground equipment. And I know that I was hopeful that there might be some way that we could offer it up to some for free and say we're not liable for this, but is that a possibility ever? I mean, to offer it up to a church or another school. So, I will tell you anytime we've tried to move equipment, either it wouldn't resertify or it cost as much for by the time they took it out and moved it and reset it all.
026>> So, it was um the same cost for us to buy new equipment. >> We run into that quite often. I we could look into it a little bit more. I know we've talked a little bit about whether or not we give it away. I don't know. My concern would be the liability if if even though I and this would probably be a Amy Polly question or somebody, but um you know if we were to say you can come and take it and they took it and reset it and something happened. I don't know if that if any of that reflects on us. Um, so I I'd be cons a little concerned about giving away playground equipment and a lot of times it's not all the same agent of school because we've added over the
027years or we replace one piece but not others that didn't reertify. So, you know, we run into some of that, too. >> I don't think it's that old. I mean, I would kind of remember >> it's not that old. um for us to move it. I can tell you we probably can put in new equipment for about the same cost >> to give it away. Um if if it was voted that we can give it away and and we gave it away and it doesn't make the district liable in any way then I would matter >> if we bald or repurpose or demo the building though that playground equipment probably would come out, right? Otherwise, we keep some liability that's still there on their property. >> We do. And again, I think um probably though
028um Miss Folly and I talked about this once. Is it um related to a park? So, I might ask her with that, but um we actually would not have liability. I think if we kept it there, we would probably maintain it as long as we could until we knew that it we were unable to maintain it. I can tell that. But there's probably some options there. the field of course. Um we could keep the field that probably is pretty easy. Um >> yeah. >> Okay. >> So Mr. Rap if we if we did the repurpose the building would be maintained to some degree, right? So would you see also keeping that playground equipment and the and the fields also maintained? Because if we're going to be using the fields, people are use the playground when
029we use the fields. I mean, I know when we did like football out there, um, you know, flag football, little kids are always playing in the playgrounds and all that kind of stuff, >> right? >> Yeah. And we would maintain everything like I mean, we have been this summer getting bowed and taken care of. So, we would maintain it just like we would any other buildings. >> So, We obviously can't vote in the executive session, but can we share how people are leaning on this? I mean, just so that the admin team has it. I believe we need a vote on something in our next meeting, right? >> Sure. If I if I may, um because we have to write this into our long range facility plan. That's what's um aside from just the natural
030course of events that we would say, hey, what are we doing with the Miller facility? um we we have to write it into our um long range facility plan which is coming up here here in a few weeks. Um so it would be uh our hope that we could get um enough of a sense as Madame Chair said we don't uh vote in work session but um if we could get enough of a sense of where we're at that we can put a motion together for our next board meeting um which of course I would be quick to add. You could always amend if you'd care to and you could also choose to either vote the motion up or down. Um but our hope would be that we could get a motion um for our
031next board meeting in light of the feedback we received in this work session. >> Have you have you heard from people that live around the area or curious if Mrs. Lenhard I don't want to put you on the spot but if people have called in and said what's going on with Miller or this is my thoughts on Miller. I have not heard from anybody um with the exception of potential developers wanting property but nobody in the neighborhood. >> And Trusty Cook, I had not heard from any neighbors. I I too have heard from some that would like us to gift them the property. >> I just want to be cognizant. I mean, they were heartbroken when that school closed. So, I would love to see their thoughts, too. So, >> Britney, you mentioned you would
032be in favor of repurposing. I >> think that leaves the most flexibility in my opinion. >> Get to a point we could still do any of the other three. I just to me that makes most sense >> as Mr. D was talking The one that really struck out to me was also repurposing um my trusty but the location and with all the other administrative and supportes moving by and the fact that we have other options somewhere down the road I'm waiting towards repurposing at this time and we can still use the field and you know opportunity too. So I I don't I just think at this particular junction to get rid of it immediately agree that I think there's a majority purpose I would say purpose as well. Okay. >> So, it sounds like you
033would have support for motion next meeting to repurpose that facility. >> So, we'll draft that motion accordingly. Um, and with that, if there are other questions that ends our work session time, you know, who you are End our work session and reconvene in 30 minutes. Good evening. It's 6 pm and I'd like to call this meeting of the Laram County School District number one board of trustees to order. If you'd please rise and join us in the pledge of allegiance. >> Hi, I'm Indie Lloyd. I'm a first grade teacher at Gilchrist Elementary School. This is my class and we're going to recite the pledge of allegiance for you today. I also >> Dr. Mr. Newton, do we have any adjustments to tonight's agenda? >> Madam Chair, we have no adjustments to this evening's agenda. >>
034Do we have a motion? >> Madam Chair, I move to adopt the agenda. >> I second. >> So, a motion and a second to adopt the agenda. All in favor say I. >> Oppose. That's been adopted. We're going to start out tonight with um student recognitions. Uh we have two student of the week um honores this evening. Um sorry let me get to the right screen here. The first student tonight that we'll be recognizing for the week of October 27th is Zean Collins. Zean is a senior at Central High School. If we could have Zean and principal Karen Delbridge and favorite teacher Mary Eisenard come forward please. >> Perfect. >> Yes, you do. >> Okay. >> Oh, you you welcome to the board meetings if you don't know this. My name is Nick. >> And
035so I get the honor, my name is Nicholas Samp. I'm the associate principal at Central High School. And I get the honor to introduce Colin Zeans. He is our student of the week for October 27th. Um so Zean stands out as a top student in his class with an impressive weighted GPA of 4.383. He takes pride in being a great student who shows up consistently and completes his assignments in a timely manner. to prepare for the rigorous college. He has challenged himself by enrolling in some of the most demanding courses offered at Central. And his favorite teacher is Miss Mary Eisenhardt, which would be his math teacher. And I will let him explain a little bit about himself. >> Yes. Okay. >> You want that one? Yeah. Okay. >> Okay. Um activities that I'm involved
036in school. So >> what Dr. Just give me a little. >> It's all yours. >> Okay. Um I play tennis uh and soccer and then hockey which is not in school but I'm involved in three national honors societies. Um for National Honor Society I'm the vice president and for national honors society for science I'm the vice president as well and then I was the treasurer last year and then I joined French National Honor Society this year. Um I'm involved in Key Club and DECA. Um, DECA is like a business leadership club and key club is volunteering. Um, academic strengths. Uh, I just like to get my stuff done. I don't procrastinate. Um, other interests outside of school, I play the piano. I played the piano since I was like 5 years old. And my future
037plans, I want to go to college. I'm not sure where yet, but I'm going to major in finance and data analytics. And I want to be an investment banker. And why did you pick Miss? >> That is a good question. >> No. >> Um, Miss Eisenheart is my favorite teacher because she brings out the best in everyone no matter the circumstances. Uh, she helps all of her students overcome obstacles and then provides a safe space when needed to certain students. Um, not only is she amazing math teacher, but she truly cares. She can tell when something is wrong and goes out of her way to make sure everything is all right. Um, another reason why she's my favorite is because she makes class very enjoyable. Um, we have some very intense roast battles. Uh, for
038example, one time I threatened to drop her class and she said, "Don't threaten me with a good time." End quote. Um, I'll have to admit she won this one, but like that's the only one she ever won. >> All jokes aside, Miss Eisen is the best teacher I could ask for, and I'm very grateful to have her every day at school. No. >> Do you have family or friends in the audience who are here to support you? >> So, his mom and dad are actually in Thailand and >> so they couldn't make it. Very beautiful, too. Okay, good. >> Thank you. >> We'll move on to our next student of the week. Um, this student is being recognized for the week of November 3rd. So, this week right now. Um, and gosh, guys, names are
039sometimes hard to pronounce. Is it Helena or did I do it? Helena Brennan um is a senior at South High School. Helena, if you would come forward along with your principal, Carrie Gentry and favorite teacher, Koaka. >> Madam Chair, Dr. Newton Boyd, thank you so much for this opportunity. I'm uh principal Carrie Gentry over at South and it is uh you know my favorite day is to celebrate our students and so um a couple things about Helena. I found out that she is she was nominated not because she's an amazing student because of her contribution to our community at South. Um she is the perfect um student that represents the herd. She's involved in National Honor Society leadership. Wait, band. There's more. Help me out. Oh my gosh, I already missed cheer. Color guard. There's
040more. What am I missing? Art club. That was it. And art club. I think that was the one. That was the last one. All right. I'm doing my best. So overall really just I is this out or did you turn down the volume because it was aggressive. Okay. Um it was it was just sort of like an audio shift. And so first uh I would like to have Helena first talk about her experience at South and then we'll have Miss Ko talk as well. Does that work? Okay. >> I don't know what to say. >> South. >> Yeah. I don't know. What's your favorite thing about being a student at South High School? >> Um, I really like how like how many things I get to do. Like how I don't know. >> Oh, I
041can't talk in front of people. I'm sorry. Like I feel like I get a lot of opportunities through like color guard and everything. And like we have a lot of classes where I can like explore more opportunities than just basic like base level classes and stuff like that. >> And what is your favorite outside of classroom opportunity that you have enjoyed this year? >> Color garden for sure. >> Um I feel like it's like a family for me. Like I kind of get a second family through school and I really like that. >> See student of the week. There we go. All right. Go ahead, Miss Ko. what can you kind of think towards? >> I just wanted to add that I mean Helena is obviously involved in a lot here at South but she's
042also an amazing student. So um as her math teacher um our herd values are honorable, enthusiastic, responsible, and determined and she emulates those every day. She's honorable. She comes to school prepared, ready? She's enthusiastic in making sure that she understands the material to her best um understanding. She'll ask questions, good questions, deep questions, make sure she really digs into the material. She's responsible in the fact that she's there every day, including today, which was senior ditch day. And she also comes prepared. Um, she gets her homework done on time and in so that I can grade it. And I think my favorite um quality about Helena is that she's determined. no matter what she's going through, she just pushes through and she makes sure that she's getting things done and she does them well to
043the best of her ability. And so I think that it's a great honor that she is student of the week and she definitely deserves it. And even though Helena is the biggest cheerleader for everyone she supports, we also have her family, Jill. And Joe, can you please stand up because I know you're her biggest cheerleader. Well, congratulations to our students and their favorite teachers. Western Vista Credit Federal Credit Union also sponsors awards for student of the week. So, at this time, I would invite Christina, is it CR? CR uh marketing manager to come and say a few words. Thank you. >> All right. Good evening. Um, as she said, I'm Christina Crayons. I am from Western Vista Credit Union. I am the marketing manager there. Um, Western Vista is proud to celebrate the both of
044you, Zean and Helena. Two outstanding students who embody leadership, determination, and excellence. Your dedication, persistence, and drive to reach your goals have not gone unnoticed. In recognition of your achievements, we're delighted to present you with a certificate of achievement and a gift card. You've worked hard for this and we're excited to see where your talents and ambitions will take you next. We'd also like to extend our appreciation to the teachers you've chosen. Um, exceptional mentors leave a lifelong mark and we're happy to present them with a certificate of apprec appreciation as well and a gift card as a small token of gratitude for the difference you've that they've made in your lives. Congratulations and best wishes. This a picture here. Congratulations. >> Congratulations. Congratulations. >> Congratulations. >> So big. Oh, >> loves her mother. I
045mean, her mom went to Francy's shower when she had her shower. Yeah, >> there's so We told her it was twice. She was like, "No." >> Sorry. >> We'll move now into the information and report section of our agenda. Um starting with public comments. Uh first concerning agenda topics and second concerning uh non-aggenda topics. Um the purpose of the board meeting is to conduct the business of the district publicly. The board sincerely values community input and feedback on school operations and welcomes public comment on both agenda and non-aggenda items. Individuals wishing to comment during a board meeting must sign up by 5:45 p.m. on the day of the meeting. Sign up for public comment can be done electronically by accessing the forms of form available on board docs under the public comment portion of the
046meeting agenda. Alternatively, individuals may also contact Darlene Davis to be added to the electronic signup sheet. We will begin by hearing public comment on agenda items, followed by public comment on non-aggenda items. Please keep in mind this is a time for board members to listen and consider, but not to comment or debate. The board asks that all speakers state their first and last name, keep their comments to three minutes or less, and note that if you wish to discuss matters pertaining to the employment of a district staff member, such as the appointment, evaluation, reassignment, duties, investigation, discipline, or dismissal of an employee that this will not be done during the public comment portion of the meeting. Such comment should be directed to the executive director of human resources or you may request to meet with
047the board during executive session. Um and with that rule where it says state your first and last name. I would like to note we have quite a few students who have signed up to speak tonight and we will not ask you to state your first and last name. If you'd like to just give us your initials um that would be great but we'd like to protect your privacy with that. So looking at these signups, um we did not at the start of the meeting had we didn't have anybody signed up for public comment concerning agenda items, but we do have a full slate of folks signed up for non-aggenda items. So to start I would like to ask um a student whose initials are SP um to come forward and share with us. >> Good
048evening board. My name is Shay Prime and I'm a senior at East High School and I would like to speak on my experience of the Jay Foundation. To the board and all the parents that are listening or watching, I think the Jay Foundation is such a crucial experience to be involved in when you're a senior in high school. The foundation raises awareness for suicide and it really crushes the stigmatism of suicide almost being diminished in our society. I feel like it's something that's not talked about. I feel like a lot of people go unnoticed about it until it's too late. And I feel like that's what the Jay Foundation taught me as an adult going into my college years. Me personally, um I know for my major I want to study psychology and eventually I
049want to get my doctorates and specialize in clinical psychology and help people across the United States and hopefully the world for their mental health struggles. I want to reach so many people and make so many impacts on lives like Jay's to know that it is okay to not be okay and it is okay to reach out and it is okay to have struggles. I want to end off by saying a message that my psychology teacher has told me in my classes. He told me that mental health is not your fault, but it is your responsibility. Your mental health does not define you and is your responsibility to know that it these struggles are okay and is it is okay to navigate through them and it's okay to reach out. Thank you. >> Thank you. Yeah.
050Our next speaker is another student uh with the initials of HJ >> boy. >> Good evening board. Um I know you said I was not required to state my name, but I don't know. I have a big head or something. So, my name is Heath Johnson. I am from Cheyenne East High School. I'm a senior. Um, I would like to also talk about my experience with the Jay Foundation today. And I would like to say ditto to everything SP said back there. She did a wonderful job of of conveying what I was going to say. So, so that was wonderful. But I do think the uh the one thing I do have to add um in comparison to what she had stated was um when I went to the Jay Foundation, the last phase of
051our J Foundation journey as they called it was to sit around in a nice little circle in these chairs that they had set up and to talk about you know what is the solutions going forward? What should we talk to people about? How do we address these tough topics of suicide and suicidal thoughts with our peers? and they gave us a lot of great responses on well just make sure to check in and just realize that no matter how great somebody seems upfront to check deep down how they're really feeling and I really thought that was a great message that they brought home. But the one thing that I found concerning that has nothing to do with the J Foundation failing its mission of making more awareness of suicide but more of a failure on
052society as a whole is the fact that we don't really have that solution. They tell us to, you know, report these, you know, suicidal thoughts or or tell somebody about these, a trusted adult or someone that you trust close to you, a family member. But when you get to that stage, you want to see that person in your life get better. And when you fail to see that, it really does hurt. I know from personal experience with some of my peers that I've talked to, it is sad to see when we get them there or you have to go tell an adult about the things that happened and that person's like, "Oh, oh, please don't tell anybody. Please, please, I don't want you to do And then you have to go and do that because
053you got to make that tough decision, that tough time. I'm currently enlisted in the Army National Guard and they teach you about making those tough decisions. And that's one of the toughest decisions you ever have to make in life is talking about something that deep with a trusted adult. But the fact that we don't know how we can make it actually better for this person is something that's really sad to see. But I'm glad to see the GA Foundation is putting it out there on how to make people more aware about suicide. Um, sort of on a side note, Dr. Newton. Uh my father is the uh AFJRTC commander at East High School and I know he was really wanting a visit from you. So if you could get in contact with him, that would
054be wonderful. Uh other than that, that is all I have to say on the board this evening. Thank you all very much. Have a good night. >> He's making a note to call Colonel Johnson. All right. Um, our next student speaker is Ra. Good evening. My name is Reagan Allen and I just like to thank you guys for inviting us out tonight to share our experience about the Jay Foundation. And the previous two East High students have echoed exactly what I would say about the Jay Foundation. It ultimately was an exper an an amazing experience to not only connect with our peers and our own grade about mental health issues that are surrounding us so much but also just bringing awareness to that. Currently in my FFA program I have competed in a competition where
055I have done extensive research on the grassroot cause of adolescent agricultural depression and how we can kind of mitigate that risk of mental health and the mental health issue specifically in the agriculture industry. But when I experienced the Jay Foundation and that whole experience, it really brought to my attention that everybody does want to help everyone involved. Through that study, I found that so many individuals today are struggling with mental health issues. And when after going through the Jay Foundation, it really opened my eyes that all of our peers are there to s are there for us to support each other and everyone's there to support us. And so I just urge everybody if um to get that experience to go into the J Foundation, connect to those peers around you and really connect with
056those that maybe who are struggling because personally I know that we went into small groups and I only went with 17 other individuals in my grade. But that was super eye opening just to see that those 17 other individuals if I ever need help those are people that I can turn to. And I would hope that the same will go to everybody else in that group because we did get that experience with each other uh going through that process and understanding that mental health is okay to talk about. So I just want to thank the board for allowing us as students to go through this experience and I urge everybody that if they haven't gotten that experience to go through that because it really is eye opening. So thank you guys so much. >> Thank
057you Reagan. Our next student uh signed to up to speak is AM. >> Good evening board and the community listening and watching in online and in person. I'm also here to talk about my experience with the J Boot Foundation and the impact they had on me and the impact I saw with those that went with me on this journey through the J Boot Foundation. And the J Boot is focused around Jay who wore his boots day in day out in his shorts and his jeans. It didn't matter. That's what boots meant to him. And that's why the J Boot Foundation focuses on their boots and their boot check-ins, which they taught us about. And that's what my boots mean to me. It builds a sense of community with those around you and brings up that
058mental health that is such a hard topic to talk about with those older than you, younger than you, and with your peers. And so with the foundation, it's really just brought to light what an amazing community we have to where we as a district have been able to partner with the foundation and get all of these seniors the opportunity to not only get an amazing free pair of boots, which I know we are all so thankful for, but to hear more about the mental health that is such an issue in today's society, specifically in the western parts of America where we do focus on, you know, that tough grit, you hide your feelings, you push them down. And the boot check-in really just tries to move past that. Check in with those around you. Check
059in with those in your community, whether you're friends, you see them every other day or they're those you know that you see every single day, your family. And so that is the impact I want to have through the J. Boot Foundation and that they've had on me and those around me. It's something where we can come together as a community, check in on one another, and really focus on what our mental health means to us now and how we can improve it in the future. just like some of my fellow East peers have mentioned before me. So, thank you board and thank you district for allowing us this opportunity to partner with the foundation and to bring such an amazing experience to so many children. And I hope we can continue this for the generations
060after us because it is such an incredible experience to go through and learn about Jay, learn about how the foundation came to be and the years that it took for them to decide what is truly going to represent Jay's life and truly have that impact on the community. So, I just want everybody to know how amazing the foundation is and you know, let's check in on one another. Thank you. >> Our next individual is not a student. Um, I don't see him in the room, but perhaps he's online, and that is Steve Johnson. >> Sure. I don't see that anymore. >> Nobody's online. Okay, then we will move right along. >> Um, >> we have two more. >> Two more students. Yes. Um, okay. So, our next student is CV. >> Good evening. Um I
061want to share my experience that I had with Jay's Foundation and kind of what I think how it impacted um my school in general. So, I am a senior at South High School and one thing that really stuck out to me was at the end they asked us to check check in on someone that we loved and because one of a huge huge huge idea, sorry, was that we never know what people are really going through. And so, at the end, they asked us to reach out to someone at the end and I did. And I have a friend who currently um is a freshman in college and I know she has been struggling with mental health and I reached out to her and um I think it didn't just help her but also helped
062me because it let her know that um there's someone for her and it also in return it's kind of like reciprocated moment. Um I know that she's there for me whenever I need help. And then as a school in general, um I was super surprised because a lot of people spoke out about mental mental health, especially people that usually don't talk about their feelings. And I think that really stood out to me because um Jay Foundation, it kind of just opened a space where we could just talk about our feelings. And um I was just really surprised about how serious everyone took it. And I just got uh to hear a lot about other students um students that I'm with every day and I never get to hear um what's going on in their lives
063and they kind of just shared um some things that have been going on their life and yeah it was just really impactful and I think it was just a huge reminder that um we have a whole community behind us. Um, after the Jace Foundation, I know I talked to a lot of students and I asked them how the experience went for them and a lot of them stated that it was just a huge reminder that um, everyone's here for each other. We can all count on each other and I like to always brag about the community we have at South. Um, we're all a huge community. We all support each other. But that really that moment really brought our seniors together and um, it was just a beautiful thing to see and I really hope
064we can continue doing this. I'm excited for next year seniors and it was a great experience. So, thank you. Thank you for listening and thank you to Jayce Foundation. The next individual signed up to speak is a student with the initials of BM. Hello, good evening board. I just wanted to share with you guys how thankful I am for the J Boots Foundation. I know personally it's difficult to talk about mental health and I know that for so many others it's also difficult if you feel like you have nobody around you. But this foundation really found a way to shine a light on it and let us all remember that we're all loved and we have somebody to talk to. With this, I've noticed um a change in our class of 2026. We've really just
065bonded over it more. Like I've seen more conversations in the classrooms about mental health being brought up and I've seen like kids from East and Central also talk about their J boots and what they mean to them. So, I think it's really great way to bring our community together. >> So, thank you. >> Thank you. >> We have one more individual signed up for public comment and I'll get to that in a minute. But for all of you students who spoke, did you wear your boots tonight? I noticed a few, but awesome. All right. And last but not least is Mr. Dylan Ford. I didn't want to follow all those students. >> Uh, Madam Chair, members of the board, my name is Dylan Ford and I'm speaking on a matter that's becoming urgent for many
066of our students and families, and I'm talking about the government shutdown and the impact that that will have on some of our most vulnerable kids. Um our families right now relying on SNAP benefits uh will be feeling the strain um this month because uh initially the plan with the government shutdown the removal of funds uh those SNAP benefits were just going to go away. As of today, President Trump announced that emergency reserves will be used to partially fund SNAP which is great but that fund is only around 5 billion and just to fund the month of November is 9 billion. Uh, so that means that those families are really going to take a hit and there's a high probability of kids showing up to school hungry. And I can tell you that students who are
067hungry are not thinking about algebra or grammar. They're just thinking about food. Uh, so what can we do? Uh, right now our town's food banks are the first line of defense and they are already feeling the strain. Uh, I'm asking everyone in this room and watching online to please donate to our local food banks like Needs. Uh, cans are great, but money is actually better because they can buy a lot more food with your $10 than you can buy with your $10. So, please consider donating food or your time to volunteer. Additionally, Friday food bags is a fantastic way to make sure that our kids who are experiencing food insecurity will have something to eat over the weekend when school uh isn't in session with school lunch and school breakfast. Um, they're always appreciated appreciative
068of both money donations and volunteers. And as far as district uh action, it would benefit the students and the staff who serve them to make sure that we have a plan in place uh to make sure that the food service that we provide covers the students who are going to need that food the most if this shutdown continues in the long term. Uh because waiting for Washington politicians to figure out their stuff, it really just involves a lot of waiting. So if we had our own plan, that'd be great. So thank you. Thank you, Dylan. >> Next on the agenda is board communications and reports and upcoming meetings. This Wednesday at 6:30 p.m., there will be a parent advisory committee uh meeting here in the boardroom. on Tuesday, November 11th from 12 to 1, we
069will have a board planning meeting. Um, I didn't I don't think we have anyone signed up for that one yet, but that's next Tuesday. Um, we could have two board members who might be able to attend that. Trusty Cook and Oh, I'm so sorry. So, that's actually at 1:00 that day. We have some learning sessions next week. Um, so it would be immediately following that. >> So, okay. So, Trusty Cook and Trusty Burden, you're both available at 1:00. Okay. >> And then on Monday, November 17th at 6 PM, we'll have a regular board meeting. Uh November 19th through the 21st is the WSBA annual conference up in Casper. Um if you I believe that um Darlene has all but one of us registered for that at this time. So if you're not able to go
070um let Darlene know quickly because there is a cancellation fee even at this point in the game. So um but that is it for November. So, now we'll move into individual board communications and reports. Does anybody have anything they'd like to share tonight? >> Sorry, Trusty Ashby. Uh, Madam Chair. Uh, so I attended the Wying School Boards Association board meeting last or not this immediate last weekend, weekend before. Uh, and so some of you or all of you got forwarded the um revised um resolutions that came out. There were only two resolutions that were submitted uh to WSBA to be formally voted on by the membership at that um conference. Uh because ours really held two components to it. um a component to put a cap on the number of days uh that the hearing
071had to be completed as well as um the ability to put people on unpaid leave under certain circumstances. Um the the board of WSBA asked that they be separated out because there were more concerns. I did meet with Amy today. Um I am going to to nothing I unless you all have um feedback for me to that there was a problem. I didn't think it substantially changed anything in the resolutions. Um and Amy and I met today and we're just um adding some definition to what qualifies um as reasons um based on state statute for um putting people on unpaid leave um if they are uh charged with a crime. Um, and so I am going to add that language in through an amendment. Um, as long as everybody's good with that. Um, but, uh,
072that that is what I have for an update on on that particular issue. I also have a couple other things. Anybody have any questions on that? >> Yeah. Trusty CL. >> Madam Chair, um, Trustee, um, sorry, Ashby, I wanted to call you by your first name. Um would you explain to our public that the nature of the resolution is not it's so that the WSBA can advocate if if passed by the it would be part of their advocacy. >> Correct. So the way the resolutions work is that if there is an issue that the districts any of the districts in the state um identify as a potential issue um we put together a resolution. Our resolution specifically focuses on um when there is a significant issue with an employee um and that employee uh heads
073towards potential termination. There's a series of steps um that are have the and have had the possibility of causing um pretty significant issues for the districts um and and very honestly and the employee. Uh and so we submitted a resolution to WSBA that would then advocate for changes to state statute um because it is an issue that would have to be changed in state statute. Um and so if the um membership votes to add it to the that sort of advocacy agenda then they would um then advocate for changing that but it would have to go through legislature. It has to be updated and then have to come back out to the district. So this is just a step in the process. Um so we did discuss that. The other um um piece, the other
074resolution that was submitted um had to do with the timing of reimbursement for um special ed significant special ed um costs uh which is a really big deal particularly for our small districts across the state. Um and so uh the other thing that came that was discussed at uh that board meeting um was just uh is something that you've probably seen come out from WSBA as well is they have been sitting in the meetings with the state board of education um on the changes uh to graduation requirements for lack they're not anyway um so they have um added eight kind of um pieces uh that will be implemented or that they'll encourage implementation of. Um but the indicators that they have on those will be uh determined the level of the competency for each of
075those will be determined by each district as it is set right now. Um they then started a conversation on making those part of the accountability structure um which is going to be real tricky uh and so it is something that we probably do want to pay attention to as it moves forward. I know um Dr. Newton and his staff are watching um as well but um it is it could potentially mean some pretty substantial changes. So um we need to kind of watch when we're talking about accountabilities. It's the pieces where um uh Mr. Jackson just worked with schools on the on the improvement plans and those kind of things, but adding those in is going to be tricky, particularly if there's um the ability to set different standards. So, that's what I >> Thank
076you for the updates, >> Trusty Cook. >> Yeah, thank you, Madam Chair. Um, I think many of us went to the Jay Foundation and it was it was an amazing thing. But I wanted to just recognize Chris Zimly who coordinated it all. I mean that was from October 20th through the 30th and 8:30 to 4:00 and he had seniors coming in and I was there um a couple of times and on the last day I was going to help pack up the boots and they even another student wanted to come in and so he was flexible enough to do that. So and it was my understanding and I sure hope I don't step on Dr. Newton's toes but 60% maybe of seniors um and participated, which I think is amazing and I think it's a
077cool thing that we're addressing this because it's a problem in Wyoming. And then um Julie Mackey, she was the Wyoming outreach coordinator and she did an awesome job, too. So um it's just such a worthwhile organization and also I think we need to keep in the back of our minds the people in our community that are donating to this so our seniors can get these boots. and um and I just pray that it it's a program that can continue. So, thank you. >> Anybody else down here? >> Yeah, I just um you know students were were incredible at expressing about the the Jay Foundation, the presentation and the the impact on them. Um, I had the opportunity last week to also sit through one of those and was so grateful for the invitation to come
078and be a part of that. But I really was was just blown away, really quite moved by by what I heard during that presentation and what I saw even in the kids as they sat listening to that. And you know, you you could they were they were so attentive and and really um just holding on to what what was being shared. But um to see even the emotion in the room with some of the kids who clearly were maybe struggling um it was it was quite an experience. But I um I would hope as well, Trusty Cook, that it's something that our community can continue to get behind and our district will continue to allow. Um, my understanding is that all of the funding for those boots was raised locally and that each their goal
079is to do the presentation and present every senior in Wyoming and I believe Idaho with um each year with a pair of boots and to have them come through that presentation and receive boots. But all the money for each pair of boots is raised in the local community. Um, and there was a banner up during those presentations um, just of local businesses and organizations that contributed and um, really a huge community effort to bring that in for our students. So, I love to hear from the kids tonight and to to hear their own, you know, thoughts on it. But, it was it was something. So, that was that was really a highlight for me um, to be able to to see that program in action. So, um, but at this time, I will turn it
080over to Dr. Hton. >> Thank you, Madam Chair. Just a few items this evening. First, uh, as far as upcoming recognitions, uh, the week of November 11th through 15th is National School Psychology Week. And speaking of mental uh, health and awareness, very appreciative for all of the work of our school psychologists. Also on November 11th, we will be celebrating Veterans Day. November is also National Veterans and Military Families Month. You can expect to see a wide range of programming throughout our schools. Uh but additionally, I think a very sincere and deep sense of gratitude from all of us in the school district for all those who have served our country. Um if I can echo a little bit about the Jay Foundation, um Mr. Zy told me that there were 603 seniors who received boots.
081Um, as I just checked on my calendar though, um, the thank you to Mr. Zimnney for all of this. Um, goes back a few years actually. But specifically for this event, we had a meeting on March 18th. That's when this work really began for Mr. Zimnney and and all those who um who did all the heavy lifting. And so, um, it's certainly easy to see how well the event went March or excuse me, October 20th through the 30th, but if we go back in time all the way to March 18th, that's where the work really began. So, um, Chris, I appreciate your unrelenting efforts to, um, for not only the Jay Foundation, but the cause that is underneath it. We know that your heart and your your mind and your work ethic is squarely behind
082helping kids in this community. And um I certainly be remiss if I didn't mention that. Um how incredibly articulate and insightful our kids were this evening on this topic. Um I they probably said it better than any of us could. So special thank you to our kids for coming forward this evening to show their appreciation. There is one other item. Um it's not it is uh related to u new business item D3.4 for, but it's not connected to the actual motion. There may be some question um in the public's mind. Um as we are starting to um pass motions on ARP Elementary, the question continues to come up, where are we at on the demolition of ARP? And so, just a brief update here. Andy can certainly correct me if uh if I if he
083needs to. Um the money for the demo of ARP was actually formally requested by the school district through the school facilities uh uh department um in their budget that uh will be presented for approval in this upcoming 2026 legislative session which is only just um a month or two away. So, um the request was previously approved by the school facilities um but um and also the commission um but we are waiting for that final allocation this spring. So that demolition will be done in conjunction with the actual building of the school and um the obviously the contractor will be coordinating efforts um with the demolition and the construction. Um we at this point if that money comes through as hoped there will be no conflict in getting the demolition done um nearly concurrently with the
084the uh construction. So um as I said it's not connected to tonight's motion but it is certainly related. So I thought I would share that as well. And with that madam chair that is the end of my reports for the evening. >> Thank you. Does anyone have questions for Dr. Newton? Okay, we will move into the consent agenda portion of our agenda. All agenda items listed with the designation of CA are considered to be routine items by the governing body and will be enacted by one motion. There will be no separate discussion on these items. Any item removed from the consent agenda will be considered in its normal sequence on the agenda. Does any board member request to remove a motion from the consent agenda? Okay. Do we have a motion? >> Madam Chair, move
085to approve all motions listed as consent agenda. >> I second. So we have a motion and a second to approve all motions listed as consent agenda. All in favor say I. >> I. >> Oppose. >> Okay. That has been approved. Going down to new business. We have uh four items tonight. Madam Chair, I move to approve the denial of the of the governmental claim filed by Darlene Adele Moffett in the amount of $500,000. >> I second. >> So have a motion and a second to approve the denial of the governmental claim that's been filed. All in favor say I. >> I. >> Opposed. >> Okay, that has been approved. Madam Chair, I move to grant permission for East Band to fundra for their trip to the music in the parks in Denver, Colorado on May
0868th, 2026 to May 9th, 2026. >> Second. Have >> a motion and a second to grant permission for East Band to fund raise for their trip to Music in the Parks. Do we have any discussion or questions on that? All in favor say I. >> I. >> Opposed? Okay, that's been approved. Madam Chair, I move to grant permission to contract for translation services with Trans Perfect for an amount not to exceed $75,000. >> Second. >> Okay, we have a motion and a second to grant permission to contract for translation services with Trans Perfect. We have any questions on that discussion? >> Trusty Cook. Um just I was curious what that trans perfect what is is it a computer program people? >> Madam chair trusty cookie if I could invite um Dr. Kern up to the
087podium please. Madame Chair, Trusty Cook. Um, it is a company that provides a series of translation services. Um, it it could be in-person translators, it could be virtual translators. They also provide trans um document translation. And this is particularly for our special education documents and meetings for families to be able to participate in the process. >> Thank you. Anybody else? So, we have a motion and a second to grant permission to contract for translation services of Trans Perfect. All in favor say I. >> I. >> Opposed? I think that passes. Madam chair, I move to grant permission to contract with my goodness. As a censure infrastructure and capital projects for owner represent Oh my goodness. owner representative services for the ARP elementary school replacement facility in the amount not to exceed 336,931. >> Second. >>
088So have a motion and a second to grant permission to contract with Accenture Infrastructure and Capital Projects. Do we have any discussion or questions on this one? Seeing none, all in favor say I. I. I. opposed. That has been approved as well. The next regular board meeting will be held on Monday, November 17th, 2025 at 6:00 p.m. The district the business of the district is now done. We have a motion to go into executive session. Madam cherry move to go into executive session prior to reggerment for the purpose of possible student long-term suspensions, expulsions, personnel, and proposed litigation. >> Second. >> We have a motion and a second to go into executive session at this time. All in favor say I. >> I. Opposed. >> All right. We will adjourn