Amery Board of Education Regular Meeting 3-9-26

001Just make sure that Trac is ready back there. Okay, ready? >> Good evening. I'd like to uh call our meeting back to order. The board was previously in close session to discuss personnel items tonight. I'd like to welcome you all here uh for our regular March meeting a little early this month for spring break. And we are joined with some very special friends tonight. Our second grade class would love to lead you all in the pledge of allegiance. So, as they file in, I'll ask all of you who are able to please stand and join our second grade friends in the pledge. >> Okay, let's move it a little bit more. >> Get him in here. And it's over there, Miss. >> All right. >> Get you all on camera. So, your legs are right

002there. I alce to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands. One nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. >> That was awesome. >> Great job, second grade friends. >> You saved me tonight. And you all can just stay right there because our second graders are going to be our spotlight on education tonight. So with that, I'll turn it over to our second grade friends. >> Perfect. We do have a slideshow that we >> can slide to Jackson. >> All right. Awesome. So when we think about leadership, we often think about older students, adults, maybe people in government, people on boards, right? But what if I told you that at Lean Elementary, we're discovering that leadership can begin much earlier, even in second grade.

003Good morning or good evening, excuse me. My name is Vanessa Mercer. I am the first and second grade school counselor and I am honored to introduce the second grade leadership group, some of our members here. Um, if you guys would like to go ahead and introduce yourselves, starting with Natalie. >> I'm I'm Natalie. >> I'm Aaliyah. I'm Willow. I'm Laura. I'm Fa. I'm Luke. I'm Violet. >> I'm Everett. I'm Julia. >> I'm Jackson. >> I'm Soren. I'm Cameron. I'm >> Awesome. We're ready for the next one. All right, Natalie. >> We have leadership group in second grade because we are ready for it. We made one hat to keep and one hat to donate. It empowers me to set a good thing. >> Leadership group teaches me to help my community. We made food donation

004boxes for families. We make kindness posters for the halls to remind students how to show the war your way. We help keep our school clean. second grade made and donated hats with the high schoolers. >> We can go to the next slide. So, those are just some of the examples of the projects that we did. So, our friends here talked about organizing um some of our food drive boxes. Um, we have made lots of kindness posters, uh, showing the warrior way to post in the hallway, cleaning up school grounds, as well as, uh, teaming up with the high schoolers to make hats. All right, friends, we can continue where we left off. >> I think so. >> Um, >> we can go to the next slide. Yep. Thank you. Second graders laid the morning announcements

005every day for the whole school. >> We say the pledge of weather, birthdays, lunch menu, and a joke. We end all announcements by saying, "Make it a great warrior day to remind students to be your best selves and practice a warrior way." We worked high school. We worked with high school FCC students to make hats. >> We made one hat to keep and one to donate. >> I like leadership because I like how friends care in this group. Second grade had a kindness concert and art show. >> So, real quick, I just wanted to showcase some of the work that second grade has done as a whole beyond just second grade leadership group in general. Um, our lead leadership students definitely serve as role models with our second grade students and our second grade um

006class. So, membership and leadership group is contingent upon positive behaviors. So, our leaders do their very best to show up as their best selves at events like these. All right, next slide. >> Brena, >> leadership means helping others in the community. >> We might sell treats and drinks at pickup at the end of the day. We want to raise money for a cause that matters to us. Leadership group helps me feel confident in my abilities. Leadership group allows me to practice teamwork and have fun with others while working towards goals. I know that I can make a change in my school and community. >> Leadership means being a leader, having a kind heart, and showing empathy when people are hurt. Leadership means >> Leadership means to keep Leadership means >> good. >> Do you want

007to think of something? You said it >> leadership means um >> to show the warrior way. >> Leadership means always trying your best and be kinder. The next >> we are planning on >> leadership means working with friends to help the community. Leadership means showing empathy to others. Leadership is to be kind. Um leadership means waiters means um leadership means is helping kids when they need it and when they need it being kind and supportive. >> Leadership means being helpful. >> Our group has 29 members so not everyone could make it. We made a video of some of the students who couldn't be here so they can tell you what leadership means to them. >> What does leadership mean to you? >> It means being others. Being kind and helping people. Being kind and making

008helping other it means that I am helpful and being being a good student and being helpful being kind and respectful. It means being a role model and being friends. >> All right. So, we often talk about students as the leaders of tomorrow, but what we're seeing at lean is that our students are already learning to lead today. So, thank you very much for your time and have A GREAT NIGHT. WELL DONE, SECOND GRADE FRIENDS. >> Very nice job. And it was good improvision when you forgot. You said that you forgot. And that's what being a leader is too is that you could admit that you forgot and then you covered really, really well. So I present, ladies and gentlemen, future school board members of YOUR Thank you, second grade friends. Sorry guys, best part of

009the whole night over. Here we go now. >> Thank you. Thank you so much. That was fun. Those are always my favorite. >> I think we're in good hands. >> I think so. The future's looking awful bright. >> Anybody want to sit in the chairs now? Just have a hang out. >> Well, the room is getting very empty. >> Tom, you don't want to sneak out with the rest. >> You thought about it. All good. All right, that was fantastic. All right, moving on to our consent agenda items as our second graders have made their way out tonight. Uh, Larry, >> I reviewed the board vouchers today and found everything in order. So, I would move to approve the consent agenda items as listed. >> Second. It's been properly moved and seconded to accept the

010consent agenda items as presented. Is there any discussion? Hearing none, we'll proceed to vote. All those in favor of approving the consent agenda items, please signify by saying I. >> I. All those opposed, please signify by saying no. >> Motion passed. The consent agenda items are approved as presented. Next, we'll move on to the administrative and committee reports. And Mr. Very cool. You're up. >> All right. Well, it has been a crazy couple of weeks at the high school between uh state wrestlers and we have two third place finishes there with Wes Inum and and Tony Soell. A repeat trip to the state hockey tournament. Another runnerup finish. Takes a lot just to get there and be a state runner up. That's a pretty great experience and great year for the boys. Um, our powerlifters

011actually were just at state as well and we did have a state champion there, Kelly Whitaker, repeat state champion in powerlifting class. >> Oh, wow. Cool. >> Um, future events. Um, tomorrow, big day for our juniors. We have the ACT test tomorrow. Uh, we've been working real hard and optimistic there. We've got a foreign language trip on Friday. Our students leave Europe. Uh, spring sports started to kick off today and what a great day to kick off spring sports. March 23rd, we have large group music contest. Um, at the end of our third term on March 27th, we have Blood Mobile. The National Honor Society sponsors Blood Mobile. And April 1st, we have a number of students and staff that participate. April 8th, we have the high school solo and ensemble contest for band and

012choir. And then on April 15th, our ninth and tth graders have the preac and then the forward social studies test. Right, Mr. Benson. >> All right. Uh, we just had students attend the math masters competition and they were pretty excited. Believe there was a Brown 20 teams there. We had one team, I believe, finished fourth and one in in the top 10. Um, I don't have the exact scores. They came back on Friday and there was so much going on and we're preparing. I know we had one student that finished in out of hundreds of individual students finished top two, the second highest and math facts and then we had a couple others that were in like the top 10 overall finishing and I'll hopefully we'll get those names out and into a Facebook promotion

013and everything very soon. Um but uh I really want to um show appreciation to Brenda Crows and Jenny Mner, our math teachers who work with those kids and to Joanne Ericson. and Joe and Erikson spent a lot of time um during like study halls when teachers were working with other kids in their core areas pulling these kids in and really working with them on on um what this competition could be like and how they could do well. So that was really neat. Um Ford exam state test is coming up um you know not as soon as the ACT but u we're preparing for that. Um, and again, that's the state test for all students, 3rd through 8th grade. And then 10th grade also takes the social studies forward exam. Uh, we're really getting close. As

014soon as we get back from break, we'll start some online tools training for all the kids that that take this test. That sort of encompasses um some videos and interactive um computer pieces. Uh, it's important for the kids to understand the format of the test, how to manipulate. So before they go in and say the math test says you need to click this and arrange these numbers. They get to click things and move them around so that they're comfortable with it. It's a little less of an issue with the older kids because they've seen it before. But for sure the third grade kids it's first time looking at it. We also do some um practice tests that they take that are provided by DPI. And then we do some things just on test taking strategies

015that we go with our kids just reminding them that um and the biggest thing for these kids is grit to say, "Hey, you know what? When it gets hard and it's asking you to write this paragraph and you've had it and you just don't put down a one-word answer or, you know, really put in a good quality paragraph. They're looking for you to show grit to do your best and and to um and give it your all." And they do such a nice job. We're really proud of them. Um, seventh grade civics trip is coming up on Friday and it's that courthouse field trip. They get to go up and take a look at all of the county government and city government and then they fit in when they're up there. The the Balsson Lake

016Museum at the old courthouse. That's pretty cool. Uh, so obviously spring break coming up. We have our students participating in the large group music festival as well. Uh, our new teachers will be going through essential elements. Will you be talking about it? >> No, go ahead. >> Okay. So the essential elements class and so all of the new teachers have um throughout the year have been working in sessions. Some different administrators and core teachers and leaders have been teaching them some of the ways of being an Amry teacher and the expectations that we have and our culminating event will be coming up soon. Uh we have the district human growth and development committee meeting April 1st. Um and then April 2nd we have our warrior way celebration and that's sort of like the big kickoff.

017Here comes the state test where when we get back after the weekend, let's give it our all. Let's have that growth mindset so we really get that hard on that final warrior way celebration. >> All right. Good evening. As Tom shared, the uh 2026 Ford exam is quickly approaching. However, um the intermediate school spent last week celebrating last year's Ford exam. So, prior to taking a Ford exam, our students sit down with each classroom teacher and talk about forward exam goals. what is their goal in terms of u math, ELA, science and social studies, their individual goals. Um and then we do a grade level goal and they're usually set um with with students input on it and hopefully um it's something that they can work towards. So this past week each of our grade

018levels got to go back to the previous year teacher and got to um earn their reward. Fourth grade uh went down to third and they had a movie and popcorn party. Our fifth graders enjoyed um games and popcorn with actually it was an ice cream treat. gains an ice cream treat with their fourth grade teachers and then um our fifth grade teachers actually went to the middle school to celebrate with our sixth graders on on accomplishing. So all of them as a grade level have accomplished the lofty goals that we set every year. Um third grade planting. So this past month our third graders head over to the high school and with our agriculture and horiculture class they planters. Um they also do different stations led by Mr. Meyer. Our students greatly look forward to

019it. Um the high school students will then take care of these plants until May and then in May these special um flowers are delivered to someone special to each of our students. Um so I want to thank the high school. They've done this for years for us. Um we love it. Our kids greatly look forward to it. So just another example of how we all work together when you're fortunate enough to be on a campus together. Um as Tom shared for exam testing. So our testing window here at the intermediate school um is April 6th through April 13th. Um, our third graders will take the forward exam for the first time. So, they'll take ELA and math. Our fourth graders will take ELA, math, science, and social studies. And then our fifth graders will take

020ELA and math. Um, director of curriculum and learning. I anticipate that we will be up for universal monitoring next year. That's a that's a pretty big task. So, the DPI sets a cycle of when we're going to be monitored. So, I have gotten um word that we will be up for universal monitoring next year. So, I really am getting our ducks in a row. So, the McKini Vental homeless policy we're going to uh revisit tonight. That is part of that as well. I'll be bringing another policy to you in April um to consider. So, really just making sure that all of um our practices are in line, that we have everything where we needed to be when when that comes up for us. um Educ um this coming Friday there is a team of us

021that are going to be participating in an educ professional development offering. Sorry. Um we knew going into Educ Climber that it could greatly support Act 20 uh and all the parent communication and the personalized reading plans that we that are statemandated. Up until this point, we have not utilized Edge Climber for that. We were told it's a it's a work in progress. It's been another two to three year roll out. Um, so we've paused and just let our staff get used to educ. We're now at a phase of where I am seeking to roll in that component. That would be something that we would use next fall, especially if we're if the state is considering rolling in act 20 math as we would want to be able to utilize that tool. So the session we

022have on Friday will spend three hours teaching us how to use and develop smart forms is actually the template that we'll use. Upcoming events, um, we have our spring break. We have our fourth grade concert at 1:45 on March 26th. No school on the 3rd and then our forward exam window. >> All right. Thanks, Mrs. >> Well, I can't u showcase and highlight kindness better than the students that were in front of you earlier. Uh we did have a concert though and one of the main things was when they sang True Colors and the lights went down and they all had like little colored things. I sobbed a little. It was very sweet and kind and just hearing their message about being nice to one one another is the message that we want to share

023with kids. So, excellent job to Miss Vanessa and her leadership team because it's exactly what I want our student body to represent. Uh, one thing uh that I've really focused on since the last time we talked besides the dog drool uh was the the midyear uh 30 minute check-ins with staff. So, I've really been intentional in prioritizing my time to check in on my people. I've met with members from all of including my janitorial staff, my kitchen staff. Even though I'm not their direct supervisor, I work in tandem with them, all of my teachers, all of my pair professionals. 30 minutes just to sit down and ask, "What's going well for you this year? What are some challenges and barriers? How do you feel supported? What kind of professional development or clarity do you need?

024And then, how can I best support you?" from those meetings. I asked them to be as honest as possible because when we're honest, we can get to the root of things and we can get ahead of stuff. So, there's been some great uh feedback that they've provided. I'm now correlating that all to bring to my leadership team. We meet every Monday morning to go, okay, now what do we do about this? Right? How do we take these points of action and how do we make them into plans of how do we continue support and grow together as a team? Overall, things are great. They're saying really wonderful things, but it's not about the wonderful things. It's about the little things so they don't become big things. And how do we support that? So, been spending

025a lot of time and I think my staff who've covered other areas so I've been able to do those meetings cuz those don't come without a big investment in time. And then uh one other thing just wanted to give you a highlight on because I did call SH randomly on a whim one day. So, I thought it should be good to represent let the rest of the board know. Uh but I did get the privilege of walking through the school forest along with other members of the school forest committee uh with Paul Hemstead and then a representative from Pulk County that somebody on this board may or may not be related to. >> Okay. >> Possible. Yeah. He only had great things to say from two hours in the forest. Uh but what we did

026is we walked through the forest and we talked about okay, what can long-term plans look like for here? Where are their hazardous trees? what do we need to do about the buckthornne and really helping us be as proactive as possible as we start searching for grants which is one of the things that we get to highlight and showcase today that we have received one of them that was applied for and there's hopefully more monies to come and getting that school forest back up to the speed of those who originally started to put it into that place it it's been a great great committee that's been working hard at that force and I'm really pleased with the work that's going forward and we have an Eagle Scout who's planning a project in there to put some

027educational signs and really jazz it up a bit out there which should be fun. Uh upcoming things for us report cards go home soon. People are super jazzed and excited about that asking for extensions on their deadlines and I said we accept bribes and chocolate. Chocolate hasn't come through yet but we'll see. Uh spring break is coming soon and then we've got a first grade concert coming up on April 9th but no school on the third. >> Cool. Leadership means taking care and checking in on your people. >> Way to go, second graders. Now, I'm gonna have that in my head for a week. Leadership means >> Yes. >> All right. Thank you. >> Yep. Hi. Um, couple weeks ago, I attended the CIS 11, which I always say thank you for the opportunity to

028meet with my fellow directors. It was a full house and I actually was asked to present. they um had seen some of the growth that students supported by an IEP um are making in Amry on some state testing. I mean I shout out to my predecessor who did a lot of work but really the special ed teachers. So I got to share um things that we're doing here in Amry with other districts and that was exciting. Um but I just I I have to I have to share just how much work the last year the special ed teachers I've asked them to put into really digging into the tools that we're using. Um, and we've made some big changes based on that work they're doing and I think we're they're starting to show some difference

029with our students. So, shout out to the special ed teachers on that work because that's all them. Um, had a very successful uh child development day. We had 12 families join us. So, we were packed double up almost all day. Um, takes a lot of work to run that big day for our students. So, I want to make sure I I acknowledge and thank uh Kelsey Ziscoco, Mia Nort Nortunin, Lisa Frank, Andrew Turner, Rose Cubrick, Megan Challenger, and Tracy Heamer. And then also big shout out to Amry Lions. They always come and they do the vision screening and they just love it and it's so fun because they're they're good with the kids. So, I appreciate them coming. But got to meet 12 new families of littles that are coming and um it was exciting

030day. Uh and then finally, um I'm doing a book study. I have two teachers from um special ed teachers from each building joining me for um a book study this year. It's called the way to inclusion and it's looking at a variety of ways we can um continue having inclusionary practices for students with um IEPs and how to continue to grow that and so we had a really great second um meeting and so we'll have that we're developing our inclusion plan to start implementing in all the buildings. So it's good conversation. I just I want to take a second just to give give you shine a light for on you for a minute because you had said that you were asked to present and and I mean I know that you don't want to be

031boastful here but I think this is really the chance to be boastful here for you and this department to say that you were asked to present because Amory has had such great growth in special ed kiddos and their testing and their achievements and I think that sometimes it's easy to forget that that um those students make up a ton of our population. We test them all. Um and that it is they require the most money, the most services. Um and it is clearly if that is the case, it is money that is well spent and well-directed and all should be proud of the effort. It takes a ton of effort to get to see growth and that's I mean exactly what we've talked about is seeing that growth from some of our our bottom learners

032to bring them up and get them up into speed. And that just I mean it says volumes of being a productive member of society once once they graduate school. And so I I I want to give you the time that you deserve to shine in that department because that is not an easy job. Yeah. >> Um, that's awesome that you have been recognized in that way that the district has been recognized in that way. So, >> yeah, it was exciting to share. >> Keep going. Very exciting. >> All right, Sean, do you have anything as a district administrator so far? >> All right. All good things. >> Thank you all. And I saw that Ryan snuck in just just in the nick of time. Rolled in for >> everyone had notes. I'm like, must be

033about time. I have a >> for the transportation report. >> Pretty short presentation. We're not looking at any purchases, major purchases this year. Um, we'll jump right into our fleet and we'll start with the buses, I believe. Yep. Everything's pretty much the same, but a major reduction in repair costs. And I'd say that's mostly in part to doing a lot more in-house. And I'm really learning the common software. We have almost a dealer level software where I can diagnose and go on the same level that we would if we brought it out. There's just some things we can't do. I did look through the this 23 24. We did have a big transmission repair. We had to send out a couple differentials, big jobs. So, that was part of it. But mostly we do a

034lot more in house. And I'm seeing that this year again, too. But everything else is pretty much the same. And on the vans, it's very similar. Um, I did notice I looked into this year, this current year, and we are down quite a bit compared to last year. We're not heading out to Cameron as much. We don't have as just as many odd transportation stuff this year. So, I think our miles and fuel will be down this next report I do next year. Um, but everything else was pretty good. We didn't need a lot of tires. That was a big change on that. And then I've also been working on uh Laura Shogun and I working on the summer school routes and we looked into we just don't have a lot of transportation use a

035lot of the weeks of it. So I was having a 72 passenger bus and we're having 10 kids on it. So I just didn't think that was good. So we we did we were able to cut down to three routes. Still keep all the routes under an hour. So no no kiddos will be on for more than an hour. And it just we'll just have to stick to more of the routes. we get a lot of kind of cherrypicking off the route. We go a couple miles out our way and we just won't be able to do that this summer, but it should save quite a bit and by getting rid of one route. And then for this next year, I'm looking at into hopefully being able to combine and move things around to get

036rid of two routes because we have a couple buses are pretty short on ridership this year, just families moving and different things like that. But that should save a lot of money as far as not replacing a bus for another few years. And we can take some of the cameras and equipment and disperse them better. And I think that'll help a lot. Um, I replaced a couple camera systems this year. Uh, updated a few to the the high definition ones. We get better interior and exterior cameras. I've been working with Poke County a lot. We've been had a lot of troubles with passing the reds and so a deputy and I have been working together. We She actually got three now that she was watching >> just up on Highway 8. They just think that

037they can go right on through >> and then I actually saw the cameras. You can't see who they are but sometimes you can see the phone. They're looking at the phone. They're not even looking at the bus coming. So >> there's nothing that's more aggravating than watching people. The luck of those ones the driver the one was crossing the road to get the horn and they stopped and it was it could have been really bad but for the most part the most of them were door side pickups and they pass on other side but still they don't know that the car doesn't know that I think any questions for me as far as anything >> the question I had uh the one that jumped out to me was on your buses miles driven and you

038were up 2500 miles, but your fuel was up 490 gallons. That probably, you know, could be the cold weather. It just, you know, depends on how much idling they do. And we we Sean and I just talked about that this year trying to cut back on the idling, but when it's cold, you got to keep the heat moving. Um, we did have some state tournaments and different things we don't usually do down to Madison. So, that was a big added fuel thing we don't usually see, which is good. And we like teams going to state, but it's costly. Sure. Fan buses. We did a band bus plus the team bus and it adds up. Um, so the gallons of fuel too. Also, we have a hot pressure washer that takes diesel fuel, so that takes

039a little bit. um our grounds equipment. We have a diesel mower depends on how much mowing it does. It's all included in it, but we we try to separate out the the buses from it. >> Okay. >> Um you were talking about condensing bus routes uh next year, not only for summer school, but the next calendar year for or the next school year, right? The 26 27 school year. Um, and are we still looking at still around an hour for riding? No longer than an hour. >> That's my goal. Yeah. With the software, I'm able to play with that and see you add it. You can hit right away like how much is this at? And you can shift it around. It's It's really neat. >> I just want to make sure that our parents

040needs are met there. That you know, I know that that's a sticking point of kids riding the bus is that parents don't like them on there so long. And so, um, >> my goal is too is we have some routes that are really, really short and then we have some that are really long. So, if I can balance it better, I think that'll work, too. >> And then another good thing is I do have one for sure retirement and possibly two. So, you know, if we do cut routes, I'm not cutting employees, >> right? >> It's hard enough to find drivers as it is. I don't want to have to give give one the hacks. >> Yes. Um, do we think that the repairs are down a little bit as well just because we've been

041upgrading our fleet and um, we don't have as many old DUR buses hitting the road or >> a little bit. We do have I mean there was a couple buses I looked at we had 30 or $40,000 into >> and they were our older buses. But yeah, we did we did we got left out um that one that got rearranded. We I had the replacement cost insurance on it. So, we have to get another new bus. So, we got two buses in one year. So, we I think five buses at the time all within a couple years. >> Yeah. >> That that helped a ton. >> It does. >> What's the normal lifespan do you figure for a bus? >> We were on to the end. >> So, I mean 20 years is pushing it.

042>> Okay. That long. We have a 2000 bus that just broke a frame on the Frost Heave and so that one it's done. >> But I'm hoping you know when we reduce the routes that's going to reduce the >> how old the buses are too. >> That would help a lot. >> Um yeah, the district was replacing buses one a year for did we do like five in a row plus we got the the extra one six in a row. So and that was kind of the goal. We have about 20 buses. Correct. So it would c cycle back around about every >> So we did have some years we we we had three buses then we didn't get buses for a few. So we were kind of in that end of that phase because

043we had a bunch of buses that were in that 2000 2001 era. I think last year I got rid of a 1998. So that was getting pretty old. We were having a hard time getting buses during co we we had to order them but then it's like a year before you actually get the bus right after we put in the order >> when that one was rear ended. I happened to have put in an order for the next year's bus and we just replaced it with that one and ordered another one. Yeah. >> So it worked out cuz it was already coming. That happened though with that Thomas bus we ended up with because it wasn't an accident. We couldn't find anything. So you had to get what's available >> and everything else is Bluebirds.

044So we have one kind of oddball. >> Yeah. for, you know, my parts with all Bluebird and I got to have a couple spots for the ton of stuff. >> What's the cost of a new bus? >> So, what this is my my fifth year coming into and my first one was just over 100,000. My last one's 157. >> They're saying now that the new emissions for 2027 are going to add another $10,000 to the diesel engines. >> So, we're going to be in the 1751 180 range. Is that before technology or is that with technology? >> That that's everything with cameras. The that's how I always price them. Everything ready to go. Cam cameras, CVS, good to go. Um I am going to have them bring out a conventional with a hood bus and

045just see if there's any way we can make it fit in our shop cuz that would save us around 30,000 a bus. And then if I have the opportunity to get some gas powered buses, which would be get rid of the emissions, and that's where we're having most of our issues with is emissions. That's where a lot of this repair cost is. You know, a deaf doser pump is $2,000 and they all seem to need it. >> Yes. >> And sometimes, again, the next year, you just get a We have one bus that's just constantly going through stuff and we can't figure out why. >> You just have to get those high school kids. They know how to delete them, babies, just like that. >> I wish we could delete them. make it way easier.

046>> Strike that from the record. >> There is a high school kid that doesn't drive a diesel truck that doesn't know how to do it >> there. The state trooper would not like that. >> We have that coming up too. Um we do annual inspections. The trooper comes out and he will go through them with a flashlight on the creeper and you know he checks everything but one every year he has something he doesn't tell us but something he's really focusing on. and we've been been doing pretty well. He always finds something. He's like, "I can't let you get out of here without me finding anything, but we do our best." So, we're we're going through buses every one by one and just fine tooth combs to see if we can find anything. >> Super

047important. >> Yes. Yeah. >> Yeah. It's one of those kind of behind thes scene things that not everybody thinks about. So, but it's really important and really appreciated. >> Thank you. >> And our drivers. thanks to our drivers and recognized. I think there was just school bus driver recognition week, wasn't it? Just too long ago. So, thanks to all of our drivers, our van drivers, our school bus drivers. Uh couldn't do it without him getting our precious cargo here. All those cute little second grade leadership people. >> Yeah, it's a challenge having the 4K to 12 on a bus, but it >> we get it done. >> So, it's a learning curve. >> Oh, yeah. You got to have patience to be a bus driver. Sure. >> That was the original Google was when you

048rode the bus. >> All right. Anything else for Ryan tonight? All right. I guess you're going to get out of here unscathed. >> All right. >> Thanks, Ryan. >> Yeah. Thanks, guys. Have a great day. >> Thanks. You, too. >> All right. Off to ourformational items. Our strategic plan 2530 update with Dr. Derf. >> Okay. You'll see three items that are highlighted in yellow here. and they are three items that are part of our strategic plan that we have hit just in this meeting. We haven't gotten all the way to the end of the meeting, but we will by the end of the meeting hit three different goals within this document. The first of which you'll see highlighted there is successful students empower every learner to reach their full potential academically, socially and personally, ensuring

049they are prepared for the opportunities of tomorrow. We almost anointed them here this evening as the future leaders. I think we did anoint them as the future leaders of Amory. That is exactly why they're here to give them them that that opportunity to demonstrate how awesome they are. So successful students, we saw some of that here tonight. Okay. And there are two other spots. Get myself oriented in the document. The next item is located on strong community partnerships. Uh increased opportunities to partner with local community members and businesses, strengthening connections that benefit both our students and our community. And what I've noted here is for those who don't know, our Warrior Pump downtown donates two cents of every gallon pumped to the school district of Amry and we get a quarterly check. So four times

050a year, we get a check from Save a Lot Warrior Pump downtown. And this last time around, we received a Warrior check, a a check from the Warrior Pump, I should say, for $1,557. always true that ownership down at Save a Lot for the Warrior Pump has said, "Please spend this on something that has to do directly with kids. Don't pay the bills with it." And that's always been the standing order, and that's been happening for quite some time. So, that chunk that that that uh check literally arrived the day we were looking to figure out how we were going to get to and from Madison for hockey. And I called Josh and we talked and I said, "Josh, I think they're probably looking at getting some transportation down there that's not the old yellow

051bus. They're probably looking for a uh coach bus." So I said, "I've got $1,557. It's been donated to the district that the district's going to donate to hockey to get them down there and get them back." So, we connected with Save a Lab and their ownership right here to the school district of Amry and the community members are the ones that made that happen because they're the ones that were pumping their gas at that particular pump. So, that's connecting all of us up. So, that's an example of our strategic plan building strong relationships and partnerships. And lastly, on the very last page, haven't gotten there yet in our agenda, but it states on number four, efficient and accountable board of education, ensure responsible, transparent, and strategic management of district funds to maximize resources, support student

052success, and maintain public trust. We're going to talk about the finance oversight committee here in a little bit, and that probably that statement there probably personifies exactly what we're trying to do. So there is another real life example right here within this meeting of us seeking to um do work that's directly connected back to our strategic plan. And I'll take any questions or you guys can make any comments that you see fit. Those are three items. Any questions or comments? All right, great job pointing out um all of those things in our strategic plan and moving forward with that uh living breathing document. So, >> yes, amen. >> All right, off to our building and grounds report from our committee members. Okay, last Wednesday, George Sigworth, Ryan Peas, Larry White, and Steve Ourel and I

053got together and we visited the two spots. We started on the high school roof. Uh we have an upcoming meeting on the 14th of April to meet with Chris Anderson, our general contractor, and members of the subcontractor that did the work at the high school. Uh we're going to hopefully hear a plan of action for how to address what's happening with our high school roof. And my promise to you is to bring back whatever we discover from that meeting at our May board meeting because the April 14th date is the day after our April board meeting. So when we meet here, we'll uh have some conversation with all of you about what we discover and what the plan is moving forward. I'm not sure if you had anything, Steve, or you had anything, Larry, about

054that day on the roof. >> So it um we talked about this before winter hit. >> Yes. that that there were some issues up on the roof and uh it sounds like all the players at KA everybody's on board with looking at it and and looking what at what we can do to uh address it and prepare that thing for the next 20 years or whatever it may be. So good things uh happening in that they're all showing up to have the discussion. >> It'll be an important meeting. >> Yes, it will. So the second stop on that day was a visit over to Jorgensson Fields. Uh there is a concession stand slash bathroom between the two fields and um as you know we up upgraded that facility. Uh the first item that we needed

055to address over there is our dugouts. Our dugouts are awfully close to home light. So, what we're going to do is uh put a net in across the front of the dugouts in those four locations, two at each field, so no one gets hit by a foul ball cuz it could happen based on how close they are. Uh there's a big difference in the distance between home plate and the dugouts at baseball than there is at softball. And remember, these are not just softball fields. There's youth baseball going to be played there as well. And having been around youth baseball plenty, it's not surprising to know that 12-year-olds don't always pay attention to what's happening at home plate when people are batting. So, I am very certain of that. So, we're going to make it

056a safer environment. The that's from district dollars, the netting. Uh the second part of our visit over there was the uh concession stand/b unit. This is original to the complex. And you'll see just in this picture a variety of issues. That standing water is where concessions would be served. So we obviously don't want that. We're going to pour some concrete there. We're going to redo the siding. We're looking at redoing the roofing. And we're looking at doing some work on the inside. Couple of things that folks need to know. We are hopefully going to um have an opportunity for a grant to pay for this work. This upgrade would not be done through district dollars. this would be done through a whole different process. I can't reveal what that is yet, but I promise to

057tell you that when we get to the month of April when that perhaps is concluded. Um, if we have an opportunity to get that funded, we're going to do that work. And the kids that are going to do that work and the people are going to do that work are our kids, our construction kids in the fourth term. They meet April and May and they're going to help get that done. Some of the work they can't do, but much of the work they can. So, we're looking at upgrading, adding the finishing touches to, in my mind, what's turned out to be a pretty awesome spot for playing softball. And we're looking, my words to the Jorgensson family has been since the beginning of this, we're looking at having the lights on on that field four

058or five nights a week in the summer. And with the amount of youth baseball we have around here, that's probably not unrealistic to think because it's been pretty quiet there for a while. So, >> and the field is ready to go this year. >> It's wet right now, but it's ready to play on. It's It's going to be a good deal. It's a very nice venue for softball and for youth baseball. >> And the work would be done fourth term of this year, >> April May. >> And the funding options are we can't disclose those yet, but that would be paid for without >> not district dollars. >> District dollars. So that was our trip over to Jorgensson last Wednesday. Ready to play ball. We practice soon. We'll be playing soon as well. >> Well,

059and and while we were on the roof, we noticed kids playing on the baseball field. So when there was still water, standing water other places or snow piles other places, uh baseball field is up and ready to go as well. Our baseball field and our soccer football complex, we had advertised that is we hoped it would move from an April 1st to an October 1st to a March 1st to November 1st. There have been kids on the baseball field and the soccer field since midFebruary and we literally could have the day we were up on the roof, we literally could have played any outdoor game that day. >> Yeah. >> On any of those fields and today there was all sorts of track going on. So we're we're moving into spring sports and these fields

060are allowing us to do so early than we ever have. I've seen a lot of fly balls hit the kids in the parking lot for softball. We're not going to be doing that this time around. The weather's been this spring as well until tomorrow. >> Oh, sprinter. I guess I guess we're in sprinter. So, >> yes, correct. >> Any uh any more discussion questions for our building grounds committee team? All right. Thanks, guys, for going up on the roof cuz this chicken ain't doing that. There's stairs. We can you can get up there. >> What's the point of getting up there? It's the point of looking over the edge. And what are you pushing me off? >> I don't trust you, Beagle. >> I don't want your hair. >> I come with a broken leg.

061All right. Off to budget update. >> Okay. Well, I have an update to provide that um I'd like to read for all of you and for those who are watching. So bear with me as I uh roll through this update about where we sit budgetarily. So good evening. As the district administrator for the school district of Ramy, I would like to take uh the moment to provide an update on our district budget as we prepare for the 2627 school year. At the January special meeting of the Amry Board of Education and as reported in the Amory Free Press, it was shared that the school district of Amry will be reducing expenditures. It was also explained that like many districts across Wisconsin, we will periodically need to borrow to manage cash flow challenges created by how

062our state funds public schools. The school district of Amry is experiencing declining enrollment. In fact, most school districts in Wisconsin are seeing a similar trend because public school funding in Wisconsin is directly tied to student enrollment. The result of fewer students is less revenue. As enrollment declines, our financial resources decrease even though many of our costs such as utilities, transportation, uh, and facility operations remain largely unchanged. This combination of limited state funding growth and declining enrollment continues to place significant pressure on our budget. It is important for our community to understand that this is not a new challenge. Over the past decade, the district has already made difficult decisions, including multiple rounds of staff reductions. Throughout this time, we have worked diligently to minimize the impact on students while aligning our expenses with available revenues.

063Given our current financial outlook, additional action is now necessary. There will be budget reductions which will include decreases in staff as well as adjustments to programs and services. These decisions are not made lightly. We fully recognize the impact that they have on our employees, our students, and our community. Staff and other budget reductions will take place during the months of March, April, and May. Our focus remains on preserving the strongest educational experience possible within the financial realities we face. While these are difficult decisions, they are necessary to ensure the long-term stability of the district. We appreciate the continued support and engagement of the game community as we work through these challenges together. Thank you. Um, I think it's a it's a good picture for the community of where not only our district is sitting, but

064many districts are sitting, not only in our area, but across the state and not only across the state, but across the nation. Uh, I will challenge a little part of your statement um of saying that our costs remain largely unchanged. Um we have seen that our costs the inflation costs have greatly changed and um we have not kept pace with the inflation that we've seen in regards to health insurance, property insurance. Uh, I think a great example was, uh, when Larry asked Ryan, "What have the cost of a bus in five years looking from 113 to $153,000 to replace equipment?" Um, I've seen it in the seven years that I've sat here on the board looking at what our compensation and benefits for our employees. Uh, I think that was at just about 60% when

065I started. We're at 80% now. Largely due to not the compensation, the take-home salary that we are paying our employees, but due to the uh benefits, the health insurance benefits. Uh, we revisit that yearly. Um, sometimes we are hamstrung by um, having to lock into plans for a couple of years to try to hedge our our bets and try to mitigate what those circumstances look like to the district ahead of time. Nobody can read the tea leaves, but I think it doesn't take a crystal ball reader to know that health insurance doesn't get cheaper. It just continues to climb. So, uh, it just it doesn't matter if you have 500 students or if you have 3,000 students, the cost of doing business is just increasing uh, with those continued costs. It doesn't matter. We still

066have to heat a building. Whether it has 20 students in the building or you have 500 students in the building, the costs remain largely the same. uh the costs remain on how much it costs for the insurance regardless of how many students you have in the building. That is a terrible way to have to look at this. Uh I think probably us who are tied to agriculture and and we string our debt load over a per head count in the dairy industry. Um that's that's what now education is starting to look like. Um, and I can tell you that the dairy industry has never done well when it's come to that kind of funding model. And here we are. And um, other than that, I agree with everything that that you had to say in

067the statement. And I think it's a clear and concise picture for people that really need to figure out where we're at with funding. These decisions are not made lightly. strongly agree with that. These have been hard talks and hard conversations um and really shouldn't come as a shock, I think, to anybody. They don't come as a shock to our staff. That shouldn't come as a shock to the community. Um none of us like to be in this position of of making these decisions. All right, off to the first reading of changes to the staff handbook and documents. >> Okay, there are a variety of documents here and again these are all first changes. None of this becomes official until the month of April. Um, in some cases there's more than others in the documents. They'll

068simply follow along. I'm looking at the certified staff handbook. On that second page, there are a couple of name changes. On page eight, you will see a phrase that's been added that states underneath extracurricular activity assignments for volunteers, they must follow staff policies and procedures to request time off for events on a school day and use personal days for any missed work time. On page 10, there are two items. The first of which is a reauthoring of the onboarding slashmentor program. So, new staff members will meet with district office personnel on or before the first day of employment. Then you'll see some words that are scratched out here. to complete the necessary payroll paperwork and benefit enrollment. All incoming certified staff shall participate in new staff in service the day prior to the start of

069the school year and new staff essentials classes during the school year. All new certified staff will be assigned a mentor and will participate in activities as outlined in the mentor mentee handbook. Uh on that same page, performance evaluations and reviews. The district uses the Wisconsin Educator Effectiveness System to evaluate certified staff annually on a summary and supporting your schedule. Evaluation procedures will be communicated to staff by their administrators and through their new staff essentials classes. So that's the page 10 items. and then the date uh on page 15 is the only other thing that is in that particular document. The second document is the uh certified staff compensation and benefits document a couple of year changes on page one. On page three, uh just a point of clarity, uh we have reauthored this last sentence

070to read funds remaining in individual, this is for flexible spending accounts. Funds remaining in individual plans at the end of a period of 3 months after the last day of the plan year. it stated previously will be returned to the district and act in in actuality they are forfeited and redirected to an account with the district's third party administrator which in this case is Mid America so the funds do not come back here on page four health savings account we got rid of the sentence about part-time is part-time it's never been about part-time employees for HSA everyone's gotten an HSA So, uh, that sentence is simply not something we're doing. On page five, uh, you need to spell out what your group plans are. So, we noted there what your group plans are. Federal care,

071Medicaid, Medicare, and those purchased on the marketplace. So, we're simply clarifying what that looks like. And the med medical benefit credit, also known as the In Luluo, I guess is the the more layman's term. Uh, workers compensation. We added a sentence stating the employee is encouraged to contact the on call nurse from the district insurance provider for evaluation of their injury. Uh and that does happen. Uh we open up when someone does get injured, we open up a claim pretty much instantaneously and that's sped along if we're actually in real time talking to the on call nurse. The claim then has far more teeth to it because they know exactly what went down because they talked to the person. Uh on the top of page six, certified staff members uh must notify of their intent

072to retire moving in from me March 1st to February 1st. The logic in doing so, we need to have that moved up a month so we know what our staffing picture is like so we can build our schedules and populate our classrooms for our our uh instructors. And all of that allows us to plan for the budget when we can't do it until March 1st. It simply makes it harder to do. And that's actually uh it's been recommended by a variety of employee groups that we've met with over the course of time. They do think it should be earlier. So, we're moving it up. That's for the old retirement plan and the true new retirement plan because you'll see it on bullet point number four on page seven as well. Uh number eight, uh cross

073that language off. We simply don't do that anymore. That's a collective bargaining era relic that doesn't exist anymore. And point number nine is connected to that the management fees have been paid for by the employee. Page eight. Uh we have moved to a system called Red Rover. Requests for personal days must be submitted using the Red Rover platform. District administrator has the right to approve or deny all requests. We moved the section you see in the middle of page 8 into the FMLA section because it just doesn't fit in sick leave. So you'll see it on page nine. the bereavement/emergency leave language. Uh we have reauthored that to better define what emergency leave and bereavement leave is rather than read all of that to you. You can see that it's been spelled out more clearly.

074That's simply what we're doing. And um staff do avail themselves of this when circumstance presents itself. The online system is actually requesting time off system for substitutes. It's Red Rover and we simply have spelled out there what folks need to do with Red Rover. Our staff are uh clearly very techsavvy and they've figured it out pretty fast. So we are able to uh document and fill sub positions uh pretty quickly. the FMLA language uh hasn't changed other than the adding of a clause and it's been moved into a different section and the added clause says although employees must continue to pay their portion of benefit costs during their leave. That's simply more clearly spelled out. And then the last item other than the date change at the end is on the top of page 10.

075Under federal FMLA, employees may be required to use all acred paid time paid leave time before receiving leave without pay. Under state FMLA, employee must substitute acred paid leave time or choose to take unpaid leave. So that's just work there. So, I will stop there because those are certified staff documents and then we'll proceed into support staff documents when you have an opportunity to ask any questions or make any comments. Seems pretty straightforward. Okay. The support staff document in many ways mirrors what you just saw. Page two just has some name changes. I'm looking at the support staff handbook. And then I think there's one other change. It's the same change on page eight. Must follow policies and procedures for requesting a time off. That's for those extracurricular assignments. Oh, I stand corrected. There is

076one more item here. Um the orientation and mentors. Uh that's the same as the previous one. So you need to meet with district office staff for an onboarding. And then the date change at the end. The handbook is always lighter on changes. >> Um, >> yes. >> On the orientation to Munchers, new staff members should meet. Should that be changed to will meet like the other handbook was changed? >> That makes sense. That's what we do and that's what we want them to do. We all know the rules of the rule before we start >> because that was struck out in the certified was we struck should and change it to will. So, we should probably make that change there. >> The support staff compensation and benefits guide. Uh, the FSA, flexible spending account. That

077language is mirror of what you already heard me say. On page three, the HSA mirrors what we just had to say. Page four, same thing. Both of those items, the U spelling out what your um your carrier is in essence. Then your workman's comp clause that's there. bereavement and emer bereavement and emergency leave is a mirror. FMLA is as well and that gets you to the end of that document. So really the changes exist in both spots just do different employee groups and I'll stop there in case you have any questions about sports staff because there's one document left and that's clubhouse. In the clubhouse document, the flexible spending account language is the same. HSA medical benefit credit or immulo is the same. Workman's comps the same. Uniforms. The clubhouse staff. It reads clubhouse staff

078will receive a supply of branded shirts to wear month Monday through Thursday. Additional shirts may be purchased at the cost of the employee. Employees should notify their supervisor if a shirt becomes damaged at work and needs to be replaced. If employment if employment is separated before completing a full year of service, all district purchase shirts must be returned or the cost of the shirt will be deducted from the employees final paycheck. On Fridays, staff may wear a work appropriate Amry Warrior shirt of their choice or they may wear one of the club shirts. Staff are also encouraged to participate in any designated school dressup days or spirit days. Employees should contact the director for more information about uniform. PLT language. We have revisited this before when we created this document. There's PLT language that's been

079added and made more clear and a emergency bereavement that spells that out more clearly. And lastly, attendance. Consistent staff attendance is essential to clubhouse operations and maintaining a positive environment for children. Absences without notice, repeated tardiness, or failure to report to work as scheduled may result in disciplinary action up to and including termination. And that's the last of the documents on the first reading of those documents. and I'll take any questions or comments you may have. >> Much of this is statutory language change >> stuff that we don't really have control over >> stuff we haven't been is in there. So, we probably should not have it in there anymore. >> Just clean it up. You will note that there wasn't anything done with compensation in this uh uh first reading. All compensation conversation will

080take place in April. So, wait a month. Any other marks or revisions that need to happen? All right, we can move on then on to our action items tonight and that would be the second reading of uh board policies and the first one is 188 board member participation in meetings via technology. >> This is the second reading and these remain unchanged from the first reading. Um, so if you would like to move forward with that policy, you would need to make a motion to do so. >> I will make a motion um to approve board member participation in meetings via technology. >> Second. >> It's been properly moved and seconded to accept policy 188, board member participation in meetings via technology, as presented and read last month. Is there any discussion? Hearing none, we'll proceed

081to vote. All of those are in favor, please signify by saying I. I. All of those opposed, please signify by saying no. >> Motion pass. Board policy 188 board member participation in meetings via technology is approved. Second is the board policy 426 homeless students. Jess. Yes. So this is second reading. Um this is just again in preparation of universal monitoring for us just guaranteeing that any student that experiences homelessness we will um provide a variety of supports and ensure that there are no better barrier barriers that would prevent them from accessing uh free and appropriate education. >> Thank you. With that, I'll take a motion to approve board policy 426. >> So moved. >> Gwen, is there a second? >> I'll second it. Larry, it's been properly moved and seconded to approve board policy 426

082homeless students um the McKenley act. Uh as presented at the last meeting, all of those in favor or is there any discussion? Hearing none, we'll proceed to vote. All those in favor, please signify by saying I. >> I. All those opposed, please signify by saying no. Motion passed. The bar board policy 426 homeless students has been approved. And we'll finish off with board policy 443.5, student use of cell phones act 42. Uh nothing has changed since last time we met. This is a second reading of that same policy you saw last month. So if you're interested in proceeding forward, you need to make a motion to do so. Can you can you go over again? Um because this is being driven by state, right? >> Yes. This is an act 42 is coming straight from

083state legislature. Yes. >> So my concern is that how do you how do you regulate it? How do you >> I mean so you pass a policy, right? Pass a policy. These are the things we're going to do and then you then we >> Yes. could potentially approve something that there's no way you could ever do it. >> So, let's walk through the bullet points on the first page underneath where it says students shall not use electronic communication devices to engage in bullying, communicate test answers, etc. To take disseminate sexually explicit or otherwise inappropriate images, to take pictures in places such as locker rooms, bathrooms, changing areas. um to create, communicate, share, post recordings, image of other students without their permission and in violation of district's rules surrounding students acceptable use of of technology. All

084those things we already do, >> right? >> That's already the substance of what we do largely at the high school and middle school because that's basically where these devices exist. Now the second page says possession in use of electronic communication device by a student under this policy is a privilege. A student who chooses to exercise this privilege does so subject to the following conditions. So the students aren't allowed to use them during uh passing times and are allowed to use them sorry during elect during passing times and lunch periods excluding classrooms, restrooms, locker rooms. the district is not responsible for the safety and security of the personal devices. They need to know that coming in. Uh if the district determines that a student has possessed or use such a device to violate the law, that's

085going to be a problem. If a district official has reason to suspect or determine that a student must possess or use the electronic device in violation of the law of this policy or school rule or directive, a district official may temporarily confiscate the phone. A device possessed or used by a student may be subject subject to appropriately limited search by a district official. All of that is what we're already doing in so many ways. Neither this policy nor any school rule shall be construed to limit a student's ability to possess inappropriately use an electronic device that functions as a system of technology that is necessary for students uh IEP or a section 504 plan. That's also where we're at. So, we're largely doing already what they wanted us to do. We're simply firming it up.

086Now, there is potential that this act 42 is going to get altogether changed. I'm hearing and seeing a lot about that. And there is some talk about implementing what's referred to as a bell to bell ban, which means from the time the first bell rings to the time the last bell rings, you can't have your cell phone at school. Now, your question, Steve, is how do we enforce that? I'm going to state that question at this time. How would we ever enforce that? I don't know that that's even possible. Hasn't happened yet, but it's out there. Yeah, I think the logistics of when something rises to the level of being a huge problem and there would have to be intervention by the school district um s such as searching a phone or doing something like

087that then I think by having the policy it makes it appropriate for us to carry through with those procedures. But it then it becomes when do you pick and choose of when to implement the policy. But I don't know that we have a lot of choice with our hands being tied. The state says you have to have this policy. >> The big change that we had to include here that we didn't have in our previous policy, though common sense would dictate we're already doing is in that last paragraph before the bullet points. And it reads, "The rule shall permit students at all grade levels to use a personal electronic device as needed to contact a responsible adult in any emergency situation that involves an immediate threat to the health, safety, or property of any person.

088That's what we would already do. We simply didn't have it spelled out in the policy. But that must be in the policy according to Act 42. So now it is there. I I don't know that we're going to be getting into who can and who cannot have a cell phone if there truly is an emergency. I don't know that that would be our top priority, but it has to be there. So, it's there. >> And I can only assume that that was demanded by the legislature because there was extreme push back by parents. >> Sure. >> To allow their children to have a cell phone in school in case they needed to get a hold of them or in case there was an emergency that it was so needed for. Does does this because I've

089read through this a couple of times and I keep thinking that there are problems unforeseen problems maybe but like does this policy mean that a teacher can't require a student to leave their cell phone in a pocket at the door? >> They can require that to do that. Teachers do >> happens all the time. >> But Bella Bell would say leave them in the cell phone hotel when you get to school and there's 375 spots. That probably works. >> See, we don't we we're able to build at the middle school. We don't allow them to have them on the hallways either. And I the way I read this is the building pictures are authorized to establish school rules within the skylight. And so they just aren't able to handle it. That's all they would do.

090So I would prefer just to say when the school starts, you put them away. And if they have them out, they get in trouble. It's working. They they what they do is they say, "I need to use the restroom." And that's where they go. And they're not supposed to the phone in the restroom either, but they know I'm not going to look at them when they're checking their text. >> But >> I would say probably a quarter of our fifth graders probably have cell phones and we have the same policy. >> The high school is Sorry. The high school clearly is a different animal. It's like an appendage. I mean, I'm I'm not going to be crazy, but yet it's like an appendage. And for Josh or Dylan or whoever the set staff person for

091them to round up phones, I don't know that I would want that job because I don't think that would go very well. But can we make friends with the cell phones and have them used when they can be used for instructional purposes? I think we've done that. Are they a distraction? Yes, they are. >> But I don't think any policy is going to avoid the distraction. I would maintain if you really wanted to end the distraction, I don't think they're on their cell phones checking the news. I think they're on social media. >> That's their news show. >> That's their news. I guess that's the news. I'm not the news I'm checking out, but >> it might be more reliable. >> I'm not a I'm not a teenager in this day and age, but I

092imagine they're probably communicating in those various forums and they're doing so on their on cell phones. >> So, is how much of this is our wording versus the state's wording? >> Uh, it's a half and half. Some some of it's our choosing. Uh, much of this is a WASB product. They simply took what the ma the the state legislature mandated and crafted a policy to make it fit the requirements. I think this is going to change again because our technologies are going to change again. Artificial intelligence is going to throw everything out the window. It's all going to look very different. How they communicate. I don't know if we've even envisioned what that's going to look like in 10 years. >> Doesn't exist yet. >> Yeah. You know, I've been to I mean, Josh has

093been to just as many events that are social in nature with high school kids. >> It's always astounding to me. There'll be four kids sitting around a table and they won't be talking to each other. They'll be communicating with each other on their devices, which is to me strange, but that's how that's how they roll. >> I get the stink eye. Once a week, I walk up to a group of kids sitting at a table and say, "Why aren't you just talking to each other? You don't need to text each other." And then they glare at me and I walk away. I mean, that's just what that's who they are, I guess. >> Um, who who has the authority to go through the >> If we're talking about something that is um uh sexual in

094nature or something like that, I call the police all the time. We have reports of that. And do they need permission from parents to search said devices or talk to >> do police need permission? >> Yes, >> they do not. >> If they have reasonable if they have probable cause that they will discover something. No, they don't. But typically high school administration works with police and they try and do that gracefully and respectfully and typically that's what they probably end up striking an opportunity. Usually what I do is a kid will bring me like a screenshot like proof of something going on and then on the phone I go and that's where we usually go. >> You'd be surprised how many things happen outside of school then they >> bring it to us to try

095and reinforce what the kid did on their phone. >> Why are you letting my kid getting bullied? >> Yeah. >> This 9:30 p.m. message you mean? >> Yeah. It's hard. it gets it's like it's it's it's overwhelming sometimes. >> I and I I I totally um sympathize with the plight of that and I know that unfortunately that's where we're at is that these worlds are entangled and that um it doesn't stop when we walk out the door anymore when those kids walk out the door and and I know that it's frustrating to have to referee something that happened at 9:00 at night. However, if this happened in our buildings at 9:00 at night at a sporting event or a dance, we would also be handling those things the same way. Um, I know it's hard

096and it's endless. And I'm glad you for the jobs you do. But I think we do have to be mindful of that things that often start at school spilling over um into the evening or the next day and then spilling back into school or starting in the evening and then spilled into school the next day. They're just so intertwined. I just don't know that we the kids don't get a break and and now as educators you you also don't get a break because of it. So I I understand the frustration, but it's it is the reality that where we're at now. >> So when this says if a district official has reason to suspect, the official who officially is the official is that >> these gentlemen would be building principal, but what they're typically going

097to do is they're going to call the police if it's reasonable suspicion of unlawful activities. Well, and that was that was that's great because that that was concerned, right? I don't want to I don't want to >> put anybody in a position where they're going through somebody's phone and creating a problem for them and the district, right? >> I too was like the high school. I know it's like dinosaur times eight years ago or whatever, but no, I I wasn't rifling through a phone either. That's a police thing. And if they want to find something, they'll find something, but that's not our business typically. >> Yeah. I think any school official could be a a school employee depending on where that complaint was lodged. I that's I mean it's very broad and open-ended, but in

098my mind that would be a any school employee that that received the complaint cuz it may be a counselor, it may be a a teacher or somebody that you know a school counselor that they would come to and say this happened or whatever school. Although I wouldn't ask my teachers to be looking on a phone because they're not trained on the rights of what students have where you can get. >> Well, and that was elsewhere. >> I'm just saying that they would come to them. Yes. And then that, you know, maybe they would report to a building principal or whatever and have the appropriate action, but not being searched themselves here. >> I think you open up a whole can of worms, especially with parents in that regard that >> Yeah. >> to trample on

099rights of students. So, and and they are paying the phone bills and you know and probably have things on there that they don't want the district to see and that's that's fine. So, and it was why I asked about you know >> and I will concede that I fully understand that kids are have their phones and are using their phones and they feel compelled to use them to interact with each other. I don't want to minimize that. Um I'm very certain that it's probably never harder to be a teenager than it is to be a teenager. Yes, >> I'm sure that's true. >> We all lived a different time where you didn't if you wanted to say something, you had to go find them and tell them whatever you got to tell them. >> That's

100just not the way we live now. >> I was telling my kids and my wife, I think you would you guys would probably agree that our generation right here, >> the greatest generation. >> Yeah, >> that's right. >> Because we grew we grew up without cell phones and we grew up without really the internet and then they came in like year just a year or two after we left. >> Yeah. >> So Mhm. Yeah. But I would also like to say is as easy as it is to blame the kids for communicating with each other while in school, I think you could easily say that it's parents communicating with their children while the children are in school. It's probably um >> they're probably more the culprits, I think, than the kids themselves. >> Well, and

101that was the push back that that they that we saw. I I've seen it on social media myself that it's the big debate of if I want to get a hold of my kid and tell him I want to come pick him up at a certain time, then I expect to be able to get a hold of him. There is no more calling the office. >> I told Josh you should implement the leave a message in the office policy. He doesn't seem very interested. >> Are we putting you on phone answering duty? >> Well, who here had to make a call home from a pay phone outside the school office? >> Oh, yes. No, I I phone. We're actually going to remember here's a Donnie break call. I'm >> good. >> Oh my god. Okay.

102Well, I I recognize we have to we have to move on this. That's I'm fine with that. And and to be honest with you, you know, I read this a couple of times, but I in my brain I was also thinking about the belltoell thing >> and that one really concerns me when I read through that. >> That's a pretty tall order I think. >> Yeah, we'll see. It's bell to bell, but they can have them on their person >> for the event of an emergency. >> Yeah. >> I mean, by state law. Um, but yes, I I think it's going to be even harder to enforce. Although, does it work some I mean, somewhat at the middle school by large, right? >> They they know we're going to get on them if they have

103them out. So, they hiding them. >> But, it's not what we want it. it's doing what we want and it's that they aren't sitting there all day long at lunch doing that or constantly on them in the halls. So our goal is just put them away for a little while and let go of that and go do something different. So that's >> it's it's good though. It makes a huge difference. I mean, just anybody that's been out in in the world with high school workers that I mean, I applaud them for being out working, but they have a very hard time looking at people face to face and and you know, making that interaction and that connection. So, um, applaud that. That is something that we strive to do is to to put people out

104into the world that are going to have productive lives and be, you know, good members of society. And that's that's part of it is having that communication. So >> remember this is the whole state being asked to do the same thing not just any thing but I think 30 something or 30 more or more states have adopted this very same legislation. So it's most of the country. >> Yes. >> I go ahead >> I was going to >> Oh make a motion that we um accept policy 443.5 as presented. >> Is there a second? >> I will second. It's been properly moved and seconded to accept policy 443.5 student use of cell phone act 42 as presented. Is there any discussion more than we've already had? Hearing none, we'll proceed to vote. All those in

105favor of approving policy 443.5, please signify by saying I. >> I. All those opposed, please signify by saying no. >> Motion passed. Uh policy 443.5 student uses cell phones act 42 is accepted as presented. All right. Off to the uh finance oversight committee with Becky's help. We've condensed this down um a little bit. Basically taken into consideration uh the conversation that we had last month regarding membership of the finance oversight committee um getting things started. Uh is there any further suggestions as this is presented? >> Any discussion on the finance oversight committee? I think I think the big change was um because this was just a guideline that was brought to us, right? So the actual working information from the committee will will come as the committee is put together and we build our roles.

106The original membership piece included potential for uh members of the public and and my fear was that there are times when we're dealing with proprietary information that the public shouldn't be privy to at you know at a particular point in time maybe. Um and so this um brings it down to the superintendent, two school board members, director of finance and then others as deemed appropriate. So that's I'm good with this. >> I agree. Um I think that it's that was a framework of where to start. I think we've narrowed that down for the membership uh exactly where it needs to be. Uh we can set a schedule moving forward of how often they meet after we've approved the creation of the finance oversight committee. And that's what I would be looking for the motion be

107tonight. So it's we're not necessarily approving anything on the document other than we're we're approving the >> this is just a framework >> the design of the committee itself. Just the fact that we're putting >> what I'm asking for tonight is the approval to uh create the finance oversight committee. >> I would make the motion that we create a finance oversight committee. >> Second. It's been properly moved and seconded to create the finance oversight committee. Is there any further discussion? >> Only the only last thing is we've had a conversation amongst ourselves about Larry and I being those board members. Are we doing that tonight as well? A separate piece that >> I don't think you need to because I see it as akin to like the curriculum oversight committee and that name of that

108person from the board that's on the curriculum oversight evolves over time. when someone is no longer on the board, for instance. >> I think we do pass that every year as an action item. >> I don't think you need to pick the committee members. I think it'd be a fool's mission to do so because people come and go. I do I think as well um that obviously we've talked about appointing Stephen Larry um on that committee because it made sense um as the dissolution of the not the dissol dissolution but the pullback of uh building and grounds committee meetings not being so frequent um that we could pick this up with the finance committee. So, um that is kind of what was talked about and as long as we can move forward with >> uh

109the creation of this committee tonight, then that would be the intent moving forward would be uh the two of you uh moving forward, but obviously there's a school board election. I mean coming up, but you're the only one on the ballot against myself. >> Yeah. Yeah. So, you just never know. But I I agree with Sean that in any given year that could possibly change. So, >> Well, yeah. But but we also after the election we always go through that process of selecting yes >> committee members and this this would just fall into that same process right. >> Yes. Yep. On our when we go through and kind of um reconfigure for the year. So >> committee assignments. >> Yep. >> Good. >> All right. Uh with no more discussion then I will ask for

110all those in favor of approving the finance oversight committee. Please signify by saying I. >> I. All those opposed, please signify by saying no. Motion passed. The creation of the finance oversight committee has happened and we will get moving with that. Thank you. And off to start college now and the early college credit program with Mr. Golden. >> Nine students interested in taking college courses next. >> That's so good. Any idea where they're going or what's >> It's all River Falls and Northwood Tech for the most part. >> Okay. >> I have a question about it. Uh students pay correct to >> Not for Start College Now. Okay. >> The graphic spells it out. Start college now is 100% off. >> Okay. and the pupil pays nothing in the uh ECCP but the state pays

111a portion. >> Okay. >> It's always been a beef of districts. You you have to say yes >> and you have to pay >> which seems like a bad deal but >> it's the way the laws are written. >> So it's good for the kids. So good for the students who like it. Is there a motion to accept the uh ECCP and the SCN? >> Yeah, I'll make that motion. >> Is there a second? >> I'll second that. >> Steve and Larry, it's been properly moved and seconded to accept the Start College Now and Early College Credit Program applicants. Uh we don't get to know who those people are. So, there's nine at this point. So, is there any discussion? Hearing none, we'll proceed to vote. All those in favor of approving the PCCP and

112SCN, please signify by saying I. I. >> I. All those opposed, please signify by saying no. >> Motion pass. Tell some students they're going to college. >> And then off to donations to the district. >> Okay. Little Falls Lutheran Church, a donation of $450 to help with student lunch balances. Adam Mayer Push and Anderson Corporation, thank you for the donation of $200 to the Amry High School student council. And lastly, I already mentioned the Amory Express donation of $1,55748 raised from the Warrior Pump and we use that money to fund a trip for our hockey team down to Middleton and back. And those are the donations. Pretty awesome. Is there a motion to accept the donations to the district >> for approval? >> Larry, is there a second? >> Second. >> Gwen, it's been properly

113moved and seconded to accept the donations to the district as presented. Is there any discussion? Hearing none, we'll proceed to vote. All those in favor of accepting the donations to the district as presented, please signify by saying I. I. >> I. All those opposed, please signify by saying no. Motion passed. We accept the donations to the district with many BANKS >> and personnel action. >> Okay. New employment contracts for Ryan Karns and Olivia Hansen in the world of custodial resignations from Danielle Erdrich, high school English. Rose Keeper, district nurse. Reggie Schlesner, girls wrestling coach. Crystal Wall, high school English. And then we have four retirements. Claire Hansen, third grade teacher. Janice Jansen, special ed teacher. Tanya Jolson, third grade teacher. And Samantha Montana, intermediate school Montasauri teacher. And if you could uh humor me, I

114have a couple of items from each the standard questions that I've asked year after year in no particular order. And you folks can chime in if you know them better than I or as well as I or however you can chime in, too. So, I'll start with Janice Jensen. Janice has been in education for 42 years. And she has worked in special ed from kindergarten through grade 12 in three different states. 27 years here in Amory, the high school, middle school, and elementary school. her favorite memories, the aha and I can do this student moments such as holding a job, solving for X, pulling a joke on another teacher, learning to communicate, read, swing, play, and being a friend. Equally memorable are the friendships and connections I have made throughout the district in the community

115of Amry retirement. She's looking forward to being a grandparent, cows and gardening, traveling to Australia, and not rushing in the morning. and me. I am interested to see what a retired Janice Jensen looks like because I have not seen that version yet. >> I don't think she's going to be retired Janice Jensen. I think she's going to be when she says cows, she means it. >> She's not sedentary. That is for sure. And I'm not sure if anyone else wanted to speak about Janice, but >> Janice Jens shoes that we're going to be trying to figure out how to fill. >> Congratulations to her. 42 years is an incredible amount of time. an incredible length of time. She uh Janice was um one of my students, my my special needs students. She was his teacher,

116not only here, but also at our Sunday school because Janice was also a Sunday. Of course, she was >> because why wouldn't she be? She doesn't have a day off. >> She does not have a day off. >> She doesn't take rest on Sunday. >> No. And uh her commitment to to kids and and is almost as much as her commitment to cows, I think. But >> Oh gosh. Yeah. She was a valuable asset and she will desperately be hard hard to fill. >> Tanya Jolson, she has been in education for 36 years, every single one of them here in Amory. Uh she said, "I loved my job and have had so many wonderful memories. It is too hard for me to narrow down to just a few. I will definitely miss the daily laughs

117and the fun people I work with." And what is she looking forward to? I'm looking forward to spending more time with family that live far away and doing a little traveling and trying new things. Anyone Jessica perhaps talk about >> very surprised to be losing three out of the four of those are in my building and so all three of them will be greatly missed. Tanya has been a pillar of third grade. Um really her her and Claire have have held down the third grade hallway neighborhood for a very very long time. And so, you know, as students transition over to us from the elementary school, they've just been an absolute pillar in in how our kids are set up for success when they get started here with us. So, >> I just think they've

118been here longer than this building's been here. >> I have Yeah, they would say, "I was here when this was built." So, >> yes, >> Claire Hansen, 26 years full-time, six years prior as a sub, all in Amory. so many memories and most of them were filled with lots of laughs. Whatever you can eventually laugh at, you can survive. Maybe I'll write a book. She already has the first chapter selected. And if you're interested to know what that first chapter is about, you'll have to see me later. >> I really am going to miss my job. I have loved coming to work every day and not many people can say that. But I'm looking forward to going to Dest. Dustin's in Florida and not having to ask for permission in the dark days of winter.

119Couldn't couldn't fear that >> Claire has shared the same with me. She greatly loves her sunshine and water and so she's really looking forward to to that as well. And as I said with Tanya, she's just been a really big helper in third grade for us. So those are two really big spots in in third grade and they'll be greatly missed. >> And if that wasn't enough, Samantha Montana, also at the intermediate school. Uh she's been here for 26 or been in education for 26 years. 22 of them here. One or more of her favorite memories from your time here at Camp Wapo. Establishing and monitoring our Bluebird nest box trail. utilizing the school forest as an outdoor classroom, teaching as an AI name adviser in grades 3 through five in the project-based learning program,

120guiding students on ice age trail hikes, having the opportunity to become a Montasuri teacher, and I feel very honored to be part of the very talented and amazing staff of our school district, teaching all the wonderful students I've had. I've learned so much from them. What is she looking forward to in retire in retirement? traveling, spending lots of time outside to hike, bike, and kayak and spending time with family Montana. >> Sam has been a big part of us as well. Sean highlighted just her being a trip, you know, classroom teacher, but then also an AIM adviser as well as a monaster. And Sam's just personality in terms of how she leads with, you know, bringing the outdoors in and and really looking at learning from a different lens is just highlighted by the different

121roles she's had here, too. So I know that's a those are big shoes for us to fill as well. And I don't doubt she will be outside a lot. That is where she loves to be. >> Four rock stars in education and and definitely four rock stars in the Emory education family and they will all be greatly missed. But I know that their time has come and they have better things to think about now at this point in their lives. >> And I've always pondered what what would they do if you voted no >> on their retirement? Can you do that? What would happen? I think they would still retire no matter. >> Well, I was I was noticing the theme though that Jessica has a retention problem. >> Oh, >> that really all three

122actually Tanya and Claire came to find me and I was in a different room and I saw them peek their head around and I knew it and I just said, "No, no, I'm busy today. I'm very happy for them. I actually shared with all three of them. This is year five for me. And so all three of them have been absolutely pivotal in my first five years of success. They've been I brought challenges and changes to this building and ideas that I had and um they've always leaned in and and they've supported me. I really those three have been really big cheerleaders for me and so I I will miss them greatly. They're a big part of my success. And that's not easy when you've had teachers that have been around as long as these

123three have been around this building and that's not always easy. And >> first couple months I think they're like who is this? >> And now I'm very sad to see all three of them go. But I'm also very very happy for them as well. >> So those are your personal action items including your retirees. >> Make a motion we accept the personnel action items. Steve >> second >> Larry. It's been properly moved and seconded to accept the personnel action items as presented. All those in favor, please signify by saying I. >> All those opposed, please signify by saying no. >> Motion passed. Personnel action items are approved. Happy retirement to all and thank you to all you. And we do need to reconvene into close session tonight as promised to um wrap up Dr. Derler's

124um evaluation by the board tonight uh as we put off from January because Steve was in sunny Las Vegas. So, thank you. And then Larry was in nice Alabama. So, we are now welcome back to the cold and sprinter and we are going to get that done tonight. So I will take a motion uh entertain a motion to go into close session for consider close session for considering employment promotion compensation or performance evaluation data of any public employee over which the governmental body has jurisdiction or exercises responsibility in order to take personnel action pursuant to Wisconsin statute 19.85 subsection 1 subsection C. >> I will make that motion. April. Is there a second? Second. Too late. >> Larry, it's been properly moved and seconded to adjourn into close session uh for personnel action pursuant to

125Wisconsin statute 19.851 subc. Uh I'll take a roll call vote into uh for close session. Larry, if you approve, say I please. >> I uh Gwen. Hi. >> Sh. I Steve. Hi. >> And April. >> Hi. Motion is approved. We are now in close session. Thank you massive audience for coming tonight.