School Board Meeting October 14, 2025

001Right, we are ready to start. So, I will call to order the October 14th, 2025 meeting of the Columbia Heights School Board. If you're able, please stand and join us in the pledge of allegiance. >> I pledge allegiance 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. All right. Um, if uh could you please call roll Michelle? >> Absolutely. Now I feel like I can't be heard at all. I just got my voice back like yesterday mostly. >> Oh no. >> So I apologize for the rasp. Um, who >> here? Maderas >> here. >> Smith Pway here. Palmer >> here. >> Grandlin >> here. Anoir RDE >> here. >> Superintendent Stimbe >> here. Wonderful. Thank you

002so much. Uh Columbia Heights Public Schools creating worlds of opportunity for each and every learner. All belong all succeed. Our core values: community, excellence, collaboration, integrity, respect, courage, and innovation. Um moving into the agenda. Does anybody have anything they would like to pull out of the agenda? Before I I get an >> We can approve the agenda. >> Okay, we'll do Can I have a motion to approve the agenda? >> So moved. >> Jessica, can I get a second? >> Second. >> Thank you, Julie. Um, any discussion? All right, then we will go ahead and vote on the agenda. All those in favor say I. >> I. >> Opposed. >> Abstained. Motion carries. All right. Announcements. October 16th and 17th. So, uh, this week, no school. Uh, October 17th, the district is closed. October 21st

003at 5:30 is our school board work session here in the community room. And October 28th at 6 PM is our regular school board meeting here in the community room. And October 31st, there is no school. Moving to communication to the board. At this time, any citizen or employee may briefly address the school board. The board will listen to the brief remarks, ask clarifying questions, and if desired, request that the administration follow up. The board will not take action at this meeting on requests presented at this time. Employees, students, and schoolboard members are covered by data privacy laws, and concerns and or complaints about either are inappropriate to address during an open forum at a public meeting. Concerns and or complaints about specific students or specific employees should be addressed to the administration. Complaints about schoolboard

004members should be directed to the schoolboard chair and or the superintendent. So I do have um a request to speak to the board. So we will put that up and stop the stream briefly and we will join after it is done. Right. Thank you. Um we are back. We had a student come in and share um some concerns about changes to a class and we have asked the administration to follow up. So, thank you. Uh, all right. Moving on to the consent agenda. Is there anything that we would like to remove from the consent agenda? >> Chair Grenland, I would like to remove uh letter B personnel report from the consent agenda, please. >> So, noted. Um, all right. Can I get a motion to accept the consent agenda minus the personnel report? Can I

005get a motion to accept that? >> So moved. >> Laura, can I get a second? Michelle. All right. Any discussion? >> All those in favor say I. >> I. Opposed. Abstain. Motion carries. Um so next we will go on to the personnel report. >> Can I um move to accept the personnel report? Uh, move to accept the personnel report. Can I get a second? >> Second, >> Michelle. >> No, no, that's okay. Any discussion? >> All right. Oh, yes. Go ahead, >> Chair Garland. I just wanted to note that I removed this item from the consent agenda because my spouse is listed in the personnel report. So, I plan to abstain. Thank you. >> Thank you. All right. Uh, all those in favor say I. >> I. opposed. Abstained. >> Yes. >> Motion carries. All

006right. Um I just want to quickly note that in the um consent agenda there is uh we did also accept the resignation of board member Karina Smith. Um so that was in there as well and we will talk about um sort of that a little bit more later in the meeting. All right. Now we will move on to through all my pages the um discussion reports and information items. So we'll start with reports from members of the board. Oh contributions. Sorry. Yes, that's it. That's the one I was looking for and then I moved. Oh, there it is. I missed it, too. >> Thank you. Okay. Acknowledgement of contributions. While this loads, I'm going to take a drink. Okay. So, Minnesota statute 123B.2 permits school boards to quote, "Receive for the benefit of the district

007bequest donations or gifts for any proper purpose and apply the same to to the purpose designated. On that behalf, the board may act as trustee of any trust created for the benefit of the district and for the benefit of pupils thereof. End quote. Therefore, the school board of Columbia Heights Public Schools, Independent School District number 13, resolves to accept with appreciation the $15,174.25 in monetary contributions detailed in the background. Background monetary anonymous parents from North Park donated $2,275 to North Park for school supplies. Artson Sonia donated $18928 cents to North Park School for Innovation. Tasty Pizza donated $477 to the activities department for a football fundraiser. The Columbia Heights Lion Club donated $150 to the activities department for the Black Student Union for volunteering at the highway cleanup and $100 for volunteering at the Jamberee.

008The Columbia Heights Lions Club donated $200 to the activities department for the dance team for volunteering in the wagon at the Jamberee. The Columbia Heights Athletic Boosters donated $500 to the activity department for fireworks. The Columbia Heights Athletic Boosters donated $6,440 to the activities department, $1,650 to boys basketball, $1,400 to girls basketball, $250 to the Heights Herald, $400 to wrestling, $400 adapted soccer, $1,540 for speech, and $800 to Valley View. The Columbia Heights Athletic Boosters donated $5,000 to the activities department. $800 towards speech, $500 towards girls basketball, $800 for the boys basketball, $800 for HOSA, the future health professionals, $800 for dance, $800 for the Heights Herald, and $500 to football. Patricia Gardner donated $220 to the activities department. Baseball team in honor of Jerry Bolt. Class of 1975, Cheryl Brown donated $100 to Columbia

009Heights High School for staff. And class of 1985 donated $1,000 to Columbia Heights High School for school use. Inind donations. Neil Granland donated three uh 3D printing supplies valued at $3,000 to the Columbia Heights High School for class use. Columbia Heights Lions donated feminine hygiene products and supplies valued at $625 to Heights Columbia Heights High School for student use. The total fiscal year 2025 2026 monetary contributions to date are $21,17428. This is a resolution. Um can I get a motion to accept um the resolution? So moved. >> Laura, can I get a second? >> Second. >> Julie, any discussion? >> I think as always, you know, we are incredibly grateful to the community. It seemed like, you know, this this month it was a it was a wonderful race of support from the boosters and

010the Lions Club specifically. So that's fantastic. Um it's definitely very appreciated. Um, we're just very lucky to live in a community that cares about our school so much. >> Uh, if there's no other discussion, we will go to a roll call vote. Will you please >> Michelle? Thank you. >> Sorry. H >> I >> was >> I >> Pway I Palmer >> I. >> Granland >> I. All right. Thereupon the said resolution was declared duly passed and adopted. >> That's Stephanie. Stephanie highlighted it for me. >> Thank you, Stephanie. All right. Now, we will move into reports from members of the board. Um let's start with let's start with Julie. Go ahead. Okay. Um, on September 24th, um, I attended as the liaison to the Minnesota State High School League, I attended their, um, meeting

011in Brooklyn Park, which is an area meeting with our activities director, Jake Henderson. And, um, let's just say, you know, the Minnesota State High School League really does um, provide service to our school districts. So what I learned about them is there's a lot of rules that Jake has to learn um and follow to ensure that we retain um our membership as MSHSL school as well as um you know the students coverage insurance coverage that is I should probably be facing this I'm always talking this way um but anyway that they went over the bylaws and policies which schools should have a working knowledge of so that's you know again they have lots of policies that we have to follow um many districts with represent representatives on committees and they're available for questions so they

012have like these groups of individual activities directors that are you know able to kind of work with our director if Jake probably could be a person that does that too but we can rely on them to ask questions if we need to Um, and then one thing they brought up was access and use of AED equipment, which is for CPR. And I did ask Jake about that because I am concerned about our students safety. And with ninth graders now being added to the Minnesota State High School League umbrella, before they weren't, you know, now ninth graders are included. Um, I asked him if we needed additional equipment and he felt like maybe we could use one for the middle school because that, you know, you have to have portability too to be able to run

013it out to a field or whatever. And so, um, MSHSL has a couple of ways to get a grant. And so I asked him to look into whether or not we should apply for a form A or form B grants. And um he's looking into that at this time. Um additionally, there was some discussion on transgender legislation related to um specifically boys playing on girls teams. And um and that is a hot topic today because the federal government has now um quote unquote threatened Minnesota to pull title N funding um which is you know important that all schools retain. So, as myself, I have signed on to the letter to the Minnesota Department of Education and to the Minnesota State High School League saying we would like to comply with the federal government so that

014we don't lose Title 9 funding. So that was my decision on my you know nobody else I didn't ask anybody else to do that but I believe I was raised in that era where my sister um I was in middle school and my sister was in high school when Title N was passed and um this is this is personal for me so I just wanted to let you know that's it. >> All right. Thank you. I appreciate that you clarified that you signed that for you and not as not as the board as a whole. >> That is correct. >> Um >> I actually did have a clarifying question about that because when you say you signed that on behalf of yourself, then you use the language we want to comply. So can you just

015clarify who the Wii is when you say you say I signed that on behalf of myself and part of what the letter does is say we want to comply. I I would I would like to comply with the federal law of Title N. And so that that letter that was sent is got like a hundred other school board people and parents and so on that would like the state of Minnesota, Minnesota State High School League to comply with the federal law instead of um relying on um gender versus sex. that confusion. >> So the when you say we, you mean the signers of that particular letter? We >> I can't hear you. I'm sorry. >> The question is so you said you signed it for yourself. Yeah. >> And then later on as you're talking

016about it, you said we want. So the clarification is I just want to know who we >> we means all the people that signed it, >> right? So we not meaning >> not the Columbia Heights public Columbia Heights public schools. I I want I would like >> and all of the other people that were signing it would like to get our funding and right now it's it's being threatened. So, >> but there sorry >> that answers my question. Thank you. >> Everyone who signed it though signed it. I'm so trying is representing an organization though, right? So like >> no they are part of an organization they are not representing unless the entire school board. There are some school boards that agreed to sign as a school board. Yeah, >> but the school board did

017not. >> But I'm saying if a person goes and signs it and says and I serve on this school board, like does that lean toward that school board believes that or >> No, I don't believe so. Um because again, there are full school boards that have agreed to sign it and I think at that point they are, but otherwise no signing it for themselves. Um not representing the entirety of a board unless otherwise denoted. >> Good questions though. >> That's what I wanted to make clear. >> I appreciate that. Thank you, >> Jessica. >> Sure. Um, it's actually been a while since we've had a full board meeting, so I have a little bit of a list. Um, I was able to attend with my family the Columbia Heights homecoming game, which was very fun,

018and I saw uh many members of the community there, parents, families, staff, and some board members. So, that was really great. I saw the um donation uh towards the fireworks in our contributions report this evening and I wanted to give a shout out to that because everybody loves the the the fireworks at the end of the game. So So thank you for that. Um, I always have to put my plug in for the wonderful um, community education classes that are offered to everyone in the district, including our community members. And I was able to attend two since the last board meeting, including um, the parent and child uh, cooking class uh, that they recently had, which was chocolate zucchini muffins. Um, and we had a lot of folks in attendance there. And then I also

019was able to attend with my kids um a class that uh Miss uh Trent uh in our Blooming Heights Garden uh hosted, a quick pickling class. And there were lots of uh community members um who had attended that event who maybe have not been connected with the district before. So, it was really cool to be able to have them see our edible classroom and learn more about how not just like how to how to do the quick pickle, but also to learn how we actually incorporate um our our edible classroom into the curriculum across our building. So, it ended up being kind of a little mini tour for some of the members of our community, which I thought was really great. Um and then um lots of our parent organizations are off to a busy

020start this fall with lots of events happening and coming up soon. Um so I was able to attend uh the PTO meetings at both Columbia Academy and at Highland Elementary u last week. Um and then I also attended the policy subcommittee meeting prior to this regular board meeting. Thank you. >> Thank you. Um before we move on to member Pway, if you like noting that you're you are having some difficulty tonight, if you would like to hold your um hold your report until the next meeting, that's >> No, that's okay. I'm going to just struggle through it. >> Okay. >> Um it was fine. I sat and talked before we got in here and then it was just like, nope, microphone, I'm off. Um uh so I attended uh North Park's uh color run um

021which was a lot of fun. I know I don't go there anymore. Um however, we were not going to get out of not going to that color run. So we went it was it was amazing because they still welcome all the students back. I mean they called grades up to 8th grade because the kiddos always come back to do the color run. So that was amazing. Um I did attend the homecoming game um with my family. It was fun as usual. The fireworks were amazing. I usually don't stay for them because I enjoy beating traffic more than I enjoy fireworks. Um, but I did enjoy them and then we like ran out the gate. Um, and so I also attended um our first like attended I also I guess helped to facilitate >> facilitate the

022um first district um BIPO family advisory committee uh meeting. It was held here in the community room and um we had a lot of families. We had so many people come. It was nice to have um admin there and and for the families to get to see who supports them. Um and so it was a great start to something that I'm hoping will keep going. Um our next meeting will be at North Park and we plan to go to the different schools and let them host them so that all the burden and planning and craziness of it all is not all in one school and everybody can enjoy the event. Um it's a parentled group. So um my goal and mission is to help parents advocate for themselves. Um so that's the the whole basis

023of that. And so yeah, we're just going to keep going and see where that goes. Um and thank you to everybody who helped uh uh help me with it because I can't do all of the administrative work that comes with it and it is a lot and so um I do know that much. So thank you guys so much. Um I also um watched the uh recording of the AMSD board of directors meeting which is always very informative. Lots going on. So that's great. And then um I attended the um CA Valley View joint fall festival um where uh we had s'mores and walking tacos and community members and tables and PTO's and everyone was there. It was really really a nice event. It was all outside, so you got to see all the kiddos

024running around and playing soccer and all that stuff. Um, so just a good time. And then I attended the subcommittee on community engagement meeting before this. >> Thank you. Nice work, Laura. Yeah, that was that was a long report. I'm going to tighten mine up a little bit. So, um, so la uh last week um I did, uh, attend the 9:16 board meeting. um you know uh to wasn't uh you know pretty much the same stuff we're doing you know these days here getting ready for to ramp up for the school year. Um uh I actually had several uh uh several conversations with Chair Granland um uh former member um Smith um and we had a meeting u with Superintendent Stenick as well. Um in prior to this uh let me see we also did

025I cannot read my handwriting sorry about that. uh subcommittee and community engagement. Yep. Subcommittee and community engagements just prior to this. That's it. >> All right. Thank you. Um for me, I also attended homecoming. Um I've attended contract negotiations for the teachers union. Um uh last night I had the honor of greeting our classes parapadres families uh with superintendent Steenvik's help. Um because my Spanish just leaves as soon as I'm around somebody who actually speaks Spanish. Um I lose it all. Not sure why. Um I attended the policy subcommittee prior to this, the chair meeting prior to this. Um I also Congresswoman Omar's office reached out to me to go over submissions for the Youth Advocacy Council again this year. I was honored to be able to do that. Again, they removed me from Columbia

026Heights because that would be a conflict of interest, but obviously I would rate all of our students very high. Um, so that's always wonderful to sort of see what everybody is learning and what they want to bring in uh to their from their communities to that opportunity. I also was able to attend the college application night here at uh the high school which was fantastic, very well attended. Um I also attended the safeguarding our community event via Heights Next at First Lutheran uh church. I there were 200 people there. Um people from all different areas of life and religion. There was a number of priests that were there as well which I thought was very cool. Um, so it was a really great event. Um, talked with every last one of the Columbia Heights City

027Council because they were all also there. Um, I attended my first C cross-country meet and um I have had many many conversations uh with members of the board, with um former member uh Smith, with Superintendent Stenvik, and um also some conversation about the title nine um thing that uh petition that uh member Hoo talked about earlier. Um and so just a lot of conversations, a lot of conversations with students as well um about their school year and where things are at and how things are going. Um yeah, we will continue to follow um guidance from our state and federal governments as able and there will be more information I imagine coming this week too as regards to title N and where things are at with that. >> Um >> I I actually attended the the

028um teacher negotiations. >> Yes, that's right. You did that. >> Yep. I mean, it feels like it was 100 years ago. >> It does feel like it was 100 years ago. Correct. >> But it wasn't. >> All right. Thank you for that. >> At least one. Yeah. Yesterday. >> Yep. No, you you've been able to come to those as well. All right. >> Try when I can. >> Uh we'll move into the superintendent report. >> Uh thank you, Chair Granlin. Uh last week, AMSD sent a poll seeking information about district's legislative action committees. I did hand the information to our uh subcommittee on community engagement. Um the idea behind the information gathering from AMSD is um um kind of cross sharing across districts and and mutual support of you know so I I did respond

029to the um survey and asked to be kept into the loop so that we can perhaps have some people come to our work session or collaborate along those lines. I also attended the state superintendent conference. Uh one of the biggest takeaways was the presentation of the co-founder of the dignity index. I know I had shared um previously the dignity index with the board. Um but ref you know reflecting on how we respond to one another. They use a scale where we can respond on a scale between from contempt to dignity. That's an eight-point scale. Um our neighboring districts St. Anthony and I have been discussing the idea of kind of a joint board and city presentation or training by these folks and then of course many other superintendents in the state of Minnesota saw the

030same presentation and are also reaching out to them and so I let them know that um if we can line up the dates and have some cost savings that would be great. Uh so more to come on that. Um, by the first week of November, I will have checked in with all of the PTO's in the district. Um, I am taking notes and will compile a report for the board of what I'm hearing and what steps we can take based on what the PTO PTO's are discussing with me. Um, and I've just been really impressed with the the parents and the staff coming together. Um, they're just an incredible group of people and I just feel very grateful for all of the work that they're doing. That's my report. >> Great. Thank you. We will

031go to student representative report. >> Hello. I know it's been a hot minute since I've been here, but I'm not going to do all that. I've been attending my PSO EMT classes. I went on the Heights Herald field trip for the journalism convention and attended the community engagement like meeting. Um, and I went to the tenorbased festival today and I'm here. >> Wonderful. Thank you so much. All right. Next, we will uh go into strategic plan um with assistant superintendent Namboy, Director Henkins, uh director of finance, and uh director Bennett, the director of human resources, and the director of special education, Sarah Godfrey, and last but not least, director Tuckerrell, uh who's the director of teaching and learning. while they play musical chairs. >> While they crunch in at the end of the >> Are

032you guys gonna pull the other mic over, too? >> No, we didn't. >> Feel bad. We have all the space. >> I don't know what can hear me. >> She's living dangerously doing that now. >> Just kidding. >> Just keep it pointed down, I guess. Yeah, you okay? >> Dear grandma, members of the board of superintendent Stenvic. Tonight, we're all here to present to you the Columbia Heights Public Schools vision 2030. Our mission, Columbia Heights Public Schools, creating worlds of opportunity for each and every learner. All belong, all succeed. and our core values will all be um talked about tonight including how they tie to the Columbia Heights Board of Education statement. This is anformational presentation. It's based on data from 2024 2025 and there is no governance question. So, just some background. Um I

033won't read all this, but um during the 2023 2024 school year, um the district engaged with students, staff, caregivers, community members to gather substantive input to the strategic plan. This included surveys, focus groups, planning teams, and large-scale school efforts. The initial information was compiled. More information was gathered from that to make sure that the accuracy of all of our survey and feedback. And then throughout a great deal of input and collaboration, vision 2030 was finalized with three strategic priorities. All belong, all succeed, and creating worlds of opportunities together. So just on here, Columbia Heights Public Schools will focus its efforts on the following strategic priorities, which I just said over the next five years. And again all belong all succeed in creating worlds of opportunity together. >> Our strategic plan vision 2030 uh revolves around

034uh the the four stages of implementation science which are exploration installation initial implementation and then full implementation. In short, what this means is we follow a tactical process to ensure that when we're implementing program, we are training staff, we're providing coaching, and we're providing the right support. And then we start looking at the data to be able to achieve the goals that we have set. And the goal is that as we go through our presentation, you'll see that we started in the exploration phase. And the following year many of the things that started are going into um uh installation and then initial implementation and four years from now will be in full implementation for all uh the aspect of our strategic plan. So our strategic plan has 29 uh performance indicators and these 29 performance

035indicators will be reported on tonight. Some of these are opportunities that we have to support our students. And uh in terms of participation rate, we're able to show you some data which are quantitative and some of it which is qualitative uh because we uh collected those data via survey. And then there are some results that uh we are excited to present to you uh including the work that was done at various uh schools. So there is uh some beautiful language that you'll see tonight. Uh when we think of vision 2030 uh our progress report from 2425, we're bringing to you information about climbing to new heights uh because we're excited about this work that we're doing. And most importantly uh the full report with the 29 metrics uh can be found on our website under

036the strategic uh page. I recommend you go and click and see all of them because tonight you're not going to get a full report on all the 29 metrics. So it is also essential for us as we talk about our strategic plan to look at our enrollment. So this is our enrollment by school where we ended up last year. As we know, Valley View continue to top the list of uh our elementary school and then the high school also continue to have uh a robust enrollment. Equally important uh it's important for us to look at the breakdown of our enrollment in our school district. uh you can see that our Hispanic uh representation is about 48% followed by our African-American at 27% and so on and so forth. But I want to bring your attention

037to the right side of uh the slides. You have uh English language learners last year, so 2425 it was 41% by the end of the year. Just for your information, this year we're already at 48%. >> Um in terms of special education population, we're at 16% as of uh the end of the year. And then our free and reduced price launch is about 77%. So very high. >> Up first we'll talk about all belong. And that's enhancing a culture of belonging by ensuring a supportive environment for students, families, and staff that welcomes all individual identities and provides access to opportunities, resources, and experiences. So when we look at this, we're talking about peaks of progress. Really exciting. Uh so 1G in the exploration phase uh families will have access to learning opportunities that support their

038role as essential education educational partners. Uh we have the parent academy uh parent teacher conferences that are twice yearly. ECF and school-based classes or programs that are really robust and growing every year. uh one-on-one visits with parent educators, community resource fair once a year, and the college and career fair once a year, as well as special education advisory committee meetings that we have twice a year. Um in the staff survey, 75% of staff agree or strongly agree that they feel heard and valued as a professional and 83% would recommend CHPS as a great place to work. Uh we see that a lot with um referrals to folks that we hire on that they knew someone that already works here and that's how they got to us. >> Along with the peaks of progress, we have

039opportunities on the horizon. Um as director Godfrey had mentioned, we have many district committees, parent leadership opportunities. Um but we're also trying to get more people to attend those too. So low number of participants, so still trying to recruit members for different committees. Um and then just continue to offer staff opportunities for input from all departments through surveys, um meetings with different groups and departments. Good evening, Chair Granland, members of the board, superintendent Denvvic, Director Henkin and I will be talking about all succeed and the focus is strengthening integrated education systems by delivering equitable and culturally responsive instruction for every student in preparation for college, career, and life. So, we had a many peaks of progress last year when we look at our progress in terms of all succeed. So, we're going to highlight a

040few of them this evening. Under 2A, where students will demonstrate academic success as measured by growth and proficiency on assessments and graduation rates. We have a couple different data points to share this evening. The first is our FastBridge literacy growth. FastBridge is given to our students three times a year in fall, winter, and spring, which supports our teachers being able to look at the scores and provide additional support or extensions or opportunities for our students. And we're really focused in on growth. So when we're looking at the fastbridge scores for literacy or math, we're looking at our fall to spring and seeing how much our students grew. And our focus last year was really on typical and aggressive growth. And in both math and literacy, it was a peak of progress to support that we

041were above 50% in each area. As we look at this year, we're really focused in on aggressive growth. How do we push even more to support each and every student? Within that same 2A where we're supporting academic success, we have our English language proficiency progress. And this comes out of the Northstar accountability report which comes from the Department of Education where each of our students are multi multilingual students who qualify for English language services take the WEDA assessment each spring. And so they are taking the assessment and the department of education has looked at their previous scores and determined how much they need to grow and if we've met our growth target for students. Here you can see that a lot of our students are growing in Columbia Heights and it was quite a few

042of the schools were way above the state average. So the state average was 46.63 and we have schools that were at 67%. So that was exciting for us looking at the previous demographics and really seeing that we're helping our students to grow. And within the WEDA assessment, they have four different domains that they're focused on which are speaking, listening, writing, and reading. So they really have a comprehensive look at language for that one. The other measure of growth that we focused in on were the graduation rates. And in Columbia Heights, we've been seeing this as a peak of progress that our graduation rate has been above the state. graduation rate is a little different. We don't receive our graduation rate until this spring for 2025. So, we're always a year behind in terms of graduation

043rate, but our graduation rate again was a peak of progress above the state. And so, we're excited to see what our 2025 rate will be as we come to the spring. >> And we'll pass it to Director Henkins. Um, as we continue, uh, uh, 2e staff will provide students with timely, specific, uh, constructive feedback that helps them understand where they are, where they need to go, and how they get there. Um, we do this through survey. Uh, we've done this, uh, consistently, uh, this year with our spring student survey. Um, one of the peaks, um, is the number of students participating in the survey. We've had over 1400 students participate in the survey and over 80% um agreeing or strongly agreeing. So um the students are definitely um feeling that uh there's opportunity for them

044to provide feedback um or to give um information and us to take that feedback. So definitely a peak of progress. And then uh the next installation uh with two I CHPS will allocate resources based on data form needs and fiscal realities including focused support interventions for but not limit to multilingual and neurodeiverse learners. Um with this uh looking at our our expenses by category um you can see the biggest piece of the pie is direct classroom instruction. um you know pointing out uh um other larger pieces of the pie. We have EL um which is additional funding, additional expenditure beyond um the general education funding for that student. And in special education, it's the same. That's additional funding beyond um the general education expense um for that student. And you can see another large piece

045um student support services. um that one uh you see social workers, nurses, our clerical staff. Um but um what makes that so big is her transportation goes into that area too. So um but uh I think that um you know over time we've seen this be very consistent for our district um as far as what um goes towards the classroom instruction. We see we've seen growth in special education. We've seen growth in growth in EL. that's just pulling percentages from um that larger piece and that direct classroom but in the overall expenses but um the rest of it has traditionally been very very uh similar. And finally uh peaks of progress and opportunities um so on 2C students will have access in a variety of opportunities to further their learning through academics, athletics and activities.

046Um we've been proud of uh the amount of opportunities that our students have had throughout the time um here in Columbia Heights. One thing that's been challenging for us more recently is the loss of the 21st Century Learning Grant um which has decreased the opportunities at our elementary level. Um but um definitely um something that's uh been great for us is that at the secondary level particularly even at the elementary we see our demographics uh match um our participation. So um the de demographics of the school district are matching the participation levels um um within each area. So um we're not seeing over representation um in our activities in athletics by one group or another. So that's been um fantastic in our district. >> A couple other opportunities on the horizon in this area include

047students will demonstrate academic success by measured by growth and proficiency. It's a proficiency side of it. So we looked at the growth, we looked at the graduation as a peak of progress, but as a district really focusing in on the proficiency for our students. And so the 2025 MCA proficiency in math and literacy are listed here. Um, one a couple areas that we're focused in on to support with the proficiency include aligning our work with the Minnesota state standards. So, we're fortunate to have a partnership and bright work supporting us from the regional centers of excellence to really look at the curriculum we have in front of us, the materials, the instruction, and how do we make sure they're aligned to the standards going all the way from early childhood up to 12th grade. In

048addition, professional development. Last school year we had quite a few of our teachers take Reedact professional development that will be expanded this school year as we look at secondary and the requirements with REAct with that one. Although within the opportunities of Horizon so areas to grow, we still had a peak of progress within that. 98% of our students um tested last year. That's the highest participation we've had in years. So quite a few of our students taking it and higher than the state. This gives us a better picture in terms of where we're at as a system and able to provide more support. Another opportunity on this horizon is looking at our multi-tered system of support. So that's really looking at as a district, we're providing our instruction to our students. What more can we

049provide to extend to intervene to support with our students and their learning? And so we're creating a system that will ensure that each and every student is receiving support. And that's really building right now. So this one is more of when um assistant superintendent Yamway talked about qualitative data. This one isn't a number in a graph. This is reported by our building leaders. So they have a checklist of different areas and they're looking at the implementation of this multi-tered system of support within the systems they have. So from there they have the checklist and they mark where they are. We're in between summer and most, which is a good place to be because I see a lot of growth even just already starting with the year as we think about what supports we can provide

050our students in the buildings. Always have to end with the most beautiful pictures, right? So good. >> So we move on to our final section of the strategic plan, which is creating worlds of opportunity together. Uh this one I think is essential in the sense that schools cannot do it alone and so we work in collaboration with our community partners, families and staff to make sure that our students succeed. So uh some picss of progress under this category is on the 3G Columbia Heights Public Schools will continue to engage with and strengthen business partnerships to align with current and future workforce need. Uh we have three categories on the left side. Direct student support. Uh these are organization that we work with to provide resources for students. Uh this include the sane foundation, dreamline at

051the middle school or the Americanore program in our elementary school or the U of M reading bodies at Valley View. And then we have family engagement. Uh I think some of you reported that you attended some of the sessions that we're doing with family engagement. So we're continuing with those this year. uh and um the commitment of the families who are willing to come and uh stand shoulderto-shoulder with our teachers so that they can learn how to support their families or can be engaged in PTA or PTO's and all those great things is really reflected in the work that you see here. Um we also support parents by providing important resources that they need so that they can continue to support us as a school. Uh so we work with uh organization like Seikka, the

052Wilson law group and then every meal to support families who uh may be experiencing some food shortages. And then the final category is elf and safety which is also essential to ensure that learning is happening in our school. Um we partner with several organization as you know we have a great relationship with the Colombia police department. Uh we provide um uh vaccine clinics uh with several partnership that we have with the support of director Godfrey. And then to my right we gave you a number of organizations that we're working with for each category. So there are some opportunities even though we're excited about the work that we're doing with our families we believe that we can reach out to more organization within our community and so here we will continue to cultivate relationship with local

053Columbia heights uh hilltops and then southern fridley businesses and then we also want to increase partners in the trade uh industry to support our kaiu exploration. Are there any questions? >> Okay, thank you very much. As a reminder, this is umformational and not um for governance. I have a question to start. I'm going to jump ahead before everybody else because I get to do that sometimes. Um so, first of all, I just want to say thank you very much, Director Henkins, for providing how many students responded to the survey. I appreciate that. I think that that's always really important to know. Um, and that is a very large response. So, um, kudos to you all for that. Um, so thinking about the MCA test results, um, is the MCA offered in multiple languages? Good question.

054It is not. It is only offered in English as it is a measure of the standards which are in English. within the MCA results, they do have pieces where if um students are new to the country, they're not within the results that are shown there. So, they have a calculation in terms of when they figure out they're included in the numbers. >> Okay. Thank you. Um looking back at our demographics and knowing that 41.7% of our students are English language learners, um does that have an impact then on the MCA results that we see that you reported on? >> I'm sure it does. Yes. As we know, it takes more than a few years to learn a new language and to reach the standards at that grade level. And as an organization, we've really focused

055on a lot of internal measures or district assessments such as FastBridge or the WEDA or other progress monitoring to really ensure we're moving in the right direction. >> Thank you for that. I think that that's a question that um we get a lot uh as schoolboard members and I'm sure as other district leadership and admin get as well. um what but what about those MCA scores and just recognizing the fact that a it comes only in English and b there are some other mitigating factors there and also I appreciate the fact that you included the um the other uh test that we do the fast bridge and the I think the WEDA is the WEDA access that we access test um I think that that's also very helpful because I think um that maybe provides

056a little bit more clarity and understanding um about where our students are at. So, thank you. We had a great conversation with the Department of Education actually a couple weeks ago looking at our accountability tests and had some conversations with people within the academic standards departments and they are looking at some of those pieces and we had a good conversation and we said we see it as an asset um the number of multilingual students we have and how do we show that as well that the growth and the work that they're doing and so we had a great conversation and there's some things in the works that they would like to bring in as well to have conversations. So, it'll be a good partnership to see what we can do. >> Fantastic. Thank you for

057that information. Uh, other questions, Laura? >> Um, I I just had one I I was really incredibly happy to see um the the growth and especially in our in our um in our uh languages, especially at the at the grade school. I mean, that is tremendous. Um, but I also noticed that at the high school, we're really struggling. Do you know if our high school is around what state level would be for a similar age group? You know, I mean, younger children definitely learn languages more readily than than older students do. And what can we do to be able to improve like a 33% if you know uh proficiency is is is is fairly low for a student that's about to go out into the entire world. >> Pass that to direct to assistant superintendent

058who oversees the Yale department. So in terms of comparison, we can look into that and provide you that information. In terms of learning, what we do know is when you have a student who's at the high school level as a freshman or junior coming in at a level one without the language proficiency to comprehend the content in science or social study, it can be difficult. But with time, we do see a lot of progress. There is a caveat though when we look at the data you have students who may may have had interrupted schooling in their life and that further complicates their learning. But what we're seeing is the great work that our teachers do to engage students in small group or in one-on-one allows them to grow and be able to learn. Uh and

059to be exact, you know, in the research it talks about four five to seven years to reach proficiency in the English language. So, we are cognizant of that and we're providing support. Um, as the board knows, we've increased the number of EL teachers at the high school with the increase of EL students that we've received in the district. Yeah, I I knew that there I knew there was a lot a lot, but when you look at just those numbers, you don't I think the the public in general wouldn't understand as to how as to how much work goes into it and the difficulties that some of these students come into it and what we're doing to make sure that they have the best opportunity possible. So, I I do appreciate that, you know, and let

060us know if there's anything anything more that we can that we can do to support, you know, because I I'm still um concerned about a student that that is close to being able to leave, you know, go into their adulthood that may not have um all the tools to be to be successful right as they're walking out the door. So, thank you. >> Thank you, Julie. I want to thank you for encouraging parents and kids to take get those tests taken and not opt out. Um I think we're going to get truer numbers when we have them test. I think when they opt out or parents, you know, choose to not have their child take the test. It is difficult to measure, you know, we can only measure on growth. you can't measure on on

061kind of that actual, you know, as of this date where they at. So, um that 98% actually encourages me because that's one of the areas where my constituency um has talked about and said, you know, if parents aren't having their kids test, why aren't they? Because how do we get a true picture? And I and explaining that is always a challenge, right? because we do have half of our kids as English learners and and it isn't easy to take a test in English if you're not totally proficient in English. So, that is totally understood here by the board and I want you to know that. Um, but I also appreciate that you have encouraged these kids to take the test anyway, even though it's going to be hard to kind of get that baseline. and

062I I just want you to know I appreciate that. Thank you. >> Any other comments or questions? Go ahead. >> Um well, thank you for being here, the whole gang of folks. Um I think this is actually a really exciting milestone um in our strategic planning effort to be here a year in and have our first sort of comprehensive report of metrics and where we are. And so, um, I just want to acknowledge that because, um, as discussed at the beginning, this was really, um, a shared effort across our entire community to get to our new strategic plan. Um, and this is something that, uh, we're really working this plan. This isn't something that's sitting on a shelf somewhere that we're going to pull out in five years and say, "Okay, it's time for a

063new strategic plan." So, you know, as we're looking at these metrics, um both the peaks of progress and the the opportunities, um I I I think it's helpful to see how all of the work that we're doing is um very explicitly aligned with parts of the plan. And that's something that um we understand as a board um but our our staff um understands as well because it's part of everything that they do in all of our buildings that that's getting out to the families um in our districts and our broader community. And so I know you mentioned that this is on our website um where you can actually drill down and see uh the performance metrics for each of these areas and where we are in terms of the the the timeline of implementation. Um

064and so I guess there's a question in there somewhere for for folks who might want to look at um all of those details or particular portions of the report. Where can they find that information um on the website? Superintendent Stenvik. >> Yes, great question. Um, so on our district web page, well, first of all, I want to say, um, so many people have, um, worked so hard to compile all of this comprehensive data, everyone that you're seeing here, but also people in their departments. And a special shout shout out to Leslie Ronch and Emma But um, they're actually collaborating right now on building out the website. And so when you go under like on the main web page and you click you hover over district right there there's a dropown that says CHPS strategic plan

065vision 2030 and I will say that looks like director Tucker is going to put it on the screen. Um so with that the strategic plan is there and then the three main main areas are there. >> Nope you screwed. There you go. So right now all belong is completed and is ready to go on live. One thing that's tricky that Emma was sharing with me is that um you know the directors and super assistant superintendent you come with u beautiful charts and graphs. Well that's not always um accessible like the the website laws and the website regulations for accessibility. And so here you can see there are some results and satisfaction written out in um percentage and text form rather than the graphic form because we had to do it that way. So you'll see

066a little bit of a difference there. But for right now completely built out the website is everything under the all belong category and coming soon will be all the other metrics. And I I we have to note that our strategic plan vision 2030 has 29 metrics, not 30. We did it. We did that. >> 30 as being all of the 29ers. >> There we go. >> Like to suggest that we have a metric on metrics >> consider something like that. >> That's how we ended up. >> Um I did have a another question. Um so I'm I'm trying to think about this um the implementation stages um and specifically how they relate to some of these metrics as we move forward. So um in particular a lot of these metrics being the first year in

067sort of that installation phase. So when we think about moving from installation to implementation just wondering if there's an example of like what that looks like around a specific metric. So, for example, um when we talk about fastbridge testing and when we're looking at growth, right, as opposed to proficiency, because for a lot of our our students and families, that that growth measure is going to tell them um an awful lot about their their individual student. So looking at that um from the installation to the implementation phase is that really like you mentioned going from looking at uh typical growth into trying to really hone in on aggressive growth would that be initial implementation or is there another example of sort of how those phases um layer on each other as we move forward? It's

068a great question as we're exploring some of that as well right now as we think about the installation or the different stages that we have starts with exploration and some of them you'll notice some data points and we're realizing within exploration what more data can we collect? So if that we're moving from exploration to installation, what data do we really need to collect? As we move from installation to implementation, it could be looking at some of the practices we have. Are they being implemented 100%. What support do they need? Are they showing results? Because in order to get to full implementation, we really want to be able to have some things that data is showing or some implementation or some pieces that are showing that the data is moving and that we're really refining the

069data. So as we move to the next stage, it really would be looking at our practices and diving deep into them to see that we're seeing the results. >> So for some of these metrics, it could look like an increase in satisfaction rates or an increase in grow, you know, aggressive growth. For others, it might be expanding the opportunities for family engagement, for example. It really depends on the individual measure. And I think as you mentioned, our hope is to see the outcome, the data would move. And a lot of those pieces are happening underneath the layers, right? We're adding more family engagement. We're reaching out. We're connected with more partners. So, a lot of those pieces would happen within that. >> Thank you. Um, and then just one more comment. I forgot to mention

070when we talk about the um metrics being available on the website that at our last board meeting we also approved our annual uh goals for the board and those are all aligned uh specifically with parts of the strategic plan. So, um the board is involved in that work for our own um participation as well. >> And they're on the >> and they are on the website, right? So, um folks can also see the work that the board is planning on engaging in this year to align specifically with that plan. So, thank you. >> Thank you. Any other questions or comments? All right. Well, thank you all very much. Next up, we have Director of Finance and Operations, Director Hennekins, >> who's gonna come back. >> It's more theatrical if he walks away and then >>

071I know, right? >> Re-entry. >> Did you mention we were on action items or are we doing something different? >> What was that? >> Are we on action items? >> Yeah, now we're moving into the action items. So, um, Dr. Henkin is joining us to discuss the Valley View Elementary indoor air quality project bid authorization. >> Okay. Thank you, Chair Granland, members of the board, and Superintendent Steve. Um the first item up, um I am asking the school board for authorization to publish, uh legal notice for bids for the Valley View Elementary Quality Project. This is something that um we've been discussing at length and planning and working for um many many months now. Um and this is a project that we're funding through the sale of bonds and ultimately paying that back through um

072levy through our LTFM plan, long-term facility maintenance plan. Um so this evening um again seeking approval to authorize the publishing legal notice of a solit solicitation for bids for the indoor air quality project at Valley View Elementary. >> All right. Can I get a motion to authorize the public publishing of legal notice of solicitation of bids for the indoor air quality project at Valley View? >> Jessica, can I get a second? >> Second. >> Julie. Uh discussion. Julie, >> so how many bids do we go out for? I mean, like, do we ask for three, five? >> Well, we we'll hope to receive as many as possible. Um, uh, right now, from what I know, um, from what is specked in as far as the geothermal goes and the type of geothermal system that we're

073putting in, um, we hope to receive two. um there's two companies that couldn't fully implement um a system like this. Um so uh it's definitely narrower um and uh um it uh but yes, we're hopeful to receive a couple. >> Thank you. I think that was my um concern was that the uniqueness of the project would limit us in bids and um maybe end up with just one. And so that worried me. Um, is there another opportunity? Like we're going to be putting this in the life magazine. >> Yes. >> Is there another way to get an like more potentially more bids if we put it in some other paper as well? I know that's the paper that we've assigned, right? But >> so there's there's a um for the most part uh most companies

074don't um find the opportunity for bids through the paper. Um though that's still an archaic process for us that we still legally must do. Um there's uh um a web interface um out there on site that they can go to and they can um find the bids as they're out there. So we publish they publish the companies that we work with publish all the information out onto the site and and that's where all the companies and vendors go to res to uh actually respond to the bids and get all the information. So we'll know more um in the pre-bid meeting um in the next uh let's see three weeks from now I think four weeks from now um and what the interest is and what we have uh as far as um opportunities there. So

075>> okay thank you. Yep. >> Thank you, Jessica. >> What's the general timeline then for receiving bids once the notice is posted? >> Yes. Uh so we anticipate to receive bids. I believe it's November 18th. Um and uh so this will go in the paper the last two weeks of this month. Um and uh potentially it could go the last week of this month and the first week of November. So, I just need to confirm with with our the vendors we're working with. Um, and then we have a pre-bid meeting. November 10th, um, is when the pre-bid meeting is. Um, it's a non-school day, so we can have different trades, construction company, whatever, whoever's there, um, walk the building and really check things out, carry ladders around if they want, um, as they want to

076inspect things and look at things prior to the formal bid um, response by them. Thank you. >> All right. Thank you. Any other questions? All right. Um, all those in favor of authorizing the publishing of legal notice of solicitation of bids for the indoor air quality project at Valley View Elementary, please say I. >> I. Opposed. Abstained. Motion carries. >> Thank you. Next, we will move into adult meal pricing again with Director Henkins. >> Thank you, Chair Granland, members of the board, and Superintendent Steck. Um, the board received information um about this uh in a memo uh previously, and uh we don't have to do this each year, but um our minimum, we must meet the minimum threshold for adult meals um that the USDA sets. And currently for our adult meals, we charge $5

077and their calculation for the minimum is $55. Um so in order to comply, we must increase our uh lunch price by 5. Um students, this is just for adults. Um with universal free meals, um we don't have all cart um for our students. So this doesn't affect our students. It affects the adults um within the organization that um or teachers, staff that purchase meals. Um breakfast does not change. Like I said, it doesn't change every year. Breakfast is staying at 250. Um so this evening, um seeking approval from the school board to increase or for the meal prices, um of $2.50 for breakfast and $55 for lunch. >> All right. Can I get a motion to approve the adult meal price for lunch at $55 per adult meal and the price for breakfast at $2.50

078per meal? >> So moved. >> I'm give that one to Julie. Can I get a second? >> Second. >> There we go. Laura. All right. Any discussion? >> No. >> I have this picture of people being outraged over the five cents and like this whole thing. >> Just a comment that um I think based on the feedback, maybe we could uh charge a higher lunch price for the orange chicken days. Just something to consider for the future. Thank you. >> No. >> It's universally loved, I think, by lots of folks. So, all right. If there's no other discussion, all those in favor of approving the adult meal price increase by 5 cents and keeping the price for breakfast at 250 per meal, say, "I." >> I. I opposed abstained. Motion carries. >> Thank you. >>

079All right. Now, we're going to trade out say goodbye to Director Henkins and have um Assistant Superintendent Namboy and Director Bennett, uh Director of Human Resources come up and discuss assurance of compliance. Chair Granland, members of the board, Superintendent Stenbick. Um, all school districts must complete the assurance of compliance annually and it gets submitted online um by November 15th by the superintendent. The assurance of compliance and mandatory reporting requires school districts to provide written assurance they do not discriminate and their use of funds provided through the Minnesota Department of Education that they informed all mandated reporters of their reporting duties. The assurance of compliance is completed again online by the superintendent and needs to be done by November 15th. Um, this is an annual item brought forward and the school district is in compliance. All

080right. Can I get a motion to approve the assurance of compliance with state and federal law prohibiting discrimination? >> So moved. >> Mich uh I'll second that. Any discussion? Go ahead, Julie. I just have a question because we were just talking about title nine and um according to the writing in here it doesn't bring up the human rights act or anything like that. So I think there's confusion on my part as to how are we I I mean we appear to be in compliance based on the assurance we're going to give here but the human rights act talks about other you know it doesn't say it says sex in in title nine but it says the human rights act which has been interpreted as gender versus tax. So I I guess I'm just a little

081confused how we assure this and stay within federal law if we're going to be asked to >> yep >> do something else. >> So I'm I will take a stab at this as well. So this is information that we're affirming to the Minnesota Department of Education which is we are providing that um as we are mandated to do through state law. Title 9 is fedally funded and that is a different response. Um, okay. Superintendent Steen, do you >> Yeah, I mean, basically what this um what we're assuring is that all of our employees have um reviewed on an annual basis um all of the required policies and information. And so, Director Bennett actually collects that information, let's say, from all of the principles, directors, departments, and um they're required to give her the agenda where

082they went over the different required policies and whatnot. And so that's what we're assuring today is that we did indeed provide the information to all employees. >> Okay. So when it says in section four, it says title nine of the education amendment of 1972 which prohibits discrimination on the basis of sex and education programs and activities receiving or benefiting from federal financial assistance. So this assurance is that we have given them the title n rules the the teachers the rules so that they understand it. Is that what that I forgive me I'm not all >> I'm asking out of ignorance. >> Yep. All of all employees not just the teachers. And it wasn't like oh here it is. It's they had to have a review with their supervisor. Okay. Like here's what all the things

083are. I mean, yeah. And, you know, a big one for us every year is mandated reporting and training on that and our harassment and violence policy, you know, are are some of our major major ones that really impact all employees. >> Okay. Because I just wanted to make sure I understood. Thank you. >> Yeah, >> Jessica, >> I also had a clarifying question perhaps for superintendent Denvvic. Um because my understanding is a statement of insurance when I when I read the attachment in board book from the advisor's office is that it is assurance of compliance with both state and federal law. And so any references uh to the Minnesota Humans Rights Act um would be that assurance with state law with the state law portion um of these statutes. >> Correct. >> Is that correct?

084Okay. Thank you. >> Thank you. >> All right. Any other discussion? All right. Um, can uh I did we motion? >> There's a motion on the floor. Yes. >> Okay. Um, that's right. All right. So, um, all those in favor of approving the assurance of compliance with state and federal law prohibiting discrimination say I. >> I. Opposed, abstained. Motion carries. All right. Next, we have a resolution on North Park School for Innovation Fullervice Community School Grant with Superintendent Dunbeck. >> Thank you. On um October 1st, the state opened up the grant, the similar grant that Valley View has right now. Um and they only gave us a few weeks to complete the grant. And so I'm coming this evening to the board and I provided you information in your packet um on the resolution. The

085resolution is identical to the resolution that the board passed for um Valley View Elementary School. Um I will also say that um we are planning to have Valley View Elementary School team come to present an update to the board in November on the full service community school >> um how it's going and whatnot. So before you is a resolution. >> All right. Thank you. Um I will read the resolution and then I will get a motion for it. Uh resolution supporting North Park School for Innovation in pursuing full service community school grant funding. Whereas the aim of a fullervice community school strategy is to transform a school into a place where educators, local community members, families, and students work together to strengthen conditions for student learning and healthy development. Whereas the essentials for community school

086transformation framework helps school communities actively build strong relationships, partnerships and webs of supports while centering children, youth, families and communities through the integrated development and improvement of six key practices. Whereas the six key practices are one collaborative leadership shared power and voice, two powerful student, family and community engagement. Three, integrated systems of supports. Four, enriched and out of schooltime learning opportunities. Five, rigorous community connected culturally responsive classroom instruction. And six, culture of belonging, safety, and care. Whereas the 2023 Minnesota legislature further funded the full service community school grant program such that schools can apply for financial support for the next three school years. Whereas North Park School for Innovation Administration and staff have worked to implement the key practices listed above without additional funding or dedicated staff. And whereas there is a strong desire among

087North Park School for Innovation staff and families in Columbia Heights Public Schools administration to designate North Park School for Innovation as a fullervice community school. Can I get a motion to approve the adoption of >> Thank you, Michelle. Can I get a second? >> Second, >> Jess, >> I'm not biased at all. >> Any discussion? It's wonderful. >> It is. >> It's wonderful. >> Agreed. Yes, it is very wonderful. >> I do have a question. >> Go ahead, Jessica. >> Um, so we have Valley View that has received this grant funding >> um for three years starting is this the last year? >> It's so hard because they've been doing so much >> right when it was but anyway. So three years and they would be starting ahead of in their three years if North

088Park is awarded the grant funding they would be starting their three years. >> Yep. Value is already in implementation, >> right? >> So um since this was expanded by the 2023 legislative efforts, is that like a by b by expansion? And I guess what I'm asking is is there thinking that this um grant opportunity would be opened again in future years or is that >> I'm not I I'm not sure about that. I certainly hope so. I think in the short time that Valley View has had it, we've seen um you know a tremendous amount of growth in in addition to to um their regular PTO. They also have many of those members are part of their site council meeting and that's part of that shared leadership where parents really have opportunity to give input

089on how the school is run. Um they just had the meeting last night. It was really powerful. So I really do hope so that that we're able to continue to tap into that. >> Excellent. Thank you. I'm really looking forward to hearing uh more about Val's efforts and sort some of the outcomes they're already seeing. That's great. Thank you. >> Thank you. Any other discussion? All right. As this is the resolution, um, we'll go ahead and ask Michelle to please take roll call vote. >> You're so sad for me. >> I do. I'm like I know. I feel really bad. This is a heavy resolution night, too. >> That's okay. Who? >> I. Maderas. >> I. >> Pway. I. >> Palmer. >> I. >> Granland. >> I. >> All right. Uh now therefore be it

090resolved that the school board supports the full service community schools grant application that if awarded to North Park School for innovation would provide dedicated staff and resources to carry out the implementation of a fullervice community school over the next three school years. All right. So the resolution was declared duly passed and we will adopt it. Okay. Moving on to the superintendent contract. Um we have had um a lot of conversations about the superintendent contract for a number of meetings now. Um so I am um the board was able to receive all of the information and followup um regarding those questions that were raised. Uh so tonight uh I am asking the board to approve Superintendent Steve's contract for the 25 26 26 27 and 2728 school years. Can I get a motion? >> So moved.

091>> Laura, can I get a second? >> What? >> It's 20 starts in 26. >> It goes through. Sorry, it's 26 to 29. >> Okay. It's three years. >> So now we have a clarify >> three years. Yeah. Yeah. It expires this. My current contract expires June 30th, 2026. >> My dates My dates were wrong. >> Just for clarity for anyone watching, maybe we could withdraw the motion and then have a new motion. >> I would love that. >> Correct. Let's do that. >> Language, if if uh Vice Chair Palmer would withdraw her motion. >> Yes, please. >> Okay. >> All right. So, let's have a a corrected motion uh to approve superintendent contract for 2026 through 2029 school years. >> So, moved. >> Thank you, Laura. Can I get a second? >> Second. >>

092Oh, I'm gonna give that one to Michelle, though. All right. Discussion. Um, I think I would just want to say we have had many many meetings and conversations about this as a school as a school board and um I personally feel like uh any and all questions were um were addressed and I personally as chair have no problem with approving this contract. Frankly, I believe we're really lucky to have Superintendent Stenic and have somebody who is um when they say, you know, our hearts are in the arts, our hearts are here, uh Superintendent Steenic lives that, reads that and um that leadership comes top down. So, I am personally in support of it. Any other Go ahead, Julie. So for the public, I just want to mention that the process really was a good process.

093We looked at competitive rates across districts our size here in the Twin Cities as well as even further out. And um you know, our our superintendent's contract kind of lands right in the middle and benefits and so on added on make her a very competitive rate compared to all others. So, I just want to make sure that everybody realizes we did look at data and we looked at in comparison with other um school districts and felt that the the compensation within this contract is competitive and reasonable. >> Thank you. Any other comments? >> Go ahead, Jessica. I echo what was um already said and just wanted to add that um I for one am glad that we uh took some extra time to have conversations as a board and um ask questions, look at some

094of those comparisons um and um get advice from um our general counsel as well in making sure that we're making revisions to the contract that not only um uh support the continu continuing leadership of our existing superintendent who um I think we're we're all on board to continue to uh lead our district in a really positive direction, but also to make sure that her contract is aligned with changes um in uh legislation as well. So, um, it did take a little bit of extra time, but I feel really confident that we ended up in a mutually beneficial place, and I'm, uh, very happy to, uh, extend, uh, an additional three-year contract to our existing superintendent. Thank you. >> Thank you. Any other discussion? All right. Um, all those in favor of approving a superintendent contract

095uh for the 2026 through 2029 school year say I. >> I opposed. Abstained. Motion carries. >> Thank you. I'll just if I can chime in. What an honor to continue to serve here in Columbia Heights Public Schools and to work with such an outstanding board. Thank you. >> Um I will also add one other thing. Um, I had a there was a conversation with a community member and I shared this with Superintendent Sten earlier, but I'd like to also share it. Um, the the quote was, "It makes me happy that we have a superintendent that really that seems to really want to make a difference here and seems just like you and me." And I think that is such high praise um and really wonderful encapsulation of um the appreciation that we we have for

096Superintendent Dunvvic here at the board table, but also that is in the community as well. So, you're welcome. All right. Next, we have uh the school board vacancy. Um, as was stated earlier today, uh, or at the beginning of this meeting, we have, um, we accepted the resignation of, uh, Director Smith. Um, she's, uh, sad to not be able to be here with us and, um, we wish her the best. Uh, you know, things things get, uh, challenging sometimes uh, for lots of different reasons. And unfortunately, this board is no um no stranger to having uh people having to step down for various different reasons. Um however, that leaves us with a bit of um leaves us with some choices here. Um so, member Smith submitted her resignation effective September 30th, and this is the

097first schoolboard meeting that we've had since. um because she has a lot of time left on her there was a lot of time left on her um first service we have um we are required to um have another person step into that spot. Uh at this time we have two options. Uh option one, appointment by resolution for a short-term replacement for this vacancy. Uh so we would adopt a resolution filing, I'm sorry, filling the schoolboard vacancy by appointment until a successor is elected and qualified or we can appoint by application. The board will solicit applicants for the vacancy. The school the board will schedule interviews and select a short-term board member to fill the vacancy to serve until a successor is elected and qualified. for um we have a lot of really important things uh

098to decide as a board coming up and I as somebody who has been on the board while we did appointment by application before it's my recommenda my recommendation that we do appoint by resolution um somebody to serve short term and then uh we would have a special election. so we could make sure that that spot was filled in a timely fashion as well. >> Laura, >> um yeah, and just uh just for clarification, um if we if we were to file by um by short-term appointment, we would be able to have a special election as early as April. >> Um and that would be a full election. Um if we were to fill by application, that application would expire at the next election. Um so we so uh we would end up having uh what

099was it? four board members that would be up for election next next cycle as well. >> Uh so something to consider is that we will now if we do the special election in April that would be for the the rest of the term. So it would be the the the six months of next year plus the following two years to finish out the rest of Karina's term. So just so we know what we're what we're looking at. So if we were to look at um at appointing for the short term, we could just simply choose somebody to fill in now and the election date. >> Yep. >> Question. >> Yes. >> So, I I think I was confused by the statute. Um it looked like we had options like April, May, and even up through

100November next year >> and that could be the special election for us and then that person would fill out the remaining of the term. But it sounded like you said that a person would get elected and then they would be like >> she's saying to pull the elect the special election forward so that that individual would not have to run on the so we wouldn't have a short-term appointment between now and then. >> We have we either we have to run an election next year regardless. >> So you're talking about waiter. Yep. Yo, uh, Superintendent Steenic, did you >> It's That's not how I read it. The way that I read it and the information from our um county elections office, I my understanding is either way, whether it's option one, appointment by resolution or

101option two by application that throughout the year there are various dates that that um that special elections can be held. Um, what we wouldn't be able to do is we wouldn't be able to make either one. we will not be able to meet the February election deadline because at noon >> yeah we would have had to file you know already but I do think we would the board would have the option of running a special election either way in April or >> or November right >> all the way through in in November it would no long it wouldn't it would not it would kind of be a special election but it would just be lumped in with the rest of the elections um and I think this is where I, you know, as treasurer, I'm

102saying, "Hey, why not? Why why not save 12 grand, >> $12,000 and do it in November, even though you have contacted an individual that may be willing to do this through April, but not November." So the question arises as to should we do application have somebody this is my >> have somebody apply or you know have several people apply and then select and then do it in November so we save $12,000 and that's part of the discussion to have tonight. Um I does anybody else have any comments or I was just going to say that the whole application process would be something we would have to undergo right now. >> And um um and I I don't know if I would be com I I don't know if I personally would be comfortable with just

103simply doing an appointment through November. >> Okay. That that feels like to be quite honest that feels like just a little bit too much power at the board table to me >> for one year >> for for for for the for basically an entire year, right? to just be able to just, you know, handpick somebody. But for a short-term appointment, I would feel fairly comfortable about that if we can go into an election, if we can have an actual special election where individuals who are interested in serving are are actually out there u um um communicating with the public. That's how I feel about it personally, and this is where we can talk about what I what I want. So, >> and I So, for me, I think yes, I hear you on that as

104well, Julie, and I appreciate that point. However, um we there's a lot of of big decisions that we have to approve between now and um mid January and even April. Yep. And so I thinking about that, having somebody um I don't want us to be a board where um we have a seat that's vacant for a really long time, especially for those really hard conversations that we're going to have. Um we there's a lot of things that we're going to have to approve and discuss and um appointing somebody for a short term and then having a special election feels a little bit more um appropriate to make sure that there is full representation from to for our community here at the board table. Um, and I think that the $12,000 cost, while it is a

105cost, I feel like uh representation in a timely fashion is worth $12,000. So, that's where I that's my stance on it. >> Well, we've had a little bit longer to think about this. >> Yeah. Yeah. >> Jessica, >> yes. Um, I personally find um, Vice Chair Palmer's uh, comment about, you know, having a full year appointment a very compelling one uh, for us looking at a special election in April. If we were to have a shorter period of appointment before a regular election or a general election, um I I think that that would be well within, you know, our our our spirit of our purview as a board. I do think appointing someone for um one entire year when in we're we're meant to be an elected board um and each of us is elected

106to a four-year term. I mean, that's that's a fourth of of a full elected term. Um, and so I am also leaning towards a special election option even understanding that that does incur some cost to us. I think um sometimes you know there are just circumstances that happen um that require us to expend those funds. We try to avoid that if possible. Um but you know I want to make sure that our community is represented um by by electeds. So um the other thing I would mention um just thinking about knowing knowing that April is you know still six months away. I think that that also gives us the ability to have uh to make the important decisions that we need to as a board with a full six member board while also giving our

107community um a good full six months to um consider filing their candidacy. um to learn more about our school district, to learn more about our board, um and to help prepare them um to run in the special election. So, I also feel like that's a really good um time period to to give notice to our community and allow them to to make those decisions. >> Thank you. Um all right. So, uh I'm hearing um a lot of point by resolution. So, um I'm going to I'll do a motion to adopt the resolution filling the schoolboard vacancy by appointment until successor is elected and qualified. Can I get a motion to >> Laura? Can I get a second? >> Second, >> Julie. Thank you. Uh any more discussion on that? I guess just a question. Can

108you remind us if we have a special election in April? Um that person is elected like what is their term? >> My understanding is they once they are elected in April they will finish the term. >> Yep. >> They can be my understanding is they can be sworn in at the next meeting. >> Okay. So, they would be elected in April 2026 for a term that would expire in at the end of 2028. >> Yes. >> Mhm. >> Correct. >> Thank you. >> Yep. Yep. Okay. Um we will vote on this and then um depending on that we'll move into the resolution. Uh so all those in favor of adopting the resolution to fill the schoolboard vacancy by appointment until a successor is elected and qualified say I. >> I opposed. Abstained. Motion carries. >>

109That's a resolution. >> Nope. This is the resolution now. >> Okay. >> Julie was a second. Yep. >> No, that's okay. >> Stephanie's back there keeping me honest with these things. appreciate it. No, no. Um, and so before we do this, one thing we did not talk about was the appointee and that was not part of the motion, but I want to I suppose um I would like to make a motion to appoint uh and I've talked with this person before uh Lauren Mueller to that sixth month um appointment. Uh, so, uh, I have a motion to So, >> can I get can I get a motion to approve the appointment of Laurian Mueller? >> I think you read the resolution. >> Do I have to read the But it has her It has like

110insert name. >> Yeah, you just say the name in there. >> Oh, all right. Well, >> I'm just trying to make it all difficult. >> Okay. >> Grantland. Yes. >> I'm sorry. Can you >> uh just point of information, can you reread the motion that we just approved? Yes. This the motion is to adopt a resolution filling the schoolboard vacancy by appointment until a successor is elected and qualified. Laurian never had these weird weird questions with she never had this these challenges that I have. Not that it was a weird question that you have, but we have a lot of weird things happening. Robert >> weird questions. I'll own that. That's okay. I I >> We've had a lot of weird things. >> I know who I am. Um I'm confident in my weirdness. Um

111okay. So then I think we have some materials in our board book about um options for appointment. So it sounds like we approved a motion to um appoint >> which is general >> right and I think >> resolution. >> Yeah. >> So so and that was that was the language of the motion. >> Yep. to appoint by resolution. >> Thank you. >> You're welcome. >> Just wanted to make sure we talked about both appointment options. >> I thought it was um a resolution to fill a seat by appointment. >> Yep. So, now I'm going to read this and then we're going to adopt the resolution. >> I'm sorry. Yeah. So, read the read the motion one more time, please. Wait, you want me to read >> the approved motion >> to adopt a resolution filing

112filling the schoolboard vacancy by appointment till successor is elected and qualified? >> It doesn't say appointment by resolution. >> Is that what you're trying to say? >> Yes. >> Like it's not specific about the type of appointment that we're choosing. Does that make sense? Well, because the >> the sheet of paper that we have that's at the bottom of our cover sheet, >> you guys had to declare if you wanted to appoint or if you wanted to >> um >> a point by resolution. >> Point by resolution by application. >> And that is what the motion says. It just says it in a different order. It says to adopt >> the resolution by filling the >> So now I'm going to do the resolution and then we're Okay. >> Thank you. >> Yeah. No, good

113questions. Uh whereas Minnesota statute section 123B.09 subdivision 5B establishes that a school board must fill by board appointment at a regular or special meeting any vacancy on the school board other than a vacancy of an ill or absent member as set forth in subdivision 4. The appointment shall be evidenced by a resolution entered in the minutes and shall be effective 30 days following adoption of the resolution. Whereas a vacancy exists in the office of school board member with a term expiring the first Monday in January 2030. And whereas the vacancy occurred less than 90. Yeah, it's yes. >> Uh I'm going to start this over because it is does need to be 29, not 30. All right, let me read that line again. Whereas vacancy exists in the office of school board member with a

114term expiring the first Monday in January 2029. And whereas the vacancy occurred less than 90 days prior to the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November in the first or second year of the vacant term. Therefore, be it resolved by the school board of Independent School District number 13, Columbia Heights Public Schools, State of Minnesota, as follows. Pursuant to Minnesota statute section 123B.09, 09 subdivision 5B. Laurian Mueller is hereby appointed to fill the vacancy and to serve until a successor is elected and qualified. The appointment shall be effective 30 days after the adoption of this resolution unless a valid petition to reject the appointee is filed with the school district clerk pursuant to Minnesota stat Minnesota statute section 123B.09 09 subdivision 5B within that 30day time period. Can I get a motion to adopt

115this resolution? >> So moved. >> Thank you, Laura. Can I get a second? >> Second. >> Thank you, Julie. As this Well, is there any discussion? I just want to make sure that um community understands that they you know once we've appointed this person we will have a special election in April and also that from this date of appointment you have 30 days to contest it if you do not approve of the appointee. However, I just want to make a a note that Laurianne was chair two at least two years of this board and she understands the district. She is she knows the um individuals involved on the board and I just feel like um her coming back into service for six months is great. Yeah. >> Blessing. >> Yeah. I So, thank you for

116that. I was going to say something very similar. Um, I reached out to Lauren uh to discuss this possibility with her and um the reason why I reached out to her is because again we have a lot of big questions coming up and it's I think it's best for the community and our school district in general to have somebody um who really knows what we're doing, what we, you know, she can come on and she knows right away where we're at and and she's already served this community. she was reelected um I think at least one time. So she served for a long time here as chair as vice chair. Um and honestly I could not think of a better person to appoint in the short term to make sure that our community is well

117represented. Um so that would be why I uh asked her to be appointed. So any other discussion or questions? >> I would just echo the same thing. I feel very comfortable that um that that we're not having to do a whole lot of education over the short period of time. Um also uh that um uh that uh going into the election um also that the the ca the candidates that are going to be running are not going to be running against somebody who actually wants to stay on the board either. So, you know, there won't be any competition there. So, it'll be an open field. So, that'll be that'll be really fun. We'll get some new faces on the board, too. >> Yeah. Okay. >> That'll be great. It would be great to have Lorian

118back, too. >> Yeah. >> And I really want to know more about roofs. >> She'd be really excited about the geothermal stuff. She will be >> She will really be She'll be digging that. >> So, pun intended. >> Oh, I didn't even consider that. Oh, I was so clever. >> All right. Uh, if there's no further discussion, this is a roll call vote. Michelle, if you would. >> Yeah. Um, >> I, >> Maderas, >> I. Pway I Palmer >> I >> Grantland >> I All right. Uh whereupon said resolution was declared duly adopted by Independent School District number 13. Resolution passes. Thank you. >> Clarification would um she be sworn in. >> So she would be sworn in uh 30 days from now which is our work session in November. The >> session. >> So

119chair madam. >> Yes. Go ahead. >> Uh, so we will ask Laurian to complete the required paperwork prior to the work session so that she'd be able to participate. Correct me if I'm wrong. And then but on camera would swear in at a public meeting that like the ceremonial swearing in. >> Okay. >> And as a reminder for the board, I will not be here during that last meeting in November. And I've already discussed this with uh Vice Chair Palmer who was kind enough to swear me in when I was elected this last time and she is very wellqualified and very well suited to be able to do that for Laurian. >> You can so qualified. >> I I can do that. >> All right. Well done. Uh so that has been approved. So now

120we'll move into board topics. I have a lot. I have multiple sticky notes. So, who would like to go first? >> Um, I'm gonna ask that we go first because it's more kind of >> Yes. >> board type. It's not extracurricular in that way. Um, but we just wanted to update you guys on the and I I will let Laura finish um on the um community engagement piece that we are working on. >> Yeah. So, um so we did have the uh the community uh engagement meeting prior to this. Um, so we were short one, you know, so I think Laurian's going to come on board with this one. And, uh, one of the things that we had been discussing, um, was, uh, starting some sort of a legislative action. That is actually part of

121our board goals is to be able to, uh, explore how to put together a committee like that and what that structure might possibly look like look like. um uh the superintendent Stenvic had actually provided kind of a list and a survey of um of of different uh districts and what they're what they happen to be participating in. Um so we're I guess that's one one way we can reach out and and ask them how perhaps they're they're forming their committee or how they get involved. Um, but we were looking at maybe concentrating on trying to get some like who are our stakeholders in place first? Um, and what can we um already leverage that's out there um so that we not we're not creating things or reduplicating off um uh uh things since we're starting

122kind of at the end of the year and everybody's kind of busy. Um we were thinking about trying to fig figure out first how who our stakeholders are. you know, the teachers, students, uh family, community members, um parents groups, um uh perhaps even, you know, just the community at large. Um being able to find out, um as far as uh what type of uh uh what type of things that they would like us to pursue or lobby for and then thinking about coordinating something maybe at the day of the capital. Um and uh one of the things uh that's coming up is the um MSBA delegate assembly and maybe being able to take a look at some of the actions that come uh that the uh resolutions that are coming out of that assembly and

123seeing if ones can be kind of uh so that we can also kind of follow what other districts are also ask asking for and then be able to coordinate something at the day at the capital. So that's kind of where we're starting. So right now it's like high level. Let's throw everything up in the air and see what sticks. Um but I think that maybe just organizing something shortterm doing more focus groups after the beginning of the year you know but having some place to start you know um rather than trying to create everything not a whole cloth and then seeing where each of these groups where we all have overlapping interests. >> So >> wonderful. >> Does that make sense? Yeah. >> And we really missed you there. >> Absolutely. So, I was like,

124I really wish Jessica was here. So, >> well, I can talk with one of you about it. >> Yeah, we can have a work session. I think that would be a great idea. Um, and I I love the idea of organizing something to get all of our stakeholders involved in a really exciting way. Just thinking about our legislative meetings that we have on the hill and how great it would be to have staff with us and have parents with us and have community members with us. Um just thinking about the last PTO meeting at Highland where Superintendent Steick was there. That was something that came up a question from one of our parents about compensatory aid and you know they had signed on to one of the petitions trying to you know really um keep

125our compensatory aid whole last year and had been asking about you know what else can we do? how can we help? And so to be able to give them something >> really tangible that that they can do um to advocate for our families, I think is just awesome. So you guys are doing great work and I'm really excited about it. >> Well, I mean even to down to maybe organizing sort of like rides to get there, you know, I mean, you know, it's like >> it can be pretty crazy how, you know, so because you know, people might want to be involved. you make it more of an event and everybody kind of, you know, says, "Hey, let's all meet over here and we'll, you know, we'll get into our various little buggies and drive

126down to the Capitol and have a good time, you know, and uh go knock on some doors." I think that could be fun. >> So, anyway, >> thank you. Thank you for that update. That's really exciting. >> I hope so. I hope so. So, we we'll we'll we'll see. We'll see what happens. >> Um, any other board topics? Go ahead, Jessica. Um I just >> that's coming up at the at the parent no per the parent and child classes are there. >> Well there is that's not what I was going to mention but there is an apple cider donuts class that's coming up that is not a parent and child class but is a um a cooking class that is open to the community taught in our high school um by Mr. Stvowski. So I

127would recommend that. But what I was going to actually promote is right here in the um family center, the early childhood um parent advisory council. I think they're called the early childhood PTO now. >> Um they are hosting a winter clothing passalong October 20th through the 24th. So, next week um and um leading up to that, even up until the 20th, um anyone can drop off um donations for that winter gear for the pass along and then they'll have it set up. Is it going to be in the in the training room? That's where we've had it in the past. And um for all of the times that it's open, um families can come in and and grab what they need uh from the donations for for their littles. So, um recommend that everybody check

128that out. either um donating if you can um and or coming by and and picking up some gear for um the winter that is inevitably coming for us all. So, thank you. >> Do you know if people have uh things that they would like to donate? Do you know where those donations should go? >> Oh, um I can find that out. >> Okay, thank you. >> Yeah, I don't know. >> All right, sounds good. >> Oh, yes, I do know. They go to the ECF classroom area. So awesome. >> Right here in the family center around the corner. >> Wonderful. Okay. Well, thank you. >> And I got that information from Seesaw. So >> Oh, hey. Nice work. >> Plug for Seesaw. Thank you. >> Okay. So, um a couple of board topics. Uh first

129of all, not this next um not our work session next week, but the work session in November. Uh, I would like us to consider having a potluck again. We usually do that around this time. I think that that would be really fun. And also, should Lauren be uh approved and appointed, that would be a nice welcome also and a nice way to celebrate her. So, there's that one. >> Uh, and Laura's lasagna will be here. Um, also next weekend is the truck or treat with um spaces open from 12 to 2 or 2 to 4. There are two of us signed up. It's Michelle and I are signed up. Uh, so if you have any ability to do that, please communicate that to Stephanie because we would love to have representation for the total time.

130Um, >> Will there be games? Yes. And also there will be candy. >> Yes, >> I can bring a pillowcase. Uh it's a really wonderful event for the trick-or- treat. Um and so yes, uh and then also there is um in January the MSBA leadership um opportunity. So if you are interested in >> signing up, >> Yep. signing up. Please also communicate that to Stephanie. You're going to notice a trend here in a hot second. Uh student schoolboard representation event is on October 29th from 9:00 a.m. to 1:30. Um both of our student representatives are going to be in attendance along with member Pway and Superintendent Stenvik. And also um if you would like to do attend that as well, who should you get a hold of? Stephanie. Just beware. I'll be driving the school

131van. so much fun. >> No stress. Um and then uh also uh for former member uh Smith, if you have any um this is for the board members, if you have any uh desire or anything to support her that she needs with um through this time, please also get a hold of Stephanie and let her know so that we can make sure that we are able to um to help her and her family out. And then I'm gonna give this one to Superintendent >> Thank you. Um it is time to uh send out our student schoolboard representative applications and I'd like to get those out pretty quickly so that they can be returned in a timely fashion so the board can um discuss and select at a work session. Um and then so that student

132schoolboard representatives can be sworn in um in January. >> Um and so um I don't know if we want to have just kind of a consensus not voting discussion about um some of the proposals to the change in the application that I've given board members. They were highlighted in yellow in your packet. Um one is obviously just changing the dates. Um there was around can is it will it be allowable to for a student board rep to apply for a second term if they've already served and then should we put in language aligning to the state high school league where it says they are on track to graduate. I think those are the three big ones. I can pull up >> what the other ones were but I I didn't I don't feel like at

133liberty to make changes to the application that's you know your application but I'm happy to work on some of those pieces. >> Go ahead Jess. We're having a discussion towards consensus. I would say that um we should be I I agree with um having language in there that aligns with the high school league around on track for graduation. We want students to be students first and um participate in these leadership opportunities while still um making successful academic progress. Um, and my opinion on student school board uh members reapplying for another term um would be that I support that as well. I think we want to try to balance spreading out um leadership opportunities for students with um ensuring that they have the time and that experience to grow. And I think that we've seen over

134the course of our last um couple years of student schoolboard representatives that um we've seen them, you know, grow in their confidence and their leadership and their ability to contribute to discussion, policym um presentations, um grow over time. And so I think allowing u schoolboard members to serve stu student schoolboard members to apply for a second term um makes a lot of sense in the scope of leadership development and growth. >> Thank you. All right. Any other other board topics? >> All right. >> Have to come. >> Oh no. I'm still going to do it and I'm just going to watch her squirm. >> Are we not having disc discussion about that? Any other thoughts about the uh applications for student board? >> I'm I'm in agreement. Okay. Yeah, exactly. Yes. Sorry. Yes, I'm in

135agreement as well. >> Want to make sure I didn't go down a >> I'm just going to let you down. >> Yeah. Cool story, Jessica. We're moving. No, I'm just kidding. No, no, it was it was very well like Okay. >> Very well. >> And then if there is any anything else, feel free to email me because I'm trying to fasttrack those applications to get out. obviously won't happen tomorrow because it's MEA week, but maybe Monday. As soon as Monday. >> Sounds good. >> I think we can make it till Monday. >> I, you know, I've been thinking about what Jessica said, um, about letting students reapply. >> Um, you know, I know we want to give this opportunity to as many students as we can and there's only two roles. So, you know, how

136how are we I I guess that's the question is how are we going to not select somebody who's been here before? I mean, I think we we're using kind of a blind >> um way of selection. So, if we really do want to give it to somebody who is um has been faithful in their role and wants another year, >> um I think we just probably have to think about how we're going to go about that. >> And we we do know that um one of our student school board reps is graduating and so they wouldn't be able to fill the term from January, you know, through December. So regardless, the board will for sure be selecting one new, if not two new. So, >> I mean, and I'm in favor of having a um,

137you know, a two-term limit on there. Um, I think that that is that would cover partially, you know, the point of the board where we wanted to make sure that there was still some scaffolding that could be available to new new student representatives while also providing it an ample opportunity for other people um, to be in that leadership position. So, >> Michelle, >> yeah, I was just going to say Um, good point because like when they write their essays, there's no way they're not going to say, "And I did serve last year so we would know who it is and it wouldn't be blind." But, um, I also like the term option, um, which is what I was thinking because, um, it's kind of the schoolboard experience, right? Um, you you don't have to run

138every year. You get to keep coming back and doing the job. >> Exactly. >> All right. I appreciate that input. Thank you. >> Yes. Thank you. Okay. Well, there's no more discussion. Can I get a motion to adjourn? So moved. Can I get a second? >> Second. >> Oh, sorry, Julie. I stole that right from you, didn't I? >> Going to lean in. >> I saw you by Michelle. >> Oh, so moved. Mary, >> sorry. >> I'm in favor. >> Was our second was our second. >> Oh, yeah. Yeah. I said >> Michelle was our second. >> I second. >> Yeah. All right. >> Whisper discussion. >> Any discussion? Would you guys like to stay longer? No. Okay. Uh, all those in favor say I. I. Opposed. Abstained. Motion carries. We are adjourned at 810.