001not here. Yep. Due Yeah. Due to due to unforeseen circumstances, the board member cannot be here. Board member Brown. So, we'll be removing the um item number. Oh, no, no, sorry, that's 10. Item 10. Yep. Yep. Move item 10 to our July. So I will make a motion to approve the agenda with moving item 10 to the July. Second by Nelson. Any other discussion? All in favor? I opposed. Motion carries. Uh on to the pledge of allegiance. I aliance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for it stands one nation under God indivisible with liberty and justice for all. On to the consent agenda. Uh the previous minutes from the May 28th regular board meeting, the May 28th work session, the June 11th special meeting, and the June 11th
002work session. uh claims and accounts in the amount of uh $426,97368. The credit card report, the personnel report, the fundraisers, the um Iowa Iowa and the approval um approved school calendar with the snow day added and the um approved one read policies. So moved by Sixberry, second by Any other discussion? All in favor? I oppose. Motion carries. On to donations. I will make a motion to approve the donations. Second by secretary. Any other discussion? All in favor? I oppose. Motion carries. Financial reports. Good evening, school board members. Uh we'll start out the financial report with an a final enrollment update at least for this school year. And uh from April to May or actually from May 1st to the end of the month, we did have we we did decrease one student. Um but we
003had a decre the decrease in and we actually had a decrease also in Big Lake Online, but that was offset by increases at the middle school in Liberty for a net decrease of one. Um, but as I've been reporting every month, mo most every month, we are over our our enrollment budget. So, we're nine ADM's over that second revised enrollment budget. So, we will be ending the year on a good status with our general education just because our enrollment has um has been remained positive over our budget. You can see that graphically on the next page. That orange line is above the yellow line. So, that's always good news. And uh I I I normally don't bring budget revisions this late in the year, but I had two I felt I had to do. Um
004one, this MA revenue, that's medical assistant revenue or or also called thirdparty billing. Payments come in real sporadic throughout the year and we really never know how much we're going to get. Well, we got two large payments in May and so I just felt otherwise the budget just looks so far off. And then as I was budgeting for next year, um so I just I'm asking for approval of that increase because basically there's payments that we've already received. And then the prom fees and donations as I was working on 26's budget in order to reconcile between 25 and 26. I just need need that budget revision as well approved as well because otherwise it just it looks off between years. So, all I have for this month is that total revenue increase, those two items
005of $177,12. Um, the fund balance impact of those two revisions that doesn't affect the unassigned. Um, it's it's that restricted for third-party medical assistance. Um, we have a nice revised fund balance that money can be used to off or not to offset, that's not the right word. It can be used to buy special ed items. So, for example, what we use it for is if a student needs a specialized piece of equipment, we'll take it from that money um rather than hitting up the general fund for that. Um oh, sorry, I excuse me, I have that wrong. The prom fees and donations did affect the unassigned fund balance. So then, um if you go on to the next page, then this is the revised budget and um again, this looks very similar. This is where
006we're projecting we're going to end up at the end of the year. So we'll have our audit in October and then hopefully the auditors will be here in November and we'll report on how we did as compared to budget. And then I thought I'd just spend a little bit of time on this is probably I guess is old news right now, but I just thought I'd spend a little bit of time on that K12 education finance bill. And so I'll just kind of and what I was trying to do is kind of give you an idea of how this affects Big Lake. And so the first one, compensatory revenue, um they're using the greater fiscal year 26 or fiscal year 24. That was a positive actually for Big Lake of 15,533. This is the one
007I am most nervous about. I think I told the finance committee this on Monday. this uh blue ribbon commission on special education because they must find $250 million in special education savings or a reduction in our special cross subsidy aid will go into effect in 2829. I think this has the biggest impact on our future and I'll be talking a little bit about that when I do the 26 budget presentation. Um reduction in special ed transportation reimbursement instead of 100% we'll get 95%. I'm estimating about decrease of 66,617. Um the transportation of it, they call it homeless and highly mobile stu students. What that means is like for example, if we have students that go to care and treatment, that's still reimbursed at 100%. So we remained whole in that respect. Um LTFM revenue, we
008just had a meeting with buildings and grounds committee, but we have that additional levy authority now for roof projects greater than 100,000 by site. Um, and then that the the legislature did increase the equalization aid to offset some of the projected levy increases, but from what I've seen, it's not going to be a one to one. I mean, there's still going to be levy increases, but it'll help offset some of those levy increases. Um, one other item 100% or is now required that 100% of our general education aid um from our ALC's that that has to be transferred to our ALC. So that um affects right technical center and because right now the only bill is 90% now we're required to pay 100%. Um just using 25's numbers I'm estimating that'll be an extra cost
009of 19,000. One of the discussions Tim and I have had then is that this should at least help them um with their financial challenges and um perhaps u maybe won't need that fund balance stabilization fee that we've that in the past. So, we'll just see how that goes. But that will actually I mean it it it's a cost to us but it's but it's revenue to them and Right Tech is part of I mean we're part of Right Tech. So, uh let's see student support personnel aid. Um the reduction they so that the legislature reduced the per pupil allocation. Um so this really the previous law was increasing it to 4873. So it was re so basically they were reducing the increase that we were supposed to get. Um so for big lake it reduced
01064,000 but that revenue is still a 44,800 increase over 2425. So we just didn't get as big of an increase as we were scheduled to get. Um, school meals lower lowers additional state funding for school lunch. That is beginning in fiscal year 28. The state is currently paying 12.5 cents a meal for all students. They have cut that in half to 6.25 cents a meal. Again, using 25 estimates, it's a loss of about 15,500 in state funding. Um, and it's that's not a dealbreaker for food service. I mean, um, we would like to see that revenue come in so we can, you know, reinvest in our food service program, but, um, I mean, we can we can sustain that loss in funding, I think, without without any changes in programming, is what I'm trying to
011say. Um, school library aid, they did reduce that aid. That's about a little over $20,000 decrease to Big Lake, 20,220. And, um, they repealed what's called the telecommunications access aid. We get roughly around 12,000 12,500 a year for that. And then and then literacy incentive a aid. They're renaming the literacy incentive aid to literacy aid. So like Mind and I have been talking, we know to literacy aids. So um but that the requirements and goals instead well instead of listing out the allowable uses, we can use the money for the requirements and goals of the district's local literacy plan. So, we've been having fun trying to keep these pots of money straight with this literacy aid. So, um I think I hit the highlights. I kind of wanted to hit the highlights of what affects
012Big Lake with the um with the education finance bill. Um so, that's all I have for the financial report. So, just ask for approval um and the couple budget revisions that I presented earlier. and I can entertain any questions or if anybody wants to add any comments about the I attended school finance bill. Yeah, about that. I just I attended a superintendent session for you that went too minute this morning. That didn't work. Yeah, it was super short. Um basically in summary, um Tiffany Guskin from MSBA said, well, the biggies the biggie biggies is that uh the compensatory and how it affected you special ed blue ribbon to keep an eye on that kind of thing. But the other one is that we were able to maintain that inflationary factor um for our general ed
013was a big win and I think people felt good about that for a while there that was on the roles and um I know that was in big discussion about it not being there and uh that was one that we fought for well my for sure my entire my entire career we've been quite legislative that I don't actually do anything else legislative kind of summarize yeah no just one thing that would affect Um, school board members, is there a change to open meeting law that people can participate remotely starting August 1 without the three-day notice and without the physical location being public space? So, you know, you fall ill in the afternoon, but you feel well enough to come, but you're contagious, you can call in the meeting, whereas before you could only do it
014if you had three days notice, you went to a public location where it was accessible. Um, so all the other requirements of remote participation still exist. You still have to be able to see everybody. So for that, but but it did change that requirement and public access. I did it, but it was kind of Yeah, a little sign. If you want to go to a board meeting from a different state, come on in. You're welcome to listen. Um but anyway, I just wanted to just make sure everyone was aware of that that um well Tim and I think you said it's effective immediately, right? Because they Yeah, I had at the end when they had the question, it was the director from the city of superintendent. Okay. He clarified Terry. Okay. And at the end,
015I swear that's what I heard. I will verify with that. Maybe just send a message when the open meeting moration and I think I think later he was he was in it way wrong. Okay. Kind of thing today or whatever. Yeah. It was something but I I will verify we'll verify with Terry and just let you know and put and that's nice because we've had board members that have been out of town for work and it's not like they're going to post their hotel room like you know. So this will be helpful. This will be very helpful. The other thing um candidate filing period was second weeks starting at two weeks earlier. Yeah. So I just thought I'd mention those. Is it end the same? Yes. Longer window. So a longer window. Okay. It used
016to be like two weeks. But yeah, I think those were the two I just wanted to mention. Any questions for I will make a motion to approve the financial report and budget revisions as presented. Second by 6. Any other discussion? All in favor? I oppose. Motion carries. Thank you. And I have the next one. Right. Uh, so actually I've already noticed a typo that should say 2526 original budget. Oh my goodness. Anyway, I'm presenting I I Do you know how many times I looked at this? I looked at it. It's right on the next page. Oh my gosh. You guys have paid attention to that first. I know. I'm like, I opened it when I was at home. I I just started there. for well any so anyway supposed to say is we we went
017over this in a lot of detail with the finance committee on Monday so I apologize for that typo I will I will fix that and have we'll reload it so it's the right one because we usually post this on our website as well so with that we'll go forward with the 2526 budget um this is just standard language same I don't think this has changed in many years and Minnesota statutes require the schoolboard approval of a revenue revenue and expenditure budget um by June 30th of every year. And this next page I I I call this or like I told the finance committee this is this is the highlight. I mean this is I kind of start out with here's how we ended up. So we start out with that beginning unassigned fund balance and
018again the unassigned fund balance is fund balance available for operations and then we end up with an ending unassigned fund balance of a little over 7.5 million. We are still in compliance with our our operating or our minimum operating fund balance policy. We're we're it's 17.6%. Um but we do have a deficit. We have a deficit in in the unassigned general fund balance of 1.9 million. Now what I have here also as we mentioned it was critical that we got that inflationary in increase in gen ed aid. Um, however, that's not enough and um, that's why we have to go out for an operating levy referendum. Um, because this this deficit is not sustainable. Even even though we have a fund balance that can support it right now, a deficit like that is not sustainable.
019Um, and what's interesting is that that's that's the approximate amount that we're asking for in our operating. Yeah. So, it's interesting as we as we move into the future. Yeah. considering that election that this is what we did this extent this is what we're asking for right so it's very similar not exact but pretty close right right yeah it's not exact but it is pretty close like you said and then um I just went over all those legis legis legislative changes um which included some cuts to funding and so that has all been incorporated into this budget because I I did have the information ahead of time that I was able to well plus we kind of had a heads up of what was going to be going on anyway So um this next page
020is this. So this is what you see every month. Um but this is the budget that you will approve then at the end of the presentation. Um so we can just kind of keep going there, John. Thank you. So what I'd like to do is just talk a little bit more about components of each fund. Uh general fund revenues, total revenues a little over 49 million. Biggest part gen aid. Um again that 2.74%. Um, and then the the next biggest component of Genet 8 is is our compensatory revenue. And that, as I mentioned before, that was in question whether we were going to be getting that same amount or if that was going to be cut. Um, but we actually had a positive result from that from legislation. And then I just list there for
021the board our budgeted ADM for right now. But but I we have like a an aroma projection model. Talk with Teresa about what we should do for kindergarten assumptions. So, we have 222. Um, this is a 19 ADM decrease because our kindergarten class coming in is smaller than the grade 12 graduating. So, and I know last time we talked with Teresa, I I we think we think we're on track for kindergarten. We'll know more in August and then I'll report that on in at our August meeting. Oh, yeah. The Let's see the graduating class off top of my head. I think it's like 240ish something like that. And then Yeah. Yeah. Well, I have here 19. Yeah. 19. Yeah. It's it's Yeah. Because that's the main reason for for the total less ADM. So the
022GR So we're graduating like a 240 class and then incoming projecting 222. Uh let's see. Next, the biggest component of general ed revenues is special ed aid. And again, I have that 95 pro% pration of the transportation aid. Um, and again, the cross subsidy, you know, like we said, that was threatened, too, but that remains at 44%. Um, and that is based so our aid next year is based on 2025 costs. Property tax levy 8.8 8 million that includes that 1.3 million that was levied last year for our LTFM portal air quality project and then f I just want to point out federal aid so that is a lot less than in the past because we don't have esser grants anymore the co relief grants so it's mainly um our title grants and our PCN
023grant and federal special aid through the co-op we had a very large decrease in title one funding um and then we did get an email from um the the Minnesota Department of Education that that the main reason for that was is we had a decrease in students identified as poverty in the title calculation. So it was a significant decrease um well over 100,000 wasn't it Minda? I think it was yeah it was it was a significant decrease but but we've adjusted and well I I have not seen all the allocations because they don't even have all the Yeah, it was just tight. Yeah, you're right. Not sure how to like Yeah. answer that, right? Yeah. Yeah. No, no, that that's fine. So, so we're using those preliminary that they gave us. So, um this this
024is um just a graph and and um similar to those truth and taxation graphs and and we lost them. But anyway, the biggest piece of the pie, if you remember what it looked like, um is that state aid. Most of our revenue comes from state aid. And that is common and very similar to prior years. There it is that it's back. And with that, we'll talk about expenditures if you can advance. Yeah, there you go. Okay. Total expenditures a little over 53 million. 53.6 million. Salaries and benefits make up the the the majority of expenditures, 40.3 million. Two new positions that were approved by the school board back in February. still factoring in summerterm unemployment costs, but we do have funding. So that that also came out of legislation. Um purchase services is the next
025largest component. Um of that is transportation, but includes transportation, utilities, repairs, property liability insurance, and then and then we have our new rates in there for year one of our transportation contract. And then the next one is uh supplies, capital, and other. That's 5.6 6 million and that includes like curriculum, technology, capital projects. So that is kind of the biggest components of our expenditures and I we got a couple I call a couple ways to show this graphically. This is expenditures by program area. So like each area there's administration, district support. If you add up all of the regular instruction, vocational instruction, like all the instruction related categories, that's about 80%. And we of course want most of our budget to go towards education and support of our students. So I just want to mention
026real quickly the sites and buildings that normal just because we have that pool dehumanification project. So, so because of that, that percent is elevated more than it normally is, but because of that of that project that um was levied last year, we're doing now this year. And then the next graph, this is how we're spending the money. And again, because we're we're a serviceoriented um business um mostly in salaries and benefits. So the salaries and benefits equals a little over 75%. Um that percent is typically in schools 75 to 80%. So we're actually in that normal area as other school districts. And again again you know we have more cost in the purchase services component and in capital because of that pool dehum dehumification project. Um so then results so total general fund not just
027unassigned this is total general fund a little over 4.3 million and I already talked about that unassigned deficit and I'm going back to my cheat sheet. Um so so the other part of that deficit is a decrease in our LTFM operating capital and tech levy reserves. basically capital reserves. This is all planned. Um and then a little over a million dollar decrease in our other restricted assigned fund balances. And a lot of that is is like plan like curriculum purchases spent planned spend down of our compensatory revenue and thirdparty medical assistance reserves. And as I mentioned before, we come down to that unassigned fund balance. And as I mentioned, 17.6% still in compliance with our fund balance policy. And we'll there we'll segue into the other funds. The food service fund. There's your revenue and
028expenditures. We're in universal free meals. Um incorporated into the expenditure budget is a little over $300,000 of equipment investment. We have like a a capital replacement plan for food service. So we are in year three of that. And I I identified what we have on our plan for this year. some kitchen flooring. Little Liberty in the middle school, middle school dishwasher, middle school and high school walk-in freezers and coolers, and middle school kettles. And the community service fund. This would have been Stephanie reviews this with the community advisory council in May. Um small deficit for the total fund projecting ending balance of a little over 1.1 million. on to the next fund, building construction funds. So, this is we are in our final year of the 2021 bond referendum projects. So, that little bit of
029revenue is a little bit of investment income we'll probably take in. And then the expenditures are the fi that final phase and that's all the middle school renovations which I know TJ just went over a lot of those renovations with the building grounds committee before the meet building grounds committee before the before this meeting. So hopefully should that have that fund will be spent. Debt service fund. This is our district mortgage payments and this is a highly regulated fund. Um levy is is restricted to what we we are allowed to levy 5% in excess of our bond payments. Um and again it's regulated by MDE. So it's just that's all it accounts for that debt service fund is those mortgage payments. And then other funds we have the irrevocable trust fund. This is money from
030proceeds from our 2009 OPEDB bonds. Those bonds are paid off. Revenues is that investment income and then the expenditures are eligible other postemployment benefit expenditures. This helps out the general fund because if we couldn't take it from the OPED trust fund, that money would have to be taken from the general fund. So that OPED trust fund actually benefits the general fund. keeps keeps some of the expenditures down. And I end the presentation. I call it factors be bearing on the district's future. Um we have the uncertainty of compensatory funding beyond fiscal year 2526. We were held harmless for 2526. Um they've created a task force to evaluate the formula and how it'll be allocated. So we'll see how that comes out. Um, we did we were winners or not winners, I don't think that's the
031right word, but general education aid increases will be continue to be tied to inflation. That's at minimum of 2% maximum of three. Um, but yeah, because like I mentioned here, it was threatened during the last legislative session. Again, as I mentioned before, this is the one that makes me the most nervous, this blue ribbon commission on special education because if they don't find that savings, they're going to cut the cross subsidy aid. Um we are in currently in labor negotiations. That's just an FYI. Um we of course have assumptions in our budget but um that is ongoing. And then biggest one is probably the outcome of our operating levy and bond referendum election. I'd say that is probably the biggest factor right now in our future is um is that election that's coming up in
032November. So I just conclude by our unassigned fund balance. that complies with the district's fund balance policy and is acceptable to bond rating agencies. That's important because if we keep our bond rating as is, that's cheaper for our taxpayers when we issue future bonds because then your interest rate isn't as high. So then I list out for the school board if you remember that that worksheet that you see every month I need your approval of total revenue of 60,241,21 total expenditures 66,779373 um total diff so I I list the total district deficit but I add back and and I think I started doing this a few years ago at the request of the board I add back like those construction and capital projects. So the net district deficit then is at 2.84 2.848 million. But
033I am asking for approval of the revenue and expenditure budget as presented. I think that's it. Yes. Slide 17. I'll make the motion to approve the re revenue expenditure. Well, revenue and expenditure. So the revenue is 60 60 million. Thank you. $243,21 expenditures are66,77 not sorry3 um so I'll make the motion that apologize for stumbling I'll second it second by Nelson are there any other questions all in favor I oppose motion carries All right. Thank you. Uh MHSL. Uh yes, Madam Chair, members of the board, this is an annual renewal form for Big Lake High School to participate. Uh and with Minnesota State School activities recommend this is motion made by second by Hancock. We'll do a roll call vote starting with Nelson. I reason I motion the resolution pass. Thank you. Uh on to
034the next one. Um approve resolution to reertify district population. Uh yes. So uh this resolution is before you to approve an increase in our uh population. It's it's defined pretty well within that resolution from 20,683 to 20,864. By doing this, this does allow us access additional funds for our early childhood, but again recommend it's for all community. Sorry, all community. Motion made by 6 by. Any other discussion? It's a roll call vote. Nelson, 630, I Hancock. Resolution passes. Okay. Uh, field trip annual review. All right. So, we have a nice little one. You can see the field trips that were taken by our K through eight students this year. Again, our high school is kind of its own little thing just because they do more things that are aligned to their curriculums. But our field
035trips this year were sponsored by PTO from both Liberty and Indie and Spudfest. And so you can see our kindergarteners take a walking field trip which then helps them because if there was an emergency at Liberty, they would need to walk over to Indie. So it kind of gets them halfway there. Um then they also go out to Eastman Nature Center. Uh first graders go to Big Lake Library and to KO Zoo. And then second graders go to Pioneer Park and then they also come over to Indie for their transition day at the end of the year. At Independence, our third through fifth graders um third graders went to Oliver Kelly Farm. Fourth graders went to Rapids Dam Regional Park. And this was kind of a unique um situation which I think we're going to
036get to replicate again next year where they actually get three field trips out of this. Um, so they get to go and they get to work with scientists and so it became a little bit more involved than when we first signed up. So that was a really neat experience for them. Um, our fifth graders go to the science museum. And then at the middle school, now remember our middle school does not have a PTO and so Spudfest did pay for admissions and transportation for middle school kids. So they went to the state capital in Fort Snelling. The seventh graders went to Camp Friendship in Anendale and our eighth graders went to the Minnesota Historical Society and or US Bank or Mil City Museum. So that's not all on there, but um so we did go
037to Spudfest again and we are happy to report that they did approve to sponsor both of our um field trip transportations and admissions. And so that leaves PTO to be able to do some other fun things for our elementary students. And so Spudfest did approve that. And so they are um going to be submitting a check for $43,000 over the course of the year to support this for our families. So next year we're there's a couple that are thinking they might change field trips, but um back to school workshop week is always fun field trip talk. And so we will be reporting in the fall what we plan to do next year. Any questions? Okay, first reading of policies. Yeah, Madam Chair, uh members of the board, they're pretty self-explanatory. We did meet and uh
038these were what ended up coming to the conclusion first. So would encourage you to take a look at that as they move through the reading process. School board committees are senators with updates. finance committee. Um, Angie pretty much hit on that. We reviewed the 20 256 budget and policy committee may have met and the first policies are the ones we're moving forward. Uh, buildings and grounds. Yep. And TJ's gonna Yeah. TJ, if there's questions, otherwise I'll just kind of go through the agenda here. TJ, if you want to Yeah. We we uh met this evening. had a wonderful meeting and a wonderful discussion. Uh we did a quick review of the bond projects with a budget update and a review. Uh we also highlighted some the hail claim progress update which by the way is
039scheduled to be done within a week or two. Hopefully next by next Friday they'll be completely done and gone. And since there since there is never going to be hail again in the weather, we're going to be fine with that. Um I'm just kidding. But I know I just I don't even know why I said that. I know I don't know why I said it. I'm sorry. Okay. I know exactly right. Uh we also did talk about the LTFM future bond additional levy authority. Uh much having to do with the new legislation and uh talked about some different repairs and things. Uh uh LTFM plan will be brought forward next month in July. It is required by July 30th to be approved by the board. They are almost there. They're just waiting on a couple
040different numbers on some roofing things as I recall. Uh but again um that gives us some information on LTFM and our facilities maintenance dollars. Uh and then we also reviewed some facility improvements um that included some conversation around the purchase of a couple shipping containers. You may have noticed them behind um the press box at the football field. Uh but the baseball association as well as activities has uh requested to purchase some additional. They are um much more durable than some of the wooden sheds that we currently have. And what's being proposed is that uh there was an image shared of a blue with yellow edges. So it would it actually would look pretty sharp in terms of kind of staying with our theme of our colors and whatnot. So there wouldn't be uh anything
041too ugly sitting out there. But had a good conversation um and um ended on time. So it was good. That was buildings and grounds. Did I cover it, TJ? Right. where those containers located where they are. We have a map of where the per where these are. You stay put. It's all good. Um you can kind of see u the location where they're going to end up because they're not on like they're movable. So they won't be considered permanent. They wouldn't be permanent. Um they would just replace the current sheds. So the one is an addition. Um and we'd have to a home for that and uh for the baseball association. It's to store all of their uh pitching portable pitching mounds. Um because right now they sit out all winter which is really hard
042on them. So they're working on replacing those and they want to have a a safe place for those out of the sun and away from the critters. Um the other two would basically take place of where a current shed is. We're going to remove that shed, put that on the public surplus auction. If it sells, great. If not, we'll have to tear it down. Some are in pretty rough shape. Um, and then in that same roughly that same location is where we locate the shipping container. Yep. We put them up on We put them up on like 6x6 chunks or blocks. Yep. But they're all waterproof and rodent proof is the big thing. Yeah, that's the biggest thing. Keep all the triggers out of there. It's been a saving grace for our our track equipment.
043That was our first investment in them was for track equipment and stuff. Over the years, all of our track equipment always was full of nice surprises and all the kind of stuff. kept them very nice. Yes, they did. Any other school board representative meetings? Tech we met really very very on but we won't have a meeting again until we did meet for negotiations um I think we met three times so things are going Well, I mean, it's cordial. It's professional. Um, I know Derek and Ashley were in attendance. Um, they have not responded with financial packages, but they did respond with some language proposals that did include some financial implications. It's a lot of pages, but and so it goes. The first the first proposals are always a lot and we whittle it down. But
044we are well on the way of process. Like I said, it's cordal. Um, we are we are hoping to make some progress. I think we've got a meeting coming up here in a few weeks just a committee to kind of debrief the proposal and then I think the next meeting is on July 29th. So hope to share um more good news after that. That's the official meeting with trying to proceed as best we can. Any other um the staff executive board has met multiple times. Um we did renew our contract with Capital Associates for lobbying um they felt that I mean the lobbyist we have assigned to us um has a lot of good connections with a lot of legislators that tend to be skeptical of public education taxes. So they've made a lot of
045good connections there. Um kind of been going through some interesting um brainstorming about different ways to improve the equalization component uh in a different way. So more to come on that we're gonna um do a little research on on a couple on a different strategy. So, um things are happening. It's a very active active group even in the off legislative season trying to figure out how we can best uh capitalize our taxpayer dollars, get the best for our kids in Big Lake. Yep. And I just I I just received an email to and I'll maybe forward the letter as well um from my association. Debon put out a letter um relating expressing strong opposition to the Educational Choice for Children Act that's uh currently under consideration um pretty close to what's being described as vouchers.
046Um so I'll keep you posted on that long term if there's any additional information but I'll perhaps just share the opposition so you kind of know the perspective from MSBA as well as MASA so legisl speaking just so you know it's kind of out there and being discussed again. I just received that four hours ago. Okay. Any other committees on the superintendent report? Uh yes, Madam Chair. I do have a few items for you this evening. Uh I wanted to just remind you if and and actually kind of recall in MEA last year we had a program we housed it here called community connect and uh has run through um United Way and um Cat is her name. I believe we hosted it here. We had a great turnout. It was a great event. This
047was where they handed out free boots and shoes and um all kinds of different resources and things. I just want to get it on your radar. I've been invited to attend a few meetings. They are they are hoping to continue that on October 16th of this coming year. And uh but because they had so many I mean they were running out of so they are planning for a bigger event. So, I just kind of want to get that on your radar. Is the Thursday of MEA and like I said, it seems to meet the needs of a lot of our community members. Just want to get on your radar. Uh, also want to remind you of our summer hours uh in the district office and more so I know I put it on some weeklies
048and whatnot, but Monday through Thursday 8 to 4 and then we are closed on uh Fridays. Uh but also I just want to obviously if people want to reach out um and let us know we are available for people um for phone calls and whatnot if we need. So I just want to kind of remind people of that. And last but not least I want to just give a quick referendum update. Um food shelf uh I have been working with the attorney as well as Sandy from the food shelf in trying to come uh together to create an agreement um that can be appropriate for all parties involved. Obviously, I want to make sure that our attorneys are okay with it and obviously from the food shelf perspective, they want to make sure it meets
049their needs as well. Needless to say, it's been a bit of a um challenging process, but we're still working through that. And I'm still hopeful because, for example, today I just met face to face with Sandy this um morning. And we had 10 kind of items from the agreement that she wanted to address and from that we were able to whittle it down to four. So, we're making progress. So my hope is to have the agreement before the board uh at next month because I do think that's an important partnership not only for the needs of our community but also for the programming for our students as well as our efforts at the election. So I want to make sure we we give it our best effort but like I said this is a bit
050of uncharted territories. So, it's a bit of a a challenge to kind of mesh the two, but we're working through it and um I'm working with the attorney and communicating with Sandy and Sy's working with her board and I'm trying to So, I will send you an update at the end of this week with our latest version uh once I can get a hold of the attorney because I'm continuously kind of going back and forth with them. So, that's the update on the food shelf. Uh also, I wanted to just mention uh following the uh July board meeting, we'll uh tenatively But I'm hoping to have a work session following regular board meeting around a draft of a communications plan for the upcoming election and uh just so the board is mostly aware of that
051piece and can provide some opportunity for some feedback. But to to build that plan as well as to get the board kind of hands involved a little bit more with some of these efforts. I am proposing that we create up a a a group if it could be a committee because I would say up to three board members if you are interested in participating in a communications subgroup. Um I would throw out an invite um to any board members that might be interested and like I said I think we need to keep it up to three. Um but we can call it a committee if there's three. We can call it a representative if there's one. we can call it. But at this point, I guess I would take if people are interested, this this
052committee, I'm anticipating uh will start meeting in July and probably like it every other week. What we would do is review some of the uh communications topics, the communication things. Obviously, I'd be informing the board like I did last fall as well, but this would allow um that involvement. So, is there anybody that would might be interested? Well, are you thinking though like an earlier meeting like 4:00 or something? or during the day. We would work with people whoever it depends on who is who who would come forward because I know like I know that Ashley does have some during the day kind of availability times and she'd be interested. Yes. And when that day comes easier. So you know those types of things. So I would try to work with some of those individuals
053but I do think that to have that involved would be wise. So if there's anybody off evenings I I am trying to stay away from evenings because there will be enough evening stuff going on during this time. um at least for me personally going out and doing how that goes. Um so I'm hoping to do afternoon somebody just to reach out to you. Yeah, that'd be great. Or if you know right now people want a voice if people are interested okay so we've got Okay. So um So we'll think you can think about it. Maybe check with check availability of we have well so again the biggest thing is I just want to make sure that everybody's informed and that we're all on the same page with that. So I don't want to look back
054on this and say if we would have only done this. Uh I'm really trying to avoid that and I don't know that you ever completely avoid it but at least with our minds together but also know that simultaneously obviously Stephanie um Robert myself this whole crew will be working on proposals to bring forward in terms of that as well. So okay I will let people know um let me work with that people are interested we should probably ask um so there's that uh also um Yeah, we could. That'd be a lot of meetings. That's my only issue hoping for. We can like bring it back to work session. So, let's uh let me process that with Tanya. We'll get back to the members and we'll try to figure that out and see if we can
055um I want to just kind of go through obviously a little bit of a lighter calendar, but I do have some items. Uh uh obviously we've got Spudfest happening. I want to remind everybody that BudFest family night is tomorrow. I will be flagging down uh for the bike rodeo. I always stand in the middle of the road and hope not to get hit. You know, they always have a police officers there, but it's the kid bike rodeo and parade and all kinds of things. ECF and the fair and all kinds of pickle ball tournaments and things. So, please I would encourage not only the board members but also members of the community to participate at Spotfest because there is action-packed this weekend and it kicks off tomorrow night uh July 4th. offices are closed. Policy
056committee Kim and I were reviewing briefly some of the latest legislative updates. There are a few things um but most of them are minor one read type things. Um right now I am targeting July 15th as a potential policy committee meeting. Uh but what I may do is get the policies and send them out. I don't know that if it's one read maybe we can just kind of do a I'm good with moving those forward if anybody wants to discuss. I'm out of town now. Okay. So, how about I will maybe send to the policy committee. I will figure out a way to ask solicit what your thoughts are if we want to meet or not. Very minimum. I had