001You must not have taken a shower this morning. >> I've got plenty of room tonight. >> Okay. If you see on the top of your agenda, there's a new thing. Uh went to officers training. This is one of the things it says on there and will say on all agendas forthcoming. In the event this meeting is cancelled due to inclement weather or other emergency situations, conditions, the meeting will be held on the following day, same time, same location. So that just means if Monday night we can't, we're here Tuesday night. And then the second paragraph is also from that. Um, Daniel had done more info on that. In accordance with Minnesota statutes 13D, one or more schoolboard members may or may not participate in this meeting by interactive technology. At least one member will be
002physically present at the regular meeting location and all votes will be conducted by roll call it if one or more members are participating remotely. So that will happen if it does, you know. So like tonight, Chuck could stream in if he wanted. He still has to be in a public place, I believe, or whoever still has to be public so that anybody can >> They changed that, Linda. Uh >> oh. >> Um cuz I didn't clarify that in our meeting. >> Okay. our inner class that you don't have to be in a public because if that was somebody going through chemotherapy that could not be exposed or something of that they could do it from their home. >> Is it something that you have to give them your physical address? >> There used to be
003something like that too. >> There used to be they've changed it around but they're at least giving us the immune suppression. We have to have somebody at the phys uh we have to have a physical location where people can participate and anybody who normally participates has clearly visible and clearly hear them so they have like a quality connection. So if it's cutting in and out that wouldn't >> suffice to my understanding. >> Okay. All good with that. Just new things that we got to do. something else to do. Keep us busy. Uh, roll call. Linda's here. Chuck is excused. Lori >> here. Lisa is excused as well. Jeremiah >> here. >> Tom here. >> Tanya >> here. >> Okay. Uh, Mr. Leixson, is there any additions to the agenda? to the consent agenda. The resignation
004of Vanessa Bwell, par professional at the elementary she just gets put in there, right? >> Yeah. It's just it's just acknowledging. >> Y >> any additions or changes to the regular agenda? >> No. Okay. Then I would need a motion to accept the regular agenda. >> I'll make a motion. I'll >> second. Jeremiah, >> I have a question on that. >> Yep. Yep. Lori, any discussion then? >> We were just handed this new contract. >> Mhm. >> Um, are we also voting on that tonight? >> That' be under new business and I guess that would be part of the discussion under individual contract. So, I I think we might want to look at it before we >> Okay, that's on the day because I would like to >> but we can save later on. So,
005um Oh, all any more discussion? Any further discussion? Any further discussion? All those in favor say I. I opposed. Motion carries. And then another quick change that also I learned in class, um, we're putting the guests up higher on the agenda because if they want to address something in the regular agenda or in the consent agenda, they have an opportunity to do that before we discuss it. And therefore, we could use whatever they have to say in our decisions. So, it's just a change of place. So, that's why that's up there where it is. And I see we don't have any guests back there. All right. Then the consent agenda. We already added the resignation of elementary Clara. Any other questions or discussion on that? >> Then I would need a motion. >> Motion. >>
006I'll second. Tom, >> any discussion? >> First motion was Jeremiah and Lori. >> Yes, I mean on the consent agenda. >> Oh, Lori and Tom. >> Okay, sounds good. >> Any discussion? Further discussion? Any more discussion? All those in favor say I. I. >> Opposed? Motion carries. reports and correspondence. >> We don't have any student reps either >> activities. >> Yeah. >> What can I answer about the sixth grade governance stuff? Do you just want me to explain it more? What do you >> Well, I I understand sixth graders cannot participate. >> Right. Right. Um, so we have been allowing sixth graders to participate in specifically track and cross country. Um, last year when the state high school league put in the ninth grade governance, that changed the eligibility a little bit. Um, so now
007if sixth grade practices with like our JV or varsity kids, it actually makes those guys ineligible and they could be out for I think it's 2 weeks. Um, so in order for sixth grade to participate, they would have to have like a separate location, practice time, and coaches that are different than our 7th through 12 and we just don't have the capability of of doing that. Um, Angela Bits has also started like a track club and we're Brad and I are meeting with her tomorrow. She did it last year and she ran one like community ed camp type stuff and then another competitive type of aspect um that my daughter Berkeley did and I mean they have the opportunities to still participate in something at a different spot just not through I guess state high
008school league if that makes sense. So I guess I would like to vote on just making sure we're all on the same page that sixth grade and then also sixth graders are not covered under um catastrophic insurance. So that is also a huge portion. >> So do you need a motion out of us? >> I think so. Just because right now we're allowing it and we're just taking it away for policy reasons. >> How do you that? >> Um any ideas? Brad, you've done it too. >> Um >> I would just say I would just say that you have to subject to the MSHSL. Sixth graders will be no longer >> redacting. >> Sixth graders. >> I'll work on it. >> Yeah, >> that was really well. Really well said. Good job. >> Well done.
009Yes. Yes. >> So, we're going to go vote on the recommendation of the high school in number one. >> Yeah. >> And then our own field. So, that motion wording just like Brad said. That's for >> So I need that motion then. >> So moved. >> I'll second. >> And then the banners. Um Chad Basil, >> we have to disotion. >> Sorry, sorry, sorry. My bad. >> I'll be patient. >> Okay. Any discussion on that? Any more questions for them? Any more discussion? All those in favor say I. >> Opposed? >> Motion carries. >> Okay. So, Chad Basil and I had kind of been talking about just um getting more I guess school spirit around town. And I think we had brought this up at one point in a different meeting of just like the
010banners that were around the school. um like on the light poles. Um the city is willing to pay for most of it and they're willing to take set them up, take them down, store them. Um I haven't really gotten too far into the money aspect just cuz I wanted to get permission to move forward with it. Um I guess it'll Yeah, that's >> So you'll have all three banners that you have posted or >> Um I think they would like to do a variation of like all three. Um Chad said that they have funding secured to pay for all that. >> Yep. And a lot of companies have in town have donated money for it as well. So >> So if we approve this tonight, we will take them to the city here. We'll go
011to the city council on Wednesday. If they approve it, then we'll move forward. >> Okay. >> And basically the city's responsibility to take them up and put them down, which they're doing anyway. >> Right. >> How many are there? >> Um I think that could be up for discussion. Um, right now it's kind of just around the high school and the elementary. Um, but I think they want to further it like what gas station is that by the high school? Senex. >> Senx. They want to further it out so it's not just around the immediate school. >> There was somewhere >> football field. Yep. The Thunder Stadium was also talked about putting stuff more around there as well. And we should not have a financial. >> If anything, I think it would be very small.
012>> Okay. >> And not too much to blink your eyes at in my opinion. >> I think it would be cool. >> Yeah. >> And all three of those banners were nice looking. >> Yep. >> Yeah. Nick did a does a really good job. >> And I would imagine we need a motion to approve. >> Yep. Yep. >> Make a motion to approve the banners. Does the motion have to include a price range in there as well? Are we can we just because if we have to put any funding in it and we don't include that in the motion, Kelsey may have to come back and ask for that. >> We'll have to come back and ask for. >> So >> I think at this time being they were we were told no cost. We
013go with no cost. Well, you want to say something like discretion up to like 100 or some small numbers so that if there's a minute here or there costs that we wouldn't have a board vote saying that you couldn't spend anything at all. >> Yeah, that's why they said, >> but very generous that they offered to do that. That's cool. Jenny, can you throw in a minute number in there? >> Sure. What would you like it to be? You want it to be 100 or less or >> 250? >> I think 250. 100 doesn't >> Yeah. >> I was going to say 500. >> That's what I That's what I was going to go first. I was like I was thinking 500, but then I didn't want to be like all my wants to do
014is spend money >> if if we need to. And >> Yeah. I would say >> and once Chad gets a hold of me, I can email you guys too and be like this is what it came back with and just keep you informed on on that where it's all sitting at too. >> I think that's fair. >> Okay. >> I have Lori as a motion I need to >> I'll second. Jeremiah can >> it's fine. He can be on record. >> There's Tom just removing himself. >> Is there any discussion? Any more questions on that? Any more discussion? All those in favor say I. >> I opposed. >> Motion carries. >> Any other questions for me? >> I have one. >> Yeah. >> The credit card readers, which we're going to debut tomorrow, night. >>
015Yep. Well, for the second debut because we already did them for soccer. >> Okay. Um, will there be a convenience charge? >> Yes. off the top of my head. I don't remember what it is, but it's in my whole packet thing that I have on my computer. >> Okay. >> Um I want to say it's like >> probably around 3% is my >> Yeah, something like that. >> Okay. >> I can have them send me like that specific thing and send it back out to you. >> Well, I guess I was just curious cuz I know wherever you go and use the card now there's a fee on it. So, >> y I was assuming there was but >> Yep. So with bound, how we are able to get pretty much at c like pretty
016much nothing is by offering the online ticket portioning either at the door or they can buy them online and then stripe the card company gets a percentage and then bound gets a percentage. >> Okay. If you click on whatever you sent us, it doesn't say anything about a Well, it says a processing fee, but >> yeah, they have they sent me a different >> credit card debit card breakdown thing. >> Well, if I do one adult ticket, it's 90 cents. >> Yeah, that sounds right. >> It's online or at the door. >> Okay. >> Um Yeah. And actually right after the prairie conference met with bound the next day the metro decided to switch to bound. So now 80% of the whole state is switching to bound and not using arbiter. So >> good. >>
017Yeah. All righty then. Anything else for Kelsey? >> Thank you community. I gave you guys a news um print out because I had put I had put March 3rd which isn't even a thing. So I don't know what I was thinking. So that's that's just a typo. So I changed that and give it to you. Thing I want to talk about tonight is we start on the third page um K. So over the last last year um you you guys remember um we okay going ahead with trying to um introduced VPK to our district. So that what VPK stands for voluntary um pre kindergarten which um equates to uh a lot of what we're doing with our preschool. Uh this is a grant that is given out by the by the state of Minnesota and
018there are so many seats that go out each year and it goes by legislative funding. So um every two years you have to reapply for it. Um last year was the second year of the grant and we didn't get it. Um but we became eligible again. Um actually in December they they got a hold of us and said hey this was December 15th. They said, "If you can have everything in place by Christmas break day, December 23rd, we will fund you." Well, it was impossible because we we we couldn't even got the vans and stuff available for that. So, um but we are um high on the list to receive this because of uh of our poverty. Um we have a very very um high ELLL population. We have a high um sped population. So
019um because of that uh in talking to the state and the people that are around uh that do this we have a very good chance to qualify for this. So over the past oh I would say four or five weeks Daniel myself and Lisa Wick who is our representative from Freshwater have had several meetings um about what this would look like in Long Prairie. Uh and we wanted to be more ready this time uh for it. Uh, and then we were supposed to meet, I think it was last week or two weeks ago when Daniel was sick. So, we cancelled that because that Tammy was going to join us. Um, and then also we were going to have a representative from Freshwater also um do that with Lisa. So, Lisa and I went ahead and
020we finished the grant on our own and we submitted it because it had to be in last week. So, that it's been submitted. Um, and this is kind of a subnopsis of what we ask for and some of the parts out of the grant that I just highlighted. Um, it's, you know, VPK, it's really important that it's embedded into your curriculum and what you do. So, what we did is we wanted to make sure that the the things that we were offering in our VPK program mirrored or paralleled what we had already. So, we didn't want to just have a shift away from it because we do have a very successful pre preK program. um we score consistently in as far as in growth scores we we score way above the 50th percentile um which
021where the state average is. So um we do do a very good job already. Uh but this would give us a chance to have 4 day a week preschool all day. Um it would also give us and the thing that's nice about this is it also gives us flexibility to have an offering of half day preschool which is which hasn't happened before. So with this program, with the new VPK, you can have half days and you can also with those half days, you can you just have to extend your day. So instead of having right now most VP most of our programs run about 2 hours and 15 minutes, if we extend those to three hours or a little bit over and then move our calendar a little bit longer, we can offer enough hours
022because you have to have I think it's 160 hours. We can offer enough hours in order to to meet the VPK standards. So it is my intention if you look at it um it says proposed program design we would have four full days um with Friday being off um you can only the most you can offer is 4 days that's the state limit um and then three half days per week with those three hours is the big thing at minimum and then we would extend that um that calendar from we'd probably start in the beginning of September or right after we start school and we'd probably run till May because right now we're only running till with our program we're only running it till about the beginning of April. So this would extend those um
023and that would give us enough hours. So we we have that flexibility. Um we did ask for seats in both. So the parents would have a would have a choice to do that. Um if you look on the back side, this is the target population that we bring. Um this is what you're supposed to have. And if you look, we check all the boxes. multilingual learners, children from lowincome housing h household students identified through ECF screening, we get a lot of identification through that. Children with a limited prior um early childhood education experience, we have a lot of those kids that um because of kid new to country kids or kids that are coming from um different places in our country. We have a lot of kids that have not um went to prek. So
024they come straight from here to kindergarten. So, this would be another reason that we could uh offer this. And then the last one, any any kids with ECSE services. And we have a high ECSE number. Um we have a Head Start room that actually has about 60% um right now that of kids that either qualify for speech or they call it developmental delay. So, um we meet all the we check all the all the boxes for sure. Um and then there's just some more information about what VPK does. Um there's a lot of research that has shown because this is a program that's been around for about seven or eight years now and you can actually see the school I mean the state actually has some really good numbers on the difference between kids that
025go to VPK and then your average preschool. So the great thing about this this would give us a grant that would help um our preschool um finances. You know, we're in community ed, that's one of the places that we're always falling short is if you look at the overall fund for budget, the big chunk of that is because the reason we're below budget a lot of times, I mean, above budget is because of our expense, our pre our preschool program. Um, it's very hard to charge more than we do because our our families can't afford it. Um, and what we charge doesn't even come close to paying for um the program, but this program would allow us to do that. So, um, >> we still get the school readiness money. >> Yes, we would still
026get school readiness money and we would still get our grant. Um, we get a grant that helps, um, families pay if they can't pay. Um, it's called Pathways One and Pathways 2. We get Pathways 2. That grant is still would still be in place. So, you can use your Pathways Grant to help pay for um, kids that can't afford the the VPK if they don't qualify through one of these ways. >> Got it. Um, so with this list that you have here, >> is that the first priority and getting a student into the class? >> Yeah, it is. But we are going to we've made a decision that we're going to offer it to everybody. So what we have to do is through the state program, um, you have to offer it, you have to
027offer it to those kids first, which we have to now anyway. I mean, that's the way the state program is anyway. So even with the preschool funds that we get right now, you have to consider these like all which you know you can say what you want about it. All SE kids, if you qualify SE, we have to find them a space. We don't have a choice. So even if we have to go over the number that we're supposed to have, we have to get those kids into our program now. So that's the same way with with this. Um, but we have we've um made accommodations where we're going to allow anybody who wants to be part of that to do that. And that's how we're going to use the pathway money if they can't
028afford it. So, the pathway money would go specifically for the kids who don't qualify. Um, we take that pathway money and apply it to that. And that pathway money is right around $38,000. It's 38 or a little bit more. So, it should get us a lot of bang for our buck as far as kids wanting if that kids want to come into it. >> How many seats? Uh we asked we asked for um 24 of the of the um full-time the four days and we as we asked for I believe we asked for uh I think we got we asked for 20 in the other one that was still flexible because what Lisa kind of took care of that part because she was the one who was talking to the state department saying okay this
029is what you can get here this so she has a lot better we will know a lot more once we meet with her so but that's a good question very good question So >> those 20 seats are they accounted for the students that we already have or are these additional seats? >> These would be so okay. So for this this would take the place of some of the seats we have but we can still offer our existing program. So even if we got these we could still offer what we have. That would be a choice that we could do if we because we're not going to change anything until we know that we're getting this because if we don't get it um there's no way we could afford to do this if we wouldn't get
030the the seats that this the state would give us. So because otherwise it would be way too expensive because four four days a week all day um costs considerably more than what we're paying out now. So >> so be between what we already have >> but potentially this then head start like we we should pretty much have it all. That's the other thing that makes us a really good candidate and some something that we can actually get extra funding for. We are considered to be um there's certain there's certain things that you have to you have to have. Um and one of the new qualifiers um that helps you get a chance to get this um it's called a mixed delivery system. That's if you allow Head Start to be in your building or a
031different provider. Um, so we have Head Start right in the building and we also service them and work with them. We give them we use curriculum back and forth. Um, we invite them to our PD stuff. So that also qualifies us to be what's called a mix uh a mixed delivery model. So that really helps our chances also. So that's another kind of a feather in our hat because we do all their ECSE delivery. So um I go to all their anytime there's an ECSE kid I go to the IEP. Um I sit down um with the with the team that that delivers that. I go through the service model with them and everything else. >> So our current staff like preschool staff would then they become employees of the school district and all of
032the >> No, as of right now, they'll still remain with Freshwater. Um so we we had this conversation, Daniel and I had this conversation. Okay, what do we do if our our current preschool teachers don't want to do this? Mhm. >> Um and Lisa Freshwater would provide us with teachers that would want to do this. That's their job. Um we hire them to do that. So it would be up to them to find the teachers that would that would want to be in the system. And she said there are teachers right now that are only doing half day that would like to do full day because either financially, you know, better financially or um they just want that opportunity. So she does have some people in mind for it. So it's a big swing. I
033mean, I I'm I can't guarantee you that this is going to happen or not, but um I think we've done our homework a lot better. Um so I think I'm hoping that um we have a chance to at least try it. So >> what's the grant cycle on this one? Is it >> two two years? >> Two years. Yep. And so what you have to do even though you get it for two years, you still have to reapply and that's how they do it every year because it does go by need. So if there was another place that needed it more, they can reassign that. But as of right now, if you look at the districts, our need compared to other districts, we have higher need. So I think if we did get it and
034get new seats because this is these would be new seats for the for the for the state. If we did get it, I think we would have a a good chance of keeping it for quite some time. But it's like any other grant at King. So any other questions? >> Sounds like a winner to me. >> Yeah. And if I and like I said, I will I will keep you in tune. We will not find out if we get it probably until this is what makes it bad. Probably until around June and I will keep you in tune um to what's going on and as I find more information because I am not a VPK specialist. I have no idea. So Tanya had some great I will ask those questions and if you guys especially
035Tanya and Lisa if you guys have questions that because you know a lot more than I do about you know the preschool how it works. Um even though I do a lot of preschool stuff I haven't been involved with this. I will keep you guys up to date and let you know um because about the seats and what we end up could apply for and couldn't because that comes down to how our our our service population is in in LPG. So >> would we have to share anything with St. Mary's? >> Not in this one. No. Okay. >> No, we do >> at their own. >> Yeah, they they do, but we do have kids that go here and then go right to St. Mary's. I mean, we have some preschool kids that do that.
036So because there's because they have limited seats also. So >> So if it's full day, do they will you offer like the wraparound care? >> That's that's the thing we have to decide. Yeah, that's the that's the thing we have to decide. So what wraparound care is for some of you guys that don't know that you can offer the you can offer the they would call it the I don't know it's all academic but the academic portion of preschool. Um you can offer that and then wraparound care would finish out the rest of the day. So you might have three or four hours of academics and then there would be two hours of you know they do nap time, they do social time, those kind of things. You can offer that in a different setting.
037So offer that actually um with a paraprofessional which kind of saves you some money on the other end because you won't have a certified teacher with them the whole time. So that's another thing we're considering also. So any other questions for me? What decision points do you would say we have? >> Well, I think the the big decisions that we have to we just have to make I think a lot of them I think we've we're trying we've made and or being made for us as you get further into this thing. Um I think that one of the big decision points was what Tonnie brought up. Are we going to allow other kids to join this? And I our answer was yes. And we found out when I found out that we could do pathways
038that made me feel a lot better because I didn't know how we were going to pay for it otherwise. How do you pay for more time when we can't pay for the time we have? But we can use pathways for that. Um or we can charge. Um the big thing there would be how do we mix those 24 or those 24 seats so that we can have them in there and you can you can offer more seats but then you have to pay you it has to be district um expense. So you could offer 15. So we we have to each class would have 15 but then we pay for the other three however that would work. So, um, that's a big one. And then I I just think if we find out we get
039it, um, we would have to have a board. We would have to have the board and hopefully I would have some more expenses um on what's this going to cost. It potentially could cost us cuz And then the other thing would be um the configuration for the rooms. We would have to make sure that we have the the space before I would accept those seats. Do we have enough preschool space in this building to to make sure that we can run a program the way we want to run it with quality and stuff? >> A related note, Freshwater ALC has been talking about moving that Long Prairie site to fully online, which would mean that the space that they have would be available for reconfiguration. was kindergarten at one point in time a long time
040ago. >> Correct. Correct. There has been some changes to it. So, I don't know if it's as kindergarten friendly. I know that I think they did some stuff with the bathrooms and they did some stuff with the size of how high the pencil sharpeners are, but it's not totally irreversible either. So, so that would be a big thing to make sure that we want to go through with it. Like I said, I'm not I just wanted to let you guys know that we did decide to go ahead and try to get them. Um, and then we have there's hoops that you have to jump through even if you are if you even if you receive the seats. So, um, this is doesn't mean that we're totally in. Um, the board definitely has the the right
041to say, "Hey, we're going to back off on this." So, but we're pushing forward with the the first part of it anyway. So, >> in our administrative strategic planning, um having a good solid prechool program, pre head start, that sort of thing feel like is pretty beneficial to when the kids start school is uh our population has very mixed, very diverse. We have families that don't speak English at home and um high number of special needs coming in. And so getting students prepared to be ready for school is a little different than it used to be. And even just getting used to stand in line, listen to the teacher. Some of that stuff is a little different than it used to be, too. >> Try teaching them to do a jumping jack. >> Or burpee.
042>> Skipping. >> Oh, skipping. >> Just go watch my fourth grade girls basketball team. You'll see a lot of skipping. Okay. Sounds wonderful. Brad, go. >> Thank you. >> Okay. Technology, >> Mitchell, you've changed. >> Got anything to add to what he said? >> Uh, too much. Yeah. But things have been going really well with like Skyward and everything. So, it's been quite fun to learn about like the differences and how it's how this new system has changed compared to our existing one. And >> yeah, cool. >> Yeah, we got some got some webinars also coming up as well. So, it'll be fun to continue learning about that and >> Yeah. >> So, you're going to keep us electronically. You can say that. >> All right. Business manager. Any questions for Sherry? >> Any questions
043for Sherry? >> The health service report. Do we have that in here? >> Oh, there it is. Gotcha. >> That's written by Melissa from her health department or health offices. and she might not have one every board meeting, but plans to provide one on a regular basis. >> That's crazy that 647 headaches >> in a month. That's a lot. I mean, poor kids. Do you know offhand if that illness stuff is kind of subsiding? >> Um, you're not really sure. Well, I can't say yes, but like I would say it's slowing down, but like >> like not by a lot >> because of the the thing we're seeing is that and I think Brad is currently sick. I'm coming off being sick. Went to church and Josiah Tander was coming off being sick. Like it
044hangs on >> but they're seeing sick kind of a new variant now. It's it's not necessarily the upper respiratory stuff. It's the stomach stuff that's happening right now. >> Oh gosh. >> Um I just wonder about the headaches. >> Do we check the air quality? I know we've done all this, but >> have they been looking at it to make sure it's not, you know, a leaky pipe or a something >> secondary building? And I'm sure it's the same over here. Russ does a great job with keeping that up and running and everything. But I think it's every 15 minutes. All the air in the building is exchanged at a 15 minute rate. So, not that I've heard of. And Russ hasn't indicated >> you want to be careful that there's not a gas. I
045don't even know. You know, some odd thing that >> we have a health and safety company too that we contract with that comes in monthly and deals with various things from radon to lead and water and all that stuff. And they also do indoor air quality for us as well. and they try to measure well they measure when the students are in the building um because of the carbon dioxide levels and all that stuff. So if anybody does have a complaint and that'd be something to let you know if you hear of anybody have them report it probably to me and then I'll get a hold of um uh Wayne is the name of our guy and he can specifically spot threat some of those rooms. Uh, one good example was one summer down in
046the like the fourth grade wing of the elementary. Um, they were having trouble. Come to find out that the grass clippings had been blown against the against the vents on the outside of the wall and so they needed to clean out the the the clippings. But it took somebody to turn that in and say something's not right here. They went down and that's what they found out. So if you hear anything of a specific area, it can >> and they do >> it could be a snow, some kind of >> Yep. Absolutely. >> But yeah, they'll they'll check it like once a year kind of thing, but then also they'll spot check if we ask them to >> the secondary the HVAC project which is almost all done a few odds and ends increase the
047air quality there because uh you guys remember there was an assessment of that beforehand because of the exchange of air like Mr. Rude was saying I do know at the elementary if you take a look at our first, second, third, fourth grade wings, if you measure the looms or lights in the rooms that they're very high um and that that can contribute to headaches and so I know I've been talking about with the custodians about like you know when we replace the lights if we use lower looms or different things um because when we replace the lights a few years ago we had looked at like like a dimmer, but unfortunately the cost was fairly high to do that. But um our looms in those rooms are actually if you have all the lights on,
048some rooms could turn half of them off. They're technically uh high enough to do surgery. So it's a little bit bright. >> So do the some of I know some of the teachers kind of covered some of them with something. Do they still do that on some of them or can they not do that anymore? >> Yes. And yes. So um you can to a certain extent and um so we have talked to the custodians a little bit but it's something that I kind of keep in the back of your mind as like it does contribute to headaches. >> However, I do know the illness is going around a lot of congestion so a lot of headaches with that. >> We're still under masking mandates at the hospital. So >> thank you for that added
049bit of information. Anything else on the health report? Okay, principles, congratulate those ladies again. That's very nice. Good of them to get their pillars of excellence and educators of excellence. February 16th PD day. That went well. >> Yeah, it went very well. Yeah, >> good reports on that. I think it just gave the staff a lot more time to, you know, doing vertical alignment as well as within the department and grade levels, I should say. So, I think more of that, you know, we've always been focusing more on that as years have gone by. So the more we do with that, especially with all the changes you got coming in and science meeting, >> have you gotten to hire new folks yet? >> We finished up in secondary finished up on um science. We're working
050on uh English and looking at some different possibilities with that. Um some of the questions we got, you know, things we want to do and we we're going to be moving that direction is with the CAPY testing and that's going to be more of an intervention model. How do we utilize that from the department itself? So we got some we've been in discussions with uh Mr. Lson. There's some different options there. >> So that's good. >> Um I was asked questions about our CLC and the um English program with Mr. Blanchard having done college level courses where those things at. >> Okay. Yes. So with the CLC fortunately we've got staff who want to expand on that. So right now for the English portion of that Mr. Johnson is in you know he's moving that
051direction. It won't be a clean uh turnover but right now we've kind of got that worked out for next year already. So he wants to take more on that on that end. uh he's just got to get queued up on his end. The rules are changing at the for from the feds towards these colleges about who can teach and what in lenture. That's really what's hitting everybody. But I you know I hats off to Mr. Princeburgger over at CLC does a fantastic job with uh working with the schools and getting us square. So we're in a good position I think as you look at the next two to three years right out the gate. Um there's also we're also looking at some expansion some other areas for CT. So that's going to be a good
052thing. So we're in a good position right now going in the future and with our most recent um science hiring that will represent that'll get us to the next level as time rolls through and and and staffing and all that. So, I I feel pretty confident that >> if things straighten out from Chad not having to Chad used to get college credit for the whole year. Now, it's only a half a year, right? >> Yeah. Just the way we have it scheduled out right now. I have to think back at the top of my head, but right now, yeah, I mean, the students are not losing out. I think uh what's going to be looking at the future is how does online programming PSO how do all these things factor into what we do and
053how we do things and that if we're in rural schools especially it's always a challenge I think we're fortunate because you know long before I was here Mr. Olympics and um you as a board jumped on that as a community and said we're going to do this and that set us up. So we're not trying to start something and it takes years. We've got a continuing we're just going to try to expand here and expand over there and what options we have. So it'll be interesting to see what AI creates all this. This is that's in the back of my mind because it's kind of driving the ball in a lot of areas. And for instance is going to be use for credit recovery is moving towards a AI generated grading system. Yeah. Okay. So,
054think about that for a second. So, a lot of these things I think are going to be kind of morphing as we go through the next two, three, four, five years. So, expanded opportunities I think. >> Good. Good. >> We just adapt as we always do. >> Um, there was in One of the reports was installation of a vape detection system in a secondary school. How far >> that? >> I know nothing Senator I have no recollection of that coming. Senator >> more information forthcoming >> works for >> looking at you. >> Okay. Annie, changing the subject. >> Anything from the board? Um, I did take Oh, >> okay. Yep. I took Officer Strain. I think Tom took officer's training. Lori took officer's training. I already told you kind of some of the stuff I
055learned about that. It's changing, but it's still kind of the same. So, when they tell us new things, we'll let you know. >> So, my hometown has started doing this where on Fridays they invite senior citizens in to come and have lunch and it's pretty cool. I don't know. I know the senior center here. Something's going on with that. I don't know if they're doing all the meals or what they're doing. I don't know. >> You haven't talked to Jodie forever. >> Yeah, there was something being cut. >> She's gone. >> She's done, wasn't she? >> She's just on vacation. >> On vacation. >> Did you know about that? >> What? Senior seniors. >> They're not doing meals. >> Yeah, they're not offering meals. >> Yeah. So then I got to thinking, well, I wonder
056if that's something that would work or if that would be really hard to do. >> I bet it would cost a pretty penny. >> I don't know. >> At the elementary, I bet they'd have hard they'd have steps as an elevator, though. >> Child food programs. I mean, do do they qualify? You know, they would be an adult just like the teachers would imagine. >> I know Mr. Rude has done something with the elderly. He has stepped out. Um, so I assume at some point he'll step back in. I know we have like a um kind of like a grandparents program at the elementary that they come in and um they work with the kids and that's a great program too. Um >> they started the high school volunteers at the assisted living now too.
057>> Yeah, the second grade is also doing they do read with Yeah. >> I just thought if they aren't getting together for meals at the senior center, wouldn't it be fun for them to, you know, even I don't I don't know how it would work, but it was an idea and I could find out how they're making how they're making it work. >> Good. >> You know, because they come into the public school for lunch and they sit with the kids and have lunch. >> Yeah, >> that'd be great. >> Yeah, I I was really impressed with it. So, it's something new for them. So I'll look into it and just see. >> You can get some details. See how it works. >> That'd be good. >> I mean, what's that? What's it cost for
058a adult meal? Is it three, four something? >> It's like four or five dollar around five. >> Is it $5? >> Yep. >> Back in my day. >> You're actually mandated by the state what you have to charge. >> Oh, I suppose now because of the universal lunch. >> Yep. >> So, >> but with the senior center, did they pay for their lunches there? Um, so this summer when they were doing lunches, it's because various businesses like sponsored it cuz I know like the >> And that might be how they're doing it too. >> Yeah. So like Centric Care did the first one. >> It was it it was in a grant I wrote that we had the funds to do this and then um it kind of just cut on it after that. Like
059Clint from Griff did it one week and then um uh Viva Bar did it another week and stuff like that. Just kind of >> And you went and served it then too, correct? >> Uh yes. Yeah. Yeah. So, Mr. Go ahead, Mr. Ruth, when you stepped out, we started talking about the things we do with senior citizens and the homes and I'll let you taken some groups over and done some things. >> Yeah, we did the um we started with the it was a it's a volunteer program about 10 kids right now um working volunteer-wise over assisted living facility. So, basically, we just got it started. they can work on their own at the assisted living facility. They take care of recording all their hours. We'll write um recommendation referrals for them, especially for scholarship
060purposes as well as employment. And then we'll hire um students if they want to work as a part-time job there. Otherwise, it's a voluntary um program where they get to just work with, you know, with the assisted living facility itself and work with the with the clientele over there. So, it's a really good program and um we're going to have another meeting kind of assess where everybody is at, but it's really up to students to take care of that and do that on their own. Aside from that, of course, we have um choir going up there in a regular basis up to a couple assisted living. the one up on the Valley View up on top of the hilltop. Um they go up there quite a bit to do some singing and that. So it's
061you know that's what we've got going on at the secondary. This is just walking distance really and it's a good community project for the kids to get to see everybody in the community. So >> that's good. It's good for our kids as well. >> Absolutely. >> Anything else from the board? It sounds like a good idea. Trying to figure out how to >> Yeah, I'll see what they do. >> Is that Wisconsin or Wisconsin? >> What's God? >> I don't know. >> Superintendence report, please. >> So, feel free to ask me any questions. The information we're getting about compensatory aid right now is that we probably won't really get an answer probably till May. Um because it's a bit of a political football and the main question for us is if we get to use
062the paper forms. The preliminary run, which is like worst case scenario, showed about a little more than a million dollars in compensatory, which compared to this year's a little more than a $700,000 difference in uh reduction. Uh chances are it would be more than that. And if I played around with the formula, if if we're if they did allow us to use paper formulas, we'd be about the same place we were. But so we just kind of waiting on the legislature for that. But our enrollment is steady. I would expect that to end higher than it did last year. Um any specific questions on my report? um working on uh getting information in on next cycle on the solar grant. You guys may not be aware that we've applied and we've been in the running
063twice, done a lot of the leg work already. I'm told that it's a higher award portion this time, potentially upwards to 100%. So, we'll see. Um, just beginning stages and just recycling the information from the last two rounds. >> I thought, excuse me, but I thought we didn't do it because there was no place to do to put the solar panels. >> We couldn't put them on the roof, but they figured out they could put them on the ground either where the heat pumps are underground. Okay. >> The secondary, there's no place to do it at the elementary. >> The roofs aren't great. >> No, >> which is probably kind of a bummer because I'm sure this building is not cheap to heat or light or >> right, right, right. Are we doing the contracts
064under the business? >> Yeah. >> Okay. Um, anything else under your report then? >> Some information on title n just good stuff. >> If you're not aware of the interpretations of some aspects as you switch presidential administration does does change. >> Kelsey, >> we have any issues with boys, birth boys playing on girls teams or are we having any trouble with that? >> All right. I maybe didn't say that correctly, but you know what I mean. >> Yeah. >> Okay. >> Um, and we have to unfinished business is coming up. So, any board highlights? Anybody got things they'd like to come in the school for? >> I think the senior programs that we're working with are good. Great. >> Winter sports are wrapping up. So, I want to say congratulations to those kids and the
065achievements they've made this year. >> They did some good ones, I think. >> Felt bad for wrestling. They were close. >> Was close. >> Anything else? Board highlights. >> Get ready for the concerts are coming again quicker than we think. Track season starts pretty quick. >> Two weeks. Baseball season must start. >> Three weeks. Softball, same thing. >> Two. >> How many golf in the spring? >> Golf? Yeah. Golf in three weeks. >> Nice. When are you going to practice all those kids? Um, golf coast of Browardville. They have like a simulator over there. And then track is in the main gym. And then softball, baseball splits really late week. >> Well, junior high, yes, is over here. And then 9, 12, >> but by that time it's going to be like 60° melted off.
066>> Use that turf. Speaking of the track, one thing I'll probably visit at a later board meeting is like what a rental policy is, especially with having a nice new turf field being one of those things that somebody could rent. >> We've had a lot of requests within the last few weeks. Yeah, I I got a request from a company that does elite camps um and they've been using Alex and he has to come to an impass with Alexandria because they're very very expensive compared to he came and looked at our turf uh this fall and I got a return call from him last week um wanting to know if we would book those out, but I I have I'm not booking them until Kelsey and I sit down and talk and then we talk
067about what we want to charge. But >> well, I wouldn't do it cheap just to get them here. >> no, that's that'd be the opposite. But there is definitely definitely money to be made if we want to do it if we want to go. >> Conversations we've had is that um even for our school like our auditorium and our gymnasiums and stuff, we get a lot of outside rentals like the Republican party for example. Um and that's because we're a lot cheaper to rent than anybody close by. And obviously we want to make for our programs like our, you know, our youth football and youth volleyball and basketball. It'd be very affordable for those, but we really need to take a look at our outside agencies, especially those ones from other communities. Um there's we
068really need a more competitive pricing because um if you look at that activities calendar it is the buildings are booked constantly and um that does create a strain on our custodial services among other things. And so like I said good to our own community but we really should look at our pricings as far as when we start going past our like school sponsored and school partnered events for sure. >> All right, I think we're on to unfinished business. >> Yep. >> We're going to talk about Soldier Steel come with any further information for us. >> The city's responsible for all the liabilities on that. We did find a lease and I spoke to our insurance before they got the lease to you guys. So I told the city I need to double check on there's
069like wells underneath there but if the dirt work doesn't disturb that like on the I don't really see a reason we should tell them that they can't >> as long as they fix it if they break it. >> Yep. And they're responsible for whatever they do. Do we need a motion on that? >> Are they going to replace the um infield with clay again or is that going to be dirt? >> I don't specifically know that. I know that that the intent is to level that off, >> right? >> So that the there isn't such an incline then when they put the stuff out for the rake, it's just a lot easier. >> Isn't that level off the soccer field, too? Or is that ice rate? No, you're right. It was ice. Yeah, >> because
070Yeah, there there was like a little dip in there where you could when you're skating you could see when you're >> Yeah. Well, it doesn't work very well for hockey. So, do we need to motion to get them to be able to do that or they just >> I guess be like motion to table it probably. But I mean you could just phrase it as have me work with the city too and give me um administrative discretion liability or something like that. >> Okay. So that motion that he said I need to do that. >> We should tell them that they can do it. Right. The motion would be to give the city or Dan permission to work with the city to do the um >> make sure all the liabilities are all squared >>
071and the landscaping or the landscaping or make it look really beautiful. >> I mean technically there would be landscaping involved pretty much what they're doing. >> Can I add something Daniel? I do not believe that that would be able to be used as a ball field anymore. Just so you guys know that you would ask that question. >> Right. So I think they're going to this is just talking to Bulan Bronhorse and this was this was not an official visit. It was standing by my car one day and she said, "Oh yeah, my kids wrote the hockey rink, whatever." So um I think what they want to do is they want to back fill and make it level. But the intention is to either put grass or something else. I don't think it'll be to
072return it back to a ball field. We don't it's not utilized that often anymore as the ball field, is it? >> No. The only time it is used um we use it in the spring only for practice for little league baseball. So, um but now with the city allowing us to use Rosen all the time, it it probably gets used three to four times a year, five times a year. That's it. >> And that's on top of the additional ball field that's owned by Okay. So I would entertain a motion. >> So allow Daniel to work with the city on that. >> We just get them to buy it back and then they can put their splash pad there and park that they want to do. >> There is something with the schools selling that.
073There's some way back when it came when the school got possession of it. >> There's something way back in the deed or something that said we can't sell it. >> Yep. >> So, it was probably donated to us. What's the understanding? >> Yep. There was some sort of donation or something. I don't specifically what it was, but I do remember hearing it several times in my lifetime. >> It's really old. >> Yeah. >> It's >> Yep. It's ours. Yeah, >> forever. Forever we don't. >> Okay. So, I have a motion and a second to let Daniel work with the city on fixing the park. Is there any further discussion? Any more questions? >> Tom Jeremiah. >> They'll look really good in there with Zastro and >> Z's. >> Yeah. Any more questions? Any more thoughts?
074>> One more time. Anything else? All those in favor say I. >> I. >> Opposed. Motion carries. We could turn the paper over. We just did that. Never mind. Donations then. It's a short read. Thank you very much donors. It truly helps our school do the fun things, the extra special things. Debbie Brutder donated $100 for the Kylie Goff scholarship. Long Prairie Rotary Club donated $175 for the secondary activity day. Thank you very kindly, folks. I will need a motion. >> I'll motion. >> I'll second. >> Lori Jeremiah. Any questions? Discussion. Any more discussion? All those in favor say I. >> I. >> Opposed? >> Motion carries district's proportionate share of LTFM with freshwater. >> Yep. all the districts within the freshwater basically we all have to approve be able to levy for their long-term
075facility maint so what they are doing is what we previous what we do for our district now they are wanting and needing to do it for freshwater >> y >> so all of our taxpayers are going to be paying a share to fresh water >> that' be like the whole freshwater Do we know what's the percentage of that? Do we know? >> Um, it's in the >> It's in the boardwalk. >> Is it okay? >> 94, I think. I think I saw it. >> 93. I've got it right up right here. >> So, this will be an addition on our next taxes. Correct. Ours is comes out. >> Another line on the property, >> I believe. So, >> it be like one of those special move on and then it'll say fresh water on it.
076>> But every district is doing it, right? >> Yeah. I >> think they have to say ed districts get to do that. >> Okay. So, this would go from the county. Fresh water doesn't come through us to >> I believe that's I think it'll flow through. I think it'll come to us and then we'll they'll put it on the bill. So kind of like they'll like we do the lease levy and stuff that's all on the freshwater bill. It'll say lease. It'll say all that stuff. I think it goes doesn't flow through that way. >> Okay. So what happens if a district says no? >> They wouldn't have been able to do it. >> Yeah. >> So even a district that is assessed at zero like their contribution zero. If that district says no technically
077that would make the whole thing not work. So we all have to say yes >> and the state tells us we have to right >> otherwise uh well otherwise fresh would just have to bill us and they wouldn't be able to levy for it. So they would they would it would get moved to I think they would call it program assessments. >> So either way we'd be paying for it. >> Yeah. >> This just sounds better. Well, yeah, because if if they did that, it would come out of like a general fund versus us being Yeah. >> Okay. So, I need a motion. >> I'll motion it, >> Lori. I'll second it. >> Um, any discussions? Any more questions on that? Any more discussion? >> On a brief note, if you have a $200,000 home,
078this would have a $116 impact. Cool. >> Close. >> I don't know if I can vote for that then. >> All those in favor say I. I >> opposed. Motion carries. Thank you, Jeremiah. Um, we had quite the discussion on the prek discussion. Do we need to talk about that anymore? >> Do you guys have any further questions or clarifications on that? Brad's been doing a lot of work with the grant writing. Um, >> I think we all like free money. So, um, and I think we'll know more once Brad knows more. >> Just I'll put decision points out there for you guys. It's not like I'm going forward. So, if we ever want to pull back or you have questions, you'll have a chance. I guarantee you'll have chances to stay down to it.
079So, um, and try to keep you updated. calls. Lisa does a pretty good job of letting us know what's happening. So, she works really well with people that are in charge of this. >> I think it only benefits if the kids are readyier for kindergarten, they'll be readier for first, second, third, fourth, all the way up. So, I don't know how. So, if you can afford it, it would be a good thing. Right. Do we want to do ma master contracts for the auction or how do you want to go with the next part? We can do the master contracts cuz those would be we have the teacher one. Um I sent that out. I worked on it like the stuff that you would have got today like uh thank Jeremiah for catching that. I
080had added soccer to the appendix. So got that in there. uh clerical and support union. You guys have had a longer chance to look at that and um that we went through with our uh negotiation committee. Um the language that was modified for the teachers contract went through legal. Um, one of the kind of I would say wins for the district is that all of them have some version of the language where when are we're paying insurance benefits, it's based on paid time. What that means is unless somebody's in protected leave, which would be basically paid family medical leave or um paid status, that is how their benefits are prorated for insurance. That means if I've been gone a lot and I'm just taking an unpaid day, we're not paying you the benefit for that
081day that you're not working, that you don't have room for anymore. I can guarantee you guys and I think Tom would agree, the three of us worked hard on these and we had good discussions with the groups and I think we came to lots of compromises and >> yeah, fun fact on the teacher one like the end product was actually like it cut half of the board proposal and half of the teacher proposal. >> Yeah. Mesh them together. No. >> Is there anything that you guys really wanted that you didn't get? >> No. >> It was It was good, fair discussions on both sides, >> but I think that's what they say. You know, >> everybody gets something, but not everything. That's amazing. >> Yeah. >> I guess the big thing that teachers wanted was
082to move the bottom up and that we're not jumping it. >> Right. You're talking compromised on that. You're >> talking about the scale. Yep. >> We compromised on that portion and we are getting it out. >> Yeah. >> Basically to where they wanted it >> not year one and year two it's >> Yeah. I was going to say looking over at review and it looks like we still have that kind of same uh which could potentially be same problem with step one and two where you get like basically a $250 raise from year one to year two. >> Yeah. So what we got the bottom up, but I suppose what you could say would be our compromise was that the middle gets squeezed to make that salary schedule work, >> right? It's squeeze is maybe
083not the perfect word, but like um it still has that very kind of a it starts off slow and it builds up faster as you get more years of experience. >> We did do a few things to strongly encourage folks not to miss so much school, >> right? So that I think is money in our pocket basically because they don't get to miss school so we don't have to pay substitutes, >> right? >> Yes. Substitutes are expensive. >> It's crazy but we pay for that. So I will make motion. I move that we approve these three contracts as it was a committee that did this and I guarantee you the committee worked hard on these had very good discussions the what do we call them their union reps the people in our building and their
084the lady that come in before and the guy here so um I would make that motion that we approve these three contracts >> I will Is there any discussion? Any more questions on those? >> Any more discussion? Nope. >> Any discussion? All those in favor say I. >> I. >> Opposed? Motion carries. >> Um, individual contracts. I think Daniel, are we just going to kind of >> just the length? >> Um, no. There there is we don't have a copy of it. There is one for the food service that went out on the mail. >> I need to give him a copy. >> Okay. There he is. >> Um I have been working been working with Skyler, but we had a lot of language stuff to go over and >> which is perfectly fine. So,
085we're going to spend some time making sure that's all cleaned up and buttoned up. Um the contracts last cycle when they were written had language that sounded for the simplest way to put it is like a lot like collective bargaining agreements which they're not. So I wor with Google to clean up some of that language which ended up in kind of a template rewrite. So that's why me and Scott are visiting more. Um, and so I worked to get one together for the onboarding specialists. I know you guys haven't had a lot of time. I worked with the final line I've had. So, you have to decide what you want to do there. And then, um, have the food service one there. Yeah, I'm starting some discussions with individual people, but um my hope is
086that Wednesday when we meet with the custodial union that that goes well and that we when we come in March that hopefully see a bunch more. >> Tom, you want the the comm negotiating committee to go over these before we approve or what? I do have some I guess the one for um the onboarding specialist I believe we should have more time to look at. >> Yeah, we just got that today. >> Yeah, that just came tonight and we first saw it. I did ask Daniel some question a question on this other one. Um you advised us to approve that tonight and hopes that what you mentioned comes through. >> Yeah, working to make sure that we uh have a good end of the year with the kitchen and have prospects for having or options
087available to all parties involved. >> So then I think we can I think we From what I was told this morning, I believe it would be a good thing to approve the food service director contract at this time. >> Making a motion here. >> Yes. >> I'll second that. >> Okay. I have a motion and a second by Tom and Lori to approve Mr. Tree Waller's contract. Further discussion. All those in favor say I. I. >> Opposed. Motion carries and we will discuss when the committee gets to look at the onboarding one. >> You me as I get through the individual ones. >> I suppose I haven't said anything to you though. and >> we should be able to appro all next month. I think >> this is February, right? >> Got it. Um >>
088understand. >> I got the next one. I'll probably send you guys way LPA. I'm expecting >> and for all those people on individual contracts wondering on timelines. Just depends. >> Patience, Brad. I've only started on so those longer. >> Yep. Okay. Um then auction stuff. >> So I have list of items from Russell. I think they made it to the board packet. Um, there'll probably be more items next month, but we can't like look at selling anything unless it's approved for surplus sale because it's public property. Um, and then what I started some conversations with Mr. Duret about working with the FFA department and what I plan to work out is like certain items like the tractor I want to be sold for like going towards some sort of purchase of equipment that the custodials
089need like There's a lot of other things for for sure for a great example is like the tanks that they're replacing for FFA, but like we have a lot of stuff that's just sitting in rooms too >> that they're assisting me with the auction sale. Um I think it'd be appropriate to let it go towards their organization and I don't need money. >> So that's what I'm currently kind of working on. And then turf, how are we are have you decided or are you working with people to figure out how much we're going to keep and how much we're going to sell? >> Yeah, first like cuz like I need it on the surplus sale to be considered for sale, but like we probably won't sell everything on that list. >> Okay. >> Is my
090intent is to use some of that turf towards the um >> the playground. >> Playground. >> Okay. >> Um >> that was my next question. >> Yeah. And then we'll have to determine how much you want to keep on hand. And like the the the turf itself isn't like terribly valuable. The the expensive part is installing it. >> So like um we do we do have plenty though. So, we'll take I'll work with the custodians and our um departments to determine like how much we really need to keep online because obviously we don't need to keep stuff that's going to lose value, >> right? >> But we do want to keep some on hand for patches and repairs. >> Do we need a motion to approve this stuff as sellable stuff? Extra stuff. >> Yeah.
091>> So, I need that motion for you, please. I move that we sell the stuff that has been presented on the list. >> I'll second that. >> Forget about me over here. >> Any questions or discussion? Any questions or discussion? Any more questions or discussion? All those in favor say I. I. And opposed. Motion carries. We're done. with