001Okay, good evening everyone and welcome. We're the Otana School Board. It's Tuesday. It's the 27th of May, 5:30. I'm going to call this meeting to order. Tim is going to give us an update on our attendance. All present. Let's start with the pledge. Pledge to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands. One nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. First up tonight, a quick change. Because we're here and because we have a different microphone than we are typically accustomed to, you got to speak right into the microphone. No leaning back. Once you start talking, don't lean back. Stay close to the microphone. Um, the second thing is I need to make an amendment to our agenda tonight. So, if you've got your agenda
002handy, under item eight, consent agenda, there are four items there. Item D, employment employee agreement. I'll have you strike that from the consent agenda. And then if you'll go to the end, right after item nine, letter E, gift gives to the district, there will be a new item 10. Item 10 will be a closed session and then item 11 will be an open session with one action item. and 11A would be entitled employee agreement. Then item 12 would be adjournment. With that as the amendments, I will ask for an approval of the agenda as amended. So moved. Second. Motion and a second. Any further discussion? All in favor with an I. Any opposed? That motion carries. Item four tonight is our mission moment, Mr. Elstad. Thank you, Mr. Chair, members of the board. Is my
003privilege tonight to introduce to you uh some of our students and a staff person that are here from our unified physical education class. So, I'm going to ask our students, I know Amanda's here, one of our instructors, if they could come forward, please here by the front table. I know not all were able to be present tonight, but I want to recognize the students that are present. So, if when I say your name, if you could just kind of raise your hands so we know who you are. So, we have Leah Lechner who's in ninth grade. Um Mack Dickerson who's in eighth grade, uh Sophie Burrow, who's in seventh grade, and Amanda Flores, who's one of our teachers for unified PE. Unified PE is an emerging program for schools across the nation. It brings general
004and special education students together for sports and group activities. Co-teers Amanda Flores and Heather Alfring launched a class at Owatana Middle School in 2023. The program is set to expand to the high school next year. Our unified PE students who are here tonight had an unforgettable experience at the Special Olympics Unified Day at the Capitol on March 21st. They heard inspiring messages from unified student speakers, the assistant commissioner of education and first lady Gwen Wals. Afterward, they had an opportunity to meet with senators and share their perspectives about the importance of inclusion in the school. As a former special education teacher, this is a really cool thing to just have those generalized opportunities where students can be together uh to really promote the inclusive environment that we're looking for for students of all ability levels.
005So, with that, I'll turn it over to the board if you have any questions. Do you want to give us a highlight? You want to give us the board and you may want to uh have a seat at the table so you have the benefit of the microphone, but give us a better idea of just exactly what you folks are doing. What did we do that day? Um I like kind of like seeing like all the people who like represented the imped programs like they talked about how like they have been impacted by it. Yeah, I think listening to all the different people that were talking that day was really fun and really really cool. And getting to listen to Gwen Walls talk was really fun. I'm going to Chipotle. We like Chipotle. [Music] You
006were okay with that, too, huh? Good. Board members, any other questions? No. With the program transferring over to the high school, are you guys excited to maybe continue participation there or move on to kind of other programs? It's really exciting and it's a really cool program and I think getting it at the high school will be really beneficial for lots of kids. I'm wondering could one of you just give us an example of the last activity maybe you really enjoyed and how you interacted with students um with different needs and just tell us I don't know pick a sport pick an activity. Well, the last thing I did was I did Best Buddies at the high school and we did our last uh we do it at Compass and we did a kickball tournament and
007we had riper floats. Okay, so that was really fun. Nice. Um we we recently went fishing with our unified PE class and I thought that was kind of fun. Even though I don't really love fishing, it was kind of fun to see everyone fish. Where'd you go? um just to more housing. No, again I I think again I and I appreciate um Miss Flor's kind of what you brought because it takes leadership to bring these things forward and coordination obviously, but I just appreciate from a staff perspective, the special education staff and general ed staff that have come together to really offer this opportunity. Um, I would love to see more opportunities like this to be inclusive uh to make sure that all students of all abilities just have uh that exposure and opportunity to
008be with one another. So, at the capital, we heard um Buffalo High School has a unified music program and they sing the national anthem that day. So, that was cool for me to see. I was excited to see how it can grow. Well, we just added a number two to our list then, didn't we? Great. Thank you. All right. Thank you all very much. Appreciate you being here tonight. Thanks. [Applause] Item five tonight is public forum. It's a good opportunity for me to remind everyone of the importance of meeting decorum. We do not allow slander, defamation, profanity, personal attacks, or revelations of private data. And as chair, I respectfully request that the public refrain from interrupting speakers during public forum. You'll be provided three minutes asked to state your name and the subject you wish
009to address. We have two cards. Tina Schaefer, if you would come on up, please. Miss Schaefer, welcome. Come on up. Have a seat at the table. We're glad you're here. Thank you. My name is Tina Schaefer, resident of Owatana School District, and I thank you for allowing me to come and speak tonight. I'm addressing my concerns about the MSHSL stance on condoning boys and girls sports. As I speak, I'm going to use the words biological boy, male, and I'm referring to persons with the XY chromosome. Biological female, girl, woman, referring to people with XX chromosomes. The National Institute of Health says boys XY have a competitive advantage over girls XX in physical contests. By allowing biological boys to compete in girls sports, this is endangering our girls. It is endangering them by possibly life-changing injuries.
010And it isn't endangering them in their emotional stress and competing against boys. Women have fought for many years to be allowed to have women's sports, women's records, and women's scholarships. By allowing males in women's sports, those records, scholarships will inevitably be taken by biological males. How is this protecting our girls at our girls sports? There have already been headlines of life-changing injuries that have happened to girls with lawsuits over it. There are already headlines of records being taken by males and girls missing out on competing in state championships because a male took the spot. This is not fair to those girls who have worked so hard. The girls sports playing field used to be equal. It's not equal anymore. Then there's the issue of locker room and bathrooms. The league's own constitutional constitutional bylaw 209.00
01100 definition 1A states if a male enters a female only area such as a locker room bathroom. It is sexual harassment. If a biological male is now granted the request to enter the designated female only area, this biological female and her parents can file a complaint and potentially bring a lawsuit against the school. This bylaw is there to protect our girls, but now it's in direct conflict of this boys and girls sports. Where will they change? Where will they be changing? In a shower, in a bathroom? What's being set up to protect the girls? It is the responsibility of the school board to protect its students. Who's protecting the girls and the future of girls sports? When is it time to draw the line in the sand and tell MH MHL no. You work for
012us. We will not compromise our girls. So I ask that tonight you vote no in support of our girls and our girls sports. Miss Schaefer, thank you very much. Glad you're here. Appreciate hearing your thoughts. We have another card from uh Sandy Hardy Hagen. Good evening and welcome. Good evening. Thank you very much. Thank you for letting me be here and speak. I didn't realize it was a three minute, so you're going to get a short version. I'm here to kind of repeat what uh Tina has thrown up here. And it's a fact. We all know boys and girls are built differently. Boys have more muscles and body mass, which gives them an advantage before they can even compete against anybody. Boys will always have an advantage over girls this way. Plain and simple. Please
013don't force girls to compete against boys. I would not want to go into a locker room and have some man or the opposite gender come in. It's wrong, I believe, and harmful to boys and girls physically and emotionally. Passing this possible rule, I don't even know where it stands right now, but uh it's like allowing to me a senior in high school to compete against the sixth grader. It's just not fair and right. Are you are we really ready and okay with this idea? I personally am not and I don't think I will ever be. Girl sports have come a long way since I was in high school and they've worked hard to get where they are. And I just feel as if something like this passing is going to set them back another 50
014years or more. Uh by condoning boys to compete against girls and set us back again. Like I said, it's not right to me. And I haven't even touched upon the idea of boys and girls locker rooms, but she she talked about some of these things. And I want us to encourage and not discourage girls in sports and in the future because this is a lot to girls. And I'm sure all of you have daughters, nieces, somebody in your family who probably would not go with this if it passes. And I know and you know that I speak for many, many others. And I'm not as eloquent as they are right now. I'm not prepared at that much. But I hope that you vote no. Thank you for your time, Miss Hardy Hagen. Thank you. Item
015six tonight is just simply for general information. It included the enrollment report that was in your packet. Do any of you have questions for Mr. Stad regarding the en enrollment report? Okay, hearing none, we're going to move on. Item seven tonight, these are again just discussion items. There's nothing required by the board. Uh Ron, I'm going to start over on your end if we can for board forum if you can include anything that you have personally for board forum as well as any committee report that you would serve on. Okay. Um from the finance committee, we have a meeting coming up I think on Monday. So we'll work working on the things we've talked about. Sorry. We'll be working about things we talked about uh in that meeting on Monday. Um so I would just
016like to take the opportunity uh I guess shouldn't be too close apparently. Um, I would like to take the opportunity to spend a little time talking about what we've just heard from a couple of our constituents. Um, and I talked to Mark a little bit about when maybe would be a good time to talk about that. Um, I have had, excuse me, I have had people contact me about this um, issue that um, you know, in the past, you know, week and I heard it also during my campaign and people talked to me about it. I spent a lot of time researching and looking into it um in the past 48 hours and um it's I know it's a very emotional issue and I'm getting emotional myself and I have 16-year-old daughter and a 13-year-old
017daughter in this district in this district district excuse me and I think you know a lot of people bring up good concerns and it becomes an emotional issue and I think from some we need to learn to separate the emotion from it sometimes and and as a board. It's our responsibility to, you know, uh, be concerned about the needs of all the dis students in our district. We have over 2,800 students in our district that are participating in and activities through the Minnesota State High School League. And there's a lot of good things that the state high school league does. Um, I based on what I looked into and found out, the the reason why the policy exists the way it does today is because of a law that was passed in Minnesota called the
018Minnesota Human Rights Act, which was passed in in the state of Minnesota a few years ago. And then there was a case that was uh heard in in the state that went all the way to the Court of Appeals uh that was brought in the Twin Cities by a student. And that case was heard at the Court of Appeals and their interpretation was that um based on the Minnesota Human Rights Act that is a law in the state of Minnesota that um that a person can use the locker room based on their that identity that they the gender that they identify with. And so that law exists and that interpretation exists. So the vote that the and the board the action that the board is taking tonight is to uh renew our participation which we
019do annually in the Minnesota State High School League. And so even if we weren't in the Minnesota High School League, we would be uh we would have to follow that law. And so I I understand, you know, the concerns that people are bringing. I think those are good conversations. I would encourage people uh really to talk to your local legislators and to talk, you know, be aware of the people that represent us because I think those are the people where we that we can talk to that are going to be able to affect change on this issue if that's what you were looking for. Um and you know, I I just want to say that um you know, I think as a board, you know, we we're trying to do we are trying to do
020what's best for our students and in this case being a member of the state high school league is going to provide those opportunities. We we have we have good opportunities. I also found out and I didn't wasn't even aware of this that the Minnesota State High School League is one of the few leagues that has a policy uh called coaching her that's specifically address at what are the best ways to coach young women and how in as far as giving them confidence in their abilities, confidence in their bodies, confidence in their in their actions and how they compete. And so there are positive aspects to this as well as that we can that we can find in the state high school league. And so, like I said, um we, you know, the I think we
021should the efforts if you have those concerns should be directed towards the legislaturator so that they can uh work to, you know, make those changes if that's what you're looking for. So, I appreciate people that are willing to come forward and talk and I I'm certainly available. I appreciate the work that the board does. I'm certainly available to have conversations with anybody that uh would like to have that conversation. So, thank you. Thanks, Ron. Anything else? Okay, Andrea. Uh the facilities team or committee met today and Jolene I know said she would do our report for us so I'll let her do that. Thanks. Um yeah we met with a combination of city and coun or city and chamber and there's a new name business development business center um to talk about a potential partnership
022with one of our buildings for a project that they want to kind of pilot here and kick off the ground. And so facilities will continue that conversation um with time frame to make decisions and bring it to a board level by July or August. Correct. Is that the correct time frame? Okay. So yeah, it was very interesting presentation, good questions, good conversation. So thank you. Tim, did you want to take it or do you want me to? I don't have a preference. I Well, I got it teed up. You add if I miss something. Okay. So um again just as a policy committee report then we've met at least once since our last meeting. U again we have a regular cadence of once a month. So you'll see in your packet tonight um five policies
023that are ready for first reading. Again nothing significant particularly here. um mostly moving some procedural stuff um maybe out of the policy and into more procedural documents, but not really a substantive change to anything that's um within those policies. And then likewise, you'll see two items in the agenda for um approval tonight on second reading. Again, not significant changes, some IRS um updates, and that's about it on the policy committee, I believe. Yeah, I think one of the first readings is going straight through, isn't it? To like because we made no changes. You are correct. So, if there's no changes at all, we've the the p the practice is to just move them right to second readings so we can approve them because they have haven't changed. Fair. Yep. Good clarification. Um otherwise, that's all
024I have tonight. Thank you. Um, I don't have anything to add to uh Jolain's report regarding facilities, but I would ask if all of you could pull out your calendars and we look ahead to July. We've got a minor conflict with our regularly scheduled date, which would be July 14th. And I'm curious if you could take a peek, tell me about the week prior, the week of July 7 and your availability that week. And is there a preferred day that would work well for you? Monday. Monday. Monday. I can do Monday. Yeah. July 7th. I have work. I'm gone. Okay, so we have two people going. Are there any other days that week that are open? I could do Tuesday or Wednesday also. That I could as well. I'm okay with Tuesday or Wednesday. Y
025Wednesday is better, but either one. I'll wait for Tim. I'm not a time of the week. Okay, Tim. Sorry, but if we switch this to Wednesday the 9th, does that work for everybody? Yes, sure it does. I believe so. There we go. Wednesday, July 9. Excellent. Sarah will make sure that we get all of that updated on the board calendar as well. Thank you all very much for that. Um Oh, yeah. That's it. That's all I had for board form. Nothing further. I think because Ron made some comments on the the um membership, I will also at this time I was going to wait till the vote, but I just wanted to also say thank you for speaking. Um I think that's important to hear from the community and um some thoughts that I'd had.
026you know, I went on to the bylaws for the Minnesota State High School League and it's under the 300 block of student eligibility. Um, and there is quite a process for a student who identifies as transgender to want to participate in the opposite biological sex. Um, but I just want to recognize um that Minnesota is I think very muddy waters right now between if we're looking at federal executive orders in Minnesota statutes and the Minnesota Human Rights Act. Um, and just last week I saw a news article about an organization that is suing the Minnesota State High School League because they believe it does violate Title Nine. And I would agree with that. So, I want to recognize that Minnesota is in a really unique situation. I also want to recognize that Minnesota State High
027School League is the only organization in Minnesota that allows for that competitive activity in athletics and the arts. And I do think that is really important for our students. Um last year after we did this vote, I did discuss with our activities director and at that point we had no students um that had asked about participating in a sport um opposite of their biological um sex. There is as I printed out the process the appeal process for students to go through transgender students to go through that um it's quite lengthy but I did realize that the whole process is is um suggested it's not required and so um even though it's not taken lightly and it's not without some effort none of this is required so I would just like to encourage the board to
028consider a formal process or policy that would help include include families, students, coaches, um, in some way to find protection for our girls specifically, just like we wouldn't have sixth graders play football with 12th graders because that would be dangerous physically. So, I think there's something that we can do to protect students. Um, and so just as a heads up, um, I based on principle only, I am going to vote no on this, um, because I know it's going to pass. I do think it's very important for our students to participate in this or to be able to participate in athletics and arts. Um, so it's really more just on principle that I I don't agree with allowing biological boys to participate with girls in sports. That's that. Anything else? Elizabeth? No. Okay. AOP. Thank
029you. Um for board forum, just wanted to bring to the board's attention that we have sections track and field this Thursday and Saturday. Um we've officially made it past the testing season, which is amazing for the student body. Um and we're ending we're nearing the end of the school year. Uh but yeah, I just wanted to um sort of have some comments about Erin if that's okay with the board. Um I met Erin my freshman year of mock trial and I mean you've definitely left a lasting impact. Um your attentiveness, dedication, and just ability to advocate for you know people who can't advocate for themselves is second to none. So yeah, I wish you the best of luck with your future. Um hopefully we can stay in touch. Thank you. you um for my things.
030Uh the Oatana marching band just participated in the Memorial Day parade on um just yesterday and that was fantastic. Um and then we had uh we have a speech banquet uh taking place tomorrow. Um and then as Aub said um advocating for those who can't advocate for themselves. I spent two years uh being president of the gender sexuality alliance uh within Oatana High School. Uh so the MSHSL is something very near and dear to me and I understand that we do not currently have any OS students part who are trying to participate as members of the opposite sex. Um but I will state um that acceptance and inclusion saves lives. Uh and that's just something I wanted to throw out there. Uh on the subject of my participation on the school board, uh I cannot
031thank you all enough. Uh learning more about the government was what I came on here to do as well as advocate for others. Uh and I have done nothing but that and that's what I want to go into. And so being able to do that, this has been like my career pathway. Um it's taught me how small conversations and changes can make big differences. uh and giving value to student voice and youth is uh something this board obviously values and I hope continues to grow stronger uh even as I graduate. So, thank you. Aaron Baker I've known for her entire life. She sat on my lap one day when I was at the baker house having breakfast. She grabbed my pancake off of my plate and ate it. And then just two years ago, she
032interviewed and I think Mr. Stad's hair was blown right straight back when Aaron finished her interview. And it wasn't a question of if Aaron was the right person. Aaron was the right person, but we kind of looked at each other like, "Holy cow, this is a young lady who's going places." And uh you've certainly done every bit of that, Erin. Incredibly proud of you. I really do wish that you would have spent all of your dad's money going to school in Spain instead of deciding to do what you're going to do, but I would have enjoyed watching him write that check for you to go to Spain to go to college. Board members, anything you'd like to add for Aaron tonight? Just just thank you for Yeah. everything that you have you've done and and
033it and it's I mean me as a new board member it's it's just encouraging to see students that are you know willing to you know be involved to share things and and it really give us you know help us ground our perspective and why we're here for the students. Yeah, Erin, you have always brought a depth of conversation and insight. Um you don't think lightly, you think deeply. So I'm really grateful for that. Super excited to see this next chapter. Aaron, super excited. Yeah, I've enjoyed sitting next to you, having chat. I guess I could say I've I've heard about everything you've done since you were born because I had your father next to me at work most of the time. Um, but we've had a lot of student reps on the school board since
034I started serving and you've set the bar at a new level. So, he was going to have a hard time achieving that, but uh it's been a great pleasure to have you on the board with us. Thank you. Okay, with that, congrats, Erin. Thank you. With that, um we've kind of breezed through item one, which would be this committee reports. Do do any of you have any questions or comments relative to the work session that we just had? Um, and and it's already been addressed, but Lori brought up the uh the first reading on some of these policy revisions. Anybody have any questions or thoughts on anything else in this section? Hearing none. Okay, we're going to keep going here. Um, item B would be the administrative report. I'm going to turn things over to
035Mr. Stad. Yeah, we're wrapping up the school year. So, um I think as of today I think we officially for the for our seniors for Aaron I think with the countdown is down to about four days now I think um if I'm right four or five days okay the rest of our students we have eight days left of school and so things are wrapping up all those end of year kind of things one of the things I'm reminded by is that we're one of the only vocations in the world that has a clear beginning and end most vocations just kind of continue to kind of keep rolling forward And so there's something special about that and I always appreciate I get to be the last person they see when they get their diplomas on the
036stage and shake their hand. I'm looking forward to that moment. But um anyway, excited for the end of the school year, excited for those new happenings for our students and excited for new leadership that will take over here. And by the way, on July 9th, Mark, I will not be at the school board meeting just so that you're aware of that. Noted. Um the big ticket right now is a legislature. um everything all of the advocacy is done. Uh now it's a matter of the committees coming together the joint committees have been formed. There's different movement with this every single day. It was suggested that maybe earlier this week like today or tomorrow there would be a special session to approve the budget. Just so that you remember by June 30th they have to have
037a budget in place or everyone doesn't have a contract after that. So again, um we're awaiting the special session. I heard today late in the day that could be Friday or even Monday uh to get these things settled. There have been a couple smaller bills that have been passed and signed by the governor already, but we're awaiting the big E12 budget because that means something to us. And so um facing a deficit. I know that um there will be an aotment for the what was statutoily approved before with the increase with uh student average daily membership dollars coming in. But more than that would be probably out of the question at this point. So again we're waiting for that. The other part that's a little frustrating for us and that my colleague Mark Stats who
038is a director of finance. The longer we wait, the more speculation there is about a budget moving forward because after July 1st, we don't have a budget. And so everything you're hearing from a finance perspective is all up in the air based upon what the legislature decides. So again, we're awaiting that word. Once we do, there'll be quick calculations. Um he and I will be sorting through a lot. We'll probably come back sometime in June hopefully with a better picture, particularly on the financial side. So that's that. Um lastly, um Aaron, Mr. Whatever Mr. Sebring just said was absolutely correct. We are blown away by you and what you bring. You are insightful, humorous, and I love your humor, sense of humor, planful, and prepared. I don't think there was a meeting that you missed
039that I didn't get to text message that said, "Mr. L said, I will not be at the meeting tonight because I've got this activity going on." and it was always for one of the 3,000 activities that you're part of. But you always made an effort to get here for a portion of the meeting and that means a lot commitment. You committed to this. You followed through on your commitment. So, we're going to miss you around here. And uh I think I well I wish you the best as you travel into that next journey, whatever that is. And I hope at some point along the way you'll remember an old retired guy uh that will be living here that just wants to hear about how you're doing. So congratulations, Erin. We're very proud of you and
040as Mr. Jensen indicated, you've set the bar for student leadership. So thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Uh item eight tonight would be the consent agenda. Quick reminder, we are approving the minutes from April 28th, the dispersement and the personnel reports. Any of you have any reason that we would pull any of these items out? Okay, hearing none. Mark, I don't I don't need to pull it out. I do have a question on one. Do you want that now? Uh or you want me to pull that out? Um well, let's hear your question. Um I approached Mr. St. I don't know if we've had a chance. So there was um in review of the dispersement report, there was just one payment that I wanted to confirm we understood what that payment was for. I think
041the vendor was CDW something or other and I couldn't tell exactly what that was for. I don't know if Mark is familiar with Do you remember that? I would turn to Mr. St. Do you know the one I'm thinking of, Mark? No, I'm not. Okay. And again, I'm not concerned. I have every confidence. It's all in order. I just try to review those and make sure you know that we have a So maybe we can How do you spell it? CDW government. The only thing I can think of and again we can certainly go into more detail with that particular item. Um I have seen this on previous agendas. Uh but the other thing is there sometimes there are some charges for government document procurement and that was the only thing I was thinking. Yeah.
042And make no bones. I mean most of the payments you know they're always taxes and pension and payroll. I mean the standard um it was just a vendor I wasn't familiar with and didn't have it wasn't clear. You know a lot of times food payments and so on. So I would speculate it's computer discount warehouse. Are you okay technology purchase and that would make that and it was again it was a little more sizable. So it caught my attention to probably for technology. Yeah, I appreciate that. Thanks Tim for your insight. Thank you. That was my question. Good. Thank you. Get the clarity searching for. Good. Okay. We'll entertain a motion to approve. So moved. Second. We have a motion and a second. Is there any further discussion? Tim, if you would. This is a
043roll call vote. Yes. Ron. I. Andrea. I. Uh Jolene. I. Lori. I. Mark. I. Elizabeth. I. And I am an I. 70. Motion carries. Thank you very much. We're going to move on to item nine. There are a couple of items that need board action. Item A, Mr. Schultz is here. New student school board representative. He has to be just nervous walking up here tonight, doesn't he? Mr. Estad, if you would. He does. Thank you, Mr. Chairman's board. Lol. If you'd please come and have a seat up at the table up here as we just got done celebrating Aaron and kind of the leadership that she has brought. Uh the interview committee that interviewed an outstanding slate of candidates. Yeah. uh have selected LOL Schultz to be the new student school board representative. LOL's currently
044a sophomore for about eight more days and then he'll become a junior and has been the process for the board. Uh and as Aub came on last year, he came on as an incoming junior. You serve a two-year term uh just to kind of get the lay of the land and by the time you get to be a senior, you kind of got it figured out how it works. But anyway, we're happy that uh LOL is here with us. uh he has an he's an outstanding student with many activities. That's how we want our student representatives to truly represent the student body in the Owatona public schools. And so tonight um as part of this um you are being introduced to LOL as we see the departure of Aaron. And so seated in uh he
045will be officially seated with the board in August. Uh but I wanted to introduce you tonight lol to our board. Thank you for taking the risk of leadership because there is risk. There's great reward as well, but the the risk of leadership is something that I admire in our students that step forward to say, I want to provide that leadership opportunity recognizing that sometimes there's a price to pay with that. Yes. So, thank you for doing that. Is there anything LOL you would like to add before board members might ask a few questions? I don't think so. Okay. Very good. four. Well, you want to tell us a little bit about yourself? Um, so a little bit about myself. As I look at the school year coming to an end, um, as I said, we
046do have the section track meet tomorrow or not tomorrow, on Thursday and Saturday. So, I came from practice today. I compete on Thursday. I'll probably go um and watch my sister's running on Saturday, I believe. And then the other big thing I have coming up is the graduation concert on Friday. So the concert choir is having a concert at St. John's for graduating seniors. And so those are the um big ticket things for me as a school comes to an end along with I got finals. I got a a paper I think in English. But what other activities role are you in involved in? Um so I said track. I'm in choir and band. I was in carolers. I was in the musical. I'm in concert choir. I'm also part of the student council. I'm
047part of DECA. I'm in 4. I'm in Boy Scouts. And I also just completed my interview process to be on Big Brothers Big Sisters. Was there 25 hours in your daily schedule? Yes. No sleep either. Board members, any other questions? Excited that you're with us. Thank you. What intrigued you about being on the school board? Um, so I first heard about this position from IUB. Actually, I've known IUB I think in eighth grade. Um, I started cross country when I was in eighth grade. He was a freshman and we were both new to running, so we were kind of in the back of the pack. My my favorite memory with IUB is well, first since I went to St. Mary's, I would go straight to practice with the high schoolers as a middle schooler instead
048of going to with the middle schoolers. And there was one practice where we ran from here, the old high school, to Manthy Park. And then we did 1k repeats there and then we ran back. And I think IU remembers he was new, I was new. By the time we finished our repeats, we were absolutely gassed. And we we didn't get a bus ride back to the middle school like the rest of the middle school. We had to run all the way back to high school. And we must have been going like 11 minute pace cuz by the time we got back, everybody was already inside. They were all like they were all ready. They had already stretched and we were just jogging back and our coach was waiting for us. So that's that's really um
049how I met IU. But he told me about position and then I got the email and I'm like that's really interesting. Government has interested me. Um the speaking and kind of just the whole process of it is something that I think is very important even if you don't go into government. And I think that even people who just want to have a future in business or even a future in something completely unrelated like agriculture, it's something they can really benefit just from that procedural uh meeting. Before you take official action, I do need to recognize our students, whether it's Aaron or LOL. Um this commitment comes from great parenting as well. And I want to recognize the parents. First of all, I want to thank Rod and Amy Baker that are here tonight to support
050Aaron. And then I want to also thank Grant and Julie Schultz that are here tonight. Uh because it takes commitment from you as well. But um when I look at these kids, I look to the parents and say, "Well done. Well done. You're still baking for a while yet as the parents." We'll cause so far. No, I'm just kidding. Well done. Well done. Thank you. L welcome. Uh, anybody else? Good. Would one of you uh please have that motion queued up and ready to go? I move that L Schultz be appointed as a student school board representative. Second. We have a motion and a second. Is there any further discussion? All in favor with an I. I. Any opposed? Motion carries. Lo, congratulations. Look forward to seeing you. [Applause] Item B tonight is the school
051calendar. It's the 2425 school calendar. It's something we always approve at this point in the calendar year. Mr. Elsa, if you would please. Yeah. The calendar that you see is we're asking for one final amendment to the calendar for this year to adjust for the snow days that occurred. And so what you have uh tonight proposed is just again it's a revised calendar which is required by the department of education if the board formally approve the year that was if you will uh recognizing those small changes because of snow days and inclement weather. Questions? Why don't we have this queued up for us, please? I move. Go ahead. I move that the board approve the final 2024 2025 school calendar as presented. Second. Have a motion and a second. Is there any further discussion? All
052in favor with an I. I. Any opposed? That motion carries. Item C would be policy revisions. Lori touched on it earlier. And members of policy committee, if there's anything that you would like to lift up or at least remind us of as it relates to these policies that we're going to be uh talking about, Again, there are just the two. Uh, one has an IRS mileage update and then the um the item that Tim referred to with no changes. In light of that, one of you please introduce this motion for us. I move that the board approve the revision to policy 412 as presented. Second. Have a motion and a second. Is there any further discussion? All in favor with an I. I. Any opposed? That motion carries. Item D would be the Minnesota State
053High School League membership. Mr. Alstead, if you would. This is something that's been lifted up previously in the meeting. Uh, this is an annual renewal of the membership, and I just want to highlight a couple of things. As Mr. Kubichek indicated, we have over 2,800 students that participate in these athletics and activities. Without membership to the Minnesota State High School League, these students would not be able to participate in any contests. So that would mean no games, no music contests, no art contests, all of those things because part of the membership entails um being part of that recognizing that not everyone agrees with every single policy that's in place. I think what Miss Hedland lifted up is probably actionoriented as did Mr. Kubachek that um what the state high school league is doing is following
054state law as part of the human rights act. And within that, I would recommend that at least within the state law, there are changes. If people are proposing change, that's why we representative Tom Ston and Senator John Jis Jasinski, excuse me, represent us. And so if there are comments because I would tell you the only way to enact this sort of legal change comes through the legislative action. The legislature also has they have a direct link to the Minnesota State High School League because part of their funding is appropriated by the state and that is funded through the budget that the Minnesota State Legislature puts together. So, what's being recommended tonight, agree or disagree with every one of the policies. What's being recommended tonight is what's best for the 2,800 students that participate uh in
055the Minnesota State High School League activities. And so, I recommend that the board consider approval of this item. With that, Tim, do you have it queued up? I do. I move that the board approve the 2025 2026 resolution for membership in the state high school, Minnesota State High School League. Second. We have a motion and a second. Further discussion. Yeah. I guess the only other additional comment or issue that I would raise is um you know, certainly from my profession, but it doesn't take long. You just have to listen to the news, right? Um the posture currently is that if we don't move forward on this and approve this, we are setting up our district and our school board for a host, I'm afraid, of legal challenge and concern, not to mention expense, time, and
056notoriety that is really not in our district's best interest. Um I also have a heart for all students and appreciate Erin's comments. Um it is I appreciate emotional but the fact is we don't have the issue is not ripe as I might say in my profession it's not it's not ripe it's not a concern today but clearly we have to create opportunity and activity for the 2,800 students that we do serve. So, and further discussion for sure agree with that and appreciate yeah all of the discussion because um more to come for sure but today there's it's perfectly clear to me where we need to go. I'm good. Any further discussion? Okay, hearing none. Um we have a motion. We have a second. Uh Tim, if you would please. Roll call vote. We'll go. Ron
057I Andrea I Jolene I Lori I Mark I Elizabeth nay and I am an I. 61 pass. Motion carries. Thank you. Uh item E tonight would be gifts to the district again. Mr. Stead if you would. There are a whole list of gifts the district here as we kind of wrap up some of the school year. A number of them are supporting the National Honor Society color run uh that occurred uh here not too long ago. Uh but again just various gifts. It's a conti community that continues to give and whether the gift is for a few dollars or a few hundred or sometimes a few thousand uh this community sees the need and they rise to the occasion. So I'm grateful for a giving community and ask that you consider approval of these gifts
058this evening. Sure. I move that the board approve the resolution for acceptance of gifts as presented. Second motion and a second. Any further discussion? Tim, if you would please. Ron I, Andrea, I. Jolene, I. Lori, I, Mark, I, Elizabeth, I. And I am an I. 70 pass. That motion carries. Item 10 tonight is a closed session. And under the Minnesota open meeting law, Minnesota statutes 13D.05, 05 subdivision 3B authorizes the school board to close a meeting with its attorney in a confidential setting to obtain legal advice regarding pending or threatened litigation. The particular matter we are to meet on relates to allegations against the school district in an employment made in a notice of claim. At this time I will vote call a vote to close the meeting on the grounds I have just stated.
059So I am introducing a motion to go to closed session. Second. We have a motion and a second. Any discussion? All in favor with an I. I. Any opposed? That motion carries. So at this point, we will clear the room. The recording devices would be turned off. Uh I can't tell you I know exactly how long that will be closed, but we will reopen back to an open session again. The public, thank you for your patience at this time. It is uh 6:46 and I will make the motion that we reopen the open session. Second. We have a motion and a second. Any further discussion? All in favor with an I. I. Any opposed? That motion carries. Then under item 11 um point A. I move that the board approve the employee agreement as presented.
060Second. Uh we have a motion and a second. Any further discussion? Hearing none. All in favor with an I. I. Any opposed? That motion carries. Um, and item 12 tonight would be to adjurnn. I will make the motion that we adjourn. Second. Second. We have a motion and a second. Thank you all for your time. All in favor with an I. I. Any opposed? That motion carries.