001All right. >> To the right to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for it stands one nation under God indivisible. >> All right. Our first order of business is to act on the agenda um for the organizational meeting. Would somebody like to make a motion to approve the agenda as presented? >> So moved. Motion's been made by Melissa. Is there a second? >> Second. Second. Miss Scott. Uh any questions on the the agenda? Hearing none. All in favor say I. >> I. >> Opposed. >> All right. Motion carries. Agenda is approved. Second item is to elect uh schoolboard chair for 2026. Um I will open up nominations for the office of chair for 2026. >> Wait to nominate Deb. >> Second that. There doesn't need to be a second.
002I know. >> Uh there's been a nomination for Dev. Any further do nominations? Any further nominations? All right, hearing none. Um, I will close the nominations for the office of office of chair. Um, all in favor for Deb Alm for board chair say I. >> Opposed. >> All right. Thank you. We will go on to vice chair. I will open up nominations for vice chair. >> I would like to nominate Don Bordeaux. >> Okay. Scott has nominated Don Berdau for the office of vice chair. Is there any further nominations? >> I will nominate Melissa Lynch. >> All right. Uh Jen Super has nominated Melissa Lynch for the office of vice chair. Any further nominations? Any further nominations? All right. Hearing none, I will close the nominations then for vice chair. And um what we'll do
003then is make a note here. Um uh we'll do it by a show of hands. Okay. And we'll start with Don. She was the first one uh nominated. So, um, with the show of hands, uh, who would vote for Don for vice chair for 2026? All right. So, we have four. And a show of hands for Melissa. We have three. So, there you go. Thank Congratulations. Don is uh, vice chair for 2026. Okay. We move on to clerk. Is there a nomination or I'll open up nominations for the office of clerk? Nobody wants to be clerk. >> I'm doing it right now. What can I do? >> I will nominate Melissa Lynch. >> All right. There's been a a nomination for Melissa Lynch for uh the office of clerk. Any further nominations? Any further nominations?
004All right, hearing none, I will close the nominations for clerk. All in favor for Melissa Lynch for clerk say I. >> I opposed. All right. >> Clerk for 2026. Um then we will go on to acting clerk. Is there I will open up nominations for the position of acting clerk for 2026. >> I'll nominate Jenna super. >> All right. Nominations made for Jen super for acting clerk. >> Any further nominations? Any further nominations? Any further nominations for acting clerk? All right, hearing none, I will close the nominations then for acting clerk. All in favor for Jen Super for acting clerk say I. >> I opposed. >> All right, Jen is acting clerk for 2026. The last position, treasurer. I'll open the um nominations for treasurer for 2026. >> Scott Bowman. >> All right. There's been
005a nomination for Scott Bowman for uh treasurer. Any further nominations? Any further nominations? All right. There has been no other nominations. So I will close uh that for the treasurer position. All in favor for Scott Bowman for treasur say >> I post. All right Scott, you get to sign all the checks. All right, we will move on. We have uh the next item of business is our board compensation. Um, and I believe the committees are listed under there too. What do you need a motion for it? Do you just need a motion to continue the compensation as is? >> Yeah. >> Yep. either um either what what happens is that if somebody wanted to um have this looked at and get a pay raise, then it needs to go through finance and the policy committee
006>> or we can just review it. Dur >> I'll make a motion to keep the school board rates of paid for 2026 the same. >> Okay. Motion's been made by Scott to keep the board rates the same for 2026. Any uh is there a second? Second. Second by Melissa. Any um further discussion, comments, questions. All right. Hearing none. All in favor say I. >> I. >> Opposed. >> All right. Um I did miss one thing. I >> committees were underneath um the acting or nominating all the positions. Um, so there is a list of committees for 2026. If you um guys just want to take a quick look at those, let me know over the next couple days which are your top three or top one. Um, and then we'll get those reassigned. All right.
007So, we will move on then to item number five. Um, our board meeting schedule. If you look at um the schedule here, we're suggesting a couple of changes to our regular schedule. Pat, I don't know if you want to address that. >> Yeah, it's to the start time on the January and February um because of the way the calendar lined up. Um it uh conflicted with the planning commission from the city and they would let them want to make sure that we are cleared out of here by the time they start at 7. So they want us to start a half hour sooner. So >> does that move those the public engagement and the policy meeting up an hour to >> so that affects January 20th which is our next meeting. It would be at
0085:30 and then our second meeting in February. So >> what are the months? We don't have one. >> We only have one June, July, >> December, July, >> June, July, August. No, August. We haven't yet. >> Had we talked about taking one off or were we going to do it? >> I can't remember what we decided. >> I think we were going to keep it, but >> at that time we had cancel. Um so there's agreement that this um if somebody wants to make it to um accept the school boarding school board meeting schedule for 2026. >> Just want to note that it says the first meeting of the year is January 7th instead of today January 6th. >> I think that's a huge deal but it is we are tomorrow. No. Would somebody like
009to make a motion to approve those? >> All right. Motion been made by Who was that? >> Melissing. >> There's been a motion. Is there a second? >> Second by Scott. Um, any comments or questions on that schedule? All right. Hearing none. All in favor say I. >> I. opposed. And now comes all the fun stuff we do every year. Um, consider a resolution designating office depository for school district funds for investments for 2026. So, we're naming all our banks and investment firms. Would somebody like to make a motion to approve those as presented? >> So, moved. >> Motion by Eric Strandberg. Any or second? Is there a second? Second. Second by Don. Any comments or questions on that one? >> All right. Uh we This is a resolution. So we'll vote by roll call
010and we'll start with Jen. >> Yes. >> All right. That resolution passes. The ne next one is uh item number seven designating our official school district publication. Um, and as you see, we have the Union Times listed here listed here along with our district uh official website. Uh, is there a motion to approve that resolution as presented? >> Second. >> Motion made by Eric M, second by Melissa. Any comments or questions on that one? Um, hearing none. All in favor say I. Opposed. >> All right. Union Times is it? Uh item number eight, designate bond council for 2026. Um is there a motion to approve Dorsy and Whitney? >> Motion's been made by Don. Is there a second? >> Second by Scott. Any comments or questions on this one? Hearing none, all in favor say
011I. I. opposed. All right, bond council is approved. Uh we need to designate attorney for 2026. Um we have listed here Rup Anderson Spires and Walssberger. Um which we've had for a while. Um is there a motion to approve those? Some moved. >> Melissa. No. Motion's been made by Melissa. Is there a second? >> Second. Second by Jen. Any comments or questions on that one? Uh hearing none. All in favor say I. >> Opposed. All right. Almost there. Item number 10. Consider a resolution authorizing the director of business services and or designate to make short-term investments of school district funds. Is there a motion to approve that resolution >> as presented? Scott, uh, motion's made by Scott, seconded. Is there a second? >> Second by Jen. Um, any comments or questions on that one? All
012right. Uh, we will vote by roll call on this one. We'll start with Melissa. >> Yes. Yes. >> All right. Item number 11. Consider a resolution authorizing the superintendent and director of business services to lease purchase and contract for goods and services. There motion to approve that resolution as presented. So move. >> Motion has been made by Melissa. Is there a second? >> Second. Second by Jen. Any comments or questions on this one? All right, we're going to vote by roll call again on this one, starting with Eric. >> Yes. >> Ken. >> Yes. Yes. >> All right. Item number 12, consider resolution uh authorizing director of services or director of business services to use faximile signatures. Is there a motion to approve that resolution? So moved. >> Motion's been made by Scott. Is there
013a second? >> Second by Melissa. Any comments or questions on this one? Uh we'll vote by roll call then. Uh starting with Don. >> Yes. Yes. >> Yes. All right. Is there a motion to adjourn the organizational board meeting? So >> motion made by second by Eric Banks. All in favor say I. >> I. >> We are ajourned. All right then. Change our meeting here. We'll go right into our regular board meeting. I can get a look. There we are. No, I did haven't seen the citizen comments. I'm going to call the meeting to order. Um, let's do the pledge of driving. I believe to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands. One nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. >> All right,
014the roll call show all board members are present. >> Uh, and there are no citizen comments. So, we will move on to uh board member committee reports and um we'll start with Strandberg. Eric Strandberg report. >> Okay, >> Scott. >> Nothing to report. >> I had agenda planning. >> All I had was agenda planning, too. >> Okay. Um I was on a panel for the um community leadership series about local government for the chamber. We read the measurable which is very awesome. Um we did carol at the elim home with Jana who was our parents for title parent engage engagement or yeah whatever that was pretty fun. That was they didn't even boo us. So that was good. Um, also I I just wanted to let us know that or let the group know that
015um that our readathon for the PTO is going from the 9th of January to the 23rd. So, we're really trying to like hype up the parental um participation, getting kids to participate also. Um, and then I don't know if John still needs any, but there's the kindness retreat leading leaders thing coming up for the um intermediate school. And that one I know I can volunteer the 21st, but I it was the 20th and the 21st. So I didn't know if anybody you were interested in reaching out to him about that. That's all. >> All right, Jen. >> All right. >> Student council. Um resource story time library. Um for the primary this hat day on January 15th, the intermediate continues to practice and introduce emotions with lesson plans for all grades. This month the intermediate
016is focusing on the P in tiger stripes which is positivity. >> Oh, you couldn't find anything on middle school. Um for the high school there is a one act play performance coming up January 16th >> and then the same one act they have a festival which is kind of like a scrimmage for one act at Zimman the 17th >> and then some other events there's a variety show this Friday at the high school >> which is always a good one. All right. Thank you. Uh Pat, superintendent report. >> Thank you. Um first before I kind of go through my report, uh we got notification from MSBA that we have somebody to honor tonight. Uh Scott Bowman has completed the uh training series with phase one, two, three, and four. >> And now will receive a
017leadership development certificate from the >> So very nice. >> Congratulations, Scott. Thank you. >> Um, and speaking of MSBA, uh, as we all know, we have that conference coming up here in about 10 days. So, that'll be a good conference. Go down and learn some new information about how we continue to lead a good school district. So, I'm looking forward to that. Um, from the last meeting to this meeting, a few things. uh um uh we had the uh the the chamber leadership series which I'm a part of but at the same time I was a panel member because it was about local governance and and so Melissa and I did the the school department along with Michelle that worked really well. Um and then the magical goal was a dinner that was great and
018there's some local talent in the room even fun to see the talent of our kids. uh and along with all the holiday uh concerts and events that uh happen uh during the the the holiday season, if you will. Um uh had a meeting with the the Rum River uh has a uh MTSS team that's doing leadership um across all of the Rum River school districts, but they meet with each one and talk about are we delivering what you need for your MTSS training? And and that's part of our admin PLC. And so we've already had a meeting a month. So however many months that been since September. So um we have one more in January and then then we kind of take the action steps and we're pulled that. So um they have a good
019uh roadmap for us and and we're making good strides with that and there's many a part of it and Mary's sitting in here and there's others that are you know the coaches and the leaders of our of our school district that are helping learn that process. Um, I do want to shout out that uh we did do holiday caroling at the elim homes. That was really fun. It's amazing uh to watch those that are in the home have all those songs memorized because as we would sing they we would have sheets but they would verbalize it and they knew the song. So it was pretty fun to see. Um, then of course we had a good winter break. Some interesting weather uh between uh Christmas and New Year's and glad I didn't have to call
020that one, but then I got surprised this morning. So get a little payback, I guess. Um, did not see that happening this morning. I already shouted out once to Eric Strandberg, but thanks for leaving early to work so you can give me a little heads up on the roads because that helped me. Um, but it was glare ice out there enough where uh I found out that my step in and the sidewalk was not as clear as I thought and I took a little tumble myself this morning. So, yeah, be careful. Walk like a penguin out there. Um, um, so I think that ended up being a good move today. Uh, last night we I attended the Lions meeting. I just want to do one shout out for the Lions. They do so much for
021the community, but they have one of their large fundraisers on February 22nd. So, if you want to be a part of the fishing uh contest or just buy a raffle ticket, you can talk to me or talk to any lion and we'll help you get directed in the right direction. But that's a 1 to4 event on February 22nd, Sunday. So, um exciting for the Lions to do that for the community. >> The weather's going to cooperate for them this year. >> Yeah. Yeah. >> Not an issue. >> Yeah. Um Yeah. And then uh um we have some documents in front of you that we've been preparing for the review and comment as you as we had the um decision as an action item. I think it was two meetings ago that the administrative team would
022work with our with our um consultants to um put together another review and comment to get forward to the state for going out for referendum on May 12th. Um those uh documents and revisions are in front of you. The uh probably the biggest highlights are two things. Um the because of the construction costs going up, we do inflation with increase in construction costs. Um we said we'd like to keep the uh um the the the projects the same and just go out and ask again to see if people can see the need. As we said before, it's a need, not a want. So we we are asking for this need again. Um and it and the funds for uh preparing that uh um that construction project has raised uh it was at 49 um 49
023million 1.4 I think it was before >> y >> and now it's raised to 50 million um025 um which by the time you bond it it's at 51 350. Um, now with that said, uh, a couple things have happened. Um, as you evolve through a year, um, that's one more year we're paying off the primary school, which means that's one more year we'll have for full funding as you do the wraparound um, uh, debt, uh, paying and and bonding. Um, so that gives us one full more year more and we'll have a a larger tax base at that time. So between those two things, the cost, even though the construction went up, the cost on a average home actually went down by $1. So now it's $14 a month instead of 15 um on the
024exact same bond that that we asked for. So um so I guess uh we have uh Brian from ICS and and Jody from Ellers and Robert from LOL on on the call if you have some questions for them. They they're willing to answer any questions. And then um I think the only question we had internally is um is is going out and saying that it's more money to build but less money from the residents a good message. >> I was just thinking the same >> or do we want to keep it at 15 which we haven't increased the cost of living across the uh capital levy. So we could increase that increase the cost a you know cost of living >> and um and raise that a little bit to get it to $15 so
025it stays consistent to what we had um this last fall. So that to me that's a discussion item along with any other questions you might have. >> Yeah, we have that further on the agenda too. So >> I don't have >> Are we discussing it now? But yeah, down on the improvement. >> Yeah. So maybe kind of I'm giving you the uh pre uh thinking time. Yeah. >> Then when we have it on the agenda, let's kind of discuss and see where your thoughts are. >> Yeah. >> Um but other than that, that's all I had for the superintendent report. >> All right. Thank you. All right. Uh we will move on to item number six. Is there a motion to approve the agenda as presented? >> So motion's been made by Melissa. Is there
026a second? Second. Second by Don. Any comments or questions on the agenda. Hearing none. All in favor say I. I. >> Opposed. All right. Agenda is approved. Item number seven, discuss and act on previous board meeting minutes. Is there a motion to approve uh those minutes as presented? >> Motion's been made by Jen. Is there a second? Second. >> Second by Melissa. Any comments or questions on the meeting minutes? >> Hearing none. All in favor say I. >> I. Opposed. All right. Minutes are approved. Item number eight, consent agenda. Is there a motion to approve the consent agenda as presented? >> Moved. >> Motion made by Scott. Is there a second? >> Second. Second by Eric Strandberg. Any comments or questions on um the consent. All right. Hearing none. All in favor say I. >>
027I. Opposed. >> All right. Consent is approved. Our first uh information item is enrollment. Michelle, >> I'm actually going to have you bring up the second document. >> Okay. And I'm trying to figure out how to turn this. >> If you figure it out, can you let the rest of this know? Because I just had it like this on my kitchen. >> It's under the settings. Um, if you go to the page with the gear in it in the upper left hand corner >> says view controls on it when you hover over it orientation. >> There we go. Oh, >> I downloaded mine. >> Yes, I knew how to do it in that format. So, that's what I did. >> So, uh as you know, we uh track enrollment at the end of each month.
028So, we have the end of December in here. Um in our totals we have all programs uh as the main office. Um it doesn't really matter to us where the kids are coming from. The total is the most important thing that drives our funding. Um but as you know we started an online K8 program uh last year. So we are tracking those numbers separate on the side there. Um, just to make you aware that let's just take kindergarten for example. If we take the 25 students under the off of the 204, we are in the 180s for um enrollment on site uh at our buildings. So, we had projected that our kindergarten would go down. Um but because of the online K8 program, we actually um maintained we're flat. Um you can see that throughout
029um all of the grade levels. If you uh take off the the kiddos that are in our K8 online program, our seatbased program within the district is is lower than we would definitely like it to be. So, um the K8 program is holding us up enrollment wise, but it will not I want to stress this. We still have to pay for the staff. The program needs an administrator. They they need all the administrative pieces um and they need the staff to run it. The special education pieces are all there. Um that's all required just like in our seat base. So I think the variance of will not be enough to offset what we're losing with our seats. Um but that is is we do that every month and you know enrollment at least looks better
030um than we had thought. So that's good news. And then if you go back to the first tab, the summary tab, um, at this time of year, we start looking at the revised um, enrollment for the year. So we look at October one and then we're what typically happens between October one to the end of the year. So we're looking on past history. Um, we have one year of the AA online. So, as you know, last year we kept growing each month because of that. So, we only have one year of that. So, it's not going to be a pop in our enrollment projection, but it is showing us um not losing enrollment at a high rate to the end of the year. So, um we're looking at all the ways that we looked at
031it. um we are looking at about 3,170 kiddos um at the end of the year in total through all programs and then we're looking at moving that forward into 26 27 as you know we use Ellers's um enrollment projection thing and I just looked at a threeyear two years and then I did a fiveyear um and then like we do every year I put down at the bottom. I took the 3175 and I subtracted from that number each of those areas. And you can see our highest variance right now is a -28. But then I want you to go back to K. Right now Eller's model shows 187 and that has to do with the birth data that we have in the district. that is not taking into consideration our online program. So it would
032not because those kids are predominantly outside of our district boundaries. So 187 would probably be more like we would probably be closer to the 200 205 like we are now if we were similar um to this year. So our first year in K for online K8 was about 12 kids and this year we're running what did it say 25? >> Yeah. So as we always do we set the enrollment parameters at the next meeting after we talked about it. So everybody kind of look at it. >> So the 187 does not include the online. Yep. Yeah, if I was looking my my initial thought here is to be conservative because we still have plenty of negatives here. Um, but I would say that we would definitely probably be safe with flat and home. So we
033we can talk about that and we can talk about you know what happens you know as we see more what happens this year how much growth we have um you know when you get into the third year of a program we start to see a pattern. >> Yeah. You know, our fear is our program is doing well now. People are coming into it, but what happens if they decide not to come? You know, it's a relatively new program. >> And if general unassigned fund balance did go down, we are now at our 10%. So if we're off on enrollment, um you can see this faster than we would like to go. >> Another reason to go conservative. >> Yes. >> So you mentioned that uh enrollment is a little better than what we >> have.
034Yes. But it's still >> not good. >> Well, our seat base is going down. our online that I would like to go the other way. >> We're basing everything off of the K through online. >> If we didn't have that, we'd be in a world of hurt. >> Yes. Really not good. >> Really not good. >> It would really be not good. So at what point does the online start to as far as enrollment numbers start to >> make those seat make the seatbased enrollment where it helps it out even more? And do we we have the metrics on how long we need? >> Our first year in the program uh the variance on that was a positive about 115,000. >> Um my initial kelk off of the numbers I had at the beginning of
035the year because it'll change as we go. Um was that we would double that going into by the end of this year. Now the thing is we are paying for a platform. Um those platforms anything with technology is expensive. Um we are providing staff. So the initial startup you you don't have I think as we get up to three four 100 students we'll see more of a variance um because we we have you know the principal the the state in >> as that program increases for it increases as far as um students does that also I mean our input costs or administrative costs also increase. Will there ever be a time where it's more like this? >> We may need to add more um secretarial administrative assistant help because of all the paperwork that goes
036into enrolling students, the Mars pieces, tracking enrollment, all those pieces that happen at the secretarial level. Um, right now our principal and Pat can speak to this. Our principles are running buildings of about 700. Um, so I don't think that we would need to add another principal. you know, we definitely don't need to add custodial staff or additional main staff in order to provide the curriculum because we have the curriculum through the U venture upward program. So, I mean, it's just the growth of the program that I think would start, you know, as we get more and more. We still have to hire teachers. But we haven't seemed to have a problem finding teachers for that program. Plenty of we have plenty of um applicants. >> So is it cash flowing? >> It's cash flowing
037and leaving a little bit on the table to operate our seat boost. >> Good. >> Yes. What were our numbers at the beginning of the year as far as for the Uh I don't have that. We just have increased. Have we increased since we started? >> Yes, we have. >> Yes. >> I think total we were at 180. Now what? 240 whatever that number was that you >> I was thinking we're around 200 but I was I think >> that was our goal be at 200 at the start and we weren't at in August. We weren't any >> Yeah, I thought it was one. >> We are now at 243. In the previous month we were at 211. So in November we were at 211. Um and we I think in January of last year
038we saw a bump because it was after Christmas >> was a nice time for people to jump on that are looking for that kind. So we may see another bump at here at the end of January. you get just from being in that world and being a director of online school, I know that you get bumps at quarter breaks, semester breaks, spring quarter breaks. >> Okay. >> Um sometimes you get the kid just doesn't want to be in the seat base anymore at some other school and they're frustrated and they look for an online and they find us and they sign up for us. >> Do you also see that at certain point that enrollment in online will plateau? Really great question >> because I can't imagine there wouldn't be more and more competition out
039there for online as we go further into the future. So how do we make >> if we're if we're if we need online to cash flow >> for our seat pace we have to keep you know increasing and promoting and doing. >> Yes. >> One of the things that they do with onward up onward venture on upward. >> Yeah. They they part of their contract is to to promote it for us and >> they have a hub down in Warthingington and has that kind of gives them this southern area of the state and they picked Princeton because they thought it was good geographical area to get the northern. Um they are looking at doing something in Duth but they don't think that's going to compete with us. But um so they I I would say
040just from again me being in the business for a year there is uh we Princeton is um ahead of the game if you will for anybody in our region. Um there in our region that there's just nobody else showing it. and from the their and I I can't brag these kind of stats. When I was running the online school I was working with the the uh um the surveys coming back, we get positive reviews, really positive reviews. So, I think we're running a program that uh attracts the students here and attracts the parents here that they want to be a part of it. So, that's all good news, but to your point, Eric, we have to stay competitive in the business or >> Yeah. you know, all a sudden they could find the next shiny
041apple, >> right? >> But you lose students, too. >> Well, and it's so much easier to switch online programs. So, one negative interaction on social media. Right now, it's been very positive. And I mean, it sounded like the parents were like willing to have their own meetings to talk about the program, but it quickly can >> Yeah. So, did they find a space where they can bring in more of the locals once a week? Did they get that piece going? >> Yeah, they do. >> Okay. The B for the day at >> Yeah. Yeah. >> I know they were looking for space, but I didn't know if they found it or not. So, >> I'm pretty sure they did. Yeah. >> Which is good because that >> feels social. >> Yeah. So that's a good
042piece to have >> and it's, you know, one of the markets out there is the the homeschool market. You know, they're going to be homeschooled students probably anyway. But now if we can provide the service, we get some funding for it and and uh and to your point, Don, if we can provide that social outlet once a week for them, I know homeschool parents are looking for that, too. So it's it's a it's a good setup. So it's just a matter of maintain it. make sure it continues. I think one of the points you're getting to, Eric, and I know uh Michelle and I have talked about this a lot is kind of how many students on online offsets one student of CBS, you know, and I to me and maybe I have the numbers
043in my head wrong, but I I'm thinking it takes about three online to equate to one for the funding we get back is probably around a third of what we get on a regular student. So what we don't want to do is attract our own students in suitcase and we do attract and so far that hasn't happened that the universe >> we like to keep all of our you guys where you're not alone. >> You're already a prince and tiger. You stay right where you're at. >> Yeah. >> All right. Any any other questions or comments about it? All right. And as Michelle said, this will be on our agenda next meeting, January 20th. Okay. >> Uh we will move on to item 9B. Uh review and comment update. We have all sorts of attachments
044on this one. >> Yeah. So, the attachments pretty much uh it kind of summarizes what we've talked about. The commentary is really just the emails from the back and forth that they have from Ryan and Jody and Robert. So, um I guess at this point it's it's um you you have the information in front of you that shows you how much the the the um inflation costs on our construction project and then um what it does for our tax impact. So, um, now it's just been our discussion if that's what we want in the review and comment. Um, because, um, if it is, it's pretty well ready to go other than the cover letter and then Dev and I will need to sign it probably tomorrow or next day so they can get it in
045by the end of the week. It's due next week. So, >> Oh, okay. I was just going to ask that. So I have a question about what we were talking about earlier with we know that it fell a dollar a month because we had the year the primary another year at the primary interest. But when we counted for the inflation that changed the bond amount we did not include inflation in the capital levy but that's what you were saying like and then it would peak at this but it would still count for the inflation because we're not getting inflation raises from anywhere else. >> Right there. Yeah. That would be one way, one mechanism that we could bring it up to the $15 amount so it's consistent. And it really it's kind of it's a
046good kind of dilemma discussion. You know, what is the optics of it? Is it look wrong to have it be less a month when you went up for construction or is it, you know, a celebration moment? You know, you know, where where is that conversation and >> is that $1 a month that >> explaining that >> changes the the vote? Yeah. And I Yeah. And I think um we would still have it. We would still have questions if we >> um left it at $15 a month. >> They're still going to say, "But you raised it to 50 million. >> How can it still be $15 a month?" >> So either way, we're going to have to really strategize on how to explain that. Mhm. Um clearly so people you know get it like >>
047which really u >> kind of leads us into you know a little bit of social media tried to say that there's no way that could be happening that you know increase of $15 a month can pay off $49 million. Um but they didn't understand you know this concept with the wraparound. And I think if if uh um that leads us into that conversation right away, it actually probably helps us because now we can show how we do handle our debt and how we pay off our debt over time and how you roll in and wrap it around. >> Um because that, you know, explains that most of the payments for that large amount comes on the back side of the loan, not the front side of the loan. >> I'm showing that to them. We've
048not looked at it. It's on our all of our referendum pages, too. If you ever look at it, >> that graph really I mean this that graph helps a lot to see that >> because they don't understand. >> Yeah, that's going to need to be like a >> like a point like there's got to be a creative way to explain that. I'll see figure out what how I can explain to Lincoln and then we can >> There you go. Um, I don't think that we should change anything to make it go back up to 15 because I feel like we're saying here's the amount, here's the exact same thing we're going for, then I guess I don't know. I'm just going for the consistency. We said this is what we need. This is what we
049need. That's just my opinion. >> Scott, you had a question or something earlier. Um maybe I just spaced something but once you set once the voters approve a capital projects levy that cannot change due to inflation or can >> right now those these are set figures. >> Okay. >> Yeah. for both of them. You know, the bond is that home loan, if you will, and then the the capital is >> unless did we set it with influation, >> Jody? Because sometimes it >> it's the only levy that you'll have that's a tax rate assessed against your tax base. So, almost all your levies are determined by enrollment, but it will fluctuate and change. So, as your tax base increases, you'll qualify for more revenue. And if your tax base declines, which has happened a couple
050times in the past, then you'll have less revenue. So it will change each year. >> This is on more of a percentage of your tax base than whatever they pay. >> It's a tax rate. It's required to be a tax rate that you're requesting from your taxpayer. So you're, you know, any the districts that all have operating referendums in place, those are enrollment driven and their revenue fluctuates based on enrollment. who don't have an operating referendum, but capital project levies do fluctuate from year to year depending upon the change in your tax base. >> Thanks for that clarification, Julie. >> Of course. Yep. And so if if the dis if the board was interested in changing that amount, we would need to revisit the bond amount, too, because that would change all of our assumptions
051in the debt plan. So just know that we'd have to recalculate and revisit that bond amount then also to make everything fit. which we can do. Yeah. >> So, we recalculate for a dollar >> if we stay at 15 or we recalculate if it goes down to 14. >> No, it's already recalculated for 14. >> That's correct. >> Make sure I understood. Yes. >> Yeah. So, the bond and the payments are being spread over a larger tax base and so is the capital project levy. If you leave it at 750, you're spreading um your your your tax rate is a little bit lower because you can generate the 750 with a lower tax rate. So you'll notice in the language of the ballot question that tax rate that you need to request is slightly lower
052also. So that is not going to be the same number if you do want to raise 750 in revenue. It's going to the rate that you're requesting is going to be just a little bit less. Okay. >> And that's, you know, something that you could point to in the explanation too, right? That the tax base growth is allowing you to access that revenue with a lower tax rate and allowing you to even though the construction is inflation is causing the bond amount to be a little bit higher, you're able to accomplish that at a lower tax rate really too. Jody, when I look at your figures um on the the one spreadsheet that's really a small font in that in the first column. >> Yes. >> About change in our tax base. You're using real
053numbers for 2425 which is 7.7%. >> That's correct. That's fiscal 25. Fiscal 26 is actual. >> Yeah. >> Fiscal 27 is based upon what the um counties used for your proposed tax statements. They'll calculate all of those final values and rates in the spring, but they've given us their estimates for this year. >> And then you went 2% 1% 1% 0 0. >> Exactly. Yep. So those are just our best assumptions at this point in time. um with um the goal of being conservative, of course, because we don't want those tax rates to be higher than what we're telling the taxpayers now. >> And and I I just wanted to point that out because that clarifies the other social media post that said that we were projecting huge growth every year for the next 20
054years. And that's not over 17 of the years, it's 0% projected growth. And if I'm understanding that right, Jody, that means that um as growth comes, our bond payment from taxpayers could be less because of the growth, but the the capital levy would be the same percentage and that would give us more money. >> That's true. Yep. Exactly right. And I'll just mention since you pointed out some of those values that there was a legislative change that caused that um growth in your tax base to be a little smaller than normal for your pay 25 fiscal 26 levy. So that 2% was really artificially low because of a legislative change that was made to give some property tax relief to residential homeowners. that homestead exclusion credit, that homestead ex exclusion calculation was approved to provide
055some property tax relief, but that re, you know, artificially brought your uh value down. >> So, we've got lots of complicated things going on in our in our uh property tax system, but um so that's a little bit of an aberration, I would say, as compared to what you would normally see because of that legislative change. That's why we glad we're glad we have you, Joy. >> So, I guess the admin team and probably the three on the call were just looking for direction on where to move forward with the review and comment and how you want to see that move in place. So we're just looking for uh when sun says on >> keep it as it as is. >> Changes want we want changes. Okay. >> Keep it as is. >> I like
056the objects of keeping it is. >> Okay. >> I agree. >> I guess we're good. Right. I know what we need to do now. >> Jody and Ryan and Robert, thanks for being on the call. Is there anything else for them before they see you next week? >> See you next week. Yeah. >> I'm sure you have those cookies. >> Yeah, >> we'll be ready. All >> right. Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Okay. Good night. Bye. We have no action items and no additions. So, um, we need a motion to close the board meeting to discuss negotiation strategy by Eric Mink. Is there a second? >> Second by Eric Strandberg. Any comments or questions? They're not