001Um, I'll call that to order. If you please rise and join us in the pledge, we'll let people enter. Yes. >> I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. >> All right. But the roll call show all board members are present except for Eric Stramber. >> Um, our first order of business tonight is the inclusive playground grant. >> So, I'm sure we have some for that. >> So, so we've walked right into the uh to your moment here for the inclusive playground. if you want to come up and talk a little bit about the grant we received and uh a little maybe our photo op and it's >> and if you have
002anything you want to share on your own >> so we've been applying the grants and for the inclusive playground project so we're looking to add accessible equipment to both the primary and interate school playgrounds so all kids can play together. So, Midco was awesome enough to award us a grant. >> And if you would introduce yourself so anybody watching can maybe >> Yeah. I'm Maria Hoo. I'm a school physical therapist and then my kids go to Princeton too. >> Yep. Elena Verkenneth. I work um for Minnesota Speech Therapy Solutions and my kids go to school here also. >> I am Mike Moyer. I'm the field service manager for Sampi. Um my kids did go to school here. They both graduated in 2020 from the high school. Um, Chuck Kovas, a construction guy, I guess. Uh,
003I'm the sponsor for this good cause, and I have four kids actually going to Princeton. So, this is worth a while. >> Yeah. >> And we really appreciate the grant. Um, I was telling them earlier that we are up to like $60,000 to meet our our total goal is 350 for the playground. Um, but we if we get to 175,000, we can get a matching grant from the Lions. So, really, we're half like halfway to our halfway mark to get to the finish line. I like that. So, we're getting closer. >> And give to the max. >> Yes, get to the max is on Thursday. So, um, if you've already participated by either with your time and money, just share some of our posts so that it can reach some people who, um, haven't seen
004it or shared. Um, so if you could just share it along as much as you can. Thursday's the day. There'll be lots of posts. >> Perfect. >> I know we need you all to smile beautifully. [laughter] >> Or or just brown, whatever you want to do, but I'm going to put it on the Facebook. >> Yay. Oh yeah, we could I mean >> works out. >> Thank you. >> Well, we appreciate all your work. >> Thanks for appreciate it. >> We appreciate uh all your enthusiasm on getting this off the ground and >> it would be awesome. >> Thank you very much, >> Maria and Melinda. Thank >> I know there's lots of worker bees behind >> lots of people are volunteering through time. >> Thank you very much. >> Thank you guys. >> Great
005work. >> All right. Uh we go on to citizen comments. Was there anything on the back there? Brad, did you sign the >> Just so we have your information? >> Oh, yeah. Where to find your bread? Are you doing three minutes? >> Yep. Three minutes. >> Three minutes. No problem. >> Not yet. Pat, if I could just take one, pass it down. Pass it down. Okay. Welcome. >> Thank you for having me. Glad to sit next to our newspaper editor. What a great opportunity it is. Um I'm in front of you guys tonight, too. Thank you guys for the community outreach um in the Bonnie referendum that you guys did. Pretty proud of the work that you guys did in getting the community gathered up. The numbers and the results didn't didn't necessarily come out
006in in favor of that, but I do want to just say that you guys are doing a heck of a good job. I'm super proud of all of you guys and all the effort that you guys did in all of the jurisdictions and communities over here. What I brought to for you guys tonight is is the first handout which is public information, but it's not publicly organized. It's never been publicly organized like this. And so, if you go to the first line item, what this is is school district 477's top 25 taxpayers. These taxpayers are your partners. These folks are what I would say the the leading factors of of revenue coming out of Sherburn County for you guys. And the reason I want to point this out is if you go to the top
007line item, you can see the business. >> Yep. >> You can see their estimated tax value and then you can see what they pay to the Princess schools. The first one is $397,482 and that's in two parcels of property. But the interesting thing that you'll point out is if you guys look at number four and number five, Mini Gasco, Northern States Power, they pay you guys a combination of about $190,000. The utility company does. Okay. So then go to page number two. Just out of curiosity, page number two will take us over to another wonderful school district. This is the Becker School District. You'll see the number one taxpayer there is Northern States Power Company. They pay $12,155,390 as a top taxpayer to their school district and that's in 52 parcels of land. The second
008one is the most interesting which is southern Minnesota power, municipal power. They pay $5.3 million of tax revenue into that school district. And then keep going on down. You'll see Greater River Energy, you'll see the pipeline, you'll see Bonco, you'll see a bunch of other ones. But let's fast forward to Big Lake because see the trend. The trend is um here you're going to see number three and number four are the top taxpayers for their school district paying approximately 390 $380,000 in utilities. And the reason that I bring this back up to you guys is that there the utility company in our community sponsored by Southern Minnesota Power doesn't pay any money for their assets to help support our students. And when you see the information that I see in Sherburn County and working with
009all of the communities, I spent so much time at the 728 school district, which I did not bring and highlight for you guys here, but the assets and the values and the investment in this community are right here. I know that you guys are searching three different counties to get them, but they're right here in our backyard. This community is so amazing and has so much support when you've seen the facts. And so, I would just encourage you guys to look at it from a different aspect. I can bring this up cuz I'm super good kind of like balsamic vinegar and small little bits, but I'm asking you guys to be the honey. If you guys are the honey, you guys can get together and get a community that is going to pay because Southern
010Minnesota Power pays $5 million of tax revenue to the school and and that's what would you guys do with $5 million every single year? I mean, the numbers are just phenomenal. I'm >> sure we could figure out something. >> That's the That's the positive spirit I love to hear. Thank you, Chairwoman. Uh and then anyway, back to my last page. This is the tax report from the property right in Sherurn County. Of course, this is the uh utility for Kexus Energy. It's the substation that you guys see off the backside of Crystal Cabinets. You guys know where I'm talking about on the back side there. They pay you and they support you. They support the future of our kids in our community. I'm so proud of this. But you can see right here on the
011on the property tax statement, the school district, they pay you 2,000 3,000 four, let's go, $4,500. $4,500 just from that infrastructure that you can see. When you have the gas company, those pipes are in the ground. You can't even see them. And they're contributing and paying your property taxes. They're paying you guys to help support our our kids. For utilities, you can't see. They're in the ground and they're paying taxes. So again, like I said, I'm like balsamic vinegar. It tastes really good in small doses, but I'm asking you guys to be the honey and put this together for our kids. You guys have done so much wonderful things and come so far. I'm so incredibly proud of our school board, chairwoman, all of you. And so I would stand for any questions. Otherwise, thanks
012for having me. That was three minutes. Just one minute. Just one second. >> Perfect. >> Thank you so much. >> Thank you. This is for you. All right, we will move on then to uh reports and we'll start with board member committee reports. Um we want to start with Scott uh that was at MEA yesterday along with Don. Um, prior to that, on Friday, I met with a young seventh grader who had some questions about enrollment and how it affects our district coming forward, but I think I emailed. >> Yeah, he was doing it for >> Boy Scouts. Yes, >> Boy Scouts. >> Um, we had >> um phase four part one last Wednesday and before that phase three part two October 22nd. I want to say >> you've been busy. >> I was also
013at the National Science Teachers Convention, but that was >> it was amazing. [laughter] >> Thank you, Don. >> Uh let's see. I attended the Blaze Community Council um event. Um I had MSBA part A of phase 4 agenda planning, MSBA part B, phase three. attended the national um FFA convention. If you want to see over 70,000 kids in one area, that's where to go. [laughter] Um it's kind of neat because it's there's a lot of training workshops that they attend, but it's also a huge recruitment. The amount of businesses there looking to employ kids down the road is incredible. I attended MA. I had a meeting with Mark, the executive director of resource training and solutions, and I had a student rep meeting and then I attended the uh student of the month. >> So,
014thank you very much. Very >> financial. >> Okay. Yeah. >> Well, I mean, it's hard to follow. >> I know, but I'm going to save my mine for last. >> Um I will go real quick. We had a public engagement meeting that we could follow up with um after after the referendum. We I did lunch at the high school for the advanced foods class where they come and serve you lunch and it's fantastic. It was very delicious. My theme was Central America and they nailed it. Um I also decorated the schoolboard tree in Princeton. Was it Christmas tree laying? So when you drive by that bad boy that messed it up if it's not perfect if it's perfect. >> I got a beautiful star. >> She got a star. We got to put the star
015on. >> Eric says, "Charlie, you know what? We have a star that changes colors to be added." So, you know what? Fantastic. >> Thank you. Thank you. It's a great job. Uh, I also was able to attend finance. I was able to attend the veterans parade. Um, which was amazing. Um, I did find out the difference between the middle school reactions and the primary intermediate reactions and it makes me feel like I will can just continue attending at the primary school and volunteering there because they get way more excited. Um, we had the student rep meeting. I was going to just bring up again the give to the max for the playground. Um it's coming up um Thursday and if you do a donation in the morning from 7:00 to 8 at Coffee Corner, you
016show them your little donation receipt, you get a free cup of coffee and then it a free drink for happy hour 4 to 5 at Four Seasons. So make a note of that bad boy. Not YouTube, but the rest of you. [laughter] >> Wow, you guys are fully me tonight. >> I got it. Jen. Um, well, we had the canvasing board meeting. >> Yeah. >> Just making a list over there. >> Um, I attended two nights of band concerts. >> So, um, yeah, that was good. And, um, I think that's probably a short list. underneath my list. >> Um I also attended finance tonight and we had agenda planning and um we uh regrouped after the referendum at a public engagement meeting too. So >> Eric, you came. Welcome. >> Thanks. I band concerts. Um
017they were awesome. The sixth grade band concert was was so great that they didn't have to actually like play songs and they just played with like how they're learning how to play their instruments. >> It gets really ugly. Um [laughter] >> yeah, >> you play though. >> Yeah. No. Um >> like the high school conferences. That was my first time. That was interesting. That was it. >> Oh, yeah. High school conferences. All right. Thank you. All right. Student council report. All right. >> I'll start with uh prek and community in general. Um yesterday the toddlers had a story time with Miss Tiffany the preschool and then baby story time is tomorrow with Miss Amy. Um there 20th and the 21st there's another preschool because there that's the conference days. And then community ad there was
018a red cross conference for CPR first aid and a certification just to get um reason. >> So the primary had their annual funds for fun fundraiser which was held October 24th through November 7th. They asked um 35 to $40 per student for field trips and fun activities. And the prizes included for the top six earning students, uh, fire truck ride. The top earning classrooms, a party with the principal. And for the second top earning classrooms, extra recess. And for they also did a random draw for 30 students. And they had donuts with the principal. The drop off and pickup process is going better, which I've heard. Tiger Pride family night for the primary and intermediate is November 20. And the intermediate, they have a November reading challenge with a goal of 30,000 AR points. Um
019they also had um a essay to write. Students wrote an essay for Veterans Day and the winning students received a pizza party. >> The middle school had a the kids in the kitchen yesterday. Um the sixth grade has a choir concert today. The seventh grade has a field trip theater on the 20th and then they have thing called togetherness day Friday. Then um few things for high school kind of put this dinner between um Lyn and I. So the drama one and drama 2 both had their performances on Friday which is like uh an English class that they have in high school. The high school musical finished up their performances. >> Uh we have a food drive in high school and tomorrow is the last day to donate to the food drive. >> Pop tabs
020collection is starting soon. >> That's great versus grade and student teachers. Uh there's the blood drive happening soon which is uh December 10th. We're starting to have people sign up for those during lunch. >> Sophomores recently just had just had just desserts. Yeah, that's like a practice interview thing where they have desserts while they practice for future. And then for the future tri members, they're going to go caroling at Princeton. Um I think they're going to go two days 29th and the 30th. That's all we have. But find the when they send out the link for the blood drive, send it out to the school. Correct. I think that actually I have it right now. >> Send it to Donna and we can set it up. >> Yeah, do that. >> Awesome. Thank you. >>
021All right, Pat superintendent report. >> Yeah, thanks. So, you know, when we look at uh kind of our last regular meeting, it's been a while, so there's a laundry list to go through here, but uh first off, I I always like to look at November as the the time you give thanks. You know, it's give gratitude to what we have and what we appreciate. And uh you know for me I'll go through a few things that in our school district I really appreciate and I'll start with the school board. I really appreciate a really strong school board like we do and I appreciate all your work and your commitment to the school and partnership that we have with all the admin with staff at here and students. So thank you. Um want to thank the
022uh the fall activities. Uh we have a lot of activities that competed really hard all fall and many of them did quite well. Um, and just want to thank coaches, the athletes, the the parents and the fans and especially the the athletes for the talent because they provide a lot of entertainment for the community. So, it's something to give thanks for. Um, I know the referendum uh uh decision was not quite what we had wanted, but I do want to thank those were voting. I want to thank the people that allowed us to go give presentations to them. And then also um a big thanks to the task force for coming up with a plan that we went forward with. Um they did a lot of work. Um when it comes to student events, uh
023I too had attended the the middle school band, high school band, high school choir, and and the and the fall musical. And it's just fun to see that kind of talent. So very thankful for for our kids and and all those instructors that help them get to that level. Um, our community partnerships I I really appreciate and I'm thankful for that. Uh, the chamber is amazing about how they really connect the school and the community. Um, you know, some of the events in the last uh 3 weeks have been, you know, the Tiger Connections. Um, the tours like we went to Phillips um distillery. Um, the the um Chunkin pumpkin was fun and got to see how they, you know, provide that for the city. And then the citywide trickor treat was was a treat.
024So thankful for that. And I I think probably the biggest thing that I think of in the last probably two or three weeks I'm really thankful for is our veterans and what they have done for not only just our community but our our country. Um and it's so cool the model that we have for that parade. and they the I got to talk to probably 80% of the veterans that were in line to to to drive in the parade and they really appreciate it. There's a lot of smiles that day, a lot of giving them praise and recognition and um it it it's a pretty cool event. So, um thanks to the veteran veterans in our community and thanks for the whoever organizes that parade because it's pretty cool. Um, as far as the rest
025of the kind of list from my uh from the last few weeks, uh, first off, I want to just honor um, I want to mention that our uh, intermediate school has been honored again with their PBS, their exemplary school for PBIS. So, I want to congratulate them for that. Um, and then uh, some of the other things that uh, has happened in probably the last three weeks for me went to some church dinners. That's kind of fun to do that if you haven't done that. It's kind of a cool thing to do with the community. Um um yes, we were still in referendum time, so many presentations to finish up the ref presentations. We've had a lot of admin meetings since the last time we met. We we are doing a PLC cohort with our
026MTSS training and um that's going really well and and we're finding the ways to make an impact in our school and in our classroom with what we're being trained. So that's great. Um I always call it the C meeting, but it's now the SAP. I think that >> and that was pretty intriguing. Um I do I did bring a packet of the the Leman um uh survey that they did this fall if anybody's interested. >> His title for it was kind of humorous. He said, "Sure could use a little good news today." [laughter] And um for those of us that are addited, uh it's really interesting information they find about across the state of what people are feeling about not just the schools, but just kind of the the I don't know the the feeling
027of what's happening in our state. So it's it's it's good information. um had a chance to to work with uh meet with Palmer CEO Jenna and just talked a little bit about um you know what's happening there and how um they're working very hard to improve what's happening there. Um I know at the finance meeting Michelle reported that you know they do have a new hire to work with as a manager and they they kind of created an extra layer to keep uh Beth on on board and Sandy on board. So, we're expecting our Palmer bus company to keep improving as this fall goes. So, um that's a lot of hopeful thinking, I guess, and we'll [clears throat] keep a close eye on it. Um we uh as the auditor is finishing up, they always
028do a review with me and Michelle and Jake. So, that was good. Um meetings with uh we have monthly meetings with Venture Online for our online school. So, we always going to kind of check in, see where they're at. Um, the there's a with our resource learning and solutions, they have a leadership and educational excellence awards that they give out. We we had that uh in the last couple weeks here. It's a Wednesday night dinner and they celebrate the teachers that we nominate and it's really a cool event. I mean, they get for teachers that are there, they really get celebrated and they feel pretty special when you're there. [clears throat] So, that's that's pretty cool. And I think it's the So, yeah, >> Support staff tomorrow night. The same kind of thing. Um, I
029I didn't even know and I I'm not sure they knew I was going to be in this because I think that maybe they invited before and hadn't attended, but I went to a county health consortium kind of thing where it's up in Malaca and they it's all the county health support people and we talked a lot about how um they help support schools but all families and any kind of um health needs that they have in the in the county. Um so that was good. Uh Jason and I met with the with the teachers union on the meet and cur and and that went well. So I was really happy to see that. Then attending the Lions meetings. Those Lions loved us seeing that. Blaze Credit Union had a lunchon. I was surprised how many
030people there and Don you were there. That was a big turnout for the community. Happened to be the day after election. So I might not have been a real happy camper. [laughter] Um it it still worked out pretty good. Um, uh, Rum River continues to have meetings monthly, too, and I've been attending those, uh, especially the governance meetings. And then, um, we have our canvas meeting here, canvas meeting. Um, and then uh, there's a Rum River housing summit that they do and it's about homeless and I went to that here last week. Very interesting. Um, and a lot of that had to do with how the funding's going to be a shortfall and how how are we going to handle that to the point where it was um, uh, I think in our region that
031they were talking about, they provide aboutund I think it was somewhere around 110 120 households environments for homeless and because of the federal funding depletion, it's going to be down to 40. So, it's about a 70% decrease on what they'll be able to provide for homeless. So, um the state's helping they presented and they they're helping to pick some of that up, but it's we're going to see some pretty tough times for anybody that's homeless out there. And you know, the whole reason for the summit was how can we help support wherever we can. So, um it was uh impactful to have that conversation. Um, and then we had uh the Princeton High School CTE advisory which connects to the Tiger Community Connection uh meeting this last week. It was really cool to see the
032presentations from the teachers and what they're providing in our CTE program. Our kids get some great experiences. Um, and it, you know, in watching that it was like, well, it'd be nice to summarize it because it went for about an hour and a half, but summarize it somehow and bring it here because there's a lot of celebrations that happened in our in our high school with what they're doing. Um, uh, we've had referendum recap meetings both with small groups and I've had them for some individuals. And then lastly, u, I was at the MEA conference, uh, Sunday and Monday. And um that was some some really good sessions and um some good keynote speakers and I won't go around high-fiving you but that was one of the keynote [clears throat] speakers high five and say
033I like your face. [laughter] >> That was to get everybody fired up. Yeah, I love your picture that way. That was to get everybody excited. But uh um overall it's been a busy time but also a really good time and uh and again making a lot of noise in the community. So >> thank you. >> All right. No questions for Pat on this. All right. We will move on to approving our agenda. Is there a motion to approve our agenda as presented? >> So moved. >> Motion's been made by Melissa. Is there a second? >> Second by Jen. Um, any comments or questions on the agenda? Hearing none, all in favor say I. I. >> Opposed. >> All right. Agenda is approved. Item number nine, discuss and act on previous board meeting minutes. Is there
034a motion to approve those minutes as presented? So moved. Motion's been made by Don. Is there a second? >> Second by Scott. Any comments or questions on those? Hearing none, all in favor say I. I. Opposed. >> All right, those minutes are approved. Our next item is number 10, the consent agenda. Is there a motion to approve the consent agenda as presented? >> Second. >> Motion's been made by Melissa, seconded by Eric Ninks. Any comments or questions on the consent agenda? I was wondering what CERP assistance grant was. We got a grant for $18,000. I was wondering what it was what that stands for. >> CP it says. >> Okay. >> I'll just make a nice $18,000. >> Well, I just >> And as we leave, we'll know what it is. It's very career or
035something. I don't know. I spread this Denise Jordan. >> Oh, Denise Jordan. So, that's going to be our safety. >> Oh, our safety cardiac emergency response. >> That's what it is. >> She applied for it. Yes. >> We don't have it yet. >> We don't have it. It's just applied. >> Yes. >> Oh, D. Got it. Got it. Got it. >> Yep. >> Oh, should >> increased [clears throat] automatic uh um automated external defibrills. >> Oh, got it. I hadn't seen that one before, so I was >> All right. October. >> Yeah. >> Any other questions or comments on the consent? All right. All in favor say I. >> I. Opposed. >> Consent is approved. Uh we have our first information item, the audit. Carolyn should be joining us online. There she is. >> Good
036evening. >> Sharing my screen here. >> Hello. We can see you now. >> Perfect. You hear me as well? >> I can hear you. >> Yes. >> Yep. >> Perfect. All right. And seeing my screen as well? >> Yes. All right. So, good good on all accounts. Um, well, it's great to be with you tonight. I'm Caroline Stzman. I'm the partner involved in your audit. So, I'd like to take a few minutes of your time tonight to go through the results of that audit. The main reason you ask us to work with the district is to provide an opinion on the financial statements. That opinion is housed within the independent auditor's report. Also, within the independent auditor's report, both management's responsibilities as well as our responsibilities are outlined. And management's responsibilities are for the preparation
037and fair presentation of the financial statements in accordance with GAP. Really what that means is that management is responsible for determining the numbers. We then are responsible to obtain reasonable assurance that those financial statements are free from material misstatement. So conducting our audit um it's reasonable not absolute assurance meaning we're not testing every single transaction. We are sampling, we're recalculating, we're vouching um conducting our audit work. The um opinion we're providing is what's called an unmodified opinion. That's the highest level that we can receive or that you can receive and not a change from previous years. Meaning we do believe those financial statements are fairly stated in all material respects as of June 30th, 2025. In addition to looking um at the numbers as we go throughout our process, we also conducted our audit in
038accordance with government auditing standards. That requires us to consider internal controls as we go throughout our process. Um we did not have any written findings in relation to that either, which is not always the case. So kudos to you for that um that that accomplishment. Minnesota legal compliance, we also conducted an audit in accordance with that. Um the office of the state auditor compiled a number of Minnesota state statutes into checklists for us to ask a number of questions about. We did not have any findings related to any of that information either. And one um unique item this year is in relation to um the audit in accordance with uniform guidance. This is the single audit test work. Um the documents that you received are in preliminary form and that is because we are awaiting
039the compliance supplement to be in final form. So we've conducted test work. We are just waiting to finalize all of that information um once that compliant supplement is out and we ensure that all of that test work is complete. Um so at this point we did test child nutrition and we're not foreseeing there to be anything. Um we would circle back or you will get those final documents when we're all said and done with that. But just wanted to give you that update in that regard. With that we'll jump into the financial analysis. We'll make that just a little bit bigger. Um, with general education aid being the largest funding source for you as a school district in the state of Minnesota, we look at the two main drivers of that calculation first, the formula
040allowance as well as pupil units. And so we start here with the formula allowance. um looking 10 years back and also looking ahead to what we know currently based on legislature but focusing on that 2025 line and the 2% increase that was received. Next we look at pupil units and so we begin with resident ADMs and these are only the dis only the students living within your district. In total resident ADMs um decreased by four so stay pretty consistent but some fluctuation by grade levels as they're presented. um here with secondary and kindergarten and other increasing and the elementary grade levels decreasing. Then if you apply the waiting factors that we have on this slide as well as take into consideration open enrollment you arrive at the total adjusted PUN and this is the amount
041that you're paid off of from the state. So this first line item with residents um that follows suit with what we just looked at with the waiting factors applied to it. So pretty similar um comparison there and uh similar activity compared to the prior year increasing by about one. Then the next two lines the residents going elsewhere and non-residents coming in that's the impact of open enrollment that I touched on earlier. Um for 2024 that was a loss of 313 compared to a loss of 205 in 2025. So as a result that total adjusted PUN increased by 109. And again, that's the amount that you're paid off of from the state. Next, we shift gears and look at the activity of the general fund. We start with sources of revenue. And in total, general fund
042revenue increased by just under one and a half% some fluctuations between the categories of revenue as they are presented here though. um state revenue increased for a number of the items that I had touched on already or for a couple of the items that I touched on already being the increase in the formula allowance as well as the increase in pupil units. In addition to that, special education aid increased, local property taxes decreased. It was just based on the allocation um for the general fund um for the levy allocation of that. And then other revenue is everything else. And this is where federal your federal revenue um is included. And this category decreased as a result of the COVID funding kind of in in the stage where that is at in that finishing up. Next,
043we look at general fund expenditures. And here we have a pie chart format for us to compare to prior year. Um so first of all if we're comparing to prior year the items that um you note a change in of 1% or or more is going to be in the instructional support services and special education. So instructional support services we see a little bit of a decrease there that is the result of a decrease in technology devices and repairs just that activity and then spe special education increase there's additional staffing as well contracted time due to the needs of students. One other item to look at in this format is the um the instructional components. So regular instruction, vocational instruction as well as special education instruction. All of those components together are 66.8% 8% of
044the general funds expenditures. Um there is guideline out there for that to be in the 65% range. So you are in right in that range as well. Here we look at those revenues and expenditures and a per ADM serve standpoint. And the top two boxes are revenues and this bottom one here is expenditures. Um we do have the ability to compare to some state average information when looking at this. Um first of all for 2025 when we look at revenue per ADM ser we do see a decrease there. Really that has to do with um revenues increasing but not at as great of a rate as student serve decrease. So it's just kind of the pure mechanics of it of the calculations. But you do have then the ability to compare to some state average
045information for 2024. Again, um I emphasize the average part of that. You um the district as has been in the past is under the state average. We touch on that because things can look different from one district to another for a number of different reasons. Um items like special education needs, compensatory aid, federal funding that's received or earned um referendum dollars, all of those things can can make things look a different way from one district to another. This is just information for you to have. And we typically start with revenues because you're you're spending within your means. So when you're looking at revenues and expenditures, you're usually seeing the same sort of um trend, which is the case here, that also in the expenditure side of things um below the state average. A slight increase
046when you're looking at 2025 um from an expenditure per ADM served. um both percentages both expenditures as well as ADMs are changed by um nearly the same type of percentage. So pretty consistent there. Here we have a budget to actual snapshot for the general fund. Uh first two columns are the budget. So an original budget there were some amendments to that budget. So the final budgets in the second column comparison to actual results in the third column where um we see that fund balance increased by just under 400,000 and then a variance column in the far right. So looking to explanations um total revenues were over budget as we see in the far right column here we apply a percentage to that it's 2.6%. And um just looking at a couple of the variances there,
047state sources um overbudget with general education aid coming in higher than anticipated. And then the other revenues um over budget there as well has to do with uh investment earnings and tuition from other districts exceeding um the budgeted estimates. On the expenditure side of things, if we follow the chart down, um we see underbudget there, and again, if we apply a percentage to that, it's 2.4%. Um some of the reasons for the variances that we see listed there. Um instructional support services, that's under budget. Um that really had to do with again last year the the decrease in the technology device and purchase repairs as well as less um teaching and learning materials. And then on the regular instruction side of things under budget there. Uh there was a reallocation of the staff development as
048well as workers compensation costs. Sites and buildings were under budget um due to repairs and maintenance expenditures mostly related to boilers and HVAC repairs. And then special education was over budget um mostly in the salaries and wages line item four uh with the tuition expenditures that were applied to federal funding. Here we pull the general fund al together and this probably gets a little small and hard to read but we've touched on the top portion already mostly which is the revenues and expenditures as well as the change in fund balance. So here we then see total fund balance. Um so ended the year at 12.7 million in the general fund. I'll make this just a little bit bigger if I can maybe. Um the bottom part then provides more detail on the components of that
049fund balance. So the top non-spendable item, this is for items like prepaids or inventory. If you think of it as the money has already left the building, you can't use it for future operations. So it's separated into its own category. Then there are a number of restricted components and these are all of those statemandated funding sources where you need to spend those dollars in accordance with how you received them. All of those components together increased by a little over 700,000. Committed and assigned are both internally set aside items um that you are aware of and planning ahead for these costs or these um investments in things. And so they are separated into their own category as well. And then that leaves you with unassigned which is for um everything that isn't identified above. Basically that
050category decreased by 245,000. That is all and end of the year right right around 4.8 million. That is the component also that you compare to your fund balance policy. Your fund balance policy indicates that you uh would strive to have a minimum general fund unassigned fund balance of 10% of the annual budget. We have um run the calculation for this year. You're at 10.1%. So you are in compliance with that policy you've established for yourselves. >> Very close. [laughter] [clears throat] >> Very close there. The This is yet another way to look at fund balance and this is unrestricted fund balance as a percentage of unrestricted expenditures. It's sim it's different than the percentage I just talked about on the previous page because that one is unassigned um and that's in relation to the budget.
051So this is everything but restricted portions of your fund balance and then the related expenditures that go through it or that relate to it. So it's a complicated calculation. MDE calculates or Minnesota Department of Ed calculates it for us does give us the ability to compare to some state average information as well. So including it here for that purpose. Um so seeing um slight decrease in the percentage for this year from this perspective and below state average as well. The last two slides that we have look at the special revenue funds. So food service fund and community service fund. Um here we have food service. We do see that activity did increase both for revenues and expenditures. um revenues increased about 2% that most of that is in is related to an increase in all
052of cart sales and then expenditures increased um as well about one and a half% most of that due to increased salaries as well as increased food costs. So at the end of the day fund balance increased by about 280,000 and ended the year at 2.8 million. Here we have the community service fund activity. Revenues were down but um pretty comparable when you look at things from a percentage point. Less than 1% change and expenditures increased just under 3% um with an increase in purchase services. Fund balance increased by just under 450,000 for the year and ended just below 2 million. All of the components of that fund balance are listed below here as well. All are positive, which is great to see and not always something that we're able to say. Um there are times
053when some aren't fully self supporting or um self-sufficient. So great to see that they all are in that form for you. I would be happy to take any questions anyone might have. Any questions for Caroline? Does the pupil units going elsewhere include homeschool members? >> Can you hear me, Caroline? >> What was that? >> You repeat it >> on slide eight. The pupil units going elsewhere. Does that include homeschool members? >> No. >> Okay. [clears throat] >> Homeschool does not report to the MDE. So, it's only your reported kids that are in other public schools. >> Okay. Or charter schools or anybody that any kind of state aid. >> Yeah. >> Thank you. >> Any other questions? >> All right. Thank you so much, Caroline. >> Thank you for your time and thank you for
054all the work that goes into this. I know how much work it is and so we appreciate all of that. >> Thank you, Carolyn. and thank you for the last week. I know I threw a curveball at you on Monday. >> It's all good. We're all We're all good and have everything [clears throat] you need. So, have a good rest of your night. >> Thank you. >> All right. Our other uh information item is the first reading of some policies. >> Anybody want to uh walk us through those? The summary pretty much sums it up. um the compensation for schoolboard members and expenses that came back that had gone through finance and that too. So we um just finally got that up to um the federal or the guidelines. >> Oh, is that having to
055do with like meals and stuff? >> Okay. I was going to say >> Yeah. Instead of >> Don't we have to do that again in January? >> Yeah. Um, so the way we wrote this policy now is so that it'll adjust based on what that government is versus having to look at it every year. >> I mean, we're still going to look at it, but >> um the rates are going to adjust automatically with that. >> Okay. >> Any questions or comments on the first reading? All right. Then we'll see those again in December um at our December meeting. Our first action item is to discuss and submit potential referendum for review and comment. Pat, did you want to >> Yeah. So, um I know at our canvasing meeting we had a a second um
056discussion item and then that was, you know, where do we go next since uh this referendum did not pass. um and what are the thoughts and you know what are the opportunities we may have to learn from it and then how to move forward um and I would say that uh after the discussion and and getting kind of some feedback uh um the one thing that we've said all along is that this is a a need not a want. Um this is something that uh the task force worked two and a half years to put together. This is something the board had looked at with the task force during that time. Even from the one meeting I remember coming in either May or June, the task force showed all the items that were potential of
057going out for a referendum. The board was very strategic on let's center on just what the absolute top priority needs are and that's what this referendum was. Um, so in light of that, knowing that it didn't pass, it may not be that it's not needed. It's just that the strategies to get it to pass may need to change. Um, and so um, with that, that's where this comes. If we were going to go out again, there was dates that were considered um, and looked [clears throat] at. And, um, there are a number of dates that you can look at between now and a year from now. Um, and strategically it felt that the the right date that would match this district would be the the May 12th. And partly with that is that to get
058that out again to not get into the political side of the of the of the dates, which would be August or November, where there'd be a lot of political noise because there's some elections going on that will cause that. and and if you went out in April, which would be the one of the soonest dates, um you would have to change what you had um and in the discussions that we had, it was um we know that this was what the task force presented to us. We know that it's a need, not a want. Stay with the same um referendum and uh give our um support team a chance to see if there's anything in the review and comment that need to be updated that would need to go to the state um here at
059the end of December, early January. So, we wanted to make sure that we had authority to do that to to to revise the review and comments. we present to the state. So that's what this action item is. It's not the resolution to go out for referendum. It is the it is the permission for us and the admin team to um work with our consultants to make sure our review comment is matching um what we want to consider in May if we were wrong. >> Yes. And we would submit this is to submit the review and comment. >> Yeah, it's not the resolution to go out for the election. >> Okay, >> that would be we could do that in favor. >> Any uh any further discussion or comments, thoughts? >> We're just going big. We're
060going to get 2,000 no votes no matter what. Why not just get 2,000 no votes on a brand new high school? >> $150 million high school. Why is that asking for 483 or 89 or something? >> Schools. >> Yep. >> They're going out in November. >> Or no, who is >> that? 193 million. Just say hack with it. Go big. Like we're going to get 2,000 no votes if we ask for 25 million, 40 million. Let's get 2,000 no votes. Asking for 150 million. >> Well, we want 2,000 yes votes to get a CT. >> But then we're giving people something to come out and vote for. I mean, look at the percentage of voters that showed up to vote, right? >> I think a lot of it is people think that, oh, it's a
061no-brainer. So, >> let's get to somebody else. >> Yeah. I don't think that it's I mean >> I'm just one person. >> As much as we were out there, it never once hurt. God was just I mean maybe but like oh this is a terrible you have what you're asking way too for way too many things. It was never like you're asking for all the fluff. It was just >> give the yes people a reason to come out and vote. Give the young families something to be excited and hungry about. >> Where you going figure it out? I don't think this county will support us on branding >> moneywise wise if it if we get the growth that realtors because this was at a chamber meeting >> the growth that is projected to come with
062that you know going bypass through Elk River and then getting Zimmerman they're saying Princeton is the next big >> that's >> I Yeah, but it's been for a long time from what I >> No, but we're getting 23% of the voters. >> I also heard >> 20 23% of the voters trying to get 40% a lot of people in >> maybe that extra 17% yesterday. >> I think that people do not understand the importance of their one vote and when you're a tired parent and you're not going out and voting. >> Is it exciting to go vote for a new boiler at a high school? Heck no. Is it exciting to go vote yes for a new high school? pay your mortgage payment. No, but you still do it. >> They're not going to. >>
063Well, then if they don't pay their mortgage payments, we got a whole another issue and we definitely shouldn't go out for any ice. >> I don't know. You just give them something to be excited to go vote for instead of a a boiler. Like, hey, cool. Let's buy a furnace. >> Personally, I think the CTE expansion is something exciting. >> It is. >> Yep. But we sold the boilers and the roof, didn't we? >> We sold it all. >> No, we sold the whole thing. We talked our presentation. We talked a lot about the career again. >> More people that show I would like to see the demographics of the age of the people that vote. >> We'll have that until the end of December. >> I bet there's not many young families that showed
064up to vote. >> That's what we're Yes. You're probably right. >> They didn't have a reason to come vote. They wanted it in high school >> or they don't see the connection yet because it's not affecting them yet. It's hard to see that when you've got a preschooler and a fiveyear-old and a 10year-old or whatever, you know, when all your kids are little and a runner, it's hard to understand my vote right now is going to fix this high school enough for them to be able to attend. Sure, lovely new high school would be amazing, but we just don't have no one in this community has the money to support maybe something. >> Clearly, they don't have the money to support 40 million or 49 million or whatever this is. humble for it. You're right.
065>> I believe that we I would be in favor of moving forward with this current proposal and if it fails again at the same rate, we reconsider and look at >> Eric's ideas. I just don't know that we're in a pos time to recalculate everything. >> I think maybe it'd be a good idea to get a few of the task force people back together um after we submit this or do this resolution to submit a review and comment, touch base with anybody that we can get their names of that showed up. And if I I think there are things to be excited about in our proposal that we have, but I I see what Eric is saying. Like you're going to get a lot of no votes anyways. We'll see what direction the task force
066is. >> A lot of our votes. Yeah. Make it. >> There you go. A lot of our yes votes were from people that I don't think would have voted yes though otherwise. So, do we have to get It's always the same demographic, is it not? That don't show up to vote, the ones that need to because it's for their kids. >> So, we have to figure that out. But I don't think that like alienating all the people that did come out to vote yes for it because it because of what it was is going to raise raise their a lot of people voted for it because it's like yes this is this is the what this is absolutely what you need and that's it and I know from a lot of the meetings we attended
067that's what it seems. >> Yeah. as being responsible, which is a great thing, >> right? >> Can we be excited about being responsible? >> I hope so. >> We were well and at at >> I still am. At several of the presentations that question was asked, what how much is the new high school? And you know, pretty much told them >> 50 plus. And uh that that kind of ended the discussion. >> Nobody was real happy with that one. >> No. So then they understood we were trying to take a more boring responsible approach. Um I I don't know. I >> something that directly relates to the community. >> Yeah. >> I don't we're going to spend the same amount of money going out for a referendum that's going to get shot down because it's
068the same old boring thing. or you take a chance and go for something exciting and spend >> or maybe people realize that they needed to show up to vote to pass it and more people will show up >> just like they realized in 2021 they needed to show up to vote. >> Well, there's multiple ways to look at a situation. >> Yeah. The other thing too is like Jen was saying, you know, regrouping that I if it if this does not pass in May, we really have to look at an operating and a tech levy too. We're really going to have to put that out because we are already back one year of not giving that 750,000 which was for all of our grades. that was something that was going to affect every student in
069this in our system. So there was something for every kid on that ballot. >> So I wasn't here during all the task force work. Um was what Eric's proposing considered that during the task force work >> to your point it does excite a lot of more younger right >> quite quickly >> because of the price tag >> yeah tax >> y >> and our community have said you know 17 was what they would >> right >> support obviously you're not going to get a new any building wise like >> with that limitation. Yeah. >> And to to Don's point, yeah, it does hurt not to give that 750 for the year. And Michelle and I have talked about that. You know, it's >> you know, that was to say extend it >> to give us
070a little gap before we'd have to go out for now. It's getting >> a lot tighter because >> someday we're going to run out. That 10% that we talked about, that's going to dwindle pretty fast. Nope. >> Can I make a motion to authorize district administration to submit all required information to the commissioner to request review and comment for facilities and a bond referendum to be held on May 12th, 2025. >> All right, a motion by Scott. >> I'll second it. Any other comments, questions, concerns >> for for our um kind of marching orders? I do we need to look beyond the current plan that was proposed. >> I 180 day, right? Right. I have the exact same question. >> Yeah. The only way you can go for operating is November, >> which I don't
071>> you can't do that in I don't think that work that might be the right after May. Okay. Well, May doesn't work. Then we go back to work trying to figure out just how to keep the lights on. >> If you vote for November, that also gives them that we can do a two question. >> I would like to see the task force back together at some point in December if that's possible, but that's just me. Yeah. No, I think it's I think it's a good idea to touch base with those folks. Um, but it might even just need to be via email or something though. I don't know how we would fit just with people's schedules this time of year. I don't know that the turnout rate would be fantastic. I think that for
072right now, >> well, we don't have to we don't have to pass a resolution to do uh >> until January. You said >> it doesn't have to be submitted to the state until January. This doesn't? >> No. >> Oh, okay. >> We're going out in April, we need it in December. But if we go out in in May, we need it in January. >> January. Okay. >> But this is just for them to This is just the review and comment. This is not the resolution. >> No, but in your review and comment, you show your plan. >> Yes. You have to have the talking about changing. >> Personally, I personally I want to just stick with the plan we have. Um, I think we spent so much time and effort um at the community task
073force that I think we need to give it one more shot and then obviously if this does not go in May, we need to regroup and really open our minds. I think >> we also want to do so >> said it about every single meeting I was at at least which was quite a few of them that if this doesn't pass we are going to be going out again because it is a need not a want and so from what I hear we have a better history of passing things on the second try anyway third fourth fifth try and the primary school passed in a May election so >> there you know it's bound to happen was a miracle the May miracle. >> Any other comments, questions? There's been a motion made >> and seconded.
074>> Same question for purposes of putting together the review as what we had in November. >> Yeah. All right. Uh, we will vote by Let's do a roll call vote on this one. Um, starting with Jen. >> Yes. >> All right. Uh, review and comment. There you go. >> Thank you. >> You got some direction. >> Um, our last um action item is the audit. >> Motion. Second. Motion's been made by Eric Ming, seconded by Eric Strandberg to accept the 2025 2026 audit as presented. Any comments or questions on the audit? >> Thanks for your work. >> The whole team. >> Um hearing none. All in favor say I. >> I opposed. All right. Audit is accepted. Um, we have one last business item and that's to a motion to close the board meeting to
075discuss negotiation strategies. So move. Motion's been made by Don, seconded by Eric Minkx. Um, all in favor say I. I. >> Opposed. >> All right. They can breathe.