001Call this meeting of the primary schools March meeting school board meeting to order. Please stand for the pledge of allegiance. Please do so to the flag of the United States of America and for it stands nation with liberty and justice for all. Moving to three, approval of agenda with 3.1 additions 3.11 Dr. Pyer requests for overnight trip and 3.1.2 approved July 1st 2026 to July 30th 2028 contracts for Lisa P's coordinator of curriculum teaching and learning. Do I have a motion to approve? >> So move second. Any discussion? Any discussion? Hearing none. All those in I it's been motioned and seconded to um approve the agenda with the additions. All those in favor say I. >> I. Those opposed. Motion passes. Public forum. Dave Anders. and you will we'll have three minutes to speak. Okay.
002>> Perfect. >> Thank you. >> Hi, my name is Dave Andrews. I am chair of human rights commission from staff. Um there was something brought before my commission here in last committee and that was research in interest in high school band and rising cost of instruments and so forth and been a lot of music on the commission. I was industry off and on for about 40 years. understand the importance of the music and how much you can influence different lives. Uh we as a human rights commission fully support this grand program and like to see the community get behind it and really help these kids get into music cuz it's it's a great service. Now I'm the next thing. So I came last month to try to get a better understanding as to what was
003going on with the ELC PH graduation ceremony and so forth. And incidentally I went up with more questions than I had answers. So I started doing a little research. Had the opportunity to talk with uh Christy. She is of course Minnesota board of education and the head of the ESC program. and she said this is the first time in the state has heard of this type of division. Um they said it's always depend on the students option whether they want to graduation ceremonies or not. I also was invited to come out and meet with Stephanie St and her staff going to ALC and I spoke with other educators and friends of teachers in the Twin Cities and so forth and the same question keep kept popping up. If all students meet the same requirements to
004graduate and receive equal diplomas and they've all met the the curriculum and guidelines, we're precipitating the change. We as the human rights commission support equal and fair treatment to all students. Thank you. Next or that's it. Okay, >> moving on to presentation. Robert Fabber with trap shooting. Good evening. My name is Robert Favor. I'm one of the white area high school trap coaches and we have been part of the school for the past year. I came I think it was last year around March, April meeting and I would just like to tell you about us since we started. We hold practices once a week now at the Bone Area Sportsman's Club during the season with with sending some of the kids to the Minnesota Trap Championship in Alexandria in June. We do do it twice
005a week because on we normally have it on Monday, but because of kids being in other sports, I want to have a flexible scheduling. So I usually try for like a Monday, Tuesday. So Monday's practice. If you have away game or something like that, then you come Tuesday. Otherwise, Tuesday, if you have a game, then we come Monday. So the trap league helps young students by providing you unique participation opportunity. Nearly 40% of the league students this is their only extracurricular activity that they participate in and we work with the kids who also in the sports to accommodate the trap shooting into their schedule. All the particip participants apply their own guns and ammo. Last spring in 2025, we had seven participants with four of them going up to trap championships. I'm including the rundown
006of the expenses that was in the email that all the board members got. I didn't come here to ask for money, don't get me wrong, but financially would be greatly appreciated. I come here to say that we matter to and we would like acknowledgement like the esports football softball does. Do their coaches get paid? Have you made any communication with us since we started on how we how you can help? And we would always love to have you pop in that practice. It is open to the public to come on Mondays and Tuesday nights. it was miscommunicated to I've heard from other people that the range is closed because on the sportsman's website it says the range is closed but as long as you stay behind the marked off shooting area you can come and
007watch cuz we have parents and grandparents. We had a bunch of sportsman's club members come and just watch just to see how awesome were participating in there on how change and most of them were very surprised with the smiles on all the people's faces. >> Do you have um Oh, sorry. Go ahead. Do you have people in the community? Have you reached out to businesses and like the feeasants forever and things like that as far as funding? Um, last fall for our track league, we sold t-shirts, which is what I'm wearing. And then we sold sponsorships for certain price for each so much for the back. And that was just to cover our basic costs just for the range fees. There is no ball trap championship. So, okay. Yeah, I just I was just going
008to ask what time are your practices? Maybe >> six o'clock on Mondays and Tuesdays. >> And that goes through obviously the end of school since you have what you say >> goes for eight weeks. So March 30th is the first week that I'm allowed to practice because of I am sanctioned under Minnesota State High School playing week. So, I'm not allowed to start practice till March 30th is the first day that I could. And then I have to submit the scores. Every night that I have practice, I have to submit the scores for so I know which kids shot that week and which kids did not miss. So, there's eight weeks. Six of them are considered scored weeks and two are your paint scores that you can use for rain out days, sick weeks, whatever.
009So, I actually have eight weeks of scoring, but only six of them are technically the scored weeks because the other two are are banked ones for who knows what mother nature brings us. So, >> so since you started, you don't really or since you haven't started yet, you don't know how many you have officially going out or do you kind of have an idea how many? I see you have last year's numbers, but do you have an idea yet? >> I have five signed up right now. >> Okay. Well, I think um initially when it was brought to the board, it was a no cost thing to the district um because that's how was presented to us. Am I that was correct? >> Because you wanted to be into more of these um different competitions.
010>> Okay. So, I guess it's not that no one's ignoring you or not giving you, you know, not thinking that you guys need anything, but it was that's how it's presented to us. So, it's good that you came forward and just kind of told us what was going on and it's good to know. >> I think as far as the results, they if they get them to Deb, I mean, you can post it how stuff is, right? I mean, >> absolutely. >> Yeah. Just a matter of getting in contact with >> and the district as far as Yeah. >> Mhm. >> So, thank you. >> Whatever. Yeah. >> Awesome. And the kids were allowed to letter for the spring league. They were told that they were not allowed to letter for quality. >> They did.
011We're allowed to letter for >> sounds good. Thank you for the >> 5.2 Dr. Pier request for overnight trip. >> Uh good evening. Marching Arrows are traveling to Chicago, Illinois to participate in the 250th Independence Day parade on July 4th, 2026. The parade celebrates the 250th anniversary of the founding of the United States of America and will be reviewed by 20,000 people in person and millions on television. The students will travel on a charter bus and will participate in other activities while we travel to and from Chicago including Millennium Park and photo op at the Bean, the Museum of Science and Industry, Chicago Symphony, 360 Chicago, and of course Gino's dish pizza. Total cost per student to attend the trip is approximately $1,400. Our vampire association is committed to reducing that cost per student by
012400. So, currently the price we're asking students to pay is $1,000. Students have had passed and and will have future opportunities to pay uh where they can pay out of pocket. So, I'm requesting permission to take the van to this event for an overnight trip July 2nd through the 5th. We're also requesting permission to use the school uniforms, necessary instruments in the school's likeness at this event. There'll be no financial cost to the district including this trip price for all the meals, hotels and admission costs. So the kids will be well taken care of because they have a stipen to be handed for every meal. Does anybody have any questions for me? >> Do you know what channel it's going to be televised on? >> No, but I will let you know. >> That would
013be great. >> Awesome. Yeah, your band board has done a really good job in helping support students in the fall when you guys were giving the recap at your opening um out at Pulson Field. It was pretty impressive. So, >> great organization. >> Any other questions? Um do we have a motion? Do we do we do we have a motion to grant um Dr. Per's request? >> So moved. Second. Okay, it's been moved and seconded. Any discussion? Hearing none, it's moved and seconded to approve Dr. Clear's request um for the band to attend overnight trip from July 2nd to July 5th, 2026. Um requesting permission to use school marching band uniforms, necessary school instruments, and use of the school's likeness at this event. All those in favor say I. >> I. Those opposed. Motion passes.
014Thank you. Thank you. Moving on to 6.1 consent to agenda. Approve minutes of the February 23rd regular school board meeting. >> Anybody? >> Oh, and personal. Gotcha. Any questions on anything in there? >> We'll make a motion to approve the consent agenda. Okay. Second. It's been moved and seconded to approve the consent agenda. Any discussion hearing? None. All those in favor say I. I. >> Those opposed. Motion passes 7 point or seven financials. 7.1. Review our budget year to date. Jackie, >> we're currently at 65%. Last year at this time, we're at 63%. I made a couple minor budget transfers, but overall it looks fine. >> Any questions for Jackie on the budget? Okay. Hearing none, we'll move on to 7.2, the treasures report. The current cash balance is $7.8 million. Last year, this time
015was 8.3 million. >> Any questions for Jackie? I will need a motion to approve. >> Some moved. >> Second. >> It's been moved and seconded to approve the treasures report. Um, any discussion? All those in favor say I. >> I. Those opposed, same sign. Motion passes. 7.3 approve 2023 a bonds treasure report. This is the money for the roof. We're currently at 732, 43. Oh, I would have fine. >> Any questions for Jackie on the bond treasures report? >> I have a motion to approve. >> So moved. >> Second. >> It's been a motion and seconded to approve the 2023A bonds treasures report. Any discussion? Hearing none. All those in favor say I. I. >> Those opposed. Same sign. Motion passes. 7.4. Approve regular bills. Any questions? >> I have one. >> Yeah. >> The
016person country club is that a set fee or is that >> which page is that? >> Uh I'm sorry. >> Sorry. >> Uh >> I remember seeing it too. I don't know. Is it actual lease agreement? >> Okay. >> Agreement the district entered into. So it is the same amount every year. >> Four years ago, five years ago, it changes >> two years in a row. This is year two of this contract. >> Okay. So it changes. >> It'll negotiate next. >> Okay. >> For golf and cross country, isn't it for both? >> Okay. >> Heavy golf obviously. Yeah. >> Cross country too. They have. >> Any other questions? I'll make a motion to approve the regular bills. >> Second. A motion and second to approve the regular bills. Any discussion? Hearing none. All those
017in favor say I. >> I. Those opposed. Same sign. Motion passes. 7.5 approve high school activity bills. Any questions there? I make a motion to approve the high school activity bills. Second motion and seconded to um approve the high school activity bills. Any discussion? Hearing none. All those in favor say I. I. >> I. Those pro or approve I can't say it. Please sign. Motion passes. Board forum board reports and updates. Have you had anything? >> Well, negotiations you can see on the agenda. We um we've been busy. >> Yes. >> But that'll all that'll all come up. >> Um we had a policy meeting which you can also see >> on the agenda. >> Light reading. >> Yeah. Yeah. >> And then we had a calendar meeting. We all seen that before. >> There
018will be there's two different options for the calendar. Um, one starts before Labor Day and one starts after. Um, what is it? The state granted that for the next two years being that Labor Day is so late. They're granting they're letting everyone start before Labor Day. We will start September 1st. >> Yeah. So, there's there's two different options. So >> I'm assuming that doesn't change like up at the state fair or anything like that. They'll they'll have it the same even if it's later. Yeah. Right. >> Yeah. State fair all stays the same. And that's where in the conversation that we had with the calendar with the options we we took that Friday of the state fair weekend off both those prior Labor Day start calendars to accommodate those that may attend the state fair.
019So we tried to find >> so much. Yeah. >> So it wouldn't be as impactful for the kids that would obviously be attending. >> Anything else? >> We had a finance committee meeting as well. >> There y that seems like it's a while ago. That was the beginning that month. >> Sounds good. Um, moving on to administrators part 9.1, superintendent board report and enrollment. >> Yeah, so you see the enrollment report attached and no real significant swings one way or another there. Um, as far as my report goes, we do have later on for consideration um, a special work session and I have confirmed that that date um, would work for Cliff Harmony and Stephanie Strang to attend and present a little more information about the ALC. I know there were some questions that um,
020certainly we couldn't answer but believe that the ALC could. Um I'm also compiling some attendance data going back some historical data so that the board will have that as well and we'll have a comprehensive report to share with the board. Um and I know as part of that as well something that was discussed at the finance committee meeting is projecting forward the operating referendum that the district has had in place over the last 8 and 1/2 years or so. um that dec there's going to need to be a decision at some point time relatively soon. Um if we would choose to go for a November election or if the board would choose to simply by action renew u which they can the existing referendum um obviously don't want to belver those points tonight but at
021that special meeting we would have Steve Pumper and his team do a presentation. The finance committee thought that that would be appropriate to do so. We have confirmed that Steve could attend as well. Um, obviously working through some budget development. We see some parameters later on. I I know I get asked from time to time, is our social media work really being impactful? And I thought it was really uh valuable to share this this post or this information. Um, we ran a special campaign during February called the month of love and having everybody share stories or perspectives of what they love most about Pipstone Area Schools and um, far exceeded expectations. I mean, I was thoroughly pleased with the post themselves, but then the outreach that those posts made. Um, as you can see, this
022single post had more than 30,000 people interact with it, and that's that's huge. That's really significant. And so we know that that investment is is paying some dividends and we're continuing to refine how we put posts out there wanting to connect them back to our obviously our portrait of a graduate but then also making certain that they have um real relevance in terms of the academic as well as the other work that goes on in the district. The college and career expose moving forward. I know Mrs. Portland's been doing a great deal of work with that and a lot of planning and community outreach and we're excited to u bring that opportunity forward. It looks like May the 1st is the date and um again a lot of effort leading up to that opportunity and
023that event that's coming forward. Um Pipstone FFA alumni if board members that were previous alum haven't been notified I'm sure you will be. Um great opportunity to re-engage district website. We're working on a new agreement with a company called Aptigy and it'll allow us to reduce some functions that we have and reallocate those into a singular platform. And when our team, we had multiple people throughout the district that participated in this effort, reviewed the platform. What we would do ultimately is direct all coaches to utilize a singular platform as well for communicating with their participants. uh eliminating all the different apps that are out there floating around that different coaches and activity sponsors use to really centrally locate those and and I think that's prudent not only from an operational side but also from a
024safety and security side. You know, you hear stories once in a while where some things may be shared through those types of platforms and and the district finds out after the fact that there may have been some things shared that shouldn't have been. And this way it centers that all and makes it very consistent. um legislative action. Uh there's there's a lot of stuff going on. Um I one of my superintendent colleagues probably said it best. At the end of the day, there's probably more said than done. Um certainly a lot being talked about. One of the new ideas that's being put on the table to balance the budget going forward into the next bianium is taking the $250 million cut to special education and making that a $300 million cut. Um there's a lot
025of of speculation if the $250 million cut could even be realized. So I think that that it's really a big wish personally to think we can get to a $300 million cut in special education, particularly in Minnesota where we know our state regulations far exceed the federal regulations for special education. But just something to be aware of and that we may have to plan for accordingly down the road. But like I said, that's that's still a ways off. Um robotic equipment, we are going to be checking out some new tools that um we're just learning about. There's going to be a demo over in Edertton, so it's close. Uh Len's going to be going over there and uh observing those. And we have a site visit coming up. We're going to be taking a team
026to North Dakota to take a look at some things going on with their uh work relative to the student centered learning work that they're doing and then continuing on with our conversation about artificial intelligence. Um, and I intend in the next month or two to really u lean into getting that team going that will have a couple of schoolboard representatives, representatives from the high school, middle school, and elementary um to really start framing up that policy because in the policy committee we did talk about briefly the artificial intelligence policy. MSBA has dropped a model policy, but it's really big and there are so many dynamics that we need to be mindful of when it comes to artificial intelligence. And this is one of those things that obviously is going to be very transformational um in
027schools. We're already seeing it be transformational in a lot of other industries and schools obviously are going to be part of that. So um that policy work will need to be very comprehensive and inclusive in what we do. So those were a number of things that I wanted to share and would stand for any questions. >> Any questions? Excuse me. Hearing none. Moving on to 9.2 principles board, Mrs. Ortman and Mrs. Mars. Okay. Well, we have a high school choir concert starting in about 4 minutes. Um, unfortunately, we had uh we were double booked today. Um we um last Friday we had our middle school dance which was awesome. Um all the young ladies dressed up and we're so excited and we had little um Ingred Wilbur did a great job organizing it all. There
028was a backdrop kind of like prom where they could take pictures with their friends. It was really cute. Um we are in full swing of um spring sports right now. So everyone's getting excited and getting all of their um equipment ready to go. We had last week we had uh 9th grade registration. That was something that was brought up last year that um parents really wanted to come back and so we did that. We invited all of the parents. We had 85% uh come which I think was good. Our cultural leazison had something um had a conflict so he wasn't able to be there and I think that's probably why we didn't get the other 15% there that night. So um he met with Mrs. Dulas and got all these kids registered. So, all of
029our kids are registered now for the fall and excuse me. So, we're starting to think about graduation. Today's the first day of the fourth quarter, so we are really ready ready to to go. Kids are counting down. They're starting their countdown. They're getting that spring fever. So, I wanted to share some of our important dates um for seniors. I am proposing that we call May 19th the last day of school for seniors, which is typical for like the what we've done in the past, past practice. Um, in Minnesota, students need to attend school for 1,020 hours of instruction. And based on our calendar, our students receive, if they come every day, 1,260. So, we definitely have quite the buffer. Obviously, we like to have them more, but um can you tell what was the how
030many hours is it again? >> 1,020. >> Okay. And so we are well within that um within that range. Any questions for your assortment? I know I That's great that you got that all the ninth graders registered. I don't think it's been a long time since we've been able to do that so this far ahead. >> Yeah. So, yeah. So, this is great. And um I was really impressed that the parents So, the parents were invited to bring their children and then we had all of the documents there. Um and then Mrs. Das and I just kind of walked around. I had a teacher representative there who walked around and helped people fill out the documents. We answered questions and we had a presentation prior to prior to doing that. So, it was great. >>
031Awesome. Okay, any more questions? Go ahead and ask. >> All right. Good evening. So, we had student le conferences. This is one of my favorite times of the entire year where kids come in and share all of the learning that they're doing with their parents. So it was so fun to see all the families and the students coming in just sharing their learning. We had a staff in service on March 6th with the entire district. So we talked about the portrait of a graduate and some kind of student centered learning. End of the quarter was last Friday. The teachers are going to be working on report cards. Those will be sent home right before Easter. We held our student focus meetings. I do these um it was once a quarter. Now I'm doing it two
032times a year where we sit with every classroom teacher and talk about the students and what needs we need. Airway assembly on this Wednesday. We focused on belonging. So we're going to be celebrating those students. We have kindergarten roundup this Thursday and Friday. Trivet Kid on this coming Friday. And then that's our update on our attendance goals. And right now we have 10 students with a perfect attendance so far. So which is awesome. Something to celebrate. Any questions for Morbid? Hearing none, moving on to Mrs. Peas with the curriculum, teaching and learning board. >> Good evening. Um, just wanted to give a district assessment update. The access window testing testing window has closed. So, I actually got all of that inventory done and in a box and ready to ship back um just in time
033for the ACT to be administered on April 7th. Last year we um did the online platform and on that day the online platform was not working very well and so we decided to go back to the paper pencil. We have all of those um ready to go. Mrs. Doulus has done a great job of making sure all of that is ready and she has been working with the um prime teachers so that they have some ACT test prep and so we're getting ready for that. And then starting on April 14th, we'll have our first round of MCA testing. This year we have school assessment coordinators. So it won't just be me doing um all of the um background work. uh we have the social worker at the elementary and the counselors at the middle school
034and high school and that will actually shorten the number of days that we are doing the assessments. So it'll be down to six days instead of the entire month of April like it was last year. And I've met with teachers and pair professionals and they've completed all the training requirements. So we are ready to go there. Each month I attend a curriculum director networking meeting and this past month um a um woman from the American Indian education um came and did a presentation and our new standards have Native American related teaching that goes in with the standards. So she gave lots of resources that I can share with our staff. We also discussed the lit literacy updates for the read act. Much of it centered around how we're implementing the necessary requirements for our students
035at the middle school and high school level. Most districts are struggling with how to meet those requirements of providing intensive instruction to students that are reading below grade level because most districts don't have title to one teachers or interventionists at those levels. So Mrs. department and Emily Spear who's the literacy lead and I have met a few times to um discuss how we can best support the students at the middle school and high school levels. We we don't have it figured out yet um but we are continuing to work on that. And then another point of discussion was that with the CAPY assessment that MDE is requiring, it has um put some financial strain on districts because that is the only assessment that we're allowed to use with our students. And so there at this
036time no additional readact funding has been issued to assist with the costs of the programs, but Natalie from the Compass regional literacy lead um indicated that she and the other regional literacy leads are um in communication with MDE saying if this is what you're requiring then you need to start maybe looking at the cost of all of these things that you're requiring districts to implement. So, we'll see where that takes us. And then an A and I update, which um is our achievement and integration grant. Our fiscal year 27 budget was due on March 15th, and so we were able to make a couple of additions because we didn't use all of our money previously. One of the um projects that we currently have is to improve our attendance. And so if this budget is
037approved, we will be purchasing attendance boards. One for the elementary, one for the middle school, and one for the high school. Dr. Willer, do you remember how large they are? >> Pretty large. Yeah, they're pretty large. >> And so it will have the let's just say the middle school will have sixth grade, 7th grade, 8th grade each month across the top. And then we can track month by month for a visual for um the students to see too. so we can track our attendance progress. And along with this, we'll be able to purchase student attendance incentives. And so, a little uh carrot to dangle out there that if you come to school, you'll get something really cool. And then um an additional project will include the funding. So, if you HAVE ANY IDEAS FOR INCENTIVES,
038I say t-shirts. And then we're also looking at including the funding of the Flint K12. We'll be meeting, teachers will be meeting with Xander from Flint on Wednesday. He's very impressed with the usage that we've had in our district. So, he just wanted to um do a quick question and answer and see um where we're at there. And then once the budget is approved, we will work on updating the um ANI plan to reflect those changes. Okay. Thank you, Lisa. Any questions? Okay, hearing none, moving on to 10. 10.1 state FA convention request. Okay. Hello, my name is Natalie Rash. I'm one of the FFA adviserss that we have here at Pipstone. Uh we have our state convention coming up at about April 19th, April 21st this year over at the University of Minnesota in
039St. Paul. We have had 32 students that have qualified to compete in the state contest, which is pretty impressive. Uh you have to qualify through a region competition before you're able to actually attend state contest. So depending upon how competitive the region is and how many teams participate, we get more or less trips. So some trips have just one opportunity and some have up to seven or eight or nine depending upon how many teams participate. So most of these students have won against having 16 or 17 other chapters in our area in the southwest of Minnesota in order to attend to go to state convention. So that's pretty impressive. We have one team that's left still to qualify. They're not until the end of March. So they're tenative. Yes, we think they're going to make
040it, but we'll see. We get the practice schedule going, so hopefully they do great. Uh so we have 36 students attending. 17 are in middle school and then 19 are in high school. So we're pretty much evenly split. Uh we will also have three shaper rooms. myself, Maggie Wish, our other egg teacher, and we have a couple adult volunteers. We're kind of checking on the schedule and hoping that planting's not happening at the same time. And then we'll also have the bus driver coming along as well. Uh so because of that, we're going to end up meeting 14 or 13 hotel rooms. I think we have 13 currently booked for now. With that many students, we also have to take a charter bus in order to bring our kids to the state convention. Our registration
041costs also went up this year for our state convention registration tenatively. Um, so it's going to be about $1,500 to register the students to attend. So that means we will leave on Sunday, have our best informed greenhand, which is meant for middle school and freshman students to compete on Sunday afternoon evening. I believe it starts at about 6:00. Then we'll attend opening session. They'll hear some guest speakers that come around from different parts of agriculture. It could be a social media personality like the Iowa dairy farmer or it could be someone like uh PJ Black from Minnesota to hear like about the b the uh baseball football team and coaching for that. So it's kind of all over the board depending upon who the keynote speaker is of the night. Uh plus some retiring addresses
042from the state officers and get information and celebrate people as they have gone through. Um Monday is the big day for competitions. So, we have students that start competing, I believe, at 7:15 is the earliest contest. It's kind of a staggered start time, so you can drop the kids off throughout the University of Minnesota and get where they need to go. Uh, and then Maggie and I will also be within contests and running those on the state level as well. Uh, then Monday night, we honor our state degree recipients. This is like the capstone degree you can get for your actual state FFA experience. So, we'll have four students that qualified, did an interview, fill out their 30-page application, and also passed the state scrutiny test in order to get their state degree. So, they
043did a really good job, and we'll honor those guys on Monday. And we won't find out results until Tuesday, hopefully in the morning sometime. And then Tuesday afternoon, we'll come back and the kids will be back in time to go to school on Wednesday. Addition, there's also some leadership workshops, and we will have two students that will be delegates that will vote on our behalf for the Minnesota FA association laws and bylaw changes. So our request is that the school board will be able to cover our hotel rooms, our member transportation and registration costs for our students to attend and substitute teachers as well. Are there any questions I can? I guess I have a question on the transportation costs. Uh the charter bus gets rather expensive. Um, but I don't know if we have
044any other options. I guess this we have the suburbans, but >> yeah, I think it's contingent how many kids. >> If you have that in the school bus, you couldn't still get them all on, right? I mean, >> it gets expensive for the charter to sit there for two days, >> right? >> So, I guess that's my only concern. >> 36 plus 36 students plus. >> Yeah, it's it's tight. is the math. >> It'll be a short 40 people on the bus. >> Yep. The nice part with different vehicles is some can come home if there's an emergency or something. When you're all on one, you're stuck with everybody's days or everybody goes. >> I have brought the charter bus to the urgent care before. So, >> I don't know what the option. >> Yeah,
045cuz that's half your expense right there. >> Right. And I guess I don't I do are they all did are all the kids have to be there the whole time. I guess when I win we win at different times, you know, like different teams will go at different times. So that's >> they'll all compete at the same time. >> Okay. >> Uh so they all compete on Monday, but some people will end at 11:00, some will end at 1:30. >> So we'll be there until the last person, then we'll take them to lunch, and then we'll have to go to the state degree session since we have kids walking the stage. We kind of want the kids to watch there, too. Gotcha. >> And if they stay for results, then that's Tuesday morning. It's been
046a long time since I went to that. >> Things change all the time. Totally understand. >> Are we voting on now? >> Yes, we I will need a motion um with a list of the expenses and the 12. I make a motion that we approve the FFA trip with all expenses totaling the $9,900 and >> not to not to exceed the requested. >> Okay. Do I have a second? >> Second. So motion and seconded to um cover the hotel rooms Sunday to Tuesday for 13 rooms, $2,600. Member transportation charter bus $5,000. Registration costs $1,500. Substitute teachers, two teachers, two days each, four days total for $800 for a total cost um to the district of $9,900 and not to exceed the requested amount. Any discussion? Hearing none, all those in favor say I. >> I.
047Those opposed, same fine. Motion passes. Good luck. >> Good luck. Resolution accepting donation to the high school activities. Let me get this up here. Okay, I got a long list. These are all donations to robotics. So, Mark T Mortgage um $30. First Bank and Trust $150. M&H Communications, $25. Park Funeral Homes, $25. Peak Pros Incorporated, $50. Peter Landscaping LLC, $100. Quarters Clay and Dairy $250 Pipone Grain Company $500 Growark Lubricants $50 O'Neal O'Neal and Braden $50 Jar's Electric Inc. $100 Eagle Trunking Inc. Jeff Bots $1,500. Do I >> was going to say there's two, right? >> Okay. And then we also have one a donation to the wellness room from Christ the King Lutheran for $100. Um, I'd like to thank all those pe all the people that have donated these things to these um
048different entities. Do I have a motion to accept these donations? >> Okay, it's been moved and seconded to accept your second one. Sorry. I'll do second. Tammy, thank you. >> Motion and seconded to accept the listed. Any discussion? I'll just say that, you know, those robotics, the coach, the teacher, the kids, they put in a lot of work to to get to get a fund raise, to get a list like that. >> I would agree. >> That's a that's a that's a really cool thing. >> It is. >> And it's cool to see that much community involvement, too, >> from so many different places. >> Yeah, >> definitely. Okay. Any other discussion? Hearing none, all those in favor say I. I those opposed same sign motion passes 10.3 recommendation for senior's last day of school
049Mrs. Zartman has proposed May 19th for the last day of school for seniors. Any discussion? Hearing none. Do I have a motion to approve? >> So moved. Second. >> So in motion and seconded to approve May 19th as the last day of school for seniors. Any discussion? Hearing none. All those in favor say I. I. Those oppose. Same sign. Motion passes. 10.4 4. Approve policies 306, 410, 5002, 53, 510, 511, 515, 526, 530, 66, 712, 722, 911, 92, and 93. Any questions on all of those? I think it looked like a lot of them were just kind of language changes, >> minor language changes. >> When I looked at them, >> some revisits of updated statutes, that type of thing. >> And the policy committee has went through all of these for us. Thank you
050very much. I know it's not fun. >> I did read another one. I'd like to scroll. It's a long This is for tomorrow reading. >> We trust you. >> Okay. Do I have a motion to approve these policies? >> Second. It's a motion. I'm not reading them all again. It's a motion and second to approve all the policies listed at 10.4. Any discussion? All those in favor say I. I. >> Those opposed, same sign. Motion passes. 10.5. approved policies 614 and 615. Is there a reason these were separate or no? Because they have no brand new >> and MSDA says we can um pass them one meeting if everyone agrees. Got >> any questions for the policy committee or Dr. Miller on these two. None. Do I have a motion to approve? >> Second. >>
051It's been approved and seconded to approve policies two or 614 and 615. Any discussion? Hearing none. All those in favor say I. I. Those opposed? Same sign. Motion passes. 10.6 Six, April, April 9th at 5:15 for work session meeting. Does that work for everyone? And does 5:15 work for everyone? >> I know April 9 works cuz I checked with all of you. >> It's just the time. >> 5:15 is fine for me. I was just trying to do a little earlier with Yeah. Everybody has a lot to get through. So yeah, looks for me with that. Yep. Okay. So, do I have a motion to set April 9th at 5:15 for this work session? >> So, move. >> Second. >> It's been moved and seconded um to set April 19th at 5:15 for the work
052session meeting. Any discussion? Hearing none. All those in favor say I. I. >> I. Those opposed, same sign. Motion passes. 10.7 budget parameters. >> I'll just give a high level um comment on these. You can see that we put together parameters and these were reviewed by the um finance subcommittee after getting some feedback from the committee. Um also getting after we had our meeting uh some feedback about some needs for track and field. We initially had listed, as you notice in the um footnote underneath the um operating capital reserve um a footnote about a tool cat. And the idea is that we would um kind of bank, if you will, the $11,000 difference, and apply that in a future application to purchase a toolkit, which is a multi-function tool that would be utilized in the
053buildings and grounds area. and what we took from the capital expenditure list where we had the toolkit listed um the track and field hurdles and that was something that Rick brought forward from the activities area saying that we have a need to upgrade and replace some hurdles or some damaged hurdles and just getting to that time where their lifespan is expired. So, um a $15,000 placeholder there. So, you can see we're making some improvements with our lawnmower, um, which is something that hasn't been done for a long time. Um, the facility bond payment, that that number is so specific because that is a dialed in exact number. Um, the middle school high school furniture upgrades, we've talked about that in previous meetings about continuing to um, upgrade furniture because it's it's as dated as the
054building is. Um, and then the instructional supplies and prepaids. um that's up slightly from previous years because we know that there are some instructional needs and and curriculum needs that are going to uh be coming forward. And then in the LTFM portion of the budget, which stands for those that may not know, long-term facility maintenance, you see the footnote about the bond payment. Um there may be an adjustment coming forward in our in a subsequent meeting either April or May um to the board to adjust that bond and that's because there was a discovery that there's a a unit on top of the roof and there's some duct work that um we've examined and it needs to be insulated and the duct work needs the sheet metal needs to be replaced. we could make an
055adjustment in the LTFM bond. We're getting a couple of different quotes on what it would take to to get that fixed. One quote that we've received says it's as high as 110,000. Another quote says it's about 80,000. So, we're trying to get that dialed in and that will come forward as a consideration. It would have very little impact on the LTFM bond. Um, but that's something that we can talk to Steve Pumper a little bit more about when he's here on April 9th. So, just wanted to footnote that one as you see that listed in the LTFM expenditures. Our health and safety funds, um, VAV units, that's the, um, heating and cooling system. We're continuing to upgrade those. Again, that's as dated as the building is. Um, the carpet flooring replacement, that's the some of
056the work that we've talked about. um both with the existing elementary starting to do some repairs and residents with that floor which which we've talked about, but then also some other areas where there may be some carpet updates. Um concrete repairs, we know that every year there's some sidewalks that may need to be fixed or replaced and uh that just takes care of some of those miscellaneous repairs. The elementary gym floor, I know I've had a couple of questions about I thought insurance was covering that. insurance did cover that to the limit that the insurance is allows for coverage. And so there was a cap on the allowance. We've hit that cap obviously. So we've got a $60,000 additional cost that the district has because of that water damage that occurred in that elementary gym
057floor and and that does include the um new wood in the floor, the refinishing of the floor, and completes everything in that project. So that's why that one is what it's what it's listed at. Light pole replacements. That's just an ongoing project out here. We know that we in fact earlier this year there was some discussion in the in the building about where did you park because the wind was so strong and I hope you didn't park by a light pole when others said well I'm going to go move my car by a light pole. So um anyhow that's that's just an issue that we've had in the past. We do have some damaged light poles that we need to replace. uh bleacher wheel replacements. Those are as old as the building as well. There's
058um hundreds literally of these little black wheels and they're getting soft flat spots on them. If we don't replace them, they're going to damage the wood floor. So, uh that's a huge project because you think about the weight that those little wheels bear and the number of them. Um so, that's that's something that's a pretty good number there. And then we walk through the playground. Um me, myself, Mrs. Norvitz as well as um Len. And when we walk through, we've identified that there are some real muddy areas in that playground. In fact, one area of the playground right now is marked off with caution tape because it's such a mud hole. Um we're going to start putting concrete down just to give a better playing surface. Um dealing with the cleanliness because that all gets
059tracked into the building and has residual impacts there. So, this would start a multi-year project of putting some concrete down. So you can see all those pieces there and what uh what this does for us and um yeah moves us forward. We are dipping into the LTFM fund balance a little bit as you can see but we are um growing albeit slightly the operating capital fund balance. Jackie, anything you want to add? I know that you helped me and work through this together. So we did make that other than those are still estimates. I mean they should be happy decent estimate as far as the revenue or estimates still but it should be close and we did put a a note as well on on these budget parameters that we are projecting a 2.69% increase
060in new general fund revenue to the school district. Obviously still a little early. We'll get some of that further detail when we uh when the legislative session gets done because um there is a little bit of talk about a special funding piece that may impact health and safety um going back to the assumpt assumption school shooting and and some talk that there could be special revenue going to school districts. So again, that's that's a temporary placeholder, but gives the board an idea of what we're projecting as far as the budget process goes. Any questions regarding the budget parameters? >> Are we just going over this for >> this is approval? >> It is a motion. Okay. So, any discussion regarding the parameters that have been brought forward hearing? None. Do I have a motion to
061approve? Second. It's been motion motioned and seconded to approve the budget parameters brought forward um by is the finance committee us whatever. Um all those in favor say I. >> I those opposed same sign. Motion passes. Um 10.8 approve the 2026 27 and 202728 school calendars. And there's four different well two for each year I should say A and B. Do we have any discussion or questions on these? >> Well, I'll just I'll lay forward kind of where we're at and what's going on. So, um first of all, you notice a little different format presentation. Thank you, Deb, for your hard work on that. Um, that was a brief conversation that we had at the conclusion of our meeting and and everybody thought that that this presentation is a little easier for everybody to read
062and follow. So, um, Deb really leaned into that. She she did a great job. So, thank you, Deb. So, that's number one. Number two, you will see that we have the calendar that was approved last year going forward. And again, for everybody's knowledge, that's just our cadence. We always try to have two calendars in place moving both forward. We revisit like next year we revisit the 2728 based upon how 26 27 goes make any adjustments if any are necessary and then create a new calendar for 2829. So that's just part of our our cadence to keep things in and moving and planning and moving forward. Again, going back to what Chrissy said earlier this evening, the two calendar presentations, um you'll notice the A and the B. As you look at those, and I'm trying
063to get mine so I can be clear, the um >> A is after Labor Day start. >> A is after. Okay. A is after Labor Day start and the B is before. And all those B's represent starting that 1st of September taking off the Friday of the state fair weekend. And the rationale uh really came down to a couple of things for for bringing forward two options. First of all, I wanted to make certain that we did we got something to the table because I was concerned that we wouldn't because there were some differences of opinion. Um, so this gets something to the table. Number two, there was feedback from staff that that was presented by one of the calendar committee members that suggested there was a majority, I wouldn't say a super majority, but
064majority of the staff that had an interest in the pre-LOR day start. Um, at the same time, we wanted to balance the reality that we do have a number of students and families that do attend the state fair. Now this state fair weekend is the FFA weekend and that would impact the particularly the FFA students and and exhibitors. Um I don't know that we have a because the question came how many families and students do we have attend the state fair? I don't know that it's a a vast majority but I know that that it's it's always been an important u marker for Pipstone and and for the school district. So that's why we have the two different calendar models in front of you. The concern if we start after Labor Day is that it
065pushes us, as you can see, pretty late and it's we started carving up some different areas in the those big chunks of breaks. Um, and we just knew that if we presented the two different options, it gave some flexibility for the board to consider what would best reflect the wishes of the community. The committee knows that ultimately this is a board decision. This is uh where the where the decision is made and we also expressed I I expressed how much I appreciated all the input of the staff because again they they all were very engaged. We had a great process, really good discussion and I thought at the end of the day we have have a couple of pretty good options that regardless of how it turns out I think everybody could live with. I
066don't know if I anything else you want to add Chissy or Danny. Um, I'm both both both calendar A and B, you're both done before Memorial Day. >> So, kids, >> which is a good thing. >> Is with kids. Yep. >> Yep. >> So, so for me, for for me, when I looked at this, I I have two questions. Um, one, I haven't spent as near as much time as the committee looking into this or or dealing with it. So, it's hard for me to to take a glance at the business and really identify which one's better. Um, and so my question would be as you two committee members, which one would you pick since you've been dealing with it? And then also Clint mentioned, you know, staff. Um, I I have admin and staff.
067Um, what's their wein? Um because for me to make a decision on this tonight with my limited involvement, I I'm gonna lean on you guys. >> I I said because you guys are kind of >> You guys are the ones that went through. >> We need to involve the staff here because they're a big part of it. >> Yeah. I feel like the staff was more towards starting before Labor Day. Not like Linton said, not all but most. Right. where like but then they said you know maybe some people already have family vacations set for that last week or you know I mean I I am partially um thinking calendar A because of the state fair. I mean, I know that the the beef is not as big as it used to be, but what
068I don't know what day of the sheep show is. And then like the hogs and I mean, it's just not one species or another. And then we got to look at okay, so then do our FFA advisers get to go up there because it's also their first days of school like are they going to miss that? Then it's more I mean it's a little bit of cost to the district. We have to find us, you know, whatnot. Um, is the FFA still doing the judging contest? >> Um, >> at the state fair? >> Yes. I They did ages, but I know they did when I was >> Is that that same weekend though? >> Yeah. >> Oh, 4 is the weekend before and the same before. >> And I don't know. I mean, I don't
069know. I don't know the numbers of of FA. I just I am partial to calendar 8 because it starts after Labor Day. That's just my my thought. And my thought was I don't have anybody in school anymore or I don't have anybody that's participating. So, it didn't really matter to me. I know. I just had asked my daughter her thoughts and she just threw out just as she's a volleyball coach, she was just like, "Well, that would take away our two a day practices the second week." And she said, "I like that, but you know, to have those practices." >> So, you would be beat. >> It doesn't matter. >> Doesn't matter. >> Yeah. I mean, I I think it's a good calendar either way. Um, I know on calendar A there are three days
070at the end where calendar B wasn't too right. Didn't we like get rid of a day or a second >> on 26 27 is really kind of all I'm looking at. But >> yeah, right. I think we've moved some inservice days into the >> Yeah. end of the year on >> I feel like in that room of those teachers they liked that part of it not as many days at the end of the school year if I remember right >> you know but I I I feel like everyone there left satisfied with what was presented either way so I just I just think you know we have to think of the majority of the staff and students and what they >> right >> feel like Right. And that's where some just said, "Well, you know,
071we have however many hundreds of students and you have >> Yeah, you can't, you know, only so many that go to the state fair." And it's just I think I feel like it was just a couple days if that they were going to miss the beef. Anyway, I don't The beef is like towards the weekend. I don't know about the I don't know if it's all they leave Thursday night. >> So, they would leave the third And then it's the fourth, fifth, sixth, and seventh. >> And that's and that's why that Friday was decided that we should have people that want to go away for the long weekend. Right. >> Right. Right. Right. And that's where we did that like, okay, we can give a lot of people. I'll support whatever motion either you make.
072And then >> it does with especially if that I feel like I don't know. >> I I mean I I look at it like obviously when my kids were little it was no big deal. when my kids were involved in sports when they were starting. So, parents are ready. This the pool's closed by mid August and like what are the parents running to do? >> You know, there's nowhere for them to go and so like to drag it on to the second week of August is my opinion. I'm just thinking of that part of it, you know, um because a lot of summer jobs are done by then. A lot of, >> you know, the summer, you know, daycare program or whatever, you know, that's done fairly early. sort of I don't know. Okay. Yeah.
073I feel like you'd almost have a whole another week of I wonder if they would have a whole another week. >> So, what do we do then? What do we do then if um if we did start early? I mean, are the are the FFA kids or the kids that want to be at the state fair? Even if they're not FFA, but their family wants to go up and support. I mean, as far as attendance goes, are they completely >> I would deem that an excused absence. I think we could work through that with our attendance. >> I would think it'd be the same as any other. I mean, if you're excused, you're excused. I mean, you just have to make up what you're >> in the past. I think that was how it was
074presented when we dropped off before Labor Day calendar was excused absences. >> How many kids are we talking? I mean, are we talking about 20 kids or I mean, I can't believe there's even that many. >> If I might defer to our expert in the audience, >> I mean, >> I think we probably have about six to eight families that go out for the state fair to show for FFA. So like yeah 10 to >> that's not very many kids then when we look at a thousand over a thousand kids in my mind you know I mean there's a lot of different things that >> people take off time for and we schedule around and to me I would be more to go before Labor Day with it being so late but that's just my
075opinion. So both years then before labor correct. >> Okay. Cuz it'll still be late. >> Both of them have after both of them have before. So it's whichever option you choose. >> So like in 28 what's Oh >> the um next year it's a very short week to start out like two days. Gotcha. >> And then taking that Friday off. >> And I know some staff members had commented about that saying that's that's okay to kind of ease into the school year for those calendar. >> And and you thought that there was more staff for start was reported I believe 61 62%. >> So do roll call start with them too. You have to make a motion and then Yeah. >> Make a motion for what though? >> What you want? >> Motion. Okay. I'm
076just going to say it. I'm going to make a motion to um vote for calendar B for 2026 27 school year and 2728 and that's starting and that's starting after No. Let make sure we got the right before April. >> Yes. >> Smart. I like that. That wasn't my case. Okay, it's been moved and seconded to >> I did not hear this. >> I didn't approve the calendar B 26 27 and 2728 calendars presented. Any discussion? No eggs in my house. Oh, you don't need that. Any discussion? All those in favor say I. >> I. Those opposed? Same sign. >> I motion passes. Non-renewal of probationary teacher. We will need a roll call on this vote. Um after we get a motion. >> So moved. >> Seconded. It's been moved and seconded to for the
077non renewal of the probationary teacher. Um we will take a roll call. Any discussion? I guess first hearing. None. You want to take a roll call? Death, >> want me to agree or say your name? >> Yay. >> You don't you can do what you want. >> You want me to agree? >> Yay. Yay. >> Okay. Got all those. >> Yep. Okay. It has been unanimously approved. Um, brother, the probationary teacher. Motion passes. 10.10ou with Leonard Bzinski regarding vacation. So in the course of contract reviews, he brought forward some language and it was paralleled in language in Jackie's contract as well that allowed for carryover of some unused like up to five unused vacation days into the into the following year. Um, however, that following year was capped. So even if you could roll them
078over, you couldn't. Um, so thisou clarifies that, cleans up that language that wasn't caught last time and carries him through the conclusion as you note in theou of his remaining contract which ends June 30, 2027. >> Any discussion or questions? I make a motion to approve theou regarding vacation. >> Second. It's been moved and seconded to approve the memorandum of understanding um with Leonard Burinski regarding vacation. Any discussion hearing? None. All those in favor say I. >> Those opposed same sign. Motion passes. 1011 approved 2627 contracts with SWWC service cooperative. >> Really nothing has has um changed in types in the types of service that we have. I will share that this contract um has been changed a bit from the service cooperative to the district and at the superintendent's executive council has explained that
079the there are some districts that are stepping out of utilizing the co-op for a director of special education services and as a result of that the co-op will be um adjusting their staffing accordingly. and then that in turn reduces the overall contract costs um collectively. So across the entire service cooperative region. So um that if you ever had seen a pre I don't think we had a previous one out there because they were still working through those final details. That was something that was shared um gosh was it last week or just the week before at the superintendent's exec council. But otherwise, you can see all the other services uh remain in force as they are with the with the service cooperative. >> So like they're hiring someone in house to be the director of
080their special education. >> Yeah. Why are they Oh, okay. >> Yeah. >> Okay. Is that someone they already have on staff or is it someone that they >> I don't know. I don't know. I'd have to reach out to those districts. >> But it's not something that we could like to say. I mean, we don't have that. >> We could, but I don't know that we have enough students necessarily to make it worth it >> to make that a benefit right now. Yeah. >> Okay. >> Because our special ed director, McKenzie, who you've all met, um covers multiple districts and and uh she's doing a fantastic job, works really well with our team. I just when I was reading the contract, the way I understood it, and I might need correcting if I'm wrong, but
081the way I read it was that we are paying for a set amount of services. If those services are reduced, we still are expected to withhold that amount, but if those services increase, we have to pay the difference. Correct. >> Correct. like if there's a demand for additional services that aren't contractually obligated. And a lot of this comes back to the service cooperative bases their staffing patterns based upon obviously what what is accepted by the local districts. >> Have you seen where there's ever services that we don't use that we've had to pay for typically or is it more? >> I I I can't think of anything. And I don't envision I don't know that we've ever gone above in cost of service. I don't know Jackie if there's you can recall anything but >>
082I I think um we have I think was the stage pology portion before they had a contract out so therefore their cost increase in that >> that's right cuz they had to do that's where we were doing more of the um teleap lines right >> that's right I forgot about that obviously a very large contract so you want to be utilizing what you're paying for, >> right? Yeah. >> And I do appreciate if we would have have to hire a lot of these positions, it would cost the district a lot more than paying for parts of it, which is helpful. Any other discussion or questions? Make a motion to approve the 2627 contract with SWWC Service Cooperative. Okay. Second. >> Um I it's been moved and seconded to approve the 2627 contract with SWWC Service
083Cooperative. Any discussion hearing? None. All those in favor say I. I. >> Those opposed, same sign. Motion passes. 10.12 approved contract with business manager Jackie Kennedy for July 1st, 2026 to July 30th, 2029. Any questions? Hearing none. Do I have a motion to approve? >> So move. >> Second. >> Then motion and seconded to approve the contact with business manager Jackie Kennedy for July 1st, 2026, June 30th, 2029. Any discussion? Hearing none. All those in favor say I. >> I. Those opposed, same sign. Motion passes. 10.13 approved principles contracts for July 1st 2026 to June 30th 2028. And we can do both of these together. Correct. >> Yeah. Okay. >> Cuz they're bargaining unit. >> Okay. Perfect. So any discussion or questions regarding the two contracts hearing? None. Do I have a motion to approve?
084>> So moved. >> Second. So motioned and approved or seconded to approve the principal's contracts for July 1st, 2026 to June 30th, 2028. Any discussion hearing? None. Um all those in favor say I. >> I. Those opposed, same sign. Motion passes. 10.14 approved July 1st, 2026 to June 30th, 2028. contract for Lisa Peace, coordinator of curriculum, teaching and learning. Any questions? Hearing none. Do I have a motion to approve? >> So move. >> Second. >> So motion and seconded to approve the July 1st, 2026, June 30th, 2028 contract for Lisa Peace. Um any discussion? Hearing none. All those in favor say I. I. Those opposed, same sign. Motion passes. 11. Adjournment. Do I have a motion to adjurnn? >> So moved. Second. >> Been moved and seconded to adjourn the meeting. Any discussion? Hearing none.
085All those in favor say I. I. I. Those opposed. Thanks. You're passive.