001Monday, March 16th, and I call to order this regular meeting of the Richfield School Board. Attending this evening's board meeting alive and in the boardroom are board members, Calvie Dennis, Haley Tomkins, Ken Liss, and I'm board chair Eric Carter. We're joined here by one of our student representatives, Vanessa Rosa McAl. Also at the table we have superintendent Steve Civianski and assistant superintendent Cassanderwam. Other members of the district leadership team are in attendance and may be participating throughout the meeting as well. Richfield Public Schools mission is to inspire and empower each individual to learn, grow, and excel. And we aim to keep that focus at the heart of our discussions this evening. Thanks to all of us joining us here live and in the boardroom. We also want to thanks those of you who are streaming
002the meeting or watching it after the fact via YouTube. We appreciate when people bear witness to our meetings where we conduct the necessary official business of the district. Our first item of business this evening is to approve the agenda before us. As approval of the agenda is a routine business item, I'll briefly pause to see if there are any questions or comments related to the agenda. And tonight, I'm going to keep looking to my right hearing and seeing none. Is anybody prepared to move the agenda as presented? >> I move to approve the agenda as presented. >> I'll second. We have a motion by director Lissa and a second by Director Tomkins. All in favor, please say I. >> I. All post, please say nay. The chair votes I. And we have an approved agenda.
003Uh tonight is normally night for public speaking speakers. We do not have any speakers who have signed up. Um so as a reminder, our next opportunity for public comment will be on April 20th at 7 p.m. It's our normal board meeting. and instructions on how to sign up can be found on the Richfield Public Schools website under menu about school board public comments. Now over to Superintendent Yowski for our superintendent update. >> All right, so we have only one item in our superintendent update which is safe routes to schools by safe routes to schools coordinator Tim Brackett. Another exciting component of tonight's evening is that later on a couple of our leaders from our recent restructure. Uh longtime Richfield veteran and new facilities manager Bob Olsen will be here and also we'll be excited to
004introduce transportation supervisor and new to the district Jeff Keller as he talks about some of our bus purchases. That's later foreshadowing and exciting. But for now we're going to turn it to Tim Brackett and Safe Routes to schools. >> Good evening. Can everyone hear me? All right. All right. Uh hello for those who haven't met me. My name is Tim Brackett. I am the safe routes to school coordinator here at Richfield Public Schools. Um thank you for your time having me this evening and uh let's get started. So first just for the benefit of the new members um I'll go over the agenda. This is sort of what we're going to talk about tonight. We're going to talk about what is safe routes to school, who is the safe routes to school coordinator, myself. And
005then we'll talk about what's happened over the past year and how the program impacts the community of Richfield. So, the main thing to know about safe routes to school is that it aims to make it easier, safer, and more fun for students to walk or bike to school. Richfield Public Schools has a dedicated safe routiner. That's me, of course, which is fairly uncommon for for most school districts. In fact, there only six of us statewide. So, we're very uncommon to have a coordinator that's dedicated full-time to this work. Uh, and I'm one of two in the suburbs. So, as far as we're looking for suburban competition, I'm one of two. My position is funded by the Minnesota Department of Transportation and I'm good through June of 2028. Now we and we'll have more on that
006later, but I'm here for a couple more years at least. And what I do is I work on the six E, six strategies that are equity, encouragement, education, engagement, evaluation, and engineering. Those are that's the framework. Those six E are what guide my work. So a little bit about me again. My name is Tim Brackett. I've been a year-round bike commuter since 2016 when I lived in Plymouth and worked in Fidley. So, if you can imagine that jaunt. A lot of times I did involve biking and busing, but year round. I don't I don't bike every day. In the winter, I'm maybe once a day, once a week, but in the summer I'm two to three days a week. Uh really love that commute when I have the time, especially if I can ride the
007river to my home in Northeast and back. That's a calming commute. When I get home, I'm in a better mood. And so, I really enjoy biking and I enjoy what that does for my health as well. Um, being a year-round cyclist though led me to cycling advocacy and that led to a career change. I was a machinist for 12 years. So, this is an entirely new career for me. Um, so I spent a year in the Minnesota Marine Corps at Bike and Men as part of my career transition and learned uh everything a lot of the things that I use my job today at Bike and Men for a year. So, a little bit about myself. Pictured here is my my wife and then my daughter on her first bike ride home from daycare. So,
008that's a little that's a little over a year old now, but she still still loves to bike. So, first of all, I want to say that due to federal immigration enforcement here in Minnesota over the last couple of months, MENDOT has extended our local grant for another year. They understood that pausing the programming meant that we couldn't achie a achieve all of our deliverables in that three-year contract. So, they did recently offer a one-year extension for us. So, we're here through 2028. Now, it's a wonderful opportunity for us because we were a little bit ahead on our deliverables. So that gives us an extra year not only to achieve our deliverables, but maybe to build on that and to grow the program even further and um attain some of those goals that we talked about
009when I was here last fall with that safe school comp plan. So we intend to build on on the sustainability of the program by continuing to educate and empower our PE teachers, staff, and external partners to continue delivering the highquality pedestrian and bicycle education we already offer. working with the city of Richfield to build permanent infrastructure that makes it safer and easier for our students to walk or bike to school and to continue to develop funding sources outside of Mandot to financially sustain our safe rout. Normally when I consider the six E, I consider equity to be overarching and baked into the other E. So I never explicitly mention equity. I always highlight equity components. But this year's a little bit different with the uh with our annual safe for us to school survey in
010November. We began to notice that members of our community who used to walk to school uh dropped from 20% to 8% in one year. And so we started to understand that there was this real fear of of students walking and biking or walking to school. And so um we noticed this and then oper operation metro surge started after that. And so we saw that walking drop even further. So, we wanted to make sure that it um with winter walk to school day, we paused that this year because we didn't feel it was right to encourage students to walk to school knowing that many in the community didn't feel it was safe to send their own students. So, we paused winter walk to school day. And then in my role, I sort of spent more time
011evaluating the program, but then using what I could in my budget to provide safety vest and things like that for for new people patrolling school grounds, riding the school buses, patrolling recess, things of that nature. So, we were able to make make some uh work for me and and do some good with the safe rest of school program during the last two months even though we were pausing our encouragement activities and just working towards that equity and making sure everyone in our community felt safe with the program but then had the resources I was able to give them. Also, I've shared before that we're working to implement a trauma-informed approach to our safe routes program. And uh so that that also guided our work too the last couple of months and making sure that we're
012not that we're uh we're keeping gaining and keeping the trust and transparency in the community. So my favorite part of the job is bike education. And you can see here we added a new bike fleet last year, an adaptive bike fleet. And so now we have students who are able, this student here spent three years um riding bikes with with modified or um temporary training wheels that we can put on and take off the bike. And so she spent three years on those training wheels and was never able to go on the group rides because those training wheels are heavy. You just can't maintain uh a bike with training wheels for the length of a group ride. So we got some adaptive equipment and this year this student was able to ride on the back
013and went on the group ride at the high school. So that was really awesome to see. Had a lot of fun. So now we're up to four fleets uh in the we have a secondary fleet for high school. We have the adaptive fleet, a balance bike fleet to teach K through three how to learn to ride. And then we have our our original fleet, the elementary fleet that we use for grades five and six or four and five, I'm sorry. Just real quick, sorry about that. Real quick, I wanted to say that we're also adding summer programming. We um have 14 different bicycle programming events this summer using these fleets. So then they're true community fleets. So they're good for Richfield public schools, but we're also able to use those as a community asset as
014well. All right. So just a reminder, we talked about this a little bit last year. In 2024, Richville Public Schools was awarded a $30,000 grant to implement a trauma-informed approach to the safe routes program. This project included writing our own curriculum for trauma-informed engagement and then utilizing that curriculum to engage with different uh with our student families. During this phase, we were able to engage with 12 parents or caregivers, 72 high schoolers, and 165 middle school students, a total of 249 people on this project. And one of the deliverables for this project is that with this summer we are creating Richfield specific parentf facing videos about the safe routes program using that that trauma-informed lens that we can release at back to school in August to talk to our student families about walking and biking
015to school. So in our evaluation here we learned that students and parents are really excited about the idea of walking and biking to school together. Uh this came out um at every different level in every different way. Naturally, high schoolers don't want adults part of that group. U middle schoolers was divided. Some wanted their parents, some didn't. They but they were cool with an adult. And then all the parents thought that an adult with the group was wise. So we um but so we're looking to develop walking school and bike buses. For those who aren't familiar, this is like a regular the yellow buses. You just go from stop to stop picking up students as you go. And then ideally when you get to the school you have 12 to 15 students, a couple of
016adults and they've all came either via walking or as a bike bus. And so this is something really popular in Portland right now. I'm actually going to be visiting next week. Uh they've had Benson Boon and Justin Timberlake. Uh I'm not familiar with Benson Boone, but I know that's a big name in pop music. So they joined the rides and they didn't and um they didn't join the rides because or like the kids didn't come because the stars were there. The stars came because the kids were already there on these bike buses. So, I'm going to go to Portland here in another week and visit with that and see how they do it. And we're hoping at back to school next year to have walking uh school buses and bike buses as another way to
017get students to come as a community and as a group and feel safer. There was some concern and this was odd. So, over 2,000 respondents in six years of doing the safe rest of school annual survey, we had one person mentioned distracted driving. In this trauma-informed engagement, we had several students and two parents and caregivers to mention it. So, we're going to look at maybe starting a studentled campaign about uh anti-distracted driving as as part of the response to this trauma-informed uh grant. And then we had some respondents who live inside of walk zones who said they felt dismissed by not having a bus option. So, we want to look at how we can provide a sense of agency and and let them have a better sense of how choosing to walk or bike to
018school is an option and giving them that sense of agency maybe in how we frame our communication around our walk zones and and walking and biking to school. The one silver lining this year is our bike rates increased again. Overall, we went up to 8% districtwide. Um, we've continued to grow by one or two points for the last six years now. And when we look at men, we asked Mandot to compare our data with uh similar suburban communities and then statewide and their data shows that comparable communities, their bike rates are at 3 to three and a half% over the past four years and ours are at 8%. We're looking at double what our comparable communities are right now. And statewide it's 6%. So we're even ahead of the statewide rates for biking to school.
019We know this doesn't happen every day based on the survey. We understand we we ask how does your student travel most days but we do know that throughout the year we're 8% of students are biking to school and then another light thing I had noticed this is the first sign since we started our annual survey in 201920 school year that more middle and high school students are walking or biking to school than riding in family vehicles. And again, we know this doesn't happen every day, but it's still showing us a positive. And we look at when you do our bike rack audits, our arrival and dismissal observations, we know that we're getting closer to that where that is happening more and more. And so, we're happy to see that. We want to see that increase.
020But it was the first time that parents were saying this more students were walking and biking than they were riding in private vehicles at the middle and high school level. So many of you are aware that we won some infrastructure grants for MENDOT to redo the street in front of Centennial Elementary and then 70th in front of RDS and STEM. We also got a grant to update sidewalks, add sidewalks, and give more safe intersections at the Sheridan Hills campus. That'll be happening this summer. We're happy to we're happy with the uh Centennial Elementary seat. That one's like a dream. RDLS and STEM. We're still working out some kinks, but overall that's still safer. It's calmer for students walking and biking and for motorists as well. So then with the completion of the project at Sheridan
021Hills this year, we will be we will have added infrastructure upgrades to all of our elementary schools since the safe school program started in 2019. And then coming soon, we're looking to upgrade infrastructure around middle school and high school. So those are the next things on the list. I hope next year to be able to give you updates on that. So, with the current political climate, our state and federal funding opportunities uh dried up a lot over the past year. So, we're working with the city right now to create permanent infrastructure improvements um starting out with demonstration projects, quick build things that we can work through, um that the city can foot most of the bill on. And then when that funding does come back around, then we're able to move quickly with with uh
022what we learned from those demonstration projects and and uh get those grants. We are also actively working with Henipin County. We had an open house at Sheridan Hills last fall. We're looking to have one this spring in the middle school on engagement around the Penn Avenue reconstruction that's going to happen in 20 28 and 29. Then real quick as I wrap up, I just want to say that we've Richville Public Schools has gained a lot of trust from MENDOT and we talked I remember when I let Craig know they wanted to extend us another year. He said, "Man, they just want to keep giving us money." And they do. They like the work we're doing. We I showed you some of the numbers how we're exceeding um similar communities, even statewide bike rates. They like
023some of the uh initiative we're taking on like the trauma in foreign peace or the bike buses, the walking school buses. They really look to us as a leader on some of this work and they're always calling me and asking me for advice. They're calling me and asking me if I can present in different safe routes forums. Uh and this spring, the national safe routes to school conference is here in Minneapolis and we're going to do a mobile tour here in Richfield. And so we're going to show them all the good work we've been doing the last couple years. This is going to be uh engineers, planners, uh safe routs professionals, and educators from all over the nation. We're going to ride bikes here in Richfield and see the work that we've done. So really
024happy with our relationship with MDOT, and we're happy that they want to continue that relationship by continuing to fund my position as well. And so I always close out with the uh with these numbers. Last year, I reported that since the Safe Ross to school program began in 2019, we had secured a little over $2 and a half million dollars in grant funding. So this year, we're now at 3.2 million. And so when we figured out the budget to apply for my grant, we assumed that the community of Richfield throws in around $80,000 a year in end work. Um that's everything from Dan McIn how our trailers Craig Holi's oversight um PE teachers staff time at public works with the city parks and recck department 80,000 a year. Um so when you add that up
025over seven years that's $560,000 that the community of Richfield has put into the pot for safe school but we got back $3.2 million. That's a return of nearly sixfold. And so I still consider that be a very wise investment for the community of Richfield. I think it speaks volumes to the school community's commitment to this program, the leadership, Craig Holi's oversight of the program, and then just the teachers and staff who are all on board and and always willing to work with me um to make things happen and do exciting things for our children. So, that's all I have for tonight. If you have any questions, feel free to other than that, thank you for having me. >> Always a pleasure to have safe routs to schools present in at the board meetings. >> Open
026up for questions. What does traumain informed mean? >> So I think when I because that's that's a really good question. I think two things. One I look at people who experience toxic stress in their life. And so when I think about that then I think about I can't treat people who are experiencing more toxic stress in their life than I am the same as I would treat myself. And so just looking at um the ways to do that and then I look at with us especially with biking and walking physical versus psychological fears. So there may be a lot of people who don't have physical fears of walking or biking but because of toxic stress they have psychological fears around that. And so what we're looking to do with our program is first we wanted
027to make sure people felt safe sharing with us some of those psychological fears. Opening up and saying hey I may I maybe I don't fear that a car is going to hit my kid but I have these other fears around this. can that give us a better understanding holistically of of our student community and how we can better approach them with our program. >> Okay. Thanks. I just want to um say this is really exciting work uh and really cool to see I mean you said the word holistic like that comes through really clear that you're not just running a program but really thinking broadly about how to create access and change the way our city works. Uh and so that comes through. So thank you for your work. It's really exciting. Um, my question
028for you and for everybody that comes through when I don't have a question about what you told us is what do you need from us? How can we as the board support your work? Um, and yeah, how can we elevate your work, support your work, etc. How can we help you? >> I think two answers to that. If we do have bike to school day this year, uh, showing up, but I always send an email to the board. Um, we're still deciding whether that's something that's appropriate for this year, but volunteer efforts for our encouragement days is the best way. The second best way is thinking long term about how once Mandot funding goes away, how we sustain this work. Um whether that's still outside grants, whether that's something that comes from the district. But
029>> and then is the mindot piece is it kind of for sure going to end at that time or is it a renewable source of funding? Do you know >> it? It's renewable and we never want to uh assume, right? >> But there's been some there's been strong uh expression of desire to renew our our grant to look at more the high school piece. M >> so traditionally safe for us to school for 25 years was only K through 8 and in 2022 2023 that changed and then that funding was allowed to be spent on on the high school and now everyone throughout the nation's like well what do we do with high schoolers and so they could be that after that 2028 grant there could be an extension for three more years to study
030more of that high school piece okay and that would still we don't know how that looks that would still be available to elementary and middle school but the focus would turn more to high school it could be that that's on the on that helps thank I just have an observation as a nurse. I see another piece of this the exercise part, you know, where kids are out and they're getting fresh air and they're biking to school and there is this camaraderie and this sense of community. And so I like that part and um I just appreciate the work that you're doing because that's another aspect that we can add to our students. You know, they a lot of times they don't get out enough. they they're with their games or whatever, but this is a
031great opportunity for students to yeah be um more um physically active and and just be part of a community. So, thank you for the work you're doing. >> Thank you. >> Okay. Uh I just want to say yeah, in my point of view, I think Richville is a great place. It's very easy to commute. That's what I mean. Yeah, it's very easy to commute anywhere. You walk, scooter, bike, and um what was I going to say? Um I wish you best luck on that conference. I think you're doing an amazing job. And I was going to ask where you're going to add uh those what's it called? What's it called? The the project the with the red line the red sidewalking. >> Uh where you >> Oh, the demonstration project. Yeah, I was just questioning
032about the height. >> So, we're working with the city uh some of its funding and so a lot of infrastructure funding for active transportation is dried up uh with the current uh administration nationally and then the split legislature locally. So, right now we're really working with the city to make that happen. We have plans for that, but it's just a matter of securing the funding. So, but as soon as the funding is available, we're going to especially Harriet out here, we want to do some uh infra um infrastructure um intersection treatments there. So, so we would do the demonstration with the red paint, the white sticks. Yep. >> Okay. I'm all for that. Yeah, I lost. Let's fix up Harriet, >> but yeah, I completely agree. Okay, well, yeah, thank you. >> You're welcome. >>
033Uh, always great to hear you. Um, so let me say thanks for the five-year graph, right? This was something I've been hopping on. So, good job. Whether that was intentional or not, I appreciate it. Um, I would say, uh, I'm gonna slip, move my notes around. Um, so there's a lot of good information in here. The one thing I think is tricky is that the balance between giving a good presentation and having something that's a good takeaway. And so, a lot of your stuff you talked about wasn't in the slides, which is great for us to focus and pay attention and listen to you, but it's bad if we're looking at it after the fact. So I sh I share that just more because I always think of like you know all five people who
034look at the packets afterwards. Um they they miss a lot of the great stuff that you talked about. So it's cool that you had the five-year data and then I like I'm looking at my notes going that you talked about the state data and it saw it on that graph and I was like looking go where's it at? Did I miss it? Um and so it's it's thinking about that balance of you know do we put notes in it and I don't know I guess I look to you guys if there's a way to do it because again I don't mind the presentation done that way. I just hate for other people who were absent who who miss out on the good data. Um let's see which brings me to the next question. Can you
035tell me again what the six E for safe pro schools were? >> Yes there equity engineering infrastructure I'm sorry not infrastructure education encouragement evaluation and engagement. Engagement. Look >> at that. Yeah. Wait. See I didn't type that stuff that one. Uh, thank you. Um, the, um, we didn't necessarily talk about it and I was kind of thinking about the whole speed limit, change the speed limit with the city um, and that whole discussion. Have you been involved in any discussions about non city speed limits? So, like the county speed limits. >> I have not. No. >> I'm just curious if we've been engaged in that like and if there's any we know about them changing or an update on it. Um, I mean, when we heard last, the county had not intended or planned on
036making any changes. Okay. >> Um, and so I think that's that was at a pause at that point. >> Okay. I ask questions. Um, but I think the last one I've got then is just I think it's super cool that uh, right from a national perspective, they want to hear what we've done and right being able to bring around and share our good news. I mean, that's another thing that I continue to talk about is like how do we share all the cool stuff that we do here in Ridgefield. So, thank you for being you. More questions for the board. >> Just a quick summary comments. So, $3.2 million, lots of grant funds, um, increasing safety and improved transportation around our buildings. And so, we willingly do that. It's also a great opportunity and experience
037of partnership with the city. And so, as we think about those areas where we overlap really well, this would be a great example of one of them um, where we do work cohesively together. And then uh just a comment for Mr. Bracket. I am hopeful that in October when this group comes that um Justin Timberlake and Benson Boon will get there and that we will all be getting our invites. >> Can you put in a request for Beyonce? If Beyonce can come maybe or Cardi B, >> I would be okay with that. Also, >> Megan the Stallion just I'll send you a list. >> I mean, whoever's watching the YouTube video can just forward those, you know, relative stars so they can see our request. Anything else from the board? If not, thank you for
038coming in. Great presentation. >> Good to see you. >> Next is commendations. >> All right, so Richfield Public Schools would like to commend the Richfield High School art department and art students for organizing a highly successful empty bowls community event. Uh event showcased incredible student artwork and additional donated artwork to collect over $12,000 for the high school Spartan food shelf. So, thank you to the RHS team, our donors, and everyone who attended the event or donated. We appreciate you all and our community is fortunate to have you. So, thank you and we commend you. >> Thank you. It was a great event for those who didn't attend. I think our board members are there. So, uh yes, I would tell next year plan on it. That moves us to the next item on the agenda,
039which is the consent agenda, which is a collection of routine or failure routine business items that we consent to pass in bulk without individual discussion. I'll pause for a moment just to see if there any questions or requests before we proceed. Sorry, thanks for that George. I screwed up on that one. I'll quick do that again. Uh next is a consent agenda which is a collection of routine or fairly routine business items that we consent to pass in bulk without individual discussion. I'll pause for a moment just to see if there any questions or requests before we proceed hearing. And seeing none, is there a motion to approve the consent agenda as presented? >> I will move to um approve the consent agenda. >> Seconded. >> We have a motion by Director Tomkins and a
040second by Director Dennis. Is there any discussion? Just keep looking right. Hearing and seeing none. All in favor, please say I. >> I. All post, please say nay. The chair votes I. and the consent agenda is approved. That brings us on to old business. Our first item of old business is policy 701, budget and fund reserves and administrative guidelines 701.1. >> All right, we have this in front of you today for a third read and recommended passage. This did in between our meeting go back to FPAC, the fiscal advisory committee integrating um all of those recommendations. uh noting that we are wanting to make sure that our expenditures are aligned um to our overall district mission, vision, and values. Uh utilizing mathematical formulas to provide equitable staffing and supports uh based on our enrollment numbers
041and categorical funding. And so we really wanted to add specifics into that policy and FPAC supported that um to make sure that we're being very clear on how we spend money and what are those mechanisms within the guidelines. Um most of those components um are really um in regard to making them align to how our handbook and our uh branding work. Um on page uh 1B budgetary considerations uh we want to make sure that when um components are anticipated to have a significant impact in our overall priorities. Um we do look to board and community input. And so if we're talking about things like changing class sizes, for example, uh we would come back to the board and have that as a dialogue to see if we want to change what that looks like in
042terms of fiscal priorities. Um when we don't, um that doesn't require that same level input, but we wanted to clarify that within the guidelines. Um and again, making sure that that is mentioned in several areas of the guidelines after we walked our way through that with regard to FPAC. So with that, we have it in front of you. Um, I believe all board member input, NFPAC input is in there. Um, and so we have it for recommended passage unless there's any questions. So, I suggested a minor change. Do we need to make that amendment or is that just good to go? >> Um, yes, there were um why don't you explain what >> Yeah, sure. So, so you guys know I I had just suggested um under on page 44 under number two propose and
043propose and goals uh letter B number one it's a big block of words and my question was can we just bullet that list it's super important but it just makes it readable so you can see like what are the different things that we're referring to and that Craig and team are going to use for reference. >> Correct. So, we are asking for passage with a small formatting difference to bullets um in the area suggested by Chair Carter. >> Much clearer. Yes. >> I so move for that amendment. >> Well done. I second it. >> We have a motion by director Dennis and a second by Director Liss. Any more or any discussion? If not, we'll bring it to a vote. All in favor, please say I. I. >> All post, please say nay. The chair
044votes I. and policy 701 and guideline 701.1 is approved. Brings us to policy 413 and administrative guidelines 413.1 which I should have explained it. Staff use of school facilities and administrative guidelines. >> All right. And so the updates within the policy itself are really about branding updates. There were some wording clarifications put into the guidelines. Nothing significant since the last read. uh basically clarifying that anybody using our facilities outside of work still abide by our district policies, regulations and uh while they are using it outside of their role, they are remaining as employees in that time. Uh clarifying then uh some of those components prohibiting use of alcohol, drugs, tobacco in our building and some of those other components. Uh making sure to clarify that in the guideline. So, those updates aren't new since the
045last read. And we also have this one for you um with a third read for recommended passage. I move that we accept staff use of school facilities. >> I'll second. >> We have a motion by Director Liss and a second by Director Tomkins. Um policy 413. Correct. Um I I would just chime in and say we had some discussion at our last meeting about this one. Um and I guess my followup too was just like I think we were talking about the cross references and so that's been added in. Um the other thing that was key for me, right, is that this is staff member staff members alone and their family, right? Or relatives related. >> Correct. This is not a group because a group would follow by a different policy. >> 97 which is
046referenced in there now. Correct. >> It was referenced in there before actually. Yes. >> Was 979 just since we like talking about things and clarifying that. Any other questions or comments? Hearing seeing none, we'll bring to a vote. All in favor, please say I. >> I. >> All post, please say Nay. The chair votes I. and 413 staff use of school facilities administrative guidelines 413.1 is approved bring us to policy 611 provision of alternative instruction and administrative guidelines 611.1 a second read >> yes this is a second read so again we are not uh looking for passage this is just the updates that have occurred you'll notice updates within the policy in regard to branding um and so going along with our branding guidelines within the guideline itself um changing some of the wording uh
047just to make it clear um that we will make sure that education and alternative is open on a first come first- serve basis. You'll notice sort of a change of the order to make it read more clearly, more effectively um and and just sort of uh more structured in its order overall. Um and so nothing hugely substantial in the actual wording changes. Um but most of it just to make it clear and more understandable in terms of the overall policy. So again, that is just a second read. Um, and we'll have it back for you again in two weeks. >> Questions or comments? Then it looks like that brings us on a new business. First item in new business is authorization for purchase of passenger vehicles. >> All right. So I'm happy to welcome Jeff
048Keller uh to the microphone, supervisor of transportation. Take it away, sir. >> All right. Good evening, board members. Uh the administration is requesting that the board of education authorize the business office to enter into an agreement for the purchase of three replacement buses as part of the district's ongoing fleet replacement plan. The transportation department is working to follow an established bus replacement cycle of approximately 10 years of service. This timeline helps ensure that buses are replaced before maintenance costs, service hours, and mileage begin to significantly impact reliability and safety. The proposed purchase would include the following vehicles. two 77 passenger conventional buses from North Central International Hogland Bus Company at 175,97 each for a total of $351,8151. And this also would include with trade in uh trading in of uh current buses. This is a
049two uh I'm sorry. This is a 2026 2027 uh these two buses are 2026 2027 uh international 77 passenger conventional buses. We are also looking to purchase one 2026 2027 36 passenger microbird special education minibus from North Central International at $122,290.92 with trade. These vehicles would replace two 77 passenger uh type-C buses and one 30 passenger micro bird mini bus. Tenatively buses five, six, and 14 in our fleet um are the buses that are involved with the trade. Maintenance records for these buses have been included in the board packet for your review. The two 77 passenger buses would be purchased using capital funds through the Minnesota state school bus bid. The mini bus would be purchased through the source well purchasing contract using either capital funds or medical assistant funding depending on final budget planning.
050just like to say taking action on this evening will help ensure the district can secure production slots and receive the buses within the next year as bus manufacturing timelines continue to be very lengthy. Administration the administration will make a determination closer to the delivery date regarding whether the purchase the purchases will be paid outright or completed through lease purchasing financing based on c capital needs and budget considerations. at that time. We respectfully request authorization to proceed with this purchase agreements as presented. Thank you. >> Thank you and welcome. Questions from the board. >> Yeah. Did the buses returning in make it to their 10-year lifespan? >> There uh of the three were actually surpassed the 10-year lifespan. Uh a lot of that had to do with uh COVID >> and the slow down slowing down
051of the the fleet at that time. Um so uh I know one bus for sure is at a 14-year plan. Um the other two are definitely over 10 year. >> Perfect. Thanks. >> Um I have two that are probably obvious answers, so bear with me. >> Uh so just to be sure, so these are like a full trade out. So we'll end up with the same amount of buses that we have now, right? We're not losing buses or adding buses. >> Correct. >> Okay. And then again, this is a no-brainer, but we just did our our um audit that we're like following the bid rules, right? We've got those kind of rules around procurement and all that jazz. That's all in the packet and that's all >> correct. He explained source well purchasing. That is
052one of the methods and then the state purchasing method. Those are those follow the rigorous guidelines and are very clean. >> Perfect. Fantastic. Thank you. >> Sure. So before we get to motion, I'll ask the next question. Um it does feel like we go through this a lot or it seems like we're always talking about buses. Um how many are total buses do we have again? >> Total buses in the fleet are at uh right I would sorry I apologize right around 30. >> Okay. So then if we're expecting to do it every 10 years, right? Or we're keeping for 10 years >> approximately. >> So then so we're expecting three a year that we're looking at and >> we generally have two to three bus purchases a year. >> Yeah. Yeah. >> And just
053from a time frame perspective, is it always in the March time frame? >> Like it feels the the reason why I asked them like it feels like it's like that it's more than just once a year that we're getting bus requests. So maybe I'm just curious about our overall schedule and what that looks like. >> Stepping into the position when I did. >> Yep. >> And I know that we had buses that we had purchased already >> that we are still waiting on because of production um being very slow. >> Yeah. >> Um so that that's where I that could I would that could contribute to where you're thinking that it seems like it's more often. >> Sure. That we've got buses that are like waiting. Yeah. I know I'm putting you you've been here
054for like >> Mr. been here for quite a long time. He is smiling, remembering some time frames that uh Jeff wasn't here yet. >> Yep. So, so usually we do come to the board ask for the authorization between January and May. >> Yep. >> So, it um is a springtime purchase as far as looking at the purchases for the next fiscal year. So, the frequency um we did a similar purchase about a year ago and then we did the lease purchase financing arrangement for that after that. Got it. So then maybe where you felt like a second time during the year, but generally there's a three-year vehicle >> or three vehicles per year that get requested for purchase and trade out. >> Sure. I mean, just food for thought, it's like the fact that you
055guys come with all the maintenance records, which I think is awesome, especially for um I'm looking around. I mean, I know Kirk loves this stuff. Tim used to love this stuff for all that detail. For me, I like it like I'd like to see almost like a higher level summary of like saying, you know, let's see the 30 fleet, you know, the give me a spreadsheet of the 30 and show me where they're at from an age perspective of here's what we're recycling out. I think that's interesting information from a you know, when you talk about 14 years, it's fantastic, right? We're getting more life out of them or the fact that we may be waiting on a couple buses that they're we're getting ready to see a couple new ones and this is already
056the next year after that is just that's good information too from my perspective. Um, just as we look and we make the decision on this, >> right, Jeeoff will keep that in mind for the next time he's back. >> Right. You'd be excited to come back here to give us more data. >> Only if you vote yes on the buses, then you'll be really excited to come back. >> There is stipulation. >> Well, okay. One last question then. This is for the new board members. Does it have the fancy lights on the stop sign? >> It has all the requirements of the school bus. >> That is not the exact answer, but good job. Any more questions or comments or a motion? >> I move that we approve the purchase of the buses. >> Is
057that what I'm supposed to say? >> That's spectacular. Thank you. >> Now we need a second. >> I second it. >> We have a motion by Director Tominson, second by Director Les to authorize purchases of passenger vehicles. All in favor, please say I. >> I. All post, please say nay. Chair votes I. and we have approved your purchase for the passenger vehicles. >> Thank you very much. >> Brings us to authorization to proceed with Sheridan Hills partial roof replacement project. >> There we go. From transportation to facilities. So, we're going to welcome up uh facilities manager Bob Olsen. >> All right. Good evening, board. Thanks for having me. Uh so the I'm here to uh ask the board of education to authorize the administration's request to proceed with the Sheran Hill School 2026 partial roofing
058project with TMCO and McFillips Brothers Roofing Company in the amount of $836,000. The project outlined on the attachment is paid through long-term facility maintenance revenue. Uh while the original uh fiscal year 27 long-term uh facility maintenance plan approved in June 2025 did not include this level of roofing project. The district will be amending the LTFM plan and budget this summer to reallocate funds from the building envelope to roofing systems when it submits its new 10-year plan. The project bids came in higher than originally anticipated due to more extensive work that was identifi identified as necessary during site testing. And due to this significant increase in the cost of the project, the district is moving forward with the value engineering project option that would move part of the roofing project to a later time as it
059was determined not to be critical to complete with this project. The project would begin in June of 2026 with the completion date of September 2026. This project is through a joint powers agreement through Brightworks cooperative purchasing connection agreement and does not require a formal bid. TMCO Incorporated is our consultant and will prepare the plans and spec specifications for this project as well as provide project management and quality control services. >> Thank you for that question. >> He answered my question already. I have a question. >> Well, the roofs as uh we go through each year and they leave they reach their lifespan. So after uh so many years uh we need to replace them as as needed. >> Yeah. So we're not letting Bob rest in his new role. Uh we are you know we're
060doing the reallocation of funds. They're building envelope funds, which are the outside funds. Um, and we're moving those to roofs. We've asked Bob to come up with a clear long-term replacement cycle for roofs along with tuck pointing to make sure that we are planning those out long term in a really definitive way. Uh, so he is running all over the place and making sure we are set. >> Cool. So, it's not that there's like a family of possums living in the roof, but >> not that I know of. >> Cool. >> I haven't seen one. >> Just curious. Just curious, that's all. Thank you. >> I have a question. Are there any contingencies for the contract or not getting the work done on time? Just a quick question. >> Uh that's a great question. Um
061I have to be honest with you, I don't know if there is. Um as far as I know, they we're going to get the job done in time is all I know. Yeah, we typically don't have uh financial contingencies or things of that nature um within those contracts, nor do we have the capacity in most cases to do it. >> So, >> but the question is sort of more like related to what happens >> correct or if he doesn't uh this can occur I mean we have construction that occurs during school um in these types of situations if needed. Um, but we also build in some calendar window and so it's scheduled to be done I believe August 14th if I'm recalling correctly. >> Says completion date of September 26. >> September 26. So we're
062already assuming they're going to be working during the school year. Thank you. Thank you. Blending projects in my head. Should we be looking at doing a full roof replacement, not just a partial >> with the parts of the roof that they >> um were more of a restore and they felt that with the condition they're in that they're fine for a couple more years. >> Okay. >> Dude, come on up. It's It's a party. It's like phoning a friend here. >> Sorry. So, um it's not unusual for us to do only partials of roofs of each one of our buildings, and that really is targeted with the um funds that are available through long-term facilities maintenance. >> One of the things we are contemplating is in the last legislative session, the board authorized larger projects
063and additional funding for those larger projects through additional levies. So, we are contemplating whether or not we might want to do more cohesive plans. Um, but it really is based on funding and as Bob indicated with these projects, there wasn't an immediate need for the areas that they are taking out of that project. Um, they aren't connected to the roof, so there isn't any quality of that. It just was perhaps a way to be more efficient, but um, given the cost of the additional expenditures, those are able to be pushed back a few years. >> Great. And then um this is dumb, but I just I'm aware of it since we've talked about it before. And it's like the safety rails, do those need to be installed or they already included in the plan? >>
064Um safety rails have been an ongoing project throughout the last number of years. I think we have most of them completed, but um I don't know at Sheran. So those those tend to be separate projects. >> Okay. Um, >> so they're already done, right, for for all the schools were covered from a and I forget the exact name of them. Um, I can almost see them right out there behind you guys, right? Uh, >> whatever. >> They're 100% completed. >> I would say they're not 100% completed. And I don't know what was discussed about where they were supposed to be going, but as far as I know, they're not the one if they're I don't think Sheran has 100% completion at Sheridan for sure. Yeah, the safety rails are connected in with where there are
065other workspaces on the roof. So, if there's mechanical systems nearby, the edges and stuff like that. So, it's not railies, railings all the way around the buildings. Yep. It's in areas where um individuals might be up working on those roofs >> to make sure that's a safe environment. >> Lock on rails. Is that what it is? I mean, it's close. >> I know there's something I can't think of it off hand. >> Yeah. I don't know. Okay. I just thought I'd ask since I like looking at this and again if we expect to see a plan >> later Bob is working on that. Yeah, we're going to give them six months or so to be able to do that. When as as I was texting both um Jeff and Bob earlier, this is where they're
066presenting in the business portion. They will become part of the regular uh rotation of presentations. Um, and so we will have some facility update when Bob comes back for the superintendent report, probably sometime in the fall or early winter. So, we'll give him a little breather before we uh make him show up for the second time of of that. >> That's fair. This is just a warm up. >> Yeah. >> Okay. More questions or of course a motion would be accepted this time. >> I move to accept this uh proposal. >> Second. Have a motion by director Dennis and a second by director Tomkins. You guys are on fire tonight. Any more questions, comments? Hearing seeing none, we'll bring it to a vote. All in favor, please say I. >> I. All post, please say
067nay. Chair votes I. And the authorization to proceed with Sheridan Hills partial roof replacement project is approved. >> Welcome to the party. >> Great. Thanks. brings us to the next item on the agenda, which is the resolution discontinuing positions for 2026, 2027. >> Very good. Thank you very much. Facility and fleet improvements are always fun things to talk about because we're making our places better. Um, we are starting to do budget planning for next year and are at a point where we need to be making some staffing decisions uh specifically around our certified positions, our licensed teachers, licensed administrators. So we have for your approval um a resolution discontinuing positions for 2627 um which eliminates certified positions within specific license areas um as recommended to achieve the necessary staffing for 2627. Uh this list includes
06823.25 FTE of certified positions that are um projected to be eliminated or scheduled to be eliminated for the 2627 school year. Um decisions regarding these eliminations come in a number of different places um targeted with staffing. So part of it is around projected student enrollment and changes in enrollment. Um part of it is around our revenue projections for next year. Um some of that connected to student enrollment. Also looking at fluctuations in grade level. So moving from elementary to middle school to high school course registrations in different subject areas. Um and then other things to account for program needs and necessary budget reductions. Uh with these proposals, we are um maintaining our current average class sizes that have been targeted for our staffing ratios. So there are no changes to that. Um and then some
069of these positions may end up added back later on the spring once more details around registrations or funding is available. Uh so with that we ask for your approval for that resolution um that is included on the next page um with the list of license areas and subject uh subject areas. >> Thank you for that questions. comments from the board. >> Not yet. >> Okay. Second part. >> Yep. I'm just in general questions or comments from the board. >> Um I'll jump in I guess with the first one. Just as I look at this and just reflecting on it, um one of your comments was about multiple factors including enrollment changes. So as we've had the discussions about metro surge and just kind of impact to the bigger world around us um that that enrollment
070number was it when was that taken? I mean like from a time perspective is that does that impact I guess what I'm trying to ask. >> Yep. So um we've done two things. So usually shortly after October when we have our October one count we do projections for the following year based on attrition. Uh the superintendent and I did meet and um have looked at it with a couple other people looking at what's impact how is our enrollment changed since October to February and made some adjustments reducing our ADM projections for next year as well or our average daily membership or enrollment projections for next year. >> Okay. So, our typical enrollment projections follow patterns based on birth rates, based on attrition, retention, and attraction. Um, and then we added in some additional anticipated losses
071um based on metro surge and some possible changes uh of fewer students based on enrollment. >> Okay. >> If nothing else, does anybody have a motion? I will uh move to vote on the resolution. Okay, >> I second it. >> So a motion by director Tomkins, second by director Liss to the motion at hand is on the resolution discontinuing positions for 2026 2027. Any more discussion? If not as a resolution my favorite thing to always do. It is a roll call vote. I will start with director Tomkins. >> Is this time where I can share? >> Well, uh >> or is that >> sorry if if you want to speak you are welcome to speak now. >> Okay. >> So right now we're talking about loss of positions. >> Yes. Yeah. >> So I just
072want to share just briefly some reflections on that just uh so I just Yeah. I want to say that this isn't easy, right, for myself as a board. It's my first time, y'all, and this is not fun. Um, and I think uh what I've got here is just that, you know, while funding and changing sizes of classes and communities shape uh change the shape of our staff teams, uh what doesn't change is the legacy that folks leave behind in Richfield um on our young people, our families, and our schools. uh and that yeah, we just don't take this lightly and my heart's been really really heavy for a while thinking about thinking about this and I understand what's you know that it's important that we keep schools running but just want to honor the you
073know the importance and kind of how how important this conversation is and then do I share my vote or do we are we still talking >> uh if if there are more I'll react ask a question. Any more questions or comments? Okay, then if not then we will bring it to a vote. >> Okay, >> Director Tomkins >> I. >> Director Dennis >> I. >> Director I. >> The chair votes I and the resolution discontinuing position for 2026 2027 is approved. Brings us on to the next resolution which is proposing to discontinue teaching contracts and place teachers on unrequested leave of absence. Thank you very much and I appreciate member Tommpkins comments. Um it is we get moving forward all the time and um we do know that these are people um and at the
074same time these are strictly budgetary pieces is what's connected here. So it's not connected to performance in any way. Right. >> Um with this um we do have a number of individuals who are continuing contract teachers who are being proposed for placement on unrequested leave of absence. So um a couple phases of contract rights. We have probationary teachers who have um there there's more latitude around a non-renewal for those positions. Those generally come to the board in May. Um we do have some continuing contract teachers that have contractual rights um where we are placing them on unrequested leave of absence. This is another one of those areas that's going to feel like it comes back and hits you in the head more times than what you want because um our process is such that in
075March we have to propose placing people on unrequested leave of absence. Then that gives them notifications and um rights to request transfer into other positions. Then in April, we come back and ask you to actually place those teachers on unrequested leave of absence. Um and so there's a couple different times that those notifications come into play. And then in May, we come and ask um for prop um approval of non of probationary non-renewal. Um with this we have five individuals um who are defined by teacher and state statute which is licensed certified positions of teachers or administrators that are included in the place proposed discontinuence of their teaching contracts that we're asking for your approval tonight. Um and again these are all connected in with those budgetary decisions that were um identified earlier. >> Thank
076you for that questions comments. Yeah, I'll say something in just continuing what uh uh commission commissioner director Tomkins said. I'll just continue. It's important to know that we do this every year. I'm going to take my glasses off so I can see better. Um and we have to align with the goals and everything. And it's probably one of the hardest things we do uh every year because well a lot of us know these teachers and a lot of have worked with them teachers and administrators. But it's important to know that these cuts are purely budgetary and do not reflect on the um performance of these of these uh individuals. even though you know they they may feel it's it's it's a cold comfort for them. Um tonight we have five names and um with the
077other positions previously eliminated there might be more but we express our gratitude for all those who have served. And I'll add um so some of the folks on this list like like uh director Liss mentioned we know and some of the folks on this list are uniquely responsible for me and my son feeling connected and belonging in Richfield schools. Uh and so I just and I know that we're one family of countless countless others. And so just again so much appreciation um for the the contributions and leadership and love that that teams give and um yeah so just a big just a big sending of love out cold comfort as it may be. >> Um yeah say >> are you going to say anything? I am I mean I think it's it is a tough
078time of year and I think it's a tough time you know welcome to the board you know it's like kind of trial by fire where this is one of the first things you get to see is that um where we have to make these tough budget discussions and I I think and again cold comfort is um not a great phrase but the appropriate phrase uh when you look at it and I just think of us and where we're at looking at the environment around us again not just political state right level and how we're looking at from a funding perspective. Um, as much as I hate it, I always look big picture and think about how much I appreciate Richfield, right? Because we're we're trying to look ahead too to make sure like we make
079these small cuts, albeit painful, um, that we're trying to make sure that we're being smart for our longer term protection and that the longer term health of the school. So, um, I just say thank you guys for doing this. um it's hard to do and thank you for everybody who's impacted by this for all the work that they've given and um everything they've given to our community. With that, are there more questions or comments or a motion? >> I move that we um pass a resolution to discontinuing teaching contracts and to place teachers on unrequested leaves of absence. >> I second it. We have a motion by Director Liss and a second by Director Dennis. Any more discussion or comments? >> Just a quick comment that we thank we thank um our members with gratitude
080for their service um and hope there are positions with us in the future that they return to. >> Any other comments or questions? >> If not favor roll call vote. Director Liss >> I. Director Dennis >> I. >> Director Tomkins >> I. >> Chair votes I. And the resolution proposing to discontinue teaching contracts and place teachers on unrequested leave of absence is approved. >> Next item on the agenda is policy 979 community use of school facilities and grounds. >> Yes. And this has actually come to us just a couple of years ago, actually about a little over a year. Um, as we have been reviewing and making sure, um, given the updated improvements to the court, uh, the tennis courts, uh, we needed to change wording. Uh, you'll notice, um, in definition, Centennial, Sheridan, and
081R stem took away the tennis courts as an open area. Um, they actually have been locked previously. They are actually usable by permit. So, that is not a full change. Uh, but we needed to change this um, to align to what we actually do in terms of permitting. So we moved that from B to C. Um Richfield High School stadium, baseball fields and tennis courts are secure areas available on a permit basis. So this is in the long-term um vision of the board to make sure our policies are aligning and if there are changes of practice that are occurring because of regulations or making sure as we clarify um that they do align. Uh so we're asking the board to approve this in one read. Um it is not our typical review. Um it is
082just changing where those tenants courts are to align to the actual permitting process um which is what it was not. So with that I have it in front of you. >> I have a question. When we talk about Centennial Sheran Hills and our basically the the elementaryaries we include the playgrounds. >> Yes. During non-school hours they are open. >> Okay. because that seems to be something we've always done. >> Uh yes. Yes. So if if you look at the definition, centennial shared in our STEM fields, open areas unless previously scheduled, they're available for use by individuals, small groups on a casual recreational basis without a permit. Correct. So that is just continuing. Everything else is so when the school is not in session or the fields are not scheduled, people can come and play on
083our playground. People can come and play in our fields. a dumb question I guess. Is there a reason why we're saying the tennis courts don't count? >> Uh the tennis courts are and have been locked and so they are allowable on a permit basis. So if you take that step down in category similar to the football field and some of those others um it's actually locked to maintain them. >> Got it. When when did we start locking them? going to >> yeah I think when they updated the the court surface I think that was two years ago year and a half ago something like that then we began we began doing that >> and then have been using it on a permanent basis >> is city use really that damaging to the surface and and
084a part of and this is going to sound dumb but I mean it's like I have this is really dumb fond memories of biking over to the tennis courts and playing and Yeah, >> I can own you right biking for Bloomington over here. >> Well, there's tennis courts at Augsburg Park. >> True. Right around >> skate corner. And so from my time on the parks commission, I can tell you that taking care of a tennis court is incredibly expensive. >> To deal to like maintain the flooring of the tennis court >> is apparently incredibly pricey. You're like, "Yes, yes it is." And so it doesn't surprise me that we wouldn't want to allow public access to them because of how prohibitively expensive it is to maintain and redo with repeated use. That would be Yeah.
085>> or one of our student experts. >> Yeah. Um I didn't know it was that expensive. I was going to say, "Oh yeah, why don't why doesn't the community come in?" But I'm like, now that you're saying this, I'm like, oh, oh, that makes sense. And I'm like, oh, you never know. There's vandalism that exists. So, I'm like, oh, okay. I guess that makes sense. So, yeah, I agree to keep our tennis courts safe. I mean, they're already cracking up, so I don't want to spend more money. >> I thought my job asked questions, right? So, >> yeah. Okay. >> Any other questions or a motion? I move that we pass the community use of school facilities and grounds. >> I'll second. >> We have a motion by director listen and a second by director
086Tomkins. Any more discussion? >> Good guy. >> Okay, no more discussion brings us to vote. All in favor of approving policy 979, community use of school facilities and grounds, please say I. >> I. >> All posts, please say a chair votes I and policy 979 is approved. Last on our agenda is donations. >> All right. Yes. With our generous community, I am reading a lot of names nowadays. So, uh, recommended the board accept the following donations with gratitude to the Richfield High School Spartan Food Shelf. receive donations. $350 from Emily Schmemelling Freder of Minneapolis on behalf of Mark and Jod Fmer, Alyssa Olsen, and Hayan Lee. $250 from Ela Keash of Richfield. $200 from John and Nicola Wigdall of Richfield. $150 from Katherine Bender of Richfield. $100 from K. Alli of Shakipi, Minnesota. $100 from
087Joseph Bloom of Minneapolis. $100 from Anne Elllet of Sylvania, Ohio. $100 from Hela Hapa of Richfield. $100 from Regina Harris of Richfield. $100 from Allison Herkus Budich from Richfield. Budish. I'm gonna get that right the first time. Allison Herkus Budish of Ridgefield. $100 from Allison Leersge of Richfield. $100 from Rebecca Lohen of Minneapolis. $100 from Keith Maxwell of Arena, Wisconsin. $100 from Daniel Miller of Richfield. $100 from Melissa Neee of Toland, Connecticut. $100 from Melissa Olsen of Minneapolis. $100 from Marge Saxter of Oakdale, Minnesota. $100 from Richfield or from Rachel Smith of Minneapolis. $100 from Nathan Morgan Mance Vance of Minneapolis. $75 from Josh Josh of Minneapolis. $75 from Aaron Lisserog from Adina, Minnesota. $60 from Michael and Helen Sulkski of Richfield. $50 from Megan Bloom of Minneapolis. $50 from Sarah Deble of St. Paul.
088$50 from Liz Graco of Egan, Minnesota. $50 from Jessica Holly of Richfield. $50 from Emily Marty of Minneapolis. $50 from Lauren Stea of Richfield. $50 from Terresa Younglum of Minneapolis. $30 from Kristen Bradset of Minneapolis. $25 from Linda Banks of Minneapolis. $25 from Troy Carillo of Minneapolis. $25 from Shirley Garcia of Burnsville, Minnesota. $25 from Jenny Gustoson of Richfield. $25 from Aaron Garink of Richfield. $25 from Cara Johnson Bllystone of Richfield. $25 from Matthew Cotch of Minneapolis. $25 from Diana Kopka of Minneapolis. $25 from Sharon Mleier of Minneapolis. $25 from Alleti Mueller of Minneapolis. $25 from Naja Robbie of Minneapolis. $25 from Danielle Reed of Bloomington, Minnesota. $25 from Alli Shoreman of Chandler, Arizona. $25 from Laura Vita of Richfield. $25 from Naomi Ward of Burnsville, Minnesota. $5 from Angelina Sikitch of Richfield. cash donations
089totaling $4,110 received at the empty bowls event and anonymous donations totaling $45. And while that is a very large list, we do believe um that when you do donate, you should have your name read at the board. So, as long as that list is, I will continue committing to do that. We appreciate those generous donors and appreciate them are thankful with gratitude. >> Did we toll up that number? I mean, empty bowls was 12,000, but I don't know the total of this particular number. Um, I was busy reading. You could have been counting. >> I was too busy asking sassy questions of like, I'm going to say something dangerous here on this hot get in trouble. You could yell me later. I'm like, you know, Bart Simpson used to like call up and do prank
090phone calls. And I was like, you know, people could donate and get you to read things that were right shenanigans. And I say it all out loud on mic one >> because if that encouraged like people to give more donations, you know, I'm just saying. >> I mean, they might be able to slip one by. I could purposely mispronounce something in that case, too. You never know. >> We appreciate it. I think this is fantastic. I Our community, we're the best. I go say looking at the mic. We're the best. Our community is amazing and the outpouring of love, money, and support has been incredible. >> Absolutely. With that, is there a motion? >> I move that we accept these donations with the utmost gratitude. >> Seconded. >> We have a motion by Director Tomkins
091and a second by Director Dennis to accept these donations with the utmost gratitude. All in favor, please say I. >> I. All post, please say nay. The chair votes eye and we accept these donations with the utmost gratitude. Brings us to advanced planning and our first item is legislative update. >> It is looking for a hard time at the house um down at the state capital at this point. Um so the house is tied with exactly the same amount of Democrats and Republicans and very very very very very few bills have come through. Um and so what that means is without House support for a number of bills, some of the things that might be on our platform are looking pretty challenging at this time. Uh one of the things we are hoping for is
092compensatory education hold harmless, which means about $2.5 million to support our students um in poverty. Um in regard to some of the staff that we employ, some of the supports that we provide, we have been advised that that is not necessarily likely. Uh, one of the things we are hoping for, the special ed committee is looking at um, ADSIS and some of those other components, which is another $1.1 million in supports to our students who are behind in reading and math. And we have been told to anticipate it's not likely that there are a lot of agreements. So, we're going to continue advocating at the capital. Uh, we're going to continue pushing for some of those top components. Um but with the tie in the house um it could have some longer term um concerns
093for us in the not 26 27 year necessarily but as we continue to move forward things to really watch out for. Um so just wanted to make sure the board was aware of that. So we are working hard, we are pushing hard and that TAI is um passing very few very few bills out of the house at this point. >> Thank you for that update. Any questions about the legislative update words? Uh, brings us to information and question from the board. Brings us to suggested future agenda items. And then brings us to future meeting dates. Our next meeting will be on April 6th, April already uh at 7 PM and then following that will, like I said before, be April 20th at 7 PM, which will be our night for public comment. With that, the
094final of business of the agenda is to adjourn. As this does not require a full board vote, I'll officially adjourn the meeting at 8:13.