001to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands. One nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. >> All right. that members are present >> and my comments are just uh to open up with we had a closed uh closed session at the end of last session. So, director Trout, Pactic, Void, Andre, and Hoffstead were there with Mr. Leard and M. Sad uh to go over negotiation strategies and uh we got through those. So, that that went well. Um, and with that, uh, I just want to welcome, uh, Kimberly and Alita, our two, uh, student representatives for the board. Uh, we'll be taking their overall office early later tonight and, uh, and we're looking forward to hearing from you. Uh, before we get to that,
002I will uh, take an approval motion to approve the agenda. So, move, Mr. Chair. All right, Director. Thank you. I'll second. Director, thank you. Any discussion? All in favor say I. I. >> I. Right. Motion carries. >> All right. Uh so student board representatives have your oath of office here. So if you would stand and raise your right hand, you don't have to repeat after me thankfully. Um, but at the end just say I do. So the oath of office is I or affirm that I will support the Constitution of the United States and the Constitution of the State of Minnesota and will faithfully discharge the duties of student board representatives serving Independent School District 485 to the best of my judgment and ability. >> I do. >> Awesome. Go ahead and have a seat.
003>> All right. Do you have anything to present to me? Well, yeah, we do kind of um so the student council's been really busy um with the start of the year. It's kind of starting to die down. So, we've had homecoming this October um and mental health awareness so far. Um so, homecoming we do events like coronation, the color run, the Olympics, and then we brought back the carnival this year which was a really big hit. We had it out on the multi-purpose fields. We got some inflatables, a whole bunch of carnival games, and we ended up making a slight profit over that. So, that was pretty good. Um, I'd say everything else went really well. Uh, coronation went smoothly, the Olympics went smoothly. Um, the color, which is the fundraising event that we do,
004we ended up raising over um a little over $1,800 from um areas of infinity, we're donating 1,500 of that to the care closet. And then um sober is a thing we do during the month of October. We're collecting socks, hats, and gloves from students. Um we're also donating that to the care closet because coming up on colder months instead of give socks, hats, and gloves to kids in our community. Um we also have mental health awareness. That was just a little thing that the guidance counselors asked us to do. The middle school council set up a um kindness tree. So students during their royal hour were able to take a sticky note and write something kind and add it to the tree. And it it ended up looking as really it's right in the commons
005there. >> It's by like the common >> by the Lawson. It actually looks really cool. So check that out. Check out some of the students kind words. Um upcoming events we've got breast cancer awareness day. So that's on October 24th. We're going to be dressing in pink um just to support breast cancer awareness. And then we got Turkey bingo in November. Is that it? >> Oh yeah. Busy busies. That's awesome. Well, we really appreciate. Does anybody have any questions? >> Have a comment? >> Absolutely. >> As we go forward, if there's things that you guys see or hear from me, the elementary or high school that you think that this father needs to hear, if you guys bring here, listen. So, >> yeah, that's that's exactly why you're here. and the awesome updates. That's that's
006a whole lot of work um for your you guys' team. So, um we do appreciate that and I know the students look forward to all of those things. So, thank you very much. Uh next we go to uh appreciation, recognition, and presentation. Okay. uh recognition of citizens for input groups. Okay. Um into the superintendent report. Okay. Uh one highlight here is strategic planning meeting. As I mentioned it before, it's October 28th at 6 o'clock in the elementary media center. That's also uh parent teacher conference night over there. So we're hoping to catch some people at the same time. Um if you don't know who she is, we have Sher Hansen here um in the yellow over here. She's our HR person. And so just asked her to be here if she could just to kind
007of hear a little bit about the Minnesota paid leave, which I'll touch on here. Um and she can chime in if she wants doing this. In health insurance bids, uh they will be opening on October 27th at 9:00 in the morning. So, we'll start reviewing those things at that point. Um, so on to the Minnesota leave. Uh, I'll just highlight some things that I've already touched once before and then I'll add a few more things here, but the medical leave is up to 12 weeks. Family leave is up to 12 weeks as well with a maximum of 20 combined. And that all starts January 1st. Um, districts must notify their employees by December 1st what those changes are going to be. And there there will be a premium cost to the to the district that
008would be split by the district and uh uh state. So the state is charging 88% of the leave costs which is of their wages. So and then it's split in half. So the districts left pay 44% of that and estimated cost for that at 88 or at the 44% is about 31,000 for us next year. Um we also have to pay half of that for this year starting January 1 till June 30th. So about 15,000 of that. Um and none of that is has been budgeted for. So that's all a new cost. Um >> so that's estimated but we have no idea. Right. Well, that is pretty solid. Pretty solid number. The part that we don't know is how many people are going to take them. >> That's right. >> From year to year. Yeah.
009So, that'd be on top. >> That's the premium cost that I'm talking about. >> There's no there's no there's no like Okay. So, we have guidelines within the building that only so many people can be gone, but we don't >> we can't we can't put a guideline. Only so many people can take leave. Correct. Thank you. Yeah. Yeah. Um some some districts are uh going with outside agencies to to do this. So what I'm talking about is a state the state plan. That's at 88%. Some some companies are offering I've heard like 79% I heard 78%. Um if it was 78% it'd be 27,000 annually and then about 14,000 uh if you know for the second half of this coming year. Uh what my recommendation is because it's going to be new um for everybody
010is to go with the state plan. It's not a lot more. It's a little bit more but I just think there's too many unanswered. >> You're very unanswered questions for it. >> No. No. Um, something else the district has to do is uh, of course we have to notify under December 1st, but we also need to have something in policy that's uh, just uh, direct staff to contact um, Minnesota plan if they have questions about these. So rather than have a lengthy thing, we just say in our policies a short little word to connect with them. Is that policy or is that employee handbook handbook? Thank you. >> So I would you know based on the timeline by December 1st >> does this affect any of the contract in any way? >> No. Okay, >>
011that's what I know. It just seems like it just seemed I mean I could tell you I' stood in a circle with other superintendents about two weeks ago and my confidence I mean I feel better today but two weeks ago I didn't feel that way and the same people around me are feeling the same way that there's just so many unanswered questions yet that we're still trying to figure out. Well, it's not a lot of comfort, right? It's not the only storm. Correct. >> Correct. Yeah. >> Yeah. And that's why I say let's just wait. I would recommend just wait a year. Just go with the state plan. We'll see how it shakes out. That's all I got. All right. Any other questions for that? Something that has to be approved. >> Yes, I was.
012Yeah. I remember we >> do you think we get the handbook coming by? >> Yeah, we can approve that change. >> Yeah. >> The agenda for don't care. Uh all right. Uh business manager reported. >> All right. Good evening. Um I'm not able to share my screen. Um >> can we turn that on or should I just speak to it? should be able to now. >> Okay. Okay. You guys seeing that? >> Yep. >> Okay. So, uh this is a budget update for FY26 as of September 30th, 2025. And looking at revenues, we're at 21% of our budget collected. Last year at this time, we were at 19.6% of where we ended up. Two years ago, we were at 18 point 18.0% of where we ended up. So, we are tracking ahead of the prior
013two years in terms of percent of budget compared to percent of final um by about 2%. And you can see in dollars we're at about 2.6 million. Last year we were at 2.267. So about oh almost a good 300,000 more cash collected last than last year at this time. Um state aids a little bit ahead of last year. Um federal grants are 22,000 better. So all all is looking good on the revenue side for the general fund. Um on the expenditure side overall we're at 15.2% of our budget. Last year we're at 16.3. uh final and two years ago 15.1% of final. So again overall we are right on track telling us our adopted budget is is fairly accurate. Um and um these percent of budgets compared to percent of uh final for salaries and
014benefits these numbers should be tracking on. We have the month of September now completed with teachers and par profofessionals and so on um paid and you can see to me this gives me great confidence that our salary budget and our benefit budget are are very close to accurate. We're at 11% last year we were at 10.9 the final two years ago 11.4 um and then benefits similar we're kind of right in between the two private years. So the two biggest pieces of our budget we are right on um purchase services, supplies and so on can be um vary in terms of percent of budget um based on timing of when things happen but we are very close on purchase services compared to last year and overall our spending is down about 108,000 compared to last
015year. So all is looking good through the first three months of FY26. Um on the in terms of the other funds, food service, uh not not a whole lot going on there. We do have expenditures for the month of September. Um but the meals we served in September. That revenue uh doesn't come to us until October. So you can see we have very little revenue. um community education revenue of 126 expenses of 95 and the debt service fund 281,000 in revenue and in expenses. So any questions on the budget update? >> No questions. How are we doing on All right. Huh? Can you hear me? All right, I'll sendation [Music] director director. Oh, good evening everyone. So, uh, for routes, we haven't changed much from last year. We have pretty much the same. So, we
016have 14 regular fulls size buses. um except one is a little bit smaller. It's an older um used to be used for um wheelchairs which has been converted into regular transportation. We use it a lot for our smaller um activity trips andor um field trips. We also have one mini bus. It's the little 10 passenger that gets used a lot by our FFA and also if we do need to transport a person with a wheelchair, we can use that. Um we also have five minivans that can transport up to eight. Um one, two, three, three of them will transport seven, one of them will transport eight, and then we have one that transports nine um with that. And then we also have our um wheelchair van which will transport up to five. So we've been
017using that one as much as we can um since we are not having a wheelchair student at this time to transport. So we use it for other shuttles and things like that. Um again we have nine bus routes. We did lose two of them last year. June Braza retired and then Paul Zindi um dropped down to just being a kind of helps in our shop. Does a wonderful job of making sure those buses are clean and ready to go for the drivers if they do activities and or their own. Um and that um so yes, I think we've gotten lots of praises and and that I know Joel has even noticed that when they're they're pulling out they're shiny and they're good and makes us proud. Um so we do have nine bus routes. Um,
018so we did get two new ones. They had a rough start starting this beginning of the school year like every new employee does, but they've quickly learned and uh they're coming on board pretty good and they're they're they're rocking it up, so it's always wonderful. Um, we do have three AM and three right now we have two PM routes. Um, but we're probably going to have to build a third PM route for our van. um just because we are have a lot more special ed and um we're growing in that direction. Um so then we also have um about one and a half midday drivers. We have one that kind of does the kindergarten route and then we have one at the same time that we have that we do have one student that we
019got to go and get up at midstate and bring her back. So that's where that half comes in. Um we did increase our substitutes. We now are up to five bus substitutes van drivers. We only had four three last year. So we've got two more with Paul being one of them and then also Leroy has come on board. So we're fantastic about that and everything. So we've been doing good. Um so training so far this year, uh drivers and I have been busy uh trying to get our eight hours of training in. Um, so we've had already our one-hour training where we do our first aid and EP training and that. Um, we've also gone through all of our student training and bus evacuations. Usually the two new drivers also had a little education on
020how we do that so they can also show the students how they do it. Um this year we decided to team up with peers Foley and a couple other school districts and we decided to go through the uh highway state patrol training. They do they're started this year with doing a three-year rotation of training. So, we'll be doing it again for the next two years um with their training uh teaching the drivers some basic uh defensive driving the the dos and the don'ts that we can by state law what they can and what they cannot do as a bus driver uh and some of that. So they did that was four hours up there and then uh come spring I will do our annual behind the wheel training and that to um tactically we will
021have our eight hours of training and we only need to by district um and state law I either need to do eight hours of training for the drivers or I do the annual training behind the wheel. I always like to do both double coverage and it just protects us all the way around. So we'll be doing that again um at the end of the year again. So with that um so last year we kind of increased jump routes a little bit. We're hoping to decrease. We did lose some students on the outline areas but we last year we had them all around. Um, so our drivers ended up doing about 131,500 miles and I rounded it off. >> And then our three van routes, we ended up doing 60 76,800 miles. Um, that's going to
022be a little bit more with our van routes because we ended up having a Claris house student this year already. Um, that was right off the bat. Um, so we'll have a little bit more probably next year. The big kudos is we had zero accidents last year. No fender benders, no nothing. So we are um I just knocked on wood to protect myself and um so that one of the new things that we did that I was able to do was we have a student that lives up in Little Falls. She goes to Midstate and she's in a wheelchair. We reached I reached out to TriCap and they're going to take that over. So that way it only cost us $1 to transport her there, $1 to transport her back. So, we'll hopefully see somewhat
023of a sub uh savings there as well. Um, so we don't have to monkey around with that one. So, that was a nice bonus. Um, our shop guys. Oh, and then we have our activities. They put on about 16,500 miles. And then our vans and activities/all that we covered about 12,500 miles. So, it just kind of goes you as a district and what our drivers actually do throughout the year and all the miles that we put on. and it's a huge kudos to him that no accidents um and all that. So, it's always kind of nice to be able to to see that. Um our shop guys made some major headway and savings this year. Um last year, I want to say we kind of doubled from last year. They've been doing a lot more
024um inhouse. Bad part is I don't think our account's going to show that because we had to purchase more items for the shop. Um such as uh wheel dollies, jacks, things that we did not have access so that way they can do more tire rotations um and brakes and things like that and but do it a lot safer. Um so we bought jacks, we've got new um new jack stands, we bought some new jacks for them to lift the bus, make things a little easier for them. a wheel goaly like I said before. So that has kind of increased and we've also sorry to say we've got some older buses and we've taken a hit so far this year. So we're hoping that it tapers up and uh we staying on budget but right now
025I think we're a little over um what we were hoping to be at this time. Um but we are doing a lot more preventive maintenance and that. So, and the other nice thing about having the end shop guys is is we can get that turnaround so much faster. We're not sending it out, waiting two, three days to get them to fix something and then sending it back. We can just get it in. They usually can work on it that day and we're back on route that afternoon. So, that's really kind of nice. Um, we used to use free bricks. We no longer have been using them. We've been using St. Cloud uh International and Blubber as our two go-to shops for any repairs. Again, I know that we have to take them down there. They're
026not as close, but the nice thing is is both repair shops have been able to help our guys do some of the in-house repairs. If we don't know how to fix it, we give them a call. Fergie or Kevin, that's our two go-to guys. and they'll kind of talk our mechanics into telling them how to get that fixed so we don't have to send it down for the pig bill. Um so in return we scratch their back, they're scratched ours. Um so it's been really nice a nice good tandem team with those two uh organizations. So we've been doing really well with them as well. Other than that, it's been so far a pretty quick and easy uh I would say easy. We've had a couple of hiccups in our transportation. Um I one thing
027I forgot to put in there is I do know that next year I will be looking at one of those routes. I cannot do that this year. That's that one that goes across the river up into Bulis. I will see. I can't do it this year because if I do it this year, I'm going to mess up two of the routes. And it's not just where I can put them back together again that day before I go leave for work. Um, so, um, I won't be able to mess them up without messing up the driver's ruts cuz they're they can't give me a shadow kind of like that. So, that would be one of the things that I will look at next year to hopefully we can do something with that bolus area. I don't
028know if it's going to work or not. Um, we kind of hit on the other side of the river and on this side of the on that side of the railroad tracks, we actually extend the entire part of the border. We do not pick up anybody outside of our district on that side. Um, and on those two runs and those buses are pretty full. They're just growing areas and we pick up a lot of kids. So, we're picking up about 70 on each bus. So, they're definitely used, which is great. But >> there's 77 passengers, so we still got space, >> but they're good. Uh, so yeah, that been a pretty good year. >> Any questions for Joe? >> I thought your daughter said you weren't allowed. >> Yeah. >> So, the mechanics, are they
029afforded some training, too? What do you mean? Well, do they have to be certified to work on a bus? Uh Marvin is um and he has been for because he used to be the actual mechanic up in Laca. So he has been certified. So he's the one that oversees that. If he doesn't think that he can do it or he is certified, that's the stuff that we send in. >> Okay. I just wanted to >> Yep. So like the brakes are >> Are we like trying to push some other people to do that then too >> to um we did hire a new guy. He is uh he owns a auto mechanic. Um we're kind of hoping that he might hopefully come in and help with some of the uh some of that. He's a
030little younger and can help >> do some of that uh stuff a little easier. >> But um so far >> class the eighth class come up and help rotate the pairs. So yes, uh Marvin is certified doing them with the brakes and the tires and all that. So that's one of the great things. But yes, some of the things that we are not allowed to do because >> we're not certified. So yep. >> All right. Anybody else? >> Just a shout out for great work. I know we had somebody reach out to us and you shifted the schedule and made it work to get the kids picked up a little bit closer to home for home care locally. >> Round of applause for that. I think people appreciate our willingness to adjust on the fly.
031>> Yep. That licenses licensers email me about that as well. So >> yeah, thank you for that. >> Yeah, no problem. >> All right. Thank you. >> Perfect. Uh principal report. >> All right. Uh, Sheriff Hoff said at home, members of the board, Superintendent Leard, Tony Newman, elementary principal. I just have a couple quick updates here as we as we roll into MBA week. The last time I spoke, we were just starting field trip season. We are now ending field trip season. Um, with this week, just pumped there from Joe. Um, and fourth grade just got back from a Casio State Park as we were driving in here. And then third grade is going to Casio State Park on Wednesday. They're leaving right away at 8 and they're getting back by lunch. Rest in time
032for Joe to pick them back up and take them home. So, on that early out. So, we're uh we're doing doing good on that end of things coming up. Uh we have some pretty busy weeks. Yes, this is a two two and a half day beat. Next week's a full week. And then we run into conferences. So, Tuesday the 28th and then Thursday the 30th we have conferences. 4:00 to 7:30. Um there is that strategic planning meeting in the elementary media center um on that Tuesday the 28th. Um and then Friday is the end of the quarter. It's also Halloween. Uh which is fine because f that Friday with the bell ringing and all the stuff that the kids are going to be doing in their classes. Paired that with Halloween and the parade. Uh
033it's going to be a busy chaotic uh Halloween for us. But that's okay. Rather have Halloween on Friday than midweek and they come back all sugared up. So, at least they can get that on our system the weekend. Um, and then, uh, coming off after that, we've got, um, our Veterans Day program. Going to have that on Tuesday 11th. Another plug for that. We are going to do our program at 8:45. So, it's a little bit earlier than before. Uh, it'll be about a half an hour. Our groups are preparing for that. And then, um, the breakfast is going to come here after after that instead of before. So, 8:45 to 9:15. And then the veterans can come on over for breakfast here as put on by the the middle school, high school um foods
034classes. So they can hang out after that. So um but you know things are going well. I mean again we're we're at MEA and then we hit our next stretch after that. So and then the last thing I want to hit on is um I need to commend the staff. I need to commend the students and the families for um how everything kind of played out last Wednesday with our secure. I think um the the change in the wording as we kind of debrief as an admin team um helps a ton when you're talking about getting kids inside business as usual. Um you know, changing those words um kind of calm the waters. You different media outlets have we're in a lockdown. We weren't in a lockdown, right? And we had parents correcting those things.
035Nope. The communication from the school said we're in a secure uh and it's different. and they copied verbatim the the verbiage that Joel and I posted in our newsletters. Um, which as we get phone calls about, hey, what's going on? Like, I didn't I didn't quite get the voicemail yet or I didn't hear or my kid in trouble and nope nope, we're just in we're just in a secure Oh, okay. It sounds good. Thank you. You know, and so that that level of calm, nobody nobody um uh did a knee-jerk reaction or or came and pulled their kids out. What's going on? It was pretty well uh pretty well orchestrated. And then then us getting on the horn of what do we do? how do we do this? Uh what's a blessed plan of action?
036Um especially when you're talking end of day stuff, it's never ideal to end the day in that in that mode. Uh but we we we needed to and the the staff that that came out and helped and can't kind of made sure that we were seen and visible at the bus bus lines and the parent pickup lines um was was was amazing. So I can't commend them enough all around from everybody to do it. Yeah. Awesome. And the communication that day was great. Multiple multiple communications. That was that was excellent. >> All right. Thanks. >> I have a question. >> Yep. Go ahead. >> Do you feel like the training that you guys doing at the beginning of the year helped on that day? I think sending it out and making sure that everybody had
037because we what we did is we took that um the SRP um handouts and we printed them in color and I laminated them and I had every classroom has them posted so that they knew. Now granted we the first one we did was the full-on lockdown, right? Is doors doors are shut, lights are off, everyone's quiet, you go around jiggle the door handles, uh making sure everyone's safe and secure. we hadn't done a secure yet. And so, uh, the teachers being able to reference those near their doors and kids are, well, what are we want to secure? And they can read it right next to the door if they had a question. Um, it helps to it helps make things a little more calm to be honest with you. So, I think the changing the
038wording was is is critical and key and and I u it Redmond went into the same thing. They went in a secure and again it's not a lockdown. It's a secure. there's something else going on outside of in the community and they they want to so it's becoming more common place to use that language. It's just we need other outlets to be on that same page of using the language that's being put out there rather than lock down because everyone goes to level 20 and then you try to okay we got to back it off. This is what's going on and so it's all in the language. >> It's really easy to go to level. >> It is and rightfully so, right? I mean rightfully so. Right. >> I have a question maybe you got
039about that. What kind of communication goes on with students? Like how much information are they private to? >> And it's it's all dependent on information that we get fed. Um it wasn't a ton right away and and they have to be guarded with the information that they have. I get it. Um and then but as time goes on, you know, you're correcting misconceptions of what kids are saying. There's somebody on the roof. No, nobody's on the roof. Someone's knocking on the window. Nobody's speaking to the windows, right? Um but but you have to you have to give them something and you know as it as the situation progressed >> whether it was teachers going on the Morsa County Sheriff's Office or on Facebook or whatever it is checking in and the information I could give
040them and little snippets that I does I could share or knew about um helps to allow allow that conversation to take place. Now they continue to ask why are we inside? Why are we inside? just to keep you safe, you know, especially with those those younger ones that because do they fully comprehend what's going on? You know, they hear a buzz word or a hype word then give a telephone and everything kind of extrapolates from there. So, we give that we give information to people that need it and pair it down to what everybody else needs as well to make sure everyone's comfortable. be interesting when you do do another drill how the kids will reference those placards that you would have. >> Yeah. >> Because you know they did it in practice once and
041>> it might change their perspective as as to what that is, >> right? >> And fortunately unfortunately a lot of times you think about, okay, we're going to do a drill. Well, what time of day is best to do a drill? Okay, you run with the classroom teacher so everyone can experience that in their classroom. >> Um, but guess when it was? >> Lunch. lunchtime, right? And that's that's when it's going to happen. So, and and making sure that we're doing the right things and keeping people in the right in the right spots and making sure our security is is on point and um yeah, so >> I'd like to be a back on that too. I mean, it was there is no you can plan for every scenario, but the plan is never going
042to be what it is. And so we got communication or you got communication from law enforcement and then from there it was about what every half an hour at least we were communicating is the three of us and Joe uh as far as what we're going to do is you know do we have to make any adjustments throughout the day or what's the latest information or how are we going to handle the end of the day all that kind of stuff. But we behind the scenes have to be communicating and adjusting as as we get information too. Kudos to those three and um keeping level heads and keeping the focus on the kids. Communication because sometimes it's it's a fine line too in communication because you don't you don't when is too soon to send
043something out, when is the right time or what what type of information to send out. So that's why we we have to keep talking with the behind the scenes too. Great job by these three. But so the the technology has allowed the information to flow really fast and you know sooner is better than later because a vacuum just creates so >> personality. So I thought that was good because the phone call came out and okay that's what's going on but I thought it was good. All right cool. Um, just to piggy back on the the high school was not really affected by it. Um, I think our students, we have a lot of kids in and out and moving around for throughout the day for PSO and things like that. So, there might have been
044some information flowing that way a little bit about something going downtown. Um, but but there wasn't a lot of talk about it. the one area that these lessons that you learn in this are I don't want to say it's free but it was a situation that was under control and it allows you some of the things that you're going to encounter and uh the one thing at the high school is we had to get our walkers bikers and skateboarders together at the end of the day saying if you are walking that way you need to take an alternate route once you get up to when you're at the you got to go around the elementary school and around to the church if you're going to So, north on Birch Street, then we had a few
045students who lived in that in that area that was cordoned up that we talked to. Um, called the families, bus driver Joe called the families. >> Yeah. >> Um, and uh, so it was a situation that I I think that we all learned from and and had a chance to reflect on on how how it works and how we communicate. I thought it was a um not that you want those things to happen, but if it's going to happen in a way where you're going to get some free training, that is the way to do it. Um tabletop exercises and things like that are not the same as dealing with something in real time where you're going to be dealing with you can talk about what you would do, but until it's time that you
046actually have to do it, there is some there is a difference in that for sure. Um, I'd like to thank Kimberly and Aaliyah for uh joining the school board as a student uh student representative. Um, I'd also like to thank Superintendent Leard for taking the step to make this happen. Um, I am a huge huge advocate for student government. Um, this isn't like when kids say, you know, like it's, you know, your school or whatever. Not my school. I went to high school already. All of us went to high school already. This is their school. This is their experience. And the more often that we get a chance to give them a say into the things that happen to during their day. Um I I love the idea of having um students have a vested
047interest in the daily operations and how we can make their experience better at school. Um and this is definitely a step towards that and we have two wonderful representatives. I mean this could not have started at a better time with the leadership that we have sitting at the table tonight. Um so I'd like to thank those two. Um our conferences are next week Monday and Thursday 4:30 to 8:00. Um it is open in family access. Uh parents can register for these are arena style type in the classroom conferences. You can schedule with as many teachers as you'd like to visit with. Uh they have segment they in Skyward you can in family access you can register for a conference time and kind of schedule your night. Um, sometimes you got to do two nights. It
048depends on how many kids or how many teachers you want to visit with. Um, so we have conferences coming up next week. Uh, the T-Mobile football 5G lights um definitely been shared. Fox 9 was there if you saw the story on Friday night. Care 11 was there. Um, we have S Cloud Live, WJ, I think all of the major rock stations in St. people have at least given us a shout out. Um, I'd like to thank the community member, the community groups. This is that is probably the being a part of the being a finalist and getting the 25,000 is really cool and 2100 schools 25 finalists but the firemen and the firemen with $50,000 and the Legion donated $10,000 and um some of the inind donations we've had from area uh businesses who've offered
049engineering help um materials equipment labor help with any projects that we do end up trying to get done has been just absolutely tremendous. Um, probably I mean it is really I'm more excited about how our community has respond. It's fun to just see fun to see people get excited and uh and so we really do appreciate that. It is a really nice uh feature. was the only time in the two years that they've been doing the T-Mobile contest that any community had any group match their finalist prize. So, we are uh the only group that has had that happen. So, they were very surprised and uh so it was a very nice uh compliment to our community to see that happen. Um we're currently in ETH. Um we need we need something big. you need
050a piece to do a concert ticket to get in with a vote or we need lots of emails. Um but at the end of the day even even just the way that everyone has continued to respond to it whether we win or not is um I'm just I'm very proud of the way that the community has responded to this and the excitement that it's generated. So I'd like to thank those groups. And then the last thing I have is just Tony talked about the veteran breakfast. The veteran breakfast will be Tuesday, November 11th with the program at the elementary. And then instead of having our kids show up at 5:30 in the morning and start cooking breakfast for the veterans, we're going to have them show up at regular time and have the veterans come
051over and do the breakfast after. And that way here, eat your scrambled eggs if you got to get to the elementary school for the program. they can relax and uh they can relax and and take their time with the breakfast and um it was really really a cool deal last year. It's a great uh honor for both schools to be able to have our veterans program at breakfast. I think we look forward to that every year. So that's all I got. >> Awesome. Any questions for Joe? >> I just have one question on that T-Mobile contest. It's kind of a mystery of how we ended up in it. thing. >> So, we knew that we had >> it was >> the Nick story and the coaches had looked into it. >> Yeah. In July, T-Mobile
052sent it out to 80s and football coaches and you submit like an application. You kind of give your demographics. There's some you'd be a town smaller than 150,000 and kind of have a need or basically. And um coaches did it trying to get one of the $5,000 which we also did win too. Um, and so that's all they kind of were just hoping for one of those random prize that random wins out of, you know, the applications and stuff. So to be in the top 25. So it was based off of our story around Nick and just trying to make our field better. >> Yeah. Nick Nick ended up for years put in a lot of time on the field. Um, I remember the coaches being out on Thursday nights painting ours and and getting
053that field ready and and uh Nick was a big part of that. And so uh that was part of the narrative that went into the application. Anybody else? >> All right. Uh next we have the uh consent agenda uh for approval. Uh the public is consenting to approve items listed below as presented at one time. At any point the director will pull an item off the consent agenda for further discussion. So we have the approval of the regular board meeting minutes uh claims accounts and financials approval of the personnel changes and the approval of the REM contract for this year. Uh is there anything anybody would like to hold? All right. Does somebody want to move the consent agenda? >> Director Home. Thank you. >> Second. Director Henry. Any discussion? All in favor say I.
054>> I. Opposed. >> All right. Carries. Uh, and then 10A substitute paid discussion. coming back for this one or okay. So we have numbers that were uploaded in board um 149 and 162 going there and then the the other attachment with the um >> rate of pay right that's really what we want to want to look at beyond You want to take a while? >> Yeah. Um well we're just trying to stay competitive I guess that in my opinion be high we can but um as far as bringing in ourselves we call people in we talked last time a little bit about peers but I'm not so sure if in my I I would look at little balls in my opinion as far as trying to stay even without but we just need to try
055to try to encourage more subs to come in and hopefully that would be one way to do that. >> We had mentioned South Rapids as well when we were last time. They're not on there, but I can't remember what it was at. >> I think they were at like 200. >> They were We talked about the fact that we think it's a long way and it's actually right. >> Yeah. >> The administration have >> we have subs this year or >> Yeah. And have you been able to find the subs? >> Yeah. you know, like the hour whether it's covered internally or I covered um like Michael need to leave early for a cross country while everyone else is tied up. I sub for the rest of the day like it's not she just kind
056of do that you know the half days or the even 30% of the day try to find somebody. Um but it would h we're at the point right now just in in October where we haven't been stretched so >> it'll come from >> I mean if we're trying to stay competitive with including race in there >> I push it up to the 160. Yeah, I agree. And you're not going to lose money if you're not, you know. [Music] >> Yeah. Right. >> That is one of the opportunity costs. >> Yeah. I'm in the same grade. >> I agree. because kind of last year we ended with a lot of teachers stressed out with all the you know stuff. So yeah, I would like to to try it. I mean to see. >> So this could
057piggy back to the the league thing. I mean, if if people if people do get to where they think they're stressed out, you know, now they have an option to take relief, you know, maybe not right away, but I don't know. I I'm afraid that there could be a Yeah, you can see it coming, can't you? you know, so you're going to have to you're going to have to help him. >> So, we got a motion, but I have a question about the retired district teacher that we have there, too. >> Yeah, this is only discussion. I mean, this Okay. Why Why is that different? I think I asked that last too. So, would we keep it different? >> Um, a few of the districts do and it's just because they know the all the
058procedures and like end of day how that works, you know, how to load kids on buses and then where they're going to go and do they know stuff like that. >> So, should it be retired teacher or former teacher? What what if you had somebody that didn't get in their you know pot and decide I'm going to be a stay at home mom or a stay at home dad and then might be wants to reenter I mean should they not retired or were they retired what do you call that >> you'd like to say previous employee >> yeah previous employee you know they're still going to know the procedures and that's the I'm all for that. >> If that has that value, then it should be be people that have it >> and most likely
059still have relationships with the kids that are >> Yeah. Yeah. I guess if Joel and Toby agree with that six, I would say that's good that you always try it. Get data on it whether it's or not. >> We have a subs on an email list or something. email say, "Hey, we dropped our grade." >> Yeah, that'd be good. >> Yeah, >> that way they know when they get a phone call from us, they're going to be getting bored when they batch. Y >> that can be done right in the in their system, right? >> I do believe so. >> That way they know. >> So, are we saying the 160 and 175? >> Yeah. near whatever >> we can pull some ball down if we need them. That is part of a game. It
060is >> is it going to go a little bit of a 10-minute drive, >> right? >> Especially in the winter. >> They might like your school, but >> I don't know when it's 20 below the $20 that the if I'm only going to make $5 more or whatever if there is that and you hear subs say that I don't. Whereas when you stay in that range, if they make it worth their while to >> No, let's say even we have better kids, so they'll come this way. >> Is that recorded? Great. All right. Any other discussion on that one? All right. Uh, next is the Minnesota State High School League form A resolution. This a video we >> No, this is this is just resolution. >> So form A is the league gives back some
061money to help offset um us giving either students that are free or reduced lunch a discount on their um activity fees. So um I go through and I tell them how many kids we have participate. I said how many of those kids are in reduced and then we get some money back. So it doesn't really hurt anything. >> How does that work when is they need to fill the form out because they get all lunches free? >> Yeah. So yeah, they have to fill the educational benefit out or we have to have be or Yeah. >> direct shone. Um then that's how we determine on what the then a paying further fees. >> Okay. >> Somebody like to make a motion uh while waving the reading of the resolution. >> I'll make a motion. >>
062All right. Director H. Thank you. I can second. All right. Um any discussion? All in favor say I. >> Sorry. As always, roll call vote. >> Directors. >> Hi. >> Director Hackett. >> Hi. >> Director Holton. >> Hi. >> Director Andrews. Hi. Director Boyce. Hi. >> Director Hos. >> Hi. >> All right. I really want to discuss whether we should wave here. >> All right. Uh now we'll need signatures after this too. Um and then next one is approval of donations by resolution. Would somebody like to uh introduce the uh resolution accepting donations while waving the reading as well? >> Show. Uh so our uh donations is from first one is from the anonymous uh for batting cage with artificial turf um for the purpose of creating a level and dry surface in the batting
063cage. Uh we have Josh Pograva Poga uh for $10,000 in time, labor, and equipment uh for field improvements and the RBI club uh cliff secular uh for brick labor uh for back stop for face wall. Um does somebody want to second that resolution? >> I'll second. Thank you. Then on a roll call. >> Director Trout. >> Hi. >> Director Hackett. >> Hi. Director Hi, Director And thank you for that. Uh so upcoming meeting schedule we have our regular meeting on November 10th and then December 8th. December 8th also includes the truth and taxation. Um finance committee is on the 22nd and 19th and then policy committees are on the 22nd and 26th. There were no policies this month because we didn't have one from our late meeting last month this month. So everybody make sure
064you get through your backs um for the 22nd period. Uh is there anything else before we adjourn? All right. I will make a motion to adjourn. Director Tre is at 6:58 p.m. All in favor say I. >> Motion carry. Never.