001Call the meeting to order. Start with the pledge. I aliance to the flag of the United States of America to the republic for which it stands. One nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. >> All right, welcome everybody. Uh, so the roll calls, uh, director and director are absent for I believe they're both on their way. Um the only board chair comments I have for today is it's the first day of autumn. Feels like it said. Um so uh for the agenda uh I'm going to amend it uh so that we wait to put 8 and 8 B. So we'll go 1 through 7. Then we'll go 8B which will include 10B which is the levby certification and then uh 8 C and 8B uh is they all have uh places to
002be in a little bit. We'll go 39 and then go uh 10 E and uh continue on the rest of the way. Um, additionally, uh, what we have for 10 A, 10 B, and 10 C, um, for N Todd under the accounts and stuff, it's going to, um, fall under the consent agenda. So, I'll read through that as we do that. Um, so I'll make that motion to approve the agenda as amended. Something you have a second. >> I'll second, >> Don. Thank you. Uh, any discussion? All in favor say I. >> I. All right. uh appreciation, recognition and presentation. >> Well, uh he's absent so but hoping that some of us will be here. >> Yep. So, let's just wait for that. >> Okay. Yep. >> So, I have another one. Um, it's almost
003done with this month, but it's uh those of you that have been on here before probably remember how glorifying it is for you to hear about more recognition month. And uh just for me, I guess I just want to say thank you for everything you do on behalf of parents and community for our students. Um, I didn't get you a frame, but I do have a certificate for you. And and I also got in the mail today. I have no idea what it looks like in there. I didn't open them, but they're from Source Well, >> and uh there some student artwork in each one of them. So, I'll hand Thank you. Good. Thank you. >> Uh recognition of citizens for purposes. Yeah. Uh so we will go to uh the business manager report done
004in time. >> Okay, I'm going to share my screen. Is that helpful or does everybody have a copy of the budget update in front of them? >> Go ahead and share the screen. Okay. Oh, sharing is not turned on. Try. All right, I think we're good now. Okay, can everybody see that? Okay. >> Yep. >> Kind of >> as long as there's no further questions. Yes. >> All right. So, we have the budget update here June 30th as of September 17th, 2025. So, what we're doing is we're looking back at how the financials are closing out for June 30 25 last year essentially. and we're not final final yet. Um Heidi's working through the audit. Um but I don't envision any significant adjustments at this point. So with that said, we are at 10,605 collected
005in state aid. That's 126,000 less than budget. So we're within 1.2% of budget. Federal revenues are 105,251. So slightly less than budgeted there by 58,749. Property taxes are within 3,94 and local revenues are up 273,300 higher than budget. So um interest earnings were up significantly this year. So overall we are 83,973 better than the revised budget. So, we're at 100.7% of budget. Um, super close. Salaries and wages, we are at 99.7% of budget or 22,662 under budget. Benefits 167,000 under budget. Purchase services 102,000 under budget. And supplies and equipment combined to be over budget about 67,000. and other expenditures are over budget 13,000. So on the expenditure side we came in 212,246 under budget or at 98.3%. And just kind of in rough round round numbers, if you look at the yellow column here, um
006we're projecting revenues to be over expenditures by 69,000. And we are actually coming in at about 366,000. We're actually 385,000 better than budget. So, a little better on revenues under budget on expenses. So, um, looking good in terms of how we're wrapping up FY25. Just real quick on other funds, food service revenues 788,000, expenditure 776,000, so about 12,000 positive there, revenues over expenses. Um community ahead revenues of 516,000 expenditures of 514 roughly 2,000 better than budget and debt service similar 2,23,000 revenue 2 million21 expenses about 2,000. So everything's positive. Everything's looking good in terms of how we're closing out 25. Any questions on the budget update? Nope. >> All right. >> Am I jumping right into the um levy information? Go ahead, Todd. >> Okay. >> I couldn't hear anything there. Um, okay. Looking at
007the uh proposed pay 26 levy. This document compares uh the proposed or preliminary levy for pay 26 versus the prior year pay 25. Um the general fund is going up 81,789 which which is a 9.9% increase over pay 25. Um items contributing to that the most significant is this building land lease. This is a midstate lease that is new. Um we have to levy for that and we flow those revenue dollars. Ashley, we we assist uh with making a portion of their debt service payment essentially for that building. Um career tech is up 15,000. So that's additional uh vocational funding for our vocational programs. And we also had a kind of going down 17,000. We had a negative adjustment for over levying in prior years. And that's always due to estimated enrollment coming in less
008than we anticipated. Um, so we had a negative adjustment last year as well, but this year it was 17,000 more. So overall then the general fund is going up 81,789. The community service fund is going down 5,57. Everything really pretty consistent there. Nothing significant. And then the debt service fund is increasing 21,508 and that's due to the reduction for the debt access being less uh than the prior year. So each year the state does an automatic calc of what our excess fund balance is in the debt service fund and this year it was 106,000 less than it was last year. So, I'm sorry that the increase in the debt service fund is 15,623 and our total levy is going up 3.54%. Or 92,355.57. And then I just added a little bit of history here at
009the bottom if you can see that. Um, so last year our levy increased 1.17% over the prior year or 30,000. Um, the pay 24 levy went up 220,000 or 9.36%. Pay23 went up 2.61% 59,000. Pay22 went up 5.49 or 119 and pay 21 went up 1.16% or 25,000. So, just kind of some history there on how our levy's been going. Um, any questions on the proposed levy? >> I do have a question, Todd. Um, when you talk about that build the building land lease levy >> for midstate, >> so if we include that in the levy for this year, that's putting that onto the taxpayers. Correct? >> Because we've never done that before. Um, so we could underlevy that in December if the board chooses to. At this time, we're proposing to levy the maximum.
010Um, which means as the state goes through and updates their inputs and their calculations, if we have any any areas here, any funding lines that are to be adjusted, they can adjust accordingly. And then in December when we certify the levy final, we could do more research on what that levey's for. And if the board chooses, we could under levy at that time. Any other questions? I did gather some other information too. I just share real quick. So, based on the increase right now, the $92,000 increase, um, so for residential homestead properties, looking at a estimated value of say 200,000, this would result in a $19 increase. And the taxes that are allocated to that resident from the school, $150,000 home would be a $15 increase. And if you look at a half million dollar
011home, it'd be $60 a year, $5 a month. Commercial industrial properties range from $12 um to $173 for a million dollar property, $12 for a $100,000 property. And then we have the egg homestead impacts down here. And I did also gather some information on there was a bond refunding. Um the school refunded uh one of our bonds and the savings on that were 668,857. Um and the comment in talking with PMA is that other other changes have essentially eaten up those savings. Um, I might need to get to my email to site what those changes were. Um, I believe it was things like, um, well, let me see if I can find that. All right. So, unfortunately, the debt service levy has continued to rise in recent years despite the savings due to declines in
012debt service equalization. So, debt service equalization is state aid that comes to us to reduce the impact on the local taxpayer. So as the district property valuation grows, the state reduces the debt service equalization or state aid for pay 23 taxes. The debt equalization was 333,000. It reduced the 193,000 in pay 24 and then about 85,000 in pay 25 and the proposed pay 26 levies. As this aid declines, the share picked up by local locally by a property taxpayers increases. So this would have happened with or without the refunding. So the refunding helped kind of combat this reduction in our state aids. So but we're not really seeing the full impact probably like we maybe anticipated because of this other factor. So does that make sense? Any questions on that? Where does that number come
013from? >> The the state aid equalization. >> No, the the valuation of the school district. >> So this is the the district property valuation. So this means the basically all the residential property values, the farmland value um which which um when combined together is our net tax capacity. So basically the value of our property within our district is increasing which results in less state aid. So is that a is that that must be a schedule then that's not a percentage because I assume that all properties in the state are increasing >> in value. >> so we're only looking at our district >> within our district boundaries. >> I'm just interested in that. Let's I'm sorry. Was that a question or a comment? I didn't quite hear all of it. >> That's more of a comment.
014Just >> I just wondering where it came from. So, >> All right. Any other questions on uh uh proposed levy certification? >> Did you guys already discuss what the um OPED levy means? Like what that is? Did you mention in our finance meeting, Todd, that the the OPED levy was going to be the first time that we were doing that or is it the first time we're doing it or is the first time it's available to levy for that those dollars that 8,8? >> Yep. I didn't I didn't check back prior to pay 25, but we we did not levy last year on that. So it's it's other postemployment benefits and basically we're allowed to levy for the implicit cost. Um it's an actuarial number that's calculated. Um we do the actuarial study every two
015years. So um by statute we're required to offer health insurance to staff when they retire. Um so because that risk to to the insurer exists to have um you know that population if you will of um folks on our health insurance plan there's an implicit cost. So all premiums are impacted by that and the actuary says that's $8,823 a year for us. So we have the option to levy for this. We could also choose not to levy for this. So, it's not a huge number, but again, that's one that we could under levby um if the board chose to in December. >> Any other questions? I think that's what we did last year too is we certified for the full run. Um we did not do the building land release lease for midstate last year
016in December. >> All right. Any other questions for God? All right. Does somebody want to make a motion? >> I'll make a motion, but my motion is going to be part A. I would like to not see any increase in the levy, not the 3.54, not 0% increase. Um, when I ran for school board, that was part of it. I brought petitions in. Our taxpayers have had enough um put on to them, and I feel we already levy max. and part B. I'd also like to see that back on the um ballot for voters to have that choice. I think it's good for kids to see their parents exercise their right and I feel it's our duty internally to adjust the budget and not push everything on to taxpayers every time there's a need. Um
017in the paper this past weekend there's an 18% proposed increase for Morrison County already and I just think it's getting to be too much. All right. So, let me figure out the motion here. Well, so B is not really part of the motion. That's more of a statement. Correct. >> So, you could add that to the like against the increase and I want to see it back on the ballot. So the motion is no increase because the back on the ballot thing is something that we is another agenda item that we'd have to do. >> Okay. >> Yeah, we could talk about that next month, I guess. >> So question then, well, okay, let me get this first. So motion, the motion is no increase to taxes. >> I don't want to see an increase
018with anything. I think pushing it off on the taxpayer. Every year it seems to just increase increase. And at in December we never levy less than 100% or above. >> So you're saying to not levy at all? >> Not. I mean I would either say stay the same but not with the 3.54% increase. But staying the same, you're still doing 100%. I mean, I'm assuming that 3.5% or 3.54% is coming from adding in those additional things that we can levy for, but we don't have to >> partially. Um, so you're saying no increase from last year? >> I would like to see. Yeah. No increase. Yeah. This year at all, but that's my >> So, how would that affect these numbers then, Todd? So, >> is there a question for me? There is um so
019if we kept our levy the same as last year, how much difference would that make in uh the monies brought in? >> What is that? >> How much difference in what our budget? >> Yes. >> So again, we're just levying the maximum tonight. We can choose to underlevy in December. We don't have to determine the exact amount tonight. We're not finalizing the levy at this point. Yep. But uh that's not a motion that we have on the table right now. The motion is to levy for no increase from last year. So I'm trying to determine how much money that is. >> So that's that would be not levying for $92,3557. >> So out of that >> 81,000 of that would be we would be short in our general fund. So that's those are dollars that
020go to pay teachers and basically our operating expenses. We'd have that less much or that much less to operate with 5,000 to community ed. Um and yeah, the thing is we'd probably end up underleving potentially we could under levy in the debt service fund. um we would have to do a cash flow with the state to show we could still make the principal and interest payments in which case we could hold we could still do the full levy in the general fund and it would just reduce the debt service levy which that doesn't harm us from an operating standpoint because the debt service fund just goes to pay interest principal and interest on debt service. So, sorry that's probably more than you're looking for, but the impact is 92,355 less revenue levied. >> And that's
021is that all tax dollars or is that state aid as well? >> This is just tax revenue. >> Okay. Would that decrease our state aid as well? Um, depending on which levies we underlevy for, like the building land lease, there's no aid component to that. So, if we underlevied that, we wouldn't lose any state aid. If we underlevied the oped, there's no aid tied to that. And then I would try really, well, safe schools does not have an aid component either. That's one that districts of often choose to under levy. Operating capital does have aid attached to it. So does LTFM. So if right now if I were, you know, if it was December and we were under levying, I would under levy first. I would try to do it all in the debt service
022fund. If not, you'd have to go to the building lease, OPB, and safe schools. Okay. >> Can I ask you a question while we're trying to figure this out? >> Yep. >> Um Todd, when you mentioned like the that money goes to pay teachers, we still get an increase from the state that we use for negotiations. I mean, if we don't get that increase, that doesn't mean we're not going to be able to give a a negotiation contract increase. >> Yes, we still have an increase on our formula a driven by our students. Um, but this is also revenue that goes to the general fund to fund our operations. >> Correct. >> That's 97,000 >> still goes to our general fund. >> Yep. Just like our formula aid. All right. Any other questions on that?
023All right. So, I have a motion for no increase to taxes for the pay 25 levy or certification. sound right everybody. Thank. All right, we have a second. >> I'll second. >> All right, any other discussion? Where are those numbers going to come from from the levy? >> That that's what we can figure out in December, honestly, between now and then. >> Okay. >> You know, I'd like >> You don't have to have that now. >> No, now is just basically the ceiling. So, if some of these numbers change and it's out of whack, we'll be off more. And uh, you know, as we as we work on our revised 26 budget, we won't we plan not to have those dollars in the budget, which is going to be tough because I think we're going
024to personally I think we're going to pull out of our um our savings for that with an increase in the SRO and increase of a teacher. Um, and then we were what was we were 83,000 over last year. So, we'll be under that and then we'll be under more without that level as a possibility. So, so you're certifying to the max. The max is what? 92,000. I think he said you're certifying that much tonight. Or if you certify say 50,000, that's going to be your max come December. If you certify zero, that's your max come December. You can always adjust less, but you can't go higher. So, I don't disagree that there's there's some we don't need the levy for just like we didn't do mid-state last year. Um, and some of that stuff. Uh,
025I would personally rather wait till December to make that decision. So, if some of these other numbers change that we have the ability to change with them, but we can always just like we did last December say no, we're not going to put midstate on the on the levy. That's just my two cents. Any other discussion? >> I would say for me, I would like to see where the extra dollars are going. Right. So, we're levying for an additional 92,000 and they just, you know, you have in here kind of where they're going, right? We've got four or five different areas, but that doesn't tell us that that money's going to teachers, you know, and we've got the business manager saying, "Well, that's the money that goes to pay teachers." I would like to see
026what our salaries were last year, what they are this year, what we're adding, and we when we talk negotiations, if we're get so much from the state, well, then we're only going to give that much to the teachers. Well, if we're talking there more money here to give to the teachers, why are we only talking we can only give the teachers what the state is allowing us? You know what I mean? >> Yep. Well, I'd like to see it more detailed. >> So, he did go back and say it's operational funds, not just for teachers, but that's one of the things that comes out of that, >> right? But we did say that. >> Yep. >> We're talking teachers because that's a big thing, right? Oh, we don't want to take anything away from teachers,
027which I agree with. >> I'd like to see where all this money is going. >> That's Sorry. >> No, go ahead. And then on that increase, so if you have the 49,000 roughly for the building and land lease and then you have the 34,000 for the safe schools and then you have that oped over the 8800 roughly, you're talking 91,823, but he said none of that holds state aid. Right. >> Correct. >> So that 92,000 is that. So really state aid isn't going to be affected then by this. >> Correct. Yep. And that that's why I was asking which state we're >> still going to get our state aid the same same amount even if we don't levy for those things. >> Yep. So safe schools just real quick. safe schools goes to pay for
028cameras and like keyless entry locks, things like that, keeping our buildings safe. So, if we still have needs, then that would come out of general fund on a side. Essentially, the state aid that's flowing to us would need to fund those needs if we don't levy for that. Same with like the building lease. We're going to get a we're going to get an invoice from Midstate to pay for our share of their building. If we don't generate revenue to fund that, then that comes out of the state aid that flows to the school. OPAD goes to offset our health insurance costs. So, just an idea of kind of how those dollars are being used. For for my two cents, I would I I appreciate Ellie's want to keep things the same, but I think we
029should do this in November so that we don't because she's she's got it within $1,000, you know, and we can direct them to do that. That's what I would like to see. >> I'm kind of leaning Ry's way. I too agree with. I'd rather see it at zero, but we can get there. I'm afraid if we set it at zero and we run into some situation where we don't have the funds we want, then we have a bigger problem. At least we have some time. We set it at the 3 and a half% or whatever that number was >> and then November, December, we could go to the zero. >> So, I'm a little nervous to put it at zero tonight without I guess further where we're going to come up with that money if
030we need it. >> Yeah, I'd like to understand those dollars myself, too. like Lucas said, where's it all going? What's it for, etc. >> But we can't if that's what we're going to do. I know what Ellie is saying as we'll just we'll make the vote tonight and then we'll come in December and and we won't do any due diligence. If we're if we're going to do diligence to it, we have to keep it on the burger. So I understand both sides >> and I just from prior experience it never goes below 100%. I mean with we can make it through that obviously but it it seems like there's always there's always a need somewhere. >> Yep. Well, but we did do less than 100% last year because we brought Midstate up and that wasn't
031put in there. So, >> was Midstate Honest last year? Did was that proposed? >> It was proposed and then it was taken back in December. >> So, it's 100% minus the U lease levy for the midstate building. >> Where is that? just increases. >> Yeah. >> I just number, you know, like when I look at it, it's 100% but then you would were to add on. So really you're So we're going to stay at a So say we don't do a we do a 0% increase, you're still maxing 100%. Correct? Because we're taking every dime we can from the taxpayers and we're taking that 100% and then if we add these things it's increasing 3.54%. Correct? Yes. Okay. I'm just making sure my head's working right. >> Don't worry. I think part of it is
032to make it not confusing that we're not sure what you have. So, >> yeah. I'd really like to see like here's the proposed 26 budget with this and then without it, what that changes all numbers wise, right? with that. >> Just a quick note, this this levy will be revenue for fiscal year 27. >> So the 26 27 school year. >> Yep. >> All right. So, we have a motion to increase the taxes from pay 25 levy uh or motion to have no increase to taxes from the pay 25 levy uh with second from director trout. So, well, let's do a roll call vote for this. >> John, can you >> Yeah, sorry. Director Cho, >> nay. >> Director Hackett, >> nay. >> Director Holm, >> I. >> Director Boy, >> nay. >> Director Andre,
033nay. Director Host, >> nay. All right, five to one. So, that one is voted down. We open up for discussion here. >> Uh motion. >> Yeah, technically we need a motion first. >> I'll move that we go to max. All right, Randy. Anybody want a second? I can second for discussion. All right. So, I think I guess I'm okay with letting le let me to the max, but we need to do our due diligence and we need to see where this money is going, right? The money's going to the teachers and we need that money because we understand that teachers there's districts that are planning on not giving their teachers anything, right? That's tough. >> Yep. >> Um when I sat in this seat, I said that I was here for the community and for
034the teachers because those are the people that are with our kids, right? Um, so I think we need to see where the money is going. Um, I think we need to get out and talk to our community members and say, "Hey, we're going to need more money if we're going to keep some teachers here, right? We need to keep good teachers." And if we can't give them a raise, it's tough to keep good teachers. Whether they go and do something totally different, right? There's other industries right now that are paying big time money for things. And I think we need to do our due diligence and see if this is where that one's going. If it is, then make the decision in December. But I think we need to really get down the dirty and
035see where this money's going before we just say, "Yeah, give us another $100,000," you know? >> Yep. So, absolutely my two cents. Any other discussion? >> That that will be interesting because like I said, those three things come up to the 92,000. So that's really not adding any increase for teachers if it's so-called going for increases for staff >> or losing state aid. So it's the two things aren't dealing. So it's something that we need to find out. >> That that should be a goal >> because if we get 2.7 or whatever and that's what we're using but we have money here to use then we need to know that. It would be a goal of mine to not lose any state aid over it and maximize the state aid part of it. You know,
036that's >> because we're paying for it either way. >> Y or not, somebody's going to get that money. So, >> Yep. I think it's really no different than last year when we decided not to levy for the >> that land or whatever, you know, state. >> Well, for what it's worth, that was the first time that we had ever levied. we' levied at in December less than than what we had, >> right? But I think this was the first time since I've been on the board that I'd seen that. So, you know, >> past years that wasn't on there, though. I don't think you >> No, it it never was. And and so so if anybody's wondering what the deal there was when when they decided to build Midstate, we were spending so much on
037transportation costs that that that levy was less than what our transportation costs were going to decrease. That's why when we were paying it out of the pocket, you know that that's why it never got levied for it. So if anybody's wondering why it never got levied, that's why because it was it was a positive cash flow to pay that rather than we're paying people to sit in their cars for six hours cuz they drive back then they'd have to get back in the car and drive back and and get them. So yeah, it's that that's why that happened like that. So, >> can I still ask a question about the safe schools money? >> Yep. >> So, is that is this levy different than all the money that we've been previously talking about for the
038last few years of like using safe schools money for um our counselors and um is that is that this? >> Yep. >> So, we levy for that the whole time? I thought that was coming in. I thought safe schools money was state aid. No, it's been it's been levied the whole time. Okay. I guess I was not clear on that until now. >> No, they've been trying to add the state's been trying to add to the safe schools with through state aid, but they haven't done it yet is my understanding. >> I know that was on the table. There'll be a bigger push for it. Yeah. Yeah. for this special session and stuff coming up. They're trying to get state >> a Mr. Board Chair. >> Yep. >> I need to drop off for another
039meeting. I apologize. Um >> No, that's just I think we're we're in a good spot now. >> Okay. All right. Thank you. >> Thanks a lot, Todd. Nice to meet you. >> Yeah, I know there's a big push for that. they going into safe schools. >> Yep. >> So, like he mentioned, safe schools money is for cameras, upgrades, safety upgrades, all that, doors, locks, all those things that we previously kind of already done, right? We're up to date on most that stuff. Yep. I know. >> Oh, the >> from my memory, >> what we looked at this year was using that for SRO. >> Yep. Right. Um, I was just trying to remember back the conversations about I could have swore there was uh, you know, I know there's parameters around safe schools money that
040you can use, but I thought there was talk about if we don't do this, we lose it. That that can't be right. Right. I must be remembering. >> No, it just needs to be allocated. >> Yep. >> Most of our conversations were just about allocation of that. just just about allocation about what >> you know >> it's money that you can allocate to some of that stuff that doesn't have to come out of the general fund. So then >> that then conversations are almost always they end up talking about your fund balance then at the end that's that that's where that ends up with because if you don't you got that pot of money that sits there you could you could spend that and then you'd have more in your general fund so it makes
041your fund balance look better. that that that's it it's like taking a dollar out of your pocket and put it in your other front pocket. I mean it's but it you know I'm not an actuarial geek so I don't know. So, >> and I'm I'm thinking what you're thinking about, Maria, is like two years ago when we started it, we had a balance in there and we should spend that down every year >> and we had like a $12,000 balance that we hadn't used yet. And then when we started with more cameras and the other stuff that we just added that in to spend it that that next year. >> Yeah. Because that conversation was rather than saving that money and using general fund money, we should spend save schools money where we can spend
042it. >> Yeah. And then there was discussion on what we're going to spend it on. All right. Any other discussion? >> All right. Uh, we'll do the same thing. So, this one is to uh certify levying to the max with a motion by Randy and a second by me. Uh, John, you want to call everybody? >> Director Trout. >> I. >> Director Hackett. >> Hi. >> Director Holmes. >> Nay. >> Director Boy. >> Hi. >> Director Andrews. I director Hopet. >> Hi. All right. So, the motion carries 51. >> All right. >> Uh, principal >> didn't skip you this time. >> Sharers Hoff at home, members of the board, superintendent of the park, Joel Swenson, high school principal. Two very quick uh items. Homecoming week. Um buckle your seat belt. Hang on. >> Make it
043to Friday. Um kids are excited with pajama day. My daughter convinced me to wear my pajama matching pajama pants with her today to school. And like the good dad that I am, I did it. Um we have dress up days. We have the homecoming Olympics on Friday. Color run on Wednesday. Home volleyball parents night tonight. uh football against Melrose on Friday night. Um lots of activities, lots of excitement. Um really is a good time. Fun to see the kids get into it. Um and so we are in the midst of that. Last night we had homecoming coronation. Um congrats to Queen Haley Wbeck and King Kirk Yorzik. Um on being elected the the royalty, either the king and queen for the week. Um, the other thing we have coming up October 3rd is our career
044fair. Um, Royaltton High School career fair. We have all students in grades 10 through 12 sign up for three different career presentations. Some of you you've done it before as a presenter. Randy Tony's done it. Randy, have you presented before? So, uh, career fair is we have sophomores through seniors sign up for three different presentations throughout the morning. Um, we probably have 30 to 40 different, uh, career areas, um, that we have come in and, um, the students sign up and have like a half hour, 40 minute presentation with a with a career area, someone in the field working in the field and having conversations with them. Um, and so we schedule it out. There's three or four different sessions throughout the morning and the se the kids register for three. We try to get
045them into the ones that we want and still maintain a balance so you don't have someone that has 60 kids in a room and the other person has two. Um we want to try to to try to balance it. Um we've had the lifelink show up and land on the parking lot. We've um had the DNR out with all their gear out in the back. um really is a cool opportunity for our kids to ask questions of people who are actually doing the jobs. We can tell them about them and you can read about them. You can go online, but it's not the same as having someone who gets up every morning and does those does those careers. And uh so we will be doing that October 3rd. Our freshman that morning will have a
046leadership presentation. Um it is almost impossible in this building to schedule enough rooms to make the whole thing work. And it really helps to put our freshmen in one big room together and do something with them that morning. And the fact that in some of the high school classes, they're the only ones left in the 9th through 12 electives, they're the only ones left that aren't in the career fair. Um, and so we do a leadership presentation with them. Rick Reier comes in. Um, if for those of you that ever grew up here, you probably saw the oneman volleyball guy where he plays against the high school volleyball teams himself. and um we do a leadership thing with him and he comes in and does a whole bunch of different activities with the kids and
047they get fired up and he is a really really that man can hold 75 kids in in line in a in a gym for two or three hours. Um and some of the just the things that he does uh can really get into. So that's the plan for October 3rd. So we are in full swing. We are out of the station and and moving down the tracks and uh that's been a very good start to the school year. So, any questions? >> I just have one quick question about the career fair. So, when the 10th through 12th graders go through this year after year, do you always have the same >> careers come or >> No, like the helicopter lifelink isn't coming, but we'll try to do maybe like >> um like if let's say
048we had like construction, we'll move it over to like Epsy's woodworking is coming this year, which is a little more diff mechanical processing and um we'll try to differ that up. Um, you probably have some of the big ones like, um, you're probably going to have a nurse, >> probably from central Care or something. We tend to get a lot of those, but we'll try to mix the specialties in, you know, dental offices or synenography versus, you know, radiology and try to get different things in play. >> Um, >> yeah, it does change every year, but we do probably have a few constants that come. Tony, are you presenting again this year? I've heard good things of of that. >> Yeah, the kids are great. >> Yeah, it's good. It's good. >> I take them
049down to the boiler room up in a mechanical mezzanine kind of behind the doors at the seat. >> It's good. It's good. A lot of that staff comes from here, you know. It's good. Yep. All right. All right, Bill. Thank you. Chair is not sitting at home, members of the board, Superintendent Leard, Tony Newman, elementary principal. Um, I just got a couple bullet points here. We've had a really good start to the school year. Uh, really good. And, uh, you know, time flies. We were talking just before the meeting starts that next week is October already. So, uh, we're moving, we're moving fast. Um, we've been very logistics heavy here the first couple weeks. Routines, routines, routines. uh expectations, procedures, >> just one second here. I'm sorry. >> Do you guys care if I step
050out and then come back? >> Oh, that's just >> I I just didn't think it was right for her to get up on everybody should tell. >> Um we've done a lock down on a fire drill already. Um >> so we're doing first of five there. Um lock down a fire drill. Uh we've done bike bus and pedestrian safety already. We had picture day last week. Um we're getting in on the field trip seasons as well. Deep portage goes Wednesday. They're leaving Wednesday. Do their specials already and then get on the get on the bus and head up for a couple days and I know we're open by 2 o'clock after um um Pizza Ranch up in up in Nisa. So they're doing they're they're ready to go. They're fired up. So, uh, and then
051the last thing I have is, you know, we kicked off our school year with our bell ringing celebration as we do four times a year and, uh, to get in there and and have 300 360 kids, you yelling and screaming and ready to go, it was it's a fun time. So, any questions? >> I have one question. Um, >> so when you start the beginning of the year with the first lockdown drill and fire drill, like in the second week of school or whatever, is there any has there been any assessment? I know that we changed policy or the procedure the last two years where you notified parents Yep. of these. Yep. >> Um but I know it was kind of like a little bit of a fear mongering scenario for preschoolers, kindergarteners, first graders,
052you know, the younger kids just trying to get a feel for school and all of a sudden they have to worry about practicing for an intruder, you know. Um, has there been any uh assessment done if if that is going better now that we informed parents or is there never really been any assessment? >> No, nobody's opted out. Okay. So, no, no parent has called the office and said, "I want my child in the cafeteria or in the south gym waiting for it to be done." I think the more notice that we give, the a lot easier it is for families can have a conversation about the night before, but my staff knows probably about a week in advance. You know, I I told them in my Friday update, um, hey, next Wednesday we're doing
053a fire drill. Next Friday we're doing a lockdown. So, kids that need to be prepped can be prepped. Um, >> here maybe not so much the scenario like at the other building we can go through a scenario. saying, "Okay, there's an intruder at door number seven, which is the northwest door by the church." >> So, you can talk about what what you would do. >> So, then in in this specific one, this is the the one that we did last week was the big one where lights are off, moving away from the door. Um, I went around and jiggled the door handles. Third, fourth, fifth grade, check bathrooms. Um, secretaries, check primary wing, you know, and but that's some of the stuff that the kids are. >> Can you go I had one class that
054wasn't in there. They were in the gym at the time and I said, "Well, can you come around and like jiggle the door handle and pull it so we can see if the door is shut?" Yeah, absolutely. So, some kids are asking for that. Um, I don't get many tears. There's not not for this. Um, even some kids that need need the pre-teaching, >> um, they're good. They're good with it. So, >> it's good to hear. >> Yeah. Thanks. >> All right. Thanks, Tony. All right, >> chairs stand at home with the board superintendent Lard Gayen Arnen activities director. Um sports are going on really well. Um our volleyball team is currently 11 and three. Um we faced tonight a very tough section opponent Foley. Um, our football team is three and one, um, with
055the possibility of getting a couple more wins the rest of the season. So, um, but we are also in a very tough section for football. So, we can easily be over 500 and not host a section game. So, um, I want to just give you some updates on where our participation numbers are for our fall stuff. Um, for volleyball, we have 40 um, athletes. Um that does not include managers. Junior high and that's 912. For junior high volleyball we have 29. Cross country we have 25 athletes that's 712. Um football for the 912 is 35. And then junior high football is 24. So football I think we're down a little bit in numbers but we also had a pretty big senior group last year graduate. So um so yeah, we're we're working hard. We're getting
056there. And then this Wednesday, I'll actually be taking a group of 12 sophomores to Panzel for our annual central Minnesota leadership conference um that the conference puts on. So, good time. Any questions? >> All right. Thanks. >> Thank you. >> All right. Um might as well go right into facilities. Uh, Chair Hoffstead, board members, Superintendent Vard. Um, kind of same thing for me. The kickoff to the year has been pretty smooth. Yeah. Um, not a lot of hiccups. get I guess we're getting good at this. See, but yeah, the summer clean up and repairs and and this help a lot with that because we're we're ready to go by mid August usually. That's our goal all the time because the buildings get pretty busy. So, um as far as any upcoming expenses on my end
057and stuff like that, you just never know. I got a a lot of moving parts on these buildings. Um the um one thing that surprised me the other day was in Tony's building um we had a plumbing issue in the kitchen. It was on a garbage disposal that's where they rinse the dishes off just before the dishwasher. Um that part of the building is probably one of the older parts. I think that plumbing could be probably vintage late 50s60s. So, um, we're just going to change a a routine pipe on that. Well, we grabbed it with a pipe wrench and it virtually crumbled. And the pipes are worn so thin and whatnot from years and years of they're old uh galvanized piping, whatnot, and not the plastic PVC that we use now. So that's a
058probably I've got a plumber LJ plumbing and I'll probably get some other bids on that too to potentially replplum the kitchen next summer to I'd rather be fire man fire marshall on it than fire you know take care of these things one by one. I'd rather replplum the whole thing under the dishwasher freshen up drains everything that's anything that we see could be a problem. Um so I'm working on those numbers. um air handler and boilers and whatnot. Boilers were in very good shape, virtually new ones at the elementary. We got different vintage boilers and we're boiler rooming down here, but uh everything is looking good. One air handler that that's always on my mind is air handler number two, and that's up in the north end. Actually takes care of Joel Swenson Kaitton's area.
059That is a 1970 air handler with a 1996 air conditioning unit on. So, um, we're running some old wheels there, you know. So, so it's, um, keeping an eye on it. If it goes down, I hope that that we're in good enough shape where we could maybe think about a full-blown replacement. I hate to put a brand new air conditioner on in 1970 or or vice versa, you know. So, we'll see. But keeping it keeping it going. Um, I don't know if any of you are familiar with the different refrigerants that are in air conditioners. Um, that unit has still has the R22 refrigerant, which is basically liquid gold now. It's very >> good for the environment, too. >> Yeah, it's absolutely. So if we pull that out and we sell it, that should >>
060So So we're on borrowed time with that one, but running good. Um any other information you like out of me? >> What were your biggest two projects that you uh you guys worked on this this summer? >> This summer was pretty mellow. um previous previous administration basically we kind of put the brakes on a lot of stuff that I wanted to do more carpeting and this and that. As far as anything big, it was some painting. So really really held it down moneywise. We we uh coasted, you know, more got the buildings freshened up with what we got. I thought stick a bunch of money into it. Yeah, there really wasn't any of them big. What? >> Another thing they have that's been talked about several times is our roofs. Um, we have many different
061vintages of roofs up there. >> The oldest is uh 1996 on both buildings. So, we're pushing that 30 plus years on some of that. Um, I think we're building a fund slowly but surely, you know, to between five and eight years out or whatever to start the process of replacement on those. But we're keeping good repair on them. I have a a good relationship with the roofer out of St. called Bisey Roofing and twice a year we walk the roofs and um same thing rather be fire marshall than fireman or try to catch anything that um um looks like it could leak, we fix it, you know, you know, but we we we still get a few leaks here and there. Nothing major. Even on the newer roofs there, you know, we can't even call
062these new anymore. They're 10 years old. So, >> I have a question for you. Mhm. >> So, when you just mentioned that we didn't really do any major projects because the brakes were put on and you had a list. Is your list a proactive list of things that need to get done or are we going to be falling behind the times then and need to have a year where we catch up on all things that need to be done? >> Good question. Yeah, every year that you don't tackle something obviously, yeah, they get shoved to the for the next year. Um, flooring in the elementary school is a big project. We've got a lot left. We did, I think two years ago, two summers ago, we did about 86,000 bucks worth of flooring in there.
063About 15,000 square feet. And, you know, that touched a quarter of the building, you know. So, there's a lot to do over there yet. Carpet is a lot of carpet. And both buildings is still vintage 1996. So >> would it be beneficial for us to have summarized list from Tony? >> Sure. >> For us to to know what these potential like you're rolling, >> you know, list you have of the bigger projects so that we don't incidentally have a summer where we're not. >> Part of this opens up like a a good discussion with the LTFM fund. >> Yeah. you know that is has many components to it. Obviously, you can spend that money in so many ways on these buildings as long as you're fixing or replacing existing, you know, from roofs to carpet
064to boilers to air handlers to doors to, you know, just on and on. So, yeah, as I see a need, I can come up with a a list of stuff. Yeah, I'd like to stay going >> because nothing is getting any younger, believe me. >> And that stuff's on your on the 10ear plan that you give us each year. >> Is like the plumbing that I brought up at the elementary that was not a crazy surprise. I know it was getting older, but like Yeah, it's fine. You know, >> you know what you know, right? >> It was a week. Yeah, it's gonna we need to dig in deeper. So, but yeah. Yeah, we got a lot of things to talk about, too. We could even got a tennis court up on the hill there
065that is just sitting, you know, this in total disrepair. I've got it boarded up keeping people out of it, you know, because there's cracks in it that are probably 4 in wide, four inches deep. You could roll an ankle, break a leg, you know. So, you and what do we do with it? Do we tear it out? That's cost money, too. >> So, yeah, there's there's things coming. You want to spend money, I'm your guy. >> Well, I don't know if I said that. >> All right. Anything else for All right. Thank you. Thanks. Uh, Superintendent Well, before Tony goes, I I was one of our uh appreciation deals tonight. So, I just want to say >> I mean, I don't I almost pipe in and said you weren't really doing nothing this summer because
066I didn't see hardly any weeds around. >> The yards and the grounds look fantastic. I mean, when I drove up here for my back in June the first time, the first the first thing I noticed was how nice the grounds looked. And it's not you don't see that everywhere else. I was pretty impressed by that. the the buildings are well kept by you and the custodians, too. So, I appreciate that. So, >> thank you. >> Just wanted to recognize you and your crew. >> Yeah, they'll appreciate it, too. >> I've been in newer buildings than this one. >> You know, we did some of the basketball >> and then it takes work to keep them looking like this. >> Oh, yes. >> And you notice it right away. >> You got to be You got
067to be staffed properly, too. >> Thank you. >> You want a picture with us, too? Oh, thank you and thank you on behalf of the group like a couple of them. I think we're going to pop in here, but it's a busy night for us out here, too. >> Jim's of course we got to tear this down, put it away, too. And >> it's a lot going on. So, >> yep. Well, we do have certificates for all of them. So, if you can get a group picture together for us some point so we can recognize you on social media and that stuff, too. >> Sure. Maybe like MEA when the whole crews because we got a a day and evening shifts down what tough tougher tougher to gather them all set. >> We want to
068give those to Tony then we can hand them all. >> Yeah, sure. >> Sorry. >> No, that's fine. I mean we can give them tomorrow. >> Yeah. >> Okay. Uh homecoming week activities were already I was going to defer to Joel anyway, so he did a good job on that. uh student leadership. Um uh you and I kind of talked about it at one time too, but um a visit with Joel about uh looking for one, two, or three student student uh leaders like from student council, for example. That could be maybe one of them could show up quarterly to the board meeting and sit at a chair with us and give a a report um from a student perspective on school uh or recommendations or how things are going, talk about activities, those kind
069of things. And so we're working on that. So we'll have somebody here this this fall yet on that. Um and ironically he told me today that he was one of those people in high school, too. So kind kind of has that perspective. >> Um strategic planning uh tenatively set October 28th for that uh 6 o'clock and it's actually the same night as parent teacher conferences at the elementary that night. So hopefully we can draw some people in with that. Um and I guess I'm kind of looking at it as a a time to review what we've been doing. um get some feedback on that and then talk about what's going on this year as far as goals as far as the SRO perspective. Uh apprenticeship perspectives. Um, one other thing that Dave and I have
070been talking about in the principles as well is maybe some we have a communication plan, but there there's I'm coming in with eyes from the outside just looking at some maybe some other other things that we could do with that too and and get some feedback on that and just kind of springboard into the spring with those with the plan on them. um kind of a big hot topic is uh family medical leave act uh Minnesota paid leave and so I I want to have that on the agenda at the next board meeting and and just um I should have a pretty good understanding about it. I've been kind of learning it a little bit each each week a little bit more, but I had a good meeting last week and picked up a few
071more things. Uh I'm not going to go through it all tonight, but it is going to be a cost to the district a little bit as far as premiums. Um, we're either going to districts are either going with the Minnesota plan or they're going out and searching for their own uh uh the dollars. I'm I'll figure that out for you next time. But it's just a little other companies are coming in just a little bit below what the Minnesota plan is going to be because they're a business, but um I'll talk about that at that time. Uh medical leave is uh starting January 1, people can take 12 weeks of medical, they can take 12 weeks of family leave, but a max of 20 weeks of the two during a one-year period. And the district
072has to decide what's that one year period going to be. Is it going to be July 1 to June or is it going to be January 1 to December 30? So, we'll have to figure that one out. Um >> is MSBA working on that as a policy or is that going to be a handbook? No, it'll be handbook. It' be handbook. And actually, they gave us uh last week I heard they just said refer to MSBA or uh not MSBA, it's uh legislature. >> Yeah. So, that's kind of a real quick deal there, but um we do have to notify our district staff by December 1st on what we're doing. So, I have to we'll get that put together by then. Um, and again, I just want to kind of been the theme tonight about
073how well the year's gone so far, the start of the year. Um, I talked to our leadership team, what was it last week? I think we had a cabinet meeting or two weeks ago. Um, without great leaders starting the year, it's I haven't I haven't even heard a hiccup yet. So, it's been a great start and the cabinet has done a great job and one with leading their staff uh communicating working with their students. So, I'm proud of what they've done and make things easier for me, too. So, Mandy and the district office staff have I I think I look good. It's probably because of them. So, anyway, that's my report. Anything else you guys have for me? Okay. >> How do you feel about the uh business manager thing? >> I want somebody on
074site. Um it's going to be a challenge finding somebody. I had five apps the last time when we had business manager/HR advertise. I thought we were going to get that person. Four of the five have had no business finance background for school. They didn't know what Mars was or EUARS. They never heard of it before. Um they think they know >> that's a steep learning curve. >> They think they can figure out but they can't. Um they had some HR background. The the one person I was that close to offering I couldn't I didn't want to keep going up on the offer for him. I was going to be too expensive and it's from St. Cloud and have to keep with that. Um so now I think at this point we have a halftime or
0756 HR. or if I advertise for business manager, it's still going to be a lofty hope that we're going to find somebody, but I think there'll be a better chance. People are looking for them all over the place. Can I, you know, the possibility might be to partner with another district, something like that, which I haven't made those calls yet, but once we advertise it, then we can do that. But ideally, we have somebody here every day. Yeah. Do >> you guys intend to advertise for that again? >> I mean, I'll be honest. I know he's not on here right now, but I asked him a few questions today. Not just not bringing up that we're going to advertise, but um he's he's the president that I come to town is. He's extremely busy just
076doing that. And I How many districts are you working with? Seven right now plus that. He doesn't have He hasn't been here yet. >> Yeah. >> And trying to communicate is tough. >> Really, you have to apologize for being open about the way you feel. So, >> all right. Anything else for Wayne? >> All right. Uh, we're on number nine, right? >> You crossed them off, >> but I had arrows going up and down. Um, so the consent agenda approval. So, the board is consenting to approve the items listed below as presented one at one time. At any point, a director can pull an item off the consent agenda for further discussion. So on here we have our approval of regular board meeting minutes uh claims accounts and financials uh personnel changes uh the MOA
077for e-learning days uh which is no change from last year the last two years um approval of final policy readings um and those are listed in there uh there was nothing that was a substantial change besides statute or a legislative change and then uh the track fundraiser and then when we amended the agenda We added the naming of the official depositories for district funds as Todd Netsky with Pine Country Bank and the Minnesota School District liquid asset fund and Minnesota trust which is PMA is official depositories and then uh approved Todd Netsky uh business manager to invest fund on behalf of the Royal School District and then the delegation of authority to make electronic fund transfers um by Todd. Does this mean that we're gonna have to go in and sign at the bank again?
078>> Um, but those are all Is there anything anybody would like to pull? >> All right. Would somebody like to make a motion? >> I'll make a motion. >> Director H. Thank you. >> I'll second it. >> Director Hackit. Any discussion? >> All in favor say I. >> I. opposed. All right, motion carries. Uh, next we are on 10 E. So, the SRO contract update. Well, uh, went to the city council meeting a couple weeks ago. Um, I think we were there for I believe it was there too. Started at 7 o'clock. I think we left at 9. We were on for about 45 minutes. Um so the proposal from chief to us was 34 of the year uh which would have been about 57 or 58,000. I came back with student contact days which
079is 172 + 12 in the summer at 184 days. His rate is 76,000. So that came back at about I think it was 52 or 53,000. Yeah. Um and then the city would take or his budget would cover the training uh officer's uniform supplies like that. Uh everything was good until about the last 10 minutes I felt like. And then uh one of them threw out the idea of the squad car because we're using it part of the year. um looked it up and it's not a legal expense for the school district to pay for any of that. So, >> or even just dollars towards it. It sounded like every year. >> Yeah. Oh, you mean like a >> Yeah. Just because they have to replace what did he say? Every three years is generally
080what they replace. >> Yeah. >> But like real driving. >> Yeah. That's what I wonder. And you know, we talked about save school dollars. We get about $34,000 a year right now. >> We I mean, it's kind of like game you're talking. It gets thrown at a pot of money. >> Yeah. >> Um we code it towards one of our social workers, >> but it could be coded towards anything into that category. Yeah, >> because I think that means what did we say that would leave about 22,000 >> for us >> if you just ran off that without the >> I don't think she was as adamant about us chipping in. >> I don't think he always >> just one. >> Oh, really? >> Yeah. So, I don't know if that would be an issue
081if it came to doing it. I don't know for sure. No, >> I don't really think so. But >> so that's the proposed um stipen, I guess. Uh as far as timeline, he's still up in the air. I mean, it's an office. He has an officer on staff that's interested in doing it. >> Um and so he would likely go that route and then he would have to advertise to fill that position on >> the other side >> to fill the other side. So, uh and get another squad car. That's where that's quite our cost come from. So he said it could be a month, it could be f five months before they have somebody in place before they can actually move somebody in. >> And I think another thing is going to decipher if
082they get that grant. >> Yeah. >> That he wrote for a squad. Right. >> Right. >> And he's got that before. >> You know, he had wrote a grant to get a squad covered. M >> so it sounded I mean you know because if if you wouldn't get that grant that would add an additional they say like 65ish >> so >> city >> I have a question more so on this uh the agreement the contract that we have is this working document or is this you guys pretty much have finalized what you want it to look like >> working it it's Yeah. >> See the highlights on >> Yeah. >> So, is there room for input? >> Yes. Um, one of the things that I thought we were quite excited about when we had um,
083previous interviews before your time here, uh, was that some of the other SRO that we had interviewed or that had presentations to us talked about how they kind of led the way when it talks about some of the educational things that the SRO would do that they were kind they kind of led the way on digital citizenship and internet safety. Does that would that just fall under um support in the classroom in the area of safety or is that something that we should specifically designate as a task? >> I think they would be a person to help support and our own staff. >> I don't know if we currently do >> so we do some with that. Um, I would rather keep it bagged like that because then we can tell them to do anything
084and then we can come up with that and and that can be part of, you know, as we look at the strategic plan that is something that we're going to talk about about the SRO is what do families want us to have them do? And then, you know, we have a list of probably eight things I think that we came up with. At least I have a list of eight things. Okay. >> Um, that was that it was uh addiction. It was, you know, all that stuff. And then where does that best fit in which is what these guys can take back to you know fifth grade health versus eighth grade health you know whatever. So I think if we leave it >> bag Oh it bag I just was wondering if it was on
085the radar. >> Oh yeah for sure. >> It's still within that person's role something we're going to chief >> and I have talked about that too. >> That will take about half their time just to get through all the grades. >> Really? >> Which is good. >> Yeah it's needed. >> Yep. I can tell you I've had multiple families reach out since it hit the Morrison County record. All in favor? >> I mean, there was no cost in there, but they were all appreciating that we're taking safety and all of this into consideration just with everything that's been going on. >> And the crazy thing is there's a lot of people are like, "We didn't have that." >> Correct. Multiple have said that. I thought we had one on. Yeah. >> That's your tip. I
086actually had somebody from outside the district drive through ramp and said, "You have a police car come and get your buses so they can get on the road just sitting there and you know and I'm like, "Yeah, we do." And it's it's really nice they do that. Was that SRO? No, it's not. They just do it. It's I mean little things like that, you know, and I hope I hope there's things that we don't can't foresee. Like I hope that SRO is going to open doors for some families because they know programs that we don't know of because they're in a different you know they're unparalleled to the school but they're not the same. So >> to direct families for help or or guidance or >> they see it as being as part of the
087population and not in an office that's taking care of whatever. Yes. >> Being a referral is is big >> and we can't possibly know what that is out of this. So, you know, just get into it and see if the stories come in. So, you know, I I I think this is something that we should, you know, have to get up and going, give it a couple years, and then have the discussion. I mean, I don't think anybody regrets the cell phone policy thing after hearing staff talk about that. And that wasn't a real popular deal when we did that. So, um, >> what are we looking at for a term? like on the agreement one year, two year, three year. >> It says one year on the right. Okay. I wasn't. And they're okay
088with us only one year if they Okay. Curious >> how they were looking for a part-time officer anyways, I believe. So, it would >> fits okay then. >> Perfect. >> And they kind of felt too it might take more than that to >> get it up and really get a good feel for it. But like we said, we didn't really want to be locked for two or three years, you know, if it didn't fit budgetary or whatever. >> All right. Any other discussion on the discussion >> for me? >> Things momentum on this. >> Yes. Very, very nicely done. >> They were there till 11:30. So me and Wayne are very glad we left when we did >> at 9:00. I'm very appreciative of how how these meetings are run compared to >> you have
089to apologize. [Laughter] >> Um all right so the next one is substitute teacher pay. We adjusted these feeds. I'm sorry. Was somebody going to give a presentation or are we just looking at it? I don't want to turn. Did we not just adjust these fees not too long ago and bring them up or No, >> we just talked about it. >> Yeah, I think it was two years ago that we upped it by the $10 or whatever it was at the time. >> Okay, that was the two years ago process. Okay, >> I believe so. >> Okay. >> I was just expecting us to be further out of range um given our hard time finding substitutes. Well, it's lunch. I'd say we can keep with Little Falls for sure. You know, up the highway, >>
090you know, up at $10 at least. file in the middle. If I'm coming from Sock Rapids, yours is a little over. It's going to cost you a little bit to get there, but >> So, where does this come from? Like, where does this document sit? >> So, this is pieced together from Mandy with some So, I have a had a spreadsheet sent from >> No. So, our subpay set in what document? The reason I ask is this a teachers contract thing that this is going into or is this a you know as a procedural administrative thing that we're the administration is asking the board to change or or to look at >> this would be from from admin. >> Okay. It's not set in a teacher contract but sub is >> I don't believe it
091could be sub teachers aren't contract >> should be seven. You guys >> changed it before. >> Yeah. >> That was just called teachers contract and see if it's in there, but I don't I don't think it is. It's not. >> Okay. >> Yeah. >> Question though. >> So, what's the the view of this? What's the recommendation from the administration? >> What's your take on it? Well, you have issues with getting subs and do they tell you why or not? They say, "Hey, you guys don't pay as much." [Laughter] >> It's it's some of it's a mixed bag. Some people don't want to get called at six o'clock in the morning, so they put do not call. Well, they want to go in themselves and choose the days that they want. So, I can do Tuesday,
092Wednesday, Thursday. I can do unless you're called and said, "Hey, I a retired teacher. Hey, I need three days for you to cover me at this time. Couldn't you do it?" Oh, yep. They'll put it down. But they don't want to get called, you know, they they're the they're a little more choosy. >> So, the on call piece is the problem. >> Some of it. I mean, it's whether, you know, we looked into u on call for subs and then there's additional costs for that. Now, we have our front line that calls anyways, but uh people just hit that either snooze or they go in there and do not call >> because they don't want to get woke up at 5:00 in the morning short on a short notice. >> Where are they coming from?
093>> A lot of them are retired teachers or they'll they let them know falls and they'll come down. We don't get a ton of people coming from the south up to us. Um, we we we pulled in one that I I I got from a long-term sub, coached her out of retirement, and then helped her get her license, and then now she's on board. So, it just took a little bit of proddding for her to get that license to say, "Hey, come on back." You know, so, but some people, some some of our teachers did, they want to be done. They are done. >> They don't come back. Right. I mean, the majority of them that were the pool of people you're pulling from are people who really maybe possibly don't need to do it,
094>> right? >> Some But but I know some want to, but they're just not a good fit anymore. >> There there there are some that for one reason or another who can't have it, >> you know? And I'd love to say a warm body is a warm body, but you know what? Not when you're dealing with kids. So there are some that thinks but look elsewhere you know. So but that that but the lack of subs but as as the school year wages on it that gets a little tiring too mentally for always covering always covering always covering no matter who who's gone you still have to fill in. So it's not one person it's it's just the totality of everything. But >> but for every day somebody's gone, that's one one day out of
095the 180 days that somebody's not there or not the normal person. >> But yeah. Yeah, exactly. For the kids, right? And then you have to fill in four teachers to fill that slot, you know, or or fifth fifth prep, fourth, third, second, first, you know, you got to fill all those gaps. So you get two people gone just on a random day with subs of that that grade level is subbing out of necessity plus we got our building sub you know so um >> helping this >> get kind of in line with these other schools will it help >> I think I think it'll help people that are on the fence I did I have heard from one that yeah you guys just you pay less than little falls so why am I going to
096spend more money driving to Loyalty >> to get less money um where I could stay and we have a good cafeteria included. >> I guess I would like to I don't know if it's going to make a difference either, but I would like to look at who's on Highway 10, >> right? >> Can we compete with it or be at least matching with Highway 10 people? Yeah, >> everything else being equal, I would love to to say they come to us because we are who we are >> and they want to come to us because of the support that we give or the welcoming community that we have between our between our people rather than, you know, it's 10 miles and $10 less and save 20 bucks by not going to royalty. You know, everything
097else being equal, everything was else equal. And I would love to say that we and we do. I think people love coming to us to sub. really by upping it. If we still don't get subs, it's not costed. >> Yeah. Right. >> Sadly, >> I mean, I did have one retired teacher come up to me at a get together and I asked her if she ever subs here and she said, "Well, no." And she said, "Where do you sub?" And she said, "Pers." She said it was because of the because of the money that Piers pays compared to Roy. She did tell me that. >> I mean, I think she lives between here and Pierce, too, you know, somewhere. So, yeah. you know, 20 bucks more if I go there and it's same distance or
098closer or whatever. Um, that's the only one that's ever told me that, but kind of opened my eyes, you know, >> kind of adds up. >> So, 10 days at 20 bucks a day. That's 200 bucks. >> Is Is there a reason why a retired district teacher gets paid more than a >> somebody that's not? >> Because I know the systems. It's >> like they already know where attendance needs to go to and you know what I mean? Oh, who to contact you for being with us. So, we're gonna >> because not everybody does that, you know, as I look at the at the board, not everybody does that. So, I just I I was just asking >> if we weren't able to find out rabbits. I feel like we said we don't get very
099many people driving north to I'm sure Rice is scooping them up >> elementary to pay whatever so rapids agents are we don't we didn't we was in I mean I have a spreadsheet with with all of them across Minnesota but we're trying to keep the ones that were right here similar to us they were the St. cloud area ones were higher. >> Yeah. >> So, another question. What does it take to get licensed? >> Yeah. Depends. I mean, >> doesn't move fast. So, if you're trying to get even if you have an expired license, there's there's a process and it can take three, four, five weeks before they respond. Um, and depending on the the type of license that you want, if you want to get a a lifetime subs, that's a little bit longer
100of a process. Um, >> what are the requirements though for something like that if you know >> I think I think the minimum you got to have a degree >> and that's that's the quickest. >> Um, any four-year degree? >> No, it's any Yeah. Um there's what's >> community ed should put on the program and try and create more subs. >> That's exactly what I was thinking is like is that something that we could create through our community ed program invite somebody in and say hey >> if you ever thought about being a sub here's how you do it. >> Yeah I was I was thinking that too once you started going a lot of work though we might not do it for I don't know. Interesting. >> The hard part is I need to
101sub now. >> Yeah. I didn't I knew long-term sub in a week. >> Well, it takes six weeks for you to get it. You know, that's that's hard. >> Well, they're they're out of the pool now. They'd be out of the pool until they were in the pool, right? So, but if we can build a pool by five, you know, as as we're doing that. >> Well, so Rapids, I don't know why they have two tiers. Minimum being 160 and maximum being 200. >> Well, that's why they're not driving. All right. Well, >> I would like to see at least compete with peers or balls. >> I don't know seem like we're always competing with peers the two schools that are like >> whatever. >> I'd really like to see what that cost was for
102like the last two years. >> Is that is there some kind of our sub cost? >> Oh yeah. >> Because if we're looking at, you know, our sum cost was what probably 70,000 $80,000 something like that and we're adding $10 to that. going to make a $6,000 difference. Like, >> you know what I mean? >> If it's way more than that, then it's way more. But >> I'd like to understand that because >> that that could be the difference between going between 150 and 160. >> Yeah. Yep. I agree. >> That would be that. >> Well, we also have to take into consideration the the legislative changes to that FMLA. I mean, >> I just happened to get to listen to my boss complain. how it came into effect. >> I haven't done that once.
103>> Um, you know, with the I mean, you're going to need for subs is going to incrementally increase through the roof. Take 12 weeks off if your mom is sick >> for a couple reads already. >> How many building do we have? >> One in each. >> Yeah. Yeah. >> Is that enough? >> Yeah. Then then you're then you're trying to find something for I mean granted >> you call him and tell him not to come today. One of your other teachers say hey you we shook the lottery. You get a day off the teacher. >> I just I just like this lottery I won. But anyways, that I mean I don't even want to foresee how much people are going to use that utilize that now that that such a broad >> brush that
104can do well that can be utilized there. >> But they're planning on using a break. My wife does dayareers and she's got one that pushed their start time way back because of that. I mean, if they pass it and go through, she's taking all of it >> and it's she teaches at one of these schools, not ours. So that school's going to have to find a substitute teacher for for that whole school year. So that is going to be a big big cost. >> And so long-term subs pay off this or do they get a different >> long-term subs are part of the teacher cover. So when I hire for alternative leave or leave >> they are like depending on what they have but typically you start at like >> the bottoms or the >>
105okay >> top left of the chart and then go 12 weeks and then that's your that's your rate of pay or that's what you paid. >> It's not a subpay for 30 days and then you go on the teacher contract. roll them into >> that first step right away >> because that's essentially what would be in any of these definite situations would be the long-term subcontract. So that would we would be >> shooting. That's not this is the day the short. >> Okay. >> All right. So we'll have that for the next >> and I do feel like if we don't get the subs, we're also going to get um teachers are going to start asking for a statement, right? If the classrooms are split between. So really you're going to be a horse piece
106for money wise. I mean, probably might even save it if you >> I mean, it's something that looks out, right? >> Yep. Okay, we'll bring it next time. Yep. All right. Uh, approval of donations by resolution. Mandy's got a great thing on here for me. I really appreciate it. Um, so would anybody like to make a motion to introduce the resolution and wave the read? >> So moved. >> All right. Director Tre. All right. Um, so uh, the Royalton Public Schools gratefully accepts the following donations as identified below. Um, so a $250 grant from the American Legion uh for homecoming, $1,000 grant from the American Legion for the staff breakfast, $200 for Pine Country Bank from Pine Country Bank for the new higher lunch, $1,150 from North Central Economic Development for the Classroom of Lake
107Matson. Uh, the American Legion uh for four new American flags for uh buildings and grounds. and $1,000 from the initiative foundation um for the classroom of Robert Sierra. Does somebody want to uh second that motion? >> I'll second. >> Director Holman. Thank you. Um and then upon a roll call vote call. >> Director Trout. >> Hi. >> Director Hackett. >> Hi. >> Director Holm. >> Hi. >> Director Boyd. >> Hi. >> Director Andrews. I director. >> Hi. All right. >> Thank you. >> Yes. a a big thank you to all of us. That's uh that's what gets us across the finish line with so many things. >> I really like to see that. I mean, so these are the grants and the donations that are getting approved. That means there's a there's a bunch of
108them that aren't. You know, they took the effort, too. So, if that many get approved, that means there's a lot more that aren't. But thanks to them, too. Yep. Yep, absolutely. Uh, thank you for that. I'm going to keep that note side note. Um, do that. Uh, and then policy readings. So, we have first policy readings for uh a whole bunch of new policies that are on their three-year renewal list. Um and then yep, that was it for that. All right. So before we go to close meeting, we have our upcoming meeting scheduled. Uh does this So question on the policy meeting. Do we want to move that or do you want to get it done tomorrow night for Wednesday? >> I don't know if I can get them all read. Yeah, I don't agree.
109>> They can't either. No. >> Um, do we think a week or do we want to >> keep these until the November meeting? >> Um, >> because really we have to have them in a week because we have to put them on the agenda to get approved and that has to be done by Wednesday of next week. >> I'm out of town next week. Yeah. >> So, do we want to just keep our October time frame and just cancel September's because we're we're finished with we went final on all the rest of them. So, these are all brand new that we've never read before. Yeah. >> So, I think we have we have time to get them through because they're not going to be on a second and final at the next meeting anyway. >>
110Wait till the next one you're saying? >> If you guys are okay with that? >> Yeah, that would work. >> That would work fine for me as well. So that' be October 22nd. >> So Wednesday, September 24th will be cancelled. >> Correct. >> Then our next board meeting is October 6th. Uh finance and policy on the 22nd and then uh the next regular board meeting is on November 10th. >> We start finance meeting on September 24th. Yeah, we're canceling that because we won't be able to read the finance. Sorry. Go ahead. >> Yep. >> All right. >> Yep. >> Um All right. Uh, would somebody want to make a motion to close the open meeting at 7:21 p.m.? >> The motion. >> Director Holm. Second, >> Director Hackett. Thank you. >> Uh, all in favor
111say I. I. >> I. Oppos. >> All right. Motion carried. We'll uh reconvene in about 8 minutes per