001Okay, great. All right, we are live. All right, good morning. It's 7:00 a.m. in the secondary school meeting center. We'll call the meeting to order and we'll start with the Pledge of Allegiance. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. Roll call. Gross? Here. Porter? >> Here. Sandsted? >> Here. Sauer? Here. Ulrich? Here. And Vincent? Here. And this morning we do not have Mrs. Kraft, did you have anything for the board this morning? I do not. Okay. Then we will move on to our agenda. Um you see the agenda there. There is one addition um two additions down in new business. I um to review and approve and also J to approve
002the course uh change for senior seminar. Are there any other additions or corrections to the agenda? >> [clears throat] >> Then I would look for a motion to approve. So moved. Second. All in favor, say I. I. Motion carries. That brings us into our reports and we'll start with you, Tanya. Okay, good morning. Um so I have two things to go through with this morning. Approval um talking about the budget revision two that is on the agenda for approval later in the meeting and then my normal um seeing the results as of March 31st, 2026. So first I'll go through the budget revisions which is kind of located in the center of the report. So budget revision two is what we're looking at for the general fund. Um the revenues are projected to be 12.2
003million. For the revision, it's about a $50,000 increase in the previous revision and that's in areas of some state revenue and property taxes. Then um for the general fund expenditures their budget the revised budget shows 12,762,000 [clears throat] in comparison to 12,447,000 and there's um a few areas well all the areas have changed. Salaries and wages and employee benefits went down a little bit and the biggest area that increased is in purchased services and um equipment. So for purchased services those are mainly our contracts that we have with various entities. There was increases in areas such as the business office contracts um the transportation contract also what's in there is post secondary and OCHS costs and then the special ed co-op contract is also in there. So there are some increases that are reflected in
004this revised budget for that. And then for equipment we added a the vehicle purchase in that it was about 62,000 and then some additional buildings and grounds equipment. So um overall the general fund deficit was at um 204,770 with revision one and with revision two it's projected to be 468,254. Um it's a conservative budget so hopefully it'll come in better and then we do have pots of money assigned and in reserve that we will allocate like specifically vehicles will be allocated to a different assigned fund balance. Then on the second page is the other activity funds. Food service the revenue is projecting lower with less meals served about 20,000 and but the expenditures also are going down a little bit about 7,000. Still projecting a positive fund balance change but it's smaller. It was at
005projected at 15,951 and now projected at 2,728. For community ed, there are very few changes. Still projecting a deficit of 190,776. For debt service, the only change made were um in the expenditure area for principal and interest payments to update those amounts. Then um so in summary what I would request to be approved is a revised budget two revenue of 13,448,532 and expenditures of 14,092,223. So Tanya, we have that later in the agenda since this is just the report section so we'll we'll do that at that point if you're okay with that. Yeps. Yes, that's fine. I just thought I'd go over it now and then um see if there's any questions and they can think about it too, so. You can probably >> Oh, go ahead. >> Probably just a couple points of clarification.
006The vehicles and we also [clears throat] had the water to water um the H-back project. Those are in reserves. We can't take the money out of the savings account and Scott has revenues once he counts those as revenues, they're revenues. So it's may look a little bit alarming but remember that was our H-back project was what 125,000 I think. The vehicle was about 65. So it puts us back to where that $200,000 is. Purchased services went up because we now have the CESA contract for the payroll um piece. That would also say why then our employee contracts went down as well um because we no longer have that position. So it's really kind of a switch there um and then I was trying to think and then I think it does really bring concern on
007our PSEO um online college in the high school is the OCHS. That bill this year is a $170,000. So that is a huge significant piece. Great opportunities for our kids but I do think we need to rein that in just a little bit to make sure that the dollars we're expending have the same value that we would expect them to have if students were were in our own building. So we need to just review that. I know Mr. Wood is checking on those pieces there but yeah, that's quite a significant dollar amount. Yes. Any other questions on the budget? That community ed piece or is that something you're seeing at every school or or where where For us it's our preschool. So remember we have three teachers that we have I mean three full-time. We
008have two and then a part-time 2.6 FTEs and so yeah, our if if schools are paying for pre- or if they're not charging for preschool, that's going to be where that expense is going to be in those districts but I know that I just had um through the Midwest Special Ed Cooperative, they put out a [snorts] survey asking what rates were charged and we're one of the few now that doesn't charge something. And again, it's not going to generate enough money I think per student the average was like $150 a month. So it helps a little bit but that's going to be our biggest reason why is our is our um preschool. But if our feeling is that that cash flows out right as long as we provide that and those students stay with us
009throughout the next 13 years, then that should be a win. In case if they go someplace else, then we're down that revenue for those 13 years. And are they are they staying with us? I mean are we doing we were going to go through a kind of a big study and see what we would have to charge, did we did we ever finish that process of really digging into that and looking you know back when Megan was here, that was kind of right before she left we were really going to look into that and see what the costs were and there was any way to Was that for preschool or daycare? I I know we reviewed daycare with this whole community ed piece. Okay. of everything and to see what the if there was ways
010to lower that deficit I guess and Well there are some that charge these. So right now in the past we weren't the only one around here not charging. Now that's changed a little bit or >> still is that yeah. I mean there's still in our area that are some that are not charging >> Okay. There's still some right close to us that aren't. >> Right, yeah. Neighboring districts or such like that. Okay. I just I think when we started that >> That makes [clears throat] more sense. If if Campbell actually Herman didn't charge. Yep. And and we were charging and our kids were going you know our kids were leaving. And so that was the conversation at the time when we made that decision was we need to keep those kids here and that's a
011big deal. >> I was part of that. And I think the competitive you know I think that's partly why we've lost head start as well. Cuz they just said we can't compete with a you offer a free program. So we had some families that were choosing to do both so they got four days or five days of preschool if it was only a two-day option but yeah, they just said if you guys are offering free as well, we can't compete with that. So that was kind of the reason for Buckman Elementary, it was three and three, three three-year-olds and three four-year-olds. They said we just can't make that happen. You know, a lot of them are in student to three preschool. All right, any other questions? Okay, any other questions on the budget? Okay, um
012then briefly um just what I normally show um the March 31st results preliminarily. So, for the general fund we've received 7.2 million in comparison to the new revised budget 12.2 million. So, that's 59% of our budget compared to 59.7 the year before. So, we're in alignment there. Then on the general fund expenditure side we've spent 8.4 million of our 12.7 million dollar budget. So, 66.1% a little higher than the previous year 65.6. Then on the last page on the very bottom it shows our comparison of percentages. So, revenues are in alignment 58.8 compared to 58.3 the previous year. And expenditures 65.8 compared to 66.3 and 64.6. So, we're sitting in alignment with our budget. All right. Any other questions for Tonya? Okay, thank you Tonya. Yes, thank you. That brings us to Mr. Brownell's report.
013Okay, so the legislature's [clears throat] reconvened after the Easter and Passover break. Um Governor Walz did share a supplemental budget back in March, which talks about another 50 million dollar cut to special education. That would be significant for WCA. So, it doesn't sound it's getting any traction within the legislative bodies outside of that time frame. So, it seems promising there um for the district. Still not sure if there's going to be a supplemental spending bill. Remember the ones that we're keeping an eye on um would be uh the fact of um of the 250 million dollars in access funding. That's another big one. We have a significant uh part of our budget, well over 100,000 dollars, but we're not the only district. So, I know they're trying to find other ways to keep that um
014in place as well as compensatory is going to be the the other piece. So, hopefully those will stay intact. It sounds like there isn't going to be a lot of change just because of the split in the house and the Senate. Um so, we'll see what kind of comes out in the end. There's five weeks left of weeks left of the legislative session. Uh so, it'll be a race till the end. School Perceptions Bond Referendum Survey. Uh they've got that um remember we gave them those final tweaks. They're getting some information ready to pass out to our staff, our families, and our district residents to make them aware of the survey. The survey gets emailed out to our staff on April 20th. And then they'll be emailed out to our families the 23rd or 24th
015and also be in our district residents' mailboxes on the 23rd or 24th of April. They plan to have it back to them or the deadline is May 11th. And then they'll they'll share those results with the board on May 20th. And then from there the board will have to decide how you want to move forward with those results um depending on how they come back in. The WCA school website, so you'll see I've got that as a discussion piece um at the very bottom of the agenda, but just some preliminary information there. I did place a call to a vendor that supports Lac qui Parle Valley Schools. And uh just because of the fact that ours is probably um would be considered maybe a little out of date and needs to have some pieces that
016aren't cluttered in there. And so, there was a recommendation to look at their website. I did. Um they will they haven't given me any prices yet, but they can either do a rebuild, build a new one, and then they wanted to know if we wanted them to manage or not or not. And I said, "Well, if you could just give us prices, we can look at that to see what that cost would be so we can have that up and running and ready to go because of course that'll be a critical piece as we move forward with our building piece and any other pieces. I think um somebody told me a couple days ago they said, "You know, I really see our website being the nuts and bolts. That's where people come to get information.
017If they want to get um you know, press releases and stuff like that, they'll still go to Facebook or social media, but if they need to get information, you know, e-learning, any of those things, they're going to typically come back to our school website. So, we need to get that put back in order. Um so, that's good to go there. The May 8th early out. Um that's our final early out for the school >> [cough] >> this year. Um we're planning to uh have John Jensen and then Mr. Kraft and his group there on the PLC. They've been working through school identity. And with him that was the book I think if you remember when um uh Ms. Knight came in and talked about the Yellow Cardinal. Uh that's what that book is. Jostens has
018John Jensen come out as a consultant. So, their group has been working through those [snorts] pieces there of what does it mean to be a knight? And so, we um and then also the other PLC group is a book study. They're working on um the Just Do This. And there's some critical pieces in there that book with climate culture. Not related at all, but they do reference Jostens Renaissance a couple times in that book. But they talk about walking through the collective values and goals that districts set up that way. And there's a process that they help facilitate that through this book. And so, the recommendation would be we'll have all of our staff from food service, custodial, district office, teachers, everybody there. And if the board is able to make it, that would be
019great if we believe we're going to have over a quorum. We may want to post that as we'll have everybody there. Um but just to make sure that we can move forward on that piece. So, John will be here for the John Jensen will be here for the first 20 minutes. So, we'll probably end up dismissing school at 12:15 rather than 12:30 to give us enough time for him to go through that piece. And then we'll get into our collective values piece there where we're going to come up with three different words. Um right now remember if you look at the on the board agenda the letter head there it says challenge, learn, succeed. I think that was put in place many years ago. I'm not sure that we've referenced that for a while, but
020we'd be looking to do that. That would tie in with our PBIS work that we really do well in the elementary. I would say it's not as strong at the secondary. Uh but this team of teachers and folks that are in that PLC said it would be nice if we could say, "Hey, our collective values are courage." And now we're going to recognize those staff and community members, teachers, students um for how they've demonstrated that courage and things like that. So, we'll go through that. I'm working with a few folks and I'll probably have a few board members as well to I want that two hours. It's going to be a tight timeline, but according to the direction through the book says you can get it done in two hours in a streamlined process. I
021just want to make sure that it's clear and succinct because it is a Friday in May, right? So, we want to make sure we have everybody's attention. Uh so, we can go through that, but we also want to make sure that it's a valuable process when it's all said and done. But then that'll roll us I would say into the future to the following school year to make sure that we have those things set and ready for our district goals as well as our collective commitments. Um the Anxious Generation Community Book Club. Carrie hosted that back on April 8th. Had a great uh turnout. My understanding Carrie said it was a lot of those folks who have come from other um community events. So, it wasn't all new people there, but it was a wide
022range from grandparents to parents um that came. And I think they're they were excited to hear that the school is looking to uh take some additional steps for uh limiting access to cell phones during the school day in the secondary. And in that book what it really talks about is a um community-wide piece that it's sometimes more difficult cuz when everybody else gets the cell phone, kids are communicating that way. And now the one student goes home and says, "Hey, everybody's talking about this and I don't know what they're talking about cuz I don't have social media." And so, that was some of the the requests as well that that would be helpful. Actually get out there. I would say that's not something that we'll get too deeply involved with, but uh there is a
023real I would say um direction uh by that group as well as our teaching staff have also mentioned that they would like to see some changes there as well. So, at our May 6th committee meeting we'll have a proposal coming to you to review there so we can have that set for the following school year. Uh School Perceptions Facility Survey to staff. I've already talked about that. And then our committee meetings May 6th I do have a Lakes Country Superintendents meeting that I did not note on there, but that's April 23rd. And then our collective commitments and values and early out is on May 8th. All right, any questions, comments for Mr. Brownell? I will say I will not be here on May 6th. So, Okay. just a little heads-up there. So, Darren will be
024Darren will be here for that committee meeting. I don't think so. >> [laughter] >> I actually think I'm going to be um Kayla I'm looking at my calendar. Maybe we should look at your calendar. I will have to get back to you, but I don't think I'm going to. I think I'm in Sioux Falls. Okay. How about May 8th? Will you be back by May 8th for that collective or Uh May 8th my daughter graduates from MSU Moorhead. I'll be there. Okay. How about May 8th for everybody else from 1:00 to 3:30? I won't be back yet. Okay. so I'll be there. Nathan, what about you? Okay. I'll be here on the 8th, but I won't be here on the 6th either. Well, then we better check cuz then we would be short. Yeah, we
025would be short a quorum and we may have to Um May 8th looks okay for me. Okay. I'll be here the 6th, but I can't be here the 8th. Okay. And after Darren gets back to me, I'll let you know cuz I believe then you move to being the chair, right? The clerk I think then takes that role. How about the the 13th if we just push back? Does that mess anything up if we just push back a week just to the committee meeting? Yeah. Well, Ryan, did you cuz she said she could be here the 6th, right? So, we would have four, right? Cuz Clark, can you be here the 6th? I mean, I guess I should. Yeah. Well, we can go. That's fine. I just I can't promise I could access remotely from
026where I'll be at. So, if we're only going to have four or we're going to have three, we should just make Maybe we just make the change if everybody's okay, but if if you got enough, we can do it. No, I won't be here 6th. For sure. You can be here, Nathan? On the 6th? Okay. So, [clears throat] if you all if you four can be here on the 6th, we can run the meeting. That's fine. Um Or if you're comfortable doing it on the 13th, I guess it doesn't matter to me cuz you said you think you should be able to be here cuz that would be the only thing is we'd have to Nobody can be sick that day. I know. That's Right. So, again, would would it be okay if we just
027moved it? I would say the only thing for me is if it was an illness issue that it would be a remote I'd Sure. Okay. What does everybody feel? And if we go for it. Keep it on the 6th? Mhm. Okay. We'll keep it there. If something comes up, we'll just have to make adjustment on the fly. So, we'll keep the plan. Okay. Then we'll move into our payment of claims, Mr. Porter. Do you have anything for us there? >> [clears throat] >> Yeah, a few items to note on our uh start with the wire transfers. Sysco food invoices of $22,895.28. Uh credit card charges uh for the month were hotel stays for state wrestling at $6,872.48. Um Business Professionals of America for $849.84. Um We had some baseball supplies, pizza for the junior class,
028um special ed uh transition special ed and the quarter field trip with a total on our credit card of $11,897.07. Um checking Um we started our prepayment for our Chromebooks. That'll be included um that payment will be included in in next year's budget, but uh after July 1st, that can be added up. We'll be making that payment of $25,369. Survey for our phase one phase two for school perceptions uh we paid 4,500. Uh Grant County Lumber for $1,698.01 for supplies uh for the we talked about and approved our uh countertops in the commons area at one of our meetings. So, um some work on the dugouts for the softball field setting them up. Uh we had uh payment for our Toolcat Bobcat Toolcat uh we had some maintenance done at Midwest Machinery for $1,434.24. So,
029um We had uh a tuition to New Dominion Schools for $7,220.41. Um Payroll and finance, we discussed a little bit about that. That was $4,043.17 to Region 1. Um We also had a floor scrubber at South at South Elementary we first purchased to use one for $300. So, we had a total um total checks for We're going to go $402,631.55 in total wire payments at $243,321.89. And then we will also approve our um donations. Uh So, I would look for a motion to approve or my I guess I'll enter Yeah. You want to make a motion? Is there a second on the approval of the payment of claims? >> Second. So, there's motion and second for the payment of claims of $645,953.44. All in favor say I. I. Motion carries. Then we'll move into our
030consent agenda. We have a few items. Um we have a resignation from Madison Du DuBois. Duvier? Duvier. Um we also have uh overload status payment for Chelsea Sutherland for the elementary special ed. Um we have the approval of the meeting minutes from the March 8th regular meeting, also the March 24th special meeting, and the April 1st community committee meeting, and then we also have the final reading of the following policies with statutory and recommended changes from MSBA. Uh policy 421, gifts to employees and school board members, policy 510, school activities, policy 524, internet technology and cell phone acceptable use and safety policy, and policy 702, accounting. I would look for a motion to adopt the consent agenda. So moved. And a second? Second. Any other discussion? All in favor say I. I. Opposed, same sign.
031Motion carries. Brings us into new business. We have the resolution to accept donations. And flip to that sheet right there. Perfect. [snorts] Uh we have North Ottawa Township $200 for summer rec. We have Erdahl Township $250 for summer rec. Hoffman Lions $1,000 for summer rec. City of Hoffman $1,000 for summer rec. Community Healthcare Auxiliary $1,000 for summer rec. Township of Elbow Lake $100 for summer rec. And we have Culligan $97 worth of bottled water for the Jostens Renaissance totaling $3,550 in donations. Would someone like to make a motion for that resolution? So moved. I guess. A motion and a second, roll call vote. Porter. Yes. Sandstead. Yes. Sauer. Yes. Ulrich. Yes. Vincent. Yes. Engels. Yes. And I'll be a yes as well. Uh the next to approve the revised WCA MN paid leave policy, Mr.
032Brownell, do you have a couple items on that? >> Sure. Yep, so the policy, remember we put that in place January 1st and uh that was cuz we weren't timely uh getting on to the Madison National Life policy. There is a 0.1% uh savings with that, so half of that will go back or half of that will be a savings for the employee, half of that will be a savings for the district. So, everything that was put in prior to April 1st will still go through the state deed plan um through Minnesota Department of um economic development, but now from April 1st on, they'll complete everything online and uh and get that taken care of that way. So, we just had to update the policy to give that instruction on who we're using from this
033point. >> Today, I think our climate and culture is improving. We still got ways to go, um but I think we're starting to make some headway that way. I would say any organization might have to work on that up until you feel like your climate and culture are at the very top, that's usually when you start to slip. So, I think that's a positive uh thing for us if we're hearing those comments back and and I think just making sure that we stay committed. This will align again with our um work on May 8th as well. And then hopefully coming back next fall um energized again to make sure that we can continue this piece uh here moving forward to show that it's clearly going to be an ongoing what I would say is this
034is the way that we're going to do this is the way that we'll do business at WCA. Currently, we've you just put it up you don't know who would be going this time, right? No, I want to make sure the board approved it. I thought it'd be presumptuous if I put it out and Are you going to try and spread it out amongst the buildings or Yep. Yeah, and that's what we did last time. We had Yeah, between all buildings. I think we need to have that. Otherwise, but somebody if if let's say the secondary doesn't send anybody, then all of a sudden they come back and they don't have any idea. So, I think this is for communication piece. So, I would say it maybe is two at north this time, one at secondary,
035one at south, but yeah, there would have to be one from each building. Okay. And I guess it'll be telling to us if we put the application out, we only get two responses, then we know we either need to improve our work or it's not getting what's needs to be accomplished, but there's already been some interest demonstrated saying, "Hey, if this is an opportunity, I would be interested in this." Any other comments, questions? Then I would look for a motion to approve the 2026 Jostens Renaissance Global Conference. I'll make that motion. Second. I have a motion and a second. All in favor say aye. Aye. Motion carries. Then we move into our resolutions for um non-renewal. Um we have Uh first one, be it resolved by the school board of Independence District 2342 that pursuant
036to Minnesota Statute 122A.40 subsection 5 and the district master agreement, the teacher contract of Erica Borden, a probationary teacher in Independence School District 2342 shall be non-renewed at the end of the 25-26 school year effective June 30th, 2026. Is there a motion for that resolution? So moved. I have a motion. Is there a second? >> Second. Roll call vote. Is there any further discussion, I should ask. So, I should mention the reason why we need we still have need for a 0.43 music at south, but Erica's on an OFP out of field permission, she doesn't have a music license. So, we have to repost that position to see if there's going to be a a licensed candidate in music and we would have to look to offer to that person or it could be open
037to somebody else then after that piece. So, she would have the if no one else applies, she would have the opportunity to come back, but She would have to apply again, right? >> a requirement because she's not licensed at all. Thank you for clarifying that. Then we would move to a roll call vote. Sandstead. Yes. Sauer. Yes. Olrick. Yes. Vincent. Yes. Rolls. Yes. Porter. Yes. And I'll be a yes as well. [clears throat] Now, we have our ULA um resolutions. Uh be it resolved by the school district of Independent District 2342 as follows, that this is proposed that Rebecca Holland, a continuing contract tenured teacher of the said district be placed on unrequested leave of absence without pay or fringe benefits at the end of the 25-26 school year effective June 30th, 2026. Said action
038is taken in accordance with the district master agreement and pursuant to Minnesota Statute 122A.40 subsection 10 upon the grounds described in the said statute and which are specifically as follows, lack of pupils and financial limitations. Is there a motion for that resolution? So moved. And a second? Second. Any further discussion? So, was this based on dollars and cents or strictly per per pupil that we're losing students at the elementary side? It's It's both. Okay. It's dollars and cents and the numbers. Okay. Yes, two numbers generate our district finances. That's our revenue side. If our our our class sizes continue to decline, that's what's on first name. Needs to >> Did the committee make this decision that it's again in the elementary level or was it based on that there's or that's my first question, I
039guess. Or is it just the administration made that call? I'm just asking questions. Right. Now, we're getting into where you know, and I'm sure you're not happy about it either. Correct. I'm not blaming you for by any means, but we're getting into where we're losing teachers now that are been here for six years, you know. And during the unfortunate part is as our numbers continue to decline, and I've shared that with our staff that this is the unfortunate piece. And so, yeah, I mean it's based on where our student numbers are. Um our target really was north of $200,000 so the finance committee had that meeting to show where we're at. I think as you saw the budget, currently where we're at, I mean I did have somebody else contact me and said, "Is this
040going to be enough?" because those numbers look I mean, we're getting very close to now if we're going to even meet our 10% fund balance goal, which could have negative repercussions as we look to if we pass the bond, that's our bond rating. If we don't meet our goal, then that's part of when they give you your your bond rating, they'll say that you're not where you need to be. So, I think it's so we either have to revise our goal, um but also knowing that those, you know, 10% I think is a minimum scale of pieces there. So, really it's looking at it was recommendations by the entire admin team. So, if you remember last year we had a a split our float teacher in south, we don't have that this year. Um and
041then we also need to make reductions because of pupil enrollment in our other buildings. So, I would say our decline in students causes the financial limitations. Our fund balance no longer supports we can't continue to do that. I think your comment a couple meetings ago was you know, we're going to kick the can down the road. We could dive into our fund balance, but then when do we finally say, "Okay, now we're in a position where we're in trouble?" I understand the financial side. I just want to make sure we're looking at all areas, you know, are we looking at are we looking at areas where it's not student contact, where it's not affecting the classroom as much? You know, what you know, we're we got to find we got a magic number when it
042kind of when it comes to class sizes, but you know, if we continue to go down, what's the magic number at in other positions? What's the magic number at the administrative level? What's the You're looking at I guess this would be my opinion. You're looking at the name here. It's not that the numbers here. >> No, we're getting into we're getting into I would have started this conversation well whether you read this next one, too. >> No, right right, but my point is is that this stems from the the elementary numbers being down to where it doesn't make a lot of sense to have two classes of nine when we can have a class of 18. No. That So, that that's a justifiable and that's the [clears throat] issue that we deal with right now
043is that our numbers are that low that we're down to where >> it's good to have that conversation instead of just flowing through this then so that the public understands where we're getting that we're you know, we're to a point where we're like I said, we're having to release teachers that are been here a long time and have roots and have relationships and and I guess if you want to say people, yeah, one of them's on the sign that we drive up here. Absolutely. Darin and I agree this is not I I share the story that a couple years ago when I had to go tell a teacher that she never positioned and she started to tear up and cry. Those are not positions that I want to be in. This is the first district
044that I've had to make those decisions. They're not easy decisions and the unfortunate part is as our as our population continues to continue to decline, we looked at our building plan and I was like we're going to be a two-section school and so that's going to be ongoing pieces and I will tell you this other ones that we have people that are leaving, we're not quick to replace those positions. So we have some other positions that we'll also be looking to to reduce there as well. We don't have to go through the ULA process because there's a vacancy at that point. So we'll just bring that to your attention to say, "Hey, we've got a reduction in in fire." I mean that's one of our other plans. We have a science teacher who's not returning.
045We're reviewing that as well. Um that way I know you'd asked about other positions. I have asked our department heads to look at those different positions to see, you know, when you have a student population of only you know, 120 kids in one building yeah, as you go per pupil having a full-time secretary might be a question, but who answers the phones? I mean you can make the cut, but who's going to make the answer the call phones from 2:00 to 3:00? So I mean there's some pieces there. We still have the buildings to clean. So yeah, please know that all those things have been evaluated. We've checked all those different pieces. In response to your comment on administration I think you know, we could cut a dean of students. I don't know if our
046elementary teachers would be real satisfied with that because we seem to have student issues that need to be addressed in both buildings. It's different than it was 15 years ago where we could have one person there. I guess one of the things if you have I guess I could move to one of the buildings and be the superintendent and the dean of one of those buildings and then we could eliminate the dean if that you think would be a better process. >> it's good for you to to to say what you're saying and talk about this so everybody hears what what's going on. Not everybody knows what's going on behind the scenes, right? I can sit and talk to you on the phone or whatever and get everything, but it's hearing what you're saying now
047you know for everybody to hear is a good thing. I don't think it's a You know what I'm saying? Great, yep. So not to belittle the point then, um is there any way for any of this like do you see any opportunities for any of these to get back? Like right now we have a long-term sub in the gym class. Can can that's right, not a full-time tenured teacher here. Correct. Yep. And I and nothing against the person cuz I don't know them from anybody. But is there but we do are letting go teachers that are been here a while. So is is there any opportunity for them to be able to step into those roles or like do they is there something that they can do to to If we're going to hire a
048full-time fire for instance next year. Yeah, it won't be full-time. Okay. Yep. Licensing is the biggest piece. If you have licensed teachers, we have to demonstrate to PELSB that we've hired somebody without a license and we didn't have any other qualified candidates. [clears throat] So what we did make one transition. We have a person leaving one classroom to go up to say one other position, right? So the process does go through my mind. So we have one person that we're transitioning to the secondary school otherwise it was going to be another elementary teacher. Um so that process does go through my mind. We'll have a part-time music which is 0.43 would be available. Um we have a open ag teaching position. That might be an opportunity there as well because of the fact that Mr.
049Swatsky tells me that there's 50 openings in ag for the current or the upcoming school year. So I would say there's a strong piece there as well. Uh one of our teachers who was non-renewed in the past has went back and is getting their degree or their license piece there over in an ag position so that they can have a position there as well. Not again where they probably want to be. I mean when you go to school for 4 years and want to be an elementary teacher and then have to do that, but that's unfortunately where it's at and I think the other piece too this news doesn't make it any easier. But we're not the only district. I mean I've heard Underwood. I've heard Alexandria. Many of these schools are going I think
050there's just a few across the state that are adding and Brandon Evansville is adding and Lakeview Minnesota school district is adding otherwise many of these schools are going through these same reduction pieces. Not a piece that I want to be a part of. It's not easy to tell like you said great people that are out. You know, that I've got to tell them they're out of a position. That's not something that I'm looking forward to. I was hoping to find other alternatives and like I said, there may be they're not licensed in those positions and and hopefully that they have interest in it as well, right? I mean to say I'm willing to in fire might be an interest, but again we've got to post it and we run into the issue with PELSB if
051they say, "Hey, if you had licensed people, I've got to sign off on them and say we had licensed people that were not qualified." The other piece is that we have to have this is a I mean we have to put this out today or this month. No, I know. We have to we're required to but if somebody wants to retire, they don't have to tell us till August. Mhm. So do I want to tell one of these, you know good teachers that don't go find another job cuz maybe somebody we can't do that yet, you know, so that's a possibility. There's a possibility that that could happen. Well, we won't know until they come, you know, somebody would have to come forward and say that. You know, it's kind of what happened to one
052teacher last, you know last year. And they made the choice to continue, you know, just left because that's what their choice was, but at the same time we don't we won't know. So we've looked at a, you know, potentially a full-time substitute position. Cuz we have subs every day. Mrs. Simbolik could probably tell us about the struggles of getting subs for covering, you know, do we just hire a full-time sub? Does that fix one? Maybe, but it's probably not a again it's not a long-term solution for a position though because you'd have to continually go through the tenure process to see who's most quali- you know, who's most eligible for that. So Would that position pay the same or is [clears throat] it Well, it would be dependent on how the board wanted to do
053it, but it it could I mean you could pay it the same. That's a more expensive sub, but or you could say a long-term sub contract for one year would be paid at the BS step zero. But there's rights to um seniority and things like that for that position as well cuz it's a certified teaching position. So they would be able to keep their seniority then. You know, but >> Yep. Yep. So yeah, we're looking at that option. When will you have that? When When you say you're looking at that option, like when's the Well, I need to bring it back to you at the May board meeting cuz this is proposing. Okay. Keyword being proposing. The final action to place them is at the May 20th board meeting. So um then it comes again
054like I said we'll have those vacancies available. You know, I'm not sure. You know, then do we if you offer one, do you offer two? Then I got to bring it back to the finance committee so we can see where the dollars and cents are. I think that's part of what the process is to figure out, okay, what is the is it two a day? Do we do we use two subs a day every day? I don't know. Is it over 75%? Would that make sense for us to figure that out and keep two people that just sub and they float? It's not an ideal position. I mean I know a lot of teachers would probably hate it being in a different classroom every every day. But would it be a way to keep a
055job maybe, you know, that's what we have to look at. What does that number look like? So you know, what what do we say we have 1.5 subs every day of the school year? I don't I don't know what that number is. I know if you look at 7th hour in the spring, probably you could be busy forever, you know, but and maybe the teachers that do the overload and I don't know how that all works, but there again, if it's one at north and one at south, it's not easy to flip those classrooms for somebody to go half a day here, half a day there. That doesn't, you know like it's to be difficult too. So um those are all pieces the way out. Try to see what we can do, but nobody wants
056to lose these teachers, you know. >> I'm not I'm not saying that. >> No, I I I I know, but I'm I mean I want to be clear about that. This isn't something that we like to do. I understand that. I also appreciate the discussion. I mean it's I think it's helpful. Mhm. A- and I again Darin I think it goes to your point. I get it it adds for one year, but then we have to be realistic as well as your comment before was when we just if we give somebody a leave we just kick the can down the road, right? So if we add that's going to be the other reality that we have to look at. Well, I don't I don't think I said we kick it down the road. I think
057it's that you're hiring somebody and then you have to get rid of them because somebody comes back. Correct, yep. But it allows or allowed us to keep a position. Well, I'm just saying I don't think I use that terminology kick it down the road. I think it's that you're hiring somebody and you and then you got to go and let them go if the person comes back. >> Right, yep. Any other comments? Then we have a motion and a second. I'll do a roll call. Sauer. Yes. Olrick. Yes. Vincent. Yes. Groth. Yes. [clears throat] Porter. Yes. [snorts] Sandstead. Yes. >> [cough] >> Yes. And that brings us to our second resolution proposal. Be it resolved by the school district of Independent School District 2342 as follows, that it is proposed that Tracy Frickman, a continuing
058contract tenure teacher of the said district, be placed on unrequested leave of absence without pay or fringe benefits at the end of the 25-26 school year, effective June 30, 2026. Said action is taken in accordance with the district's master agreement and pursuant to Minnesota statute 122A.40 subsection 10. Upon the grounds described in said statute and which are specifically as follows, lack of pupil and financial limitations. Is there a motion for that resolution? So moved. And a second? Second. Any further comment? I will move to a roll call vote. Ulrick? Yes. Vincent? Yes. Gross? Yes. Porter? Yes. Sandstead? >> Yes. Sauer? Yes. I'll be a yes. And we'll move for our call for milk bids. Do you have the piece on that, Mr. Bowman? Just our annual requirement that we need to do, so we'll put
059out those bids and um we can get those back. And milk is the only one that you really can't go out for quotes cuz it's commodity and so I'll put that and have those returned here by our May 20th board meeting to take action there. Uh the nice part about the milk bids now in the recent years is at least we're getting bids. Remember before we couldn't even go out and beg people to deliver milk. It got a little expensive cuz we had to use Cisco the one year. Uh so that has become more um we've been able to be a little more proactive that way, but we'll put it out in the newspaper, do our normal bid process, bring back the results to you to make it a little recommendation to you to determine
060which vendor we would go with for the 26-27 school year. So, is there a motion to call for milk bids? So moved. And a second? >> Second. All in favor say aye. Aye. Motion carries. Uh then we have the approval of the revised 2026 budget for the second revision. Um Tonya talked about that a little earlier in the meeting. Are there any questions about that revision? >> [clears throat] >> Anything else you would like to add, Tonya, about the revision? >> [clears throat and cough] >> No, I think we're good. Um It was good discussion I thought earlier about um we really have to keep watching our budget, make sure that our student enrollment as it keeps declining um is a big factor in what impacts six impacts the district, so um yeah, I guess
061that would be it, so. Okay. And I would look for a motion to approve the >> [clears throat] >> second revision to the 2026 budget. So moved. Is there a second? Second. Any further discussion? All in favor say aye. Aye. Motion carries. Okay. >> [clears throat and cough] >> Um then we're going to move to review and approve the capital outlay funding plan. Want to give us a little on that, Mr. Bowman? I can, yep. So this was kind of mentioned last year by the board to [clears throat] designate based on pupil um numbers where dollars were allocated to each building. So we've got that laid out again. If you look and see, now just uh be clear on this piece as well cuz then some people um have concerns of well, we're reducing positions,
062but now we're still spending money on these pieces here. Remember that's a second a separate reserved fund, so we can't use capital outlay dollars designated by the state uh to cover wages and things like that. So as you look at the pieces there on the overall plan, uh you'll see that we um have money in included there for our social studies curriculum. I'm still waiting uh I'm waiting to hear back this morning uh on Spanish. I believe we updated that 4 years ago, so we should have a couple more years to go there. Our foundations curriculum for reading intervention at the elementary schools. The Edgenuity online school curriculum, we've been able to keep a few students here within our building so that uh it's a significant cost, but if we can keep 16 students at
063uh roughly $9,000 a piece, you can see that we're farther ahead that way. Building and grounds repairs, that's going to be on the second document that I'll show you. Uh buildings and grounds equipment, uh activities, uniforms, and equipment. So this will look at some of our uniform purchase cycle pieces, which on the on the uniform purchase cycle for next year is wrestling and then Mr. Fasbender has requested a wrestling mat. He said we've um pushed that down the road for a while and need to get that taken care of. School vehicle contribution, there was conversation before, do we start to designate those dollars? Remember we still have those committed funds or assigned funds. So if we say no, we don't need to keep that, we can eliminate that. Then our curriculum contribution, because as you'll
064see that's a significant impact. Social studies at 60,000 when we have math next year, uh that'll be uh much more expensive. And then per building for staff requests, 1512 at South, 2280 at North, 5400 at the secondary, uh gives us that total 178. I had to make one adjustment, so actually the buildings and grounds is 24,800 uh because of uh Chad was able to get a fixed number for the fencing up at North that was talked about in the buildings and grounds. And then I should note our math curriculum at the elementary, uh Caitlin pointed out that that online digital access has expired and we won't have the consumables and we did not do the review, so that's going to be about a $10,000 price tag for 1 year for that. And so that'll start
065to dip into our fund balance just a little bit there for our capital outlay, um but we also keep those dollars available just in case we have any major repairs and things like that. So we don't want to deplete that all the way down there. So that would be another So maybe the school vehicle contribution becomes the $10,000 for our math curriculum and then that could be a wash there. Then if you look at the next page, these were the things that Chad brought to the buildings and grounds attention. So we've got the fence uh fence in the playground at North for 5300, painting the gym walls, he thought $10,000, we're still waiting to get a final quote there. Front sidewalk should be drainage, uh so the E's missing there, but 3500 there again, still
066waiting to get a final number. Irrigation heads is 1200 um and then the tool cat um the blade is 4500. He said that would allow them the broom as taking kind of a beating every time they go out with that, so it would allow them to be more efficient in removing some of the snow uh when we just have smaller volumes of snow here. And then you're going to look at the capital equipment, the LTFM. Um remember those dollars finally come back to the district. Uh they've always been there, we just had to use them for our LTFM bonds, but the back um parking lot repair, Darren, he had mentioned that maybe you were doing some checking on that is what >> Yeah, we got our bids back for the project. The project's been approved
067and wasn't wasn't Riley, so it's a different company out of Okay. So I'll have to get that number um kind of more concrete there. The rough repairs at both North and South, the back entry road and parking lot here at the 70 uh the secondary school for $35,000. Uh carpet in the auditorium is $29,000. Then the parking lot seal and gravel at North um for 9,000. So that dollar amount is uh roughly 300,000. We'd be looking to use 100,000 out of that to take care of those um repairs under LTFM. So is the is the tool cat snow blade actually 9,000? I see it's in two columns here. >> Nope, it's 4500. Okay. Yep. Is the carpet in the auditorium really $29,000? >> [snorts] >> It is. Yeah, he got a quote. >> down the
068aisles, right? Like it's not under the chairs or anything. Like it's Yeah, he told me what what was the square footage? I didn't write that down. I have it in my office. >> of square feet, but Yeah, with that front and the side. I was surprised, too, so I asked him cuz these are carpet squares. I said is it easier for us to just do rolls? And he said the vendor said they really don't do rolls anymore. >> pull one up and replace it if Right. Yeah, so >> on one, you can replace one versus you got to pull the whole piece up. So yeah, he cuz I thought that would I guess roll it out and tack it, but he said no, that was Now we would have to go out and get So
069this is an estimate here from one company and so this is what we would charge. We'd probably have to go out and get another estimate just to make sure that we're in the ballpark of that, but yeah, I was surprised to have that dollar amount. I just know that company is original to the auditorium. Would we install it or I mean can we I mean the squares for the area could our staff install it and save money that way or I don't know. >> Yeah, I think after you're spending that type of money, it's probably best to have somebody do it, you know. >> just asking. I don't Yeah. I've installed a few carpet squares here and there, but I wouldn't take it on the road quite yet cuz you could kind of tell. And
070we're really just doing the capital outlay, the LTFM would have more conversation there um with the buildings and grounds to say are those things that we still like I said, we have now a budget available to where we can't start the projects till July 1 anyway, um but that would be some dollars available there. All right, any questions or comments on the capital outlay plan? Will that back entry and parking lot get destroyed if the bond passes? Say that one more time. Will that back the back entry and stuff that's on here? Back entry and road and parking lot back there, will that if the bond project passes will what we do here get beat up or will it be outside of any area in which there'll be work being done? Well, they'll be doing
071significant work in the CTE wing, so there could be some possibility there. The hard part is now we're You're a couple years down the road and Yep. Yep. Figure out if that's worth it or not and if it can be moved into the bond portion of it and I mean can we mill it all up and blade it or or >> [clears throat] >> I thought we asked them about that. And they said they would fix it. Cuz even out here the road coming in is going to get probably ruined or I thought that was in their bid to repave the and fix the entries. >> Well, obviously if the one you know, if the if the building passes, that whole end of the parking lot changes, so there probably is going to have to
072be work done anyway on that end. This end it would probably depend greatly on if question two if the additional gym space with the with the exercise versus the exercise on the building obviously changes where a lot of that work happens, but you're still you know it's going to be a something's going to have to happen either way. So. I'll reach out to Kraus-Anderson just to see if they have that cuz you're right, they're likely to change those garage doors going in on the west side of the building for the shops, so they might have some pieces. I'm not sure that they were planning to go all the way up and that's really where that big one big pothole aka speed bump maybe for some as they go through there, but it's always up and
073I don't think they're anticipating to go that far. Now we'd asked them that. Okay, but I'll >> Now we had conversation on it. Okay, but I'll double-check with them and you're looking at the actual You're looking for this to be approved, right? Not not the LTFM. Just the capital. We have the LTFM is is what we need cuz we can't start those till July 1 anyway. Um but yeah, I think if we can and I think you know, if we can get more firm numbers as well, we don't know that the back parking lot at north is going to be 20 and it may I don't know if your bids came in better than you thought or if it's going to be >> Okay. >> I mean that seems to be the trend in the
074state. >> About 8% better than what So maybe maybe we're on the high side, but we we may have to adjust that number as well. That's probably I would say that's going to be really I mean just from what the last go around was from the back alley, that that back parking lot probably is 20 regardless. Just the size. Yeah. Just the pure size. But anyway obviously we'll have to figure that out. Well, I'll talk to Chad to make sure we have firm numbers there. We'll follow up with Wits Act um and then maybe have a buildings and grounds committee meeting prior to the next board meeting. Um and have that conversation to see what projects you feel need to be taken care of. I'll make sure that none of these things will be taken
075care of through the bond project, but I know seminar, but then they've also now working with the counseling staff recommended that we um bring that uh personal finance and pathways. He said then that leaves less questions when they go off to college, the colleges know excuse me that it's personal finance cuz all they see is senior seminar and they have no idea what that class is. The state has a requirement of personal finance, so it's going to be incorporated in that class, but we're also so name changing it, so it's the junior year. He brought that up and I think there was some discussion about how the fact that that would be better to give kids some more direction earlier on and they could have a little bit more planning that way. Um so on
076that would be so next year our juniors and seniors will take the class and then after that the class of 2028 would be the first the first [cough and clears throat] junior year. Any questions on that? I'll make a motion to approve. Second. Motion We talked a little bit earlier about potentially changing talking to different people other tickets on that. Right. Yeah, so um you know, I I visited with Kevin a little bit about that and so our conversation there was I think we could remove ourselves from our contract with announcement center and now we have JMC. The JMC does not have a website uh piece that we could join on with them and so the individual that I talked to down in Ada Lake Carol Valley, she said she said our school uses JMC,
077but she said then we use this other um vendor that builds their website, but she said yep, I built the website. She said I can either recreate what you have, I can do a new build or we start from her yet, but I think this conversation started a little bit with our um public engagement committee uh that got together um with Kraus-Anderson's communication team and they had kind of pointed out our website and just said probably need to have some pieces there that need to be ready to go as we start to look at our facility um but I've either had community members call up, parents call up and say I cannot find any of this information on the website, can you direct me there? And so I think we just are trying to find
078a way to to get that to be a usable, user-friendly tool for our families and anybody outside of the district. Like I said, I don't have any cost of what that is. Um this person used to be an employee actually of Ada Lake Carol Valley schools. Can I may I add two cents to it? Yep. Um so the website means 7 or 8 years ago I built the website when we wanted to refresh. Um however, after that I handed the website off to one of our classes that would into the website, so the the expired content was always kept up to date, all those pieces. And unfortunately Stacy and I have been trying to keep up with it, but with our plates as full as they are, we just simply can't keep up with um
079constant changes and monitoring, it falls a little bit lower on our priority list on a daily basis. Stacy does a much better job of it than I do, but that is the needs of the website in order to make it user-friendly and effective. And our contract, I did check while I had contract, is up for renewal on July 1st. So this is a good time to talk about it anyway, what we want to do going forward. Sooner the better because it takes it took me about 70 hours to build the website that we currently have. Long time, to be honest with you. >> fault to Huh? That's no fault to Kevin No, I'm not I'm just it's just us. It is a time >> what it is. It's it's changed. Times have changed and it
080needs it needs to be updated. I mean having a bad one or one that's not working is worse than not having one at all. Mhm. What day did she know like when a timeline of So you can get a second quote just to make sure that they're >> Yeah. Okay. We got to do something, though. I'm all for figuring out something to make it smoother, better. Hear it all the time. I mean, myself included, trying to get on this just to try and go through the task force stuff. I I felt was cumbersome. Like, trying to flipping back and forth and it's We got to do something, so. Okay. Once you figure out what you think you like, I'm all for it. Sounds good. And that might align perfectly as we do our identity and
081stuff like that and our branding, those pieces there. And we didn't have this part on there, but I know there was a little talk about the um survey that we're going out to our families. Um and that'll come out today. It's going out to our staff this morning. Uh what I for our early outs and and late starts. And so I did talk to a couple staff and just said, "Hey, here's where I'm, you know, how do we get feedback and things like that?" And and one of the staff that I talked to yesterday, an elementary person, said, "You know, what? You just tell me when to be here. It's my It's my job and I'll just do it." And so I can appreciate that, but we got to find meaningful times for people to
082be here as well. So, on the survey, I did remove, so we've got asking either late starts or early outs um cuz that was a suggestion from several staff to say, "You know, have we ever thought about late starts?" So, I said, "I know we talked about it initially when we did this, but we did not do that." And really, right? We did the early outs on Wednesdays with people it was because there's no junior high practice. And so, cuz the hard part for a junior high family, right? Is there there's no if we release at 12:30, and now they ride the bus home, then somebody got to bring them back for practice at 3:30. That's an inconvenience for that family. So, that's why we looked at those um early outs on Wednesdays. We moved
083them to Fridays to see if that would maybe create less, you know, utilization for our student supervision. That has remained the same. We were 30 prior to or 30 now. Um and then also just with our staff participation, uh we um I'll get more numbers, but I know not this last one, but the time before we had 16 staff that were out during our PLC time. And so that's a significant number. Um and so we're going [clears throat] to try to have meaningful work there. And again, no fault of our staff. I mean, they have opportunity for personal leave, they have opportunity for sick leave, for appointments. And the comment that came back to me was, "I'm not taking it cuz I don't want to be here, but if I don't have to prep for
084a sub, you know, that's an easier time to to do that." So, I think it's just a matter of looking at those pieces. So, I currently on the survey do not have Mondays or Fridays. It's Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday, either early out or a late start. Um one of the comments by another staff member yesterday was, "Also remember that Mondays and Fridays have more opportunity for breaks and holidays and things like that." So, that's what I have planned going out. Like I said, to families today. It went out to staff this morning at 6:30 um with some other details that we're putting to them. I don't understand why we don't have the existing one on Fridays even on it to at least hear what our public says. I know I know the sentiment in my
085office with six guys that have kids and So, I know what they told me and I know how I feel as a supervisor, Fridays works really well. It's as a business. Knowing that they're going to be on on Friday afternoon is much easier than Wednesday afternoon. And uh so, just to have it on the survey, I don't know why it wouldn't be on the survey of what day works best for our public. That's I mean, we just had it on Friday, so I don't understand why it's not part of the I I understand your scenario, but from us but >> If your your guys were missing work and you had a training, would that work for you if you said, "Hey, we have a safety training >> a required training, they'd be there. Well, that's
086a good point. >> Unless unless it was an extenuating circumstances. And then we then you you look at is there a pattern? Right? On an individual [clears throat] basis. >> [snorts] >> We want our people to be in our PLCs cuz I think it's meaningful work. >> Absolutely. And and they is if they feel it's And it has to be mean Make sure everybody feels it's meaningful, right? So, I and I'm not I'm not going to argue that point at all. I'm just saying from I'd like to know what our the community says and if it's not an option, they can't say. If it's not an option for Friday on the on the survey, then they can't say that they would like Fridays unless I suppose they can all write it in. Right? I suppose
087there's a comment spot for them to write it in, maybe or not. >> We did have a comment section, no. So, they have zero opportunity to tell them that tell us that they would like Fridays better. Yep. Right? Okay. Come on, we can get the results of this survey and see where things are at. Maybe nobody picks anything and says, "We got to figure it out." What? Yep. So. I was just under the assumption that being split was [music] I didn't know till now that Friday wasn't going to be an option on the survey. So. All right. Then I would look for a motion to adjourn. So moved. Second. All in favor, say aye.