WCA School Board Committee Meeting 11/12/25

001I just want to thank Mr. Brown and Mr. Wood for the vet day program yesterday. I thought it was very impressive, especially with the people that we did here and I thought it was great. >> Thank you so much. >> Thank you. >> Yes, we could all echo that. Great program. Um then we'll move into our agenda. We don't have any modifications at this time. Or is there any other additions or corrections anyone has for the agenda? And I'll look for a motion to approve the agenda. >> And a second. >> All in favor say I. >> Motion carries. Um that's going to bring us right into administrative reports and we'll start with Miss Sanders. >> All right. Um, we've had a few events at our elementary school since our last board meeting. We had

002fire prevention week activities. So, the fire departments from Kensington, Elbow Lake, and Hoffman brought trucks and did activities with the students and that was really they always look forward to that. Um, we had our color run at North and then our um they did like an obstacle course fun run at South. So, a couple different ways to get kids moving and they um had great turnout for fundraising. So those were some fun events at both of our elementary schools. We had our all school assemblies for October where we focus on focused on respect as our night pride value. This year as part of our Justin's Renaissance initiative too, we're having fourth grade students lead the AC lead the assemblies. Um so that was really awesome. They led them through activities around respect and it was

003really fun to see them step into those leadership roles and they were really excited about it too. I guess they asked like when do we get to do this again? So, we'll have different fourth graders throughout the throughout the year leading leading the assemblies and planning. They did all the planning and everything, too. Um, our social worker, Miss Anna, was the one who led the students. So, she met with them. Um, gave them some guidance as needed, but they really the students did a lot of the planning. So, we're also thankful to Miss Anna for her leadership in that or stepping into that role. And for November and December, we're focusing on responsibility. So students are working towards earning an all school reward once we fill up a bucket with all their tickets. And I

004think we're over halfway, which is a lot further than we were last year. So it's really fun to see um one kid has a count going of how many every time he turns one in and this number. So it's really fun for them to be excited about um seeing all of their hard work pay off. We did have both PTOs donate $250 each to go towards our Renaissance fund as well. So, we're thankful to the PTO's for contributing to that. In October, we had Lakes Country Service Co-op come and do ELA standards work with all K12 ELA teachers and special education teachers. And they're coming again in February to continue the work that they did with us um at the beginning of the year. And then from now up until February, we're going to as

005a staff also continue some of that work. So then we're prepared for the next step when they when Lakes Country returns. So, it's exciting to have their expertise and guide us through some of that um standards work. Last Friday for our PD day, we had letters training with K4 teachers and special education and then Nate and Paul did some choice PD um with those who did not have letters. And then this coming Friday for our early release, we are doing some work with our um Wonders literacy curriculum for our K5 teachers. And then other teachers are digging into um things that they've been working on preschool and student conscious discipline training um continuing work for the the um PLC work that other staff had done before and our pair of professionals have their third session

006of letters training this Friday too. So they're really excited about that. Our quarter one ended on November 6th and report cards will be going home on Friday with students and then in the report card myself and our leadership team put together a letter to explain some of the changes. So, with the new ELA standards, we needed to change some of our report card and the way that we were doing that. So, it um emulated what the updated standards were. So, we did put together a letter explaining that to parents so then they weren't surprised by the report card looking different. Monday and Tuesday this week, we had data days at both North and South. So, we have the comprehensive team together because we really look at the whole child, math, reading, um, SEAL, and we

007look at we look at their data to see if they're making progress in in their interventions. Then we determine if we need to change anything or if they are doing well, then they continue on the path that they're headed on. And then conferences are exciting time for um, parents and teachers and students to get together and that's coming at the end of November. So, the 24th and the 25th. Monday, directions went home for parents to sign up through JMC and we just really look forward to that to set goals um for the remainder of the school year, discuss the progress that they're making and then just that homeschool relationship piece. Any questions for me? >> No, thank you very much. >> Thank you. >> That will move us to Mr. Wood. >> All righty. We

008are kind of into that good rhythm here at the secondary school. First quarter is wrapping wrapped up last week. Um teachers are finalizing grades. Um moving into November, we've got kind of a lot of things going on academically. Um some cultural pieces, some career readiness pieces to look at. Um our Veterans Day program as as mentioned was yesterday. Um thought it went really well. It's kind of an important tradition for us and our students consistently show um really good respect for our area veterans and it was a very very powerful program. My thought um fall musical is performances are coming up this week. We had our all school performance of the musical today. If you get a chance, I highly, highly, highly recommend you go check it out. It is fantastic. Um we have some

009very talented students and every year I don't know how they're going to top the musical from the year before and continue to do so. Um but it is really really good. Um, as Kaitlyn mentioned, we've been working on um or started some PLC work. This is kind of um is broken into kind of a choose your own PD um methodology where staff is able to um choose one of three topics to focus on. One is a book study on the book the anxious generation. If some of you remember when we had Angst as a documentary a few years back, this is the book that that documentary is based on talking about the impact of technology and our overall mental well-being both for students and adults. Um the second category is recognizing and supporting student attendance.

010How can we identify barriers for students attending school and support them getting to school? And then the third one is student connections. kind of making sure that every student in the building has at least one adult that they can feel connected to. So, teams met on November 7th, kind of set roles, norms, and goals for the year. Um, and we'll meet regularly on our early outs to kind of um continue to work on whatever area they chose. Um, kind of in the same vein of having some consistency with our year. Um, for our teacher evaluation at the secondary, we're kind of breaking it into a three-pronged approach with some self-reflection, some video of yourself in one year, working with our instructional coach in the second year, and then your formal observation in the third year.

011I'm just adding a little bit more structure to what we've done in the past for that that piece. Um, also, we know winter is a time when energy and attendance can dip for staff as well as students. Um, so we're working on a staff wellness plan for our staff in the coming winter months. Kind of focusing just on simple, easy, um, things that staff can do to work on physical and mental wellness. Um, some stress management, small challenges that we can build in just kind of get people thinking about it, drinking some water, you know, staying positive with their wellness. Other things going on, our National Honor Society collected over 4,000 pounds of food and over $1,000 in cash and donations for the Grant County Food Shelf and the Huffman Food Shelf. Um, huge community

012impact and good reflection on our students doing that. Also wanted to touch on the YST grant that Mr. Swatsky had applied for and um, you know, achieved in getting this past year. >> [clears throat] >> um about 40% of his um contract time is funded by this grant and he's kind of worked some CTE pieces into this grant that it will save the district about $86,000 over two years. Some of the current things going on with the um YST grant is 25 students will complete OSHA 10. There's mileage reimbursement for students that are participating in our health field science class and driving back and forth to Elbow in different locations around the county. Um, if students are in our work-based learning program, they can also apply for mileage reimbursement. We have our ninth graders going

013to some career um exploration activities on December fifth December 5th at Alec Tech and then um aligning some career exposure with our course registration will fit in this grant as well. The grant runs through August of 2027 and we'll be applying this winter for the next grant of 2027 through 2029. Um and it's you know Mr. Swatsky is putting a ton of time into this and it's really um working well. So I imagine we will continue to receive that grant because they kind of look at what what have schools done with this grant and then we'll continue to fund a lot of those things. Um and then the last thing I wanted to touch on our November renaissance theme is centering on gratitude. Um, we'll be building a gratitude wall kind of over by the

014auditorium doors where students and staff can recognize one another, calling out kindness, highlighting good things happening at at school. Um, part of our ongoing work to strengthen our culture and positive recognition. Um, we also have about 20 students that have volunteered to serve on our student renaissance team um, to help keep the recognition studentled and having students a part of that. And then as always, thank you as the board for your continued support of our staff and students. Um, do you guys have any questions for me? >> I'm kind of interested in that winter staff wellness that kind of stuck out to me. I think that's really cool. Um, is that something that we maybe would do at the elementary as well? >> They're they're included in it. So, I've been sending the stuff out

015to everyone. >> Yeah. >> Yes. And it's very it's kind of a work in progress right now. So, we're figuring out some things that people are willing to do and what would help benefit people the most. >> Anything to raise? >> Yeah. Just to think about it a little bit. >> Well, we even tied in one of the things for Tuesday. We tied it into our staff meeting. So, like some of those are like small things. It's like, oh, it's it was about gratitude. Three things that are going well. So, we tied it into our staff meeting just to recognize those positive pieces. >> We don't want it to add any work, but want it to be something positive. [clears throat] >> And then I don't mean to put you up. Do you have times

016for that musical this weekend? >> Seven, seven, and two, I believe. >> I believe. Yeah. >> So, seven Friday, seven Saturday, and two on Sunday. Is that correct? >> Yep. >> Okay, perfect. That's good for people to know. >> Yes. >> All right. Any other questions, comments for Mr. Wood? Thank you, Mr. Wood. That moves us to Mr. Fosene. >> Well, this will probably be long since >> Should I let everybody else go first? Is that what you're saying? this for a while. So, [snorts] I'll I'll do my best to move along. >> Okay. >> Uh first of all, congrats to Lydia Sweep and Sophia Janette on qualifying for their uh respective sports cross country tour or state tournaments this fall in girls tennis and cross country. Uh thank you to all the game workers,

017refs, bus drivers, coaches, athletes for everybody for contributing this fall season. The winter sports season is now on us with uh junior high girls basketball starting practice and 912 girls practice starting yesterday. So [clears throat] remember to stay up to date on the R school app. Um some of you may have noticed that is switching over to Arbiter. Um so if you see some different pieces that's coming in effect next school year. There's some pieces we'll slowly transition to that. But on that app, remember there's schedules, there's live streams, bus times, dismissal times, uh comments on who plays first. So really, uh do your best to keep up with that because there are never any changes in the winter time. So uh also, Huddle Fan is a good one, too. Uh now that we are

018streaming Court 3 as well, it's a static camera, but it uh it does stream the activity as well as um the events in the auditorium. So, uh, still looking for refs and game workers. So, that's it's always a a, uh, item on my board report. As you know, I'm going to jump around a little bit here on my report. We met in October for corporate partners. Uh, we did approve, uh, several requests. Uh, we approved dollars for a softball scoreboard of which the beams were installed yesterday, and the board comes in in mid December. Uh we we approved [clears throat] money for a what's called an MX1 controller for the baseball scoreboard so they can control it now in the dugout without running a series of extension cords to try to control it. Um a

019down payment for the hoop shooting machine which is in money for robotics, money for branding and marketing, u money for um backboard lighting that was kind of in conjunction with the Elbow Lake Fire Department. that product came in yesterday so that hopefully can be installed before the first game. Um some money for new volleyball uprev stands at North and money for some supplies for golf. So lots of different uh programs were were impacted and uh lots of good things were provided for those programs. So thank you for the corporate people uh that donated this year. Our next meeting will be in April or May. Um, and then our corporate partner recognition night is actually the boys uh home in season opener on December 2nd against Hancock. So, we're going to try to do it a

020little earlier this year than what we have uh in the past. Now, the the the big thing we'll go over is we are going to talk about GoFan. Uh we all know we're starting online tickets December 1 and um you know we've it's it's not new news. It's crossed this table several times. It's been in the paper. Uh, but just so people know, we are going full cashless tickets. Um, I'm going to walk everybody through here how to get the app, how to download it, and and so you can see what it looks like. So, if you have your cell phones, students, this will be a little different for you guys because you're going to get a different code than what these people here are going to get, but you can still do the same

021process right with us. So, if you have your cell phone, download the Goof Fan app in your app store. >> See, I did it. >> What it looks That's the wrong app. what it looks like. It's a black box and it says go fan and text on there. And I get this is going to take some time. I'm sorry, but um you will see how kind of easy it is once you get in there. It's >> like a little arrow in the G or the O of go. >> Yep. Yep. And some people already have it and that's okay. But we'll we'll create an account so you can see what it's like. I'll give you a minute or two. And with that, you're going to see some signs like this in our buildings. Um, we're

022going to put one up at North and South and here. And I may put some up at some area businesses just so they can see how to get some tickets. I have 12 of these, so we might as well use them instead of just leave them sit in my office. So, uh, once you get the app downloaded, do not type anything in the search box. You're going to want to look in the lower bottom right and click on profile. That one right there. Go on. >> What you'll see at events as you guys are getting it downloaded, you will see these two items. These are the items that people can buy tickets on site uh, if they don't want to pre- buy them. Um, the hope is to take the ticket table and slide it

023to the center instead of keep it on the side where it's traditionally been. One side will be for prepaid and one side will be for people who need to buy there. People who have prepaid, all they will do is they call up their ticket on their phone, tap the ticket, and they're in. [clears throat] It's really that simple. I wish I could say it's harder than that, but it's not. Uh, if you bought multiple tickets, there's a button you have to hit to show all the tickets that you bought. So when you or if you need to buy tickets on uh upon arrival, >> the ticket people and I I've already talked to postp prom about it. They add the ticket. Oh, sorry. I got to go here. They go in and confirm the ticket.

024You add the ticket and you check out. And it's it's almost that easy to you can tap, you can insert, you can Apple Pay right from here. So again, I I would I would say it's difficult. It will be difficult maybe for the first couple events, but once we know how it works, I think it will go pretty smooth. So So that's why I brought those items so you could see what those items are. If everybody has it uh downloaded, click on profile and you'll scroll down from there and click sign up. You're going to go, why are we doing this? Because I I think you're going to want to know how it works. So when people ask you how do we get tickets, you know how it works as well. In that uh uh

025sign up, you'll create an account. Their passwords are super long. I know Kevin is here. I know tech guys like really long, complicated passwords. So, um I think it's a 12 12 um digits or whatever password. >> You got to work at the password. That's going to take some time. >> I did. I got to figure out what I put. It's too good. >> So once you have created that then you go to join gof fan and agree and that gets you into your account. So, and it should [clears throat] >> No. Have I lost everybody so far or am I Are we doing >> Why are you looking at me? Once you've gone to agree, then you can go to the search schools and type in West Central area >> and you will be

026able to earmark that as your school. And if you get to a red screen that looks like mine, you've done it the way you're supposed to do it. So >> So it says home and away. Can you buy Minawaska tickets through here too then? >> So when when we are linked with other schools that we or when we are playing other schools who offer Goof fan tickets. Yes. >> Okay. >> Well, so you must have an account already. >> [laughter] >> We're going to have to give you a whole different >> If you got to the screen where it says WCA staff pass, that is a no different than what we're doing right now. That is a free pass for staff. Students, there is a free student pass on there for you as well. So,

027you don't have to pay. You click on buy pass and then it's going to ask for an access code. That is the access code. You type in the access code. You have to enter some information. I There's no way I can get around this. Sorry. >> Type in West Central area. >> And then you should just follow the steps and it'll bring you right to your staff pass. >> Click on >> Yep. If >> it's not our district number, that would be too easy. So, we picked a different number. >> And then you'll see I did open up a series of >> Oh, yeah. You got to add a ticket though. You can't buy zero tickets. You got to buy one. Yeah. So, that is that's basically how you've created your account, how you've got

028your staff pass. Now, if somebody needs to buy a ticket, you can see other ones that are on here. Uh all the other games, you click on buy tickets. Boom. It's I again I I get it's going to create some conernnation, but I think once we do it a few times, I I don't You have to have tickets. >> No. View my pass and you're good. >> The hope is and and I think eventually we'll get there is instead of our staff and students just walking through like we've done and it works, just show the path just so we know. >> Yep. Then we get a count. Yep. >> So the the biggest thing and and I got to thank Derek Abrahams at Fergus. They've gone cashless for a couple years and he said honestly

029it really just kind of goes. It's been very very simple for them. Um he said the biggest thing is getting people on their phones and on the app and try to buy tickets beforehand and we will try to pump that as much as we can. [clears throat] Again, the opportunity to buy them at the gate will still be there but buy them beforehand. Um you you [clears throat] saw the winter season pass was on there as well. Um yeah, the other paths that we talked about that crossed uh your place was the senior and grandparent pass. Uh we enlarged it here. These will be on sale in the office. I did prorrate it. I believe we had it 100 for the year count of the events and that price is lowered to 72 for the

030winter. So those can be bought during school hours in the office. And people that buy that pass, they don't have to go online and download any ticket. They can just bring that paper pass to the gate. Um there is some information for them to fill out. It's more just our recordeping. So we we have that. So Jenny has put those together. Those will go on sale next week. We'll we'll put some pieces out on Facebook and social media as well. So, um, yeah. Any any questions on the app and the ticket procedure? Seems okay. Seems doable. Students, doable. Yeah, I'll send you your code so you don't have to worry about that. It's not this one. Okay. Um, and just kind of in closing about about GoFan again, we we we talked about the senior

031and the grandparent pass. [clears throat] We talked about the staff and student pass. Uh we will continue with uh EMTs and veterans. They do not need to purchase a ticket. They do not need to go online. Um they can just state who they are. I'm an EMT. I'm a veteran and you're in just like we have done in the past. So, so that procedure doesn't change. Um I talked about the card reader, how that's going to work. Um again, people preferably buy online. the ticket link from GoFan will will insert right into our school. So that that will be there. Um and and I guess kind of my last comment is online tickets really aren't new to our fans. I mean we we've gone to Fergus for how many playoff games? We've been to state

032basketball, state wrestling, state football, state volleyball. All of those pieces are online. So it's going to be new maybe to hear, but I I don't I don't see it being a challenge. I The people I've talked to, they they go, "Well, this isn't legal. Legal uh what do they say? Tender legal money." Yeah, it is. It's all what we're doing here is totally legal. We're not trying to scam anybody. Uh one guy said just there there will be resistors. Yep. This is just how it is. You don't get to say that at at the Grand Casino Arena or US Bank. I'm not paying that. That's your option to pay. So, um it's a change. I recognize that it may not be easy, but I'm also confident that we can do it. So, >> did you

033mention and maybe I was engulfed in the trying to get the app to work to >> you don't need it. >> Corporate sponsors, >> they can continue to use their pass. They >> they can just use their little card that they get. Okay. I just wanted to make sure that >> all of those pieces that we've done in the past, there's no need to go and you already have your pass to get in. >> So, I think and maybe already doing this on conference night having a table to help people if they want. You know what? That's That's a good idea. >> That is a good idea. I did not even think about that. >> Maybe I can get ahead of time. Like that's better, right? >> I think I can put out some information

034if nothing else. Yeah. We're not out to come talk to us. And >> maybe you have a help desk where they just pick up information. >> Good idea, Claire. >> I would need to be able to help. >> I I've seen your tech skills. You'll be okay. >> [laughter] >> And just to reiterate, grandparents, if they're not district, as long as they're grandparents, they get >> grandparents or Yep. Yep. But that that is bought solely during school hours in in the office. So, >> so if they don't live here, it might have to send in a grandchild or something like that. >> They might have to do something. Yep. Yep. Um, all the passes you're going to see are non-transferable. I can't buy a pass and then transfer it to Darren. So, or whoever. Um,

035tickets you can transfer. I can buy and send Claire one and it'll show up as a text message. You won't even need the app. You can click on the text message. The ticket shows up. So, >> okay. >> But not passes. Tickets but not passes. >> Correct. >> Got it. Good. >> Any other questions? >> It wasn't that long. Mr. Bra wasn't terrible markers. So, All right. Thank you everyone. >> Thank you. >> Good job. >> Uh that brings us to Mr. Ryan. >> All right. So for community ed, I'll start with Steam. October steam was a success. At North we had 29 students and at South we had nine. Um November Steam is currently in session. They went on field trip to Otter Cove yesterday at Bs Falls. Um youth basketball and youth wrestling

036registration occurred in the last couple weeks. Um There's just a couple people coming in now just kind of finalizing that kind of stuff. >> I'll take that paper back. >> Um Andy ski signups are currently live and they'll start going there on December 4th. [clears throat] Um Koi volleyball signups are also currently open and that starts on the first Thursday in December. Um I'm currently talking to a company out of St. allowed for the 55 plus class because ARP doesn't offer the inperson class anymore and so I'm working with them to see if they are willing to come out. Um, driver's ed training for students is scheduled for July 6th through the 17th and play and learn classes are going to begin at the end of November and December. >> Did you say volleyball was

037on Thursday nights? >> Wednesday nights. Sorry. Okay. All right. I just wanted to make sure. >> They seem to always be coming in and out during our meetings. That's the only reason I asked. Not Not that it matters to me, but >> hey, you probably should run that by the activities director. That might have cost a little bit of money. [laughter] >> Yeah, Thursday nights would be a little struggle probably in mid every month. >> So, yeah. Perfect. All right. Any other questions, comments from Mr. Ryan? That will bring us to Mr. Mcamera. Good evening everyone. Got it before it went on. >> Yeah, good job. >> I'll get ready. >> Silent tears. >> I'll get ready. Yeah, >> perfect. >> Um, so from a technology standpoint, you know, day-to-day everything can, you know, some

038days are are are a lot, some days are a little bit smoother. The biggest thing is so far everything that we need to be working for students and instruction is working. Um JMC continues to get better. Um we are fixing some of our syncing issues that we have with some of our third party applications. It's starting to come together. It was a little bit of a rough start to the school year, but it is rapidly getting better. Um, and a huge part of that is the fact that Stacy can multitask like a magician. I can't single task sometimes and multitask is not part of my my strength. So, the fact that Stacy can take on 10 different tasks and kind of simultaneously do all of them is amazing to me. So, she is absolutely incredible.

039Um, one of the pieces that has keeps crossing across my email, my screens, all those pieces is there's a gigantic push right now for how are we going to position ourselves to use AI in education. Um, artificial intelligence is here. Um, a lot of times we kind of push it away and act as if we aren't going to address it. We want to keep things the way they were, but that just is not reality. So, I've kind of been digging deep into two different paths of how can we position ourselves to leverage what's coming. Um, and one of the the eye-opening pieces to me was there's like three or four different groups, Google being one of them, that are right on the verge of quantum computing, which is going to be, they claim 13,000 times

040faster than our current supercomputers. So the the rapid pace of technology is going to change significantly once that happens. Um so the the first path is how can we leverage artificial intelligence to buy back time for our teachers and our staff. Um there's a huge push right now to how can artificial intelligence help to curb the teacher burnout rate. We have a huge teacher burnout rate. We're underst staffed. We're underfunded. All those pieces. How can we leverage those tools to try and take on not the instruction because the the art of teaching will never be replaced by artificial intelligence. However, a lot of their the busy work, the tasks, all of those pieces could be taken on by some of those higher level computing. um and how can that allow teachers to actually focus on

041teaching, you know, amazing thought. So, that's kind of one piece. Google is offering a ton of information on I have a a seminar coming up next uh right in the beginning of December about all of the new Google for Education products that are coming out. Um, oh, and I got to take one step back. Part of the reason why artificial intelligence is now actually working nice and playing nice with education is because they have found a way to use the your personal data without exposing it. So um the the secure artificial intelligence instead of keeping all of the attributes that it's learning about you in a cloud space it is keeping it directly on the device itself. So that allows it to be compliant with our educational data and all those pieces. So it allows

042education to absorb some of the artificial intelligence pieces that we couldn't use before. Um the other part of it is the student side of it, the instructional piece of it. You you look at some technologies and it can be a direct replacement and some people look at artificial intelligence and AI as if it's just another form of Google. But the problem is is we have to change our thought on that and artificial intelligence can't be a answer. It has to be a mechanism used to enhance understanding and that's where we need to work with teachers and uh integrated into Google classroom and all those pieces of when students don't understand something how can we leverage artificial intelligence to help build that understanding and that learning piece of it not just jump them right to the

043answer. It's a calculator, not a search, >> right? Yes. It it's it's a tool. Um the biggest piece is it's it's a big change from what we're used to doing and obviously, you know, since co tons has changed in education. It's been very good for education. I have a feeling that a lot more change is coming and I want to make sure that our district is ready and put ourselves in a proper position to be able to use that to our advantage. Um, but overall, you know, I think there's a lot of exciting things that come. There are a ton of advantages to still using some of the old old school tools. And that's one of those pieces where I am a huge advocate for some of our teachers who want to print off a

044worksheet not in color, black and white, and then um but to do those things paper pencil and to to do some of those hands-on pieces, it's important. And what can we do to leverage that well-rounded education instruction? Um, and I think AI is really a a tool that I'm looking to to how can we use that to to buy back that time for our staff because I think that's that's the biggest hurdle that we're dealing with in education is just staff burnout and too many people getting spread too thin. And I know firsthand that when you get spread too thin, you don't do anything well. Everything's done. So, so >> So, you're saying I can keep my abacus for a while? >> Yes. >> Got it. >> And and don't call it an antique. >>

045Perfect. >> Questions? Got nothing else? >> Well, I think just the value too of probably explaining to our kids what how AI is going to change the world. was just sitting with some people over the weekend on how they said, you know, it's going to be awfully difficult to spend $100,000 a year to go to law school when this potentially I mean there's going to be positions that AI could start to replace and does make you think a little bit before you go into accounting. I mean, there's still going to be certain tasks, but it is a little because their um future son-in-law was looking at doing that. And so, I think he's starting coming up and it's like, yeah, it' be a hard investment of 300,000 and thinking how long is that investment going

046to last before AI can because it can put together some pretty neat pieces there, but you still need to evaluate it, right? I mean, if you just take it, push it into the computer and don't look at it, it may not get you what you were hoping to end up with, >> right? and and that's that focus on using it to to build understanding versus just a blind answer. Um I think that's an important part and I think in education one of the valuable pieces I don't see it replacing people and positions we have but I do see it replacing tasks >> who's used it to write a paper already. >> That might be incriminating. No, not >> nobody in here. >> Remove all AI markers. [laughter] >> Well, it's just amazing when you go

047to some of the fast food places and the Taco John's I know in Alec, you don't >> talk to a person. It's all done right there and it's [snorts] >> all done. So, it's I mean they are replacing sometimes some of those folks, but but not necessarily replacing >> finding ways to fill those positions they couldn't fill. We need to teach them how to use it responsibly just like cell phones or anything else because in less than two years if you're not using it you're going to be too slow of an employee to keep your own. >> Well, and that's what I'm finding in a lot of the things I'm looking at is a lot of companies are saying use use AI to make make yourself more efficient or you're not going to have a

048job. We're going to expect so much out of our employees that this is the only tool that's going to allow them to keep up to what we expect of our kids got to learn how to use it. They got to learn how to use it the right way. And so we can't hide from it. we got to get it in their lives. It's already in there. You can see by the smiles they knew it all. [laughter] It's funny. >> That probably is the truth, right? The people at this table need to learn how to use it. The people at those two tables, they've already got it mastered. So >> that's right. >> Well, you know, it's even things like learning how to manipulate what you're inputting into it to get out what you want and

049the right information. And in a lot of those pieces is it's it's that change in memorization to application. Um and I think also one of the great things that artificial intelligence can do is it can increase the different ways that students can express their learning and their knowledge and show what they can do instead of just taking a test or making a post. All those things. There's so many different mediums they can use to demonstrate their learning. >> There's still it's just going to read. It enhances some of the things that we've done forever like reading. How important is reading going to be when something pops that message out to you? But you still have to read it. You still have to comprehend it. If you're not reading it, you still have to comprehend listening

050to it. So those those things that we've worked on for 50 years are even as important or more important than they've ever been. reading now. Make sure it's right. >> Anything for me? >> Thank you, Kevin. Mr. Norberg. >> All right. Um, you guys got my report there. I was just going to add a few things uh to update on that. Uh, curtains for south have been ordered uh for the stage and for the backdrop back there. Um those should be coming in middle to end of next week. So we'll be good to go for the concerts down there. Um boiler parts for that south have actually showed up and they were installed yesterday. So we're both boilers are available to be up and running, but I've not started the fuel oil one because it's

051not cold enough. Um I'll get plenty of phone calls if I do. So once it cools back down, we'll do that. Um second or uh north boilers, both of them. I've got those snugged up and both of them have been up and running at intermittent times. So, we're good to go there. Um, generator, we still have issues with our main generator here. We have uh bearings that are out in the pulleys on it. So, they are on order and we're waiting for them to come in and as soon as they get in, they will be here to put those on. Our big water to water project. Um, three of the four units are here. Two of them are actually sitting in our loading dock. They started prep work today. Um gave me an agenda that

052they will be here tomorrow doing a little more prep work. The fourth unit is supposed to show up Monday and they will be here Monday actually to pull out our four units and Tuesday put in the new ones and hopefully by the end of the week we'll be up and running um with a soft startup. At that point, there's a little bit of contingency, well, I shouldn't say contingency, discussion between Ellensson's and the carrier company in Florida whether they're going to allow them to do the hard startup or they're going to have to have a rep um either from Florida or somewhere come up to do the official hard startup. Um, that's not up to us anyways. I mean, that's that's on Ellington's windshield [snorts] anyway. Um, but they are here and we're working on

053that and that should be up and going hopefully by the first part of about this time, a week from now. We should be good to go with those. Um, and we have a our kind of six month safety walkthrough of all three buildings that we'll be doing next week with uh Wayne from Lakes Country. Um, just part of their work with us. We go through twice a year and just do safety walkthroughs, checkups, look at some of the asbestous. Um December we do an actual asbestous walk through of both north and south, but this is just an overall general safety thing. Um I am also meeting with Chad uh from Alex Glass tomorrow morning at 6 um just to try and get some of these doors and um latches and things that we have that

054are in rough shape just from um the amount of use that they have. We also have the there was a down at south we have a center post that just because of age and the salt and stuff being used it's rusted out so it's getting pretty loose. Um they do have that one ordered. We'll be getting that put in so everything can get secured. Uh Walter from Binco uh Wednesday I think next week we were able to get together. He's going to come and do a walkthrough of all three buildings. Well, not through the buildings, but at our sites that we want to put um cameras in so the secretaries at the front desk can see who's at our a phones, the beeper buttons, we don't have cameras on any of those. Um and unless

055they sit and specifically watch cameras, our security cameras, once the people get to the Aphones to push the button to be allowed in, our cameras can't see right underneath themselves. So, this will allow them to not have to worry about, okay, where did they come from? Who is it? What is it? If we're not expecting somebody um to help with that secure issue and then I am down uh a staff member um so we are looking for another one. Um I do have Mark back itself, so that helps significantly from um the summer injury he acquired. and the rest of the staff. We do have a couple part-time people that we have hired that are helping to fill in nicely now, but we we do need to have one more full-time staff. So, that's where

056I'm at. Any questions for me? Any concerns? >> So, Chad, I think the big thing was just really reiterating we'll use our school safety funds, safe school funds really for those doors. Um, and we have some accessibility pieces that we're getting set up here too because some of the doors weren't opening. So, we're getting that taken care of as well for people to get when they push the >> Handicap. Yep. Accessibility pieces there. And then I think those A-S just clarify, it's the back door at North, you know, where they come in for morning preschool. It's the loading dock here. Also, I think by Mr. Satsk's egg space and then down at south by the cafeteria. So, what they do is they buzz and then they talk. We couldn't see anybody there. So, we're just

057going to make sure that that's safer piece there. And then I think the other one that you has been on your radar is the staging right for um our concerts and graduation here. You're working to get that in your report, but you got that ordered. We didn't get the near the amount of revenue that we were hoping through donations, but we still need to get those ordered. That's been there. And I think you mentioned it's been on the docket for a long time. So, we're ordering them. Um and we'll get those ready to go. >> All right. Thank you. That brings us to you, Mr. off. >> Mine might be a little bit of duplication, so we'll go quickly, but student enrollment um our monthly enrollment report here is if you look on the if

058you click on the student enrollment tab on the on the my report, it should take you to showing you September, October. Those were in the last few months reports there. And now we're November. So, you're going to see that our student count there is down overall district is down by one student. So, we've remained relatively consistent here. September starting at 770 jumping up to 772 and now 771. Our preschool numbers or at least our little nights up at uh down at South has jumped up by three students reflecting that number down below there. So we are if you look at our K12 total we are at 691 students for K12 and remember that's where majority of our funding we do get a little bit of the VP VPK funding um from that. Just wanted to

059mention that Holly Madwick has done a nice job of getting everything ready to go for the census as well as our pathways scholarships and our VPK scholarships. That was revenue that we especially our pathways. We should have seen that revenue over the last few years. It just wasn't seen all the way through. And so Holl's done a nice job of making sure helping those families complete those applications. So we'll have that revenue coming in which will be helpful as fund for has been in a deficit. So that'll be a great piece there to have that. So um uh an appreciation for Holly to take care of that work and and getting that taken care of there. Um as well then is um professional learning communities. Mr. Wood already talked about that, but I think really

060the idea, you know, this isn't a traditional PLC, I would cons say because it's not based in a content area, right? Typically, you would sit down with a math department or an English department, but really trying to figure out what are some of our system issues that we believe we need to address. Of course, attendance is one of those. Um, and so we're looking at that. I think cell phones has been a talk for a while. So, here's that book study that Mr. Wood was talking about. The administrators through Lakes Country did this last year. And so, I think it's just a great opportunity talking about how students brains are rewired. Of course, it'll also allow students to kind of just remove themselves, you know, if they're on their cell phone, but I think sometimes

061too as well, it's a decent way to if you're at home, if kids are on that, then it kind of takes care of them as well. So, there's some great resources there and hopefully we can find some ways to hopefully curb some of those concerns. And I think that last one, um, and I know I've talked a little bit to, uh, to Mr. Fosene is really activities. Do we have all the activities here? else is that delicate balance, right? We've had other groups come in and say, "Hey, we'd like to offer this or offer that." But I think at certain times throughout the course of the year or school years, we need to look at to see are there students that maybe would participate in a school activity if we had that available. Now, I

062think we've talked about esports a little while back and that might be one of those, but we'll survey our students. That's what that PLC PLC group wants to do is survey those students then come back to say hey here's some opportunities that some of our kids we've got a lot of robust programming as Mr. Wood said the theater department, music, um we've got the other activities, sports and things like that. But are there some of those pieces that were possibly missing that might help bring more students or increase a better attendance rate? Because I would say that probably the kids that are here, if they've got a basketball game, they're probably coming to school or wrestling, they're going to come to school that day, right? But if you have nothing, then there's not really anything

063to come to school for in certain cases for some of those students. So we really want to look at that. So really the purpose behind this at the end of those four or five months is hoping to create systemic change. I told them their charge was if they come back to the board and say, "Hey, here's the review we've done. Here's the um data that we have. We believe we need to look at a school social worker to help with attendance. Are there barriers that maybe we've identified? And if we can go out and work through those barriers, maybe that'll help some of those students come to school. Maybe we need to look at other activities. Does that help as call. And so I said, I think that's a great way them for them to

064review those pieces, study those pieces, survey, and come back with data to say, hey, these are some systemic changes we believe make WCA a different place and help our climate and culture. So don't be surprised in in February, March if you start to see things that uh maybe some requests. Now remember, I also have to keep charge of the budget as well, so it'll be one of those fine lines and balances there, but really want to do that to hopefully make some change that way. Justin's Renaissance. Um, I know that there's talk about some other pieces being added, but I think the gratitude wall, as you mentioned, uh, one of the things that I've seen other schools do is putting out a survey or a Google form out to the general public as well on

065Facebook. So, maybe a community member can put something in about a teacher or an administrator or a food service worker, something like that, and we'll share that on the wall as well. We will have that filter through probably Mr. Wood and Miss Hendricks just to make sure that if there is something that's inappropriate that we take care of it so it's not just immediately filtered out there. But again impacting hopefully the entire community and getting feedback because I think a lot of our folks would have positive things there. We want to thank the Elbow Lake Fire Leaf as well. They did donate $1,500 towards the Just uh work that we're doing and so we're excited to take that funding and do some great things. We just received the stickers that I think Mr. Wood helped

066design on the shields up for John. So, we'll be getting those out so students will be recognized. I think the idea right now is lockers for academic or attendance purposes there. Um, we've also tried to figure out other ways to recognize staff as well, just through some shoutouts and random door knocks and things like that. So, really hoping to change culture that way. Uh, MSBA leadership conference uh is coming up here and some exciting news there. Mr. Swatsky will be presenting Thursday uh the 15th of January. So we did submit a request to have him present at the school board's convention. So that'll be from 2:45 to 3:45. So that's a prime time spot. So I think they did appreciate seeing with the application included. So he'll be going down there. Um they have opened

067up the registration. So if you're able to go either Thursday, Friday, or both, please let me know because it will fill up here. I would say probably by mid to end December of hotels and stuff like that. So if you're able to get away to go down there, it's been nice to have a group of folks go down there in the past and we'll definitely want folks down there to support our FFA or our egg stuff there. And so I think really the the tagline is how do you work with the community, community partners to develop a robust CTE program by also raising a million dollars. as well. It's going to get quite a few people. I think it's going to be a lot of people that are going to be there. So, we'll have

068to have a lot of handouts and probably crowd control as well. Maya, if you can handle that. So, have that piece there. Um, I guess two I didn't have on the Veterans Day program, but again, appreciate our music teachers for getting everything ready to go. Mr. Wood always has a great way with words to say things. Um, our staff really it fills up the entire auditorium. So part of that conversation is do we need to move to the gymnasium? The acoustics and everything are awesome in the auditorium. So when we got a space like that, I would like to keep that there if we can. However, I'm always surprised with the number of general community members that come that aren't veterans. We get a lot of veterans and thanks to Jenny and Andrea for getting

069the breakfast ready to go. Our Ren team did a great job. They just take it and they go with it. They they know how I work, I think, a little bit. They're like, "Hey, we're just going to do this because I'm still trying to give directions. maybe you should do this and they just took over. So, it was nice to see that, nice to get a lot of the nice compliments afterwards, but again, grateful for our veterans. But I think to me the most powerful piece was seeing our three student seniors up on stage in uniform and on how they carried themselves. That's awfully amazing. Then to hear their stories about gave them purpose, here's what they're going to do. And so, I thought that was very neat. And then also having four brothers in

070the same family that were here as well wearing their uniforms as well was a so the Olsen family being there too. That was Mr. Wood's idea and so I think having them there was an awesome piece and Wyatt did a marvelous job of sharing um the information that he had. So it's just a neat thing to see there. And for me, I want our students to recognize and understand the importance of what service means to our community, our school, our country. Those people are making an an incredible sacrifice. And I think sometimes we forget about that. And so just having them witness that and I think they did a good job. The challenge that I gave them yesterday was to go out and see how they can do some service over the next couple weeks

071either at home, church, community, anything like that. So, um, a couple things at the end when we're done. Region one, if you want to serve on the region or, uh, be nominated for the region one board. There's some information there. Lakes Country has their voting coming up, so it's too late to get your name into that one, but we need to have you vote for their board of directors, and I've got some information from MSBA on some upcoming trainings and things like that that are in this envelope here. And then you'll see all the things that are coming up here in November. uh prior to Thanksgiving break. >> All right. Any questions for Mr. Brown? >> Oh, I did have one last piece. I'm sorry. My bottom one. Um so, we remember held off on

072our snow removal quotes and uh accepting those. Maggie and I did review [laughter] the billing from Gro Green and did notice that there are several bills prior to my arrival all the way back to 2020 2021 that were not paid. Um so we checked our system that we looked at the invoices that they provided. And so a lot of that was irrigation repair. Um there must have been some trees that were removed, four trees back here when the uh greenhouse went up because it looked like it was four trees back there that were taken care of. some snow removal, some clean up in October, November over those course of those two years. So, we do have a significant dollar amount um to pay to them in back pay uh to get that cleaned up and

073so we can move forward and have that ready to go. >> All right. Well, that brings us to our old business item. Um you'll see the award the snow removal quotes. Um, we've got that document there. I think everything is pretty much the same as last year. There was no uh no changes on the actual quotes from either last year. Is that correct? >> I think there was just one ad, the L95 Bobcat loader. Um, there's $150 per hour charge if they would use that um for Grover Green. They did remove the walkbehind snowblowers that was on there, but they no longer have that included, but everything else remained the same. So, the recommendation is looking to have Grow Green Grain take care of snow removal at North Elementary and the Secondary School and then

074JMJ Custom Services down in Kensington at the South Elementary. >> All right. Any questions, comments on that? >> I do have a comment on that. Um, last year several sporting events we had, you know, maybe a little snow, but it didn't trigger that that minimum accumulation for uh snow removal. Can we make an effort to on on nights that we have home events here get our courtyard area cleared out? Cuz we there were a lot of times that you were walking through some decent snow and it's it's not safe. We got a lot of, you know, elderly that try to make it up that concrete pad and we got we got everywhere. So, you know, if it's a if it's a case of we're having a you know, wrestling meet or a basketball game, whatever,

075we need to make sure that if there's something out there, it needs to get >> at least the right. Well, yeah, but >> not the whole thing, >> you know, get on there and at least get them safely to the door cuz there was several times last year that we didn't do that and you know that that doesn't look good on us as a school either. So, I just want to make sure that you know we're we're doing right by everybody that's coming in this building. >> We can do that. All right, you got that, Chad? I know a couple of those times was during our short staff time where we were >> we were we were outst right. I'm not I'm not arguing with the concept here. I'm just saying I know a couple

076of those for sure. >> Yep. >> We can do better. >> All right. So then I would look for a motion to approve the snow removal or accept the snow removal bids. Is that how we want to word that? >> Yeah. Or award. >> Award for both of those. Yep. >> Darren. >> Yep. >> Second. >> And a second. All in favor say I. >> I. >> Motion carries. Um, we got the first reading of the following policies. Uh, policy 610, field trips. Policy 612.1, development of parent and family engagement. policy for title one programs. Uh policy 613, graduation requirements. You guys might want to read that. Uh policy 614, school district testing plan and procedures. Again, that's the first reading. Are there any questions or any comments on any of those, Mr. Brown, that

077you'd like to >> No, most of those are relatively consistent. There's just a few grammatical pieces that are there that they've had changes, but otherwise it's uh relatively the same. >> All right. So, again, that was just the first reading. Uh it brings us to 6.2 uh a resolution um canvasing return on votes of school district special election. And I suppose that's one I got to leave. Maybe this one with the numbers. All right. So, be it resolved by the school board of independent school district 2342 as follows. It [clears throat] is hereby found determined and declared that the special election of the voters of the district held on November 4th was in all respects duly and legally called and held. As specific in the attachment abstract in return of votes cast, a total of

078403 voters of the district voted and said election on the election of one school board member for an unexpired term expiring the first Monday in January uh caused by the board member resignation. The voting result are as follows. Christopher W. Anderson 190 votes. Ryan Sour 209 votes. Um the over votes, I'm not sure what that is, but there was four of those. So >> So over vote is if people voted for both. >> I learned that myself as well. So if they marked both, that's an over vote. >> All right. And they don't count, just so you know. So don't vote for both if you can only do one. All right. Uh so Ryan Sour having receiving the highest number of votes is elected to the office of school board member of independent school district

0792342 for an unexpired term expiring the first Monday in January 2027. So I would look for a motion for that resolution. >> Second >> and a second and that'll be a roll call vote. Um Sour >> Yes. >> I will be in the yes. >> Yes. Vincent. >> Yes. >> And Gross. >> Yes. >> All right. >> Who are we giving the second to? Claire. >> K. >> Yes. Yes. All right. And then we have the resolution, [clears throat] excuse me, authorizing issuance of certificate of election. So that one says the board has canvased the special election for the school board member held on November 4, 2025. Now therefore, it be resolved the school board of independent school district 2342, state of Minnesota as follows. The chair and clerk are hereby authorized to execute certifi

080certificate of election on behalf of the school board of independent school district 2342 to the following candidate. Ryan Sour, who has received a sufficiently large number of votes to be elected to fill a vacancy on the board caused by a board resignation based on the results of the canvas. All right. So, I would need a motion for that resolution to accept >> and a second. And roll call. I'll be a yes. Olrich, >> yes. >> Vincent, >> yes. >> Gross, >> yes. >> And Sauer, >> yes. >> All right, motion. Resolution passes. >> All right, that moves us to uh the following personnel items. Um we have one resignation, Danielle Passer, custodian, and we also have a hire of Steve Escobar, van driver. Did you want to comment on that at all, Mr. Brown? >>

081I can. So, remember transportation, we've been in discussions [clears throat] on that for a long time of what can we do to possibly help some of those costs. I think a former board member even talked about looking at Uber or something like that to help, but this is we've got the vehicle now. So, we've purchased a um transport vehicle that's uh accessible for wheelchairs. And so, now we're going to take advantage of using that van. Um, otherwise there's additional charges that they charge and Steve's already been trained in that. He knows how to to work the van. And so the recommendation there is to have a van driver. Now, this may expand even further as we see because we're able to eliminate two routes that we were using and covering it with one van driver

082in the morning for the time frame is about an hour to an hour and a half. So, we don't have anything in a current agreement for transportation. Um, so the recommendation is pay $25 an hour because really to make it worth the person's time for one hour in the morning to get up and do that, that's not a whole lot of pay. Sometimes it will take an hour and a half. And we'll continue to look to see if we purchase maybe another van if we feel like this is a a good savings, especially if it comes to any of our special trips because of the fact that there is reimbursement. Uh we've now found out that you know we purchased the van, we're able to now get, you know, using funding um through medical assistance

083and we found out there's some opportunity even now to get the reimbursement still from from the state for special ed. So I believe it's going to be a good way to move forward and continue to try to look to save money where we can and still providing a very good service. So thanks to Mr. Fosene for reviewing those routes and putting that all together. I think in the last couple days for him, transportation coordinator has become a lot more involved, but uh he's got it figured out and and Steve will do a nice job of making sure that we get our kids get our students to and from. And it's nice to have someone who's wellversed in that uh in that world. If >> I may comment on that, just so you guys just so

084[clears throat] board members, you know, that van goes out in the morning. It then makes a trip uh starting Monday at 11:45. It comes back makes another trip at 12:30, brings some students to work, comes back, brings students home again at 3:00. So, we are using that vehicle significantly. It is every day, every day. >> On top of our morning route, right? That's just taking kids to a good investment. >> So, you're saying if we get our own fleet, you're going to manage the transportation. [laughter] >> I am not saying that. I I will >> got that handled. He does like He does like vehicles. So, >> and some of it we're just trying to find efficiencies where we can and and you know that we're we're so used to the Palmer butt system and

085and it's worked, but we feel we have now some capabilities to take it on our own and personality we're willing to help. So, let's not utilize I mean we'd be foolish if we didn't utilize >> I think we're more libo that right this situation right? >> Yep. >> And and even the other day Palmer called hey can we maybe trade a student that we're picking up and you guys pick up So that was nice to have that conversation. So but it it is a little stressful. So >> all right. >> Mr. Wood did not volunteer to be my admin assistant on that. >> Strongly declined. >> So he'll be making the snow day decisions as well. I figured that might be an >> I'm not so sure about that. >> All right. So then we

086would look for a motion on the personnel items. move >> and a second. >> Second. >> All in favor say I. >> I. >> Motion carries. Uh, next we have the approval of the candidates to interview. Um, you have that in your packet. Does any building ground? You guys want to comment on any of those? I see the list here. is that >> we just look through them all and try to come up with you know kind of with all ones that align best with our district I guess. >> Okay. And you guys are all comfortable with these these four. Okay. I mean they look very similar. I mean there's little tweaks here and there to each one but that seems to be the the way it works with all these things. >> They don't

087like apple. >> Yeah. So they want to tweak this side so they can do a little better on this side and yeah. So anyway, >> it's a little bit of a guessing game when it comes to that stuff. >> So and this is just mainly based on their fee structure. Um Darren had asked to get some clarity there. So they have that but I think some of the other pieces that like Breitbach has some experience in this area and so we wanted somebody who is probably more local I think is as one group to look at. I think ICS has been with some schools that have taken a little while to get a plan to pass and so they had some good pieces there to help with that. Krauss Anderson of course I think Darren

088you had said that they did they do a project in the area or even >> government services. So just some of that knowledge there that they have and then Kudson just seemed to have a very experienced team. Um you know but again location was a little bit different for them but I think um Breitbach also worked on the Ashby school. So we saw some schools that were going to be similar in size to ours or similar needs. And so that's why we kind of decided to look at those pieces which will then also help us go out and get our staff on some tours to see some different spaces especially in the elementary and CTE uh to see some of those pieces there. So what we need to do tonight I think is make sure

089that you're comfortable recommending those four for interviews. We did initially set next Tuesday the 18th as the night to interview. Um with said it takes about 45 minutes for each interview. Remember, we're not recording that because that I think they said would be unfair to the other groups that are unfair to the first group that's interviewing and having the other three sit out there and take there's proprietary information that they would be concerned about. Um, and then but they thought 45 minutes for the interview, 15 minutes for each group to one group to leave and the other group to get in and get uh settled and ready to to do the interview. So, if we start at 5, it's till 9:00 on Tuesday or do we start earlier? I think Nathan when we talked to

090him I thought he said five didn't he dare it was five o'clock kind of his time frame do you remember that Ryan I guess I >> I thought five o'clock was the so looking at a 5 to9 time frame and is there I guess a particular order as you look at those two um they're not really listed in any particular order but if you say hey we would like this group first we can definitely do that >> I think you probably have to just figure out what's going to work for them to make sure that and >> they've all been they've all been notified. They >> all know that that's the day and they're all okay. >> They they were told the board needed to make final approval tonight, but they were given advanced notice

091to say currently you are on the list recommendation. Um but they'll get a follow-up email tomorrow to say if you have been invited for an interview on November 18th so they know the the the time range and the date, but um they didn't weren't given a specific time yet. >> Sure. Okay. I don't know if you pick them out of a hat and go that way. I don't know if it matters which one goes first, but >> it doesn't. >> So, we'll let you figure that. You You go ahead and slot them in there. >> I can do that. Okay. >> So, we're good with five o'clock start time on the 18th. And then I would just need a motion to accept those four uh candidates to interview. >> In a second. Second. >> All

092in favor say I. >> Motion carries. Um then the last item just another facility planning and um the idea of a survey came up. Um I know I talked with Darren a little bit. Um as far as a staff type survey. Um, one thing talking with Nathan a little bit as we sat in some meet and confer staff's not really a big fan of surveys all the time. So, I guess the one sentiment was if we're going to do a facility survey and a general staff survey, is there a way we can make it so it's one survey versus making two different surveys and and bombarding them with extra survey stuff? So, I guess that was where the conversation starts, I guess, or their thoughts on that on what we what we'd like to see

093from a survey. And then at the same time, can we knock that out in one one shot versus giving them a survey for staff climate and then a survey for buildings and a survey? you know, we don't want to do that cuz they have expressed that in our meet and confer that they're not necessarily surveys aren't their favorite things to do after school or whatever. So anyway, um just a item for discussion here. So any thoughts? I would prefer that they're separate when it comes to facilities versus the general health of the district. I think that that should be the facilities thing should be kept different done kind of in a different way whether is that's part of your kind of going to look at other schools and those kind of things. I mean the

094facility side, they've been through that over and over and over again and it really far as a facility stuff that really comes down to if we pass up. That's when it really gets involved on where things are at, how kind of spacewise we should already have been doing that I would assume task force and then we got to get going on finalizing that. >> So if staff needs to be surveyed on the facility side for that reason. We kind of got to get going at it because we we got to have that accomplished so that we know what we're actually going out for and how much we're actually asking for. But from the general health side of the district, that to me is different. you know that's looking at different things like PLC's that's you

095know are they getting out of it what you know is it beneficial are there any other ideas e-learning how how are they seeing that is that beneficial to them to them as a teacher or are they seeing um hearing things from parents or or they're a parent themselves and they may have some but I'm still looking at it from a staff perspective not as not so much as if they have kids in the district, but more from a staff perspective. Um there's just a lot of different a lot of different things, wellness and safety. I mean, I love that wellness piece that Nate and Kaitlin are putting together now. That's really cool. But are there, you know, do they feel safe? Do they feel like behaviors are being taken care of in the proper way?

096Um is there anything that they can bring forward for the communication between parents and with different things whether it's behaviors or something else just early outs do they like the new early out system from a staff perspective not from a parent from the parents I've heard they love it the Fridays but you know from a staff perspective is it better than the Wednesdays or whatever that we had before kids able to get through their week in a more consistent fashion because it's on Friday. So, I mean, I don't have the whole list, but then I mean it would take a few of us board members to see what we want to know because, you know, we're we're going through going to go through negotiations for for our administrators and we want to know our perspective

097or from We kind of we want to I would assume every board member wants to know as much as they can to make good decisions. So we help if people need help and we recognize what's great too and probably the side that we really focus on because we do have good people. So I don't think there's going to be a ton of but I can tell you we're not perfect but never going to be. You can you can get better all the time. So we got to find those things that maybe you know it's not always fun looking at them either from perspective is you might have to look in the mirror a little bit but um I think if everybody does it in the right way it's it's extremely beneficial to advance you to

098the next level all the time and stay better than everybody you know you can bring back basketball. There's great players, but you can still find ways for them to be better than they were and don't let them be satisfied with where they're at. So, I guess that's I probably would have more to say. I didn't really prepare anything, but that's where I'm coming from is it's not to pick at somebody for this or that. It's to to advance us to again the next level and just keep getting better at everything we do. And I said that's not always easy. Sometimes you got to, you know, there might be some things that come up that you I didn't know that about what's going on. But when you actually have to look at it sometimes you'll go,

099you know what? You're right. We can we can do better. Yeah, I think system checks are always a good thing. They're systems and so we need to evaluate those pieces there. I I did kind of visit with Mr. Wood a little bit about that and I think maybe it's something Darren probably more important if our leadership team folks review it to say, "Hey, these are the pieces." I know we did the JSON survey last spring. I think I'm not sure everybody completed that, but I think it's a good check again to say, "Hey, here's where we were last year. Where are we at now?" And that does include a lot of that school safety stuff. But again, it's a systems check it. And I think it's got to be done. I think the key words

100that you said doing it correctly. You got to do it the right way to get the right information. Um, you know, that way. And sometimes those don't always turn out to be beneficial if they're not done the right way. >> We should honestly have the board look at that survey that we did last year. It answers a ton of what you're talking about, Darren. So I think at some point we can send you the link to go through the you can do the survey too. Um but I think that might be worth looking into because it is a very it's a very good survey. >> I've forgotten that and that's the credible survey. Let's look at it. Do another check. I use that same instrument. >> Yep. >> I think >> we have the data

101from last year on that survey. >> You're just creating a new strength. >> I think it's one that's been vetted out, right? I mean it's always hard to find those right surveys to do that. So, and I know with the HRS work that I've done in the past, there's some pieces there too for the like, like you said, the safe schools of, hey, are these pieces here. I know one of the things that they always talked about, they said, you know what, talk to the students and the teachers, but also talk to the custodians because they're going to be able to tell you, hey, this hallway is never supervised by anybody. And so, sometimes it's some of those pieces there. Students will give us great feedback. I think doing some of those listening sessions with

102them to say, hey, we're going to have pizza here and I want to talk to 20 of you. And it's not just student council, NHS. That's what some schools do. They go to the easy ones to talk to. I want to talk to the ones that aren't having a good day most days. And so, what can we do differently that way? Um, you know, there. So, I think there's some opportunity to do that. But again, it's checking systems to say where are our systems at and how could we improve those systems? >> If we could see that, like when would you do that again? Like next spring, the same time frame roughly. >> Yeah, we could probably do it whenever. We we just have to get it set up with the the organization that puts

103it on. It's an independent entity. But >> I mean, it makes sense to do it, you know, every six months or once a year or whatever. We keep that going >> and so we're really linking to this systemic piece you're trying to build in the district. I like that. >> I would say maybe spring because we got to give ourselves a little bit of time of what we started to implement. I think some people it's still new. Some are concerned that it's been a lot of talk. has the action been there? So, I think we're trying to get all those pieces as just to be fully to disclose. >> Sure. Didn't mean to interrupt you, but So, when was this last survey done? >> We'd have to look back and see when we did it.

104It was would have been last spring. >> I don't remember. February, probably. >> The board provided the results of the survey. >> Yes, I think we talked about it at a board meeting. >> I think that was part of what we brought to even say should we go out to the Justins Renaissance Conference. So, let me double check to see on that. So, >> it can be I mean, I'm okay with what you're saying. Um, but I also want to I'm bringing it up from a board perspective because it's something I'm interested in. So, I want to be able to see the results. I don't want them to get just >> these results at the >> at the administrative level. And then as long as the staff is comfortable with how this survey is performed

105so that they feel like they can give, you know, accurate and honest feedback. Um, and that's the beauty of this survey is it's done through just so it didn't come collected us. And Darren, I think we take that one step further. we let our community and our parents tell us how we're doing as well. >> Yep. That's I think that's >> I mean I'd like to see it to see what questions are on it. So we have any feedback. I don't know if anybody else will, but >> I'll look back at it. >> I would like to see it and those are the pieces that I guess are important to me is that the staff feels comfortable filling it out. correct questions are on there so you can get good feedback and >> and if

106I remember correctly I believe we have a little can oversight and like we can say hey can we make sure we add this question in or you know we can tweak it a little bit and then run it through the the entity that does it. So if I remember correctly on that >> because a little control on it >> there was one piece that we did bring up to the just the because the the survey writer is from Minnesota. So what was the thing that we did? There was because I went to that session. I'm trying to think of what we mentioned was one of the hiccups in the survey. I when I look at it, I'll double check. But yeah, that was the beauty is she said, "Okay, how does the survey work? Are

107there other questions you'd like us to ask?" And so I think we can give a few. I think they want to keep their general questions because it meets what their program goals are. But I think there's other opportunities there. But yeah, I think there were some pieces there that we felt we didn't get the information or there was something there that didn't get what we needed. you know, regarding the facilities piece and maybe I didn't understand it correctly, but it feels like if we did a facil facility survey now with staff, we are we are in a different spot than we were when the task force last year and what they could tell us. I I don't know if this is the right time to do that. We should like once if the bond passes

108then you do it or what would we learn now that we didn't learn [clears throat] last year during the task force from the survey is it worth it right now >> for in in speaking with woods that was just part of the process as we're you know evaluating what what the needs are right you know is this you know is are we getting the is the staff you know does the staff feel that the task force did it, you know, all those kinds of things like >> we should maybe >> Well, it was in there. It's it's on their timeline is is is getting that feedback from staff to ensure that when we and this was talked about in one of our previous bonds as well is that, you know, it's it's really tough to

109go out and be successful with a bond if the staff isn't on board with the bond that you're going for. So, if we're going to go out for a bond and let's, you know, pick, you know, there's a group of staff that don't believe this is the right option or don't believe that the bond is is done correctly or don't believe there's enough gym space in the B, you know, like those pieces. if they are not supportive of that and now that trickles into the parents in their classroom and uh it it kind of shoots you in the foot for your bond process if you're not if you're not making sure that those things are so anyway and and I think in one of them and I don't again I don't remember which [snorts] bond

110it was but um they just said if if your house isn't in order you can't you know go out to the public to try to get support if you don't have support in the h you know in the school to begin with. So, that was just one of those pieces. Again, I know they said there's different ways to do it and there's all the, you know, the timing is it's on their master big spreadsheet of when you do these things. I just don't again my only concern is that we've already heard some negative feedback about surveying and and all this things over the last I'm not saying currently but over the last few years oh we don't want to fill out another survey at the end you know like May is not a good time

111to do a survey because it's the end of the year and February is not a good time because we're in the winter low and you know all these times when they don't want to fill a survey >> that's why if They have to see that it's beneficial and the things that they're putting on there if their corrections or or that they're saying something's done that you know you emphasize that part stuff that you're doing good or the things that they put on there that they feel like need to be corrected. if they're not being corrected, if the survey isn't serving a purpose and things aren't happening, that creates the attitude of why do another survey because we're putting things down and it's not happening. So, that's where I I'm like, if if they're if they're

112complaining about surveys, then maybe that could be part of the issue that they're filling things out and it isn't getting accomplished. I I'm not I don't know, but um that just could be a reason. But I also you made a good comment of why I think you want to kind of tie it together in one aspect that makes sense of where you know your own house isn't in order, >> right? >> I didn't think about >> then the other than the other part. So >> I can see how you could meld it together a little bit. >> You're you're I'm not saying there's anything wrong with the survey type that you're looking for. I just want to make sure that, you know, we need some of those answers as we move forward in a bond

113process, too, right? We need to know that everybody feels like this process is is the right one or that we're we're planning adequately or, you know, [snorts] the the plan that we have, you know, if I think that we really need a bigger door in the in the library and the librarian doesn't think that, doesn't make any sense to put it on there, right? Cuz that's going to not go well. So anyway, those are pieces that we've talked about in the past that again that's kind of some of that >> portions of it would mesh together, you know, like safety. If they don't feel safe in the building for whatever that reason that might be, whether it's cameras or physically people watching or doors not getting locked or whatever that is, then I could see

114how, you know, that might be something we have to emphasize in taking this concept to a reality. of space and things that we're going to do and >> all that stuff which I know we can't do >> and if you don't feel safe now does that >> but then we got to get at it. >> Does this plan does it address your safety concern? Right. I mean those are the ideas of in that process right okay I don't I don't feel like the doors are locked here in my current situation. Does this plan show you that we're going to address that issue so that we are moving forward in the right direction? Right. I mean, so those are kind of the ideas, >> right? As long as we're not just saying we're addressing it as

115we're doing it with a physical door lock or something because it's we have door locks now. >> So, if doors aren't being locked, >> it's operator error for the most part or one doesn't work and it doesn't get fixed. So, we have to make sure that we're not just every time something comes up and I'm not saying that's what you're saying. I'm just saying you can't tie it into just a new facility and saying that >> well we haven't been doing anything right for the last three years. Now all of a sudden we get a new door it's going to all of a sudden be locked all the time. Well if >> if we're still not doing the operator part right it's not going to be locked. >> So now here the kind of the

116context for a facility survey which I was like we already have that from last year. I guess maybe we could ask to give us a sample of a survey another district used and we could look at that and see if that allows us to build some consensus around it. Does that make sense or >> Yeah. We have to tie it together. I mean, if they already have a survey as far as the stuff that I was looking for outside of facilities >> Yeah. Then like I said before, all I want to do is I want to see it myself to see if there's anything that's in my head that I would like to maybe address in it somehow. You guys would have to figure out how you would ask that question >> and maybe >>

117and then that we're able to see it when it's done, >> you know, we're able to as board members and it's our job. My the way I I look at it is we need to analyze things. I mean, You got great employees get can't trust everything. You got something you got to look into it yourself. That's what we were elected to do. >> What if it went to meet and confer and said, "Hey, you know, Wise is really recommending this is a practice they've had. We know you expressed some trepidation about this. We're going to follow through on the, you know, cultural climate survey that was done last year, but we'd like to look at this. What are your thoughts about that and get some feedback from meet and >> confer >> so we they

118don't feel like they're just slammed in? >> Yeah, that sounds like a good idea. >> I feel like we got people in place administratively to do this well and do it right and just go advance ourselves further than we aren't just because we keep getting better. There certainly is nothing wrong with that. All right. So, we'll maybe look with Witsf to see what that what that would look like and maybe address it on our timeline to make sure that that's coincides with those things and if you you know track down that old results and we can get those. Any other comments on that? The only thing we have left to do then is we have to go through all 771 of our students and we have to verify their names are spelled correctly. [laughter] >>

119Well, if they were paying attention at the beginning of the meeting there was only 691. >> Yeah. [laughter] >> Is there a second? Motion carries.