001All right, you are live. >> All right, it is 7 5:31 in the secondary school media 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. Uh, roll call. Gross >> here. >> Porter >> here. >> Sandstead >> here. >> Sour >> here. >> And I am here. And Josh and Claire are not with us today. Um, Ellis, did you have anything for the board tonight? No. >> Okay. Uh, no public comment. We'll move into modifying our agenda. >> Everything is is asis. >> As is. Is there any other additions or corrections, modifications to the agenda? And I
002would look for a motion to approve >> and second. All in favor say I. >> Motion carries. Uh that brings us to uh no committee reports tonight. So we will go right into administrative reports. And Miss Hendricks. >> All right. Um yeah, it's hard to believe we're already into October and we have the first month of school under our belt. It's a great start at both elementary schools. Our night pride buckets have been filling up with students showing our night pride values and we're right back into our routines and a lot of learning is happening. Um we've been starting morning announcements. I know that came up at our last board meeting when we talked about the pledge of allegiance and we have been um so we started doing morning announcements where we start with the
003pledge, we do birthday shoutouts. Um we share any building wide announcements and then we have like a fun ending that we all um say together to to kind of ground us and anchor our day and it's really been a good way to start. So that's been a fun um a fun implementation that we have been recently doing. Luke and I start our mornings with what we call morning rounds. So, the first hour of the day, we stop into every classroom or we try to stop into every classroom. Sometimes if we don't make it, we it might be an afternoon round. Um, but we just say hi or we might just sit down and do whatever the students are doing and um just join in the class for a little bit. It's really a highlight of
004I know my day and and Luke's day as well. Um to make that contact with all the students and staff and um sometimes we will talk with with the staff members. Other times we just sit and join in with what the kids are doing and seeing what they're learning. Our plans for our first early out are starting to get starting to come together. Our K12 um ELA teachers, reading interventionists, and special educ special education teachers will be doing a session with Lakes Country Service Co-op. So that's really exciting partnership that we will have them come to us. Um they do free professional development and they are coming and working with the ELA standards. So they'll have a portion where they will present and talk about the differences, the updates um because there's some changes in
005the way the standards are written versus how they how they were prior to the 2020 um new standards for implementation. So, we're excited to partner with them. And then after they um do some time with us on the updates and and teach us about the changes within the standards, then we have time for our teachers to collaborate and work with um work with the standards. So, that'll be a good portion of um our time for any teacher who works with the English language arts. And then we're in in the works on um the PLC portion and what other teachers will be doing on that first early out. and it's homecoming week, so it's been fun. Today was pajama day at the elementary school, so um I opted to not wear mine. I didn't know if
006you'd want me showing up in my pajamas to the school board meeting, but it was fun to see um the kids get really into it. And we look forward to the petfest on Friday. It was really exciting that we got um the cheers and stuff sent to us so the kids can know the cheers going into the Petfest. So that was shout out to the the secondary school and I think student council that put that on. Um, and then we have a couple events coming up for through PTO and some fundraisers. We've been doing the South PTO is putting on an obstacle course run tomorrow as the fundraiser and then we are having a color run on the 15th at North Elementary and that's been um they they put a lot of work into that
007and that's a big fundraiser for both of those groups and the PTO's are very very supportive of of the schools. So, we appreciate their dedication and all that they contribute. And then we wanted to provide um so I'll start and then Nate can kind of jump into just an update on where we're at with our Justin's Renaissance pieces. We are continuing with our student of the month and we did that last year as well. Um at the elementary schools last year we did it every other month. This year we're doing a monthly student of the month and we're going to have a wall of fame. So we'll um post our pictures. We'll have our wall of fame. we will show showcase the um our night pride value of the month that we're focusing on. So
008respect and respect is for September and October and we'll continue to build that wall of fame to highlight those. Um we did staff gifts. So each Friday for the month of September we did a little gift in their mailbox um just to show our appreciation and their um their dedication. So that went out to all staff for the first four Fridays of the school year. And then um we're working on getting some student groups involved in assemblies. Um and Nate can talk a little bit more about that at the secondary school, but at the elementary level, our school social worker, Miss Ericson, is going to work with fourth grade students at both buildings to be a part of planning the assemblies and leading the assemblies and have more of that student piece. Usually, it's just
009me up there, which, you know, I'm I think I get boring after a while, so it'll be good to have some kids. Um so having the student groups will be good to have them be a a part of the assemblies. And then districtwide we're working on attendance. So how do we recognize um students for the attendance that they we have the strive for 95 as a saying that a different district when we had went to our um conference had talked about. So that's our goal too is that strive for 95 is our um having them be present 95% of the time. And then Nate can talk a little bit more about the secondary piece. Yes, >> that's all for me. I'm good. >> Any questions, comments quickly? >> Oh, sorry. Y just in case >>
010then we'll move right into Mr. So, kind of starting with the Renaissance piece. Um, we are currently building our student leader team. Um, have approximately 20 students that showed they were interested in joining the team. um after homecoming is done, we'll kind of hammer that out a little bit more as far as getting students involved on board and um teaching them a little bit about what's required of them for doing that. Um and the like Miss Hendrick said, the big part of that is helping kind of organize some of this recognition. So, how how can they be involved and be leaders and be recognizing students and staff um in the school? And um I think you hit on it pretty much everything else that we have going on for Renaissance right now. We are looking
011to start our high- five Fridays. Um I sent out some um emails to local businesses. So waiting to hear some confirmed dates back. Um I do know we have some retirees, West Central um retirees that will be doing our first high five. It'll be high five Tuesday, not a high five Friday, but that will be coming up next week. So, um, other things going on at the secondary. Overall, the year is off to a a very strong start. It kind of feels like we never left and kind of kept rolling into what we had going on last year. Um, want to give a shout out to our new school counselors, um, Mattie Duffner and Haley Walshagger. They've done an excellent job connecting with students, addressing the all the craziness that comes at the start of
012the school year, and they did a really good job, especially since both of them are new to our district. Um, also Mindy and Amanda in the front office have been wonderful and having a smooth start to the school year. Um, especially with our transition to a new student information system. Um, and just some of the the complexities that come with that. As as Miss Hendricks said, homecoming week is underway. Always a very busy stretch, but I think that it is a um pretty fun and memorable week for our students. Um I imagine everyone is going to watch Powderpuff after this. So um planning is already underway for our 2027 Washington DC trip. We had a meeting in here on Monday. um really good turnout we have and I'm quite a few of you have actually
013been on this trip but it is a wonderful trip um wonderful experience for our students. We start the planning um well in advance. This will not be until March of 2027 but that allows it to be a little more affordable for families because the trip is a little expensive. So the longer you can pay on it, the easier that is. Um and we have currently have 56 travelers signed up already. um looking at, you know, if we can take that mid50s to mid60s number, it's really good. Um other things going on, Mrs. Craft with her um foundation events hosted a Let's Go Fishing that took place on September 24th. We had 19 students participate in that. There is an art activity coming up um in October. Other things, our English department is working on new
014curriculum. Um early feedback has been positive. staff. Our staff are working hard to integrate the new materials into instruction. Um, one other piece that's coming up in the next few weeks, we're hosting a panel discussion on um, change the outcome. And so what this is, it's a Minnesota based nonprofit. And it's focused on um, substance abuse education for students and prevention. And it's a little different from like your your standard um, substance abuse prevention. and they try and um make it a little bit more um real for students um where people tell their stories um and make it kind of build some some buy in with students that way and instead of it seeming like this weird scary thing that no one understands, they want to help students understand that hey this is something that
015you may have to deal with and here's how you how you deal with that. Um so the all students did take a survey in grades 9 through 12 that um in their advisory time last week. They'll watch a 40inut film coming up on October 7th and then October 8th there is a panel discussion um with those students in the auditorium and they'll take a post survey after that as well. Um and then lastly I just wanted to share end with some good news. So, I received this email late on Sunday night, which late emails often are not good, but this one was good. Um, so this was from the manager, assistant manager at Applebees in Fergus Falls, and they said, "Good evening. Just wanted to take time to acknowledge a group of outstanding learners from
016WCA. This evening, we had 29 outstanding kids come for dinner after coronation at WCA. Not only did they all look fabulous, but they were such amazing kids. They are respectful and encouraging to our staff and my staff told me they weren't like most large groups of teens. They were great. This is a huge compliment to your community school and parents. Thank you for raising a great group of kids. So, pretty awesome to hear that. Um we did also have um food trucks here. Um and the um staff from the food truck today said that they absolutely love coming to WCA because the students here are the most polite and positive students they interact with. So, always nice to hear some good feedback like that. >> Do you guys have any questions for me? >> Thank
017you, Mr. Wood. We will skip Mr. Fosine or do you want to go? >> We'll go into Mr. I I didn't include his report. I see some have it there. So, Mr. Ryan with community ed. I apologize that I didn't get that included in the >> I've uh I've been busy with Steam getting started. I've spent a lot of time with that. So September steam was just at north. We uh didn't get the south teachers wanted to push back till October. Um the October steam registration is open right now both north and south. Um the mini nights volleyball is October 7th, 9th and 14th. That is at North Elementary and Sarah Nelson is the coach for that one. Um and both North and South students are welcome to come to that. Um, I've talked to
018Andy's Mountain about skiing and I've confirmed that we're welcome. I'm just waiting for pricing and I talked to Palmer about busing there and I'll have to get pricing from them, too. And then I'll get it all together, send it out. Um, swimming lessons for next year are the last two weeks in July to keep it consistent with this year. It'll still be at Elk Lake and Fair Haven, so that is scheduled. And my next thing is going to be co-ed volleyball. The dates are December 3rd through February 18th from 5:45 to 9. So it's scheduled, but I just have to get the details out and sent out signed up. >> Any questions for me? >> How's it going otherwise? >> It's good. I like it. Yeah, I like it. >> Yeah, it's a good answer.
019>> We practiced. >> Good job. Thank you. Mr. McNamera. >> Good evening. Um, first off, huge shout out to Stacy. She is a rock star and she is the reason why things have been getting significantly better over time as this year goes on. Things are starting to get smoothed out. Still have some hiccups that we need to get straightened out here and there. However, it is becoming less and less of a disruption to the classroom, which is my ultimate goal. Um technology is something that as everyone knows should support work not hinder it and that is our goal as well is to make sure that we are maximizing our time here teaching students. So um she has been a huge bonus for the school district moving towards that. Um one piece I wanted to let
020the board know and public is Mr. Fosley's done a fantastic job of getting additional cameras through our huddle program. So, as you may have seen in Coronation, those uh art events in the uh auditorium are now going to be streamed on Huddle Fan just like our sporting events. So, it's we used to have the split between YouTube and Huddle Fan. Um still do a little bit because schoolboard meetings are on YouTube. Um but everything in the auditorium will now be on huddle fan. >> Is it because we don't have fans or what do you think that we we are just trying to build our product. Um no so the nice thing is it's an automated camera system. So in the past just like here I've always had to be there whenever there's an event to
021set up sound and cameras and stream and make sure everything's going properly. Now we can schedule it from an app and at home I can monitor it to make sure it's going smoothly. >> Um, >> can we get like the owl in here or something like that? >> That that is the that is the next thing. So we can start streaming schoolboard meetings on huddle fam and then we'll send it to the assist so they can break down statistics. >> I don't want that. >> Could be a lot of talking. And then we can send back film to people on. Yeah. >> This is what you should. >> It'll be great. >> Yeah. >> When we're on every >> um but no, other than that, you know, there there's always a million things happening, but
022overall things are moving in the right direction. Any questions, concerns? All right. Awesome. Thank you. Uh, Mr. Norberg, did we get anything or we >> No, we'll move on to the superintendent piece there. Uh, >> let me pull up the Do you have Can you pull up the student enrollment piece there? I see I left that. I thought I had that all >> included, ready to go. You know what? I've got it over here. I bet student enrollment. If you click on that link as well, >> there it is. So student enrollment just for updating in October there was a little bit of growth at the secondary school current overall numbers are 695 students K12 district total is 772 which includes both our three-year-old and fouryear-old preschool programs with our little nights and then as
023well as our kindergarten connection. I know Holl's been working hard to getting everything kind of lined up with the pathway to scholarships as well as the VPK. Yeah. >> Um which will again help our district with some of those funding resources and things like that. But as I continue to look at our enrollment, the unfortunate part is we're having classes that are of between 55 plus to 60 students graduating. And unfortunately those classes coming in are just a little bit smaller than that. and and so uh makes that a little more challenging as we continue to move ahead. So we'll continue to keep a close eye on that fall conference. I attended that Monday and Tuesday. Uh there was great keynote speakers that were there. Um and the sessions that I attended included the standard
024response protocol and that's the piece that uh Maya, I Nate, and Kevin went to this summer. And so actually the presenter that Dustin Vincent um who was there that was helping the gentleman, it was their district that put on the training through district 916 which is I think uh he had said several different schools that they go out to but I think more level fours. So I think they've got some extreme pieces that they're dealing with and just kind of went through uh some of those pieces that they put in place. I got to see the name badge, his name badge with his uh with the response protocol on the back. And so they showed how that worked and just kind of how they do their um as well their um reunification. He said, "Yep,
025a real challenge." And I think one of the things that we'll want to probably explain to families as we roll this out more is the fact that he said you need to realize that you're probably not starting your reunification with families for a couple hours. And I think that's going to be that's going to be difficult. You know, families that's going to be a challenge. So we're going to have to make sure we get that information out there to say here's what we're what we're doing. But I think that communication will be helpful and things like that. But it was kind of nice to know that we're tracking along on all of those same pieces that uh that they were doing and he said they just felt it was an excellent tool simple language which
026I think we noticed as well. So that was the one piece there. Um I did sit in on a session from CISA and so there actually help with communication and it was out of the St. Anthony New Brighton School District. And so they talked about finding those critical pieces and kind of had a pyramid and I'll print that off and review that a little bit more. But you know, when you ask for input, make sure that people know that there's clarity. So if it's a community task force, what is that final piece? What does that loop look like? What is their influence in those decisions? And the superintendent down there just said because sometimes there can be this miscommunication where they believe that they're the ones making the final decision and sometimes that creates some
027frustration. And so she talked about student listening groups, adult listening groups and things like that. But had some great examples there that we'll look at and hopefully with Destiny there can roll some things out. But she said we're very strategic on how we communicate the information we want to get out but also the information we want to get back as well. And then um also sat in with um the several vendors were there. So I've talked to some construction managers already just to make them aware that we'll be sending stuff out uh that we're looking at a building project coming up here with a vote November of 2026. And so I just wanted to make sure that they were aware of that. So they said, "Yep." And they gave me contact information. I did ask
028Brent this morning. I said, "How does that work?" He said, "Well, you'll put it in your paper. You'll put it on your website." He said we have contacts to email it out to as well. And he said if there's any others that the district believes that they want them to go to, we can do that to make sure we have that taken care of. So I did do a little bit of visiting with them. Steve Rzidlo was there from Witsth and so was able to make some connections that way. And then promotion and marketing. I know it's taken a little while to get things out. probably mainly on me trying to communicate with Destiny what that'll look like. But our first thought is uh they got the legacy class of 2001 will be the class
029that's going to be represented at homecoming on Friday. So Destiny had a great idea. She said, "Why don't we get some of those graduates from 2001 who now have families that attend WCA?" She said, "Let's get their story and share that on our social media." So, we I've reached out to the person who's in charge of kind of getting everything lined up, waiting to hear back to see if we can reach out to some other folks. I think we'll probably be able to interview uh three or four graduates who have families here and get some uh questions ready to go. She'll do that and get that out onto our Facebook pages there. Special election, we've been open for absentee voting here already in the district office. So, that's the standard time is 8:30 to 4:00.
030We don't have any voting on MEA Thursday or Friday, but then the Monday before the polls on that. So, Monday, November 3rd will be an extended time from 7:30 in the morning until 5:00 at night. So, we do have our absentee polls open. We have sent some pieces out that were required at the county helped us with. So, we've got that taken care of there. And then the levy um our 2025 payable 2026 gets even more confusing because it actually does our fiscal 27 budget which is a 2627 school year. So remember we'll bring that information to you in December to certify the final levy and we made some adjustments. Initially it looked like it was going to be about a 6% 7% increase on the levy. Soon as we popped in our projected student
031numbers for the next couple years that dropped that down to 1.08%. So the piece that we really need to keep on uh keep a close eye on is that student enrollment um where we really remember we put the um inflationary index on our operating levy. Our declining enrollment negates that it takes that away and so we really don't see any growth there. So the capital project levy really is a huge piece because that's based on market value and our market value continues to increase at a steady pace and I think our current market value right now is just about 2.2 two billion over the entire district. And so I'll be getting some information out to you as a board um probably at the next at the November meeting just a little bit to share with
032you so you can see how our taxes really are reflected. It was eye openening to me at our last levy meeting that the department of ed was out presenting just showed us that our market value is 2.2 billion after you do all the exclusions that can be included from seasonal wreck a things like that. Our actual referendum market value where our operating levy runs on is 480 million. So 21% of our dollars that are collected for operating levy, not everything, but operating levy is based on 21% of our actual property value in the district. So some pieces that we'll need to really kind of dive in and dig into to make sure that we understand how we're looking at that. I think that's really why we looked at that capital project levy a few years
033ago was just how that was going to be spread over pieces there. But some some pretty eye- openening pieces there for me. And and the other unfortunate part, fortunate, unfortunate, however you want to look at it, she also did a nice job of pointing out because of our district's property wealth, we don't qualify for much state equalization. So most of our pieces are local spread onto local taxpayers. So again, something else that we'll want to keep an eye on. And that's nothing that we set, nothing that you as a board have done. That's all set based on statute and just district property wealth per pupil and things like that. So there's not much local aid that comes from the state. Sometimes you'll get some equalization buildings will be you know we'll get the egg to
034school credit but sometimes some schools qualify for an equalization on debt service. We don't get that because of our property property wealth in the district. So again things not that you have said as a board or that I have said but that's just how it works as a state there. have a meeting tomorrow with the Midwest special ed co-op. That's our special ed group um that meets and that'll be over in Morris. Negotiations for custodial staff will be on um Monday, October 6, 3:00 for our custodial staff, 4:30 for our uh 12 month district office staff. And then hopefully that'll take care of all of our groups and we'll just need to meet with our administrators to finish up that process. Schoolboard regular meeting is Wednesday the 15th. I did not get confirmation today, but
035I think the auditors are still intending to be here on that Wednesday, October 15th, to present our final audit there. Um, everything >> it's a morning meeting. >> They I did tell them it's a morning meeting. Yeah, I figured that they would maybe wait and so she may wait until that November meeting. Um, so we'll kind of check that out to see. Like I said, she didn't confirm this morning. they were still running some final numbers, but things are still trending very nice there as well as it comes to uh we will have an operating um you know we're not we're at a positive balance not a negative balance so that'll be a positive piece there that they'll share at that meeting and then MEA break October 16th and 17th we do have our new
036district office administrative assistant she has started and so you'll be seeing now a fall district newsletter remember we did the back to school newsletter now we'll do a fall newsletter out to give updates that'll include the weather related information and reminding parents how we'll get that information out to them our e-learning plan updates from what we're doing in the elementary the secondary just as well as the school nurses now illness starts to kick in so we'll just kind of get that pushed out again electronically here around MEA is our plan for that and then I did reach out to the city councils and we're looking at October 20th to meet with the Elbow Lake city council and then probably that first Monday or I should say the first Monday in November to meet with Kensington
037there. So, I'll confirm those times with them and let them know that I thought it would be a couple board members and myself that would attend those meetings. So, we'll just want to get that hired out so we can have that ready to go for those places. >> All right. Any questions for Mr. Brown, though? >> I hear you right only 21% of our property is nonexempt. >> Correct. So, on that on that so they what they call it is a a a market value and then referendum market value. So on like our operating levy that we is voter approved 21% of the property value and our district pays for that operating levy. >> The property value. >> Yeah. >> But you mean the other 79% has some type of exemption. >> Correct. Can't be
038up there paying on that. So, I'll dig into that a little bit more so I can I don't expect you to have a an answer, but just I mean do you are there any do you have any solutions to that or like if we were is that a problem first off? Is that is that bad having only 21%. >> Well, it shows that a certain less >> we're getting less money, right? But I mean >> well then we get the same amount of money. It's just that that burden is spread just on 21% of our market value. >> Okay. So, >> which means that the other folks qualify >> trying to formulate a question as as to >> so what >> if we if I was talking to Representative Rasmmanson and told him this that
039you know the main burden of is going to 21% of our tax payers. What are the things that are causing that? And what are the things that as a superintendent or as a board would we want changed at that state level or is there nothing that we would want changed? >> I don't know if you can change it because it's that seasonal egg, right? That would be exempt property. And so I think the change happened years ago because they couldn't get those operating levies to pass because those people would say, "Hey, I live on the lake. I'm not getting any impact. My kids don't go here." So they got to vote and it didn't matter. So they exempted those groups. So I think I've got to do a little more flushing that out to say,
040okay, what is the 80% that's not paying on this? So we >> It's farm It's farmland. >> Yeah, farmland. >> So basically your farmers are paying on >> one acre and their homestead is what they pay on. The rest of their acreage does not get taxed for this school levy. That's part of the reason. And so the majority of our our area is Yes. has crops. We don't have a big industry like manufacturing >> large communities, >> right? >> Lot of homes, >> big commercial. >> Well, that's my question. I'm not saying there's anything wrong. I'm asking is there anything wrong? >> No. I mean, it's just that we have a lot of farmland. >> If we were talking, >> like I said, if our representatives, there a fix to that. >> Yeah. No, >>
041fix to that is more more coming from the state. Maybe maybe not changing the rules, but we're >> potentially based on that property that equalization would be something to say, you know, why do we not qualify for that? Is there a way to have a uh button to say, hey, if you're if only 20% of your taxpayers are paying most of your operating levy, is there a way to qualify for some form of a equalization would be one piece we could look at. >> What's that equalization? Can you explain that to me or is this >> Let's be clear. It's not 21% of the taxpayers. >> It's 21% of the value is what the market value is paying that. So there's way more than that in taxpayers that are paying it. It just happens to
042be that 80% of our land is farmland and so that's not taxed for this purpose. So that's where the issue value I mean that's where the value right >> or seasonal egg or anything like that. So, >> and I and the thing of it is is sometimes we have to remember that some of those folks even though they don't pay on that. So, if you're a lake front owner, you don't necessarily pay your on that operating levy, but the state comes in with a state sales tax. So, you pay that. So, they still seem to and that money doesn't necessarily flow back to the district. So, it's those pieces there out there. But, yeah, I think that equalization would be a big piece just because again they're saying that, you know, here's how much of
043your property value per student. I think for us was it's $22 million per student. So they say, "Hey, yours your property value your >> and we don't qualify because our the value of our land is too high." Is that >> just our district in general at that 20, you know, that 22 billion? They just say and then they divide it by the number of pupils or students in the in the district say so for every student you have $22 million worth of property value to cover that. So you guys are wealthy enough not to have to cover that. >> A lot of that property value has an exemption. >> Correct. Yeah. Yeah. >> So it's >> almost all that kind of >> right. Yep. And we're not the highest district. I mean I'm trying to
044think is it um oh um Kitson County they're well even above that. So they don't get any, you know, and so some of these districts are going to say join the club, we've been here forever having to pay you for this. But they're just saying your district has enough property wealth where >> we don't need to subsidize it. >> Does the value of exempt land count in that >> in that equalization formula? >> That I would have to check on for sure to make sure. >> Yes. Because that's part of the 22 billion, >> right? Right. When they divide that out to that 22 million >> the total value of Grant County in tax base >> our west central area school district >> of West Central area school well mostly Grant County but yes in
045our district >> land example is against it. >> Yes that's part of the total value of that process. >> So I'm going to do a little more digging a little more research. Like I said when she presented she does a very nice job of sharing detail. She was a business manager up in Duth and so when she started she goes call it as you want she goes some of you are going to say you're lucky others are going to say not so lucky and we're not the only ones battle lake I know their business manager she was her number was even higher but it's so it all comes down to this question of how do we get equity across the entire state you know how do we make sure that everybody regardless of your we
046want to make sure every kid in Minnesota regardless of zip code gets the same quality education but how do we do that for our taxpayers as well that are you know regardless of zip code if you're Like Nathan said, if you're down in the cities, you got Metronic, you got all those corporations that are covering, so they can pass those a lot easier because the corporations are picking up a lot of that tab. >> Did we ever qualify for the equalization that you know? >> Could have been years ago. >> Is there any way to know that? >> I can do some historical data checking and stuff. I can check with Ellers to see on that. So I would think probably years ago there would have been some equalization that probably would have qualified and
047but I also have to look and see because it wouldn't have been how long has a seasonal egg I wonder has that been 10 years maybe that's >> recent 10 to 15 years that they exempted that remember that used to be everybody paid regardless even though you didn't get to vote you still paid for it and then they said hey this is causing issues so we're going to take that back and and change that but I could do a little bit of checking on that to see Any other questions? That brings us to our activities report with Mr. Bosine. >> Slid right in there. How did that all work out? >> Well, I had to talk 10 more minutes than I should have, but that doesn't surprise me. So, all right. I did send you
048a report a while ago. I did uh add a few things to the report uh today. Um starting with item one, uh cashless tickets. I spoke to our how do they call it? our area manager or whatnot uh the other day. Um we've decided and we'll we'll bring this to you as a discussion item and look to ratify at the next meeting in October. Um when we do make that move to cashless uh tickets, which I think everything is on track for us to start this winter, December 1 is our first winter event. Uh we would be looking at one general ad general admission ticket, one price. We would be looking at a student and staff free. How we do that is we send them an access code. They can go in and purchase their
049QR code for their ticket and keep it on their phone and that's at zero cost. There's since there's no cost for the pass and there's no cost for the for the transaction. Uh we'd be looking at a fall season pass. Our current punch card that we have is is 10 punches at at an eight punch price. So, it's $64 and then full price would be 80. This would be $70 because it now would cover the 11 scheduled home events that we have in the fall. Four volleyball, seven or excuse me, four football, seven volleyball. >> See, they're traveling a lot if there's four. >> Well, sorry, my math was way off. Um, then we would also look at incorporating a winter season pass. Roughly in the winter, we have about 28 home events. when you
050figure uh basketball, boys basketball, girls basketball, and wrestling. Um, this would be at the price of 20 events for 160. And we would also look at a yearly pass, which is something new for WCA. We've never had that. I mean, we've had different corporate passes and education foundation passes and different things like that. Um, this would be at a price of $225. Now, obviously, there's search charges and different things here that would be passed on to the consumer. Um but if you go the pass route you only pay that sir charge one time. So that would be the selling point to look at something like that. Um in our discussion or in my discussion with this Chris we talked about seniors EMS and veterans. Um he said schools have done this many different ways. Um
051one thing that they're seeing is invite them to come in and then we can do some of those transactions for them. We can create a pass for them. We can create discounted pieces for them. So that's that's one piece that I I I really have to iron out just given our current system of EMS veterans getting free and seniors pay the student rate. We're going general admission. Obviously that changes. So those little pieces I'll get I'll get figured out too. Um but this guy seemed very optimistic that invite them in. He goes, "Post it on Facebook. Teach them how to do it here and you guys can walk through their device with them." He goes, "Really? It's a one-time deal and it'll work. So, um, again, I'll I'll submit that to Mr. Brown and he
052can bring that for an action item at the October meeting. So, any questions on the goan piece? >> What is the option if let's just say somebody in the room had a flip phone and they wanted to go? Is there can you send that to >> there? There is a card there will be a card reader option here. Um, how that works on a flip phone, I can't answer that, but they they will be able to purchase a ticket on site >> via their card. So, >> okay. >> I didn't know there's flip phone still out there. Well, I guess I know one person with one. So, >> maybe there's two. >> Yeah. >> So, >> I know one for sure. >> Okay. So anyway, it would just be something you may want to figure
053out how do I buy an online ticket? >> One thing we talked about is creating with with um certain crowds maybe we work that has in the office and we we create a hard a card path for them with their QR QR code on that. >> Sure. >> So it's right there as well. So we walk through several different scenarios, Chris and I, as to what it all look like. I said my goal is once we hit December 1, there's no this is how this works. This is what it's going to look like. When it comes December one, the information is all been out to our public. It's there. Everybody knows this is where we're at. So questions on that? No. Okay. Sorry, I actually have a long report this time, which is not like
054me. So, sorry. I'm going to I'm going to take Mr. Brown's lead and talk a little bit. >> Disappointed. I'm not going to lie. >> So, uh, item number two, identity and branding. Um I I believe Did you send that information on Mr. Brown Law? >> I didn't after I saw him. >> Oh man. >> Yeah. >> So I I met with uh Joel Beerboom who he he was the architect behind our gym our wall project there. Our gym entrance. At the time his company was Catapult. It's now a different company, but uh we he and I were talking about a different project. And he said, "Why don't I just come out and and tour your tour your school?" Like, "Well, this this ought to be good." So he comes and he goes, "All right.
055What are your school colors?" Well, they're red and black. Goes, "Why is your school green? And then why when I come into I see a maroon wall, and then I see a green wall, and then I see a yellow hallway." And as we walk some more, he goes, "Oh, you got a nice red, black, and white hallway there between the counselor's office, but there's a blue and gray hallway down there." He's like, "You got to figure out where your colors are at." And I mean, it was just a very good discussion. We talked a numerous items uh numerous possibilities as to um our identity and branding different pieces we could do in this building. We didn't so much focus on the academic wing just because knowing that there there is a possible referendum and some
056things may look different there. We thought maybe focusing on this end could at least get the ball going. And he said, you know, if you don't ever start this, you're never going to get anywhere. And I I I can respect that point, too. So, there's uh a document that I share with Mr. Brownler that he will share with you. Um they're not in any prioritized order, but there are lots of items there uh to look at and I think I mean that's that's going to be a kind of an ongoing discussion. That's Joel and I and I know Mr. Brno has another entity too he's he's worked with as well. So just some ways to incorporate some red and black and some WCA night items into here. Uh for example, like he talked about the
057tables in the commons. Why don't you face them with your logo on each top of the table instead of them being green? Well, that that's a possibility. And the the door placards, he goes, you could make those out of your shield logo with the door number on them instead of just a square logo. So, just different things like that. So, it was it was a pretty pretty cool discussion. It was about a three-hour meeting. He was here and yeah, it was lots of good stuff. So, any questions on on that at all? Okay. Okay, number three, Knowledge Bowl has got going this year. As I said earlier, we're going to have sixth grade go as well. I think there are three or four three meets for sure. I'd have to double check if there's four,
058but those are on the calendar. I cannot add those to our school because our school is 7 through 12. So, we can add them in our events, but I can't add them on the calendar. Um, obviously, it's homecoming week this week. Um, a little different for me personally. I' I've been the student council adviser up until this year. So, it's uh credit to Addy Stark for taking on all those activities and taking the lead of the student council. It's been been good so far. And looks like the weather I might actually stack two good weather years in a row, which is not like me for homecoming. So, those of you that have been around know that my percentage is not good. >> Uh playoffs, uh girls tennis start Monday. Uh they will host McCrae cross
059country. uh their playoffs is the or their section race is the 23rd. Football their first round is the 21st and volleyball's first round is the 22nd. Um after the 22nd, it's hard to talk hard to believe we're going to talk basketball, but junior high girls basketball starts October 27th. Um again, a continued need for game workers. So if you if you know people refs is going to be tough this year. I can tell you that right now from some of the refs who have refed in the past are not refing this year. So, I know I know everybody just loves to ref. So, if you know somebody, give me some names and I'll I'll reach out. Our ninth grade flying day is coming up next week at the Alba Lake Airport on October 7th. I
060took a group of eight juniors to the West Central Conference leadership day, September 25th in Sock Center. Uh Wendy Kohler, the former girls basketball coach at ALEC, was the guest speaker and her speech was phenomenal. Just very inspiring. just really good for the kids to hear uh what she had to say. Um it concluded with a Q&A and a Dairy Queen trip at the end. So the kids were pretty excited about that. And then upcoming events, I have a board of directors meeting tomorrow and the corporate partner committee. We're going to meet on October 14th. So lots of words from me. That's all I have. How would we, And this really is probably a question for Jake, but it was talked about quite a while ago. I brought it up, but with this breing shortage
061that we have and we see coming, how do we maybe incorporate that into our curriculum to get kids started? Because if they start if they start now and they're in high school, I think they'll be more comfortable to do it when they get out. And I would I would say one answer to that is you're asking the million-dollar question that most schools are asking. How can we get >> Well, there's other schools that are doing it. So, it's it's not like it there >> is different curriculum pieces out there. So, how how we could incorporate that, I think you and I would have to sit down and see what that looks like on a master schedule and and then who would teach it too would be the other hard part, too. >> Who would So,
062the board support something like that? What's everybody else's opinion on us looking at that program? Be up to us to approve implementing it. >> Well, I think you got to get, you know, similar to some other things we've done, you got to get kind of get some feedback on buy into it. You know, like is that something kids are interested in? You know, if it's an elective and nobody wants to do it, you know, it's a great idea. I'm I'm all for, you know, given that opportunity. Do we have kids that are interested in that? Is that something you know that I mean I think it's a definitely a useful piece for all of our communities. You know it doesn't matter where you go everybody's in the same situation. All these you know groups that
063you know organizations that do officiating are looking for people constantly. But how >> I did I did a discussion with one of the groups that we use and he said Jake in 5 years I don't know what our group's going to look like anymore. I do. They're all going to be in a recliner somewhere. They're not, you know, >> I talked to one of the guys that rushed some of, you know, Macy's games and that before that lives around the area. I'm not going to use his name, but um, you know, I asked him, you know, how do these kids get into it for my own kids? And, you know, what's your advice? And he said it's he says it's just awesome. He said it's a it's a good way to when you get out
064of school to still feel that competitiveness. um without playing a sport anymore. Um it's a super summer job. You said you can pick up games here and there after you're in college, you know, going to whether it's AAU tournaments or weekend events or just uh starting with junior high games. >> Um he had nothing but good things to say about young kids getting into it and all the advantages people they meet. Um, so I personally think it's something that we should look into sooner rather than later. And I hope the rest of the board members feel the same way. >> Probably align with some type of a leadership. Would it fall maybe under a little bit under leadership would be a FID elective, do you think? >> FID. I feel like it'd be a easy
065FIAD elective. >> See if Jason Nickelby tomorrow has some ideas for the state high school league. So he's there. He's a white hat now for Big 10 football. A guy in played from the state high school league. So >> kind of big when you see that. >> So >> it's a good career if you can become an NFL referee. They say that they're making 200 to $260,000 a year. So >> they don't even have Never mind. >> All right. Any other questions for Mr. Fosley? >> All right. I'd like to reiterate that Darren had said a gentleman or whoever wanted to check out our options and bring them back to us there with ideas on it be a good team anybody that's speech I think good >> well sometimes when you're younger it makes a
066little bit easier than when you get older I think right you just sometimes that comfort zone of getting into it while you're young. And you know, we have students that stop playing the sport, but they still want to be part of the sport. And right now, they're really only their only option is to be a manager, right? They're option. So, I would just give them another option. >> Mhm. >> That they can do for as long as they want to do. All right, then we'll move on to new business. Uh, review the following statutory uh policies with statutory and recommended changes from MSBA. Uh, this is just the first reading. Um, policy 605, alternative education services. Policy 606, textbooks and instructional materials. Policy 608, instructional services, special education. Policy 609, uh, religion and religious and
067cultural observances. Policy 535, service animals in school. Um, any there was no actual changes um to any of those policies, so they're all similar to what they were prior. Um, any questions on those? Um, are we going to handle these all separately? So, um, we' look for a motion to No, we don't need a motion. Just reading. >> Yep. So, those are no action there. Um, we move on to approve the 2527 support staff 9-month group agreement. Um, do you just have the >> do we have a summary there? So, >> yeah. are um [Music] >> Yep. So, the ninemonth is here and then I'll pull the 10-month. I'm not sure what the copy or how that looked like it take took every other page, but we did update some pieces with the nine-month contract
068that the snow day policy that food service staff will also be provided with a staff development opportunity. They had been doing that, but just making sure that was in the agreement. And then the SCA canceled school day policy. So they'll policy used to be that they could watch one hour worth of viewing and take a do a summary piece and then they got to count that for two hours. So we've just said whatever time split in that's what they're getting credit for. So there none of us getting working a half day to get credit for a full day. So we've made that adjustment there. Group health insurance just updating that to say that you must work at least 30 hours per week. This follows the ACA guidelines and at least 36 weeks per year, which
069is all of our nine-month staff to qualify for health insurance. 403b plan just changed that to meet match the dates of September 1st. Their other count, their existing contract said July 1st. Well, if they're a nine-month employee and they don't start till September, it's awfully difficult to through that in July. So, we've made that difference there in increasing the health insurance contribution from 490 to 560 for this current year per month. and then from 560 to 630 uh for fiscal year 27 and then a 2% increase for this year on the hourly wage schedule and a 3% next year. Then we also did add one um additional personal leave after three years of service to the school district. So they'll have a total of three and adding one paid holiday memorial day will now be
070a paid holiday for our nine-month staff. Anything that I left out, Kayla, Darren or Ryan? I guess I appreciated negotiating with this group. They were they came in very, you know, I think the requests that they came in with were the requests that were honored there. So, it wasn't a whole laundry list. And so, it was very nice to be able to meet with them and negotiate and and then also to be able to grant them a contract that I believe shows our appreciation for their work in the district. All right. I'll look for a motion to approve the support staff 9-month agreement. >> So moved. >> Second. >> All in favor say I. >> I. >> Motion carries. That brings us to the clerical staff 10-month agreement. >> And you have the details? >>
071Yeah, I have the details here. I So that group as well was very very good to work with. Um so same thing, they'll have to work at least 30 hours per week for 36 weeks per year, which all of those uh secretaries do. what I said just down the road if we'd ever get into a position where we had a part-time position or something like that. We just want to make sure that it's fairly clearly stated. Again, this follows the ACA guidelines or minimum requirements. Change that date as well to September 1st for our 10-month secretarial staff. We did add one personal leave day after 3 years of service uh for them as well. Um and after that three years and then they'll have the 10 years, 15 years, they'll get additional days there. Um,
072we did allow them for the 25 through 27 agreement over the holiday break that they may use their personal leave. They can put in for personal leave to be paid for that over that twoe window. And then that's something that we would be looking at down the road to see how we address that maybe more as a district-wide stance there. Just some small language changes on the um disciplinary or the probationary period. Then health insurance that went from $575 to $600 per month for fiscal 26 and up another $75 per month to 675 for fiscal 27. And their hourly wages will increase by 2% in fiscal 26 and 3% in fiscal 27 which aligns with our uh teacher agreement where we were with them for the 2 and 3% increase. Questions, comments on that agreement?
073And I would look for a motion to approve the clerical staff 10-month agreement. >> So moved. >> Second. >> All in favor say I. >> I. >> Motion carries. Um the request for proposals for construction management services. Uh you can see that um RFP in your is there any questions, comments? >> We kind of reviewed that I think at the last >> session. Still we didn't really change anything. So, this would be just a formalizing. We're going to go out for we're going to look for proposals for construction management services. Um, I think you gave a little detail on that just that you know it goes out on our Facebook or goes on our website, goes out in a paper. It's going to go to um different entities that you know WDSH has worked with
074or if there's any we have we can send those out specifically. But um does it say when they're due back on here, Mr. Rollins? >> They need to be back by 10:29, I think. Right. Is it 10:29? >> 2 p.m. on the 29th. Yep. >> So, yeah, they'll we'll get that out on our district media that way. And then I'll get it to the newspaper Friday, which will be next week's Grant County Herald, our legal paper. And then, yeah, if there's any group that you can think of that needs to be included, let me know. Otherwise, I know WID says that they have a list that they'll forward it to. And I did go around to see who the construction managers were down at the superintendent's conference or up at the superintendent's conference. So, I'll
075send out there was three of those folks that were there. So, I'll forward that off to them as well. And so, it should give us a good pool to review >> with a tenative plan of doing some reducing that to a short list by the early fear early November and interviewing by mid November. >> Yep. for for potential candidate. Right. Okay. Any other questions on that? I would look for a motion to approve the request for proposal for construction management services for pre-referendum planning. So, >> all in favor say I. >> I. >> Motion carries. brings us to item 6.1. >> Second. All in favor say I. >> I. >> Thank you. I just got