001and then I will just say I'll lean over and check yours. There we go. Think it's coming back. >> All right, let's call this meeting of the school board to order. Dr. Seno, have we been properly uh noticed? >> Yes. Awesome. Uh do a quick roll call. Joel >> here. >> Leah >> here. >> Jessica >> here. >> Sarah >> here. >> Andrew. Jack >> here. >> Tom here. Carly is absent tonight. I am here. Uh, when we all rise and 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. Someone to read the mission statement. >> Hi, Kim. The Mountorb Area School District in partnership with the community is dedicated to nurturing, educating, and challenging all
002students, preparing and empowering them to be productive, responsible, and self-fulfilled members of society. >> Awesome. Thank you, Jessica. Need for a minute here first. Agenda. >> Yeah, there we go. Um, great. Next up is our agenda and minutes. Looking for a motion to either approve or revise the agenda. >> Motion to approve. Second. >> Got a motion by Jessica and a second by Leah. All in favor? >> I. >> Any opposed? Motion passes. Next up is our November 3rd regular and closed session board meeting minutes. Uh again, just looking for a motion to approve or if there's any adjustments that need to be made. >> Motion to approve, >> second a motion by Joel and a second by Tom. All in favor? >> I. Any opposed? >> Motion passes. Uh Dr. S, do we have
003anyone signed up to speak to? >> We do. We're fortunate again to have our friends from PE Flag here tonight, Amy Lyall and Ashley Green. Um, are we? >> Yeah, we're gonna I'm Amy Ly, a parent in the district and have a senior in high school and um here as I'm representing P Flag to again thank you all for um standing up for all students in our district. and we are coming off of the weekend musical which I'm sure um >> the high of the weekend >> attendance still recovering at our house and um our students been a member of the pit for the past four years and um we had the honor of being able to stay after for the cast party and hear senior speeches and it was just really something and it
004we came home and we were reflecting how grateful we are um obviously to the district as a whole but also and especially to the music program at Mount Horb and how welcoming and supportive they are for all students. There is a place for everyone in the music program. Um and that is really something special and you could hear that in the speeches from the students. They were talking about community and they were talking about belonging and they were talking about reaching out to, you know, um, younger students and how they had been mentored. Um, and just that piece about um, wanting to quit and thinking, oh my goodness, is this going to come together? What if it doesn't? And then of course it does and it's beyond anyone's imagination. like being a part of something
005that takes so much hard work and dedication. And we just also know that that is just billions of hours of staff time, you know, from the music department and um from everybody from everybody. And so just wanted to show gratitude for that and that the district funds music um in this and it just really has the the power for our student couldn't be overstated. >> Yeah, it's going to be hard to add to Amy's comments. I I think she kind of hit everything I would want to echo here in the next few seconds, but I think the word that we heard the most from the senior's uh speeches or comments was actually community. Uh which I think is is a testament to the leadership that all of you have for our district, I think for
006all of our our teachers. Uh certainly the music program. A special shout out to Kellen Dorner, the tireless for his just amazing mentorship of all these students. And you know, like Amy said, I mean, uh, hearing the seniors speak, I think gave us all of us in the room a lot of hope and optimism >> about the future. and uh sort of building on that community and the inclusivity that I I think has been shown by the district and is reflected in the the speech and the actions uh of our student body. I think is yeah again a testament to the leadership that all of you have kind of sent here for the system. So thank you. >> And wasn't it cool to see Mary Poppins and >> B fly? Amazing. Thank you. Thank you
007so much. >> Thank you. Thank you. Good thing Mr. Dorner doesn't have anything else big to prepare FOR you and I relax now. >> Dr. Seno personnel I should we should get into school names first. Do you have some that would you like to start us? >> Why don't we Thank you. That's very thoughtful of you. How about the students and then then I go in the back. >> Andrew, you want to share anything? >> Sure. back and start. Obviously, as we heard, the musical is all done with um went off really well. Had a couple of really good shows. Um I believe we lost the uh lost the third round football game. So, unfortunately, we're done with that. So, uh anything else you want to add? >> Yeah, we had Deca's mock competition at
008Whitewater this weekend, which was super cool. Um Mal Horov always does a great job at that. There was a couple perfect roleplay scores, which is a huge thing. Um, especially because the majority of students who go are ones who have never before. So, that was exciting. But yeah, I saw the musical, too. I actually went the last night and there was that that scene where um the guy like hurts his hand and he slammed on the table and it broke in half and it wasn't supposed to but it popped itself back into place right on Q plays Mary Poppins like started to sing a spoonful of sugar. It was so cool. I don't know you GUYS WERE THERE, BUT >> it was it was >> Yeah, that's a fantastic >> all great celebrations, including these
009two fantastic young people. On the left is 9th grader Lucy Peterson, and on the right is Caitlyn Patrick Stern. Caitlyn's a senior this year. Both of them represented our school district so beautifully at State Swim uh this weekend as well. A lot of great things happening in our school community. Leah's got something. >> Yes. So, on Friday, if you are into the K-pop demon hunters, uh PTO is having a sing along with PC free to come in and we will have concessions for sale and um come come visit me. I'll be slinging popcorn. So, with your hearing a I didn't even know you could bring that. So, you might saw me pretending where your order is, but I'm hoping we're outside the gym selling concessions because Yeah. Actually, I think we're going to be in
010the cafeteria, which I'm leaving the herinades at home, but it should be it should be a good time. So, come join us. >> Awesome. Thank you. Anyone else? Any school news, Don? Um the ELC and PC are having their evacuation drills uh this Thursday and Friday. So the kids will be going through that just to make the parents aware if they didn't see their email. Um and last week was a lot of parent teacher conferences um at the PC ELC and at the IC. I know for sure. Um um my my daughter was part of the teacher conferences or um evaluations. And in our folder was a nice sheet uh describing the evidence-based grading. So I was happy to see that was included so to to help parents understand that. So it's awesome. >> Mhm.
011>> Great. Thank you. Anyone else with any school news? All right. Appreciate it. Uh next up we have uh some personnel transactions. Dr. Sando, anything to call out there? >> Uh yes. Board members, there is an addendum that we placed this afternoon. Please. >> It looks like a retirement. >> I'm going to come. I just got it this afternoon. So, I'm going to be better prepared to speak to Al. He's such a wonderful man and >> 400 years of the district probably. >> That's pretty remarkable guy. >> Motion to approve. Second. >> Have a motion by Leah and a second by Jessica. All in favor? I. >> Any oppose? All right. Motion passes. the consent agenda. >> Next up is our consent agenda. See the items are all listed there. I'll ask for a motion
012to approve that as stated. >> Motion to approve. Second. >> Got a a motion by Jessica. I'm sorry. Just a second. Sarah Sarah. Thank you. Uh all in favor? I. >> Any opposed? >> Great. Thank you very much. Next item is our committee reports. Uh Jessica, do you want to start us off with education? >> Sure. We met earlier this month on November 3rd. Um Sarah gave us a curriculum update and she shared that the middle school English language arts resource pilot is currently happening in all three middle school grades. She also shared that the first year implementation for the middle school math resource Eureka is also in progress. Um and related to that, um Mr. Christensen, Kelly Parker, and Sarah are all participating in a full day learning and coaching session related to Eureka
013in the beginning of December. In terms of grading and assessment updates, Sarah is currently conducting and maybe already done, but 20 to 30 interviews with teachers who are currently implementing standardsbased teaching and grading practice to figure out what's working, what's not working, count themes, and I'm sure we'll hear more about that in the future. Uh, for the belonging updates, we've talked about this before, but all district staff and our building administrators participated in the culture and belonging workshop. Um earlier on November 10th, we also had a discussion about 4K and the 4K contracts. Nicole Te came um and presented her yearly updates for us and those will be presented to the full board on our first December meeting. >> Great. Thanks. Any questions for Jessica? And I think uh we get to go right into
014if there is something for community coalition. >> Yeah, the timing is always I can't remember if I already presented this. I'm sure. I don't think that I did. Um so we met the end of October uh the 28th. It was Rachel's last meeting. Um Nick Owens is going to um coordinate hosting the meeting from now on. So he's going to send out the meetings and we're going to meet at the village office instead of the chamber office. Uh we have four standing updates that we talk about. Child care, housing, um the chamber business development update and then the workforce development. Um Kristen who is the economic developer contractor person that they've hired and Nick and Ryan talked about the housing assessment report that I think was emailed to all of us. Um they talked about
015affordability, demand, uh potential growth, child care. Um there was an update related to that. Um and then our Craig Smith um gave the workforce um development update and talked about the IBD program and our current youth apprenticeship needs. So >> meet again uh quarterly. So >> okay in Exactly. >> That's it. >> Excellent. Appreciate it. Um I had a couple of notes from the uh the village side of things. Nothing there was there are a couple items that are direct to the school and just others of general interest. Um an RFP, the request for proposal has been posted on the village website for the Lucket farm development. There's going to be a pre-proposal meeting for interested developers on Wednesday, December 3rd. Um, village board is having a special hearing, a meeting on uh this Wednesday
016for public hearing, consideration of the budget and a presentation about the zoning code rewrite and uh specific to the school the plan commission will also meet this week for a public hearing consideration of a and I'm trying to think again. What's the cup? I just looked this up. >> Construction progress. Yeah. Yeah. um it's it dealing with the new school and just getting final approvals on that. And we also need a a review of a certified survey map that we uh did to combine our lots. And then earlier this month, as we discussed the last last meeting, um a few of us uh Dr. Serno and I were on the call as well. Um and met uh to discuss TID 6 um voted in favor of development of that. That's the Caracall area redevelopment. Um
017it did come up in terms of the safety concerns um that uh people had brought up including our group knowing that there's a lot of kids that travel over that way um both during the construction and afterward just to keep that in mind in terms of safe pes passage through the library and McDonald's and I sticky and all that fun stuff. And that's what I have for you from the village. Uh, next up we have an information and advocacy report. >> All right. >> I feel like there's a theme there's a theme tonight on wellness and um belonging. So, I feel like this just lends itself well um surrounding the board's goal of well-being and um providing staff and student support. Um this is specifically just identifying and um some of the offerings that we
018have for our staff around wellness. Um you saw this report last year. This is just an alphabetical order. So, I'm going to go a little um a little off uh the list here, but some of the things that you see um employee assistance program, flu COVID clinic, um the Mount Recreation Department reimbursement program, um step challenges, the Viking newsletter, um and the wellness survey. Those things have been happening for many years and we continue um to offer those. Um, I would just note that some of it, if you're looking at this in depthly, you'll you'll notice some of the engagement numbers around some of those reoccurring things. Um, our employee assistance program was the utilization was down a little bit this year. Flu and COVID clinic significantly up. Um, recreation reimbursement a little bit down.
019So, you'll be able to see those um in the details of the report. Um nothing nothing out of the ordinary but just a little bit natural fluctuations there. There are some new things that I'd like to highlight. Um the health insurance committee um and thanks to Jessica and Carly for joining us. Um we engage in um conversations with our um insurance provider yearly and we have been um very fortunate the last few years to have um very small costs and actually two years ago a reduction in our premiums which is kind of unheard of. um uh a lot of local districts are experiencing significant increases and sometimes doubledigit increase percentage increases which is very common. So this committee is not is is we're being proactive. Um this isn't to necessarily make any decisions at this
020time but we have a small committee that we're gathering input and want to find out um just be prepared for you know things in the future. Um we're looking at comparisons. We want to know our options and also what matters most to our employees. So um as we continue to engage in conversations and if we um go down the road of likely increases, we know what our priorities are now versus scrambling to make decisions. So we're excited to um engage in this. We've had two of our three meetings. Um we have one yet in December. Um along that same line with our health care provider courts, we've been um having different um engagements uh opportunities for our staff. Um I meet with courts um wellness team um that also goes with um our representatives of
021USI. We meet week uh monthly just to look at our um overall data as well as um co-plan different um events for our staff. The courts well is a free program that's offered to anybody who is enrolled in courts. Um we have 50% active engagement. Um this program um helps um promote provide tools and the you know rewards cash rewards for um participating in in wellness. Um we've been able to partner with courts and create some Mount Horab based challenges. um which is fun. Um not only are they um good for overall wellness but helps reach people's um uh rewards as well. Um also from that uh collaboration with courts we've been able to last year in um the second half of the year had two presentations on wellness topics um for our staff. They
022were optional and held during early release times. So, we had one on behavioral health um as well as a virtual presentation that people could um attend and then also that information was sent out to all staff on just what um what is available through our courts program through behavioral health. And then um in January we also or I should say in March we held an in-person um information session on what is courts well and um got a bunch of people logged in and involved in that program as well. So that partnership has been um really wonderful and we've enjoyed that. Um, a couple new things to highlight, not new to um, us, but we do have some wonderful service animals here. And I know it kind of um, the purpose is definitely to be here
023for students. Um, but it doesn't hurt staff either. And uh, uh, Crumble and Ruby and Schmidt will be around um, our employees as well. And it is also a very uplifting experience um for our staff and uh brings smiles to people's faces. So um just to note that. And finally um healthy lunches. This is a wonderful thing that our food service department has offered the second half of last year. Um, of course people can uh use our school lunch program, but they can also order um a special healthy lunch option that's delivered right to their um building from salads to power bowls to even sushi. So um it's a wonderful opportunity for our staff um as well. Um this is definitely not an exhaustive list. Um, one thing, uh, even today I had an employee
024who asked could I, uh, host a line dancing class after school. Um, so that was sent out to all staff today. So, there are many things like that that happen just here and there. Um, but these are some of the reoccurring larger things um, that I added. So, happy to answer questions. >> Thank you, Aaron. This is great. Um, how do staff find out about the EAP program? H >> um many different ways. Um, it is tagged on my email um, uh, from our HR office, so everybody can have a direct link there. Um, it is found on our website um, through our staff portal. Anybody can access it there. Um, and um, I I'd say it's mentioned a lot. Um it's a free resource for our staff to engage in um on a wide
025variety of things um not only mental health but financial legal services all of that. So um it's a I always encourage folks to check it out and and use that resource. >> At the first of every month >> Erin puts out a wellness newsletter to employees and there's always some highlight around employee assistance program too. you do such a great job with that newsletter every month. >> That's good to have that reminder because I feel like um in the corporate world too, it's just a very underutilized benefit everywhere you go. So >> yeah, agreed. >> And then my one other question is just the wellness survey. When is it? I know it's usually nowish. >> December 1st through December 15th. Um it will go out to staff. Um, we're also on our December 9th um,
026early release. It'll be noted in there that if staff want to take time to complete it during that, but they will be able to do that, too. So, um, it'll go out December 1st. I feel like we need a rule that intended dogs are mentioned. They're shed by pictures. Oh, great. I kind of like brought bring them in. They make us happy, too. >> The one thing I don't see on that list is financial wellness. I think that's an important part of overall wellness cuz money is the number one cause of stress. >> Yeah. from almost every family. Um, there should be something to that effect out there. >> Whether we bring out the state pension people or some of our 403b uh partners or something like that to >> offer information on >> eventually
027we all want to get out of this and do something different, right? So, >> yeah. >> No, that's a good point. I do put those in my wellness newsletters um as I put uh different resources and topics throughout the year, but um maybe getting some out somebody out in person will be a good thought too. Thank you for that. >> Great. Thanks, Erin. A lot of lot of really good different options. Looks like the the menu has expanded quickly. If you want to host a class anytime too, Adam, just let me know. Oxford joint classes across the >> Exactly. Exactly. I mean debating class. >> Uh my class has candy. Excellent. On to our action items for tonight. Dr. Cerny, do you want to talk us through the uh consideration of that resolution? Yes. The
028tax living and private school voucher tax transparency capability. >> Yes. Thank you so much. And I really want to extend a note of gratitude to several of our community members who approached us on this topic and said, you know, you may wish to ask your local village if they'd be willing to put a statement on uh the property tax bills. Um that would identify exactly how much money is going towards um voucher programs. uh and then to what extent are those voucher programs in our school district and so taking a cue from the Oaklair school district which passed a resolution which you'll see here I'll put that up for us this would be uh before I go to that this would be what we'd be proposing to um the village of Mount Hura uh for
029their consideration uh the actual language which just basically talks about you know how much over the past several years um we've had increased even more and more and more and more money oops uh for the purposes of of voucher programs yet we're receiving less and less and less and less state aid up to this point now almost $750,000 um is going to be paid out um to voucher programs around the state. Uh none of that local money is staying here in Mount Hor. We'll be passing that on to other communities that have that until such time as a local private entity wishes to um try to get into the the state pool on that. And so you'll also see attached here um a resolution for your consideration. um little more formal in in advance of
030um this meeting today. I I took the liberty of just connecting with uh Mr. Nick Owen. Nick, as you might remember, is the village administrator for Mount Hora. And um I asked him if they if this were to be approved, uh would this be a consideration for the village to put on their next full meeting? uh well he couldn't make any promises because like um I do I work with the the president and so we want to make certain that that would meet with the president of the villages um thoughts. It would be an awfully fast turnaround time though. Um I'm not remembering when the next village meeting is. I want to say there's one more before December 1st. I could be wrong about that. And as you know uh property tax bills go out
031pretty pretty fast uh here in December. Now the other consideration and in fairness to the village is that you know this opens the door to uh the school district what other entity might also wish to have something added on to the property tax bill and might you have more and more um pages to your property tax bill? Uh and so I don't think anybody really wants that. So, we want to be thoughtful and and uh we know we have a great partnership with the village and um I'm grateful to the community uh for recognizing this need. They've been in touch with Mrs. Aragoni and Mr. Mertz and myself now over the course of the past 6 to 8 months. I think we've had some communication with them about a variety of topics. Just demonstrates even
032people without children in our school district want to advocate for our young people and I just admire that in our community. So, with that, I'm happy to try to answer any questions. And of course, Mr. Mertz, Mrs. Aragon, if there's questions that you have or or uh feedback, I know they can help us out, too. >> Haven't we asked for this before and they said no? >> Yes, we did ask I want to say prior to co I think I was about 219 or so. >> I was going to say I think I can't remember if it was Kimberly or Diana that was pushing for it. Kimberly, >> I think she even mocked it up like >> and yeah. Okay. So that I mean I guess yeah it was that long ago. >> I think
033it's important to ask again and the village composition is different now. >> True. >> And even if they say no I think we keep asking >> issue. Yeah. Um and two uh one one confirmation question and one question about the final bullet point on the other >> yes uh item with the actual proposed language for it. >> Uh so you know just doing the quick math we're talking 2 million over four academic years >> thereabouts. >> Yeah. I mean it's it's big enough number to see 750 but then we do the cumulative >> more importantly is the rate of increase >> and the rate of increase. That's super concerning, >> right? Yes. Um and then the fourth bullet point, I know we discussed what we might want to note there. Um that we ended on
034little benefit. Um do we leave we just leaving ourselves some room for for error there or is there some benefit that goes somewhere that might be attributed to positive? >> Thank you for asking. While no one currently in the Mount Hor boundaries area boundaries has applied to be a part of that um pool of money, there are local dollars that are spent on private um schools um like transportation is a great example for that. And so rather than saying absolutely no benefits when someone might argue with me to say but you okay then let's let's not get into a a red herring and so I'd advocated for the word little but I can be convinced otherwise if you felt differently. >> No more clarifying question. >> Dr. As this is a resolution, not policy, we
035would be able to just approve on a majority vote with Kelly absent tonight. That's right. >> Okay. >> So again, we are asking them to put something on the back of the tax bill or include a separate sheet in the in the envelope. >> Yeah. Ultimately, I I we would love it to be actually on the bill itself. >> Yeah. >> Absent of that, then some kind of inclusion. And if that meant that we ran the copies and folded them, I'm happy to do that. If that if it comes down to something like that, there's >> seems like good use of silver court hours. >> Are you looking to earn yours? >> No, there was a really great suggestion made at the finance committee that overlooked this uh resolution. You know, if we're successful with
036the village, we must remember that there's eight other entities uh that make up the area school district and we could work to encourage their their inclusion as well. It's a good idea. >> Any further discussion on this one conversation including from Jack and Andrew? I don't know if you do have any specific questions. Okay. Personally, I'm I'm for it. Um I can't see the any negatives of of the ask. So, >> I make a motion to approve our resolution. I second that. >> A motion from Jessica and a second from Sarah. Any further discussion? All right. All in favor? >> I I Any opposed? Motion passes. Thanks, Dr. Sler. Thank you. Work on that. Um that was our uh loan action item of the night. Um citizens comments if we have any further signups. >>
037Not yet. >> Okay, great. uh future uh meetings that are coming up here. Just to get that on everyone's radar, we have uh BGT next Monday at 4:30 p.m. education committee and the full board final full board meeting of the year on December 1st right in this room and then uh finance committee on December 8th. And at this point, I would entertain a motion on close session. The item up for consideration here is the contemplated close session for section 19.851C considering employment, promotion, compensation or performance evaluation data of any public employee over which the governmental body has jurisdiction or exercises responsibility to w meet and confer update and superintendent evaluation and contract. >> I move to go into close session. >> Second. I've got a motion from Sarah and a second from Jessica. We'll do
038a roll call vote on that. Joel, >> yes. >> Leah, >> yes. >> Jessica, >> yes. >> Sarah, >> yes. Tom. Yes.