May 2026 Committee of the Whole Meeting

001Are you ready? Everybody ready? >> I'm ready. >> Start early. It's >> I'm just waiting for that magical five. >> It's fast. I >> It is >> different every week. >> Computer's good. Weekends start. Good evening everybody and welcome to tonight's special session. reorganization of our board and also the committee the whole agenda like to call tonight's meeting to order. We have met official compliance for this meeting. Roll call please and you'll need to do roll call tonight. >> Shelley M >> here. >> Nick Olsen >> here. >> Sarah Schubert >> here. >> Laura Gapsky >> here. >> Catherine >> here. >> Lisa Pollson >> here. And president Steve Olsson >> here. This meeting is a meeting of the board of education held in public for the purpose of conducting the school district's business and

002is not to be considered a public community meeting. There is a time for comments by members of the public during the meeting as indicated on the agenda. Members of the public wishing to address the board on any of the topics included on tonight's agenda may do so by signing up on the public comment signup sheet by the entrance prior to the start of the meeting. The board requests refraining from making any comments involving personally identifiable information about students, staff, or administration. Comments should be respectful, focused on the items being considered by the board and will be restricted to 3 minutes in length. Reorganization of the board. Newly elected school board members Steve Olsen and Lisa Pollson signed their official oath of office prior to assuming responsibilities on April 27, 2026. And this time I'd like

003to echo Lisa our board. We're looking forward to to you being part of our >> Thanks. Congratulations, Steve. >> Coming on back. >> Next up is our voting for our officers. And first is to vote for a new president. >> I'll nominate Steve Olsen for board president. >> Second. >> There's a nomination and a second. Are there any other nominations? Are there any other nominations? Hearing none. All those in favor signify by saying I. >> I. >> Opposed. Carries. Vice president. Call for nominations. >> I'd like to nominate Laura Gatsby. >> Second. >> Nominate John Nicholson. Second. There's a motion and a second. Laura Gabsky for vice president. Nicholas Olsen for vice president. There have been seconds. Because we have two people nominated. We do move to a secret ballot. >> Steve, do you need

004to say do you have to ask three typeations? You are correct. >> Are there any other nominations? Are there any other nominations? And at this time then we will proceed to the vote. Again, we have two individuals and thus we will go to a secret ballot. I ask that you please write the name of your choice on your ballot. The ballots will be collected by an she and Dr. Starzki will go into a different room and count the ballots. I never seen that room. Hold my eyes. Yes. You drink coffee all the time. Like all day. >> Oh, smells good. >> What's up? Look at you. >> Green cuddles. >> What is it? >> You need three weeks of >> How long can I go? Vice President is Laura Gapsky. >> Thank you and congratulations

005to you, President Olsen. I look forward to working alongside you again another year. >> Thank congratulations to you. The next office is that of the treasurer. Call for nominations, please. >> I'd like to nominate Sarah McCone. Schubert McCome. >> There's a motion and a second for Sarah Schubert Mccon. Are there any other nominations? Hearing none. All those in favor signify by saying I for Sarah Schubert Mcome. I Motion carries. Congratulations, Sarah. School clerk. Like to open nominations for our school clerk. >> I'd like to shel motion and a second for school clerk Shelley Men. Are there any other nominations? Are there any other nominations? Hearing none. All those in favor signify by saying I. >> I. Opposed. Motion carries. Appointment of secretary deputy clerk. All for volunteers and or nominations. And I nominate Anne Schultz.

006>> Second. >> Motion in a second for Anne Schultz as the secretary deputy clerk. Are there any other nominations? Are there any other nominations? Hearing none. All those in favor signify by saying I. >> I. >> Opposed. Motion carries. Appointment for representative the annual CISA 12 convention. This um has generally been a volunteer or we could nominate. >> Yeah. I think it's important for people to know when they meeting. Is it still Tuesday? >> It's generally Tuesdays and it's generally once a month. What's changed a little bit over all the years when you were part of it and I was part of it is that we do get a update. In fact, Dr. Starzeki gets the update and then she's been sharing that with us. There hasn't been a lot of um need to be

007attending that in person. You can attend virtually as well. >> so what's the May 26 date though? That's the annual convention. That is a good question. Ann, is that what that is? >> And that's virtual or in person? >> It's in person. >> I would volunteer, but not this year. I can't turn around that quickly and do that. >> Right. >> Okay. I do know that it's it did not take a lot of my time. the the one year that I have it. >> Yeah. >> Is it just a onetime commitment? >> No. Is this the This is the monthly meeting. >> Yeah. >> Okay. >> Yeah. >> It's the cease board rep. >> Right. Yeah. >> So, can we make a motion to amend this agenda to say CESA board rep >> and then

008convention being a part of that? Right. Right. >> Yeah. >> Yes. >> Can I get a second for the second Motion in a second to change the wording appointment to as or a representative to the CISA 12 board which includes convention on May 26, 2026. >> They give you a nice breakfast um at the conference every year. >> Well, I'm in. >> Yeah, sounds like >> I don't know. I was just trying to find I can't find it on their website >> and again I >> I think the more important part is being a me board rep on the C with the other CISA 12 board members and just having a voice as part of that consortium. I think >> convention really has been on radar all that often. >> I was the CISA rep

009for a couple years. is I was also a board member on the CISA like a voting member um while I was on the CISA 12 and a board member actually was the CISA um delegate and so I was able to vote um in the delegation as well and you get to hear from 17 other school districts. Um, I have a conflict on Tuesday evenings. So, as much as I'd like to do that, I just am saying I'm unable to, but there's a lot of good opportunities on there. We are the largest school district in there and so people really look to our district as well for ideas. Um, you can pass resolutions on there as well. Um, so I found it a really good experience just to share that personal experience for me. >> I'll

010volunteer for next year. >> Yeah. All right. Bring me down. >> I just I just can't >> Are you willing to be the board rep that meets monthly, the virtual meetings? >> You could do that. >> I mean, I feel like that's the more important part. >> It is. I just can't do this. May 26 day. >> Okay. >> So, are you volunteering? >> I'll nominate Katherine Gand as the CISA rep. >> I work with CISAs anyhow. Good. >> Is there a second? >> Second. >> Okay. There's a motion and a second for Kathern Gumand as our CISA 12 representative. Are there any other nominations? Hearing none, all those in favor signify by saying I. >> I. >> Opposed? Motion carries. >> Thank you, Catherine. >> No problem. >> Appointment of a delegate and alternate

011to the annual WASBY convention in January of 2027. Are there any volunteers or persons to be nominated? >> I'd like to nominate myself just given my background and experience with legislation and commitment to um being a good delegate and asking for y'all's input. >> Second. >> Right. I'd like to split this then. >> Oh, the Yeah, the alternate should be separate. Yeah. So, there's a motion and a second for Laura Gabsky as the delegate to the WASBY convention. Are the other are there any other nominations? Are there any other nominations? Hearing none. All those in favor signify by saying I. >> I. >> Opposed? Motion carries. >> And then an appointment as for an alternate to the annual WASBY convention. Are there any volunteers or nominations? I'll nominate Shelley Mullen. >> A second >> as

012the alternate delegate. >> Are you good with that, Shelley? >> Yeah, we did last. I think last year you were interested. Yeah. >> A motion in a second for Shelley Men as the alternate to the annual WASBY convention in January of 2027. Are there any other nominations? Hearing none, all those favor signify by saying I. I. I. >> Opposed. Motion carries. Appointment of school board representative to the Spear Scholarship Foundation Board of Directors. I would like to volunteer in return in that role. >> Second. >> I'm volunteering so I don't think we need nomination. >> Oh, you don't need a Oh, okay. Sorry. >> I don't believe so. Ray, Kyle. Yeah. All right. Are there any other volunteers or nominations? I'd be interested in volunteering. >> Shelly, I shall acquies and I will step back

013and are there any other nominations besides Shelley Mullen for the alter or the U scholarship foundation board of directors? Are there any other volunteers or nominations for the scholarship foundation board of directors? Hearing none. All those in favor signify by saying I. >> I. opposed. Motion carries. Next order of business in this reorganization, you all have a copy of the board of education meeting schedule for 2026 27. Give you a moment to look that over. >> I'm excited to see location changes. Thank you, an uh and board members that advocated for that. Great. >> So, what we're going to attempt to do in uh this year is to pick a couple of the schools. One will be on October 12th, our regular board meeting, and we will move that meeting to Northern Lights Elementary. And

014we will start approximately 1 half hour before our regular board meeting, giving members of the public an opportunity to meet and and questions for the board or concerns so the public has an opportunity to express them to us in person. >> Will that be for every meeting or just the ones offsite? >> Just the ones offsite. >> Okay. Just want to double check. Right. Okay. >> We chose. And then and then the second um will be at the middle school on February 8th, 2027. Call your attention to the month of March where we will have two meetings, you know, 14 days apart because of spring break. If you look at the October and then November meetings, reminder that in October we will be meeting three times, but the fact of the matter is on Monday,

015October 26, 2026. That's the required budget hearing which really takes place of our November call. >> Motion to approve the schedule. >> Second. Motion a second to approve the school board meeting calendar for July 2026 through 2027. Is there any further discussion? Hearing none. All those in favor signify by saying I. >> I. >> Opposed? Motion carries. At this time, I'd accept a motion to adjourn this special session. >> Steve, did you talk about the committee assignments? >> That that'll be in the next. >> Okay. You're I mean, just so the public knows I missed that processes. >> I missed that. So let's go back before I jump to that calendar. So board members, board committee preferences for 2627, you will receive an online form from an and on that will be the number of

016our committees that we have. Um you'll select preference one, two or three of number one being your first choice of which committee you would like to chair, your second and then your third choices. So that'll come out tomorrow morning. I would like to have it back if possible by Wednesday because then I'll go through the process of putting together board committee assignments and get that out to you before next Monday's meeting. Any questions about that? All right. Now, at this time, I entertain a motion to adjurnn. >> Motion to adjourn the special session. I will >> second that. Motion a second to adjourn the special session. There any further discussion? Hearing none. All those in favor signify by saying I. >> I. >> Opposed. Motion carries. This time I'll accept a motion to move to

017the committee of the whole agenda. >> Motion to move to the committee of the whole agenda. >> Second. >> Motion. Second to move to the committee of the whole agenda. Is there any further discussion? Hearing none. All those in favor signify by saying I. I. >> I. >> Opposed. Motion carries. Action taken at today's meeting is to forward the recommendation for final approval at the next regular school board meeting on Monday, May 11, 2026. At this time, I'd like to officially call this meeting to order. We have met compliance with all official notifications and roll call, please. >> Charlie Mut >> here, Nick Olsen >> here, >> Sarah Schubert McCome here, >> Laura Gapsky >> here, >> Katherine here, >> Lisa Fson >> here, >> and President Steve Olsson >> here. All right. Ann, are

018there any comments by members of our public this evening? >> I'll return I'll send our meeting over to you, Dr. Jackie. >> I have oneformational item and one action item. Thank you for being patient for corners. I know his phone back there was even President Olsson and the board. It's good to be here. It >> was very cold last time I was now still cold. Um, so I'm here this evening to give you an update on where we are and where things are are headed at four corners. We've got some of our initial spring data in already. So I wanted to share that with you. And then I got some students uh with us tonight that are going to share some exciting um accolades that that they've received this spring. So it's been kind of

019amazing. So it always gives me this when it stresses me out. Is it We're saving batteries and confusing everyone. >> This will work. Okay. Okay. So, our goal this year has been really a continuation of our goal the last couple of years. um to make sure that 100% of our students that are scoring in that high-risisk or some risk category uh in terms of literacy in the fall make aggressive growth from fall to spring. Um, and really it's measured by the fastbridge A reading for our older students and the AS web plus in our for our early learners. And aggressive growth we defined it as making more than one year's academic growth within the academic year and ultimately at that K12 three level exiting a reading plan. So some celebrations that we've got as far

020as our data is concerned. First of all, we were able to exit 10 students from reading plans this year, which means they went from well below the benchmark to above the benchmark, which was super exciting. Um, the first bullet point I think is quite astounding. 100% of our first graders were above the benchmark in oral reading fluency, which was amazing. Um 96% of our second graders and 4% is one student just to give you kind of perspective. Um and 88% of our third grade students were all above the benchmark and oral reading fluency. So our staff worked incredibly hard. Our kids worked incredibly hard. Our EMLSS teacher Sarah Barnes is a phenomenal teacher and this definitely shows their hard work. Um and then uh 83% of our kindergarten students were above the benchmark at early

021literacy, which is a a combination score of several factors. Five reading plans remain with our kindergarteners to work on next year. And then 93% of our first graders were above the benchmark in early literacy and there are two reading plans that that still remain with our first graders. So they really they really grew. They really made us proud. They were charged. Um math right now the testing is happening. So we don't yet have our spring data in terms of math. However, with at the winter benchmark, 79% of our kindergarteners were above the benchmark. 90% of our first graders, 82% of our second, and 84% of our third. So there was tremendous growth from fall to winter. So we're looking forward to see what what the spring holds. Um, one thing I didn't note on here

022after I sent it to Aner, I wrote it down with the reading in second grade, we have one reading plan remaining moving into third grade, which is very, very important. As you know, once a student reaches that third grade threshold, they not only have to test above the benchmark in oral reading fluency, but they also have to be proficient on the forward. Do >> you know how many students are in the 88% of third grade? You said one student for the 96%. >> Yes. So that is two students in third grade. >> Thank you. >> Two students that weren't quite above and they were very close. Like one was within two percentage points. >> So we're we're right there. >> Um and I wanted to highlight some students next because in terms of literacy and

023math in our building, it's really been a focus. But you know, we can't do it alone as adults. We've got to, you know, get our kids get our kids involved. And so I've got some students You look like an Olympic gold medal. >> They're phenomenal. >> I've got three students. Um, so we have I've got students from our Battle of the Books. >> I did not know this. Um, and our math masters team. So, just to give you a little background on what these are if you don't know. So, WINA is the Wisconsin Educational Media and Technology Association and they sponsor the Battle of the Books. It's a statewide program designed to promote a love of reading among students and it encourages students to read a variety of books and remember information about the plot,

024character, and settings of all the books. So on June 1st, we received a list of 20 books and Stephanie Smith is the um sponsor for our Battle of the Books uh crew. And so they had to read these 20 books starting in the summer and from there they had to memorize all sorts of things. I mean I would I would go in when they were practicing like those things. Um and and the questions with the battle of the books all of the questions have to be answered with the title of the book and the author but that's all. Um, so for Battle of the Books, Harold uh Mut and Emerson Gochansky both were on the team and she's got the Jasper, did you do the Battle of the Books, too? >> I did it. >>

025Okay, you did it last. Jasper does all kinds of stuff. So, if you want to show the amazing plaque because it's >> 235 teams were in the elementary division and our team placed third. >> Wow. And then I also want to talk a little bit about our math masters team because they did a phenomenal job this year and last year both. Um so Math Masters is a program that challenges fourth, fifth, and sixth grade students to use critical thinking and problem solving skills in mathematics. Uh students compete both as individuals and as teams in eight rounds of competition. Um students participate in three elements. There's a fact drill, an individual round and a team competition. So all students compete in the fact round and in four individual problem solving rounds. So there's two pieces to

026to the uh competition and these rounds are done independently by each student and then they also do three team rounds as well. So our team competed in Duth on April 17th and our team was Jackson St. Vincent, Lauren Webb, Elliot Isizard, Harold Munch, and Jasper Van Horn Whitter. And Jasper and Harold are here to represent that team as well. Evelyn Johnson and Gabe Sanden get Gunderson. We had a nice size team. There were 141 students this year at MathMasters. 29 full teams. Uh Mr. J. Bfield was the coach for our Mathmasters team this year. And this year, the FCA team finished eighth overall in the team cup. Harold and Jasper also received individual awards. So, um, in the individual fact challenge, Jasper, do you want to step forward because he looks like our Olympian? >>

027He finished first out of all the students in the uh, individual fact challenge out of a 141 kids. Wow. Wow. So can we ask and that's what I I said I'm gonna ask you two questions give them ahead of time because this is probably more stressful than that we just >> so um if you guys want to just share Jasper you can go first send Harold. So what was what was your favorite thing about math master? >> Probably just doing the competition. the competition. >> Probably working with the team probably read the books and and trying to memorize the books. >> What was your favorite book? >> Did have a favorite Carol read how many times? Quite a lot. >> Some of them I read at least twice. >> Wow. So, what did you learn

028from participating? >> I learned a lot of different math skills. >> So, if you guys would like to ask them any questions, feel free. That's what I was going to ask. >> Yeah. >> We want to thank you from other teams. Yeah. Yeah. You mostly were with your with your group. >> What do you guys want to be when you grow up? What do you want to do? >> Nice. >> Some sort of space. >> Wow. Great goals. >> Thank you guys. I see some other falcons here. >> Uh oh, there we go. All right. And there's their picture. So, at the math masters um tournament this year and one of the things that was really cool is with the individual fact drill, it's I mean it's it's pretty high pressure and they do a

029countdown and then all of these 141 kids flip their page all at the same time like in sync and it's just styling in pencils. It's it's so they did a really really amazing job. All right. Um, so a couple challenges of course we want to talk about when I was here last we had discussed the new benchmark advanced reading curriculum and that was you know quite a learning curve for our staff and and they definitely stepped up to the challenge. I mean it was a lot of work. They worked incredibly hard. Um it took a lot of collaboration. And I think that really strengthened our PLC teams as a whole. And having some additional time with their PLC's was a was a huge piece to the puzzle. That was one of the things I really

030prioritized this year is, you know, for staff meetings and and those sorts of things to really say, "No, here's what you need. You need this time with your colleagues to plan and to talk about data and to take a look at how are kids doing? How is this working?" Um, and so I think that that really that really paid off and you can see, you know, in our data, I'm really feeling good about the new curriculum and the level of rigor that it has brought to the point and I think it's it's making a huge difference. Um, of course, we had talked about, you know, the the scheduling of instructional minutes and interventions with with mixed grade level classrooms always continues to be to be a puzzle and a challenge. Um but we have have

031met that challenge and continue continue to grow and and learn from what works and what doesn't. Um the one thing that has cropped up with us this year that is that is new is attendance. And this year we had as of last Friday 8.1% of our students were chronically absent this year which means they met it's 15 kids and means they had missed four it's up from 4% last year. So that's that's pretty significant. John, um those 15 students have less than 90% attendance, which is what chronically absent is is based on the primary reasons when I looked. So I pulled all the data and took a look and primary reasons were vacation and leaving early for sports activities. So I think that only five of the 15 had most of their absences from from

032illnesses. And one of the things that was really tough for us this year is that 50% of our 4K kids were chronically absent. Um, so I think that's something to take a look, you know, districtwide. Is is that a trend we're seeing? And if so, you know, are are there barriers for families? What are we looking at? I think that the um the wrap care that that we have available that will be in some schools next year with the Y is really going to help a lot of that because I think it's a struggle for families when it's only a half day and you work a full day. Yeah. you have to figure that out for your children. So, and with the leaving early for sports, I think, you know, that's a much bigger bigger

033issue than just us or just myself, but you know, working with the outside organizations to maybe prioritize kids being in school and, you know, especially with us, I mean, it's a 20-minute drop, so it's it's a little bit adds a little bit more to that puzzle. So attendance is something that that I think as a as a team, our leadership team will be looking we'll be looking at next year is how can we help support those families to ensure that that the least amount of time is is taken out of school. >> And is there a specific age group then in that sport thing? >> Um you know a lot of it was third third fourth and fifth primarily. Yeah. And so I've met with some families and had some conversations about, you know, how

034can we make sure that they're in school as late as possible and still make it to practice at 4:00. You know, that's that's one of the big the big struggles that I >> And then our CPR >> and we're there. Yeah. Do you need a drum roll? Go ahead and click on that for me. >> So, we accomplished a lot in terms of our uh mission this year and the goals that we set in August and uh really what the things that we wanted to to accomplish as a staff through the course of the year. And um a lot of it had to do with just that instructional time taking a look at classroom schedules that allowed for all of those components of benchmark advance to be taught. with rigor, with fidelity during the school

035day. Um, really setting up those routines and procedures wells to mitigate lost instructional time transitions. Um, our PLC's teams met at a minimum of twice weekly and brought data to the table and had those conversations. A lot of them had way more than that. I mean, I would walk into the stack lounge and they would have papers out at lunch while they're talking about assessments. I'm like, you guys need to eat at lunch. Um students were provided small groupoup instruction to boost lagging skills. So really through that win time at a minimum of four four times a week and that was written right into our master schedule and then providing teachers feedback through um the instructional coaches were really um on site with us this year and really work very closely with our team. So

036if we scroll down some of the things that are still working. So, of course, you know, PLC, they're still working on a um a more don't say strict, but a more streamlined process for looking at data because it's really easy to go down a rabbit hole of, you know, taking a look at student data to try to determine, okay, why why are we still struggling here? Why did we miss this or that? And then the two things that are in red are things that we just didn't quite get to this year for a number of reasons. And so these will be on the forefront for the leadership team for next year is pure observations was one of the things that they've brought up they would really like to do and and being a small school.

037We have singleton teachers that are there only at their grade level and they have really expressed some interest in going to other schools to be able to observe their colleagues in at the same grade level just in another building. And so figuring out the logistics of that and then the other piece is really having a clear articulation of that reading workshop time and what does that look like? What are the kids doing? What are the what is the teacher doing um in order to ensure that that instructional time is is spent wisely every day. So that's kind of our their marching orders for for next year. And we put back out That's it. SWE >> How many years have you been with us in the district? >> Uh in the I've been nine, Mrs. >>

038Been and as principal at Four Corners. Nine of all nine years. >> Well, I'd like to thank you for your service as principal at Four Corners. um your commitment to the children, to all the families in four corners certainly means a lot to all of us, but especially to that community, those families in that area and stuff. Um your dedication to academic excellence, the work that you've done over your nine years is very commendable and can't thank you enough for for what you've done for our school district and we look forward to seeing you in the classroom. >> Thank you. I feel honored and blessed to have served that community out there. They're amazing. The parents are amazing. The kids are amazing. The staff, I I feel blessed, but I'm also very excited to be

039back in a classroom with kids and and see them in a different light. And we'll see if they're all excited to see me coming together. I'm just so one of the things that you know I talked with um another school district about re redistricting and you know they were like it's not just one year it's not just two years that affects families. So you know how is the staff doing? How are the kids doing and parents you know just with some of those changes that happened? Are you noticing anything? You know, we had this conversation in one of our last leadership team meetings and we actually had to stop thinking, okay, was that last year or the year before? Because it's just kind of all melded together. I mean, really, you know, thinking, okay, how

040many years has the student been here? You know, it's it's and so that's a good thing. That shows me that, you know, the families have become engaged, involved, the kids are just part of our four corners community and and so that has really felt felt good. >> Excellent. Thank you. Thank you so much. >> Okay, the other items I have um for next week, we have a couple more presentations next week, but uh we have one action item tonight. Uh Mr. Horic is here talking about the annual eighth grade trip to Washington DC for spring break of 2028. >> Yeah, it's an action item take off minutes. So, we'll need motion in a second. I'll make a motion to approve the consideration of overnight field trip request. >> Second >> motion to second for consideration

041of overnight field trip request for Michael Horic for eighth grade students to attend Washington DC and New York City during spring break of 2028. Now >> now the floor is yours. Michael >> um I just wanted to come up and and introduce myself. I'm Mike Hork. I've been teaching 8th grade. I've had the privilege to teach here for 14 years. Um this will be my 2028 will be the sixth time that I've taken kids to DC. Um over that time we've had over 200 students um 15 teachers, one superintendent um at shops. So >> um two of my previous shop rooms are right back here. Um they do do an amazing job and it's been a great trip and um >> just very fun. >> Yeah. and very well organized and just great. Sarah, you

042done it, too. >> And the kids always come back and just have a blast. I've had a couple kids this year talking about things that have been going that went on in the trip and um it's just been an amazing experience. So, >> questions. The best part was Yes. >> Uh the best the best part was probably this this past year. Um we got to see Aladdin on Broadway. >> Wow, that was good. >> That was a pretty good show. I think did amazing. Yeah. >> Any other questions? Any >> I think the one question that did come up when we put it on the agenda is why are we approving this so early? Do you want to explain that a little bit? >> Sure. Um so I if if I get the approval tonight,

043then I let EF know when we get the ball rolling. Um I'll get a parent meeting happening in October of 2026. Then parents have almost a year and a half to pay for it. So payments are are pretty low. I think under $200 a month. and it gives them two Christmases, in some cases two birthdays to um get with money and a long chunk of time to fund raise as well. So, um just trying to give parents that that long period of time to make payments. Well, >> I reviewed this, but I I can't remember, you know, um if if someone has to back out, what happens for the family? Um, so there's there's insurance that they can buy through EF. Um, there's usually a deductible. Um, but it it really depends on the level

044of insurance that they >> Yeah, you got to purchase like the the insurance >> and and I think the the packages are under like a couple hundred >> and you have insurance on the trip if something happened that it wasn't safe to travel somewhere. >> The last time that happened during CO and then they moved the trip to the you're the next year. >> Yeah. EF has been really good about um especially during that since it was unprecedented. Um just making sure that those those families had that kept that money. We had probably about um about 16 kids go after CO and the rest of the families got um refunds probably less um >> deposit or not deposits but um deductibles. >> Michael, what do we what do we do for that student? Man, I

045want to go. I really want a gold, but my parents can't afford it. >> Um, EF does have scholarships available. Um, it doesn't cover the whole thing. Um, but that's a possibility. In the past, we've had fundraisers. That's um, we don't organize through the school. Um, but there are I know they bake groceries at um, >> make a lot of money baking groceries. Yeah. >> Yeah. Um, another thing that EF does have is it's like a GoFundMe page where you get linked specifically to your trip and then you can send that out to people. Um, and get donations. 100% of anything that people donate goes towards that. Um, I'm trying to think of what um, they sold um, foot trip car wash cards. Um, those have been been pretty successful. It would take some work

046if if that's the case, but I think it would be not against this trip. I've been on it twice. I just question why this is an action item since it's not a school sponsored trip and it's not during the school year. Um none of the funds go through the school. So >> it's during the school year during spring break, right? >> But it's it's not, you know, they're not missing school for it. Um I know that it's been brought up about that in the past. So I I'm not not anti the trip. I want that clear, but I just I think it should be anformational item and not an action item. >> When I looked into this probably six or nine months ago, that question came up. We found that about half of the school

047districts kind of got it approved by boards, half of them did not. Um, we felt like for transparency purposes, so that just keeping it as as on our agenda, the board wants to move it to anformational item in the future, you can let me know. We'll adjust it accordingly. I think it was just the transparency. >> Is your concern liability or is your what is your concern? >> I just don't think it's something that it's I mean it's not a school sponsored anything. So we really have >> it's an opportunity that kids can pay for that is you know led by >> staff know we have it on here to show support for it. >> Right. >> That's why I'm saying itformational items that and it's it's not just this one. It's any of the

048efforts upon honestly. It's the It's the ones that take place um in the summer in Europe and then it's trip that we typically done. >> How does staff get paid though? >> I was just and chaperones because I know the two you said are teachers. So, how how is that covered? >> Oh, it's it's a it's a tradeoff. They get to go to New York and DC um over spring break. Um it's that trade-off. I think it's >> I think part of the funds um is covering the cost of the chaperons. >> Yes. Yeah. >> Yeah. I think every 10 students >> sponsors one chaperon. >> Yeah. >> Okay. >> For that that's for domestic or international six to one but for my trips for every 10 travelers's one chap. >> So it's not like

049staff are getting paid district staff aren't getting paid. That's what that's really what my question was. Thank you. >> No. Well, could we um put this on a future agenda for conversation because it has come up, you know, twice now. >> Probably next month would be the best best time to do it while it's fresh in our mind. >> Yes. >> Okay. >> Thanks. Oh, we think. >> Yeah. >> All right. Any other concerns from board members, comments? >> Hearing none, then all those in favor signify by saying I. >> I. Opposed. Motion carries. >> Thank you for the opportunity for kids. Yeah. >> Thank you. >> All right. For those of you that came for the special presentations this evening, you do not have to sit through the rest of this meeting. If you

050do not want to >> one more. >> Yeah. >> You people can't leave. >> Cool. >> Pretty good. Wow, >> sound exciting. >> We can pick up. >> We should be able to get through the next two quickly. >> That's what I'm saying. >> Would you like me to move on? >> Yes, please. >> We'll move to our board committee reports. Personnel negotiations committee. Mr. Nick Olsen. >> I have one action item. Administration recommends approval of the May 2026 and separations report. >> Motion to approve. Second >> motion and a second. Any discussion? >> Where are we at, Molly? With um open positions. >> A few. >> Yeah. Um well, I would say we have a few math teachers that we've built. Um we mostly instructional coach replacing Amy. Um we'll we have a couple

051early childhood special ed jobs that we have to fill. So, a handful. >> Any further discussion? >> All those in favor signify by saying I. >> I. >> Oppose. >> Motion carries. Noformational items. No discussion items. And that concludes my report. >> Thank you. Operations Committee. Sarah, that's Schubert McCome. >> Oneformational item. the Superior Middle School front entrance update. Corey's got some updates on that. That sounds exciting. >> Welcome back, Corey. >> Thank you. >> Two in a row. >> Um, so we missed our April 14th. Um, they didn't ship out the doors. Apparently, we're having Spirit Glass is having problems with a vendor. Um, the the new ship date is June 27th. So, it's going to be a July. Yes. >> So, I'm I'm working with uh Spirit Glass. Uh trying to figure out

052what's if something happens on this one, what are what are what we're going to do. >> Yeah. >> So, >> um Dave gave me some numbers. Do you want me to go through the numbers or >> Well, I know one of the questions the board asked is where are we at with um the insurance covering this and the cost to the district. So, I don't know who wants to talk about that. I did share it with the board in a weekly update, but >> So, with the insurance, because we have the property insurance with CH, it's $25,000 deductible. So, that's that's what the district is going to be out is the $25,000. Um, overall I think we're at $113,000 in total expense for that door uh classroom shed and um just the uh the entryway

053itself. Uh but I made it clear with um child that this needs to be open until everything is completed. Um they did come to me and they were trying to negotiate the numbers. One thing we're caught up on is our food service. Because we closed the cafeteria at the middle school for those three days, there was no revenue generated in there. Um, I gave them a number and they didn't like that number. They said, "Well, it's going to cost a lot of money for us to bring an accountant to figure out the number." They said, "Who pays for the account?" And they said they did. And I said, "Okay, bring the accountant in." And I was like, "You did do all right on that side of it." Um they've been really good to work with

054as far as as everything was like Cory said uh there will be alternatives created can be if the the vendor that's supplying the steel for the doorway isn't going to hit that mark there will be another solution that will be put in place and that will be covered by insurance company because if it can't be put in you replaced to the layer insurance So is already working on what's what's the back. So >> So where is the criminal case at? Because restitution is very difficult to collect, but we should be able to get some restitution from the alleged >> I'm going to look at Kyle on this one. I want to Did do you have an update or can you share that? >> Yeah, generically they've been keeping me kind of advised of what's going

055in. We've already submitted a a petition for restitution. This individual that was involved had a reasonably good job but now obviously is not going to be working that job. So that complicates things but it'll turn into a judgment be hanging out there at least. >> Potential payments over >> 100 years but thing right. >> Yep. We're we're making sure that everything that we can do is being done. >> Thank you Kyle. >> Great. Thanks for that. >> Do you have any updates on Bryant? I know Nick and I were out there for a tour and things looked a little interesting. >> Um, yes. Everything's actually on schedule for the paint, you know, the final touch-ups. They're going to come back and there's a lot of stuff that they have to touch back up on. Yeah,

056I've been meeting with uh with Seth and and home construction and stuff like that to keep the ball going. >> Is that something they're going to do over summer, too? Okay. >> Yep. >> We had to spend the front entry on that door yet, too. So, >> asked about the front doors. >> Got it. Okay. >> So, But that what what ended up happening was when they went to install the door, the original installed, they never put any metal structure on the sides to support that. So now that's what the home construction was there to look at. Look at that. >> Okay. So like I said, yeah, everything's on schedule with with that one. So, >> well, welcome and thank you for picking these nicest we have right up in. >> Thank you. >> It'll

057be easier. >> Never a dull moment. >> Say that. >> Great. >> I have no action items and no discussion items. That concludes my report. >> Thank you. Teaching and learning committee. There are no action items. No discussion items. We have a couple offormational items. First of all, Crystal Hensman, director of curriculum and instruction. So, I have twoformational items, but I'm going to ask that we do the second one first because that's the one that our guests are here. Yes. >> To talk about. So, um for those of you who were here, uh a couple of years ago, I shared a briefformational item. I think it was two and a half years ago that we were uh embarking on an exciting journey with Katherine Command and W Superior um to hopefully go through a Noah

058grant process. And so we obviously fast forward a couple of years now have some teachers and students that have some exciting things to share about what they've been doing. So I invite them to come on up to the podium and and share their presentation. >> Hi, I'm Robin, sixth grade at middle school. And I'm uh Val Pointer. I teach eighth grade science at the middle school. >> Yeah. And we made eye contact with someone and got involved. >> Yeah. >> But always down for more, you know, educated education on on climate. So I know that. >> Oh. All right, we'll try it again. There we go. >> We didn't practice. >> No. >> So, our project goal was to support um place-based education and to better teach climate change and climate resiliency uh for our

059middle school students um especially underserved and bipac or bipok youth. Um and the end result of a lot of learning uh was to put together a podcast at the end of the year that two com arts professor instructors from UWS came out to last year came out to the middle school and then went out to the school forest and recorded students um reading p their podcast segments. So, professional development. Um, so we had professional development multiple times throughout the last two school years. Um, meeting for half days um virtually and we got resources from Noah like more than we could ever possibly hope for. Um PBS Learning Media, specifically PBS SI Girls. Um, UKAR Center for Science Education, which is the Colorado based location. Um, and we had two full days of um, information and

060resources learning from them and what they can offer us even though we're states away. Um, and then we also got to learn from local storytellers and the media to because one of the outcomes was to help us teach our students how to tell their story. So the results from year one, we had 200 of our SMS students involved in sixth and eighth grade. Uh like Val said, we had seven virtual professional development days. Um there were other there was a collaboration with the school in Red Lake um an environmentalist charter school down in Hayward and then also Twin Cities 4. So we met virtually but the the professional development was pretty amazing. >> Uh we the kids wrote about a hundred personal stories. Uh we shared about 40 verbal stories and like I said the

061the comrades professors worked their magic and put it into one podcast. Um so this year the goal was to now that we had a better idea of what our end um what the end goal was, we wanted to build on data usage from the resources. So bringing more of that into the classroom. Um having storytelling as part of the curriculum and not just something we threw in because we had to try it. Um getting more students involved in the recording of the podcast. Uh Robin was able to present at Passport to the World. Um and then we're here as well. >> Yeah. Our all of all of my students recorded their short podcast segment just using their laptops and then they embedded that into a slide um about their place, the place they chose to

062write about and we put it together in a slideshow for a passport to the world. So then we hope to well we're going to we have a date on the calendar. We're going to record a second podcast in late May. Uh Tom and Tom will come over and hopefully we'll be able to record out in the woods. It was a gorgeous day last year. Uh we have backup a backup plan I think and then we'll put it together and we're still kind of figuring out where to broadcast it. K. >> Yeah. >> So, we thought we'd have two live presentations today of the podcast segment. Do you want to come up and go first? You want to come up and stand in the mirror? Do you want to say? >> So, yeah, just pretty friendly

063and awesome people. Okay, Alison. Thank you. >> Yeah, go for it. Ready. >> My favorite memory from being offered Point was when I was with my dad and my daughter. Wisconsin Point is one of the largest freshwater sandbars in the world located in Superior, Wisconsin. We went there on the cool, breezy day and the sky like it was trying to I could smell the pine trees as we walked around the beach. I remember I kept stopping to play with the sand and draw things in the sand. As we were walking around in the woods, I could hear the leaves crunching as we stepped on it. After we were walking around for a while, it started to I could hear the heavy waves crashing on the shore and the rain dripping off the leaves. As we

064walked, the rain hit our faces, dripping down our faces as we walked. Blue breeze made my jacket. Wisconsin Point is a fun place to be because you can hang out with family and friends. You can also go swimming and walk out to the lighthouse. It's also a really fun place to go there because you can um go swimming in Lake Superior. I love to hear people talking and having fun with their families. It makes me feel so happy. I also love seeing all the wildlife there. Some animals you can see there are squirrels, deer, and birds. People like to go there and bird walks especially during summer and fall migration. We should protect Wisconsin point because it's really important to people who live here and to animals that call it home. It's a really fun

065place to hang out and people love it. Some ways we can protect Wisconsin point are to pick up your dog's waste, clean up after yourself, and don't have campfires on the beach. That's just some ways we can protect Wisconsin. Climate change is also also affects response. Climate change is causing storms to be more severe which causes waves and lake superior superior to be bigger. These large waves can cause erosion which can wash our roads. When this happen, it's very unsafe to drive to get to Wisconsin. Those are just some reasons why I love Wisconsin. We should really work hard to protect this incredible sandbar and try to slow down climate change. Thanks. Very well. Amy's got competition. And this is Addie. She has a favorite place she's going to talk about, too. Whenever you're ready,

066kiddo. The Boundwa is my favorite place to go with my dad. It's a beautiful place where we can go to a campsite and stay there. The Boundary Waters is in northern Minnesota. I love this place because it's just beautiful. It's very peaceful to a campsite with the paddle hitting the water and a rhythmic paddle. The quietness of the lake is calming. We see beaver dams and all the pretty trees. I love how we see chipmunks, beavers, frogs, fish, and so much more. And it's and it and it's really peaceful with all the little critters around us. I feel like I escape reality when I feel like I'm living in a world with just me. My favorite place of the Boundary Waters was the first time I went there on my 8th birthday. We got to

067Sabo Lake and got in the canoe. It was a long but peaceful can ride to find a campsite. But we got to the gorgeous campsite. I was astonished. It was very pretty and all the natural features that played into the role of it feeling like a home. The roots act acting like stairs into the house, the trees dividing all the little rooms, the walk down to the lake, everything was amazing and I loved it there. Then we grabbed our backpacks out of the canoe. My dad grabbed the food and taught me how to tie the food up so we didn't accidentally food for bears. Friends and went to the island across from our campsite and went walking in the woods and just enjoyed ourselves. It's a family tradition to go with our dad on our

0688th birthday. He takes us up to the found on or near our birthday. Our first trip is with just our dad, but then we go with our siblings or family friends. I always and for remember my first trip there. I think it should be protected because I love the brownie waters so much. It's at risk though. People want to open a copper copper sulfite mining site near the Boundary Waters. The boundary waters is at risk because copper copper sulfide mining is one of the most toxic industries in the country. The pollution from mining is nearly impossible to contain. It can last up for up to for hundreds even thousands of years in the water. The boundary waters has very clean water and it is dangerous from being polluted by mining. Many people including me would

069be very upset if those clean waters were contaminated water change. The change is causing more severe storms. For example, in 1999, there was a storm called a Draco. The storm blew down 500,000 acres of land and wind. Winds were up to 80 to 100 miles per hour. Then the trees dried out and year years later two different fires started and were made bigger by the drought conditions and dryness. The first fire was the Cavity Lake fire that started when the blowdown trees had got struck by lightning on July 15th, 2006. The Cavity Lake fire was made worse by how dry it was and how dry the trees were. The second fire was at Ham Lake on May 5th, 2007. It started by an campfire. The Hamlike fire was also made worse by the dry conditions.

070Both these sign significant fires were were made worse by dry climate. We can help by using less fossil fuels, using public transportation, using solar power, and many other things. I think it's very important to protect this place because thousands of people go there every year to go camping. And for many people, the Boundary Waters is their safe place. If the severe storms and the mining continue, we may lose the clean water and the safness and the peacefulness. We need to do something before the boundary waters lose its features that everyone goes for. That is why we need to protect the beloved boundary waters from these risks. every time. I know. I was like, "Oh, that's it. I'm done." >> So, that was our experience. And Robin got a hundred kids to write letters like that.

071And well, >> most of the um and report it and make it public for anyone to hear. So, that is the silence >> experience we had. That was really special that you both shared about your special spaces and I think we can all relate to that. Thank you so much for that gift. >> Very imagine Robin go above and beyond like this for their students. Okay. And I have uh one other item. I just wanted to share a couple of updates from uh some things that have been happening this month. First, we had staff development on April 24th. Our teachers worked 8:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. that day. We uh take the hours off of that day because they worked in August in the evening for open houses. So, it's kind of a fun day.

072everyone. There's a little more energy when people know they they can go home a little bit early in the afternoon. >> Um, our elementary teachers all met together at Cooper and did continued learning and work and collaboration and grade level discussions on the literacy um resource and benchmark advance. Our middle school staff did a safety training um similar to the one that the high school had done earlier this year with the leaison officer. They were really appreciative of that and then spent time in the content areas and PLC's. And at the high school, Ryan Haroldson led the high school in some mission and vision work that he's establishing as the newer principal to that building. And then the high school staff dug in and did some learning and work and practicing around giving feedback to

073students, which was yeah, that's yes, that's a big area of focus and will continue to be into next year. Um then at the um towards the end of that time on um April 24th, we surveyed all of our teachers. We gave them an anonymous survey about staff development questions about the whole year, what they valued most, what they learned during building time, um grade level time, choice sessions, all that stuff. Uh we had 222 teachers fill out the survey and we're going to use that data um on May 15th for our principles and coaches and Donald to sit down and look through and then decide how to use our time on our staff development days next year. So our teachers have direct feedback into what that'll look like. And then the other thing that I

074wanted to share with you is we have moved forward with our elementary plans for next year around math. As you know, we're going to wait until the fall of 2027 for all of our elementary teachers to move forward with our new curriculum resource so they can continue to get established with the literacy. Um, we had 18 elementary teachers apply to be lead learners next year and be early implementers. We let everyone apply and we took everyone who applied. We didn't say no to anyone. We wanted the process to be for whoever wanted to be part of it and yet not twist any arms or make people have to be part of it. So we had a little meeting with them to talk through logistics and our summer training we'll do with them and when materials

075will come and all of those things. Materials have been ordered and we're underway with that. So we're excited and thank those teachers and we'll be sharing throughout the year next year how it's going. So then they're ready to help their colleagues in the fall of 2027. Are they scattered throughout the district? >> They are scattered throughout the district. It is not a perfect two kindergarten, two first, you know, because we wanted to take everyone and yet not kind of force anyone to do that if their if their passion or the the commitment, you know, was was too much for them for next year. Um but yes they are scattered throughout grade levels and schools and yes and the principles of course will be no matter how many uh lead learners from a building there may

076be all of the principles will be involved in the trainings and stuff next year also >> there was 20 >> 18 y do you know how many in each school then each elementary school >> it it ranges from like one or two to I think northern mice probably has like eight so it kind of it range it range and Something different that we did with the math lead learners from what we did eight years ago with literacy lead learners is we didn't force a whole team of teachers to be on board in order to be part of the lead learner. So if um you know there's let's say for example two third grade teachers at Bryant but only one of them wants to be a lead learner that is okay. Um, we have tried this

077in the past with couple team needs to do it together, but we didn't we don't want to push anybody in case people feel that they need that additional year before starting it. So, >> do you know what the training timeline looks like for it yet? >> Yes. So, we have the trainer coming from Amplify Desmos on August 19th. The teachers will be trained a full day of training. verify their materials. All the students teachers will get paid um additional pay to attend the training that day. And then throughout the school year next year, we will be having small group pullouts and PD for those teachers. Our goal is to do more than just what we would typically do with everybody, but to dig in and build even more capacity in those teachers so then they

078can help their colleagues the next year when everyone starts. We'll of course have our instructional coaches and myself and the principles helping, but there's a lot of power when teachers help each other. So, so yes, we have plans set out uh for the training and then throughout next school year to each time they start a new unit, we'll pull people together and help them unpack the unit they're about to teach, okay? And unpack the standards they'll be teaching. like that's the approach we'll take similar to the approach we've done with our secondary teachers who've been doing um amplify >> next we have Dina Hagen here our director of special education and student services update on the joint federal notification JFN packet and I heard here it's a good report >> yes I wanted to tell

079you about this I haven't good on this before. So, I thought this would be great for you to hear. Um, this is an annual notification that we get from the DPI. Um, and what it means is with the regularly collected data throughout the year, um, the DPI has to look at all of that um, in according to the federal law requirements. So, IDEA as the federal special education law has of course a lot of things involved in it when it comes to special education law. And so, there are 16 indicators that uh data is collected on um from uh all the districts in the state to determine basically a score on how we're doing. And so, I listed the all of the indicators there for you on that sheet so you could just see the

080different categories. Um, and again, this is all in regards to students that have IEPs, uh, students in the special education process. So, um, our score this year, well, the score for 2025 was 98% out of 100. So, >> wow, I was really excited to see that. >> Yeah. No, that this is just a true testament to the work that the the staff is doing to ensure that their their data is super accurate, you know, when they're doing their paperwork and their their um it's not just about the IEP paperwork. It's about all kinds of data that's associated with um you know, the the progress and the the um achievement of our kids that receive special education. Um, so just for context, last year's score was 93%, the year before was 94%. So we are consistently

081doing very well with this. And I just wanted to just talk about a couple areas just so it kind of makes sense a little bit more. Um, like for example, the assessment participation pieces, um, the third and fourth uh, indicators there. So, it's required by federal law that we have our students that have IEPs take the district and state assessments like any other kid. We can't exclude them from that. And so, our, you know, score is very high because we put a lot of effort into making sure that all kids take the assessments and they have the accommodations that they need. And we do that through the IEP process. And then Kate works really hard to make sure those accommodations, you know, it's all all in place and ready for the assessment. So, we do

082very well with our participation. Um, the educational environment codes, I just thought you might be curious about this. Um, so we work really hard to make sure that when kids receive special education services, they are in the least restrictive environment possible, meaning they are with non-disabled peers in a general education setting as much as possible. And so, we have a code that goes with their services. And so that data piece is calculated to see are we doing a good job of making sure our kids are in the least restrictive environment possible. And so that contributes to our score. And then lastly, just timely evaluations. Um we have 60 days to complete a special education evaluation once we get a signature consent from a parent. And so our staff do an amazing job at making sure

083we're within those 60 days. And then Casey does an amazing job of making sure our data is accurately reported to GPI. So it's a it's a big team effort to get that 98%. So I just wanted to share that with you. Do you have any questions for me? >> Is this something only public schools are expected to do? >> Um that's a really good question. >> I think so. I mean to private schools it doesn't charter schools I believe probably >> there are different indicators for different groups of >> schools so I know there are some different indicators they don't have all of the same indicators to your point that we >> Yeah the maps of course >> yeah and kudos to you because I know there's been a lot of time and effort put

084into creating space to do the documentation to have the appropriate um plans hands in place. So, >> thank you for the staff, but thank you to you, too. >> Yeah, thank you. >> It's a part of the pizza and paperwork. >> Still doing that. Got to eat the pizza. >> I mean, don't lie. >> The challenge of special education is we are always trying to balance the support that kids and our our students need um with all these regulations that we're obligated to ensure are happening at the you know, from state and federal guidelines. So, it's just this balance of it's hard. But >> that's part of why I was wondering like are nonpublic schools required because they're not required to serve children with spend. So, yeah. >> Thank you. Thank you. >> Thank you.

085Next Monday, we'll get another update from Jennifer Willoughby on kindergarten transition, 4K and get kids ready program and a final update on our summer school program. There are no other matters to be brought before this committee and that concludes my report. Next is the budget insurance committee, Cathy Dean. >> Yeah, see if I can remember what I'm supposed to do. Um so I have twoformational items revenue and expenditure preliminary reports. >> I just had a couple questions. So see what my first one is. the interest you have on the revenue side, you didn't put very much in the budget for that, but it was way exceeding that. Can you just explain that a little bit? >> So, I think two years ago, we switched up the way that we held our money. We weren't making

086much interest previously and how we we held it out. I ended up negotiating with our local bank to get a 3.5% interest on all of our funds and our general funded index. Um, our accountant then's in charge of like we go and look at our bank account, it says we have $2 million. Um, and then our general fund index pushes all that extra money above that$2 million or $2.5 million into that interest bearing account. Uh, since we've been doing that, because the markets have been solid, we've been able to get a lot of interest uh, builds up from that. So, >> is that line 280, Nick, or sorry? >> Yeah. And I just say that's a testament to David and you're just constantly looking for ways to save money and earn money at the same

087time. So kudos to you for that. Um just one more question. Um just uh I think it was a typo, but line 295 in the expenses was 175,000 higher and I think it was supposed to be on a different line. Yep. So, that was a journal entry made for our computer lease payment a few years ago or previously up until two years ago was hitting that 295 function. Um, and it shouldn't hit these 295, it should hit at 281. Um, which was skewing our admin cost. That's another thing I found when I got in there and looked at is like why I was at our admin cost and it's $200,000 more than than what what I'm what I anticipated it to be. And then I found they were putting the capital lease payments for our

088laptops into that function code, skewing that number off. So that actually pulled us down below average for our administrative cost. >> But um what happened then I think is just when they put in the journal entry, they copied the previous ones. It still shows up as that and the back end see a journal entry that was that I made last year. So I think they copied the original and then that'll get fixed before the next job. It just defaults to the original input that you had to do a journal entry. Is that right? >> Oh, well, when they do the entry themselves, they it's like a when they're running through the AP process, they go back and look for previous AP entries of the same way. >> It was like that previously. Then I made

089a journal entry to fix it, but they're not looking for that journal entry. They're looking for an AP entry. It's >> true. >> And that's something that, you know, I would have when I go through it on the 15th of every month, I would have seen that that journal entry was made like the 20th or last month. That's all I got. Smith should be asking questions. Um, preliminary budget update. >> So, David, I know that you this is a work in progress. My recommendation is that you share it initially tonight, but it moves to a formal action item next week so that at least it's documented that we've given this primary primary budget. And the key with that too was just being able to uh I don't anticipate having to take a line of credit,

090but I can't take a line of credit unless um the big thing with the budget process. Yeah, it takes me a full year to do this. I'm working on multiple budgets at the same time, last year's, this year's, next year's, and then out. Um to do this, I'm talking with multiple um all the administrators. I'm going out talking to schools, all the department leads, figuring out where they're going to be spending money next. Um, and do they anticipate any big spend at all? See, figure it is. All right. Then also listing sessions. We take that I take that in consideration when it comes through like what are they what are the big things they're asking for? Is that something we have available in the budget? Um, and then discussions with the board. We have the

091board meetings themselves and then smaller group meetings we have at times. And then the big thing I've really been using is I still get input from other business managers. Um I talked to I actually talked to Cody quite a bit out of Maple. He's been really good at this. Chad down at Chip Falls. Um and then various others have been talking to drama quite a bit lately. Um they provide input on what they are seeing. A lot of it is just trying to talk us off the edge because we deal with the same stuff we are. So and then you know the bar. Um so I get that that whole statewide thing. uh key aspects of the preliminary budget. By definition, a budget is an estimate of what the revenue expenses will be. So a

092preliminary bud budget is just an educated guess. When I give you these numbers, I can guarantee you and it's the only guarantee I can make is they're going to change. >> There's a lot of things that are still holding out there. There's a lot of stuff that on the expense side that, you know, I don't really know what's going to happen next year until we could finish out this year. Um but you know part of that is the insurance our property insurance. I don't know what our property insurance is going to be next year after we just put a $111,000 claim in. So um the revenue I actually do have a better handle on just because this is the second year of bianium. In most years it would be really solid what we have on

093revenue. I'd be able to tell you hey this is what we got. The sped reimbursement is the big big elephant that's standing out there. I don't know which way it's going to go. If you would asked me a month and a half ago, I would have told you we're going to get an extra $600,000 this year and spend a better reimbursement. I don't think that's going to happen now because the deadline's been there is no deadline. So that's the only way stuff gets done. Hopefully next year. I've heard other rumors what the they'll bump it up maybe to 50% next year. Some certain. So in actuality, we're still going to get that 45% but there's a lot of variables out there. Um, and when I make this budget, I want to make sure that it's

094pretty conservative that I don't have to come back and say I was totally off, you know, I want to be within reason. So, so this is it. This is the preliminary budget. Um, the big thing to point out is the downward trend on our membership or enrollment. The U per pupil increase, which I'll get into in a little bit, is 325 per pupil categorical aid 742. That hasn't moved for over five, six years. Um, tip out equalization, I'll let you guys I'll get more into that a little bit later. And then our fund 10 revenue, we're going from 62, oops, almost 63 million down to 58.8 million to next year, we're going to be at a whopping 58.8 million. At the same time, our expenditures at 59.8 uh 58.6 and now we're up to 59.4.

095A big part of that is we were using ESR money. So, we use a lot of one-time funds to pay out money because we need funds. That is gone. Um, this is the first year in five, six years that we didn't have estimated. >> Um, you're going to see the big red number out there, the ser the deficit. I do anticipate a deficit next year. Um, people here see deficit, they think it's terrible. It's bad, yes, but what's worse is an unplanned deficit. This is what I anticipating. A lot of variables can be in there. There's a lot of changes. there are stuff I can move around um as well, but not only do I have to look to next year, but we got to look for years in the future. So, and then that's

096the the fund balance. It's dropping down from, you know, 34 12% to 33%. That's a number I really keep close on when I forecast out. Um worst case scenario, we are at 0% fund balance, 2930. But, but there's a lot of things you can change from that. This is a quick breakdown summary of the revenue. Um, so the the big thing or the thing I want you to look at or is if you look at that first line, property taxes, this past year we paid about this, we got about $20 million in property taxes. Next year I'm anticipating $17.6 million in property taxes. That's offset by, if you go two lines below that, $32 million in equalization compared to $30 million this year. So the state is going to give us more aid next year

097>> and we know that. >> Yeah. >> Okay. >> Well, I mean as much as >> Well, I know I know you said that. But >> the big thing it comes down to is in this previous slide, tiff out equalization value growth from 23 to 24 to 2425. Our property value went up 6.85%. That everybody did. Everybody got their taxes values. city or county did not then all a sudden the next year I got a reduction of 1.64%. It was absolutely unprecedented. I was anticipating a 5% increase. Turns out there was a an error in the valuation of the city of Superior's overall property. >> I understand it was the marina um because then they had to take the marina out that significantly reduced the property value in city superior. So now our aid's going

098to go up. You can look at it in one or two ways. You can look at it bad way and say you overcharge us. We paid we didn't get as much aid as we should have this year causing our taxes to go up or the good way at least are fixing it and we're getting back to the point where um I anticipate our tax levy to actually stay flat. So we'll get a one year free from from taxes increase. Um and then down the board it I kind of give explanations on the side of uh where we're seeing reductions and increases. Um one thing I did like to see is that S A G A that used to be Sage. >> Um that's actually staying flat. What that and that Sage is based upon kids

099I think it's K3. If they're K3 and all summer are staying flat at least at least there's light at the end of that tunnel. Now we're not going to continue to see this decline in normal. Unfortunately it's like six years away. Um, but at least it's flattening out for us. Um, and then another one, but then there's the the reduction in title. Title, we're looking at $161,000 in >> and I think we're anticipating a greater reduction in the following school year. That's what we've been told. >> We've been told to expect at least 25% from the 27 28 school. Yeah. >> $250,000. >> Yeah. >> I didn't know that one. All right. Cool. Yeah, >> save it. >> Good thing to say, dude. >> Uh, overall revenue is remaining flat. Why is it remaining flat?

100Because we have declining enrollment, reduction in federal grants, $325 increase in per pupil. This is the revenue limit worksheet. Again, this is the the sheet that this is how all the revenue gets calculated right now. If you see it in pink, that means it's an estimate. um by the end of the when you know in October when I turn this in everything's in yellow because right now all the paint it's just estimates based upon the information I have left. So per pupil increase otherwise known as the veto uh you get $325 increase per student uh but that increase is eaten up by our decline in enrollment. So, if we get 325 extra for every for all 3,837 FTEES or students, that's an increase of $1.2 million, but we lost 138 kids. Each one of those

101kids brings in $1,97 in revenue. That means we lost $1.6 million. Our home harmless, our decline in enrollment exemption actually flattens it out. So, we're not seeing that $400,000 decrease in revenue. uh overall revenue is actually increasing by $61,838 right now on my tenative tenative um estimate. So, the big thing or at least I just added this in today. Stole the slide or created the slide. Um, is I had a friend, >> which was it? >> I'm going to guess it from AI. I'm going to guess using our resources. >> I had a friend come to me and say, "Crazy, why why is the revenue stay the same? You got 138 kids." Well, we do. We lost We have 138 musketss. So we have 138 kids that we lost spread across seven schools, 13 grade

102levels, K12. If you multiply that out, 7 * 13, you get 182. So now you have 182 classrooms, 132 kids. So we're taking 3/4 of a kid out of every single classroom. So, if I made Pat leave right now, how much money are we saving by Pat not being in this meeting or this classroom? We're not saving a penny. He's just not here. We're still paying for the lights and everything. That's why we're seeing this declined in enrollment and expenses exceeding what revenue is. So, for every kid I lose, that's $11,977. I saved almost nothing until you get to a breaking point or a you know the tipping point I guess which is what Lake Superior was. It got to the point where we were tipping point. We had enough of a reduction that we

103could reduce a school and then not increase costs because those kids could get absorbed by all the other schools. So um yeah that's that's AI's help there. Uh this is again the revenue uh limit worksheet. Um, I just like to keep adding this in just so everybody understands that I'm not making these numbers up. These are all in the calculations that are out there. Um, and yeah, we'll look at what the uh the mill rate and everything will be in October. Um, expenses. So, an increase in expense of 1.4%. So, we have a large increase in health insurance about $1.8 billion. Salaries and benefits increase at 2.5 to 2.25% or a million dollars. A significant reduction in OPED and a significant reduction in fund 46 which is a countable projects. When we're looking at this,

104the reason this number is actually down is because as we lose teachers, as we lose staff, as we lose bus drivers, custodians, food service, any of them, we're evaluating if we need to replace that because we know we have to figure out ways to reduce expenses. 80% of our expenses are tied up in people. So, unfortunately, people is where the expenses need to take place. And it's one thing um I think Amy doesn't get enough credit for is since she's been here, she's been doing it based off of attrition. And I've talked to other districts, other business managers, they get jealous about the fact that we then reduce off of attrition as opposed to waiting till the last minute getting to a point where we're negative fund balance and then making really really hard drastic

105cuts on >> Well, I hope that was the message that you heard when we tried to draft that letter last week that hope that came out. Um so here's the breakdown of the expenses on the salary and benefits. Um they've increased as expected. Um there's savings for the eliminated position reduces significant amount of expense. Our oped contribution is where I've reduced a significant amount. OPED is for uh the group of teachers hired in ' 09, January 109 or prior. They're eligible for an HA contribution when they retired. Those are all post employment. We don't pay them ahead of time. U my philosophy, the one that I'm really pushing for finance for our school district is we got to pay it as it goes. um that and that's why I travel with a lot of the

106expenses we have you know even on the computer side but those expenses are so significant you have to save up for it and you put money into what's called fund 73 your op account I've put a significant amount of money in that in the last couple years knowing that in future years I'm not going to be able to make that contribution uh we have 91 teachers that are going to be eligible for that benefit um plus we have 15 that are still in the process cuz they get paid out once a year for 5 years. It's about $10 million in post-employment benefits that we're on the hook for. So, um I think I'm at about $8 million in my oped accounts and I have a long time before I actually have to pay all that

107out. Um because if you were hired in '09 as a 25 year old, that means you're not going to retire the earliest you can retire in 2039. So, we have we have some time. Um, but I it's going to be really hard to make contributions to that. >> Um, >> I just I want to add like we have to as a district if we want to keep seeing this progress academically retain the staff and the quality of staff that we have. And so, you know, it I think as a board, you know, we really had a a indepth conversation about like what can we afford um as a district so that we're responsibly um providing people with the raises they need because of the cost of living, but also being responsible with what we know

108is our true budget situation. And I always think I always say too, it's a balance of making sure you are investing in those salaries to attract new employees to our district and it's also the investment of putting into these benefits to retain you know there's like the balance there of >> right >> that's part of the reason for the focus group too committee working on benefits and getting creative. >> Right. Right. Got to be able to balance the immediate and the long-term benefits. Yeah, >> sorry. Thanks, David. >> Uh, salary and benefits for fund 10 or 40 million. Um, but there's an additional transfer we have from fund 27 and 95% of that is um, salary and benefits. So, you're looking at another $6.5 million in salary and benefits. So, you're getting up to a

109total of $47 million in salary and benefits. Um, the other 12 million is what we have to use to run the rest of the district. And then on top of we have our open enrollment expenses, our vouchers, um non- capital like fund 27 transfer which is that's 6 and a half. Um our fund 46 uh so that fund 46 is a capital projects. I've reduced that anticipating for next year by $500,000 but we have a lot of projects and talked about it. Um I think we small groups in the summer so we can go in further with detail with everybody on the board. um that that's a huge expense that's also out on the horizon and unfortunately none of that is getting cheaper and the main thing I get worried about is the the roofs

110we have that are reaching the end of their life and have to pay for those. So um so with all those other expenditures that's what's falling into it. So it's it's all across the board between our computers, our insurance buildings, grounds, fuel and our buses. um how do we how do the dual courses we provide for seniors? It all adds up really fast and we have to figure out a way to find a way to to afford that. Utilities is always a big one too. People complain about their utilities when I'm fine goes up 10% to it's $140,000 that fine. So >> has there been conversations with Focus on Energy about getting them in here? >> Yep. So we've talked to them. They're the like guys, I believe. And um they always come in with

111a really sweet deal, but it's a huge outlay of money to begin with. >> I'm sure Cory's going to hit me up with it. Bobby always hit me up with it. Hey, I can save you, you know, $100,000 in five years. I'm like, well, how much is it going to cost me? Well, $200,000 now, but I'll save you $100,000. >> This is part of the work we did during the referendum, right, Steve? And I remember like we did a lot of we did utilize some of those things. high school. >> He has already hit me up. He's like, you know, we're not going to be able to get H hallogen lights. Is that the title? Light bulb. So, he's like, you're going to have to change it. So, >> um >> over in Minnesota right

112now, you can't buy allergen lights. And it's it's fast approaching right now. >> Yeah. Um, so the goals of the preliminary budget is I want to keep the board and the public educated and know what's going on, transparency on the use of taxpayers money. It's a line of credit requirement. If I did need or decide to go for a line of credit, they will not do it until either budget or preliminary budget is passed. Um, and then you have that that that period between July 1 and October 30th or one of the October 26 when we approve our budget that I won't be able to get a line of credit passing this preliminary budget at least gives me the ability to get a line of credit if needed. I don't anticipate it this year, but

113I think I just want to get into this routine where you guys >> you guys will get into from this point forward. think you guys are going to get budget updates. Maybe not next month, but July going forward is going to be constant budget updates and then um give people the ability to have paper public education. I think the more people learn, the more people know and understand how it's working, the more people will actually fight for us. Like I said, my buddy says absolutely your expenses should go down. Let me show him the numbers. It's like, oh, I guess that makes sense. He slows. Um so this is the preliminary budget. Uh this is what it looks like and what um we'll transition this to an action item next week for you guys to

114to wholes if you do have questions before then just >> will you make sure that um you share this with them tonight. Yep. >> Yeah. >> Thank you. Thank you David work >> action items >> start with one I have one with gifts grants and bequests administration it recommends approval of to accept gifts grants and bequests received in April of >> motion to approve >> second any discussion >> I Just want to point out uh Sarah Schubert Mccon and her business has a donation fund a little cup and that's a significant amount Sarah. So thank you. That's that's all donated by the community and our customers. So any other discussion? Okay. Hearing none. All those in favor please signify by saying I. I. >> All opposed. Okay. Motion carries. I have another annual donation to

115scholarship foundation. Administration recommends approval of the annual donation in the amount of $1,000 to the school district of Superior Scholarship Foundation, Inc. Student Activities Fund. Motion to approve. >> Second. Any discussion? None. All those in favor, please signify by saying I. I. Any opposed? Motion carries. All right. CISA 12 shared services contract. Administration recommends approval of the 2026 27 shared services contract with CISA 12 in the amount of $98,83124. This reflects a decrease from the 25 contract cost of $101892.94. The district will continue to utilize CISA 12 for essential services. The reduction reduced total is a result of strategic adjustments to specific service levels based on current district needs. >> Motion to approve. >> Second. >> Any discussion? >> Amy, the drop, what was it related to? >> Well, I wanted to say that's a

116very fancy sentence. So, I just I wanted to reiterate what that meant. I was like, wow. Um we uh we have not reduced the type of services that we're receiving from CISA 12. We reduced the amount of services. So for example, a lot of it has to do with our special education costs. We still are tapping into some of those low incidence areas, but we just don't need the same level as we needed this year. >> Hearing hearing impaired, uh visionar Yeah. Any further discussion? Hearing none. All those in favor, please signify by saying I. I. All opposed. >> Motion carries. I have no discussion items. >> That ends report. >> All right, Shel. How come you always get the almost the last slot all the time? We have to take a look after this.

117We'll put you on first. Policy's in a little Shelly mode. Right. I have noformational items today and no discussional items, but we do have five action items. Administration proposes the approval of changes to the following policies based on NEOLA recommendations. First one is administration recommends approval of the first reading of policy 0142.7 orientation. This policy update provides new topics to help prepare each board member for their duties to ensure the effective functioning of the board, encouraging new members to understand board functions, district operations, and procedures. >> Motion to approve. >> Second. >> I just wanted to reiterate all of these policies are from our Neiola updates. They're on the calendar that I shared with you guys. So hopefully you saw that calendar at your request that I've embedded into the weekly update. Um, and all

118the things that were in there were already doing. So, Lisa was already experienced some of those things that they've added. So, >> can we ask her how it's going so far? >> Sure. >> Good. >> Not fast enough. All right. Is there any further discussion? All right. Hearing none. All those in favor, please signify by saying I. Post. Motion carries. Right. The next one is the first reading of policy 1230.01, development of administrative guidelines. This policy delegates to the district administrator the responsibility for designing and implementing administrative guidelines for the district's operation, ensuring they are consistent with board policies. It's important for establishing clear operational procedures and ensuring that the district's daily functions align with the board's strategic vision. >> I think we should allow Dr. Pollson her >> time. Any further discussion? Hearing none.

119All those in favor, please signify by saying I. >> I. >> Opposed? Motion carries. Next is the first reading of policy 1240, evaluation of district administrator. This policy revision includes new options to allow the board to make decisions regarding the district administrator's contract renewal, determine their salary and performance-based incentives, and assess progress towards district strategic goals. >> Motion to approve. I will second. there discussion. >> I would like to talk more about that um for for next year and just kind of assess how it went this year for for Dr. Starzaki and um for us as board members. So just I'll be reaching out to Molly and hopefully have more conversation about that for next year. >> And this doesn't really change anything in our process. It's just Neiola recommendations. Yep. >> Any other discussion?

120Right. Hearing none. All those in favor, please signify by saying I. >> I. >> Opposed. Motion carries. The next is the first reading of new policy 5515, student use and parking of motor vehicles. This policy outlines the conditions under which students may use motor vehicles to travel to and from school, emphasizing their responsibility for property care, safety, and courtesy. It's important for establishing clear guidelines for student drivers, ensuring safety, and promoting responsible behavior on school grounds. >> Motion to approve. Second. >> So, this is already in the handbook. >> Yeah, this we don't have a policy. >> Yeah. And we did run this by Ryan and of course he was fine with it but um >> yeah this we didn't have a policy on this and it was re recommended you do but it is

121in the first >> nice other discussion all those in favor please signify by saying I >> I post >> motion carries last update is resend policy 58.95 Five, student employment. This policy is being rescended. Teenagers in Wisconsin need to need a work permit if they are under 16 and are not working in agriculture or domestic service. Schools are no longer authorized to provide students with work permits. Parents or guardians must apply for the permit online through the Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development DWD website. Motion to approve. Second. Any further discussion? >> We've been doing that so Okay, hearing none. All those in favor, please signify by saying I. >> I. >> Oops. Motion carries. This ends my report. >> Right. Thank you. And just a reminder, board members, uh, the committee assignment, make sure you

122get that back to me by Wednesday. There's two documents in there. One document gives you an explanation of the committees and then the other document is for you to rank your choices. >> It's also teacher appreciation meet. So, thank you to our teachers. Um, and uh the powow happened. Um, I wasn't able to make it, but I'm really excited. It'll hope Oh, you did? Good. >> It was It was really good. There was >> two female head dancers there. >> It was awesome. It was really awesome. Hopefully, they have it again. So, if you didn't make it, >> you can attend. It was great to partner with UWS for that. So, I'm sure hopefully Jen will talk about a little bit next week. So, >> yeah. Thank you. >> Um, I have some updates from

123the scholarship committee. If you would like to go to scholarship recognition night, it is May 13th at 6 p.m. at the high school. Um, let's see. Everyone that applied to the scholarship application, there was 134. Oh, I'm sorry. 165 student applicants and 134 scholarships were given out. Everybody that applied got a scholarship. Um, there was $417,900 given, which is higher than last year, which is fantastic. Um, and I believe they finally figured out the whole accounting drama. >> Did they? >> I think so. >> Super. >> So, fantastic. May 13th, go. It's really fun. >> For your reading pleasure tonight and just submitted the committee preference form for you >> at this time. I'd entertain a motion for adjournment. >> Motion to >> second. Motion in a second. Is there any further discussion? Hearing none.

124All those in favor signify by saying I. I. Crystal.