001There we go. We're good. >> All right. Well, good evening everybody and welcome to tonight's budget hearing and committee the whole meeting today, Monday, October 27th, 2025. Like to call this meeting to order at this time. We have met compliance with official notifications. Roll call, please. >> Sarah Schubert McCone, >> here. >> Shelley Mowen, >> here. >> Nick Olsen, >> here. >> Laura Gabsky, >> here. Kathy Aman >> here. >> Nick Schumacher here. 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 is 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
002address 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. Comments by members of the public, we do not have any. I'll turn the meeting now over to our chief financial operations officer, David C. It's >> all right. Well, thanks for everybody for coming. Um, I was anticipating this room's just going to be packed and I always feel good when I walk in. Um, so this is the um I'm going to go over the
003budget. You guys should all have that budget booklet that I put together and sent out. Um, there's copies on the desk there. So I think the big thing don't do anything. You just hit space bar. So back one. So the budget process, one thing is um this is not a quick process. This is it takes I said a year here but it's over a year. I'm already working on 26 27 and kind of peeking at 27 28. Um the big thing though was I got [clears throat] to get input from people. I get input from the board to see what their priorities are. I get input from all the admins and departments to say hey what what are we looking at? What is the plan out there? What is any big expenses or surprises that
004I can anticipate? Um and then also we do the listening sessions. Those are just put out onto the calendar recently. we listen to the what the teachers and all the other employees are telling us like hey these are the things we're running into what we need to prioritize and then me personally um I just like getting feedback and getting insight from other business managers um so I talked to a lot of them down south I was just at a a conference here last week and I met up with some of them to see hey how are you guys looking at this and am I in line and then also I work with Baird um I actually had a Friday afternoon meeting with them last week to make sure they could look at my numbers one
005last time and make sure everything's good. So, I think the big thing with that budget process is um it is a really long and drawn out process. This month of October is is terrible for me. So, um you go ahead and click. So, the key aspects of the budget um the first one is there is a $325 increase per member. So, how much we get per student for FTE? Normal math is you would say we have about 4,000 kids. You multiply that by 325 and we get about $1.3 million. So, you would expect, hey, we get $1.3 million more. Um, but that's not school finance math. School finance math is 325 times about $4,000 equals $50,000. So with all our exemptions and everything that kind of artificially hold us up from year to year, we're
006gaining an additional $50,000 over last year. So as I'm sure you know, as we hit inflation, salary increases, and everything like that, the $50,000 has gone very fast. Um the other part of it is well, first of all was the state was unprecedented. They did not increase equalization aid year-over-year. Um, from what I understand, that's the first time it's happened since like 2010, if not even longer. Um, so what that means is even if the money stays the same, they're going to give out less money or they're going to give out the same amount of money, but everybody else gets that slight increase up at 325. So automatically, property owners are going to pay more. To go along with that, because we're running into declining enrollment, because we're actually pulling our expenses down, and because
007of our property value, we take an even bigger chew on that equalization aid. So, it doesn't even stay flat for us for this $2.3 million. So, right out the gate, there's always there's automatically going to be an increase to property owners for that 2.3 million. And then there was no increase in the per per pupil categorical aid. I don't even know if that gets raised because ever since I've been here, it's always stayed flat. That's a huge number that we really want to see an increase because it's outside the revenue limit, but again it it stayed flat again for I think the sixth year in a row. So So here it is. This is the proposed fund 10 budget. Um so you go down right now it's you're um forecasting a balanced budget. That number
008can vary or change because I mean it's a guess of what we got going on right now. Um, one thing I really want to emphasize is if you look at the bottom line, you can see our expense expenses are dropping from year to year. Um, this is now this is the first year where I feel like we can see what we're doing as a district and how we're improving as a district and how all that work we're putting in now, it we're realizing that those gains as far as a reduction in expenses. The unfortunate part, if you look up above farther, our revenue is going down as well. What I anticipate going forward is our revenue actually to to flatten out and then [clears throat] our expenses to gradually increase just because of inflationary reasons.
009So, when we run this balanced budget, it it can vary depending and there's a lot of levers at the end of the uh fiscal year that I can pull depending on what we're going to do, but right now it's at a at a balanced budget. So um if you want to click the next one. So key enrollment aspects. So school finance it's made up of how many kids do you have and then what is the per pupil that the state has given. Our re or our in our enrollment has decreased by 156. I gave you guys all the details earlier this month about why it's going down between 56 or you know 58 more kids graduating than we're bringing into a kindergarten class. Um this the loss of the the 4K kids. If you want
010to hit the space bar on this, this is a quick breakdown. The one thing I really want you to look at this is the question I get asked sometimes is when are we going to flatten out and get out of this declining enrollment? If you look right now, it looks like our sixth grade class is where that flattens. That's where we get into the 250 range where I think that's the new kindergarten class we're going to anticipate. That means we got that, you know, 7th, 8th, 9th, 10th, 11th, 12th grade classes, they're all going to graduate out and get replaced by numbers significantly smaller. Uh, this year's 12th grade classes huge. So, that is going to be is going to be a big drop in enrollment next year just because we're going to look at
011over 100 kids graduating and only 260 kids replacing. So, that's the the scary part of it. So, you click it. So fund balance in essence what the fund balance is is it is our savings account money we have it's for cash flow um the general rule is you want to be in the 25 to 33% range when we get further you guys are going to see that we're actually above that 25 to 33% range but I'll give you some detail on why we're there. So overall your fund balance increases in two ways. You can either increase it by you bring in more revenue than expenses so you have a surplus. So then that money gets put into the bank. The other way is when you reduce your expenses. So as your expenses go down your
012fund balance percentage increases because now instead of being you know 30% of $50 million it's 30% of $48 million. So that that the denominator changes on you. So that's why we actually if you look at it when we do this if you look in your uh budget booklet you actually see our fund balance percentage increases next year but our fund balance amount the amount that we actually have stays flat and that's because we're reducing our expenses. So you want to click the next one. So this is our fund balance history and as I said um we're looking at you know the projection right now is at 34%. So, why are we outside the recommended level? Well, the reason we're outside of it is because we know what's going to happen in the future. We have
013to forecast what's coming forward. So, um we see the storm on the horizon and we know what's coming. And what's going to happen is I would anticipate a balanced budget. I might even run a little bit of a deficit this year depending on how we want to run it at the end very end of the year because there's some benefits to running the deficit. Um, but after that, I don't see how I'm going to put money into the fund balance. Um, we're going to end up running deficits for for a couple years after that, especially when you get into the 27 28 is going to be hard. The 28 29 is going to be really difficult. Um, especially if we don't get an operational to pass or something changes at the state level. So, we
014need that money. And the thing with a fund balance is just like your savings account. If you put $10,000 away, once you spend it, it's not like you turn around, all right, I'll just replenish it. If you're using your savings account for your day-to-day operations, that means you're not bringing enough revenue to ever, you know, revitalize it and bring it back. So, that's kind of why the the increase on the fund balance side of it is because I anticipate that number dropping. And I would not doubt um if something doesn't change by 2829, we will be back in the 20% range. Um, and then once you hit that 20% range, if there's not an increase, we could exhaust our fund balance by 31. Um, so it's just we just have to make sure that we're
015looking for the future. So, >> and David, weren't we in the 19% right around the construction time? So, like 2017, 2018, I think was >> 2017. Yeah. >> Okay. >> Y significantly down. So, the big thing is, so we got that Esther money. >> Yeah. A lot of districts went out and used that ESR money and a lot of on staff is what it came down to. And then Esther money went away, but the problems didn't go away. We as a district, I think we were super conservative on what we did with our ESR money, so we didn't bring in that sap. Huge um deficit after the fact. The other part of it is we're one of the few districts that had a significant amount of ESR money used last year. And I did that
016out of a if I can just keep not use that money until I absolutely need it, I kept being able to to forego some of it. And that's where last year between the $1.3 million we had in Esser, the $2.5 million we had in a referendum, which I couldn't budget upon because no one knew if it was going to pass, and the $1 million we got for the sale of Lake Superior. That's why there's a larger in plus into the funds. So, uh, this is fund 73. This is OPED. Um, this slide is required. It has to be up every single year. Um, so this OPE stuff is made up of teachers that were hired prior to 2008 who get a post-employment benefit. They get a contribution to the HR and then also any person
017that stays on [clears throat] district insurance after they retired from the district. So there's an implicit rate um expense that's tied to it. This is not for any teacher that was hired after 08. This is not for any administrators or anything like that other than the ones that stay on the district insurance after they've retired. What happens is every five years or every year after somebody after a teacher retires, a contribution is made to their HR. Well, those are postmployment. Any teacher is hired after 08 and every administrator we prepay it or pay it as we go. So, we don't run into a postemployment benefit. These numbers are really hard because you get into actuaries that need to be created every single or every two years and then a re re-evaluation every year to determine
018how much money you need out there because there's a lot of money that flows in and out between the implicit rate and the HR contribution. So this is one of the levers that I kind of try and pull. Um unfortunately um before I was here they did there wasn't a big push to make contributions that 173. I'm pushing more to push into that fund 73 if we have money now so that when we run out of money at least maybe we'll be closer to fully funded on that side. So >> can you remind me like say someone um because they're on uh federal uh insurance you know a a previous employee that's retired are they able to opt back into this? >> No, Molly. Okay. Thank you. >> They're off. They are off. Okay. How
019many retirees are on? >> I'd have to pull the list for this year, but I think at the end of last year it was in the I20s or low. >> That's [clears throat] what I remember, too. >> So, that that implicit rate is um I think the last time I looked at it was $300,000. What it is is that what happens is it's not a direct expense to us. It's all of our health insurance costs more because retirees are on there. And so that has to be accounted for. So that's where when that extra comes in, fund 73 has to reimburse fund 10. But we have to give the money to fund 73 to begin with. It's just moving money back and forth. But the big thing is once it touches fund 73, I put
020a dollar into fund 73, I can't touch that unless it's paying for that implicit rate or that H benefit. So um if you want to click the next one, this is the revenue limit worksheet. This is I think you guys see it all the time is how school finances run pretty much off of this. So we when I go in and tell you these numbers, you know, you're going to see it on the mill rates down in the bottom. We got our our student enrollment over on the left hand side. Um [cough and clears throat] lots of exemptions, lots of other things that go into the calculations. And if my numbers that I have you guys on the resolution do not match what's on this one, DPI will send out an emergency email to you
021saying, "Hey, you did something illegal." Um, but at the same time, they literally changed this revenue limit worksheet at 3:30 today. >> Um, yeah. So, on Friday, they made a change for us or on Thursday, they made a change. They bumped us up. All a sudden, they found three kids. Nobody knows where. And technically it wasn't supposed to happen because it the only change should be if our person makes that change. If Casey makes that change and she had not made a change since October 2nd. DPI's starting a new system now. So that makes me nervous. But we're just going to go to November 1st without any more changes on it. Um we click again. This is a breakdown of our revenue for 110. So, as you can see, we're at 61% from the state
022side, and that number is dropping, and that's when that state equalization aid is dropping. The other part of it, which people don't like to hear sometimes, is we are actually pretty heavily aided. We have we get a lot of money from the state when you compare it to other districts. Um, so it's kind of it's it's getting to the point where, you know, we're going to get into that 6040 range eventually. But the biggest thing is when you take money, if the state takes money away or stops giving you a certain amount of money, then the property tax have [clears throat] to give it have to give you that money. The other side, people hear about the federal that's title things like that. It's not a big it's not a big amount. Um it's when
023they they don't they don't provide that much to public education and frankly it's going down and is really at risk. That's the big worry I have right now is our our revenue at risk is that federal stuff. Um, and then we have our our others, which is, you know, ticket sales and and fees that kids pay for sports that go back into the fun 10 side of it. We do look for ways to get more money. [clears throat] Um, we are we have a g a grant program out there. We we literally encourage the teachers, go find them. Um, I'll go online all the time just like, hey, what's the cool grant? What are good grants out there that can provide us money? They're just not out there. And the competition is fierce. Utah to
024Milwaukee, Madison, even I think Oak Claire might have one. They have a grant person. That's their job. Find them, write the grants, let's do it. Um, we're going to keep going and pushing. I think we have some other tools that might be useful that we can try and make it easier. But, um, when people say, "Well, just go get a grand." It's not that easy. They're they're really hard to get. So, click again. Uh, this is a breakdown of expenses for fun 10. Um, the big thing I want to push out when this when I say this is the school budget, it it's a people budget. Education is a service. And if you look at this right here, it says, "All right, 49% of it is salaries and 19% is benefits. That gets you up
025to 68%." Mhm. >> But if you look at there's that 12% up on the top, that's our transfer. And that's a fun 27 transfer. That fund 27 transfer is 6.17 million and I think 300,000 of it is non salary non-benefits. So in actuality we're looking at 79% of all our money is going to pay for staff teachers and their benefits and everything else. That only leaves 21% to pay for everything else. That's gas and buses. That's to the buildings. That's sort of everything else. So there isn't this huge pool that I can just sip it off and say, "Oh, this is just our discretionary stuff." Our money is going to people and there those people are the ones that are inside the classrooms because we've made a a significant reduction on the admin side and
026with the goal of not touching anything that's in the classroom. So >> So now we get down into the mill rates and the tax levy side of it. So the mill rate's going to be is projected to be your uh is 765 tax levy at 27,461,919. This one just gives a quick breakdown of where it gets how it gets split up between the municipalities. The big thing with this is the state of Wisconsin, the department of revenue tells me how much the value is of every single one of these municipalities. Doesn't matter what Superior assesses their property at. The state doesn't care. They come in and say, "All right, Superior, you have 75% of the I think it's $3.6 billion in there." So, you get 75% or 74% of the levy. So, it's a simple
027calculation. It's just 27 million times 74. Superior share is 20,392,000. So the key aspects of the levy, first the estimated mill rate is going to be 765. That's up 81 from the $6.84 [clears throat] mill rate last year. >> The weird thing, so part of this is one, it's the money that the state has not given us anymore. Two, you >> sorry. >> It's the money the state has taken away in their equalization aid. And two, our value of our property fell by 1.6%. When that happened, I had calls from Barrett saying, "What is going on in Superior?" Because that is not the average. The average is 6% or 5% increase across the state. >> Mhm. >> I met with the city and said, "Hey guys, what's going on here?" [clears throat] >> Well, there
028was some stuff on the taxes that shouldn't have been on there. Uh, specifically, they called out the marina and said the marina was on our roll, tax roll. Um, so when that got pulled off, all of a sudden our property value went down. You get, you can look at it one of two ways. I'm going to look at it the the nice way because everybody says I'm a doom and gloom guy, >> which means the next year we're going to get more aid. You want to look at on the bad side, it means we overpaid or we got less aid than we should have the last couple years. Um, overall the levy's increasing by $2.48 million. of 9.9% from the from last year. That increase, you can almost tra trace it directly back to the
029$2.3 million decrease in state aid and then also the $174,000 increase in the vouchers. The voucher one totally took me by surprise. Did not anticipate getting slammed that hard on that. Um but that 175,000 so that I think that gets us up to around $500,000 in voucher money. That's just what happens is the property taxer, the property owners pay it, they give it to me and then I turn around and give it to them or I give it to the state and the state hands it out. So it just we're like a pass through what happens there. >> But it is a significant amount and it keeps increasing >> and like I said the state aid again I have to emphasize went down by 2.3 million so 7.13%. Uh so in conclusion the budget presented
030is ground in the priorities that the staff mir and board have expressed. Overall expenses for the school districts have decreased tax bill rate will be at $7.65. The tax levy will be 27.4 million. Um, and then once everything gets done and the resolution is passed, tomorrow I will be getting I will mail them out to all the municipalities and I will actually have probably my AP person go and hand deliver all those to the um municipalities so we can ensure that we meet all the the stringent guidelines that DP has. So do you guys have what questions you guys? you you uh is there an average mill rate across the state where >> Oh yeah, I don't have it on anyone [clears throat] with me right now. I can I'll pull it up before the
031end of this meeting. Um we are actually on the lower end when I've looked at it in the past. Um again the mill rates all over the place as far as you know mine has a really low mill rate but that's because their huge so but I'll get you that number for them for last year. I don't have this year's Well, first of all, thank you so very much for all the work that you do throughout not, you know, just not only at this crunch time, David, but 365 days looking out ahead, you know, years at a time and stuff. This is a lot of information and and you've always presented it to us that has been very helpful for us to to understand. not palatable means in but um the increase of that the
032one the the voucher system. So, in that um I will be coming back to the board um as we look at changing that resolution and uh finally getting that meeting set up with the county so we can talk about putting that on. And you saw in your packet sample of the uh tax sheet and everything. So, we're looking at putting that information on there because it is almost I think it's something like 474,000 now or closer to 500,000 with comes directly out of our budget to to support that. And [clears throat] it's never easy doing this. Um, we've got a responsibility. I think we've been very careful of of what we've asked. Um, I know the administration, Amy, has been and Molly and and everybody that's worked in this board office. Um, we are what
033I would say short-handed in this school district. However, she somehow makes it work and, um, the less impact that it has on the students in our school district. Very, very important. David, you kind of talked on it a little bit, but can you kind of explain again why that that fund balance, it's looked at as like a savings account, but why we can't just use that to pay for things that we need, right? I mean, we know, right? But can you just kind of explain that again? >> People look at it like it's a rainy day fund. All of a sudden, you can just go in there and dip it, >> right? Or, you know, we need new turf. Why can't we just use that? Just like things just things like that. Why can't we
034use that money for that? >> So, we can and we do. That's my cash flow. So, that's the money that I use to pay, you know, our payroll. Um, we got I don't get another um equalization aid check until the end of November. We haven't gotten a check since August. So, I now I watch my numbers, especially during payroll weeks to see what we're dropping on our bank account. So, we do use that money. The big thing though is like I said is once you use that money on a permanent basis then it's gone. So if we did use it and let's just say like on somebody came to me and said well why don't you just drop the tax levy instead of instead of increasing that tax levy by $2.3 million like to say
035just use your fund balance and and we can do that [clears throat] but then we have $2.3 million less in that fund balance when we know in the next couple of years we're going to have even less and less and less money. Um, I'm I I'm really nervous. I'm really scared about that 28 28 29 school year because my numbers turned from, you know, green to red. In 2930, I'm projecting a $8.5 million deficit. Well, if you only have 16 or $19 million in your fund balance, you're gone. It's empty in 2 years. Then at the same time, I'm going to turn around and say, "I lost all my money for cash flow. I need to go get money now. I need to get short-term borrowing. And that short short-term borrowing in this economic situation
036we're in, right? Money is not cheap. And then I go out and get, you know, $5 million to hold on to at a 5% interest. That money is just it's just gone. It's, you know, in essence, it's a waste cuz you're not actually getting anything out of it. You just get the right to use somebody else's money. So, >> and it also impacts our our audit, right, and liabilities. So when we get our our report at the end of the year, they're looking at our fund balance. That's a really big thing. >> Yeah, that's huge on the bond ratings. >> And then other districts that have dipped into their fund balance, um they're in a whole heap of trouble. Like you don't see them doing quite well once they're emptying that out because we need
037that to cover salaries or things like that. So yeah, that's a great question, Sarah. Thanks for asking that to explain. I think it'll be interesting or not interesting, but I'm watching now to see. I know there's some districts that are they don't have a fund balance and I don't know what they're going to do. They're going to have to do some cuts that are just going to be absolutely to the bone that are going to be hurt. We as a district are making sure that we're being fiscally conservative so that we don't ever get in that desperate desperate point that we need to make, you know, things that are significantly going to hurt our kids just so we can make them payroll. on the good side, we should be really happy about what we're doing
038with our expenses, how they're trending down. And I mean that that's been something that, you know, since I started, Amy has always emphasized it. And now when I'm in this role, I can really see how she's emphasizing it. And there's a lot of districts out there that are actually jealous of what we do. Um, a lot of districts won't rip that band-aid off when they need to make those cuts. um where we are willing to make those cuts. I was just in a meeting last week um for um our future ready team. And I mean the first thing was hey we got to be fiscally responsible and figure out ways every penny is going to count. So I mean it's you know and Crystal was leading that meeting and that it's across the board. All
039of our admin understand the situation we're [clears throat] in and if we just tighten the belt here a little bit it'll be better for our kids on their own. So and I think we should be proud of the fact that for all our admin team that's doing that and specifically the board as well. I mean, you guys get those tough decisions and um I appreciate the fact that you you trust the numbers that are out there and and and look longterm as opposed to a a short-term situation. So, >> awesome. Thank you, everyone. >> Thank you. >> Thanks, David. >> I guess that that Mr. President, that makes me think of two things, too. was just thank you again to the community for the operational referendum because um that's our lifeline for a bit. And
040then you know just as far as the the voucher schools or charter schools like it's we're we support you know parent choices and education but there's just different requirements um that we're held to. And so public schools should be compensated at a different way because we don't have the option to not provide some of these services. So, um, just want to make that clear. It's it's not a, um, we don't want it to be a competitive thing. We just really want to make sure that public schools receive the funding that they need to do what we have to do to educate our kids. >> Thank you. >> All right. Moving on the agenda here, then we have two action items coming up. consideration of the 2526 school district budget. I remind you that it is
041final approval tonight. This will not move to Monday. The first resolution 2526 budget for the school district of Superior. The administration recommends approval of resolution 25-06, the 202526 budget for the school district of Superior. >> Go ahead to approve. >> Second. There is a motion and a second. So the resolution reads as such. Be it resolved that the general fund including state and federal grants of the 2025 2026 budget of the school district of Superior, County of Douglas, state of Wisconsin is established in the amount anticipated sums of 58,650,400 for revenue and $58,650 $650,000 410 for expenditures. I was going to say I knew I was going to get a tongue twister tonight. And there's the first one. [laughter] Be it further resolved that such expenditures be as set forth in the expenditure budget booklet
042dated October 27, 2025 of the school district of Superior 2025 2026 budget information booklet which pages are incorporated herein by reference. Be it further resolved that the prior service liability of the 2025 2026 budget of the school district of Superior, County of Douglas, state of Wisconsin is established in the sums of $678,049 for revenue and $684,768 for expenditures. Be it further resolved that the debt service fund of the 2025 2026 budget of the school district of superior county of Douglas state of Wisconsin is established in the sums of 6,736,200 for revenues and 6,85,275 for expenditures. Be it further resolved that the community education of the 252026 budget of the school district of superior county of Douglas state of Wisconsin is established in the sums of 150,000 for revenues and 150,000 for expenditures. Be it further
043resolved that the food service fund of the 25 2025 2026 budget of the school district of superior county of Douglas state of Wisconsin is established in the anticipated sums of 3,128,86 for revenues and $3,96,167 for expenditures. Be it further resolved that the 2025 2026 budget as approved be distributed to the proper officials of the towns, villages, and city comprising the school district of superior. Approved by the board of education of the school district of Superior this 27th day of October, 2025. Is there any further discussion? >> Well done again, David. >> Roll call vote, please. Sarah Shiver Mcome. >> Hi. >> Shelley Mullen. >> Hi. Nick >> Olson. >> Hi. >> Laura Gapsky. >> Hi. >> Katherine Aman. >> Hi. >> Nick Schumacher. >> Hi. >> President Steve Olsson. >> I motion carried. >> Next
044is the school district of Superior tax levy certification. The administration recommends the approval of the resolution 25-07. School District of Superior Tax Levy Certification. >> Motion to approve. >> Second. >> Motion and a second. The resolution reads as follows. The 2025 2026 tax levy certification for the school district of Superior. Resolution introduced by the board of education of the school district of Superior, Wisconsin, appropriating the necessary funds for the operation, management, and administration of the school system for the fiscal year 2025 2026 and authorizing a tax levy to be spread on the tax role of the city of Superior, town of Oakland, town of Parkland, Town of Summit, Town of Superior, Village of Oliver, and Village of Superior, Municipal Bodies Corporate in Douglas County, Wisconsin for the years 2025. 5. Whereas the board of education
045of the school district of superior has authorized the sum of 58,650,410 for the general fund, $150,000 for the community education fund, and $7,414,249 for the debt service fund to be appropriated for school purposes as more fully appears in the schedule of appropriations and in the budget of the same board of education. for the uses and purposes there and expressed which said budget is hereby made a part of this resolution as fully as if the same were incorporated in full herein and whereas the afore said appropriations of 58,650,410 $150,000 $7,414,249 are to be financed as follows and as you'll see on the board I'm not going to read through each one of these in the general fund. Uh the total ends up as $ 38,752,740 and then the appropriations, the percentage of the cities and then
046each one of the townships and the amount of dollars there. So there is your general fund. On the next page, we have the debt service fund on fire service liability broken out again the same way reflects then the fund the total for fund 38. The next is a death service fund which is total fund 39. The next is the community education fund total fund 80. The total tax levy has been listed on the next page of 27,461,919. And whereas the state of department of revenue has certified the following equalization valuations. You can see those up on the board. Thank you and for enlarging that. And that total be it further resolved by the board of education of the school district of superior that the school clerk shall ascertain the total of taxes levied for school
047purposes and shall aortion the levy to the governing bodies within the school district of superior. Be it further resolved that the board of education of the school district of Superior certify to the clerk of the city of Superior, the clerk of the town of Oakland, the clerk of the town of Parkland, the clerk of the town of Summit, the clerk of the town of Superior, the clerk of the village of Oliver, and the clerk of the village of Superior, their portion or share of the said taxes, and these be entered on the tax role of each municipal unit. Approved by the board of education of the school district of superior this 27th day of October 2025. Roll call please. >> Sarah Schubert Mcome. >> I. >> Shelley Mullen. >> Hi. >> Nicholson. >> Hi. >>
048Laura Gatsky. >> Hi. >> Katherine Gavan. >> Hi. >> Nick Schumacher. I President Steve Olsen. >> Hi. >> Carries. >> You need to drink a water. >> No, I'm good. We're going to move right on cuz you guys are taking over now. Committee of the whole agenda. Action taken at today's meeting is to forward the recommendation for final approval at the next regular school board meeting on Monday, November 3rd, 2025. Again, I don't believe we have any comments from the public. Report of our superintendent. She had no action items, no discussion items, informationational items. >> Where'd he go? >> There he is. >> He's hiding over there. >> Do you have like to welcome back Mr. Brian Haroldson like Great Lakes >> is not working. So do you >> Oh, it's not. Do you want
049to put it up >> or do you just want to help me? >> I can just tell you to click. All right. So, I'm just here for my uh just kind of some updates at Great Lakes. You want to go right to the next slide. Um couple celebrations. The first one I'm not going to spend a lot of time on right now, but like we think of things that we're proud of. Um so last year was a very big transitional year for us and the data I put up um is related to our A-reading assessment that we do fall, winter, spring. It's a comprehension reading assessment. So you can see if you look at the middle um one where it says fall of 2024, we were at 57.1% above the 40th percentile or higher. That
050was down about 9 points from the fall of 2023. I'm hearing I'm so happy to report that we're starting higher than we ever have in the fall with reading. I'm really excited about that because um as I talked to staff earlier this year and like some of our continuous improvement goals, we have a chance to you know even on the state assessment maybe get above that 70% proficient advance breaking a previous high and more importantly that bottom category I talk about below basic in the red maybe getting that to zero. we're down to probably three or four students in the building that are in that category and we're working hard to get them caught up. >> So, that was kind of a nice uh piece. Um we'll be happy to um to be able to
051report out how that progress goes. Um cutting to the more important celebration, I guess uh launching our therapy dog program in the district. And I want to just take a minute if I have Libby for a second. >> So, Libby is Oh, you're being shy, aren't you? >> Pretty cool. three one. She's shy. Sorry. She's not shy around all the kids. So, Libby is is she 6 months old. >> So, she is actually training um in our setting. I know some of the board members have had a chance to to meet her. Um this has been an amazing thing. I think we've talked many many times about challenges and mental health and not having enough resources. Um and we always could use more resources, but this was an opportunity to do something um to help
052with that. and she's she's been amazing. I mean, I can even think of the first couple days of school. You got those kindergarteners melting down cuz they're saying bye to mom and dad and Libby just instinctively like cidles up to them and melts their tears away. We used her in a lot of different ways. If you can switch the slide, Ann. Um these are just some of the pictures up here. We had the football team out a couple weeks back. Um and Terry, if you Mrs. Bronson, our counselor's here, if I missed anything, you feel free to add in. But she's just become a part of our school climate and culture. End of the day, she's always out there saying goodbye to the kids, sending them off on a good note. She Mrs. Bronson, you
053can see some of her groups. She's got like pillows and stuff set up and Libby sits in the middle and it just gets kids [clears throat] talking and processing problems, I think, at a better rate than maybe what they were willing to do um prior. You can see up in the top right corner, we had a friend that was uh out of energy for the day and Libby just sidled up and took a nap uh right with him. Um she is in and we obviously have to be cognizant of allergies and things. We do have some dogfree zones in our building. So most of the classes are in Mrs. Bronson's room and Libbyy's part of lessons. I mean, she helps with self-control. She starts off every lesson kind of coming through the rows and the
054kids just get a little chance to uh to pet her. Um, you can see we got a couple friends reading to Libby. Reading's been focused at Great Lakes in case you were wondering. And and it's just another outlet to get some kids um more comfortable practicing their reading fluency. >> These are some of the things, not all the things. Terry, am I missing anything on there? Is there anything you want to add? >> I mean, it's so cute. like the student is new there that's holding the book and he came in as a pretty low reader but he went to the library on his own and checked out a book that looked like Libbyy's so long >> and just his book bag that he brings every day and he spends time in the corner on
055the bottom she made a papermâché of Libby and wrote a whole complete book >> and this is a student that probably couldn't do that before so pretty >> right very motivated. I mean, I even think as I talk about our challenge here at the end of this presentation with some of the attendance data, trying to use her as a way to get kids engaged and want to be there, it's just another tool. Um, as I said with the mental health piece, it's really something we can do. The other thing I want to talk to is like I said starting the therapy dog program. I know Northern Lights is like working, they're in connection with Liberty K9 Rescue Ranch uh down in Barnum. Um they didn't find a match the first time, but they're still working
056on that. And I know Alex Johnson at Cooper is looking at becoming a handler. So maybe we can get more of these animals out into our schools. Um it'd be great if someday we could have um one in every school. Um you know, we had tried getting some kids in to talk a little bit about the impact, but we've got conflicts with sports and things. So could you go to the next slide? We did clip a two-minute video, though, and maybe you can get a little sense of uh school >> how the kids are impacted. And just make sure the volume's up. >> My name's Emma and >> the main volume probably >> Can you Can you like uh out of it and do the >> Yeah, the bottom. >> There it is. >> I
057think we can do that. >> I would crank it, >> push it, and see if it works. I put it all the way to 100 video technology. My name is >> Yeah. >> My name's Ava and um I'm a fifth grade and my teacher is Miss Bman as well. >> How do you like to interact with Libby? The favorite my favorite way to interact with Libby is in group time when I have group with Miss Bronson and I just get to pet Libby and talk about stuff that's happening. Um my favorite way to interact with Libby is um uh when uh I sometimes come down um for workshops. >> How has Libby changed your stress level? >> Sometimes when I'm having like a problem with a friend on the playground at recess or outside break,
058I just like to have a break in Miss Bronson's room to hang out with responsive and it helps me calm down. Um uh when uh if we have a substitute and I'm doing a like I'm having a hard time um like maybe paying attention or listening and I come down here and then um my stress level like changes. Okay. >> If you could give one advice to the school district about having a therapy dog, what would it be? >> Um, I think we should get one for every class. [laughter] >> A lot of dogs in school, huh? >> Um, uh, >> if you would could tell the school district one thing about Libby. A thing about Libby is um she's really sweet and like I bet you if you were having like a super hard
059time and you were like super angry and you just came in here and pet it pet her then you probably your mood would change really fast >> kids like [clears throat] having her at Great Lakes. >> What do you think if you had three words to describe Libby? >> Cute, friendly, and caring. Do you see a difference with the kids from last year to this year having [clears throat] >> having Libby part of our school? >> Last year if kids were upset, Miss Johnson would give them a fidget or something to deal with and she would help them. But now with Libby, she still gets to do her job, but she kind of has like a best bud to help her. >> So I got to say this, Miss Bronson was [clears throat] doing more
060than giving kids a fidget. But but Libby does. [laughter] Good job. Um and I and I I've said this to my staff. I've been very public about this like my favorite staff member at Great Lakes is Libby. I've been very clear with my [laughter] and uh it's been really just a nice uh piece. Um, as [clears throat] I wrap up this the challenge um that we're working to address right now, like I said, I've come here before with mental health. And mental health is still a challenge, but I think we're doing better um than maybe what we would have been a year or two or three ago. One thing we did have that came up at Great Lakes was the attendance rate. So, some of this had to do with the transition probably, but not
061all of it. the our attendance rate in 23 24 our chronically truent uh percent of kids was 8% and that was fairly consistent going back a lot of years and last year it jumped to 18%. So a 10% increase in chronic absenteeism. So we've been doing some work this year on awareness and doing more proactive communication. We pulled those kids out who were on that list in 2425. We're trying to get that habitual truency rate back down hopefully below 10%. And then our other um piece with this, if we can raise this subgroup's achievement just by getting them to school, we can hopefully continue to advance our ELA and our math goals. We do have a math goal. We're we're mainly focused on ELA, but I'm hoping that if we can do some work within
062this subgroup, we can really get to um higher levels uh of learning for everybody. I don't know what my last SL one more slide. Oh, and then our continuous performance report. If you click on that link, Ann, these are all on the district website. So, every building has this. This is just kind of the actions we're doing for our continuous improvement plan. The ones highlighted in green are the ones that are complete. Um, the ones in yellow are ones that we're kind of in progress on. And then there's also some red ones that we still have yet uh to do. We're going to continue to add actions as we go and meet with our leadership team and such this year. Um it's it's on the website along with the rest of them. Um I think
063that's the last slide. Does anyone have any questions? >> I guess just a comment. The four of us on on here we went to a workshop with uh WASBY focused on truency and so it it there have been a lot of um and and Amy was there with us. So just talking about what are some of the things the board can do? What what is the root causes of it? what's successful in other districts and stuff. And so I'm I'm very hopeful. Yeah. >> You know, that you will be able to um address that. >> Well, the the root causes it's it varies so much depending, you know, some families like, oh, you got to get your kid up and get them out the door and other families are, you know, are lacking basic needs.
064So, it really is getting >> what we're trying to do right now, and I think Amy, too, because she shared kind of a continuum she was working on. Same thing we're trying to do at Great Lakes >> is be more proactive. trying to get past. Sorry if you're [laughter] >> um >> I think I was the problem. >> We're all like come here for sure. >> Um what I was going to say though is uh I I think uh getting teachers involved a little more proactively even in our edge climber system. uh Kate Tesh had set help set up some thresholds so that teachers are getting alerted like three absences in a quarter, six absences and we have some pre-prepared messages and stuff for teachers cuz we're not trying to be like threatening to the
065god we're going to you know call the county that doesn't know >> um but it's like more just reaching out and so we pre-prepared some language they can use. I mean they can use their own language too but you want it to be like hey is something going on like >> sometimes [clears throat] there is and sometimes we can get them in to meet sooner before they you know they stop it when it's four absences and not wait till it's 20 absences if you know what I mean. So Right. >> Yeah. Good. I'm glad that's a good um I hope we can make some ground there. >> Mhm. >> I didn't put anything in the financial responsibility spot because Dave Dave's doing a good job with that. >> He didn't want to step to I
066didn't want to step on his toes. Um, I don't know. Any other questions? Otherwise, I just appreciate your time and um, thanks for the board's support of trying to get this program working out and and working through some of the the nuances and and things. Hopefully, we're getting things set so when other buildings get to the point I've been sharing stuff like we've been doing to follow policy and things with the other principles and um, hopefully that'll help expedite their processes if and when they get that chance. So, thank you. Thank you. And thank you, Miss Bronson. Sure, too. Excellent. >> And you don't have to show up next Monday like it says. >> Yeah, you know, I'm going to take the blame for that one, though. Never >> totally was my mistake, but I'm
067glad we can get in tonight. It's good to see it. Uh the otherformational item are superior high school representatives Brandon and Veronica will be here next week. So look forward to hearing their report. Board committee reports teaching and learning. Katherine, >> I don't know why I'm on this though. >> That should be Nick. >> It should be Nick. >> Steve, do we change? >> No. >> Did I get fired? >> You know what? [clears throat] >> I figured it just an alphabet. >> I'll take it. Make a note. Oh, and don't worry about it. >> We'll find out who to blame later. [laughter] >> For now, we just move on. >> Action items, none. Discussion items, none. Informational item items. Jennifer Willby, director of early childhood education and family education. Update on Indigenous People Day
068and Native American Heritage Bunch Month. Welcome. >> Good evening. Uh I'm [clears throat] glad that I'm the only one in our um our department because I have a lot to share tonight. Um it's been a busy month in October and November is going to be even busier. So we got a lot going on in Indian education uh that I want to share with you. First um we continue to collect forms. We've collected 20 uh Joom forms since the start of the school year. So that's been really exciting. uh kids and families are turning them in, which is great. Um we had in um in October on Indigenous People's Day, we took 24 students to Duth City Hall for the Indigenous uh people's day celebration. That was awesome. Uh it was really great. They had um
069they had speakers, they had drumming, smudging, a round dance, and then we took kids out to lunch after on their way back. So that was excellent. and the kids were fantastic. Um, we had a family night that evening also. We had about 50 people who came which was a great turnout [clears throat] for the first one uh of the year and um we had Ojiway language. We had like language games and things uh learning Ojiu. We had crafts um traditional foods, drumming, dancing. We had some of the kids get up and start dancing which was fun to see. Um, and then I also shared a resource guide for staff for Indigenous People's Day, uh, filled with videos and articles, things like that, similar to what I shared last year. Um, November is Native American Heritage
070Month. So, I shared with you uh, your turquoise ribbon. All of the staff will be receiving these, so I'm going to be stuffing mailboxes later this week um, so that they have them. Um, and again, I'm sharing a resource guide for staff. Our learning, we choose kind of a there's a theme each year to go with Native American Heritage Month. So, the theme this year is really focusing around um learning about boarding schools and the intergenerational trauma that Native people still face today. Um, and so that's kind of the focus of the resource guide. that resource is um I try and include information in there that really you could share with all ages. Uh so I have some readalouds and some children's stories about boarding schools. Um and then there's obviously articles and things uh
071and videos that the older kids can watch. Um and so my hope always is that teachers will share a little bit of something throughout the month. Um Native Spirit Week is right in the middle of that. November 10th through the 14th. We did this last year for the first year and it was a really big hit, so we're going to do it again. Uh we have dress up days for each day of the week. Um so Monday is Native Ally Day, so we're encouraging people to wear their medicine mill colors. Tuesday is red day in honor of MMIW. Uh Wednesday is orange shirt day um for residential boarding schools and recognizing that every child matters. Thursday is dress your vest. So, we're going to encourage students to wear their ribbon skirts, uh, bead work, regalia,
072whatever makes them feel comfortable. We have quite a few students who now have ribbon skirts and ribbon shirts that we've been making with them. So, uh, that'll be fun to see them out and about in those. Um, and then Fridays, rock your mocks. So, wear your moccasins. Um, and we'll celebrate with uh drumming at the high school that uh that day during lunchtime. We'll also be tableabling at the middle school and high school throughout the week. So, we're going to Last year we were at the high school 3 days. Um, [clears throat] this year we've decided to expand to the middle school two days. So, we have um games and activities they can come um to engage with us and just kind of learn a little bit more about whatever it is our theme is
073for that day. And then of course, we always have candy and stickers and buttons and pins and uh [clears throat] fun swag for them to grab. Um and then let's see. Uh that week during native um spirit week, we're going to have a native feast and game night at the middle school on Thursday the 13th. Um we'll be feasting um our drum, our new drum that our uh students made. They just made a big pow- wow drum. >> So um so we we need to feast that. So we'll be doing that along with enjoying a meal. And then we have um some traditional native games that we were able to pick up last year at one of our conferences. So that was really fun to talk to um the man who owns that company and
074um make a connection there. And so we purchased some very traditional native games that we'll be teaching families and students. So should be a good time. Um, in addition to that, we apply for a grant each year called the Native Pathways Grant through the um, American Indian College Fund. And we received $4,000 for that grant this year. That money goes um towards helping students kind of expand and explore what their options are for college college options. um native scholarships, uh researching tribal schools, things like that. Um in addition to that, we also really focus on helping kids complete their FASA forms. So, our first event will be Wednesday the 5th of November. Uh in the evening, we'll have a FAFSA uh evening and college info night. So, I'll have information there about the American College
075Fund. They have a lot of great resources that they provide uh through that grant. And so I'll be sharing that along with really trying to get kids and families set up with FESA and get them ready to go. And we always have some um again some swag to give away for that. We've got sweatshirts and gift cards and things like that. Um, and then the second part of that is I always try and do lunch and learn events because not everybody can come in the evening and sometimes the kids it's easier for them to meet with me during the day. So um I have three three Tuesday Thursdays in November the 18th, 20th and 25th that I'll be meeting with students um during the lunch hours. And so I keep them for the whole for
076all three lunch hours. Um, but they come and they eat their lunch with me and then we kind of talk through all of that. And they last year, the group that came to meet with me, I didn't do it until the spring last year for the first time, but the group that I met with last year, they all left with great information about how to of all the parts and pieces for applying [clears throat] for college. So, what are what do I need for letters of recommendation and who would be a good choice to ask? um when do I need to do that? What are transcripts? A lot of kids don't even know what those are. So, we talked about what that is and why they're important. Um we talked about, you know, obviously creating
077a good strong resume, uh writing a good personal statement, um things like that that they would need to to know and be familiar with and comfortable with when applying for college. And we got them all set up with FASA um to at least get started on that part. So, that's what Lunch and Learn is. Um, we'll offer more of those throughout the year, too, but this will be the first one for the year. Um, and then additional upcoming events that we've got going on. Um, the high school drum club students are going to be making hand drums on October 30th. So, when they don't have school, uh, and our staff are in professional development, they'll be doing that. And um we also have beading graduation caps, jingle dresses, and another ribbon shirt event happening in
078December. So we have to get ready for our powo in the spring. >> That's great. >> Um [clears throat] that's all I got. Any questions for me? >> Jen, can you explain what a JOM form is and where the group gets funding from? >> Yes. Uh JLM is Johnson Ali and 506 form is for our title 6 grant. So we have two separate grants uh that we can tap into to receive funding for our students and our families. Um we have them in our office and we try and push them out through every communication we have. We also sent uh paper copies out to the students this year and tried to get them directly into backpacks and folders and things to get as many of those back as we can. um in order. So, Joom
079funding um or qualifications changed about a year, two years ago maybe. Um students used to have to be um a very strong percentage of native blood to quantify or to qualify for J1 funding. Those regulations have changed a little bit. So now it's very similar to title six um qualifications. You have to be a tribal member yourself. You have to have a parent who's a tribal member or a grandparent. And any of those scenarios work. Um and we have worked with families and students to get their tribal numbers. If they don't know that, we can sometimes contact the tribe on their behalf. Um or we can give them a contact. Some tribes don't let us contact on their behalf. So then we we kind of help navigate uh those situations as we need to. Um
080but then once we receive the JOM forms, they all have to be verified also. So we have to then send them to the tribes um to get them verified on that end so that we can then receive funding. So it's kind of a long process. We just continue to collect them and then each year in the spring we turn in as many as we have. Um, and the count for JOM is like I don't know, I think early September, like September 10th or 15th or something. So, uh, whatever we have by the end of the school year is what we can count for JLM funding. I just want to say I really appreciate the vibrancy um that you and the the parent group um and the students have really brought to um the the program
081[clears throat] and um I've I do have two questions. Um one is how much of our local history is incorporated in and some of the programming just cuz I haven't been there. Um, and then I know Crystal, I brought this up to you and I think it's been shared with you too, but um, maybe a little over a year ago there was a curriculum review. And so I'm just wondering if if that's something in the next couple years that would um, be a project we could or have our district do. >> We're actually working on it and I was going to >> Oh, already? Really? Oh my gosh. Like I have a lot of stuff on this already. >> Oh yeah. >> Yes. Thank you for asking. We are um we did connect with teachers
082and um and grade level teams last year to kind of collect some information, make sure that the information we had collected was as accurate as possible. And then um next week or this I don't even know what week it is. This week for staff development, um I'm meeting with the middle school team. We're going to complete the self assessment which was put out on DPI last year. Y >> um so we're going to start with the middle school team um and kind of collect some information from them and again just reverify that what we have on our document is accurate and current information >> just to kind of get a handle on where the gaps are if there are any or what the needs are from teachers for additional support or learning. Um and then
083we have plans in the works to meet with the fourth grade social studies teachers, whoever wants to be a part of that in meeting and talking about that and also um the 11th grade teachers. So those are kind of the grade levels that we're targeting um because those are the grade levels that it's uh curriculum that is consistent across the grade. >> Right. the Meline Island Museum or Le Point Museum um has added some new exhibits and so I'm not sure the when they officially open, but um some of the historians there just it it visited it this summer and uh it's just um yeah, you just always learn something new and they really renovated it from where it used to be. And so I I just was thinking that'd be another really cool opportunity
084to learn about um the local Oji boy culture this area. >> Thank you. >> Thanks Jim. >> Thank you. >> That is all personnel negotiations. >> Mr. Nichols, >> I [laughter] have one action item. Administration [clears throat] recommends approval of the November 2025 new hires and separations report. Motion to approve. >> Second. >> A quiet month. Molly. A lot of spare time. [laughter] >> We're still hiring for some jobs. [clears throat] I >> think that's as empty as that sheet has been. I know. >> Yeah. That's great. Any further discussion? All those in favor signify by saying I. I. >> Opposed. Motion carries. >> No discussion items. No information. >> That's it. >> You're much more efficient than Mr. Schumacher. >> Yeah. >> I'm right. I'm right here. >> I feel like I'm more on
085>> budget and insurance. Now, Katherine, >> I have one action item. MITs gifts, grants, and bequests and administration recommends approval to accept gifts, grants, and bequests received in October of 2025. >> Motion to approve. >> Second want to share. >> Okay. >> Well, thanks, Nick. >> Excellent. Thanks to everyone >> and any discussion. >> Okay, hearing none. All in favor signify by saying I. >> I. [clears throat] >> Any nays? Okay. Motion carries. >> Uh discussion items I have none. Items always the same. Fund 10 revenue and expenditure preliminary reports. David, anything further you want to share with us? >> Wall was David. [laughter] >> So numbers should hope match. Yeah, I do. So these numbers match with what I just put up there. And that was the uh now we'll get into it. So
086job. Thanks. That's it for me. >> All right. Thank you. Policy and rules. Shelley, I >> have one action item tonight. The committee recommends the approval of resolution 25-08, requirement of nomination papers, schoolboard positions. >> Motion to approve. Second. >> Any discussion? Just a note that this a yearly requirement that the school board must undertake and make sure that we've got all the information going out ready to go Decemberish and I believe right further discussion right all those in favor signify by saying I >> I opposed motion carries. I have no discussion items and noformational items. [clears throat] >> Thank you. Legislative committee Laura. >> That's me. So, um I'll just read from here. The Senate has um scheduled first floor action for the first time since the budget, including some educational bills. The ones
087relevant to us is the Senate was in session on October 14th to hold floor session, their first since early July. The agenda for the day included three different bills that impact K12 school operations, including two that if passed will proceed to the governor for a signature. AB2, which generally prohibits cell phone or personal device usage during instructional time. And um I just want to say that Amy had given us a heads up about that and and what our policies will look like and how we'll manage that if um it passes. And then uh which will include some adjustments. And then AB5, which requires school materials to be made available for inspection by district relevance uh or residents rather. That is something that we already do in our community. Um folks are welcome to come look
088at any of our school materials at any time. They're open to the public. So not sure what the purpose of that is. Uh were previously passed by the assembly back in February. We also have um there's a blog. I'm guessing that's from WBY. The Senate will also take up SB36 which will allow additional backup lights to be installed on school buses. David, anything about is that attached with money? Are you aware of >> merit but we can use them? >> Yeah, >> you would know, right? >> We paid to put them on, right? But >> yeah. >> All right. And that concludes the legislative committeeformational item. >> All right. Thank you everybody for being here this evening. Our next meeting is next Monday, November 3rd, beginning at 5:00 p.m. right here in this room. Motion
089to adjurnn. >> Motion to adjurnn. >> Second. >> Motion and second to adjourn. Is there any further discussion? Hearing none, all those in favor signify by saying I. >> I. Opposed. Motion carries.