001got all of the wonderful, beautiful artwork. That is very impressive. Very impressive. And thank you to Kristen for bringing this for us to see. >> And there were a few pieces too brought in by Pat Earing from the tech department. >> Nice. Okay. um to keep everybody this on top of everybody's head. The mission of the Washington School District is connecting to educate, inspire, and empower the vision, a place of excellence that honors the whole learner. So, call to order. Um Heidi, is there any public comment? Okay. Um then we'll go on to the consideration of any adjustments to the agenda or on approval of the agenda. >> I move to approve the agenda second. >> Any discussion? All in favor? >> I oppose. Motion carries. All right, we're going to move right on to
002the um spotlight report. Are we having a report too? No, just no report, just the beautiful artwork to enjoy around the room. And a note that we did have music planned as well, but we're going to have music next month um when Mr. Man's going to present on the Disney trip and a future trip with the band. Yeah. >> Well, that's how it is. inspe >> I don't know how to >> no just say >> that's fine. >> Okay, perfect. We'll do it for you. I have madame madame. I'm the French teacher here at Washer Middle in High School and it's an absolute blast. I don't think I've ever had this much fun teaching at former districts because I was a French 2 teacher which means I had 31 students in seven sections all day
003long back to back to back to back to back. In this, I get a little bit of creativity, get to work collaboratively, and I kind of get to start a program from scratch and grab onto what I liked from Madame Cole. So, we're off to a really solid start. Really great numbers, and it sounds like all my French one students will return for French 2. My superpower in teaching was retention. So, I'm so glad that was my my one strength. So, we're getting them back in the classroom next year. I do French art. You do music every single day, but you really can't replicate what France can offer. So, my proposed trip would be France in the spring of 2028, meaning this year's Thanks. This year's freshman would be juniors, spring of their junior year.
004This year's sophomores would be seniors and the trip would be between 9 to 12 days over spring break. And then maybe a couple, you know, you call them shoulder seasons here. So couple shoulders, couple days before or after. So our athletes get their time to shine on the court. Our artists get their time to shine here. My French speakers get to shine when they go to France. So I have done this trip before many times. Um and you just can't replicate this in the classroom. So this is um outside of this is the French Alps. The city is ANSI and ANIE's lake is so clean they can't even keep fish alive. So this is where Avon water is bottled just outside of Switzerland and this is an area I've been to maybe like 10 times
005and it's absolutely stunning. But right um but you would have to do Paris of course first. So Paris offers museums. You can't go to France and not go to the Louv. The Louv is my least favorite museum. But I tell them go see the Mona Lisa, which is Legeron. Really not called the Mona Lisa. It's leakon. And it's like Yeah, it's like this big. And you know you're getting close to the room when you see a million people trying to get at this little tiny picture. But the other artwork, this coronation of Napoleon is huge and they just love that. in the winged Venus and then we're out of there. Um the museums that we really like are or vanerie and they love monet they love dea they love the impressionist artwork. We've done that
006all year but to see them stand in the middle of a 360 degree panoramic it's unbelievable. I've had students cry. They're like I well they're emotional because they're traveling and at the end not getting along with friends. So they're not crying because of Monae probably but it's over. Yeah, maybe they are, maybe not. So, um, this would be spring break. Like I said, I would take juniors and seniors only just because that does help with retention. And I don't thinking of my current freshman. No thank you. Just no thank you to them in another country. We'll let them just get a little bit older. Um, >> I talked to my colleagues downstate. They are still doing the trip that we started many years ago. They're still going every other year. They have shaped, reshaped, rethought
007of what that trip looks like. In the past, we've had a homeay, and the homeay is wonderful. The pen pals are wonderful. In the end, it doesn't always feel fair because I literally had a girl staying in a chateau in a castle and another girl staying on somebody's couch, like somebody else. It just it wasn't equitable. and they've gotten away from it because their schoolboard in Westbend where I was a former teacher wanted each family vetted and background checks in the frento background check what so they don't have such a thing so they've moved away from the homeay and I would encourage us to possibly not do a homeay just this day and age as a mom I I just I think that era might just be slowly going away for all of international travel
008for all of schools just because of school boards being like, "Oh, that's that's a big risk." So, the trip would be um there's a couple things we could do to make it more cost-effective. We don't have a lot of money up here like they do downstate for our students. A workaround would be to plant ourselves in Paris and do a lot of day trips. If that becomes more affordable, I would want as many students to go as possible. Everyone should have the opportunity, but I do recognize that some won't. I have students with anxiety that I would love to bring and they won't even take a bus trip with Miss Collins to Iron River or Iron Iron Wood the Bull. So, like some of my students aren't going to come and that's great, too. They'll
009hopefully stick with that. So, I don't know what kind of um pre-screening we would want to do. Um I did NHS selection with Mr. Instagram and he had a rubric that made it like you just circle and that could be something we do. But I really don't want anybody left out. So that's something to consider. But it would be juniors and seniors only. I'm firm on that. French three and four. I'm not so so sure in a tiny school. Maybe French two, three or four could go. And I just have a picture of me with some some students who get really close on that trip. We are out on um Lake Any France. I have the reasons why to travel. I think you all were sent the slideshow. And then here we are outside Lake
010Puloo. So France is just famous for in 1989 when the pyramids were built. Everybody hated the pyramids. Oh, how ugly. We have the old and the new. And now they love it for that reason that it's the the new and the old. And that's all of Paris. You'll have really modern buildings next to things that were built like Notradam before we were even a country. So, um that's MC in the French Alps near Geneva, Switzerland as an option to do a two city tour. I have many friends here. It is kind of an expensive area, so costwise, I'm not sure if this is the city we'll go to, but we'll definitely definitely would go to Paris. Um there's not and in 2019 my students and I watched it burn down across the street. So unfortunately
011that was my last year taking students to France before CO and they were a really rowdy group. So I asked which one um knocked over a candle they lit for the grandma or something. But it was a little electrical fire and um but the construction was started yeah in 1400s way before we were a country. So, San Chappelle, um, there's just so much to do, so much to see, so much to eat, so much to explore. So, that's my consideration to start the plan, to roll it out, to start having conversations with parents because there's a lot of parent meetings. Um, when it comes to international travel, they will need passports. Um, we will need to meet with parents and set expectations. And um they do sign contracts at our former districts if they're coming
012with us. Um they can't get piercings, they can't get tattoos, and we don't want any souvenirs. We don't want any French babies. So that's no souvenirs in that way. Back to France. So we we set things Yeah. with with the parents. Parents sign, students sign. And because it's such a big trip, um I can't do it alone. I would have to ask somebody to come with. Um, so there's just a lot to a lot to consider. Um, I don't want parents because our band and choir in West Denver I taught, they took parents and those kids came back with tattoos and piercings because they had their parents there. >> But the parents were always making them late. The kids were on time and then they fight with their parents. They're much better for us than
013they are for their parents. So, if you have any questions, can you talk a little bit about the um finances of it and how that works? >> Well, typically when you do the homeay, our trips were about 2,200. >> This was back, you know, 2013, 15. Um, without the homeay, they do go up. And I'm thinking I priced it out with language and friendship which is the company I work with and it looks like it'll be over 4,000 like 4200 depending length and depending on if we add a second city or even a third city. It is nice to have Paris and another city madam use straw. >> So you almost got that part of France that's what's German. Sometimes it's Germany, sometimes it's France and that was a nice blend. Um, I think with
014the amount of history the kids are interested in, it'd be kind of cool to go up to Normandy and tie history into that. Go to S Monelle Samo, get that. Um, like Northern France would be a cheaper option than going down by Switzerland. Um, >> and are you looking at fundraising or will kids be paying their >> I'm looking at fundraising, but I want to do I do international club and I do a lot of fundraising. A lot of fundraising with international club and it's a lot of little things. I would like to do something that's like a big thing that we do once in a while instead of me running around selling Valentine's. And finally today in international club I said no more. I am working harder than you are. and you have to
015bring more to the table. So, they were like, we'll do all the baking, we'll do all that. So, they are stepping up and I'm sure French students will too. >> I don't know how that's going to look because there's some students that are so interested in fundraising >> and are fundraisers and then that would be spread to all students. I I just don't know what that would >> I don't know what that would look like, but I would like to do some bigger ones. And if I'm traveling opposite abandoned fire, then we can maybe do some of the same ones because we're opposite years. I mean, Suji's we did in Weston, we did that in Cedarberg as well. Um that we could kind of split that. >> So it wouldn't be a situation where if
016a student have didn't have the money to do it, they would still be able to go because they would be working toward it. Well, the cool thing, language and friendship for students who some of our students could qualify, they could almost go for free. >> There are grants and situations. The problem I have the very students that I've tried to get to go for free before, the parents aren't necessarily great at filling up their stuff as you can imagine. So, yeah, any opportunity we're going to go for it. I think the students thought that I personally could run could raise all the money myself and then they'd all go for free. But this is going to be the first life lesson and it's not not always fair. >> Are you going to be double board?
017>> Yeah, of course. >> No, you'll make us late. Paris, you have to navigate such small areas, Sandy. So, >> whatever you're paying for with all the >> Exactly. I don't think I can smell that much chocolate. >> Any other questions from anyone? >> So, yeah, the hope would be to set it up so that it's like every other year >> so that every student could go eventually they'd be in three, French three or four as juniors or seniors. But I understand for our pilot trip it might be French two and I'm okay with that. There's no home stay anymore. We our high school was just completely different. We went up to French six. >> So, middle school was French one and that is how yeah, we had AP. So, it would it was just
018a little bit different. But I did talk to my colleagues um this weekend to ask them, "What's travel look like now? What have you changed?" And they're like, "We're getting old. >> We're not. We cut it down. We used to We went for 16 days." They're like, "Oh my gosh, I'm done at 12 or 13." They're just getting older. As am I. But that could work out. That could be a little bit more affordable. And with the amount of um mental health issues and anxiety, that might alleviate some of that too that like, oh, I'm going home soon. So, but I'm very proud to say I've taken three students with autism on this trip in the past and that was Yeah, that was a lot of pride involved in that. We made it beautifully. you
019mentioned off year and so can you help like understand like what are the other like like like band choir have a trip now French is maybe like ecology club has had trips in the past like what are some of the other um exper like travel experiences that our students have if you know them >> yeah so in terms of uh farther distance travel that would be spring break or summer I believe band choir would be kind of the other one and that will be opposite so Jenny's looking at 2020 28 >> and the next grand prior trip would be 2027. Okay. So, um they're they'll be obvious and we would start parent meetings in 2027. I think it's such a huge trip. >> And Jenny just wanted to be sure she was on the agenda
020and it was approved so that she could move forward and >> I don't want to fund raise it. Yeah. We just start >> a dollar each. You know, I only need 40,000 more. >> Thanks, Jenny. >> Thank you. >> Yeah. >> Thank you very much. >> And the superintendent report. >> Yes. Well, let me first start. I want to introduce we'll let Dr. Darling has um graciously agreed to be the district's medical advisor moving forward. Um when we discovered you didn't have one, uh we reached out to her and there's some history. So Dr. Darling, if you want to share a little bit about about your experience and I'm not sure which experience. Hi, I'm Tiffany. >> Come right up here. So, this is a mic over here so that >> or I could just
021really speak loud as we know I can. Um, but I'm Tiffany Darling. I'm a pediatrician. I've been a pediatrician for about 20 years, maybe more, actually 25 years. Um, I'm originally from the UP of Michigan. I had my own private practice there. Um, had about 3,000 kids in the practice. Had a satellite um, clinic in Iron River, Michigan. Came here, worked at Redcliffe. Now I'm back in private practice. I've reopened my private practice here in Washurn. So I'm very excited building that slowly. Insuranceances have been slow, but that's coming along nicely now. So um so actually I've worked in the past with Sandy, very she was really instrumental in making my transition to this area really helpful and fun. Um I have a lot of um experience and training in in development and behavior in
022children. I have a masters in and psychopharmarmacology. Um I have a degree in um psychology worked a lot with youth with um behavioral issues all the way from undergrad well until now. It's um become kind of a niche for me. Um, and I'm sure you guys all know I also sing um, internationally now. So, um, I don't know if there were any questions um, that might help kind of whittle down what you guys need to know for a really long time. >> Wonderful. And we have a plan. And so we have a school nurse, Connie Robleski, that works with us a set number of hours, and Lisa Toby, who's our medical room assistant and kind of on site to deliver and um provide what we need. And so we're just excited to have another partner
023and a teammate to collaborate with and look forward to scheduling a time for all of us to meet with the administration and um just make sure that we're doing everything we can to keep our students healthy and safe. Yeah, back when I was medical director up at Bayfield schools, Sandy and I went over a lot of the medical policies and procedures. So, Exactly. Yep. >> Children went to school here. >> I still have one left, actually. Yeah, she's a senior, but yeah, all three of my kids came here. >> Yep. Gloria. >> Actually, she's about to go play some basketball. So, you guys for >> Oh, absolutely. >> I'm thrilled that you're more than I had no idea. Um, good. Any questions for anybody? >> Thank you. >> It's easy to find. Yes. Um if
024you uh look the board at our enrollment and attendance uh monthly report numbers have stayed pretty consistent enrollment wise and you know every month we have a couple that might you know go down and then a couple that join in and then attendance um it's wild that it stayed exactly the same but the numbers are not the same in each building. So I had to do like a triple check um at 91 9.9%. So we're almost at 92. I had to go look at it again. >> Somebody did something wrong here. >> I know, right? It didn't quite make sense. >> Made double trouble sure that it was right. Um, a little referendum update to share. Uh, we did post on social media and on our website. Uh, construction will begin here at the middle
025school high school right after graduation, so June 8th. Um, we're told we need everything to be ready to to go. We had environmental testing on site this week and we should expect those results back um next week, but overall he was feeling really good about asbestous and lead. Um there were only uh really just a really small spot where there's some lead in a couple doors that are going to be replaced, so that'll be easy. and asbestous wise he um was feeling like there'll be a little bit for us to contain and we've got puba but not extensively um so that was great news without the results and the report I can't share exactly but that was confidence um about 16 to 18 months of construction time the phasing document is on the website like
026I said and um was shared on social media showing the phasing of the actual construction and there will be a groundbreaking celebration June 2nd Um if it rains June 3rd, hopefully we don't have two days of rain in a row, but we're planning some fun with the band, students, um some confetti, maybe a shovel or two um to really um celebrate the beginning, the groundbreaking on the on the construction, which is is something we're going to look forward to. That's all I have aside from the beautiful artwork. And thank you to Kristen Tetsuer for setting this up and sharing what's happening in the classroom with all the different sampling. She did a really great job. >> Um I just wanted to just comment on the reports. The elementary high school reports were great. They look
027really nice. >> Thanks. I was in touch with them. Okay. >> Okay. board goals. Um we this the first was building the relationship with legislators and advocates. I think that's something that we are continuing on and as far as I know Clint will still be here in March. um increasing community engagement with the strategic plan which is completed. Um and to reflect on the board increased effectiveness and the bylaws um and I think that right now with the the community engagement including the strategic plan with meeting with the different um municipalities and I know that Stephanie met with the city council on Monday. Thank you and I did on sale on Tuesday. So, thank you for participating in that. Um, we had a minute ago. Um, and yeah, so you know, we have some information
028that I think we're we'll share with you on, you know, what what we heard. Um, and I don't know if you want to talk about that at all now or anybody has anything that they want to comment on those meeting. >> I actually think a lot of the stuff that came up in our meeting is actually on our agenda tonight. So, yeah. >> Okay. Anything else? So, we got Tom Washurn in March and Tom in April. And then we'll be at all of the different town meetings and city meetings. Um the education convention update um would you like to start on chart? Yeah, it was wonderful again. So I was thankful school district for getting us getting us there. Um it was great to connect a lot of with a lot of the people that
029are involved with like mine and like to actually kind of get to know them a little bit. Um yeah, I went to a bunch of different um sessions, some more helpful than others. The ones that I found most helpful were probably the financial ones because that's where I feel like I need the most help and education because it's so darn complicated. Um and again I was struck with um how kind of universal across the state all of the things we're talking about are um and of course like with the financial stuff um you know the budget was front and center um and kind of across the board all the schools districts trying to figure out what they're going to do um with the lack of aid that we've got this year. Um, you know, and
030to to be faced with like no no increase to general aid for the first time since like the early 90s. That on top of the fact that, you know, the aid that we have gotten in the past has never kept up with um inflation rates to begin with. So, it's just like it it's struck home. It's not certainly not our school district, not our school district doing anything wrong. It's the plate that we're handed and then we have to adjust to it. So, no easy answers. That was always my frustration. I kept going to all of them all the sessions trying to find what the answers are and there are no easy answers. That that was my thing. >> Nobody ever wants to do more with less. But if there's ever a district that does,
031it really feels like we're it. Um, uh, my impression after like going to all of these sessions is that um, we could have led them. We meaning you guys could have led all these sessions like balancing the budget trauma sensitive practices process improvement P plan do study acts PDSAs PLC's outdoor learning um the curriculum work that you guys have been working on this year uh the strategic plan work and and the governance work that we've been doing like we we could lead all of these sessions we've been doing it so well ever since I mean I think Washington's doing it a while ever since I've lived in this community which is like only been 15 plus years but um but for you like people who've been here for a long time I'm sure it goes
032up and down but I've just been so happy to be part of this team in the last four years and um and also like this that an event like that also makes me realize how lucky we are to have such great taxpayers in our community um who have been contributing to the work that we're doing passing referendums uh like when we went to the town hall meeting asking questions, >> hard questions. >> Um, even asking like controversial questions. You know, it wasn't necessarily we weren't there prepared to talk about our school budget or some of these other things >> or staff student to staff ratio >> student to staff ratios, right? You know, we were there to talk about, you know, like how some of our tax levy like or how about this? Just not
033all of our tax levy goes to the Washurn School District. some of our tax levy goes to other schools and we just need to know that. And um and it's one thing to go to another school where you can have discourse and disclosures about the budget and the process like the way we have our budget finance meeting, but um but voucher approved schools don't necessarily have the same budget meetings and the same uh interactions with the with the community that that public schools do. So um so anyway uh so yeah we go to talk about that but we learn a lot of other things and again it's just a testament to our community who's engaged and who wants to know and who wants to participate and so that's what I took away because I also
034went to a lot of like the financial and um financial sessions uh and what I and even like talking to the people in the exhibit hall um there's some really amazing uh people with expertise you know um and so I tuned in to new podcasts and and started learning some more. But um but what I took away was the more we understand uh the more we get participation more we get participation participation the better we can be representatives you know um and yeah and so I'm so happy to see on our uh discussion like later um about that those kind of issues because we know that there's been no increase in general aid ever since 2009 there's been no increase to even just keep up with inflation. There's been increase, but it has not been
035keeping up with inflation, I think, since ' 09 or 10 or 11, I can't remember what year it was, but somewhere in there, 2010, probably. Um, and so, uh, so hearing other schools like saying, "Hey, we're in this vote. We're in this vote. We're in this vote." Uh, yeah, I think it's going to be very prudent for us to like come up with, uh, with a ad hoc committee or focus group or something. So, um, so happy to see that on the agenda. Um, and yeah, we're we're uh looking forward to the next step. >> Um, I went to a number of different sessions and just because we were talking about it the other day um before you went to the washroom, I looked in my notes and found that it's $640 per student this
036year increase in voucher payment and next year it's $428 per student for the voucher payments. So that's 400 for for 26 27 >> 26 27 it's 428 >> increase >> in ages what they're already getting. >> Yes. Um, and I think that what what Stephanie was saying was to like all of the people there were talking about um how how do you make it work when you're not getting an increase when um we do know that inflation is here and um you can't really you know keep paying for things without more money without money. So that's that's about the you know it's not if you're going to have a referendum for operations it's when because every school is going to be in that situation. Um so I think that was important. There was a number
037of other things that I went to that um which some of them were great and some of them were, you know, I went to the one about bringing your strategic plan alive. Um and it was it wasn't anything different than what we already know about, you know, knowing your community and um being able to provide that information. And I think that's one thing that we did talk about um and we talked about it at the counter bark scale um you know some type of a district newsletter because of people not being able to always go on to the website because I don't have computers and um just to get that information out and about to people. But yeah, there was it was um it was busy and I know that my legs at the end
038said stop walking because we did a lot of walking the place but it was very interesting and yes it was very I should admit I'm going to the city of Washurn meeting. I have never I'm sorry to say I've never been to one. I mean, I don't live in the city of Washurn, but um I went home and I mean, it it was one of those things that again, I would encourage people to go to because it just the discussion was good. Um it just it just solidifies the the belief that the community is filled with good people all wanting to do good things and the right things maybe different ideas sometimes about how how you do it but like just not such a great community. One thing that I would like um some thoughts
039on is as we are going around to each of the municipalities providing us information about vouchers the first two we want to both are going to revisit that next their their next meeting. So, should we have somebody go back to the next meeting and do a um you know, speak during their public comment time? You know, we don't have to have be on the agenda, but just go there. And >> I feel like it's a good I thought the same thing. If they're voting next time, >> I think we should definitely go. Yes. >> As an opportunity, like if there are any followup questions or anything like that, I think somebody should be there. >> Okay. >> Max had a lot of answers >> which was great. Yeah. for the council. >> Well, and Max
040is doing a lot of research on it because I was talking to him on Monday too about it. So, >> um we're going to have to figure out how we're going to do that. >> I think public comment would be a great idea also because it's short, succinct, and like you're not necessarily going to get followed up with questions, you know? It's like you really just get to like say what you need to say >> um without interruption or >> or maybe not >> or not. >> Yeah. >> That's true. >> Um so the next time now is where we're going to be in overlap because the city is on Monday but next month then they all have their meetings on the same day. Oh, and so um it would be good to have somebody
041at the town and a town. >> So I don't know if you want the same like us to go there and you two to go to Washurn or how we going to do that. >> You can go back to the city. Yeah, >> we go back to the city. Okay. And then Ellen will go to the town and you know we'll somebody either either you can go to the town of Washurn and do the first round or you can go to the town park that day. You go that day. >> Um I it looks like I it looks like I can. Um, but you should probably go to Washurn since that's >> I would like to go there. >> And I can and I could just follow up with Parksdale. >> Okay. >> And um
042we can fly solo if somebody else decides that they can come. >> Okay. Well, that's will depend on that then either I would go to town or Ellen would go to town. >> Okay. Yeah. >> You mean you'll do that on Monday, >> right? >> But then Tuesday night is the town meeting. >> Okay. Wait, don't you have to be You don't have to be at washroom anymore. >> Oh, okay. Yeah. >> Okay. All right. Okay. >> Okay. Let's move on to the C12 report. >> We didn't have a meeting this morning. >> Um Okay. And we're going to do the financial um reports and bills from December and January. >> Yes. Doing both. Um, again, another another opportunity for me to thank the taxpayers. But we got our January um tax statements in from
043all the municipalities and it's just like that extra reminder that like the community is involved. They appreciate the good work that we're doing here and we're um and we're very thankful we don't take that tax payment lightly. >> Yeah. So, I move to approve the financial reports and bills uh for December and January. >> I'll second. Any discussion? All in favor? I opposed. Motion carries. Consent agenda. >> Can you strike a hire that's listed? >> Pardon me. >> Can you strike a hire that's on here that we're not making? >> Which one is that? >> Number four. Party teacher. >> Yes. So strike number four. So consent agenda the one one two three five six >> correct. >> I move to approve the consent agenda. >> I'll second. >> Any discussion? All >> in favor?
044>> I just have a comment. >> Okay. We already voted on it. So >> yeah. Okay. >> The motion carried. >> It's just to thank Sher Collins for her service district. all of her different job duties. She had everything from driver's ed when she first started to health to finet big job. I was just talking to somebody in the stands at the game the other day about that to drive 20 years ago or some wow. Yeah, we're looking forward to celebrating her and Janet as of right now. Those are too and really longstanding super valuable and I'm sure you remember when she came and taste >> Yeah. Nice. All right, let's move on to the discussion items for the first reading of the policy for graduation requirements. You want to just talk about that just
045briefly because we didn't have a policy meeting. It's just a >> Yes, we did not meet as a policy committee. This is just an update based on the financial literacy credit change. So, just adjusting uh elective credits and financial literacy requirements to make sure we're still at that um graduation number. And then there were a couple of policies that were actually a lot of times in policy with Miola, it will reference other policies and sometimes school districts have adopted those and sometimes they haven't and we confirmed that those two policies are not actually policies we have. So, I had those struck um just so they're not referenced in the policy. >> Is there a motion? >> Make a motion to approve the first reading 5460. >> I'll second. >> Any discussion? Well, as a as
046a incoming fresh mother of an incoming freshman, we had that discussion looking at looking forward and how you plan the years and I appreciate it. I mean, there's of course no as long as the amount of information is still covered, which we talked about, great to have that extra group like to to be able to pursue some of the >> special interest and all the things and get it all in there. >> Absolutely. I >> oppos. This is going to be um a discussion of what we were talking about earlier when um we were talking about being able to um keep up with um discussion and understanding of where we are financially as a district when we are dealing with so many changes um statewide. Um yeah, I I mean even just like experiencing that
047town hall meeting um it helped me realize like even though I don't cons I'm like school district treasurer and looking at these reports I'm hearing the language about how the school makes its budget. We approve the budgets. We're participating in the budget meetings. All of these things are happening. I don't consider myself an expert but I'm an active participant. and how many hours and how long it takes to understand and learn about what's going on, you know. Um I had there was one comment from somebody at that meeting. He's like, "Well, I'm not going to go to your meeting." Well, it's it's your meeting. It's every it's a taxpayers's meeting, you know. Um so that's like that's the first thing. But like uh but yeah, he's probably right. He's probably not going to come to
048the budget hearing and we have to get that information out there. There are a lot of changes in the state budget right now and I just feel like watch needs to be on top of it. So I would be I would be in favor of forming an ad hoc school of finance folks group. >> Any other thoughts on this? >> I think there's so many limitations and unpredictability around it like and yeah you got to get the community involved. We talk about finance here like all the time, you know, between the what's going on statewide and what's going on locally and it's incredibly complicated and you know people that are like studying it all the time don't have to handle out in total. So I think it's something that would be good to have a
049a a committee of um the community to be looking at that. So knowing that what would what what do you see as um competition um of that of that committee? Um, you know, I kind of I kind of refer back to when we set up the community meeting when we were interviewing for superintendent. Mhm. >> Um we did a an application basically and people put that out there and then we had come to an agreement of how many people, you know, what types of people, you know, to make sure that we get, you know, a representative from as many different um sections as we can um to do that. But we still have to kind of come up with an idea of how many and um what we would like to have on I think
050we should do it like we did before too. And I I don't know if we could well we probably could shoot for a number but maybe we won't get that many people. >> So yeah maybe decide after you get the applicants. So like kind of an application. Um >> I think the cross-section like the strategic planning community would make great sense to have staff, business owners, um you know, community members, board members, >> um a good cross-section of people that all have a vested interest in the school district and want to learn more about um school finance in general as well as our current financial reality. And we can answer those questions about student staff ratios and we can share the work that we have done to be fiscally responsible and the choices and decisions
051we have made and you know how the budget aligns with that community. >> You may be surprised as to how many people would actually want to be on committee because I think with all the news and all the financial stuff that's going on and stuff I think more people are interested than were previously. I think that's so cool. >> I do. >> You have some sort of a charter where you're are you going to give the community more of a task or what's the main goal of having this group come together? Mhm. >> I I would have thought it would have been a group um that would be focused on learning and uh learning about the impact of like the statewide changes to schooling and school districts and budgets. learning about that impact specifically on
052Washburn and then maybe sharing that information with us potentially. I think that I I don't know if this is appropriate share but like sharing it in a newsletter format or like having a report in this like newsletter that I hope that we can develop, you know, um sharing it in the community, you know. So I I would hope that it would be like a group focused on kind of like learning about what we might anticipate in the next quarter >> when you're sharing with others. >> Yeah. Right. >> Because it's going to like from what from what we hear at this conference, it's not something that like it's an if like we can do all of the right things which we are doing. It's it's more of a like when is it going to catch
053up with the district? Um and so that's just kind of like what do you mean what's going to catch up with us? And so I feel like that's what this committee would learn. >> Is it just learning even disseminating information or are they making recommendations on or like I don't know coming up with ideas for financial planning. I would the wrong term, but I would say learning right now just because we don't know the impact and and I think it would be a good opportunity for Denise to kind of like dive in and share like if the if the ad hoc committee is or if this um focus group is hearing from experts like Denise maybe are like one of our financial um gurus from our referendum work, you know, like who like presented on
054because there's even, you know, even changes to our referendum interest rate recently that's going to save tax taxpayers money, you know, like so like what do all these impacts in the state? How does that relate to our referendum? How does it relate to transparency and tax bill? Like how do all these things come together? And then uh yeah, I don't like I think if there are recommendations, I think that that would probably be a charge that we would give to them. But right now, I just don't know what the impact is going to be. And like and I think that Denise probably has a sense, you know, but to be able to present that to not just the board, but to a focus group, I feel like would be prudent. And then that group can
055come back to the board with a summary or a presentation or a newsletter or something so that we can make it like so we can see like okay now we can have better view of the picture for Washurn on these like these state changes on our district gives me some time to kind of like prepare what that might mean and then go from there. because we want to pull out the crystal ball when they come a little bit. Okay, this is what I tried to write down so far of what people were thinking. Um, looking at the impact of referendum, the impact of state decisions and changes within the state. Uh, learning about school finance, anticipate what will happen in the next few years. Um what is our the current financial status of the district?
056Disseminate disseminating information to community and recommendations maybe maybe like about like how to disseminate that information and what to disseminate because the referendum is already getting disseminated. You know people people will say that there's not information about the referendum out there. Well, there's so much information and it's all good, you know. Um but but maybe it's like maybe we'll get a recommendation from them says no add the referendum to this kind of conversation also because people are confused about it you know it might make sense to us because we are living in that in those conversations but not everybody is >> so so yes I think your summary there was >> is that pretty accurate >> of what people have been maybe thinking >> anything from administratively thoughts on what would be a good um
057>> I think just I like the idea of bringing people together to have a conversation and to share information and that's you know a large part of it and then to have the questions that might come up that we can help to clarify what we do know and and what we do expect. I feel like forecasting the future is a part of that conversation and it's just super valuable to have community members at the table who are living it dayto day and talking to others >> who can help us and direct us >> as to what it is >> we're putting together and sharing. Yeah, I do think it would be like very valuable to get input from all the different sectors, all the different people. As much as you try, >> can we hard
058to to get >> like with the idea that like the structure will be similar to our strategic planning structure? me like just uh delegate that to um Denise or do you want us to kind of tell you how many people, how many staff, how many students would be on a committee like this? >> I think let me let's create the application, put it out there and then we'll see what we have for numbers and interest and then we can um bring it to the next, you know, meeting and have a conversation. I can share out the numbers and and kind of the goals and we'll see where we're at. Great. And we would have I'm going to add >> no just I think that makes sense to see get as many people involved as we
059can and get the information out and use a similar process. >> Can we get some like uh junior and senior students or maybe maybe there'd be a freshman or sophomore who would be interested but like this is a committee for students as well. You think >> I feel like timeline wise I feel like >> I don't want to put any pressure extra pressure on people who are in pressure. Sure. But um you know but you know >> better. >> Yeah. So that we could approve so that we could approve the committee and maybe set a meeting structure at our next board meeting. >> Does that sound fair timeline? That would be March. >> Then we got spring break in there. >> Yeah. >> So April >> might be a quick turn around to try to
060get an application out. >> Okay. and then get it back um by the March board meeting might be a little tight. >> Okay. How about this? By the next by the March board meeting, maybe we can come up with a couple like a meeting date >> or do we have to wait until we get the whole applications back? >> No, I think we could do a meeting date. I think let's plan to just um we can share out at the April meeting what that is you know the proposed committee and at the March board meeting let's set the first date >> so that we have and then we'll just >> make it as transparent as we can. >> Okay that makes sense for everybody. Okay. Then um could I have a motion to approve the
061um structure of this ad hoc community school finance focus group? >> So moved. >> I'll second. >> Any other discussion? All in favor? >> I opposed motion. I think that will be incredibly effectful for a lot of reasons. Um, phone system. >> It's so nice to have you up in front instead of behind the screen all the time. >> Um, and I just kind of wanted to update you guys on the phone system. So, our current phone system is one end of life in October. Um, so we're looking at replacing it sooner rather than later um before summer hits hopefully. Um, I've gotten six different bids from all over um on premise hybrid cloud um and we're hopefully going to be working with somebody in Ashland um to make this happen. Um and we will
062actually be saving about $190 a month going forward with this transition. There would be a cost upfront. >> There is an upfront cost >> of to replace the actual problems, but then there's savings of Afghan monthly on payments for the service, which is, >> you know, will pay for itself over time, but it'll take >> a little bit. And so with all the different um groups that you talked to or looked at, did you have a recommendation of where you want to go with that? >> Say that again. >> Do you have a recommendation for us? Uh yes, this Lakeshore Computers in Ash. >> Lakeshore. >> Yeah. >> Okay. >> And what what do you see as the upfront cost? >> The upfront cost is $20,000. And there is another front runner uh which was
063a hybrid which is 3CX. Um however, we are in contract with Norado for the next two years. Um in order to grade the contract is going to cost $10,000. So it would put the total cost to $30,000 if you want that route. >> Okay. >> And there would still be that upfront or excuse me that ongoing cost. >> Is this Lakeshore connected with no then or >> they're not connected? However, they work closely. >> Okay. But we wouldn't have that wouldn't be a problem with contract with no. >> Nope. They are they're they both work together and they'd actually be replacing our current phone lines with newer and um better lines. >> Okay. >> Any other thoughts from anybody or questions? >> Is there like ongoing tech and service after or are you in charge
064of the phone system once once they implement it? >> Once they implement it. Do you know of any other school districts using the same system? >> Not this system. >> They still use Norvado as a provider, but not the specific fall system. >> Okay. >> So, are you going to try to get that before summer starts or are you going to try to do it after the end of the school year or >> I I'm in contact with um Ry right now. Um with any luck, we will have that done over spring break. Um, however, that is kind of dependent on if we're able to get um all the parts in by them. >> Um, that's the goal. So that way um we don't have to worry about that during the referendum work and the
065server replacements uh over the summer. >> Sounds like a big job to me. >> Is there um there's new hardware? Is there a big learning curve for any of it? It's going to be like almost set up. The configuration is going to be almost an identical um configuration. Um all the extensions will stay the same. Uh the only thing that's going to really have to happen on the teachers ends is just going to be setting up your voicemail and your greeting. >> So what happens when contract runs out? >> Uh we're going to continue with them. Um, it's just we were in contract with them for that long, >> but we can continue as long as we want. >> So, what are you doing with the old system? Is that just dumped or what is
066>> um We're going to try and uh recycle it and see if we can get some money back for it, but because it's so old and it's end of life, it's kind of obsolete at this point. How old is it? What's that? >> How old is it? >> I think it's going on 15 years old. Yeah. Any other discussion or can we entertain a motion? >> I'll make a motion to approve the phone system replacement by Lakeshore computer. A second. Any other discussion? All in favor? >> I opposed. Thanks Cody for doing all the work on that. >> Of course. >> Good luck setting it all up. uh summer start college now early college credits. >> I make a motion to approve the 2026 summer start college now early college credit. >> Any discussion? >>
067Yeah, I had a quick question. Is this number going up from last year significantly or is the cost of education going up? >> We had one last year and this year we have eight. Yeah, I just I just saw that just kind of like oh notable. I'm like I kind of thought like is there something to do with or like what's going on? But no, great. Thanks. >> I was trying to figure out where I carried. Um approval of the students I move to approve the student grants in the spring of 2028. I'll second discussion. >> Yeah. What if we can't do that kind of fundraising? Like is there a like I wonder if we can ask her for like a contingency plan? Like I was I was just we were just talking like we
068go to Quebec. We >> talked about that. >> Oh, there might be a contingency plan. Okay. I think that >> I think that would be a pretty awesome trip too. >> Yeah, with some of these trips too, they'll be a, you know, the parents have to like agree that they're going to commit to it. I do think once they like sign it and then they can do like payment plans, right? And then the fundraising can supplement that. Yeah. But I do I do think that once they commit that I'm part of children. Yeah. That >> you know, you're you're kind of locked in. But typically there's a long enough period >> like a year. You have to lock in probably about a year. So, I'm going to guess that they'll work on on the fundraising
069aspect and maybe it'll be, you know, once every three years or once every four years, you know, it becomes too much of a burden, especially >> having our musician in our language. I can see students um wanting to do both, but maybe to choose and you know, we can continue to have some conversations about how that evolves, >> right? And like and Right. And then we'd also want like I don't know. Yes, exactly. That's I guess that would be like my biggest concern is just like what kind of like stretch does this put on people who may want to participate but like you know you can have capacity to do a like multi,000 fundraiser every other year but now we're talking about maybe doing it every year and so that feels like a big lift.
070>> Um >> yeah that's true. >> Yeah. We'll have some more conversations and talk through >> like just some like additional because who would I mean you know there's right >> I just don't want to make I want to make sure that people can go >> even if they don't have the financial may not have that ability >> right and they can and they can fundra for New York and they can like and they can do a big fundraiser you know like once for their like kids like school experience but to be able to do it like twice Right. >> Yeah. >> Feels but you don't want to get left out because it's amazing, right? It's one opportunity could fund raise that much. >> It could be the same students that go every year >>
071and it could be that too. >> Right. Which is not necessarily the point either. >> Yeah. >> Okay. Anyway, >> all in favor? >> Oppos? Motion carries. Uh approval of Dr. Tiffany Darling for the medical advisor. >> Make a motion to approve Dr. Tiffany Darling is district's medical advisor. >> Any discussion? All in favor? >> I opposed motion carried. >> Um I move to go into close session pursuing stage statutes 19.85C for the discussion regarding selection of high school. Is there a second? >> Second. All in >> favor? I motion carries. >> Thank you everybody for coming. Thanks Joel. Thanks Rick.