001Hello, Falcons. Mr. Fleshner here bringing you our update from our regular April school board meeting. Really lengthy agenda this month, which is pretty typical um for the school year just because we're finalizing contracts and and getting construction things in place uh getting ready for the upcoming school year. So, let's kind of jump right into it. The first thing we opened up the meeting with was our second budget hearing. Okay, school districts are required to hold two hearings. May have seen some things in the paper. Um, saw some of our things online. So, we've really kind of just touched on all the various things inside our FY27 budget. Um, I feel like maybe I've mentioned this in an earlier video when we've put that first tax rate proposal out. You know, there are lots and lots
002of pieces that have not been finalized in that. Okay. We're required to post the highest tax rate that we might propose to our patrons. All right. So, I know that maybe was a little alarming or alerting to some, but please know that first tax rate proposal out there, we really just have to come up with the highest number we think we might need. And there's lots and lots of things that need to be refined yet. And that's really where we got to. Um, so we went through all of our um, kind of budget items for the next year and I'll kind of just swing back to that tax rate in just a second. Uh, first thing the board had the opportunity to do at April meeting was learn about our district career and academic plan.
003So Stacy Flesher and Stacy Asher presented to the board and all the various things that we do helping our students plan, you know, our upper classman plan, whether it's college, military, career, um, going forward. So, uh, doing the best we can when they graduate here in May, they've got a pretty solid plan of what they're going to do moving forward. So, they learned about all those things. Uh, Stacy Asher then really shared a lot about some of the workplace readiness things that we do with our students and we're actually working even into our junior high and elementary just having conversations and thinking about all kinds of different careers and those kind of things. So, um, thankful for all the work that they do and the presentation they gave the board. It's really good to learn
004about that. Jumping back into the FY27 budget, first item on the agenda. So, originally we had posted a tax rate of $1447. Again, we had to put the highest number out possible, but after we were able to refine some things and and get things a lot closer, um we actually ended up landing on a tax rate of 1393. Now, again, reminder with the general obligation bond that was passed, we've kind of talked through all those. to the increase that was there um you know was really voted on and approved by uh our communities. The second couple of pieces were some policy updates. There was a second reading. We're required to hold two readings before changing board policy. Nothing had really changed since last month. So board approved those. The next two items were on policy
005as well. And really that's completely revolving around the bond and the bonding of money and just having all kinds of things in place and identifying who's doing what etc. So requirements there A.EA purching agreement. So we still work with our A.EA, Central Rivers A.E.A. on really some bulk uh buying power. Okay. We use that a lot in food service um that they can kind of help mass buy things and get prices a little bit better. Next piece was the FY25 audit was all finalized. I really want to thank Kayla and Darla in the district office for all the work they do um not only preparing the audit but really leading in clean audit very very limited comments nothing negative there um so a good piece the board then approved graduation list for this year that's
006an annual item as well and then we kind of get into some other items so one the district purchase the district's going to make for athletic department involves field painters um this is something that's been talked about for several All that will be purchased out of the athletic uh accounts. Then the board did set the last day of school. This is the kind of the time of year where I start to get that question a lot of, you know, when is school over, when is school finished, those kind of things. The board has decided they're going to maintain May 29th with an 11:00 dismissal. That's the original schedule date for students. Okay? We did miss two school days this year. Um but we're going to keep that. We have plenty of hours banked in advance
007of all of this. So, our students will be finished up on May 29th, and all of our staff will be coming back June 1st and 2nd. All right? So, we got some things in the works and plans for them on June 1st and 2nd, but May 29th's the last day for students with 11:00 dismissal. The next several several items are all about contracts, okay? Contracts for teachers, associates, drivers, custodians, nutrition, nurses, all the people that work here at AP. Okay? So we go through and really person by person look at all of the salary increases um you know what we have for funds you know where's enrollment at all those kind of things. So we approved all of those contracts also with our coaches contracts as well. Uh feel really good about the process that
008we've got in place to work through that. The the board then did approve the the actual academic career academic plan and then we kind of get into some construction related items. Uh, something that's been talked about here for well over a year is here at the high school and redoing some of the lighting. All right. I know some might think the lighting is still pretty new, but it's starting to actually kind of starting a little bit of wear and tear on it and electronic things even wear out over time. So, we're going to start with relamping and converting everything to LED, some energy efficiency, just better quality lighting. Library, the lunchroom commons kind of space out there where people see a lot with ball games and that. And then the small gym will be the
009biggest piece. We're going to get all of those um relamped and some different fixtures and those kind of things there. So, we're excited about that project. Uh next one we're going to move into, this is something also that's been talked about over time, uh is resurfacing the high school track. Okay? Uh it's really something you got to kind of stay on on top of because if you wait any longer, it only gets more and more expensive. So, we will be u we have bids and proposals out right now, but our plan is to basically peel up all the surface that's out there. Re relay that back. Um we will be converting it back to black for now, but getting it all repainted and freshened up out there. The next two pieces are really kind of
010starting um out with or the next piece I should say is really starting out with the bond. The plan right now is we've got proposals and be taking bids to start the roofing work on the building in Appton. This is all part of the larger project. Um, we'll get to the HBAC and the secured entrances and all those things that people voted on in the spring of 27. So, we got a little bit of wait time yet. We're still designing some of those things, but we can get started with a lot of the roof replacement. So, that'll be coming up. We're hoping to get that all addressed this summer. Um, but all the paperwork and the bidding and all those things are happening in the background right now. And the last one really is an
011agreement with our health insurance. Uh it's really just updating some language inside of there. Uh no real real big changes there, but we needed to get that agreement signed. And then really the consent agenda is all the the personnel and resignations and new contracts for new hires and those kind of things inside of there and really just double-checking some finances. So lots and lots of things and I kind of went really really fast. So if you do have other questions or specific questions, don't hesitate to reach out to me. And as always, go Falcons.