October 21, 2025 DMPS Board Meeting

001Heat up here. [Music] I would like to call the school board meeting for Tuesday, October 21st, 2025 for the De Moines public schools to order. Miss Rios, could you please take the role? >> Yes. Miss Alonso, >> Here. Miss Compost >> here. >> Mr. Dixs >> here. >> Miss Knox >> here. >> Miss Martrono >> here. >> Dr. Mayberry Mace >> here. >> Miss Norris >> here. >> We have quum. The first item of business is approval of the agenda. May have a motion and a second to approve the agenda. >> Dix so moved. >> Mark Toronto. Second. >> We have a motion by Mr. Dixs and a second by Miss Marterano. Is there any discussion or questions? Board members, please cast your votes. The vote is approved 720. [Applause] >> Next on the agenda

002is the public forum and I'll turn it over to Dr. Mayberry Mace. >> We provide speakers at the forum an opportunity to address the board for up to three minutes regarding items that are not on the board agenda and up to five minutes for agenda items. If anyone wishes to speak during any portion of the business meeting, please email rosa.reosdmschools.org. board. The same speaking protocols apply to all individuals who wish to address the board. Speakers will be called individually and we ask that they state their name and zip code prior to providing comments. Students and minors do not have to provide their addresses. Guests of the board are encouraged to speak to matters relating to the program, services, and operations of DMPS. Please remember that Iowa law prohibits us from discussing specific employees or their

003job performance. We ask all speakers to avoid references to personalities or character attacks as those types of comments do not contribute to the purpose for which this public form exists. The use of inappropriate language will not be tolerated and individuals choosing to do so will be gled out of order and asked to excuse themselves from the premises or escorted out by district security. As a reminder to the board and public, the board will not engage in a discussion with public forum speakers as is as it is our obligation to to discuss only matters posted in the public agenda for the sake of transparency and opportunity afforded to all community stakeholders. Matters requiring attention will receive appropriate staff and or board follow-up at a time after the meeting. Thanks for your participation. We appreciate your feedback

004and input. >> Sri, are there any speakers? >> Yes. First up, I'd like to call Caitlyn Sanony. Caitlyn >> Caitlyn Sanony. >> We'll move on to our next speaker is Sheree Ortiz. Good afternoon board. My name is Sheree Ortiz. Um, I live on the east side of De Moines and I'm a retired De Mo public school teacher and I'm really happy to be here tonight because I would just like to also uh speak to the public and remind them that this re-imagine plan uh was done with a lot of thought. It was done. It was a very collaborative effort among teachers and parents, community members and administrators. And uh that kind of work is really hard work and these people spent time being uncompensated to make De Moine public schools the 21st century school district

005that it can be. I think that uh the public needs to be aware that there are bond issues throughout the metro region and we have to be ready to compete. We have to be ready to give our students the kind of technologies and the kind of facilities that will help them to find some very dynamic and new career paths. Um, I know firsthand what it's like to be in a building that isn't quite up to speed. And it's what it really does is it compromises your ability to keep kids engaged and to show them what their future is going to look like. And when we do that to kids, we end up with other problems. You end up with discipline problems. You end up with attendance problems. Engagement is a big deal. And kids can

006compare what's going on in their schools with friends that they have in other school districts. We have to be able to show our community that this plan is not only good for our kids and our teachers, but it's good for our neighborhoods. Neighborhood sustainability is directly related to our schools. We want people to come to De Moine, buy property, and raise a family here. And we're not going to be able to do that if we can if we pretend like we can just skate and try to get along the best that we can. Taxes is a concern, right? The tax burden is always bigger in our imaginations, folks. I I think you need to look at the numbers. Because an a house that is assessed at around $200,000, that's going to be what? Uh $168

007uh dollars a year, that's about $16 a month. Anyway, you can kind of calculate from that. I listen, I I'm retired and I live on a fixed income and uh I guess I'm not the best investor in the world. Uh I don't have a lot of extra income coming. I understand what that means. when the cost of gasoline is going up, when the cost of groceries is going up, when the cost of everything is going up. But if you want to have a healthy, sustainable, resilient neighborhood, you need to, we all need to res support reimagine. I'm here today to say I'm supporting it, and I hope my neighbors do, too. Thank you. >> Thank you. [Applause] Next speaker is Donna Joe Wallace. Hi, I'm Donna Wallace. I My zip code is 50316. I live

008in the Union Park neighborhood. The last time we a bond measure was requested for De Moines Public Schools, it was the year the Berlin Wall fell and Indiana Jones was the hot new thing. It's time to deliver a cash infusion to the public schools that serve our young people to more realistically serve their needs in the 21st century. Public education helps to level the playing fields for our high school gradu graduates as they step out into the world. And this bond is how we live level the playing field for our lo local public schools. For an average cost to homeowners of about $16.50 per month, we can do this. Let's show our kids we care. >> Thank you. >> Next speaker is Hugh Espie. >> Good evening. Um my name is uh Hugh Esp. I

009live at 10:05 here in De Moine. I'm in schoolboard district 1. I think you're my person. Um, I'm also a longtime CCI member. We brought some other CCI members here. We're pack animals. We hang together. Um, I fully support the uh school bond issue that's in front of De Moines voters right now. As a pupil power organization, Iowa CCI is encouraging all of our members and supporters here in De Moine to vote for it. Public schools are an anchor uh institution in our communities. free universal public education is an essential component of our democracy. And when I say free, I mean I don't pay tuition to go to school. And universal means open to everyone. No matter who you are or how much money you make. Throughout our nation's history, public schools have made us

010more educated, more equitable, more small d democratic, and yes, more tolerant. A robust and vibrant public education system is essential for living in a multicultural, multi-racial democracy. And that's what we that's what we live in. Multicultural, multi-racial. All of us benefit from strong, fully funded public schools, whether we have kids or grandkids in school or not. If you live in De Moines, you benefit from strong, fully funded public schools. I want to quote a few sentences from an excellent guest column that was in Sunday's de Mo register is written by two moms that go to Hubble Elementary School and then it was signed by 40 other parents have kids at either I think Perkins or or at Hubble said the bond will support De Moines uh DMPS's reimagining education plan and will benefit our community

011for years to come. The plan was developed collaboratively over many months with multiple opportunities for engagement and input including from community members. The plan is focused on preparing all students for successful futures from preschool to graduation, boosting enrollment, improving student outcomes, making needed upgrades to buildings and technology, and expanding programs. Key initiatives, and you folks know this already, I'm just I'm preaching to the choir. Key initiatives include signature schools and career training, enhanced diploma plus program, extended or expanded preschool access, middle school transformation, and improved facilities. Like all public schools, DMPS is currently facing challenges, including lack of adequate investment in our public schools from the state. Voting for the bond issue is an important way of fighting back against Governor Reynolds and other misguided state house politicians who want to defund and dismantle our

012public education here in Iowa. Reynolds and her crew, that's right, >> need to know that we're going to fight tooth and nail to support public education and public schools. We're going to do everything we can to protect them, nurture them, and make them even stronger. and better. Voting for the bond issue is voting for our future. It's the right thing to do. Thank you. >> Thank you. [Applause] >> Next speaker is Julie Powmore. I'm Julie Palmore. I live in zip code 50312 and I echo everything they said. I don't know that I I don't know that I can add to what they said so much as to confirm. I want to thank you for your vision for students and families and this bond proposal does that. I talked with all of our residents at Scottish

013Wright. live at Scottish Wright. I talked with all of our residents, gathered signatures, and um uh to get the proposed plan on the ballot, and so so many of them talked about this being an opportunity to show support for our kids and to give them something that matters. Many are excited about being able to do something so powerful and possible in and positive in this time. It's a feel-good thing for all of us. In fact, a cheer went up among some of us when we found out that you had enough signatures to get the plan on the ballot. and they've continued to talk about it um as I uh as they knew I was coming over here tonight. Tell them tell them the best part about it is that it is it's about educating for

014diversity for that multicultural piece that that Hugh talked about and people are letting me know that they've already some some of them have already voted and they voted for the bond issue. One message that has stood out among us is how the plan supports the diversity of our families and students in in our district. They like the variety in the curricular offerings. And one person said, you know, it's really a gift to all of us. It's not just for the kids, it's for all of us. And I agree. Thank you. >> Thank you. [Applause] Next speaker is Maryanne Ko. Uh, good evening everybody. My name is Maryanne Ko. I live at zip code 50312. I am a caring member of public school strong and a strong supporter of the re-imagine education for the de mo

015public schools. Tonight I come to share a different perspective than I think most of the folks that are here including yourselves. I am unique in so far as I am not a parent of a a child in the de mo public school system. My son never went to school here in De Moine. Um I have no grandchildren. I am I only moved to De Moines when I gra or when I I I think it was graduation but when I retired from 35 years yeah it was like that 35 years as a public education ed educator. However, despite all of these things where I seems like I'm not that connected, I firmly believe that education is the one thing that affects the quality of life of our students and of our community. >> Recently, as I

016have been celebrating my birthdays, I find myself disbelieving that I can be as old as I actually am. So I ask myself now at this stage in my life, what is my legacy going to be? And when I heard of public school strong, I joined immediately because good educ good public education is a legacy that I want to put my effort into. And above all, this is just the right thing to do at this time for all of us in De Moines School District. Thus, I support the bond issue to reimagine education in order to reinvigorate the De Mo public schools. I will be voting yes on November 4th. And thank you. [Applause] Next speaker is Dr. Hanyan Brown. >> Good afternoon. >> Afternoon. >> Wow. My name is Dartian Brown. I'm an Eastsider, a

0171967 graduate of North High. I live in the Union Park neighborhood of De Moine. I'm a board member of Iowa Citizens for Community Improvement and Public School Strong. Good evening. My comments are not just directed to you on the board. They're also directed to anybody listening to this on the internet tonight. Yes, we are here to urge support for the bond issue that the board has put forward. In my nearly 40 years of teaching as being a teaching artist both in public and private college prep environments, I know the key to success is offering well-appointed facilities staffed by well-qualified professionals being paid a salary that reflects the respect in which they are held by the community that they represent. My comments are informed by three perspectives. Number one, I'm a student of DMPS beginning in

0181955. I had a parent who took on an active role at the school and at home to make sure that her son was doing exactly what he was supposed to be doing to prepare me for success. Number two, I was born behind the red line and my parents bore the brunt of that. Number three, I've been a teaching artist who continues to enable students regardless of background to be creative, to be rigorous, and to be vigilant about their education. This current crisis offers you an opportunity to reassure the community that the person now in charge has proven through his actions that he has the grit and the vision to restore a measure of community trust that has been badly shaken of late. When I first met Dr. Smith, it was academic year 2010. He and

019his family, his wife is an Iowa native by the way, moved here from Texas where he had been a principal in a West Texas town. It was Texas, so sports, especially football, were prominently displayed on his school website. As fate would have it, though, my well-man manicured preconceptions about him melted like ice cream in the desert. On meeting him, Principal Smith, in his new role at North High School, set to work employing what I describe as an incredible vision, skill, and a huge respect for all subjects, including the arts. This is the central point I'm here to speak to today. DMPS has seen times of crisis before, but in the wreckage of the no child left behind years, I personally witnessed your current interim superintendent come to town, roll up his sleeves, and work to

020create the kind of school culture that we would all recognize as successful. The bond issue is the key, and I'll let others speak to the numbers. But as a teaching artist and supporter of public education, I hope to spur those listening here today to also roll up their sleeves and give our school board, DMPS, and our interim superintendent, Matthew Smith, all the support that you can. Matthew, in my estimation, is an academic badass, but he's not a lone miracle worker. He is worthy of your trust in my estimation. Now that he has emerged from his role as understudy, I urge community members to give him the respect and to make your voices heard. Matthew Smith is someone who has proved he has a clear vision and the tools necessary to advocate for and to protect

021your kids going forward. by passing this bond issue, which is cool with one of the prime uh prime architects of this bond issue sitting right here. >> 30 seconds remaining. De Mo public schools parents, students, and supporters are offering themselves the opportunity to transcend this current crisis, regain our footing while continuing to strive to offer the kind of public education which many of us speaking here enjoyed in the past and wish to partner with you all to achieve again in the notsodistant future. Thanks very much. >> Thank you. Last speaker I have is Marshall James. >> Hello everyone. Um, I'll keep this brief. Uh, my name is Marshall James. I'm a resident of the north of Grand Neighborhood in 50312. I'm also the parent of a DMPS preschooler who just started at Kohl's Monasuri uh,

022this fall and he's loving it. Our kids are our most precious community members, and they are also the community members who are most dependent upon us, the grown-ups, to provide for them. They deserve the very best that we can give them because they can't provide for it themselves. The Reimagine Plan puts our community on a path to providing real school choice, the kind with robust and diverse programs right here in our district, available to all students. As I mentioned, my preschooler um we were lucky to get him into Kohl's and I've spoken with some families who really wanted to get their students into a monastery program, but due to the nature of physical reality, there's only so much space. You can only so many students you can accept. So, I'm very excited that the reimagined

023DMPS program will not only expand space at Kohl's, but also establish monastery programs at other schools. And this is something I want available to as many parents and families as they can. There's a lot of exciting programs that are coming down the pipe with reimagined DMPS. And again, there's a lot of talk about the cost of this program, but for the individual taxpayer, it's about as much as a monthly subscription service. And I would subscribe to DMPS. I would gladly sign up. Y'all can have my $167 a month. This is a program I would like streaming into my parents into my kids' brain all the time. So, I really want to thank all the architects behind putting this this plan together. I think it's really exciting, really aspirational. I know we've got a lot of

024work ahead of ourselves, but I'm asking all of the residents of the district to think about our kids. They can't vote for this. They can't pay for it, but we can and we should on November 4th. Thank you. >> Thank you. [Applause] Madam Chair, those are all the speakers I have signed up. >> the next the next item on our agenda is our district recognitions. Uh Superintendent Smith, I will turn it over to you. >> Good evening everyone. Good evening everyone. At De Mo Public Schools, we are always proud of the fact that at any given time, we serve students and families from a 100 different nations. Some people might refer to Iowa as a flyover country. But this tr but the truth is here in De Moine, we are at the center of the

025world with people from around the world and preparing graduates who will go out into the world. The teaching of languages is an important part of a top-notch curriculum. Tonight, I am honored to share that we are home to one of the very best teachers when it comes to teaching world language. Our very own Shannon Buckroy has been named the 2025 Iowa World Language Association Educator of the Year for the middle school level. Shannon teaches exploratory Spanish and heritage Spanish to students in grades six through eight at Goodreal Middle School. For more than two decades, she has inspired her students to see language as more than words, but also a bridge to culture and connection. It is a great pleasure to recognize Shannon at tonight's meeting and invite you, Shannon, to come share a little bit

026about your experience and the importance of world language education in our schools. [Applause] [Music] [Applause] Buenes. Good evening, members of the board, colleagues, families, and friends. I'm here tonight deeply humbled by this recognition. Being named Iowa World Language Teacher of the Year for Middle Level is an incredible honor, but I want to begin by saying that this work is never done in isolation. I am here because of the students, both past and present, who challenge me, inspire me, and remind me daily why I chose this path. I'm here because of their families who trust me with their children's growth. I'm here because of my colleagues at Goodro Middle School and the World Language Department at DMPS who collaborate, support, and uplift one another. I am here because of my administrators and curriculum coordinator who have

027always encouraged innovation and trusted me to do what's best for our students. And I'm here because of my own family whose unconditional support and faith in me have been my foundation. World language education is not just about vocabulary and grammar. It's about connection. Language and culture are inseparable and they cannot be taught in isolation. In today's world with the internet, globalization and migration shaping our daily lives, languages are no longer foreign and culture is not over there. It is right here in our classrooms, in our neighborhoods, and our communities. That's why world language education is not optional. It's essential. Especially in a district like ours where diversity is not just a statistic but a strength. We must equip our students with the tools to understand, communicate, and thrive in a global society. As a teacher,

028I've been fortunate to explore new ideas and approaches within the middle school Spanish curriculum. I've always felt supported and trusted to innovate, and that trust has made all the difference. At DMPS, we are doing great things and I'm proud to be part of a district that values world language education for all students. Before I close, I want to share a few words from my students themselves. I asked them what they would say to you about Spanish class and learning languages at DMPS. They talked about having more job opportunities by knowing more than one language, being able to understand and communicate with more people, and how excited they are about the Spanish one pilot in our middle school. You should come and see them. Middle schoolers sometimes get a w a bad rap, but let me

029tell you, they are secretly some of the most caring, empathetic, and curious young people you'll ever meet. They want to grow. They want to succeed. And they want to be seen. Thank you for allowing me to be my authentic self and do my best every day for our students and families. Thank you for your continued support of the world language programs in De Moines public schools and offering world language classes to our middle school students. Thank you again for this incredible honor and for recognizing the work of educators across our district. I am grateful for the chance to share my passion for Spanish and for the privilege of spending each day with the amazing people who make this work so meaningful. Gracias. >> Thank you. [Applause] We will move now to the consent agenda. As

030a reminder to the board and public, the board will not engage in discussion or deliberation with the speaker regarding comments made to agenda items. Discussion and deliberation will remain among board members at the board table with speakers comments informing the board's discussion, deliberation, and determinations as deemed necessary. Miss Rios, do we have any speakers? >> No speakers. >> Thanks, Dr. Mayberry Ms. I believe you have the consent motion. You're right. I do. I move that the board approve the consent items in accordance with the recommended action for each item on the consent agenda, including bills previously authorized, certified, and approved for payment by the board secretary in the amount of 3,867,771.96. >> We have a motion by Dr. Mayberry Mays. May I have a second? >> Dick. Second. >> We have a second by Mr.

031Dixs. Is there any discussion or questions? So actually I am going to highlight something that I think is really important that um we haven't had a chance to talk about at the board table but this is something that we all agree is a priority which is um our goal to increase trust and visibility with our families, our students and our community members. And so, um, a big thing happened, which is we announced the reimagining education bond Oversight Committee a few days ago. And some of you may have seen the news coverage about it. Um, but just for those of you who didn't, I want to make sure you're aware of it. So, this committee was actually put in place to serve as a third-party independent uh body uh that will review financials, review uh progress

032to goal of construction. it will uh make sure that voter intent uh takes place and uh we've got a great group of financial professionals that have signed up to do that specifically uh Mark Ward, Jeff Laorenzan, Natalie Merrill, Odell McGee, Liz Buck, Dan Houston, and Diana Hermicilo. And so um I want to thank those members uh for their willingness to do that. In addition, I think it's also important um that we remind our community that we have an audit committee. Um this is a community audit committee that has been in place for decades. And the responsibility of the audit committee is to make sure that um they're acting as uh individuals and uh financial oversight for our finance and audit team. And I think that's important also to call out. The committee members include Brent

033Wilbur's, Ski Wooten, Jeff Bernes, Jeff Conrad, and Jamie Cornish. And I I really want to call out to how wonderful our finance team is. You know, De Mo public schools and all school districts across the state are audited annually and our school district has received the certificate of excellence in financial reporting um from both the association of school business officials and the government finance officers association every year since 2007. And so we are u very very blessed to have such a strong uh finance team who leads us well. And board members, I think our next audit will be coming to us in the next few months. Uh Dr. May, I think you're on that committee. >> So, um thank you again for all the uh community members that have agreed to serve on this reimagining

034education bond oversight committee and I just wanted to make sure to elevate that as it was specifically on the consent agenda. Any other questions regarding this discussion topic? Okay, board members, please cast your votes. The vote is approved seven to zero. Next, we have one public hearing. The item is E1, public hearing for CIP 3171, Catel Elementary Exterior Restoration. The public hearing will come to order. Is there anyone wishing to speak to this item? Hearing no speakers, I'll close the public hearing. Superintendent Smith, would you please introduce the matter? >> I recommend the board review the proposed plans and specifications prepared by Angelo Architectural Associates for exterior restoration of Catel Elementary. Hold a public hearing and approve the plans. >> May I have a motion and a second, please? >> Martano. So moved. >> Dick.

035Second. >> We have a motion by Miss Marterano and a second by Mr. Dixs. Is there any discussion or questions? Board members, please cast your votes. The vote is approved 7 to zero. We'll now move on to our other business agenda items. First, we have item F1, personnel recommendation, receive, file, and take action. Superintendent Smith, would you please introduce the matter? >> I recommend the board receive, file, and accept the notice and take action on it to terminate the continuing teaching contract for reasons stated within. Sorry. May I have a motion and a second to approve this item? >> Dix. So moved. >> Martano. Second. >> We have a motion by Mr. Dixs and a second by Miss Marterano. Any discussion or questions? Board members, please cast your votes. The vote is approved seven to

036zero. Next item is F2, naming request. May I have a motion and a second to discuss this item? Mayberry Mays move. >> Second. >> We have a motion by Dr. Mayberry MS and a second by Miss Marterano. At this point, I'd like Oh, we need to No. Okay. At this point, I'd like to turn it over to the committee for presentation. >> Thank you. On March 10th, 2024, the president of the Build Lincoln Higher Booster Club submitted a formal request to name the Lincoln High School Student Commons in honor of former principal, Mr. Albert H. Graciano. Mr. Graciano served De Mo public schools for 44 years and was a pillar of Southside pride. As an alumni in the class of 1960, vice principal and then principal of Lincoln High School, Mr. Graciano's affection for all

037things railsplitters was apparent in the meticulous manner with which he oversaw the 2008 renovations of Lincoln High School. A major component of this renovation was the addition of the student commons, which makes the naming of it in his honor most appropriate. Jerry and Marilyn paid tribute to Mr. Graciano using these words. Al Graciano was the quintessential high school principal. He was a master leader, teacher, counselor, and friend. He was dedicated to serving the students and teachers of Lincoln. His dedication to the Southside and to Lincoln is legendary. If there were a wall of honor for De Moines school staff, his name would be among those at the very top. He was a man of honesty and integrity. We shall not see his like again. Mr. Mr. Graciano was a beloved educator, mentor, and friend to

038generations of students, families, and staff of Lincoln High School. And it seems fitting for his legacy to remain for many more. That is why the request to name the Lincoln High School Student Commons the Albert H. Graciano Commons is being made. In accordance to board policy 740, a naming committee was appointed comprised of myself, Ana Compos, and Patrick Dixs to review the naming suggestion form and petition from community members. The committee brings forth this recommendation to the full board to approve the renaming of the Lincoln High School student commons to the Albert H. Graciano Commons effective on October 21st, 2025. I'd like to amend the motion to approve this recommendation naming the Lincoln High School Student Commons in honor of former principal Mr. Albert H. Graciano. >> Board members, please cast your votes. >> The

039vote vote is approved seven to zero. And with that, I want to Yes, exactly. Very exciting. And I also want to call out uh for the board members that were on the naming committee and also Kaylee who Becker who has been a huge part of this committee work um this is the first time we went through a new process and so I appreciate uh the process and the work that um the Lincoln team did as well to navigate through it. So thanks. The next item is F3, the superintendent contract. Uh we have already approved the contract uh but I'm going to turn it over to Dr. for Mayberry Maze to acknowledge it. >> Yes, thank you, Madam Chair. You know, I don't have a whole lot of extra words to share that um Dartania didn't

040already say earlier, but we are extremely excited to have Matt Smith join us as the interim superintendent. If I were to quote some of the language earlier, he absolutely pulls up his sleeve and is an academic badass. And we couldn't be more fortunate to have you with us. >> Well said. And with that, we are going to turn it over to items of privilege. So, I would like to ask our board members if they have things they would like to share. >> I'll go first. Everybody always looks. It's like a It's like a standoff waiting for everybody to see who's going to go first. Um, I've got a couple of things that I just wanted to point out. Uh first, anybody who had a chance this last week to go on a tour of uh

041central campus and all of the um uh the great programs that we have here uh probably was as amazed as as I am. I have a student who attends central campus on a daily basis. Um but to be able to walk in, see about a thousand people walk through uh to get a tour uh on an evening when they could have been doing something else was pretty amazing. and then to walk into each room and to see our students um and eager to give me a tour of what they're doing and why it's important to them and what's next for them. It's exactly what we're talking about when we talk about the future of De Mo public schools. We should really do something about that like find some more resources for it and you know

042come up with a way to maybe vote on it uh sometime soon. Um, so I just wanted to shout out to all of the the programs at Central Campus. And then uh my other two uh sort of have to do with that. October 28th, I'm going to steal uh from Jenna's playbook. October 28th, there is a culinary gourmet dinner. Uh our students from our culinary program will be putting on that dinner. I looked at the menu today. It sounds awesome. It's a perfect fall dinner. Uh, and so if you are available uh from 6:00 to 8 on the night of October the 28th, I encourage you to get down to central campus and support our culinary program. And then I'm sure Jen is going to talk about one Run. >> It was No, no, go

043ahead. And it it was we are because it was really a it was such a great day uh this last Saturday to be a part of one run. But I just wanted to um give a little shout out to the JOTC kids who came in on less than 24 hours notice and parked some cars uh for us and I hope made things smoother and a better experience for the people who uh attended one Run and were there to support uh De Mo public schools. So that's it. >> Okay. Well then I'm gonna have to talk about One Run, too. But the only thing I'll say just a little bit of a different take is just deep gratitude to the foundation u to Jenna Knox as one of their fearless leaders to Jasmine who I think

044also was instrumental in this and I have no doubt Jenna's going to give us other names. I think the most important thing that it said to me was uh how many champions of public education we have and it just was a a sight to be seen and uh it really I know after a couple of hard weeks for De Mo public schools it felt really great to see all these families showing up. one run. Yay. Um the children that you acknowledged, awesome. Uh beautiful job. Uh we received a message from Jenna saying, "Hey, we need some parking adults or parking people." >> No one drove No one drove a car. I just want to clarify. They directed cars. Patrick keeps saying they drove. No children, no students were driving cars. They were just directing traffic.

045So, I just got make sure >> they were directed. >> Um, I just want to say thank you for to everyone really who stepped up and attended the event, helped in so many ways. Talk about a community coming together and play a role, an important role to support DMPS. Wow. I um was just speechless. People that um I contacted that said, "Yeah, I'll come." you know, last minute. So, besides the children that you acknowledge, Tanya who um came and supported and she was very excited. She wants to do it again next year. Um, beautiful. So, DMPS, great, great work. So, thank you to everyone. >> Well, the one run was great. So, thank you to everyone who joined us on Saturday for our sixth annual uh DMPS Foundation one run. I have said it from

046this table. I think every year that it's kind of an event you just have to see to believe and understand. Um, and it just gets better and better every year. Could not be possible without the DMPS marketing team, Phil Rder, and your team. Thank you for always making us look professional and polished. The operations team at DMPS. It really is a beautiful um a joint effort uh led by the foundation but with the support of De Mo Public Schools. And this board is no shortage. So, thank you so much to to everyone on the board for showing up and showing out and for last minute coming through when we needed some more bodies to be there. Um, and it gets better and better. So, if you haven't been, please mark your calendar to come. Uh,

047couldn't happen without the foundation board, which also showed up in full force, and the one-run committee members, Dr. Katie Swallwell, Jasine Fitz, Bridget Fagan, Reedburn, and Kaylee Becker. Uh, it raised 50 a record $51,000 over over that amount. Um and we had 200 registered participants um to come and celebrate our schools. And thank you. Thank you. So a all I know I've said it over and over again, but the beauty is that we go out Kaylee goes out and helps everyone goes out and helps to to bring uh sponsors and individuals together who want to financially contribute and then the money that is raised at one Run goes back to the schools at the ratio of which people showed up from their schools. So the beautiful thing is is that sure we give people the

048opportunity to donate to come but it is a free event and just by coming you are sending dollars directly back to your school. So it's a magical morning and it really helps us live out the DMPS Foundation's uh mission which is providing meaningful support to empower every DMPS student to succeed. Um I also want to take a minute to uh recognize the North High Girls Swim Team. So on Tuesday they secured their title as the Iowa Alliance Conference South Division Champions. Yes. Um so they went undefeated against all of their South Division opponents. And for those of you who don't know, seven years ago that team did not exist. Uh and now they are division champions. And that is the work of uh coach Scott Weinheimer and his incredible ability to recruit and build a

049successful program. We were there on Tuesday and listening to him recognize each of the seniors, many of which did not even swim or had been a part of the north side otter and chose to come to North to swim for him. And he is such an example of uh one of my favorite Margaret my quote by Margaret me that says never underestimate the power of a small group of committed people to change the world. In fact, it is the only thing that ever has. So just uh seeing that come to life and remembering that that we can do something. Um, and so lastly, I want to invite everyone to be a part of changing the world by joining uh the North High Booster Club for their dueling piano fundraiser on Friday, November 8th at the

050shop DSM. Uh, everything raised goes back to North High programs. So, look for it on social Facebook, call North High School, get your ticket, make sure you're there to support uh North High and their students. >> Oh, >> all right. I'm gonna go next. So, uh, last week I >> Okay. Last week, uh, I was able to go back to East High School for their Latino Heritage Month, um, event celebration. Uh, Alejandra Castillo is the president of, uh, one of the organizations that put this on. They did an excellent job. They had vendors, local vendors, um, families that were there to participate, had great food. They had a, uh, very, very nice warming effect for everybody that came into the building. Uh, alongside of, um, they had a fashion show to show all the Latino

051culture. Uh, a lot of East High alum was there and students and staff, which I really appreciate it, and that just warms my heart that we can get together and explore new things and try new foods. There was a lot of food there that people had not tried before and they were all loving it. So, uh, Alejandra Castillo and her whole team and then whoever the staff at East High School that put this together, uh, thank you so very much and I can't wait till next year. I would just like to express my gratitude to the community members both here tonight that have shared their support for De Moine public schools as well as everyone that has really wrapped their arms around De Moine public schools over the last several weeks. It has meant the

052world to me and has inspired me to continue to show up as our educators do day in and day out uh for our students regardless of what's happening in our world. So, thank you for that inspiration. Thank you for the support and thank you for continuing to show up and advocate. [Applause] And I'll end my comments by saying ditto to everything that our board members have already shared. One of the most exciting things regarding the one run for me was seeing the age range and the diversity in the age range. There was everything from 7-month-olds to 70 year olds and everything in between, which truly means that it was a community event. I wouldn't be the higher ed education professional um if I didn't make this comment, but the FASA is now open. So for

053all of our parents who are watching, all of our students, particularly seniors that are considering going to college, please complete your free application for federal student aid. Although the government is shut down, core functions are still happening with the FASA application. So thank you. >> Great. Thank you. >> I will now turn it over to you. Uh just um a tremendous note of gratitude um for the our public school supporters that continue to show up consistently um each and every Tuesday. But uh you're there every day, right? I see you in our schools volunteering and you're you're constantly in the presence of children um which is exactly where we all need to be. So just want to continue to offer our thanks as well as offer our thanks to the Iowa taxpayers association who just

054last Thursday came out in public support of the reimagined plan and the bond referendum. Thank you very much. >> Wonderful. So, uh, prior to going into a close session, just so people understand what's going to happen is the board will leave here, go into a close session and then afterwards we will come back for a public vote and then we will be going into an open work session. And our topics are three-fold. uh superintendent evaluation um the board governance standard operating procedure and onboarding new board members. So with that I am going to end this meeting. Nope, we're not ending. We're just excusing ourselves. >> Can we do a motion? >> Yes. Thank you. I need a motion. >> I'd like to make a motion to go into >> Funny you said that. There's something

055for you to read. I move that the board go into close session per Iowa code section 21.5 subsection 1 subsection A which states a governmental body may hold a closed session only by affirmative public vote of either twothirds of the members of the body or all of the members present at the meeting to discuss records which are required or authorized by the state or federal law to be kept confidential or to be kept confidential as a condition for that governmental body's possession or continued receipt of federal funds. and sections 21.5 subsection I subsection E to discuss whether to conduct a hearing or to conduct hearings to suspend or expel a student unless an open session is requested by the student or a parent or guardian of that student if the student is a minor. >>

056We have a motion. May I have a second? >> Dick second. >> We have a motion by Miss Marterano and a second by Mr. Dixs. Miss Rios, could you please take the vote? >> Yes. Miss Alonso? Yes, >> Miss Compost. >> Yep. >> Mr. Dixs. >> Yes, >> Miss Knox. >> Yes, >> Miss Marrono. >> Yes, >> Dr. Mayberry Mace. >> Yes, >> Miss Norris. >> Yes. >> The vote is approved 7 to zero and off we go. The motion passes. What's Okay, we are back in open session for one additional item. Uh Patrick, uh Mr. Dixs, please introduce the motion. >> Um can we take >> Oh, yeah. Thank you. Um let's take role first. Miss Alonzo >> here. >> Miss Campos >> here. >> Miss Norris here. Dr. Mayberry Maize >> here. >>

057Miss Marterano >> here. Mr. Dixs >> here. >> We have six uh board members present. Uh Mr. Dixs, can you please introduce the matter? I move to approve the superintendent's recommendation to expel the student who was subject of the closed session for a period of 12 months with services to be provided as required by federal law and as determined by the students educational team. >> We have a motion by Mr. Dixs. May I have a second? >> Second. We have a second by Miss Martano. Um any discussion or questions? Um okay. Board members, please cast your votes. Uh the motion passes 620 to zero and now we are going to adjourn formally at 7:42 and I think we go straight into the work session if everybody's okay with that. >> Yep. >> Um I don't

058know. So at this point so we have three things to cover. uh one was evaluation, two was onboarding of new board members and three is the standard operating procedure. I'm going to recommend in order we do evaluation first, then we do uh standard operating procedure, then we do onboarding because I think onboarding can be done actually with a small group easier uh and can be done virtually. So, um Skyler has um is going to take us through the evaluation. Just as a reminder for board members, it is uh important and a commitment that we made to always get the evaluation done as close to the beginning of the contract year as possible so the superintendent knows what they're held accountable to. Obviously, this year's a little bit different. And um and then the one thing

059I'll say uh Skyler for your purposes and everybody else um Matt and I had a brief can I have his contract? Matt and I had a just a brief conversation about the language in the contract because some of you may recall in the contract it states um is this his? No, we wrote didn't Oh, here it is. Um, on point six, it says, "For the duration of the contract, the board shall provide Smith with a written evaluation based solely on the Iowa standards for school leaders with periodic opportunities to discuss superintendent board relationships and to discuss Smith's personnel records and performance." Um, what we wrote down is it says based solely on the Iowa standards for school leaders or mutually agreed upon evaluation. And Matt initialed it and so did I. So that just gives

060us the latitude for this year as we're starting to figure it out. So Skyler, just so you're aware. >> And with that, I think I'm going to turn it over to you. >> All right. So, uh, not a whole lot of change necessarily. What I would bring your attention to is that the current existing superintendent evaluation is essentially broken out into three parts with two weights. the first part being 60% the goals that we monitor and then the remaining 40% being a split between the guard rails and the superintendent expectations. U we we believe or I guess uh the evaluation committee has looked at this believes that it's still a very solid um superintendent expect or superintendent evaluation. However, given the current nature of some of the priorities that the assoc or excuse me, the

061interim superintendent may have to deal with um in addition to um other things that we've evaluated. There's one question that I did want to propose for conversation for the group and that is around the weight. So, right now we're putting about 60% of the evaluation on goals specifically and 40% on the superintendent expectation and guard rails. Um, as you can probably see within the ex superintendent expectations, there will be some additional things that will be expected of the superintendent. Uh, so if we want to have a conversation around are those the most appropriate weights to keep at 6040 or do we need to look at that um differently going forward for the interim contract? Well, I would hate to move away from um outcomes as the focus, but I there's a there's my initial reaction

062was go 50/50 or even flip it 6040 for this year because just in looking at some of those superintendent expectations, they are the big chunks of um issues that I think are going to be facing and uh that the superintendent's going to be working at not not that we're not going to be looking at outcomes. It just but I that's that's said with a lot of trepidation only because student outcomes has to be our focus. So >> Q >> so I guess the perspective I'll offer is that um I definitely think we should monitor all goals and guard rails. So the monitoring process remains the same. I also remember with a prior board when we brought on our past superintendent um he didn't create the goals and therefore we didn't hold them accountable to them

063immediately and so I want us to be a little sensitive to that also. So, um I you know I think it's it's if the expectation is that um Matt is and his team are doing the work on the guard rails and on the goals and we're publicly monitoring it. I don't think we're stopping any of that. I think it's just a matter of how much that impacts a performance evaluation. The only other thing I'd say is these three superintendent expectations are the ones that that Matt has also identified. Plus, as we talked about in close session, the other challenges that we can't even anticipate yet that are going to come with the transition this year. So I um maybe a different question Skylar I was thinking about this when I was driving is is there

064a different way to think about um a liyker scale or something that is less about percentage right so I think about a liyker school that has three right like not meeting exceeding average like I I don't have the the categories but I'm just wondering if we think about this a little bit differently for this year. Um, but you know, at the at the end of the day, I just think we've identified these as goals and guard rails. We want the work to keep moving forward. We also have incredibly high expectations for a superintendent um in a year where there's a lots of things that we can't anticipate. So, trying to figure out how to be sensitive to that. Um, if people have ideas, whether it's just adjusting the waiting or it's taking the goals and

065guardrails and putting them on a a different way of of looking at it like a red, yellow, green or something. >> Thank you. >> I think that in the monitoring process, we've already done a little bit of that like we have. Um, >> it's on the front. >> You're right. It's just the >> it's no longer just on track, not on track. There's it's built in to be um to have that in place. I would not be supportive of flipping it from the 4060 if we were to make a change. Um I wouldn't want to see it go beyond a 50/50. Um and and knowing that like th this is a lot to take into consideration. And when you take all of these as individual items, the individual items themselves don't carry a huge amount

066of weight themselves. it it's it's the whole um >> yeah I'm just recalling the session that we had when we were discussing um contract terms and I think um I think we want to just be incredibly clear around um definition of success um after a year and if definition of success is then um plus additional responsibilities that will take immense time and energy then we probably should take something off of this. I think it's an unfair evaluation quite honestly if our expectation is all of this plus everything else like I for an interim. So is this the recommendation of the the evaluation committee though what we've been provided here or is it the >> the hope that we as a team right now >> I think that's what Skyler >> yeah right now it's >>

067massaging it to get it to a good point. >> Okay. So it's more than just the I thought we were just asked about the the percentages between the the two items. So I didn't realize that it was that there was more of it up for discussion. The entire thing is up for discussion. That was just an initial question. Do we have the right weights in the right places, but there is there's obviously more. There are things we can remove from it. There are things that we could add to it as well. >> So, I I guess I wouldn't I wouldn't want to place weights on it until we determine if we're actually evaluating the right things if that is up for conversation. So, and what you're hearing is >> let's assume everything's on the table.

068We need an evaluation mechanism for doctor for Matt to take place as soon as possible so he's clear on expectations. >> That's that's the starting point, Kim. And and I would say um >> but so then is this the recommendation of the committee of how we proceed or >> No, Skyler. No, this is Skyler. We the committee did not meet on this. >> Okay. All right. >> So >> this is what currently exists. >> Got it. Okay, thank you for clarifying. >> Um, and it says Jenna is online. Oh, and she's getting dinner. Um, dinner's coming. So, >> so then to your point, Jackie, >> I'm not getting dinner, but >> I know Rosie is >> Okay. Okay. So, I think that we need to start the conversation with what is it that we want

069to hold him accountable for and then we can discuss possible weights of those items. >> And so, Jackie, would you like to see a conversation where we take some things off of this list to >> I think it's I think it's up to >> we can keep them as guard rails. We just like >> is he going to be evaluated on it? Can Could we >> I think that's >> is everybody okay with doing that to say like look we're we're still going to monitor for all these things. They are our goals and guard rails. >> How are we going to evaluate the superintendent this year? >> Stabilization would be a like a a good first high priority, you know, and so um >> how do you measure that? >> It's measurable. >> So that's

070things like that are almost what we have in the superintendent expectations right now. We would have to provide some >> for things like stabilization. We want to provide some direction on what exactly that looks like. That's kind of what's illustrated in the the grayer text. Um so we have things like budget process, but we had to actually include things that are very specific like a board budget process calendar for example. So if we want to add add if we want to add additional superintendent expectations, we can do that. If we want to remove goals or guardrails being monitored at a certain interval, we can do that. I'm just trying to gather thoughts and kind of feedback right now. My suggestion, I would like to see um I still want to monitor but have more especially

071like this next 9 months. um more of the like superintendent expectations like that being the main one that we're reviewing for him but still being monitoring the goals and guard rails not as I mean not scoring them on that until next year. So 100% of the evaluation would be on superintendent expectations is what you're offering, but still monitoring >> it not being Yeah. But it not being a formal part of the evaluation >> criter uh the evaluation score. >> Yeah. >> Okay. No right or wrongs right now. Really just gathering feedback. We should Skylar, we did Skyler and I did look at the um Iowa associate the Iowa standards. So state law um says that superintendent is evaluated based on 10 standards. The way we've done it in the past well we weren't compliant um

072but then what we moved to doing and M um Miriam was comfortable with it was taking things here and pointing to it. Right? So this is X standard and this is X standard. I mean, we can always go back to that list of 10 or look at that list of 10 and see if there are and and Matt said something that I thought was interesting. When he evaluates, he doesn't necessarily evaluate leaders on all 10. He said when he evaluates, he might evaluate on three. >> And so it's it's not like all 10, we remember when we were looking at that, have to have a goal towards them. So, another way to evaluate him would be just using the um using that form. And I think it's a isn't it a liyker scale like three?

073It's it's either or. >> Okay. >> Pass or fail. >> Yeah. And I think I think first year superintendent if you wanted to classify interim have three. I could be wrong and then it goes to two. But um >> we were at about six to seven. So if you look at page three, I did include the 10 standards at the bottom of that for reference. >> Um we were at about I I didn't list them on the evaluation itself um and how they connected with each one, but we were at about six or seven collectively if we were to align these specifically with a superintendent expectation goal or guard rail. These just say in a much more general way, >> the same exact thing that we're putting in, but it does it doing the 10

074this year would give us a little bit more flexibility. >> Look, this is a unique year and I think what everybody, you know, especially for the new board members coming in, what you want to make sure happens is not what happened. I think when Maria and I came on which it was just a lack of clarity um of like what was being evaluated and so at least that was the perspective that we were offered and so I think it's just a matter of kind of going with your gut and picking something and not overthinking it because I think so many things are going to potentially happen this year. It's just it's hard to anticipate. um you know so um you know 30 or 40% of the time might be uh managing um relationships with federal

075and state entities and you know so so I I'll gather the feedback and propose something that's a much more simple form. I I do think to your point earlier where we talked about the goals um that were set out, they are a team effort certainly, but the recommendations to advance those goals, support those goals um are not necessarily Matt's goals or Matt's recommendations. Um so it may not be as fair to evaluate him on the successes or the failures of any particular goal and how it moves throughout a monitoring process. um given that he was not the one who influenced the action behind it. However, it is still really important it sounds like hearing you all that we continue to monitor those um and also that we continue to have superintendent expectations. It sounds like

076Matt's comfortable with the three, but perhaps there are other ones we want to add. >> I think the strategic plan um is the one that I would like to double check with him. >> Okay. Um I I assume we've I know that he has expressed interest to more than one person about one and three but strategic plan I think would be good just to recap the expectation of how that's being measured and monitored and presented. >> I would just like to note that when we hired Dr. Roberts and and gave him grace around the goals and guardrails not being his own. He was not a member of the district. He was not um you know he didn't he had zero say in that process. Matt has Matt did have influence over those goals and guard

077rails and was a part of the process and in the room with us. So to say that he was not a part of it um I don't necessarily agree with um I I'll just say that and if we are already aligning you said six >> about six >> six of the 10 >> are are you when you say you want you're wanting to simplify. Can you can you say more about what you I don't understand what it is that you're wanting to simplify or what that means um when you're going to take the feedback and simplify. Can you say more about that? >> Sure. So when I say simplify, I I guess what I'm probably meaning is um to to consolidate everyone's thoughts on something that we can agree upon. I think in a previous

078conversation what we did agree upon is that we cannot expect Matt to do every single thing that the previous superintendent was doing in addition to the things that are new expectations of him. >> Therefore, we have to re-evaluate what our evaluation looks like and make sure that it is in alignment and make sure that we are evaluating fairly for him. >> So that may be that may look more simple, that may look more complex and and complicated. I'd prefer it's not the latter, but we do need to find a way to evaluate him fairly with things that are important to us, important to the community, um, and important to him. Just one thought and I don't know if this is throwing a wrench in it but I know um in one role I was evaluated

079based on things that we couldn't anticipate and it was around qualities demonstrated qualities. Now I don't know how if at all that fits Skylar but you know um like navigating the district through you know X Y and Z if I'm trying to think of qualities that would be demonstrated right that or skill you know whether it's successful outcome or it's um effective crisis communications or it's Um, so I I don't know how that works, but it is how do you anticipate the unanticipated? But do you have what you need, Jenna? Do you want to say anything? >> Sorry. Uh, no. I think that this is a good conversation. I just think the biggest thing, um, you know, for the for everyone to be mindful of is that Matt's stepping into a unique role. And I

080think we absolutely the work can't stop but they're definitely we need to be aware of the added pressures and the grace that that will be shown him and everyone wants to be successful um in their evaluation. Right. So just trying to balance those things. >> Okay. So how about a next step when would you feel comfortable? So, the next board meeting is November 11th and um that's correct, right? November 11th. And so, um Skyler, do you feel comfortable providing either the the final draft or a draft for discussion and then it could be approved on the 25th on consent? Yeah, I I'd say approval should probably come uh at the 25th. Is that new board members? >> We we meet in old we can do old business first. >> Okay. >> So, we can accomplish

081items. >> Okay. >> Prior to the new board taking effect. >> Yep. So, I I'd say I'll propose a um a draft by the next board meeting. I will reach out um to a few and to Matt to gather feedback to um come up with a uh a more current evaluation form. >> Okay. Thank you >> before the next meeting. >> Thank you for doing that. And just on that um measure, the evaluation committee historically is the chair and the vice chair and one additional member. And so on the list of things that have to happen um with the transition, two members of the evaluation committee are um are stepping off in two two meetings. So just to keep keep front of mind. >> Um okay. So thank you for that. Do people want to

082take a five minute break, grab food, and then we'll come back and we'll do SOP. >> Yes. >> Okay. Um, can you pass? Thank you for getting food. Can you Is it Are these the Um, yeah. Sorry, Scaler. I'm struggling to come up with are they evenings or afternoons or >> mornings or >> Okay. Um, Jenna, we have to schedule an expulsion hearing and do you before the 31st, which is Friday. >> So, um, do you have any evenings available? Patrick, why don't you give Rosie >> what time? Yeah. Will you just let me know what time we're thinking? What's an evening mean? Five. >> Yeah. >> Like 5:30. What's an evening? >> Um Rosie shaking her head like 5:30. >> Mhm. >> Patrick, do you have any particular >> long hour? >> I think

083so. Probably a little less, but I'd rather it not be Monday. >> Wednesday after 4 Thursday I'm good. >> Um, okay. Can everybody >> if everybody could just let Rosie know your availability at 5:30 nights next week for an expulsion hearing that has to happen before the 31st. >> What day again? >> Uh just give any nights at 5:30 that you could do. So then Rosie can find at least four. >> Okay. So, uh, everybody should have in front of them this De Mo public school board of directors board governance standard operating procedures. And what I what I would like to do is kind of frame where we are and where we're going. So we started almost a year ago uh agreeing that we wanted to move to a different governance model, one that gave

084a little bit more um board oversight and engagement and we've gone through different sections and where I think we are right now is board policy. as passed by the uh board will either be mandatory board policy because the state tells us we have to do it or recommended board policy which are things that we recommend that we'd like to see codified and approved by the board. So as you think about kind of policy governance in general, the the framework to think about it is policy dictates how the board and superintendent operate. So just keep that in mind like even the conversation we just had prior which is if we want to be specific about something let's codify it using policy. So the the process the way I believe it's happening and um Kim you can

085jump in but the mandatory board policies have been previewed for the board correct and those will be voted on either by the 25th >> first reading first reading is the 11th and hopes of approval on the 28th. Yeah. And we don't have to do a first reading. So >> I think that was the plan when we left our last >> Yeah. But just so people know, we don't have to do one. But yes, and everybody has those. And so there's a kind of speak now or forever hold your piece so we can stay on track. So at the same time, the management limitations and these again were the specific items that we had identified that we wanted to make sure that there was policy around. Some of those policies are already in place as mandatory

086policies. Others are what we would call um what did I call them? I used the right word. Um I want to uh additional. Yeah, additional recommended. So additional policies are the ones that we had as management limitations. We're just putting them in. So they're written board policy. So the things around financial controls, the thing around union negotiations, all of those are going to be policy. So as as I started to think about there's all of this policy and as as we talked amongst ourselves but then also with Miriam, this manual really is more like an SOP like how we work together as a board. And so the thing that I'll say is this is going to be pretty darn close when we choose to approve it, assuming everybody's on the same page. As certain sections

087of board policy gets changed by legal counsel, certain sections of this may have to be amended. So because the goal is that ideally the standard operating procedures and board policy are using more of the same words and um but but we are headed in the right direction definitely and so a big accomplishment is that we can evolve the governance as well as the standard operating procedures as well as board policy by the 25th. And then it starts putting um the staff, the superintendent and staff on a regular cycle of every year evaluation of policy to make sure we're compliant. And I'm not sure if that is, you know, I don't know if they're going to say July or calendar year. I don't know how they're going to determine what their annual review process is for

088for board policies. But that gets us to um to compliance. So I just want to highlight a couple of things um in in the standard operating procedure most importantly. And Kim, thank you for volunteering and I think Jenna did too. Okay, this just needs a whole new set of eyes because I don't I just I get worried that I've looked at it so many different times and then I I did myself a solid or not when I decided that I couldn't figure out all the numbering and so I used chat GPT. They didn't change the words but they changed the numbering. The numbering makes no sense to me. So I think when you look at this, look at it also from organization because uh consistency matters and I I kind of I wrote this more

089as a narrative less as um more documented. So anyway, so in terms of like purpose of the manual, I think uh it's pretty clear. Um but I do think this is really important to make sure we're all using the same language. So bear with me. Um so the first paragraph it just talks about you know highly effective boards operate as cohesive teams. This manual establishes the standard operating procedures and policies that enable the board to govern effectively and consistently. Board policies are board approved statements that define parameters and frameworks for the superintendent and staff to perform their duties. So those are the things that you see in the series 100, 200, 300. Those are all board policies. Mandatory policies are required by Iowa code and so we don't have a choice. Those are automatically. But

090then additional recommended policies are the ones that are authorized which empowers the board to make more rules. So for instance, the policy around um the collective bargaining would be a good example. Um and then this SOP outlines our operational norms and our working relationship. So ideally this is the SOP and our policy there's very few policies in this manual right because the policies are actually codified. So another thing Kim when your group is looking at this if there's still board policy here we need to extract it and make sure it's becoming board. Does that make sense? Mhm. >> Yeah. Okay. So, I think the So, is everybody just generally clear on how to explain this? Because I think it's also when we talk about having new board members, >> how to explain how we work

091was really the goal. >> Um, so the the first page or sorry, 4.0 superintendent's role. I think that um I I would actually really like people to read the second paragraph because we have um up page five, second paragraph under 4.0, superintendent's role. We've discussed this a couple of different ways and and this paragraph really matters because it talks about the authority given to the superintendent. So, if everybody could just take a minute or two and read it, that would be great. So when it says written governing policies, the written governing policies that we point to our board policy number one, our goals number two, our guardrails number three, our superintendent operational excellence expectations, number four and then our SOP manual. So, in essence, anything that's not specifically called out is um left to the

092superintendent's reasonable interpretation. Does everybody >> I wish Miriam were here to ask, but I don't know why it bothers me, but any reasonable bothers me a little bit. It feels like you've taken reasonable and gone really any reasonable. >> So, actually, hold on a second. This is a good because this was one of the notes I was going to ask him about and it's in the monitoring section. So, there is this reasonable person test. >> Yeah. >> But I think it was interpreted to to be like a superintendent. Was it reasonable for a superintendent? Does that make sense when you say any reasonable interpretation? Well, no. >> I don't know why the word any bothers me, but I just think reasonable interpretation is plenty. I think a reasonable person can interpret. >> Okay. >> Good

093policy. >> Let's um there's a list of questions for Miriam and so um let's just >> if any is important legally, yeah, great. >> I would agree. I think any isn't necessary? I'm not sure it adds any additional value to that specific paragraph or that sentence. >> More broadly, how do people feel about that paragraph? >> I I feel like it seeds way too much to the superintendent and I think the superintendent should have all reasonable operational control of the district. I just feel like this basically lays out every pretty much anything a superintendent can do. >> Well, that's typically how this I mean here's the thing. We've we're shifting in the right direction. If you want to shift more, this is the time to talk. >> That's the whole point of the goals, the

094guard rails, the superintendent operational expectations and board policy. So, if you want to be more prescriptive, the way to do it is in board policy, right? So I I I hear what you're saying and I don't necessarily disagree, but you actually have to articulate what you mean. What you're saying is not enough. You have to be more prescriptive. So we don't have to answer that tonight, but that that is going to be the answer is the way you become more prescriptive is through policy. >> Okay. I I would say that the superintendent is um as long as the superintendent uses reasonable interpretation of the written governing policies, they are authorized to um they're authorized to operate the the district. But that's what an administrative policy >> any establishment of new policies any activities that have

095long I I guess my my problem is that pursue all activities uh when they have long-term implications. Is there a way to put language in there? And I'm asking for help. Uh, is there a way to put language in there that says I I don't think he should have the opportunity to pursue all activities because some of those may have long-term implications on the district and could >> should that be more push back reasonable to bring it to the just it right. So, and look, I this is um I'm, you know, I mean, I'm always the one who's wants the board to have more power, but I think, you know, to Kim's point, the policy we put in place, which is all contracts >> um that are $50,000 or more have to be approved and

096any multi-year contracts have to be approved by the board. Like, that's an example where I think, Kim, what you'd point to as a check on the power. I think if there are more specific things just like personnel, we've now said we want to see all personnel, the full list of personnel. So if I I just encourage you to think about um where some other areas are. >> So establish all practices. So if the superintendent brought SRO's back, he could do it without without uh board approval. Establish all practices. That that was a policy or that was prior at least. We give that to the superintendent. >> The the board voted on it, didn't they? Oh >> no. The board get deterred to the super to the superintendent >> because it was an operational decision. >>

097We had work sessions around it, but ultimately it was an operational decision. >> Yeah. I mean, I think the I think about the cell phone policy, right? Like clearly I was fairly annoying on that. And at the same time the partnership, it was more of a partnership where the superintendent and staff met to determine what the policy could look like in terms of execution, but the board was a >> well we and then we had to approve it because it became state law. So which is why we voted on it. Let me suggest maybe a a way to fix this. Uh shall have the full force and authority if decided uh as if decided by the board. What if a sentence was put in there any decision or anything covered in the paragraph above that

098the board would like to uh the board could come with with a majority vote to discuss one of those policies if they feel like it has long-term implications and they would like to discuss it. If it's not covered under >> I think >> we approve the policy. >> I feel like this is out like I feel like this is giving broad authority outside of policy. >> So could we say in accordance with existing board policy? >> Are you I I'm I'm being confusing if everybody else is comfortable with it. It is not unimportant. And part of why we've done this whole process for well over a year is to get to a place where we have a governance model where the power feels more balanced. And so I'm going to let Skyler. >> Yeah. I

099think hearing I think it's really just around some of the language choice where using absolute words like all and any and things like that imply that there is a lot of power with the superintendent and less for the board. And it seems like there's possibly an appetite to not have as much on the superintendent without checks. So, what I would suggest is maybe removing the words all from the entire paragraph because it doesn't add anything. By adding the word all in make decisions or make all decisions, it essentially implies that the superintendent has more authority than they really do and doesn't allow for the board to have any input in most of this because they have all the decision, all practices, all activities. So, I I I would be comfortable with removing all because I

100I don't think it adds value to that paragraph and I think the implication behind it shows um that it's too broad. So, I'm going to I'm going to play devil's advocate, right? Because I think it's always important just to see this through when we're not all here, right? So, um let's just say I'm the new superintendent and I kind of say, "Okay, help me understand like what's my lane?" And so, the board says, "Here are goals, guard rails, board policy, got some expectations for you. The rest is yours." Right? I mean we we create lanes and and those operational lanes are then the ones with the superintendent acts upon and has the freedom and doesn't feel like I have to check everything all the time with the board. It's mine. It's my job. And so

101I think the question is and we can't be the first board who's navigated through that. What if any parameters do do you do you give to Matt or you state in some way that that has him check first? And the more you do that, the more you become a hands-on operational board prone to micromanaging. That's why I was suggesting maybe a vote would it it rises to the level of you got to get board consensus that that was too far >> and then we can go back and discuss it. >> But let's just take let's take the cell phone policy as an example, right? If Dr. Roberts just did that. >> Yeah. >> Well, that's not a good let's take something dress code. Let's take dress code. Okay. Dr. Roberts puts in place >> a

102dress code. >> Sorry, Matt Smith puts in place a dress code. doesn't ask anybody. What would you want to do at that point if you disagreed? >> If there was a majority consensus on the board, I would ask the superintendent to review that and discuss it in public. >> But he's already made the decision. I think you see my point. It's it's after the fact, not before the fact because then you're disempowering a superintendent who's just made a decision. >> So, I I think this is a really important conversation. And I just wonder if people want to sit with it a little bit. Um, Maria or Kim, do you have thoughts? Yeah, I believe that this statement in conjunction with the existing policies give us oversight of the decisions being that are being made via

103the monitoring process. The budgeting process shows us how we're allocating funds and resources. the um the approval of contracts at every meeting, the approval of of hires at every meeting, the approval of you know, I I think that all of that is already happening. I think what you're asking for is already happening. Um, the only other thing I was going to say is, and I don't um know how I got to this place and either with Maria or Skyler, but I always felt like there was this unspoken, you know, when you know, and that's not a fair standard. So, but if if in this case, Pat, Dr. Roberts had an issue of significance, they would elevate it to talk about board engagement. Now, that's not good enough, I don't think, because it relies on, right?

104It relies on something that is unspoken, but I'm Why don't I do a little bit of research? I think I brought some policy governance stuff. Patrick, I'll send you some resources around policy governance because I just worry that if I'm the superintendent, if I'm not if I'm always in this state of can I do this or not, right, >> that's just not a fair place for somebody. >> And I and I agree and I I don't want to take the operational control away from the superintendent. I think Skyler articulated it pretty well. Maybe that would be a uh >> Well, if the power is imbalanced, then the way that you get more power back is through policy. >> No. So, >> that's what I'm saying. Change the words. Like, change the the You're saying don't

105change this. You're saying change the policy. I >> I'm saying >> this is our SOP. As long as the superintendent uses reasonable interpretation of the written governing policies, the superintendent is author authorized to establish any administrative policies or procedures, make all decisions, take all actions, blah blah blah. Such I mean, if it and if it's not a written governing policy, then it's theirs to do whatever they want with. And so I'm not sure it's solving your issue cuz >> Yeah, I see what you're saying. >> I think I mean I'm I I defer to other people who might >> I see what you're saying. >> The policy is the the policy is the meat. This is just >> how you go about your >> day means and ends. Yeah. >> It's just how you get

106through your dayto-day. Now, I mean, I this isn't going to happen during, you know, my term, but guard rails are also they have also been they could be policy >> just as well as their guard rails, right? And so maybe it's worth looking at the guard rails again >> and and seeing if um there's any clarity that that needs to be had with the guard rails >> um that you don't >> because the guardrail technically is telling the superintendent what they're >> what they can't do. >> So >> yeah, I yeah, your point is well taken. I think you're right. I'm looking at this from the perspective trying to look at it at the perspective of a new board member who would come in and go all right I'm out you know I don't see

107that standalone document >> I know I know but this is this is your this is how you proceed this is how you are supposed to act >> well no the way you proceed is in 2.0 O you read the about the governing policy so they have some basis of understanding. Look I'm not I'm I'm playing devil's advocate. Sure. >> So I think it the the more power you want to grab back it just has to be written in policy. that's, you know, or have a different conversation with the superintendent around what that standard is for deciding whether or not to >> and Kim, I think of this as the same way Jackie articulated it, which is when we're all gone 10 years from now, does this still stand? I mean, it's it's, you know, and

108there's different people in place and different personalities in place. How does it stand up then? because this board can have good intent and our superintendent can have good intent and good relationship and really understand the give and take of the board and the superintendent. But um if you got a superintendent that decided to take a wild interpretation of either this or our policies just guarding against that I think is the >> Yeah. And I appreciate you saying that just for some context. This is my fifth year on the board and the third time we've rewritten this policy manual. So, >> um I appreciate changing the governance model. I mean, I will be clear this this is a different form of government. >> One of those was a change as well in the way we were

109governing. So, um, yeah, I I appreciate you wanting to write something that is going to stand withstand the test of time and withstand every election moving forward, but um, I think there has to be a certain amount of we need to write it for where we're at right now and um, have faith in those future elected officials to continue to, >> you know, make changes and updates based on the current state that they're in as a governing board. >> Okay. So, I just wrote a group action item is people are going to wrestle with that paragraph a little bit and do some self-ressearch. >> Yep. >> Um I want to call your attention. I'm going to go through the things that I wanted input on and then we can come back and other people can

110go. Um the next one was 6.3 and it was page seven. And I read this and I was surprised cuz I didn't remember. So it's board information requests and board members channel information requests through the superintendent who may decline items that are timeintensive or outside of the posted agenda. Decline requests can be elevated for full board consideration if a majority agrees. Staff prepares the information and it's shared with all members. Um I I I seem to remember there's been a variation of this. I I think per Miriam superintendents can never um um deprive you of information. >> So >> take that >> it but I do think that there are limitations that need to be set right. >> Um >> 6.1 or 63 >> 6.3 page seven. Um, and so I think I just need

111to know how we've been historically people have requested information of the superintendent and had a conversation and agreed on some parameters and then gotten it. I think um I want to jump in. They've gotten it because you've been really diligent about making sure we receive it as well. So board leadership has been a part of that also. >> Yeah. So, I I guess I just need some guidance. Um, >> I think that there's value in a majority of the board wanting that information rather than just one single board member. Um if we have seven board members each requesting information based on you know whatever um their concern is in that moment and there are seven different um requests happening at a time. the strain and and the resources that are going going to go into

112board requests like that can be quite large. And if that's if we as a board are okay with that, that's one thing, but I think that we need to recognize and honor what it what some of these requests actually take of the superintendent. >> There was a two things. one um I think that I will check with Miriam. I'm pretty sure she would say you can't deprive anybody of information. Now to your point, I think you can put maybe some specs around it. And so one of them was if it takes more than 15 minutes, >> that's how it was previously written, >> right? you can, you know, like understanding how long it's going to take >> and giving the superintendent the opportunity to tell you how long it's going to take or giving the

113superintendent the opportunity to say here are some parameters um because you may not have scoped your request for information specific enough and it's far broader than it needs to be. So I think um I how about action items for this one? I check with Miriam to even see if the four person test is allowed, Kim, because I'm not sure it is because if four board members don't agree to request the information, >> you could cut three board members out. >> I mean, yeah, >> you really could freeze you really could freeze three board members out. >> And I don't, you know, I don't want anyone to be deprived of information. I don't think that's initially what the intent is, >> right? just for the board to recognize that we want the superintendent to be focused

114on what we've already set out is the, you know, the priorities. The So, um, I mean, the way I've handled it to date has been, um, when I'm CCd or Skyler and I are CCed, I to Jenna's point, I just keep a running list >> of the requests for information, but they have not been extensive, right? These have been small inquiries and so how would people feel about maybe putting back in that 15 minutes and just something about um something about specifications, scope, time it takes to gather the information, something to allow for that push back mechanism. So a superintendent has the ability to not say no but put some guard rails around it or something like that. What do people think? >> Yeah. Yeah. >> Yeah. I think um initially when this was written

115there was a lot of when we were monitoring a goal or a guardrail for example we would be monitoring and asking questions and there wouldn't we would be requesting the board would be requesting at the table like all sorts of new data that um maybe did or didn't apply to the actual goal or guardrail being monitored. And that was a concern as well is there was like multiple versions of a monitoring report being written based on those in the moment um information requests at the board table. So any other feedback people want to give on this particular section? >> Rosie, could you jump in and and uh talk about the Friday cutoff? And so the board agenda has to be posted by Friday. >> No, it's supposed to be posted by Tuesday. Tuesday >> in

116advance. >> So >> 24 hours in advance. >> That's our deadline to so Monday by 5. >> So that would be like yesterday by 5. >> Okay. >> But I post the agenda one full week in advance. >> And then if any urgent items come through that week, >> okay, >> I let the board know. Mhm. >> The Friday is for like directors to go into the website, submit their agenda, give it time for it to go through the workflows and approvals and everything else before the board sees it. >> I I I'm sorry I'm reading this wrong then because I read this as questions have a premeating cut off of Friday. >> They do. >> Oh yes. >> So any So if I don't get the agenda till Monday, the final agenda Monday, you

117get it on Tuesday. This is all incumbent on a perfect process. And what I would say is >> under Dr. Roberts, we never had a perfect process where everything was approved on Tuesdays. >> Right. So in a perfect process when we get material on Tuesday, what we committed to in fairness was that we would submit all of our questions by Friday. So we we know that we have to read the information, right? >> That gives them time to respond, >> right? So I think uh look it is there's not many questions coming from the board um quite honestly and so it hasn't been an issue. I think I think this if if this is this is reasonable if Tuesday is when the agenda goes out >> right >> and if it's not just use your

118best judgment. I mean, >> well, and that's that's what I was going to say. Like any item that's added to the agenda has a 24-hour grace period where a question can be asked and then a re like and you don't want to make it too wordy, but like use your judgment, but how do you word that just very simply of giving a 24-hour grace period to any agenda item that's added? >> Okay. Well, I think I think agenda I think later during agenda planning there's language about um items and the timeliness of when they get added and we as a board >> um don't have to um >> allow that onto the agenda. Um >> if we don't feel like we've had the information in enough time, >> we can pull and we have pulled

119we have pulled agenda items before. >> So okay. >> All right. So, >> can I provide feedback on this and I will put more in there, but I do feel like reflecting on my time on the board and even just looking at the way 6.3 is written, it's just written from such a don't ask any questions mentality in my in I mean, it really is and it feels like questions are so discouraged and I feel like that's not the direction this board needs to be moving right now. This board needs to be moving in a direction of greater partnership and transparency and a willingness to feel confident in the direction of our district for our community. And so even if it's just rewriting language to be a little more positive, which is like board members

120are always welcome to submit requests to the superintendent, you know, or whatever it is, I just think uh the way this is written and honestly the attitude uh for many years is like don't ask any questions. It's you're just wasting everyone's time in the district and that's not what our role should be. >> So Kim, I'm actually going to delegate 6.3 to you and you can factor in you and your committee if you want to put a time and guard rails and write it in the um affirmative if that's okay. Yes. Um and I I agree. I I like the idea of changing the tone. It just makes me think of if we're going to use words like always for the board then we have to be able to use the words like always for

121the superintendent >> questions of the superintendent here the board can right I mean it just is like the tone is very like >> board channel who may decline you know so you could say ask questions I mean I don't know just it just feels just thinking about the tone yes >> yep I agree thank you for bringing that up okay so Now I'm going to move us to 9.0 and here's what I want to say actually an 8.0 which is page 11. So this DMPS director responsibilities I pulled from an old um uh job description uh that was in a former manual. So I want to say that out loud that 8.0 I know is based on um information that I've seen in the past around how our board responsibilities were laid out. So no

122pride in ownership on that. But most importantly, I want to talk about what I did for 9.0. Um 9.0 was the code of conduct and it was so confusing. I tried my best to change the way it reads and so the way I chose to do it was the first section is standards of conduct and I mean it's it's it's the things like collaboration and preparation and how we make decisions. So the first section is um kind of how we agree to behave uh as colleagues. The the next session is specifically on conflict of interest and how to define conflict of interest because there was there was like three pages worth of information on conflict of interest in the last board manual. I don't think it needs to be that specific. Um and as long

123as we cover the um the most important things. So, take a look at the board member conflict of interest policy. And then um 9 9.18 again my numbering is so messed up on page 14 is the code of conduct with superintendent and employees. So this is how we work how we talk to the superintendent, how we communicate with the superintendent and employees. And then that 9.19 was how we work with the community and address um issues. >> Just a question. Yeah. Did did Miriam see the the recusal piece and it and only because having had a discussion with her in the last few months about it, she basically said you don't have to recuse yourself from anything, >> you should and based off of our our best practices, our guidelines, our agreement with one another,

124>> this is really well done, but but there's a couple where it's like you must recuse yourself. And the way she put it to me was you don't have to do anything. you can say it and then say I'm gonna vote anyway. >> So, let me have Miriam >> just like just a quick look at it. >> Yeah. I mean, I would say that to the degree that we want to have a high level of transparency and no, I know you agree. Totally agree. >> But even things on >> when somebody chooses to um recuse themsel, they say why, >> right? >> Which is supposed to be a practice that I don't think we always follow, right? And so I think that um I can have Miriam look at it for the for the um

125must words, but in in general I do you think we need to let me have Miriam take a look at that. >> Should like should rather than shall something like that you know just a may. Yeah. >> Okay. So I'm I'm keeping the Miriam list Kim. So again I think this can be formatted far differently. I think the concepts are the same. >> Do people have any at this point questions? Oh, I do. Sorry, I forgot about this. Um, if you go to page 16 and the top of the page that 9.19.2.6, I don't know what I was doing. I was getting um email to the board. So, um I spoke with uh Matt about this and we all agree the way it's working is clunky. >> Oh. >> And so I think that a

126question for this group is whether or not um driving people to the infos, remember the what is it called again? >> Ticketing system. the ticketing system and providing a chain of command like who to contact for this and who to contact for this, right? So when when when community members and parents are expressing um whether or not you want to move to a different form of navigating emails, I am not going to be the person responsible for this. And so I think it warrants a conversation for the board on how those are handled and how you'd like to handle them moving forward. I would say I think we can ask Matis. I think he would prefer that we consider using the ticketing system if if it fits, right? And and each each instance is a

127little bit different. But for there to be some consistency of how issues are being handled, that could be one way to bring more consistency since other people are encouraged to use the ticket system. I would suggest if people have ideas or want to talk to Matt about this, like what's the best way? You know, Kim, I don't know if you want to have that conversation to figure out a system moving forward, but it it's it's the way I've done it with um Dr. Roberts, I think may be different than the way Matt wants to handle it. I'm happy to um to move that conversation forward in the future. I'm just wondering if we want to um what's swirling in my mind is anytime if someone emails the board email, what if that autogenerates a response

128that that gives the individual the ticket? It automatically creates the ticket. >> Oh, I wasn't saying that. >> Oh, no. Just a a better way of directing them to help themselves. And and again, how does that even feels a little bit icky? But in I think what I was referencing more was if somebody emails the board, the first response is not the way I was handling it, which is to connect them more often than not with the superintendent >> for a next step. That's typically how we've been handling it because we can't go through staff. And instead, does it make more sense for like the first line of defense to either be like here's the I say chain of command. Here's the org chart, right? Here's the kind of complaint process or here if you

129have a question, here's how to navigate. Here's who you should talk to or to send them to the the what is it called again? >> Ticketing system for them to address things that way. So again, that feels a little cold, too. But >> yeah, >> Maria, >> I think what worries me about that, I mean, I actually appreciated the process that we had in place because I feel like people, families perhaps felt like they were getting a response quicker. And often times it seemed like to me that they had already attempted to connect with, you know, whoever they needed to talk to at their uh respective school and were just not getting responses. And so finally they reach out to the board as a last resort. And so I think that it almost feels like

130it would be kind of regressive. >> Um if if there was something in place that guarantee that there is um qu a quick followup um some accountability like who's responding literally? How do we know that people are actually responding and that you know you get a ticket and it's just like sitting there and do we have a limit right a time frame >> or maybe to your point I if it's reached a certain threshold >> it just cuts so it's cuts both ways it's like you want to be accountable to the public you want to assume what they're telling you is true in many cases in some cases procedure hasn't been followed to r to raise it up the chain of command hand and and that doesn't give the staff their due to to let

131them handle it. Um I actually like the way that it's been done. what I have gathered from emails um not all emails I should say from from the emails that I've read I see a lot of lack of accountability lack of uh responsiveness yeah >> from uh perhaps teachers um maybe uh administrator principal and that just gets I mean that's what brings people sometimes here right if they know that they can come here um Okay. >> So I don't know I accountability I think in whatever system we establish I think would be really good. Again, is there a way to say in here in our sort of this being our standard operating procedures, board should always respond with um the chain of command in mind and with, you know, uh being inquisitive about how uh

132one of our constituents has already engaged the system in order to help them >> navigate it. If an issue rises to the level of, you know, if if an issue hasn't been responded to, then it >> Whoops. >> Oh, thanks, Samantha. >> The lights go off. >> Um, okay. So, I'll I'll work on that a little bit and I'll also put it on the list of things for Matt maybe to cover >> and see if I can better understand his interest. But what I'm hearing to represent the group is you kind of like the process. >> Yeah. And I would add to that, Jackie, I I actually appreciate the process. What I think is an opportunity for us is um right now as board chair, you respond to a lot of those and I I

133think that that's in balance. I do think there's opportunity for us to leverage our board seats, whether those being district seats or the atlarge members. I do think there are general questions that at large members could probably respond to and there are questions specifically about feeder patterns in specific schools that we could actually answer that represent certain areas. >> Um I don't disagree how to navigate that. It sounds like a headache. So you guys can figure that out. >> You go like you go tighter and say like I wouldn't even involve the atlarge. I'd say the board chair represents the board. >> That's how we've been handling. district representative could answer a specific a district specific question if it is going to if if it means that it's more timely a quicker response you know

134in conjunction with the board chair I don't know we'll let the next chair figure that one out um okay so that was all I had um now what what things are on your mind >> is there a media I did I miss the the media chain of command. Is that the >> um I think >> is that a community response? >> It's in here. >> I think um let's see. I Oh, we're with the community. Let's see. Let's see if it's in 9.19. >> 9.193.3. Jackie, social media activity should reflect the board's collective position. Uh, that's >> But no, that was different. Where is it? >> 16.3 >> 16.3. >> I was really coming up with great numbers. >> Were you saying social media or >> Well, both. Both social. So, the social media one

135I bumped on just because it basically said, >> and again, it's in the way you read it, right? That's not the intent, but the way I read it is you can't say what you want on your social media because you're on the board. You have to on your own social media, you have to take the line of the board. Um, >> well, I mean, can I just say that I mean, technically that's unity of control. That's actually how a board is supposed to operate one voice >> is you speak with one voice. >> It is. And this is the I just I don't know. I have to say the the tough part is I think that's how the board should operate. I think there all should also should be times when and they're extraordinary, but

136each of these board members is an elected board member and has the right to speak to the community. >> You absolutely can up until the point of the vote, right? So, you can share your >> and you can never represent that you are the board. You never can represent that you are the board. But I just feel like the way that it's it's written now, it's like >> don't ever talk to the media. the board chair is the only person that ever talks to the >> media is the case. Yeah. >> You're talking about two different things. So I I think don't talk to the media is the way we operate >> and >> it is a good way to operate. It is and I agree with it. I think there are extraordinary times when

137elected officials have to have the ability to respond to uh there may be times when we disagree and after a vote they have to be able to say uh this is why I've disagreed respectfully all of the board all of the conduct should be adhered to. I'm just going to recommend that we if you want to provide some guidance to Kim on language, I think I would just encourage you to think about this. >> Um, the more you give people megaphones and opportunities to speak, the more you'll speak. And the more you have media going to seven board members and part of an effective board is having some discipline >> and letting the staff also decide, you know, what makes sense for the board. So I I appreciate what you're saying. I just um ideally

138if there was a contentious vote and it was 52 the twos whether you like it or not they express their opinion from the board table and how they choose to vote. >> Yeah. >> So this is the place you express your opinion and any media member is welcome to record it if they want to. I would that's absolutely what I was going to offer is that during that discussion prior to the vote being taken is when a board member should say this is why I am or I'm not supporting it. If you feel that it's something that you need to explain to the community as to how you will be voting and why then that is the absolute right place to do that. >> Okay. >> All right. >> Because this is the public record.

139>> Okay. >> Yeah. I mean don't don't get me wrong. I mean, I think this year was uh and well, let me say it differently as I reflect back on the two years. The things that we did slightly different. One was with Maria when we chose to do something with Perry when we started adding Spanish >> at the table, which I'm really proud that we did that. >> Um >> that's a huge celebration. That's a huge accomplishment for our board. >> It is. But but the the point being and then getting stuck with the all the crisis communications like the that should be reflected on and figured out how to deal with that. Let's hope we never deal with that again. Um but but I think the idea that board leadership and or a designated

140person is responsible for um media. I think >> I agree that's best practice. >> I think it serves the organization well. >> I agree that's best practice. I don't want you to hear me saying it. And thank you for saying that public meetings are really the place that you should make any comment. Um that's fine. Okay. Um so just on terms of that, Patrick, you're going to look through the media references and social media references and give feedback to Kim. um what is on here that was big and glaring that people wanted to ask about and if you haven't had time to read it that's fine. I think our timeline is that um by November 11th we have and I'm looking at Kim kind of a final draft on this SOP. >> Yeah. And so

141I would the the committee is was just established today with me, Jenna, Maria. So >> I think we need to sync up our calendars and figure out when we'll meet prior to that 11th meeting to coalesce um all the recommendations and then provide kind of a deadline between now and the 11th. But I would say I don't I don't know what everybody's schedule is. So, um, >> did I? >> Yeah. >> Um, okay. So, you figure that out. I mean, I think here's the thing. We still have the 25th as our backs stop, right? Like that's when we're going to ideally approve it. >> And so, the 11th could be like the closest to final last comments >> and then approve it on the 25th. >> Yeah. I'm wondering if board members had a a

142week to provide feedback to the committee. So, end of day the 29th and then the committee could have time to work that up and get it um on the agenda. >> That works for me >> for review on the 11th. >> Yes, we've had this long enough to look at. >> Okay. And then just so you know, the the non-mandatory items that were management limitations, I'm working with Josie on, okay, >> and Cooney. So we'll also have those on the 11th. >> Okay. So the board deadline for feedback to um me, Maria, and Jenna, one or all of us um will be the 29th at end of day. Okay. And then just were there any other issues with this quote unquote manual? And then the other thing that needs to be looked at, Kim, is

143the um page the addendums once we get and roie can probably help if you want Rosie to join that meeting. Kim, she could probably also help. >> Okay. >> Do some of that work too if you need. So, are you also going to get me like some of the things that you identified you're going to speak with um Miriam on and some of the things that you um >> we're working up? Yeah. Ideally, you kind of take this over. >> Okay. >> And and I can ask Miriam the legal questions >> or a different way of doing this, but ideally I'm out. >> Sounds good. >> Yeah. Thank you, Jackie, for taking this on. That's >> Yeah, that'll be that'll be a big accomplishment >> by the 25th. That'll be good. Okay. Um, quickly, we're

144going to move to onboarding and all I want to do at this point is call to your attention a couple of things. So, and if new board members, potential new board members are still listening. Um, I am sharing this Iowa Association of School Boards were members, there's a conference coming up. It comes really quickly right after the election. I really encourage uh a board member, a new board member to go even if it's for like the ready set go, you know, half day just immersion. And so I'm handing this to um Rosie. So if anybody wants this and then um UEEN, the Urban Education Network, this is the membership information. We're members. UEEN is a little bit confusing in that the superintendent and board board member um alternate and so this year is Matt's year

145voting um and so there's really not a role for the board. I don't know if you can just go like if there can be a board representative and the board representative can go to the meetings to listen. Um I don't know why you'd want to do that as somebody who just did it for a year. I mean it's it's it's like a board you're overseeing ueen than nonprofit. So it's more responsibilities as a board member overseeing UEEN. That doesn't mean there aren't great um resources. There's a dinner and I think I forwarded the invite on my last update. So there's a dinner, there's a way to find other colleagues that are in urban districts here in Iowa. So I'll give that information. Um so then and that really connects to I think the onboarding. So,

146everybody should have this handout. >> And um I give a lot of um credit to Rosie uh and others, but we didn't have a formal onboarding process. I'll say nobody ever likes the onboarding process. Like I did I thought I like vastly improved the onboarding process and still I've heard complaints. So, um, so >> you can look at me. I >> I'll look at I'll look at everybody. I like I I actually don't know what to do at some point. And so this is my, um, peace out memo to you. So, um, I just kind of laid out the way to think about the topics that need to be covered. I encouraged Word Buddy. Um, I went through and kind of said, "Here's orientation stuff, and then here's all the topics that need to be

147covered." Mhm. >> Um and this is done like we pulled in staff to do um staff uh presentations also. And um I guess my question is who wants to take the lead on making sure that this goes somewhere with the new board members? I think the new board leadership. Okay. So it is now officially yours. Um, yeah. Awesome. This is a great outline. >> Yeah. I mean, here here's the thing. I think this is what I want you to think about. Everybody has different appetites. And I I was talking to Skyler about this, right? Like Skyler was a little bit more chill, right? Like I'll learn it as I need it a little bit, right? In the especially in the beginning. Um Patrick, you were a little bit like give me everything now, but said

148nicely. you didn't always remember all the stuff that we had given you, right? So, it's it's it's a really hard process. I think that um you know, there's also videos now like we've got, you know, Margaret Buckton who does the she's done a video for De Mo Public Schools on the budget. So, I I you know, I just you know, what what you put into it is what you get out of it. But I would say that um whether you decide that whether all of this stuff is mandatory or some of this stuff is mandatory versus some is optional. I do think it's important you you're going to walk into a pretty massive budget discussion. And I would um accelerate understanding of the budget because it's going to come fast >> and hard. >> Is

149it I I'll ask the whole board. Is it too much to ask after someone gets elected proactively elected to the school board that they clear a day from their calendar? Like in the orientation of like you put your paperwork in. Hey, just to let you know if you get elected, I need you to clear November, you know, December 10th from your calendar so that you can do a full day orientation. That's the day of orientation. I need you to be there. And is that too much to ask a new board member? >> That has been done in the past. Yeah. I don't think it's too much to ask. >> Okay. >> So, it's it's >> but it's also I would think about the the I was think about the learner, >> Right. And like >>

150how you do it. >> Yeah. That's a lot. That might be a lot for somebody to say >> this isn't a one day learning session. >> This I mean you can certainly do an orientation for a day. >> Pick the top five and do that. >> Some of this is scaffolded with >> Yeah. Or maybe think about it. So, okay, the budget's coming first. So let's be all in on understanding the budget or >> so so it's however you want to do it but um not thinking about it anymore. >> Yeah. And I think that um a lot of our retreat time looking back at the last year um there's been very little of that time that's been earmarked for professional development. And so um making sure that in the future not not because we've

151just had higher priorities um that that took precedence um but trying to make sure that we as a board prioritize professional development for ourselves. Um >> when you say PD asked if there was like an official plan for like board professional development and I couldn't find anything. who did >> when you say just so I'm clear PD different than maybe understanding >> yeah orientation >> and I I think >> yeah and I you might want to add that because I don't even think maybe I do say retreat but I don't have a category just for being a good board member >> on that >> Rosie one of my like was a card that comes with your computer from Neil and Neil can give a top five dos and don'ts with your computer. Don't get on

152a public network. Do you know you can do this, you can't do this. This is a public computer. You're subject to anything you do on it is subject to public record. That kind of thing. >> Okay. It is 9:14. I'm going to close the session. I think if people have suggestions about the onboarding, you now have the handout. So, you can write some notes and give them to um future board leadership. And um we're out.