001Heat. Heat. N. [music] >> [music] [music] >> Hey, [music] hey, hey. >> [music] [music] >> Hey. Hey. Hey. >> [music] [music] >> Heat. [music] Heat. [music] >> [music] [music] >> call to order the um August 4th board of directors meeting. Can we do a roll call, please? >> Miss Atkins, >> here. >> Mrs. McDaniel, >> here. >> Mrs. Peterson, >> here. >> Mrs. Sheffle, >> here. >> Mr. Sornson, >> here. >> Mr. Storm >> here. >> Mr. Wright >> here. Approval of the August 4th, 2025 agenda. Can I get a motion to approve, please? >> Motion to approve. >> Second. >> Vote, please. >> Miss Atkins. >> Yes. Mrs. McDaniel, >> yes. >> Mrs. Peterson, >> yes. >> Mrs. Sheffle, >> yes. >> Mr. Sorenson, >> yes. >> Mr. Sturm, >> yes. >> Mr. Wright,
002>> yes. Commendations, good news. >> Oh. Oh, my sorry. >> There you go. Accommodation. Good news. Uh good news is we are and I'll talk about this more in the facilities uh review, but we are um still tracking to have pretty much every all of our facility stuff done by the uh beginning of the school year. Playgrounds little be a little bit behind. Um but everything else is it's coming along pretty quickly. Um outside of that, we you know, baseball softball teams both uh finished the season um and did very well this season. Uh, boys made it all the way, we talked about this a little bit last time, made it all the way to the uh um district finals or the subregional finals, whatever they call it. The girls made it to the semi-finals.
003Um, Aubrey Davis was just named KMA softball player of the year. Um, and so she's she was a new student to us this year. Um, just had a phenomenal year. I think led the state in several um offensive stat statistical categories. Uh football practice just started today as well as uh volleyball practice and we also have marching band uh that's starting as well. So it's kind of fun to like we had like a quick reprieve that dead week this last week and then all of a sudden we're back we're back at it. So um and then depending on the article you read um sounds like our football team is going to be every bit as good as it has been in in previous years. Um, and so I think ESPN uh had us in the
004state of Iowa as like the um I think seventh uh best team in the entire state all classes. So that was I mean again what does ESPN know? But you know that's kind of exciting. So >> awesome. >> Um and I think uh North Pulk was also ranked in the top 10. So and that'll be our um second game of the year on uh August 29th. So that'll be that'll be exciting. So, um, and then we have marching bands. Uh, they're getting started again. Um, I know that we have the Opus Choir. Um, they're doing a camp this week for all for any, uh, middle school and elementary kids who are interested. So, that's a big select honor choir and they're doing that uh, this week. And then we also have cheer and dance camp
005is this week. Um, and they'll have a a performance for us on Friday night. So again, just very lots of activity and and it's fun to start seeing kids uh coming back. It's a little bit nerve-wracking because the facilities aren't quite like I have to remind myself we technically have 3 weeks left because some areas of the parking lot are still chewed up. Like the painting is not quite done. Like they're finishing up flooring and electrical and uh HVAC units and fire alarms and but it's all it's all coming to a head. So um all just a very exciting time. So we have registration is tonight, today and tonight for um students. Uh our online registration is primarily where we get people to register, but we do have open registration uh we did have it
006today and tonight um for hopefully all of our new students to come and and register. And then um we have new teachers coming here. Uh well this week the administrators going to the school administrators of Iowa state conference and then we kind of have a week to prepare and then the next week our new teachers arrive and then the following week all the rest of our staff arrives. So >> there's no week to prepare. >> There's no week is par conference. >> Is it next week? Oh sorry next week is par conference new teachers. I do want to give uh kudos to Dr. Hartman. She last year she put uh together a par conference and uh just she got some grant money and just did a great job with it. And then this year you
007have how many people do you have sign up for? >> We got 83 people. So Riverside's tapping into a age STW Missouri Valley >> uh Tri Center. >> Tri Center. >> Yep. >> Yeah. So we're really excited about that. >> So 83 and it's great because there's not a lot of professional learning for our PAR educators. Um and then on top of that uh Dr. Dr. Hartman started some or par educator training on Wednesday early outs um this last year. So hopefully, you know, providing more support for our pair educators helps them feel um like they um want to be here long term and also then uh produces some great results for our our students and what they're receiving. So kudos to Dr. Hartman for that. And that's that's about it. It's just a whirlwind
008of fun right now. Any other commendations? Good news. Okay, hearing none, we will move on to comments and suggestions. This is the first portion of our meeting where we open the floor to the public that's either with us or online to see if they have any comments, suggestions for the board. Do we have anybody? >> We have some viewers. >> Okay. No comments. >> No comments. Okay, >> then we will move on to the consent agenda. >> Is it? >> Yes, we have an updated personnel. >> Okay. sheet. Can you explain the LCTV sponsor? >> So, we have two LCTV sponsors. They're in charge of doing um putting on the broadcast for the games and then they're also in charge of um doing the like the uh graphics and that kind of stuff for the
009scoreboards um because both inside and outside have >> scoreboards that need to be managed. Um, so last year we used to have Josh Allen used to do all of it kind of as part of his role. And then when um several years before he left, when I first got here, he wanted to give it up because it's a lot of extra work and he wasn't getting paid anything for it. So at that time, we created a stipen to give him and said, you know, if you stay, we'll actually we'll pay you, right? So then he stayed and he's like, listen, I still need additional help. And so then we created a second sponsor. Um, and basically they're they were in charge of creating all the content and then on game nights, uh, Josh was in
010charge of kind of, uh, putting it putting, you know, putting the game out there. Um, and then last year we had two teachers do it and then neither one of the teachers wanted to do it this year. And so now we turned around and hired um, two different sponsors to to um, do those roles this year. So, it's a it's a it's a lot of work. Um, you have to have a very specific skill set and um we have a lot of people that rely on it to watch our watch our stuff and especially like our sponsors like you know if they're going to donate money for for something they expect it to be up on the scoreboard and and portrayed in a you know certain way. So, they wouldn't want me doing it because
011it would wouldn't be very good. So, >> any other questions? Are everybody good? >> Okay. Can I get a motion to approve? >> Motion to approve. >> Second. >> Vote, please. >> Mrs. McDaniel, >> yes. >> Mrs. Peterson, >> yes. >> Mrs. Sheffle, [clears throat] >> yes. >> Mr. Sorenson, >> yes. >> Mr. Sturm, >> yes. >> Miss Atkins, >> yes. Mr. Wright. >> Yes. Reports 6.01 finance report. >> Uh Dr. Hazing accidentally put this on there because you get the finance report on the second meeting of the month. >> That's true. >> Sorry. >> We'll move into the superintendent. >> I also put a close session down there. I forgot to heard it too. So I we already done my evaluation. We don't need to do it again. So summer it's been busy. So,
012uh, so superintendent report, I would like, if you could, uh, Dr. Army, can you go to just the school website real quick? Uh, I want to give, uh, Emma Schwaller some kudos here. So, we do have a new school website. Um, we hope that we will we can have a lot of parents go through and and navigate this and try to look through and try to find stuff and give us feedback. We we are looking for feedback. Our goal is that the majority of everything you could ever want on this website that you look for on a regular basis is either front and center within a click or two clicks. We don't want to have you go through and have to really find stuff or search for stuff. If you do search for stuff, there's
013a giant magnifying glass up in the corner and it can hopefully help you find stuff a little bit easier. Um the calendar's up there. Um you can select your school up there and then one of the cool things is and I don't see it up. Yeah, there it is. staff portal. So, our last website didn't have a staff portal. This one has a staff portal. So, is it live right now? >> Not yet. >> Okay. So, when it's live, so right now, a lot of the staff links and everything we have go to um like bookmarks that we have on the just on our on our Chrome. And so if you don't you're not signed into Chrome, if you're not, it's hard to find like your powers school and all that kind of stuff versus
014now we're going to be able to upload that onto the staff portal and you'll be able to access any district-wide link or anything you want to. And the nice thing about the staff portal is we can you have to have credentials to get into it. So we can put things in there that are for staff only that you know so that way we don't have to worry about um you know bad actors getting in there or those types of things. So, >> um I did I was looking under board policies and it says I need a password. >> Okay, I'll make sure that gets updated. >> Okay. >> I don't know if you want to try clicking in the policies that it should now. We wanted to make it so that board policies are updated
015from time to time. So, we wanted them to go strictly into the Google Drive that has the most updated version. So, it might have been prompting you to log into Google is maybe my guess there. >> Right. But if it is for anyone in the community, how are they going to if they just go and get on Lewis Central's website and click on a board policy, how are they going to look at board policies? >> Okay. The biggest thing is we found there was some some inconsistency and the board might approve a policy let's say tonight on the 4th and then >> um two months later three months later we go and for some reason a particular policy that was updated on the fourth wasn't updated because the old process required us to basically download
016it as a PDF and then upload the PDF in the program. So there was a process to it and if if you overlooked because when you guys approve ser policy series you'll approve you know 40 policies at the same time. So right >> we're finding some gaps there. So then we we try to figure out other schools do this where we we'll have to figure out how to make because your point exactly we don't somebody doesn't have a Gmail we want them to still be able to access it. >> Absolutely. >> But we're trying to figure out how can we how can we create it where the second it's updated in the system it's updated online so people can see it ASAP. So >> Yeah, because I wasn't on >> my personal logged into a
017Gmail account. >> Correct. And I was googling and and just went to the website and looked in. >> Gotcha. >> Couldn't get couldn't see it. >> Perfect. Yep. We'll we'll fix that. No, that's a great great that's a for anybody watching out there if you're clicking around, that's the exact kind of detail or or uh recommendations we want. So, um, we also have we now have all of the, uh, if you click on the Hall of Fame, if you go back to main page, this is exciting because now I was hesitant to share this before because we didn't have all of the, uh, yearbooks in there. So, if you go to the touch wall on Hall of Fame. So, this is what's on our giant TV in the commons area. So, now anybody can access
018this from anywhere at any time. So, um, so if you go to like the Hall of Fame, you can you just go view all, you can see everybody has been inducted in the Hall of Fame. If you go back to home, let's go to yearbooks. >> Go to explore LCHS. And then you go to yearbooks. And now you can click into it and just pick a pick a yearbook. Anybody here a grad of LC? 2013. Let's look at 2013. Let's find Let's find Miss Emma here. >> So, there you go. And you can just click through all the pages. And actually, the city library has been super helpful in in scanning all these for us. So, they're the ones that scan it and then we send it in. We can upload it. So, you can
019go online and find your old yearbooks. >> If you go back to the main page, your mouse Oh, this is not the screen. I'm on a different screen. Well, anyway, there's there there will be uh links where you can go online, you can see like uh past past trophies, uh past all sters, um you can go in activities and look up certain teams and you can see their success. And so, um there's there's all sorts of stuff you'll be able to see on there. So, that's that's really exciting. Um and then I already kind of gave you guys the update about, you know, school year is going to be starting on the 20th. We actually have our back to school breakfast and and presentation. So any board members who are available um love to invite
020you on the 20th to come and uh participate. Starts at 7 breakfast starts 7:30 in the morning and then the presentation will start at 8:30. Um we'll be introducing the Raptor system to uh the staff at that time. Um also be talking about all the updates that happen this summer. Um so it's always a it's always a fun exciting time. Lots of energy. Um lots of excitement. So staff will be have been back for two days by that point, but the 20th teachers come back on the 18th, but the 20th is when um we have the all of the staff come back. So everybody come back. Um and that's about it for for my report. >> Is that at the high school? >> That's at the high school. Yep. In the in the cafeter or
021in the cafeter auditorium slash um commons area. >> What time? >> Starts at 7:30 breakfast. We'll be all wrapped up by about 10:30 or so. So, I mean, you can leave whenever, even if you come for a little bit and, you know, that'll be So, Dorian's been to a ton of them. So, >> and it's nice because before it used to be all teachers. Now, it's all staff. And I think that is just great. >> Yep. Yep. It's we're one big happy family. Two days a year, once in the fall, once in the spring. [laughter] So, >> okay. Uh, next one is Oh, sorry. to you. >> No, I was just going to say, do you have anything to add on facility project updates? >> I do. Yes. Um, so, as you can see, the
022parking lots are wrapping up. They are done uh pouring concrete up here at Titan Hill. Uh, they're getting ready. They formed the access road at the high school and then it decided it was going to rain today, even though it was only a 7% chance of rain. So, we're hoping to be able to pour if not uh tomorrow, depending on how much it dried up, hopefully the next day, and get that access road done. show just like every other white paint well that's currently on any road that you drive. However, this is the way I'm understanding it and director Sturm can correct me if I'm wrong. When I asked about it today, I said, "You can't hardly see the white on there." But part of it is is because whatever they put in to help
023the the the concrete cure is very makes it makes the concrete very white. And so over a week or two that will fade off and it becomes more gray and then the white will stand the white reflective paint will stand out. Is that >> Yeah. I don't I don't I'm guessing it will take longer than two weeks. >> Oh, I would. >> But it'll just make them slow down in the parking lot. >> Yeah. >> You'll find out the hard way. >> Yeah. So So yeah. So they are painted. Uh I They swear it works. So I uh I'll give them the benefit of the doubt. And otherwise, if you know, if if it's not if it's not too far down the road and it's you still can't see it and people are still crunching
024their cars, we'll get we'll pull up the yellow paint and I'll put some stuff on there. So, [clears throat] um the right now the rain has really held up our playgrounds and so I I would be the goal is still to have craft done in time, but I would be shocked if that happens. They were supposed to be They're actually supposed to be here on Wednesday, but because of the rain last week and the rain today, I'm afraid they're probably going to put us off till next week, which means we definitely won't be done by the time school starts. >> And forecast is um rain Tuesday night overnight. >> Perfect. I remember the days where it never rained and yeah, >> July. So, >> we I think there's a craft back to school event next
025week at the next Saturday at the playground. >> It's supposed to be popsicles on the playground, but there will be no playground. So, it'll be popsicles on the grassy area. So, is what it'll be. >> Um, I know the PTA has held off changing the name just in case it's done, but there there it definitely will not be done. There will be no playground by that point. >> How about popsicles on the parking lot? >> Popsicles [laughter] on the parking lot, you know. So, there's there's other options for sure. So, uh but yeah, the playground when those are done, it'll be a great day. Until then, we'll just keep doing our best. Um, we did run into a snag. We had all the LED lights installed, uh, all the switches. Um, I went in today
026and started playing with the switches and they're they don't work the way we want them to. And from what I understand is there may be some kind of a recall that's out there. They're currently trying to troubleshoot them. They are not the simple onoff adjust uh the lighting. They are a I don't know what this button's going to do when I push it. And sometimes it does nothing and sometimes it does a lot. So, we spent about three hours at Craft today and the final uh answer was we need a different solution. So, when our staff comes back, uh it's not it's not going to cost us any more money because if if it doesn't work, it doesn't work. Like, we have a warranty on it. So, if but if our staff comes back and
027these switches are in there, hopefully they just they just turn them on and off and don't worry about the dimming for a while until we can get them switched out and then and then it'll be great. So, that's a minor speed bump. Uh the high school painting projects going uh really well. They should be wrapped up here by Friday. I think we have a final walkthrough on Friday. [clears throat] Excuse me. Uh the gym looks fantastic. Um the weight room and uh hallway are coming along nice. The commons area was a huge project and that's coming along really well or really really well. Also um the um trophy case work in the high school is is phenomenal. Like it's going to be really really nice. Um the middle school roof is done. The high school
028parking lot will be done here uh in short order. They should be starting on the tennis courts here. We kind of got an answer from the city and the state on some issues that we're having there with some flood zone permitting and that kind of stuff. Um but we should be back on track with those. Um you'll see that they poured the sidewalk at the high school. If anybody wonders why there's no curb between the sidewalk and the parking lot, it has to do with the way that the parking lot drains. So, they couldn't put a curb on there. So, instead, they're going to paint a solid line to delineate the sidewalk from the from the parking lot, but we know that people will try to drive around speed bumps. So, they'll try to drive
029around the speed bump onto the sidewalk. So, for hightra games, we are going to purchase um some ballards to be able some movable ballots to be able to put out there. So, um, that way we can make sure our pedestrians are safe when they're when they're walking out there. But it'll be so nice for them to have a sidewalk to be able to walk down instead of just kind of, you know, >> jigging and jogging, playing Frogger through the parking lot. So, >> um, yeah. So, yeah. So, it's, uh, but yeah, everything's going really well. HBAC at the high school, they have everything turned on. They're having a few, uh, minor, uh, control issues that they're going to work out. We we will be doing the uh fire alarm testing at the end of this
030week. And so when they're done with that, the fire alarm's done. Um the middle school Epic system, which is the intercom system, they're supposed to be getting that in this week. And it's and it's a two to three week install. So that'll be right up to the wire. Um yeah, so it's just one thing after the other. The the the weight room is done. Looks really nice. I feel 100% better about it than I did when I first walked in here, when I started here with lines of sight and the in the accessibility to kids and those types of things. It's just the equipment was made for that space versus a bunch of random equipment that's that's that's in there and you you can't really, you know, with bodies and everything else, it's really hard
031to see what everybody's doing. Right now, you can see what everybody's doing and it's it's great. So um so yeah >> for question for the the tennis court area do we compete in tennis now in the fall because of so is there >> so they will be competing in the >> current the old one. >> Yeah. >> And then do we have so when the new one gets completed do we plan to right away try to convert the old tennis courts or is that going to get pushed to next summer to convert the old tennis courts in the parking lot? >> Nope. That'll be done that'll be done this fall. >> This fall. Yep. And really all it takes is taking down the fence uh and the and the and the uh netting. And then
032there's a there's a layer of I don't know tennis court surfacing that's on top. It's like a spongy material. They just have to peel that off, take it down the asphalt and paint it, paint lines on it. So it's it's a very minimal project and you know versus them taking it out and leaving a kind of a gaping hole out there. You know, it's let's at least turn it to parking while and while we're waiting for the city do something with Harry Langden because eventually when they do something with Harry Langden that will be another exit but if we can park on it in the meantime we'll we'll figure out a way to do that. So >> is there any sort of timeline for the playground equipment >> that their school? >> Yep. So they
033were supposed to be done by their goal was September 15th at Titan Hill and August 23rd at Craft. So my guess is if they're a week behind it'll be August 30th at craft and it'll be September 22nd at >> now. Is that including the turf and everything? >> That's turf and everything. That's turn key. You're done. So >> kids going to enjoy. >> Yep. So getting close. It's just it's always nerve-wracking these last, you know, want everything to be done and done done well. So >> did you mention anything about the Raptor system? uh raptor system. All the majority of the um strobes are in. Uh the next steps are just to set up our accounts and our visitor management system and then uh get badges made for all of our staff. So, that'll be
034a huge safety component that we'll add this year where uh staff will have the ability, every staff will be have the ability if they see something to be able to utilize their badge as an instant way to communicate with the office to be able to tell them that something is going on, you know, at the at the space they're at. So any questions, comments. Okay, then we will move on to discussion item 7.01, strategic planning board priorities. [clears throat] Um so you guys just had a board work session and back in the spring you guys identified uh three areas um for um priorities uh culture, climate, opportunities and access and then finance and facility during your board work session. Um you guys kind of reaffirmed and defined what those mean to you. So the next
035step will be once you guys approve these to take it to our district leadership team uh which comprises of administrators and teachers and have them turn your priorities into actionable goals. Um and then we'll take those actionable goals and we'll take them to the building leadership teams and allow the teachers then people will have to implement the goals to um be able to design how they're going to implement them in order to reach your goals. So really is a collaborative process. It's a district-wide process. So the first step is just having you guys formalize that these three areas are are kind of your top initiatives. >> Any comments? >> Okay. 7.02 uh Iowa Association of School Board priorities. So, um, every year the Iowa Association School Board sends out to all of their member schools,
036um, a document that lists, um, a lot of different priorities and they ask you to, uh, formalize, um, four, um, in the past. Uh, uh, preschool, uh, teacher recruitment, lenture, school funding, and mental health have been kind of the the priorities, um, that we've that the board has approved. Um lately the the big push has been for early literacy um implementation funding and strategies. Um and so I I'm not these are these are what we recommend to the to the ISB as far as what they think legislative platform should be. I think that the state already has I don't know if they've done a lot for mental health, but they definitely understand that as a priority. Um my recommendation would be and and to IASB to have them proceed forward. Again, we need to continue
037to push preschool. I think we're real close at the legislative level to get full day all your full day funding for preschool. Um I think continued push for early literacy. They gave us some additional dollars uh for that for early literacy, but they need to continue to provide some funding in order for us to continue to implement and expand the programs that we're currently having. Um and then teacher recruitment and lensure. This is a huge one. Uh we have there's just less and less teachers that are getting into the field and unless the state uh develops a um a plan for not only incentivizing um young people or even older people to get into teaching, but reestablishing teaching as a as a a viable and respected career. Um and and it's just there's been a
038lot of just nastiness that's come out of the the state legislature over the past past few years that has been directly um calling out teachers and calling it's kind of created this almost this atmosphere of you know teaching is bad you know and the only people that can fix that are the people who started it like and and yes I am kind of calling out the legislature a little bit but that's a huge issue like and They've allowed representatives at the state level to basically slander um the profession and unless they come out and they say, "Yeah, we're going to support the profession and it is good and you are good people and this is what we need to do." Like there's we're is we're going to have a real hard time getting people back
039into professions. So, I think that's kind of what IASB is trying to look at is how can the state create policy or at least um change their language to um encourage people to enter into this this viable and crucial workforce. Um and then also to make sure that the that the process for being able to get into it is is available, you know, for years. and they've made some headway here because for years we had a different set of standards than say Nebraska, South Dakota, Missouri and so teachers would want to cross over but they don't want to take six class six classes to do it you know and so they've they've done some re reciprocity stuff um and again when I talk lure like I don't want to necessarily um demote the profession by
040saying you don't need to be properly trained, educated and endorsed but you know maybe there's a way that we can we can help subsidize and pay for that in order to make sure that we can get people that income's not a barrier to becoming a teacher, you know. So, um because that's the thing is you go to a school and the price of college is going up and up and up and you go to a school and you get a degree and now you're 100,000 150,000 in debt and then you get into teaching which doesn't pay well to begin with and now all of a sudden like you're just never going to get out like you're done. So, um, so that's kind of what I think ISB is looking forward when they talk about teacher
041recruitment and lensure and then school funding. I think that this is I mean obviously this is the the beginning of everything. Um, it's just really hard year in and year out to to harp about school funding because that they know like they know they hear about it. They know the importance of school funding. They try to do they try to make decisions based on on budgets and everything else. And so I think having that continue to be a tailin conversation because I think the minute you stop talking about it and asking about it, you're going to get nothing. So, but these would be my four recommendations. Again, this is a little bit different last year. Honestly, you could flop mental health with any one of those and we can put it back in there. Um,
042that seems to be something that the the the legislation or the legislators agree with. Like that's kind of a universal like yes, we need to do something with mental health. that's more along the lines of what what do they do outside of providing just more funding for it. So, um again, that's kind of up to you guys to have that conversation about what your final four should be, but we do have to provide four priorities to IASB. >> I wanted to clarify when you say these four, these four based on what ISB has written about and I noticed, did I miss it? Did they have a preschool one >> or is that our >> Nope, they did have a preschool one. >> Okay, missed it then. >> Yeah. Um, I personally, based on some of
043our survey results, there's a lot of conversation around bullying, about safety in the classrooms. I think mental health is still a priority to to keep the behavior in the schools. That'd be my opinion. Um, I I'm open to what the board thinks of that and what they would flip-flop it with. Well, could that be under school funding though for the we get funds so we can address mental health and school, you know, the bullying and and things like that. Would that be could that be included under, >> you know, it's just like school funding for >> preschool, >> wouldn't it? >> Under preschool, >> wouldn't the preschool um be under school funding? because you said that we get money for preschool and we were very close on getting it for full day preschool. >> Would
044that be the same thing? >> Yeah. I mean, when they talk school funding, they talk about general school funding like SSA is what they what they allocate for. Preschool would be like a different >> that would be a different legislative action to to approve that. Same thing if they were going to come out with mental, as I said, I wish we could do five because I would throw mental health right in there. >> And again, you could look at early literacy and they've already done a lot with early literary the last few years. I just want to make sure they continue to do it. But because they have done, I would argue more with early literacy in the last two years than they have with mental health. Maybe mental health is more of a priority
045at this point to make sure they can get something started with mental health. And then that's just I mean I'm going to those five areas are things I'm going to continue to you know >> advocate for personally. So >> So they have eight. We can only submit four. >> Four. >> We can't submit five. >> No they they they have four. >> Okay. >> And this is throughout the state. So whoever I probably the most votes >> Yeah. I'm assuming those five will be the most votes and then they'll >> they'll probably >> and they have more more that they advocate for than just eight. >> Yeah, >> I'm talking about the Yeah, I'm reading through there. >> Yeah, but what we link >> provide Yeah, >> they have eight priorities in that link provided.
046>> What's mental health one of the eight? Yes, >> it was. Okay. >> One is literacy, two is uh teacher workforce, high quality, three is expanded opportunities through public schools for diverse experiences for mental health. And then there's four more. And that's where I didn't see preschool. But yeah, if I do the I log it right here. >> He's pulling it up. I still don't see that listed. And while I agree that preschool is something we need, is it a current priority of the district because there's no movement for it? >> Right. So here are the it says select your district's top four priorities. We have student achievement, preschool, early literacy, English learners, special education, area educational agencies, teacher recruitment and lensure, teacher professional development, retention, public school innovation, dropout at risk, mental health, absenteeism,
047local accountability and decision-m uh parent and family engagement, sharing and reorganization, private school choice, homeschool education, supplemental state aid, school funding policy. So when I talk about school or uh um school funding, it' be the supplemental state. Uh school funding policy, which is more about what you can spend it on. Uh property taxes, tax base, bond issues, unfunded mandates, special educ Oh, they have special education on it twice. Okay. And then uh school safety. Again, there's so many on here that I'm like, yeah, absolutely. School safety is like abs like for sure. local accountability and decision-m like 100%. Should be able to do that. But so you could though you could say we've advocated for preschool. Preschool's close. Maybe we need to go back and advocate more about um uh mental health. I mean that's
048that's a good one too. So you just again you're just picking four and we're sending them to IASB and they're going to you know use those as to prioritize [cough and clears throat] them. I don't have any issue replacing preschool with mental health. >> How's everybody else feel about it? >> Feel like in the district we've made a lot of leaps in preschool. Like I I don't know what else more we could I mean there's always more but >> Yeah. >> Right. I don't there's nothing like glaringly like we need a long ways to go with preschool. >> The one downside is if they did full full day preschool funding. We've talked about this. We don't currently have the facilities to add more classrooms. So whereas I would love that for for our community and
049for our students, I don't know where we would house them right now. >> Yeah. So we're kind of limited. >> So early literacy, literacy, teacher recruitment and lenture, mental health, and uh supplemental state aid, which is school funding. >> I'm good with that. Good. Okay. I'll wait for you guys to actually vote on that yet, but any other questions, comments on this one? >> So, we're removing preschool. >> Uh, just moving preschool, switching it with mental health, >> right? You good? >> Yep. Yep. >> Okay. I thought you were updating something. >> Nope. >> All right. 7.03 foreign exchange student approval 202526. >> Yep. So, we actually have two. Student A um is uh Sophia. She's from Slovakia. Um she is um going to be hosted by um Alexis Augustine and uh Pearson Labano. Uh
050she can be either one of these. They're both the same. So when they come to us, they're usually about 16 years of age and they can be placed in either junior or senior year depending. It's more along the like what classes they want to take. They're always coming over here looking for more of an experience than they are in education. even though you know education's part of it. So they usually want to be involved in an activity or two um and then they want to uh go into uh or take take just take the courses that are closely aligned with what they're coming from. So uh there was a student A and then she's Sophia from Slovakia and student B I have no idea how to say his name Zvery >> from Poland. So um
051they'll be staying with the Krons. So, um, just you guys just have to approve foreign exchange students. I like foreign exchange students. I feel like they give not only do we give them a a neat opportunity and actually the board by approving them, you wave the requirement for them to pay tuition. Um, and the nice thing about them though coming in is they they expose our kids then to, you know, kind of a a cultural experience as well. You know, >> if they're placed as a senior, do they get to walk? >> They do not. No. Okay. There's no diploma, no walking. >> Okay. >> Yeah. Because they wouldn't have had they wouldn't have earned. >> Correct. But I didn't know if there was a >> Not here. Some schools do >> vision or something.
052>> Yeah. Some schools do. They'll let them walk and give them an honorary diploma or something like that. >> Honestly, we just we have too many students that you know. >> But >> did we approve last year's because I don't remember this. >> You did not. No. This was something that's actually in board policy, but it hasn't been practiced. >> I was going to say I don't ever remember that. >> Okay. And it's it's a spec it's very specifically in board policy, but it's not been practiced. >> Nice job catching that. >> So, yeah. >> Yeah. >> It's the benefits of me updating all the policies [laughter] as I find policies like this and I'm like, >> well, I don't even remember in reviewing policies seeing >> about foreign exchange. >> Yeah. It's in the
053600 series. So, >> it's even called foreign exchange students. >> [laughter] >> Okay. >> Who would have thought? >> Yeah, I stumbled across it and I'm like, "Oh, we should probably do that moving forward." A good one. >> Cool. >> I guess if the board didn't know about, I was good, too. So, >> yeah. [laughter] >> Perfect. >> Any other questions, comments on this one? [clears throat] >> Okay. Then we'll move to 7.04. Iowa Western College and Career Readiness Counselor Memorandum of Use. >> So, we started this last year. >> Understanding. Sorry. Um the Iowa Western or the Iowa West Foundation wanted to redo um they used to do that a scholarship Padawani Promise and so yes >> they went away from Padawani Promise and they wanted to do something that was more impactful for
054the the whole population of students and so that's where we got um basically two grants. One was for um a college and careeriness counselor for us, a gen a generic one that can bring in outsiders and that's um um we currently have uh oh >> Mr. Neppell. Yeah, Pat Nepple. He's currently our college counselor. So the the Iowa West pays for his his salary and benefits to do this. And then they went in with Iowa Western and wanted one specifically for Iowa Western. So then whereas Mr. Nebble isn't bound by any specific college or university or career or anything like that. He's he's giving gener generic guidance and taking kids on field trips to random businesses and random colleges. Uh this one specifically for Iowa Western because the other thing we we identified at least
055here was there was a lot of opportunity to get uh take classes from IO Western that there were students that just didn't know about it. And so that's what this that's what Iowa West now pays for is we get this counselor from Iowa Western who works with students specifically with Iowa Western to make sure that they understand what courses are offered, what credentials are offered, what um you know what anything that's offered through Iowa Western spec specifically and then we can match them there. So >> okay, >> but again it's paid for. We just there's just a memo of understanding. Any other questions, comments? Okay, then we'll move into comments and suggestion. This is the second portion of our meeting where we open the floor to any comments and suggestions from the public to the
056board. Do we have anyone online? No. Okay. Then we will move forward into action items. 9.0 01 Iowa Association of School Board Priorities. >> Mr. President, >> yes. >> Like to make the motion to approve the board strategic plan areas of focus as culture, climate, opportunity, and access, and facility and finance. >> So that's the other one. So this is for the >> Did I say it wrong? >> Oh, this is >> this is IASB one. >> No, this is >> Oh, they got >> This is our board prior. Oh, they got sorry they got sorry they got I'm so sorry. Jeez. July July went my bad. [laughter] Sorry. July was totally about that first. I was going to do the same thing. [laughter] >> I just I was checking I was checking you guys.
057>> Okay, restate that. All right, we'll start it again. So, we'll do 9.01 is strategic planning board priorities. >> Okay. >> And that's what's on our >> discussion, right? That's what we have here. >> Do you want me to restate it? >> Yeah. Go ahead. >> Okay. Mr. President, like to make the motion to approve the board. This is a board strategic plan areas of focus. >> Yes. >> As culture, climate, opportunity, and access, and facility, and finance. >> Second. >> Vote, please. >> Mrs. Peterson, >> yes. >> Mrs. Sheffle, >> yes. >> Mr. Sornson, >> yes. >> Mr. Storm, >> yes. >> Miss Atkins, >> yes. >> Mrs. McDaniel, >> yes. >> Mr. Wright, >> yes. 9.02 Iowa Association School Board Priorities. >> Mr. President, >> yes. I'd >> like to make the motion
058to submit the following 20 25 >> 526 >> 26. Okay. It's okay. legislative priorities to IASB. Um one mental health, two early early lit literacy teacher recruitment and lensure and the last one school funding. Second >> vote please. >> Mrs. Sheffle, >> yes. >> Mr. Sorenson, >> yes. >> Mr. Stern, >> yes. >> Miss Atkins, >> yes. >> Mrs. McDaniel, >> yes. >> Mrs. Peterson, >> yes. Mr. Right. >> Yes. 9.03. Foreign exchange student approval for 202526. [clears throat] >> Mr. President, I'd like to make a motion to approve the placement of the foreign exchange students as presented for the 2526 school year. >> Six. >> Vote, please. >> Mr. Sorenson, >> yes. >> Mr. Sturm, >> yes. >> Miss Atkins, >> yes. >> Miss McDaniel, >> yes. >> Mrs. Peterson, >> yes. >> Mrs.
059Sheffle. >> Yes. >> Mr. Ray. >> Yes. 9.04. Iowa Western College and Career Readiness Counselor Memorandum of Understanding. >> Mr. President, I'd like to make the motion to approve the CCTCOU with Iowa Western Community College. >> Second. Vote, please. >> Mr. Sturm, >> yes. >> Miss Atkins, >> yes. >> Mrs. McDaniel, >> yes. >> Mrs. Peterson, >> yes. Mrs. Sheffle. >> Yes. >> Mr. Senson. >> Yes. >> Mr. Wright. >> Yes. >> Okay. So, you're not requesting a close session? >> I'm not. No, we're good there. >> And I will say Anna was finishing this and going straight off to a vacation. So, she usually catches all these things for me. So, [laughter] >> text and and then you were like, "Here, use this form." And I was like, "Oh, okay." >> Yeah. Yeah. Yeah.
060Yeah. Don't. Yeah. >> Okay. So, we'll move on to the next uh scheduled regular board meeting is August 18th at 6:30. Uh but prior to that uh board meeting, we will have a building tour. Uh probably looking through a lot of the facility updates that starts at 4:30. Anything else you want to add on to that? >> Uh the only thing is the next meeting will be uh board consideration for uh conference realignment. So, >> Okay. Then there's nothing else. Any any new uh anything else came out about that? >> No. No. No. Nothing since we met last time. >> No. >> Okay. Do I have a motion to adjourn tonight's meeting? >> Motion to adjurnn. >> Second. All those in favor say I. I. >> I. >> All those opposed, we'll see you later.