0016:31 p.m. Monday, July 14th. Call to order this public hearing. Have a roll call, please. Mark Porter, here. Ty Ward, here. Christy Kessle, here. Megan Dow Robbins, here. Mark Thornton here, Deborah Williamson here, and Davies here. All right. Uh, this is the time when anyone may speak to the board in support of or against any portion of the 202526 proposed continuation of the instructional support levy. Written comments will also be considered if received prior to the closing of public hearing. We have any written comments? No, we do not. Okay. Uh as we have no comments, do I hear a motion to adjurnn? So moved. I second. Second. All in favor? I adjourned at 6:32 p.m. Give me one second here. Sure. Okay. Carried. Good. And now I'm going to the regular reading. Got it. Okay.
002See? All right. It's 6:33 p.m. Um, call to order this meeting. A regular board meeting of the Fairfield Community uh school district uh board of directors is to be held at the at 6:30 p.m. on the third Monday of each month. The meeting is open to the public and the public is encouraged to attend. Time is provided in the meeting for public input. The mission of the Fairfield Community School Board of Directors is we empower all students to achieve their highest potential through strong relationships, collaboration, and accountability. The vision of the Fairfield Community School Board of Directors is a destination district where we all belong, learn, and grow. So, hear a roll call, please. Roll call. Mark Porter here. Ty Ward here. Christy Kessle here. Megan D Robbins here. Mark Thoron here. Deborah Williamson here.
003And Dave Easturn here. Got it. Um, are there any perfections to the agenda? Uh, yes. I've got a couple. The first would be um to get the committee updates. We just didn't have it on there. So, as soon as we're done with the perfection um since there's no focus on learning during the month of July, I thought committee updates could go right after that. Okay. It just didn't get on there uh in time. So, we'll have that added if that's okay. And then the other one was uh connected to the cell phone policy. We actually had the reading last meeting. Um so, if we could just bring that into or lump that in with the others to get approved at the second reading tonight, that would be ideal as well. Okay. So instead of having
004it as its own correct and we still can. It doesn't really matter to me. Um but Okay. But it is actually at the second reading. Correct. All right. So 5.7 will go into 5.4. Yep. Okay. Uh do I hear a motion to approve uh the agenda as amended? So moved. Second. I seconded by Deborah. All in favor? All right. Give me a sec. Okay. And uh now we'll move into committee reports. Um let's see. Let's start with um strategic planning. Ty. Sure. We just had our meeting a couple hours ago. Um, and uh really all we did uh was go over the district's strategic plan to uh kind of uh amend it and keep working on it. Um, and some of the things that we we talked about everything that was on here pretty much.
005Um some of the things we kind of added or amended um we uh were adding participation numbers to student success uh under the success indicators. Um we were talking about how you know especially for like extracurriculars where there's wins and losses. Uh they're not the only thing. Um actually having people participate is really one of our big success indicators there. Um so just having you know increased participation numbers in all of these extracurriculars um is great for student success. Uh we added proficiency numbers. Um so most of this is set around growth um in the numbers and we just had the numbers at last meeting. Um we discussed how having the actual raw numbers of proficiency is also good to have in there uh as some success indicators. Um so we added that. Uh we
006added uh under the financial fiscal responsibility, we added minimizing substantial budget cuts um as one of our uh success indicators. Um you know, we don't want to be going for budget cuts every year. So that would be a really good uh indicator that we're doing our job well. And uh under uh belonging, we added a fourth priority for increased connections and partnerships uh with the community. Um that would that's some of the district's priorities there. So yeah, we're refining this documents and uh hopefully it'll be in everyone's hands pretty quick. Great. Thanks, Dave. Yes. So, uh, the finance committee met this morning, July 14th, Monday, at 8:00 a.m., Uh we had one agenda item that we uh looked at and that is the uh federal revenue that has been put on hold or to the
007state that's funding our um title uh 2A, title 4 B, title 4A funds uh which is creating a revenue shortfall of $230,95.95 with those those funs. be reviewed or held up for the district um on July 1st. This was July 1st. So, and so uh we the uh we approved by unanimous consent a um contingency plan. So, uh, first of all, we determined that those $150,000 of that 230 is for our our after school and before school programs. And uh, we felt that those were instrumental to our community and and uh, for our school district to meet our educational goals and for our community. So we thought that uh that would be something that we would want to continue and also the balance of the uh funds goes to uh funding teacher programs in the
008in the title programs themselves. So we need to keep those revenue streams going. So, uh, with excess funds in our flex fund, uh, we approved at the committee level and would recommend, uh, that $250,000 in flex fund carryover excess funds, uh, be reallocated to cover the loss and retain all plan staffing for those programs. That would carry us over for one year. Um the uh the prioritization of that is is that would be reduce the funds and probably eliminate the uh summer school program because we were using flex funds to fund that program. Um there there are alternative funding sources. So, I think if anybody has any questions, Zach can can illuminate on that that we are looking at to uh put those funds back in to maintain that summer school program because we all
009know that that that does do a a really good job for our students and and prepares them for the uh for the upcoming school year. But without those alternative revenue streams, um the summer school program right now couldn't be funded. we'd have to reallocate the funds to the before school and after school program and those title. Okay. If uh if this these funds after this review those funds do get allocated to the state and back to us then you know we wouldn't be using all the flex funds to do. So that's the contingency plan. That's what we reviewed today. Um and we approved it by unanimous consent at the finance. You are confident you'll be able to get the funding for I'm sorry. You are confident you'll still be able to get the funding for
010the summer school program. I I'm not I I think I would defer to stick to committee reports probably and not jump into too much conversation. I know. I'm sorry. Yeah, we'll have to explore a couple different options um that I would bring to the table if need be. One of which would be self- sustaining it with, you know, funding that we generate with charging um for it a little bit more. um could look to get a partner outside of the system, could look to Pathfinders um to write a grant as well. So, I'd say we've got three different things that we could um entertain or look at to to continue to to keep that going. Thanks, Dave. You're welcome. Christie, did you guys meet? We did not. We are planning on meeting sometime the first
011week of August. I'll be reaching out to you guys to see your availability. Great. Mark Thornton. We met on Thursday the 10th and we went over all of the policies finalized on them for that are coming for first reading today. And so all these are coming out of the ISB uh primer from spring came on March somewhere in there. And so all these are just to came out of legislation to abide by law. So we'll those are all out there PS for the meeting here coming up. So it's pretty much all we covered. There's a lot. Thanks. Facilities. Yes. So we met on Wednesday, July the 9th at 400 p.m. Um basically the entirety of our meeting basically kind of revolved around the last uh meeting uh with Josh um WY. Um, as you guys
012know that he was our facilities director and transportation director, basically our operations director for the last se several years or for the last year. Um, he took a new position. So, we kind of had an outgoing meeting with him to kind of uh put together um basically his plan of attack for making sure that the rest of the summer projects get completed in his absence. The good news is is that they did uh hire someone to replace him on Friday or on Thursday, I think it was. So, I think that new person starts on the 28th. So, uh um the responsibilities should be taken care of until then. But anyways, long story short, basically just gave us the status of where the current projects are at. Um the big things to note is the high
013school gym floor. Um they're starting this week. I think they anticipate that will take two to three weeks. It should be done by the time vol three weeks. Pencil in three should only take two weeks. Okay. So, anyways, it should be completed by the time volleyball starts. Correct. So, new gym floor um should be getting completed. Another big thing is that the pence floor, is it being replaced or is it just being resanded? that's being redone, not completely replaced. Okay, but it's being redone. That's warranty work and that's not going to be out of our pocket pocket. So, that's good news. Um the basically everything on the list is supposed to be done here by the end of the summer, but there's the new Pence tables going at the school, a Washington door, a Pence
014door, the Washington roof, um the high school roofing project, um the high school ceiling project. Now, one thing that we did get into a conversation with is that they in doing the high school uh ceiling project, they did find an additional I think it was approximately $11,000 in electrical work that needs to be completed, which I think will come to a vote tonight. Correct. Yep. Um but, you know, it was kind of one of those things they got in there. It was one of those things you couldn't see when they originally bid it. Got in need to replace kind of needs to be completed now that we have stuff tore apart so we don't get into a more expensive ordeal later on. So, that's something that we probably should approve here later on. So, um
015but that was basically the extent of it. Um, basically we just uh wish Josh luck and like to give him a thanks, a special thanks for all the time and work that he's put into the district the last several years and look forward to seeing how the new gentleman does. I think he starts on the 28th and um we'll be off and running. So that's about the extent of it. Great. Can I just add to in terms of our concerns about knowledge transfer and the gap between the um going out with the old in with the new. So Evan Evan Evan assured that he would be helping the the new what's his name? Matt. Matt with um onboarding um ticketing system and all the systems. And that Josh repeatedly said, "Call me, call me, call
016me if you need anything um at any point, even after math starts." So that was really sweet. Yep. Yep. So great. All right. Thank you all. Um, do I hear a motion to approve the consent agenda as presented? So, move second. Second by Porter. Any discussion? No discussion? Uh, all in favor? I opposed. Okay. Motion carried or agenda approved. Uh, public participation Um, there's no one here. No one's turned in any cards. So, I'll move along to new business. Welcome you. Kind of bothered. You said no one. No one's turned in a card. Very happy to have you here. Come back every time. Um, all right. Let's move along to 5.1. Um, do I hear a motion to approve the resolution for continued participation in the instructional support program as presented? So moved. Second. Moved
017by Williamson, second by Eastburn. Any discussion? We've discussed this before. Yep. All in favor? I opposed. Resolution carries. 5.2 Do I hear a motion to approve the ACE electric change order as presented? So moved. Deborah. Second. And Christie. Second by Castle. Yes. Got it. And discussion here. This ties to the high school ceiling project that Mark was just talking about and falls within the budget projections is the note I see. Do you know specifically what it was they had to redo? Is that accurate? Um, does it say on there? Was it I'm I'm looking through it right now. Sound like the wiring was I think the wiring was 1939. There was no ground. It was ground and they were wrapped in cloth. And originally they quoted us at like 30 some thousand, but Josh did
018a nice job of walking through and figuring out how we could get it down cheaper and still meet code. So that's how we got it down to just over 11. Okay, good. Fair enough. Okay. All in favor? I opposed carries. All right. Uh, do I hear a motion to approve our board policies to be in compliance with the state law and wave the second reading? So moved. Second Spurn, second by Williamson. Any discussion? Are these the ones you were going to print out? They were prints here. I sent an email. If you want a hard copy, you can read these. The email has all of them with the comparisons. So, all of them are pretty much there were like four that are just being forms. They took out certain check boxes in the sections of
019them. Um and then all the other ones were from the legislation for gender identity and protected classes. So there were some changes there that came through. Basically a lot of these just like we're crossing out the word gender identity. Yep. So that's what most of that's what's super important I guess. Any other questions? discussion. All in favor? I opposed. Board policies at the first reading carries. Uh do I hear a motion to approve the board policies at the second reading includes the cell phone policy? So moved second and ty. Any discussion? I think it was uh tie. Got it. Sorry. Any discussion on these review these before? Okay. Just went through whatever last time was the cell policy. All right. Uh all in favor? I opposed. Motion. The policies are approved. Uh do I hear
020a motion to approve the board policies for deletion? So moved. Ty. Second. And Mark. So this one is Oh, sorry. Do you want Yeah, go ahead. You have it handy. I can't remember which one it was off hand. 6051R1. Um it's instructional materials selection regulation. Um this again is just a regulation on top of the policy. And so as a policy committee, we've talked through if there's not a specific reason to have regulation. A lot of it's covered in other either handbooks or things like that. So we're trying to remove and there was some wording in this one that kind of didn't make sense to us. It was more targeted on some of the the materials and what they can cover. And so we just thought there's no need for it and it wasn't useful
021from what we could see. So that's just removing that one regulation. It's not actually one of the actual policy. It's it's the regulation on that policy. So any questions? All in favor? I opposed. Motion carries. Do I hear a motion to approve the FE contract extension as presented? Some moved. Second. Deborah and Tai. uh discussion here. So, what's are we extending this or what are we doing here, Zach? Yeah, give me a second. I'm just finishing up this little from before. Yeah, sorry. You haven't covered a lot of ground today. Who Who moved? A Deborah and Ty. Dab and then you tie. Yeah. So, so far we spent I think it's right around $62,000. Um, we've spent all the money that we want to spend. Um, so moving forward, if there's going to be things
022that change or things that we asked them to do, we're going to be built for it. Um, how now, how did that work? Because there was the original, I think, like $62,000 charge for having them do this, right? Yeah. And there's some things that they charged us for that they didn't communicate with to us, so we didn't pay for it. Yep. We just told them we weren't going to pay. And then they've done all the work since really since March has kind of just been they've been doing it for us using the rest of the money that we had built into this. Yeah. Um but now moving forward they kind of broke down what it would cost um from um I think schematic design development construction documents bidding phase construction administration how that all kind
023of goes goes together because I was trying to remember how Todd do you remember how deep that was supposed to because we hired them before a lot of these people were in the room. How long was that supposed to go for that 62,000 the uh I mean we probably re re-uped earlier this year with them, right? Um, we didn't. So, they essentially what they did is all the redesign work that they've been work doing for us has been without compensation. So, as of July 9th, we're going to get invoiced on the hourly, you know, whatever it is that they charge, which is like 200. Is there like a ceiling on what they can do? It seems like it's me. There isn't. There isn't on this. It's like say that dollar amount could be endless. I
024mean, is it could be. Yeah. I mean, as this sits, it's not like we're gonna I mean, it's only it's only work where we work price, correct? We control. But I guess my question is, okay, so let's say we run the bond again this year doesn't pass or run it again. I mean, is I mean, the dollar amount we could keep getting wrapped up in them could be endless, right? I mean, do we need to have a ceiling there, I guess, is my question. Well, this only goes for eight months. So when you think about once the bond passes, I think we'll we'll redo something with them from a a contract agreement standpoint. Yep. So I just don't see too much money because the one thing is I will say is that they were on
025the more expensive side of who we hired. There were other firms that didn't even charge for that phase. Does that sound right, Ty? I don't remember that. I do know there was at least one firm that wouldn't even charge for that phase and they believed that they would just make their money just in the actual construction of the project when it finally passed. So, they were essentially willing to eat the money up until the point that finally got passed. So, I guess I'm just trying to make sure that this was more common back in the day, too. Yeah. I'm just I guess what I'm trying to say is I just want to a make sure this is standard and b make sure that we're comfortable with this because I'm afraid that dollar amount could really
026get in. Right now, the only thing that we're that I've got on the schedule for them is a half hour check-in um every week that we've been doing um and I don't have them coming to our meetings that we're going to do in the fall. Not at all. I don't I don't know if we're going to need them. Okay. Now, if we do have them, what would uh Well, it'll depend. So, if um Bill comes, it'll be free. If it's anybody else, it would be the whatever the hourly wage is plus the mileage. So, so I mean probably 500 bucks for every meeting probably. Yeah. Yep. Might as well make sure we're all all okay with it. I just I do remember thinking that 62,000 and obviously they've done a ton of work in this
027amount of time. So, you know, but I do remember that being a little bit on the steep side and a lot of those firms they they do do that at a lower rate with the expectation that when the building finally gets built, that's when they're going to make their money. You know, obviously we don't want to be starting over with a different firm. So, we want to probably make this work, but yeah, it's been much better from a communication and just um check-in standpoint since we've changed your plate right now. Yep. Let's just get this thing passed. Roll it over into a new contract. This date in here of October 30th, 2027. I'm trying to read through it and understand what that actually is, you know. It mentions that eight month in that same I
028would have to look back at the U original document because it's referencing that, right? That's what those different articles are is the original 4.2.5 changes. But to me that that that there's extending they're extending it from eight months to October 30th 30th 2027. Then it also says assuming it does tag it with that. So as long as that's together that's okay. I just want to make sure we're not locked into something if it doesn't fail or if it fails again. So as long as it do read and it's that whole statement of by October 30th 2027. This is assuming between that referendum is submit is supported and passes. Yeah, but I would I mean I would even want to come back after the the referendum passes to create something that's probably more concrete from an
029agreement standpoint. And can does that say we can do that right within eight? Does that say that we can do that? Well, they're changing the word. So I I'd be curious to see what that portion is to see what they're changing because to me they're what said 8 months they're now saying it it actually is going to extend. That's what you're saying. Two years. Yeah. And I don't know. I'd have to I'd have to spend some time looking for that actual but I'd also like you were saying assume that if this passes there's going to be a new contract because there's going to be a lot more work. Yeah. But I don't know if if I'm reading as I read that is that something that it looks like you can do right. Have you had
030the school's lawyer look at the contract? The way I read it is just that they're extending it um if it passes for another two years after it passes. And that might be some kind of protection to say that they didn't help us pass this and then we jump to a different firm, something like that. So, we'd be under contract with them. And I don't know if there's something that keeps us from being under contract with another company, but that presumably by me that would be kind of their protection going, "Hey, we're going to help you win this and then you're also under contract for two years after you win it. Let's figure out." So what you're saying is you think that's there to make sure that we don't actually jump after they pass it. I
031get that's I mean I could just there we could just table this and I could run it by our attorney. I haven't done that at all. So, to make sure that we're not missing some, if you want me to do that, I don't have a problem doing that. I feel pretty comfortable with it. I don't know. But also, I I wouldn't I wouldn't table it. I would just uh fail it and bring it back up. Yep. Sorry. I think that uh it all hinges on on the referendum passing there. At that point in time, that's when we address some of these issues. At that point, that's how I read this. Well, my only concern is just signing a contract that gets us locked in there, you know, pass or fail, I guess, cuz just keep
032in mind there was an original bond that we did jump, you know, ship from a previous firm, which I don't want to do that again. But there was some reason why you would not want FE to be on. Not today. Not today. But so then there shouldn't be a concern with but of course with the previous firm there was reasons why we jump ship from them and what I'm saying is is those same reasons could happen again you know but there's no indication that right now that fee would is not not willing or able to provide the services not today not today there were things that happened with the previous there's no indication of it and assuming that passes I think that it would be difficult to to change a um this professional service with
033somebody else. Yep. After all the work they've done. The one thing I will say, you know, that was in me and Tai's early days in the board and we jumped ship from the previous firm. It was relayed to us after the fact that we were told that that does not happen very often that you jump ship from a firm and that was there. But there was a combination of reasons that we did that you know that it that first bond did not go well. Yes. And that's what I'm trying to say is is if that were to happen again, I just want to make sure we do have options if we were to ever decide that, you know. So I don't see that today, but just keeping that in mind. So I I don't see
034any reason not to not to approve the the extension if we are if we're happy with the work and the relationship with FE and I would want them to be continuing and and I would it also works the other way is it locks them in if the bond issue passes and we have it. show right and if the bond issue if it doesn't pass then this is then I think that we correct we can we don't have any need for your service. Yeah. The only reason that I'm hesitant is because that $67,000 fee, I do remember, of some of the other firms, the initial cost was in the 20s. And I believe there was one firm that there was no cost. And we chose FE because we decided that that dollar amount in getting the
035bond passed, it was very minimal in the whole idea of actually building a school. But that that 62,000 is paid to date. That's we've already paid this. We've already paid. What I'm trying to say is I just want to make sure that this is standard that that dollar amount has to be paid and then some more. Because with those other firms, I don't know if they still would have came back and asked for more money or the one firm that wouldn't ask for any money. Would have they just done also for free and continue doing it for free with the hopes that the bond eventually passes. Doesn't matter. 62 has been paid. But now we're going to have to pay more is what I'm saying. So, I guess maybe we should have clarified that with
036them when we approved them. Was that was to the point of whenever a bond gets passed or is that just for the one bond, I guess, is what I'm trying to say. Cuz I was under the impression that that would last until basically a bond got passed. So, they have done some work without compensation. Oh, yeah. Yeah. So, quite a bit. And this 62,000, just for clarity, is from what time in the past? We had like $11,000 left in that kitty, so to speak, once we started again. Um, but we've been meeting weekly since spring break, before spring break, and they've done that whole reworking of kind of the concept, layout, all of that. So, I mean, a lot of hours and they've been very receptive. I mean, they they changed the architect. I mean,
037I think there was some issue we had before. Yeah, they changed the team. Yeah, you know, I'm fine, but I just want to make sure we're on the same page. So, I think it's good to be aware of every cost we're incurring from this point forward and being very, very tight with that until it absolutely is approved. Now, how much dollar I mean, are you going to like set a dollar amount that we're willing to spend moving forward? So, I feel like that could be unless I mean, are you guys willing to kind of There's nothing more we're doing from a like a design layout standpoint. So, there shouldn't be any cost that way. So really, it's just going to be the time that we would have them be a part of any of our
038stuff leading up to the boat. And you don't see that costing more than I mean less than five grand when it was all said and done. And that's that's no big deal then. So I mean it's still five grand, but I just want to make sure we don't get into a 30 40 $50,000 deal. We also have we also should have budget restrictions. Yeah, for sure. I mean, if it goes if there's a huge budget variance for this, then that that's whom we call in into question. And realistically, if it gets very much, we have to approve it as a board anyways, right? So, we'll keep having this conversation moving forward. Yep. Yep. So, works for me then. Right. Good discussion. All in favor? I opposed. Motion carries. And that's it for new business. Move
039into superintendent updates. Anybody? Yeah. Um I don't have a ton. I did want to again highlight um our new director of operations, Matt Tyler. Um spent time last week with a couple different teams. Um we had a a good um representation of our employee subgroups that were a part of that. Gave a lot of good feedback. Um Matt's coming in excited about this this opportunity and challenge. There's going to be a learning curve for sure. So the onboarding process is going to be really important. Um, and I'm thankful that he's able to to start as soon as he is. But, um, I'm gonna reach out to him a little bit later this week to kind of set up something um, for for next week just to to really start this process. Um, but we're excited
040about it. Uh, FBLA um, sent 14 students. They competed at nationals, which is really amazing that we had that many qualify. Um, two two of two of our students made it to the finals, which is like the top 15 in the country. Um, and then we had one of our our kids too who is now the the lead of the Iowa chapter of FBLA. So, she got to to speak and and and do things um at the national convention as well competition which was really um exciting. Summer school-wise, um John don't feel that there's a page that's not there anymore. So, she created this on Canvas and the front page that has what I was going to highlight isn't there anymore. It went away at some point. I'm not sure why. So, um I'll just
041kind of off memory what what we what she had on there, but we had Lanny Boyd and Renee uh Smith, our two um summer school coordinators. Um they led 13 teachers over the summer, just over not the whole summer, three weeks. Um we had just over 80 students um partake in that about three and a half hours per morning. um he heavy focus on literacy instruction um to to again ensure that we can see a little bit more growth um over that full calendar year um connected to academics. There were numbers in there as far as the number of students that g grew. I since it's not there now, I don't know where it went. I'll send this to you once it gets fixed so you can see it. But it's got reflections from each
042teacher, too, just from a um thoughts on this the the program this summer. So you could take a look at those too. Some some pretty insightful um feedback there. So um another piece that I wanted to highlight is our letters training. Again, this is something that um is approved by the state, but we have somebody um that's going to be doing that for teachers next week. We've got four days again sessions that they're going to be participating in that. And then we've got about 20 teachers that are attending um the the Iowa reading summit in Cedar Rapids, which will be uh two days, pretty intense, long days up in Cedar Rapids. I think it's a Wednesday and a Thursday that during dead week. Um but we have a good chunk of of teachers that are
043going to be attending that. Um either ELA or special education teachers um to continue to to grow and and learn learn more connected to their craft. So excited about that. It's all we got. All right. Good. All right. Um, we're going to highlights. Christie, do you have anything? Uh, softball season's over. Definitely a highlight for me. Um, gosh, it was such a short meeting. Um, I guess the highlight is just, you know, I feel like our our district continues to to move forward and gain uh positive momentum and um just to see all the hard work that Zach's doing, you know, paying off and um things improving is is good to see. Thanks, Dave. Well, I uh I'm a little concerned with the uh this may not be a highlight, but uh with the uh
044the federal revenue embargo for our title programs and our after school and before school programs and that also putting jeopardizing our summer school program because as you see it's well attended and it's it's quite it's quite good. So hopefully that will that will not linger. Even if we have to use part of our flex fun excess flex funds, we won't have to use the whole thing. Uh we don't know the budget really the budget impact of $250,000 from the flex fund. Uh we haven't modeled that, but I don't think we have a choice. Um, so I am concerned with that and I think we all need to keep an eye on that. There's not much that the state can do or we can do. Uh, they go under review and they're under their own time.
045Um, that's sort of the major exposure we have to federal funding. The rest of it is, you know, state or our local control. Um, so that's a concern, a real concern of mine as we start the year. Um, I think that, um, we will have our year-end budget status in August, I believe. Yeah. Yes. And, uh, after we close finish closing the June 30th books. Um, right now I'm outside of this flex fund uh hiccup. Uh, I think that the school district will be very very close to meeting all our financial health goals that we've set in policy and u that would be a a really good thing for for us and our taxpayers and our students and our district. So, um I'm looking forward to that and uh I really appreciate the uh addition
046to the finance committee so that uh we can also assess ourselves by if we have to continually start to keep meeting budget cuts then maybe we as a board are doing our forecasting model or something is done. So I I think that was a good thing. So not necessarily highlights but concerns. important nonetheless. Yeah, it's good. Ty, uh yeah, federal government failing to give us funds that they promised us is definitely not one of my highlights. Um I'm going to say that uh probably our work session and the uh strategic planning meeting before that might be my highlight. Um it's just kind of nice to actually get down to uh having good enlightening discussions about, you know, what it means to be successful at educating our kids. You know, it's not just all test scores.
047It's not just all wins and losses on the sports and everything. And for every kid, it's kind of different and trying to come up with uh some strategic planning that encompasses all of those as success indicators for our final product, which is well um educated uh public school kids. So I I' I've found the discussions enlightening and uh pretty pretty fun to have. Good. Mark Porter. Sure. Um so I just echo everything everyone else said. Um, hey, first and foremost, I think the work session was extremely constructive and I'm really glad that we can sit down as a board and evaluate ourselves and each other and uh be constructive and still be talking at the end of it. So, you know, I think that's a a good thing. And then, of course, I'm very excited
048we got the operations director position filled. That's kind of been a one of those big question marks for the last month with the school year quickly approaching. Um, I think they did as quick and as smooth of a job as you could have asked for to get that filled at the end of July here. So, I'm really pleased to see that. So, I think up and up. I think we're ready to go for the school year and I'm looking forward to seeing what the next school year holds for the district. So, great. Um, I guess mine would be that we passed cell phone policy. So, that's good. I'll say that for Deb, too, since she left because I know she was excited about that. Um, so just get that passed and then we'll see how
049that works out the first of the year and we can kind of keep an eye on that and get some good feedback. Um, and then one other highlight was a couple of us at the fair for getting signatures. And I don't know the number of signatures was really the success, but just more of the interaction with people. I mean, there was just random people that would stop by that you had no idea who they were and just having the conversation. So, I think more of just the awareness and showing that we're there and willing to answer questions and just talk through it with them is was kind of cool. So, yeah, good. Great. It was a little warm, too. No. Um, yeah, lots of echoes here. Um, I think mostly with Tai in terms of
050our work session and and reviewing the strategic plan, it's really good to see all of these indicators and measures and what we're going to be looking towards over the next year. And then that coupled with our um our review and uh I think you know it' be nice to do this again in a year and see how much you know how how things have shifted. So um yeah I'm looking forward to that student success talking more about student success which I think we all really highlighted a lot tonight. So glad we're all on the same page. Thank you guys. All right. Do I hear a motion to adjurnn? All right. Second appointment. All in favor? I adjourned.