001Uh we are at order and Cammy, do we need to approve the agenda? No, it's not on the agenda. It's not on the agenda to approve the agenda. Perfect. So we are going to start with um appoint board member candidate. And I want to start with really fast um just a piece. I talked with Justin and Gina about this beforehand just to give a a bit of ad uh information about what a board member does at our district. Um we serve as a five member board. Um all board members vote and then it's the board's decision and board's action. Uh we don't have any power individually. It is all five as one unit. Uh we have three main jobs as a board and they are set governance and policy. So that's uh handbooks, contracts and
002and then just the operating procedures of how the board operates. We set the budget. So financials, we look at the tax levy, we look at operations and we set that budget. um that comes to us on recommendation from administration and SBO and everybody else. You know, we don't sit down and pencil through every line item and count every pencil and file and everything. It's really kind of coming from um the staff to us and then we have one employee that we directly uh oversee and that is a superintendent. Um we're responsible for their hiring and firing and that is it. Um the rest of the district then is kind of driven and ran by Justin under the guidance of the budget and those policies and so that am I missing anything Gina? That was kind
003of we kind of that that is what the board does. You know we don't have any down in the in the weeds. We're very high level um and we meet once a month. There are a couple months right now in this tax season where we have to have a couple extra meetings um to meet the new state requirement of having the tax levy hearing, but otherwise it's once a month and work session and a work session here or there, but for the most part pretty typical once a month unless we have to fill vacancies and stuff like that. So with that, we do have three candidates uh two in the room. So, what we'll do, uh, James and Jeremy, you'll each get, uh, let's take three to five minutes if you'd like to, um, present.
004You can come up here or you can say where you're at. It doesn't bother me anyway. Anybody care about that? If they Okay. But you can have three to five minutes if you'd like it to say anything else um, on top of what you've already presented to us. So, let's start with start with James because you were here first when I got here. You beat me tonight. If you would tell I I I know Jeremy totally because he was my student and I can go way back back. Probably you can too. Sorry. If you would tell us a little bit about your family background only just for fun. Like how how far back? Not that far back. Me as a kid or just my current current. Yes. All right. Um well I have four kids.
005Uh three of them are in the district. One at a rate that are graduating this year one a year early into pinching college at the same time. Um I have my have my son's in seventh grade. Um variety of sports or academic or vocal or theater pursuits for all the kids. Um we moved here three years ago from West De Mo. We were pretty active in that community for the school. My wife was president of the uh parent faculty club. I was president of the parent faculty club. I had the honor of being president during co uh which was awesome. Uh but we we managed like our big advantage. We uh we kind of stole the idea from Jolly Holiday Lights and did a drive-thru called a drive boo was we hadund and some inflatables
006up and everyone just drove through and gave us loads and loads of money. So that was great. Um, so that's yeah, so we came here, we wanted to be kind of a smaller community, west of Buenos a lot. Um, we love the area. We bought a house out east by Hwell Bridge and I almost never leave it unless I have to. So that's us. Um and my wife is a member of the SCAC meaningful work. Um my background is I'm I'm in cyber security education awareness at Wells Fargo. Um so all day every day I'm teaching people how not to get fired. Um a lot of what I do is policy and governance related to are the policy controls that we own. Part of that I worked on several data and regulatory programs as well
007as installation for software governance regulatory everywhere. Big fan of datadriven decision- making. It uh takes the ambiguity away the subjectivity away and focus only on the objective. Uh I say that and I I think I have a a lion share of empathy for children having the background of where I grew up sort of disadvantaged in Marshall town. Um and my journey here I have a lot of empathy for kids. Um and you know I want to be an advocate for them as well as the teachers and the community all of it. It's all uh takes a village so to speak. Uh so really I guess to sum it up I only have three to five minutes. I will filibuster forever. Uh I wrote down this, you know, I have a passion to participate and engage
008in the conversation and that's what I would I would write. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you, James. Jeremy, well, as most of you know, my name is Jeremy Priest. Um I've been a student for a couple of you. I like saying names. Not me. I'm happy to say that I've evolved since that even that I was when I was a child. But um grew up in this uh community, love the community, love the schools. Um as we know, our children are our future. And uh that's kind of why I like to be involved with the children and help this community in any way I can, the school in any way I can, the kids in any way I can. Um to help our community, our state, our country because it's it's important to me that
009we have a just a thriving community here. So it's in my heart and it always will be. Thank you sir. And then lastly we also have an application or not I shouldn't say application letter letter from Ryan. I always but Swave okay I always butcher the last name so I don't want to do that. And I'm pretty sure I passed along you, but I was want to make sure he reached out when he said it and had our prior work engagement. So, we understand the short turnaround timeline, but um that's why he's not able to be here. He had already our prior work trip commitment that he wasn't able to get out of. So, we have his all three of their responses to the questions in front of. Okay. So, board members, this is the
010the awkward phase. This is what we have to do. And I will just give you a brief bit on this. We think it's awkward. We just had to do this at the IASB board to fill a vacancy there. And it was the same thing. It was open to the public. Open meeting, open voting, open conversation. And it's not comfortable, but we had to do the same thing. We tried to get the lawyer to change it for us. She told us no. So with that um I would entertain a motion uh to fill the vacancy of the position somebody has to appoint somebody that's not what I heard at all to yes officially officially do the appointment and then we can sorry what I heard yes we I need somebody if somebody would make a motion
011for a candidate it. We're on the same page now. Okay, this this is the hard part. I get it. We don't It can be one candidate. It can be two. It can be all three. Correct. A motion for three candidates. I mean, it could be appointment and then you would vote. I'll make a motion to appoint Jeremy. I've known him a long time. Great student, great community kid. Uh, President Leanne boosters. I'd also like to say that I don't think we have three excellent candidates that I don't think, but I'm just more familiar with Jeremy and I think you do a fantastic job. The motions need a second. Cammy, please. Okay. Is there a second? I second that. Okay. Motion by Tim, second by Emily or Jeremy. Are there any other nominations? This is so
012hard because I wish we had time. Great candidates. I I can go either way. So I I can make the motion to nominate James. I Okay. Yeah, you too. Is there a second? I will second that. Any other nominations? Do I need to make a motion to cease nominations? Cammy, I think you closed. Nominations are closed. Perfect. Okay. So, we have two candidates, uh, Jeremy and James. We will just do a roll call vote, Cammy, and you will say the name of the candidate you choose. We will on the first one, Jeremy Freeze. Emily, Emily Rmmeer. Jared. Yes. voting or you're voting for Okay, we're voting on the first on the motion that's been seconded for Jeremy Freeze to fill the position. So, so should I say we sorry, you can tell we don't do
013this often. We're not doing this. Yes, it is. And we're also very privileged to have multiple people. First of all, I mean, I mean, that is huge. So, I took Sorry. I figure we would just go around and say which person like we did when we filled last time. All right. So, we have two nominations on the floor. Jeremy, so I will call each of you and you will cast your vote. Yes. All right. Does that work? Try this. Oh, you're right. That's how we did it with when with Tim. We you called Emily still wants to be here, guys. Sorry. Emily, you are casting your vote. Jeremy Jared Jeremy Gina I will go Jeremy and Tim All right. Thank you all. Yeah so much. Can I I want to echo the board sentiment on
014on quality of candidates. Um uh there'll opportunity again in the fall if you're interested and me and there'll be seats open. said we had been three three. This is not easy. Yeah. And we've had to do this twice now in my time and I don't like doing it at all. Please run in November because Jeremy will have to run again in November. Yeah. And stay involved. I mean, so is Tim. So, yes, please. Okay. With that, Cammy, let's swear. Jeremy, you get to come in and you actually get to take your seat tonight and have and stay for the board meeting of the next one at five o'clock. Surprise. If you can. You said you got to be out here by what time? 6:30. We'll be out by 6:30. We'll be out by 6:30. Jeremy,
015do you solemnly swear that you will support the Constitution of the United States and the Constitution of the State of Iowa? That you will faithfully and impartially, to the best of your ability, discharge the duties of the office of board member in the Winter Community School District as now and hereafter required by law. Congratulations to the board. Thank you. Um, next on the agenda, and Jeremy, you have a pile of papers there in front of you. I believe we're on the the right hand pile. I don't know if he gave me the updated file or not. Um, next on the agenda is fiscal year 26 contract certified group. And with that, um, we are tableabling that permission to table. So, and I can just put that on the table, right, Cammy, or do we have
016to? Yes, it is tabled. We have no settlement at this point. Perfect. So, no action on three. It'll be table. And we're on to four, which is adjournmented. We are ajourned till five o'clock when we have our next one.