001Call to order the Prairie Hill Community Consolidated School District number 133 in Winnipeg County regular meeting. Um, today is September 24th, 2025. And it is 5:30 p.m. >> I get a roll call. Mrs. Alenbacher >> here, >> Mrs. Ash here, >> Mrs. Anderson here, >> Mr. Shuckman here, >> Mr. Spin here, Mr. Keller here, and Mr. Lewis >> here. Awesome. Go forward. Pledge of allegiance, please. I pledge algiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. >> Yes. Yeah. >> Everybody [snorts] and a quorum is perfect. Thank you. You can say it too. has said a statement by the president. That is not me. >> Oh, it does. >> Nor do I want to be
002>> All right. Today, I think we're going to start with the pride of hope. >> Yes. So, tonight we have some new teachers, president. Thank you for coming. Appreciate it. Uh Craig, Jackie, you want to give a little synopsis about who's joining us this year? So, we added some positions at Prairie Hill moving into 2526. and I have a fourth grade teacher, then third grade teacher, and first grade teacher. So, very excited to introduce. We'll start in first grade. Paige, soon to be really Mrs. Ro. Very excited. Welcome, Paige. Come on up, Paige. [laughter] >> [laughter] >> Welcome to Prairie Hill. Paige was actually a student of mine when I was a teacher at Ced Mac. >> So, so welcome. Thank you for joining me back over here. >> Um, in third grade, I have
003Miss Ally Bowers. Come on up. Ally comes from Rectton, Harlem. And now back to Prairie Hill. Thank you. And Latin here today. I have Mrs. Dominic. Welcome, Mrs. Dominic. In fourth grade joining us from Sherlock. So, welcome. Thank you all for coming. Very excited to have you. We also have in um at Prairie Hill, we have a new speech language pathologist, Hannah Lamar. I could not be here tonight. Another new fourth grade teacher was Lorie Dixon. And I think that was it for me. So make sure we get that. Welcome. >> Oh, hold on. >> Perfecting. >> I just my new our new speech language. There you go. Sorry. What was I'm taking minutes. What was our last? >> All right. So, for we have two new teachers this year that are joining us. Um
004here tonight we have Tyler Zimmerman who is our PE and health teacher. Tyler is went and graduated from joining us fresh out of school. Um I had the pleasure of on. So he interviewed when we did the round in spring and I think they've gifted him really nice fall weather because they've been able to be outside with [laughter] >> so thank you for being here. >> Um and then we also have Brad Brown who wasn't able to make it tonight. He is the teacher for eighth and seventh grade. Um he worked a couple years previously as a teacher in Arlunk Middle School and in partic So, welcome to you guys. >> So, you can you can stay or you can go. But before you stay or go, let's get a picture here real quick in
005front of the back. >> I think I them all did. >> Okay. I had a feeling I heard >> [clears throat] [laughter] >> Straight under the >> totally [laughter] what it's all about. There's another theme. Um, >> thank you very much. >> [laughter] >> All right. Next is the reception of communications and audience of visitors. Um, two speakers tonight, Phil and Christine. Would you like like to go ahead and speak? >> Um, do you want me to sit here? >> Okay. I am Christine Randall and um we have two children who attend Willoughbrook. Um a little bit about myself. I graduated from University of Northern Iowa um in Cedar Falls uh with a double major in early childhood education, elementary education. Um I was a kindergarten teacher and then I was a special education teacher
006in Iowa and Nebraska. Um I um had um a lot of experience putting schedules together, accommodating special needs students, um basically making things work. Um meaning that the students always came first and um moving forward as a parent, I've always taken the approach to allow our kids to have as many opportunities as possible. Um, I was always going to be the mom who exposed the kids to everything and then allow them to choose what they wanted to do. Um, but I wanted to be in in an activity that was very important to me. And so far our kids have um rise to the occasion. Um, so I think that um they should do everything that they want to do um at this age, not look back. um and not at you know 80 years old
007think gosh I wish I would have done this or I wish I would have done that. Um for these reasons um when it comes to academics here at Willbrook I think that all children should be allowed to play that sport. Um volleyball in in particular. Um our daughter was was cut this year from sport. Um having multiple years of playing um the sport and um she uh she was cut uh from two days of of uh working um on uh open gym um and then one day of tryyous. Um, and there was no feedback from the coach on it. Um, until she decided that she would reach out, "Mom, can I reach out to the coach and ask her why I couldn't make the team or why I didn't make the team?" And we encouraged
008her to do that. Um, that was her idea. Although, in the back of my mind, the whole time I was thinking, gosh, I wonder what happened. I wonder why she didn't make the the the team. Um she was very disappointed in herself and um but I I didn't nag her about it. It is what it is. Um so the volleyball season continues to move along. Each week I find myself asking myself whether the decision makers for this particular sport considered uh moving practice times to accommodate more players. I understood there was a lot of players this year. Um, would parent volunteers rise to the occasion and assist with coaching if practice time was held later in the day um or the evening time? Could practices be held outside on nice weather days? We're fortunate to
009have those nice weather days now. Um, and does posting who made the team um need to be done on Facebook? Uh was another question I had. Um, none of these questions were um were talked about with my daughter. These were all just questions that I had. Um, and with the number of athletes that want to try volleyball, um, can cutting weight until high school, um, does the coach reach out to whomever um, she chooses to cut personally and explain why the decisions to cut were made? Um, I kind of knew the answer to that, but that was still one of my one of my questions, one of my concerns. Um, and you know, I'm just I'm just unsure about why why can't accommodations be made? Why can't schedules be created? Um, I've created a ton
010of schedules over my 26 years of teaching. I know it's hard. I know it's difficult, but we do what's best for kids. That is something that my principles, my superintendent that I had over the years stressed, we do what's best for kids. If this many kids want to play volleyball at middle school, then they should be playing. Let the cutting happen at the high school. And there has to be a way to make this um make this work. I just I find myself awake at night thinking, gosh, what what can I do to help this process for the coming years? Um, so that's why I'm here tonight. I know that nothing will be changed this year. I know that we can't go back. Um, but there's going to be basketball. There's going to be other
011sports um that we have to have to consider. Um, let's not break the kids now at middle school. let it be done later in life when they um have the means to deal with it. I never visited um with my daughter about these issues. Um I didn't think it was my place to get involved, have her worry about it. I just supported um what was done and told Allison that, you know, what happened um happened and thank goodness you can be a manager this year. you can still be on the team that way. Um, I think that all students at Willoughbrook should be allowed to develop their skills and talents outside the classroom without potentially being cut. Accommodating students should always be the goal. Um, having more than one team has also come up um
012come up in my mind um more than once. And again, I think I'm here tonight because this still bothers me internally. Um, I feel like I've talen I've spoke with the principal. I've spoken with the superintendent. Now I'm here. Um, and I just feel passionate about having all kids, even if they're special ed kids, be exposed to volleyball if they want to be. And I'm just talking about one sport because that's what affected our family. But I'm sure that basketball, you know, it has probably the same uh same issues. Maybe, maybe not. But, you know, I just think that accommodating all students should be our final goal. Um, I was never, as I said, I was never the parent who complained. And, you know, I thought, gosh, was my daughter cut? Because I never complained
013last year about whether or not she got to play. She did play as a at will last year as a seventh grader. I never um on the eighth grade team. I never complained to the coach when the coach sat her down. Um, the only feedback I gave my daughter was, "How can we be better next time? What do we need to work on? You're the expert. You tell me what why aren't you playing? Tell me what you need to work on." And and she would tell me, "I need to do better at this." And I said, "Well, let's find a way to do that." Uh, we tape all of the volleyball games that we can that we get on our TV so she can watch college girls play. Um, which is very important to her.
014Um, she really likes volleyball and I think that, um, it was wonderful. She got to be the manager this year. Um, so she's still a part of it, but she's, you know, she's not playing as much as she wants to be, but at least she's a part of it and she's happy with that. So, I'm not um I'm not upset with with that part of it. Um, but again, I just I've thought about this over weeks after weeks, and I just I keep coming back to my principles and my superintendent always said, "Figure it out. Do what's best for the kids." Figure it out. You got to figure it out. If it takes if it takes weekends to figure it out, you figure it out. Um, but thank you for your time. Um, education's close
015to my heart as a former educator. Um, I appreciate you dedicating your time, um, your talents and your interests to the students in the district. >> Thank you. >> Yeah. So, I'm Phil Ramsel. Um, similar story to to to my wife Christine, but you know, our our request here is to to look beyond maybe what practices are currently today. Okay. Um, you know, just a little bit of of my background. Um, I grew up in Nebraska. Okay. I went to uh college in the 90s and uh um played college football. Um and uh you know during those years I mean more than just a few handfuls of guys that I played with or against national championship rings today. Okay. A few of them that were able to play in NFL uh training camps and and
016so forth during this year. So, I was able to to experience athletics from a a very good level. Um, I was a student at Nebraska when uh when uh they won their first volleyball national championship. Um, my sister Casey uh went to Kraton University. My sisters are brilliant people. Uh, Casey today's the lieutenant colonel in US Army. Uh, both of them are veterinarians. Uh, they played ball at a high level. One of their teams is in the Nebraska High School Sports Hall of Fame. We got a lot from sports and and I can remember my sisters when they first started playing volleyball. Um and you know Casey had the opportunity to play on Craig's very first volleyball team which she transferred to a different school and didn't do that. She played at a different school.
017But you know here's the deal. I mean we've been very successful. We had that competitive uh environment around us as kids. We were around other competitive kids. Um, you know, we I've done research and so forth. I mean, you can go on Google Scholar. I could bring in a list or basically stack of referee journal art against this team that that that highlight the importance of, you know, having these opportunities for kids. When my sisters first played volleyball, I mean, there wasn't enough seats hardly uh, you know, for all the girls to sit on the, uh, uh, on the bench. And they would have had three different teams. And eventually they sorted things out. they found their interests and so forth. You know, the girls that enjoyed uh playing uh they continued to play and
018uh and got very good at it. Um the others maybe found different interest as as they grew up. I really think that we're we're limiting, you know, some of these these kids opportunities um as as we we move forward. I've attended one of our volleyball games. We've got a we've got a tremendous team um this year. They're doing extremely well. Um the the game game that I attended and picked up my daughter was uh was was Harlem. They had 12 girls. They had 12 girls on on on that team. Harlem has two teams. Okay. So they have they have two teams. I would assume that both of them have 12 players on the team. Our team has 10. We have 10 players on our team. They played three sets. Um you know, our team won
019all three sets. And when it got to that uh that third set and again the girls that hadn't played as much got in, they weren't very competitive. I can tell you because I've watched these girls play. I've watched them play in summer leagues and so forth. Girls that even though they didn't get onto the team this year, they would have been competitive in that third set from this school and they don't all have the opportunity to be on the team this year. And I I I think that that that needs to to have a policy change in terms of this. When when Allison tried out as a sixth grader, I asked to come in and and and and to learn more. We were new to this this area and so forth. Um my first email
020was to the volleyball coach and no reply. My second email was to Mrs. Thompson. I asked Mrs. Thompson, can I come in and and and visit? We were new to the school. I want to understand what the the policies and practices were like. I got pushed back to the volleyball coach and so really no no discussion happened this year. I gave them 24 hours. I insisted on a meeting. Uh wasn't getting anywhere in terms of okay well hey we can meet you on this day or that day. Insisted again and again and again. Finally I got to meet got to meet with Mrs. Thompson got to meet with the volleyball coach and the athletic director and then finally Mr. Chisy. They were great in terms of sitting down and visiting with us. But I really
021felt like I had to stand on my my head in terms of I want to meet to get time to meet and then in the process of this we find out that okay we have tryyouts and stuff we go attend so so kids get playing time so they don't have to deal with the parents and I I you know parents are stakeholders of of the school and so forth. I think there's enough interest of these kids and so forth. I really believe that if the school said, "Hey, let's increase the the exposure of what we're doing for school volleyball." I think the parents would help. And that's that's really kind of where my request is with with the administration with the schools and so forth. You know, our daughter's last year is this year, you
022know, but looking forward in terms of kids opportunities from here on out, I really think that this program could be bigger and to give more kids an opportunity to to experience the competition in the sports and so forth as we go forward from sixth on to 8th grade, you know. And if we don't believe that there's other schools that that will play us today, I I I beg to differ because I know that there are. We came from a smaller school district over in in Illinois um over at Eastland and I know that they're putting school programs together, parents and so forth are putting volleyball and basketball and they're looking for teams to play. So I don't think it would take as much looking in terms of finding places and times for these kids to
023play and that's my request here tonight. >> Thank you. Thank you both for speaking. Thank you. >> Thank you. to catch. >> Oh yeah, I was going to say this is that time we always say you guys can leave us. We won't be offended. What am I looking like over there? >> I know. I couldn't find the next step because Okay. Okay. Do I skip the Oh, no. Did I skip the principles? Have you guys yet consent? >> Just that. All right. Uh, next, I will entertain a motion to approve the consent agenda. It would include approval of August regular meeting minutes, August committee meeting minutes, September bills equaling $91,47.73. September payroll $251,5802 and September treasures report and student activity funds. >> Motion to approve. Second. >> Who seconded? I [laughter] >> uh Mr. Lewis.
024>> Yes. >> I'm the one that's supposed to be forgetting this stuff. Uh Mr. Calla abstain. >> Mrs. Finnegan, >> approve. >> Mr. Shuckman, >> yes. >> Mrs. Anderson, >> yes. >> Mrs. Aishai, >> yes. >> And Mr. Almucker, >> yes. >> All right. Administrator report. >> You want to go harder? >> Let you go. I'll study. >> All right. Well, um at Wilbrook, obviously we are parents probably get this too, but as teachers and administrators, we are well into school year. It is not new anymore. Um so there's a lot that happening at the middle school. Um like to shout out for the band, sixth, seventh, and eighth grade. They did play at our school parade back to the beginning of the month. Um they're also making an appearance at Han this weekend and
025they've always been a lot of fun to watch especially the last couple years they've really grown to a phenomenal middle school weekend. Um we have a lot of our extracurricular activities happening in addition to the volleyball we just heard about. We have soccer that's playing out back right now. Um our cheer and dance teams are in the midst of preparing for basketball season. We just finished basketball triyouts with the boys. Um, we have already started newspaper club, permaculture club, earbook club, run club, and petrol. You can see we have our bunnies back with us. Um, they don't smell yet, but just we'll see what it's worse. We have chickens, little chicks in here. They smell way worse than the bike. So, >> earthy brace yourself. Um we also have the Scotty who's here tonight actually
026runs our student council crew and so we did um the the process of students can get signatures from teachers and principles and then they run for president, vice president, secretary and treasurer. They have to get signatures from students as well but then they put together little videos. Mrs. thought he put them all on like a a large video that students then just also watch throughout the day on a certain day and play vote. Um, and this year there was a great turnout for students who ran. Um, it's always kind of funny. It's kind of like sports end of both over there. [laughter] So, sometimes we get a lot of students interested and sometimes we're like begging students to participate. This year we had a lot of really um awesome students who wanted to do it
027who put a lot into their posters and their campaign so to speak. Um so that's really cool to see and we ended up with a nice crew. Um FA is our president for you know doctor is our vice president. Am I going to mess these two up to help me? Lola Monson is secretary. >> Yep. >> Yes. And then treasure. Sorry. Treasure is >> treasure is >> Lola's Lola's secretary. Just think what's it? Hendricks. >> Hendrick. >> Treasure money. Josh money. That's how it is in my head. >> [laughter] >> So, it's it's also nice to see that you have it's a whole eighth grade crew, which not to say that it's not nice to see the other grade level try for it as well. Um, but it's nice when you have strong leaders in
028eighth grade. I like looked at it that um we did have our first fire drill this past week. We did a wonderful job. We tried something new where we told teachers it was coming, but I didn't tell them the day or the time. Um, and actually it's probably one of the new bits that I've seen in a while because I think that they know it's coming. They get all riled up about it. We're actually when they launch this one off, they were quiet by it and actually went the building and did a nice job. Um, they'll be we'll do another one. They have us do three every year. So, we'll do another one next month that one. Um, at the end of the month on September 30th 30th, we'll have our first uh Wolverine work
029habit posting. So these are basically your character skills that teachers give for for students in the classes that they take. So there's respect, responsibility, and perseverance. However, we did add one this year um that's called homework. The super um we did this because since we are a standardsbased school, we found it sometimes a struggle to get students in middle school to actually complete and do homework because they don't think it goes into like a score. Um, and so we're trying to help get them ready for high school as much as we can. And so now there's an actual like it'll still be a one, two, three. Um, but there's a quantitative score for like if you complete 10 out of 10 assignments in a a month, you get a three. And if you complete seven
030out of 10, you get a two and like that. So then we can also communicate a little bit more clearly to parents um exactly what students are doing when it comes to um we talked about 20th on October 10th or not October 10th October 3rd we actually will have our first week blue day of the year. Um so for those of you who have heard about these before um some of you probably haven't so I'll give you a little rundown. It's we do these quarterly. They end up being about quarterly. So four times a year we focus the theme on one of our work habits. Um and then we also have a mental health day as well. But the day serves kind of a couple of purposes. So we we do an alternative schedule. We
031have students focus on a particular character trait. So the first one that coming up is responsibility. And then it also alleviates teachers for some much needed work time because of the alternative schedule. So, this one coming up, for example, um we have Chad Dhy from high school coming to talk to seventh graders about responsibility skills that they could practice and really hone in here at middle school before they go to high school. And then we have Mike Ryan coming back because why does Mike Ryan back? [clears throat] He is going to do a little bit of responsibility kind of knowing your surroundings and knowing what to do in the case of an emergency. So, it's come up lately that for our evacuation drill, like our um intruder drill when we if anything were to ever
032happen, our designated spot is Delphanto property, which is like through the woods over here, but we've had, you know, staff turnover and the kids have never really been out there to see it. So, he's gonna come and kind of do like a fall nature walk slash here's what happens in case of emergency, the direction you go, the place that you need to land and help give staff and students an idea of where that is. So, um we'll do a couple lessons with the responsibility as well within there throughout the day. Um and then the kids get to have a little bit of fun too and gym stuff there too. So, uh we we will hold that day with our color run. So, it's full action-packed and we have a lot happening on those days. are
033very busy. Um the color we're excited about this year um not only because it's a lot of fun to throw color at kids, but the PFA incentivizing students that actually if they raise I think it's over $60 or a minimum of $60 that they will have the opportunity to slime certain staff members and principal in the middle of the field. So, we're hoping because it kind of loses the luster a little bit in middle school if this school will revamp some of their willingness to bring in money because then they can even bring it in on the day like, "Hey, don't forget tomorrow's color. If you bring 60 bucks, you get to line a teacher, you can just line the temp." And so hopefully that will >> do they get to pick who they slime.
034Um there's so I was like we get a list of teachers staff who volunteered and so I sent it out and I was like I don't know this might be a hard sell and I think I have at least 12 teachers like myself who are like why not why not why not so >> um I don't know exactly how the PSA wants to run this I'm assuming be out there and the kids can come up and dump it on whoever they want to >> I think you should get the superintendent in on that too I night. >> I don't think the kids will be as excited. I'm >> taking [clears throat and laughter] >> Thank you, Mrs. Thompson. Yes, we are well underway at Pur Hill. Just uh quick update. Uh the last 48 we
035did end up having our Jackstory Garden dedication. It was a great event. It was a beautiful day. Perfect day, like 62 degrees. I think there was probably about hundred people more or less that came to enjoy the new space. They heard stories that u Mrs. Balman has written a children's book and she did read it to start the event and end the event. So we had rotating readalouds enjoyed the space painted rocks that are out there in the um in front of the seat area uh drawings on the sidewalks and we just enjoyed the space. It was a good it was a good turnout. um our back to school barbecue last Friday. We we had to do a last minute cancellation. It was about five o'clock the day before uh the Friday before Labor Day
036and we had that just there was no rain in the forecast. There was nothing there and it just got everything wet. So, we had to postpone, but we still had a really good turnout. Um there was live music this year which seemed to get some good press. Uh, we did have a few complaints that um I wasn't in a dunk tank this year. [clears throat] We will work on that to return to Dunk Tank next year, but other than that, >> we'll throw, you know, whatever. We'll figure it out. But it it worked out well because I did get to circulate a lot more this year, so it was good. >> Um, each of our grade level teams are problem solving and collaborating. It's well underway. The meetings have been going well. I've been going
037to most of them. Um teachers are working hard to plan and deliver the instruction for where their students are at. Very proud of how hard they're working. Uh furthermore, we have um identified our math and reading intervention groups, our students who need just a little extra boost. Mrs. Wright and Mrs. Jenkins spent its first two or three weeks assessing students and now they are full in giving the extra instruction to help catch their nails up. So remember that. Uh, our fourth graders uh got to experience the creek walk with Mr. Rise. Uh, it was a really cool day. >> Yes. No quit. >> Uh, quick shout out to him, Mr. and Mrs. Keller and M. Del Santo for clearing out that space right across the street from Prairie Hill. Um, as somebody that's newer to
038the district, just seeing that physical space that close to the building, the outdoor classroom I used to do up with as a teacher to be that close to school physically and to have that space where you actually do feel immersed in nature is a great experience. And it he did four one-hour long sessions. Um, I went to one of them. The hour flew by. Mr. Ryan puts on a show. It was fantastic. I mean, it's lined with logs and you got logged benches and it's an outdoor classroom. It was fantastic. Great response from the students and I believe the teachers. Sorry, Dominic put you on the spot, but it was a good day. >> It was a great time. >> The kid love it was awesome. Uh, we too also had our first fire drill
039and it went really well. Our next fire drill will also be at the fire department next month. Uh we will also towards the end of next month look for communication and did schedule with um the sheriff's department to do our lockdown secure drill with them. So I'll send out an email um I'll notify parents in the October periodical but then I'll also send a separate email like I did last year about our about that procedure. Um I believe Mr. Sizzik did bring up about our prek playground kind of at the cow. Was that correct? Uh we did meet with Park and Play uh which is a vendor. Uh we did get some rendering, some pictures of of some possible equipment we could put in there. Um so we're just kind of going back and forth
040and looking at cost, but um it's not as cheap as I was hoping for. Don't worry about her. >> And so the >> the initial so we're looking at everything, but we we're we're we were looking at a space to accommodate between 50 and 60 students. And right now the initial rough estimate was 70. So we're just in the beginning stages of research and just look. Yeah. means [laughter] >> to remind you how this idea was like just going to be so simple. We're just going to add >> a lot of options. We just wanted the G. We just wanted >> just making sure we part of the competition >> but you know we're looking to have >> but I'm just telling we're starting in process of just looking to see what all the options
041are. So, this will be not something we can just Thanks, Clint. [laughter] >> You're doing great. >> Thank you. Keep working. Uh, but we're going to keep working. >> Thanks, too. >> But they the equipment is really nice. I I do know the the vendor um RPS used them. Kick you the Kick School District used them for >> their Adam. Does anybody from there remember like the wooden structure, the play world that was over there? Kids World. I know >> they tore that down. >> They tore it down and replaced it with some of the stuff >> like the wood stuff. >> Well, problem with they had a problem with buying stock in >> so they did they did it uh they had a good experience also. Whitman Post had I was actually part of
042it at the community event 15 years ago. They've used this company as well. I mean it's good equipment and it's but you know we'll keep looking just keep exploring >> exploring options. Thank you. So I just want to let you know um I'll also be kind of talking with PSA as well just kind of gauge where they're at and maybe wanting to be a part of this process. Staffing update. We are fully staffed at the moment at this current moment September 20th. >> What? But >> but we will have some openings uh that we're still needing to fill specifically um some resource teachers. Um I did call down to NIU and ISU because we still do have a open special education teacher position. Um and I talked to NIU and ISU about their job fairs.
043NIU won't be very fruitful because their teachers are in classes. So, the goal is to maybe meet some people graduating that semester. Um, however, ISU, I got a good feel from them. I think what ISU does is they dismiss all of their student teachers to go to this job fair. So, I'm going to be attending and trying to get some candidates to maybe hire term some new special education. >> Bring the dump. >> Yeah, whatever. I'll do what I got to do. Um, but we, as you'll see in the personnel report, we're also going to be um needing a new school nurse. um June. Well, uh jogathon is Friday. The field is ready to go. Uh staff is going to be parking all over the property to try to have parents be able to park
044in the parking lot. We're going to try to get as many people safely on property as possible. Um we did do an alternative parking for barbecue and nobody parked in the neighborhood, nobody parked on the road, and very few people parked in the grass around the playground. So, it's very exciting. So, we'll see how it goes. I'm excited. So, very help. There we go. Any questions? Thank you. >> All right. Thank you. >> Mine's quick. They hit on pretty much everything that I talked about at the cow or was going to I have a couple things for uh close session and then once we move on to uh building and finance, I'll give the budget presentation. >> All right. So, I'll move on to building and finance. Are we ready for the budget presentation? >>
045Ready. >> All right. Will you give me a chance? >> Happy transition. Hurry. Ah, I'm waiting. Okay. Uh, similar to past years, uh, just a real simple budget presentation, give some numbers that we can come up with. Do >> you have to start the budget hearing time and all that? >> Oh, yeah. Sorry. >> Yeah. Thank you. I was so interested >> I very much appreciate that >> is what are we at 609 >> 609 >> um okay 2526 budget presentation >> officially starting here we go >> all right so as we remember education is the fund responsible for everything education related including salaries benefits materials staff development and special education um as a reminder salaries uh are, you know, 70 80% of the budget. So, they're quite a large amount. Um, expected revenue 4.6
046million. Uh, that comes from the tax levy, district fees, and other such things locally. State 3.2 million. Uh, federal 316,000 for a total of 8,23,82. Expected expenditures uh we have salary, benefits, supplies and instruction uh at 5,980,640 uh with support services at 2,122,82 for a total of 8,10342. Uh the bigger a big part of that uh are payments to other units like the Winnebago County Special Education Cooperative and Alternative Schools. Uh so as a as a reminder and for those of you that don't know the Wnebago special education uh cooperative is a cooperative of nine local districts uh that all work together to help provide different services to different districts within that uh organization. So um they give us opportunities for students that might have a little different needs that we're able to help with
047uh for different programs, schooling, that sort of thing. as well as um kind of some higherend professionals as far as like occupational therapists um you know your OT your PT your physical therapists um sometimes speech we are fortunate enough that we've hired uh speech for each building so uh that's very exciting so that's taking that down but like most other things uh they we are um budgeting for about $45,487 and we do still have some other students that are going to some other schools that require a little bit more uh which means typically a little bit more money or a lot more depending upon. So uh that's what we're budgeted at. So Clark Education uh operations and maintenance uh that comes specifically from local tax dollars. Uh so we levied for $791,943 expendit uh expenditures
048support services for 787679. uh salaries and benefits, purchase services, supplies and materials, those sorts of things. Uh and as a reminder, that fund is responsible for maintenance salaries, benefits, supplies, and contracts involving the different buildings. When we look at debt service, that is our bond for Willowbrook. Uh as you as you know or we've talked about, that bond will be falling off uh I believe after next year. Uh this is the highest one that we will have and then it drops down to about I want to say like $850,000ish dollars. um the boards before you and before me were very aggressive in their uh consolidation. So, this is a really big one uh that we have to levy for and then I think next year is the last one um at the $850ish,000. Uh so,
049we'll talk about that a little bit in the coming months and what that looks like. So, uh that's just a money in money out fund. Transportation expected uh revenue again the local the tax levy that's 149,562. uh state will be reimbursing around 215,000. That's what we're expecting. Always hope for more, but that doesn't necessarily mean we'll get more. Uh for a total of 364,562 and the expected uh expected expenditure for support services for per student who is our bus service provider for regular education and special education transportation of around 494200 $4 million4,200. Um, and I'll talk I'll briefly touch on these when we get to the final slide. Uh, just to give you a little bit more perspective on where those are at. Uh, I am reference social security. Those are retirement benefits for our
050non-certified staff. Again, that's a tax levy. We levy $249,23. Uh, benefits are 147267. Support services for outstaff food service on&m operations and maintenance. Uh, for a total of $266,277. Capital projects. We don't have anything going on yet. Maybe in the future, but right now we're zero in, zero out. What's that? >> Playground. >> As you can tell, the expected revenue is zero. So, we can try. We have no expenditure either. So, uh working in cash, uh we typically levy for, you know, around $5,000 at least since I've been here just to continue to grow that fund balance. Um it's a fund responsible for school district funded projects, supplies and materials. Uh so a fund that we can use in a variety of ways within the limits of the law obviously. Uh and right now no
051expected expenditures for that working cash fund tors uh it's not really one that we've ever really utilized. Most of the money that we spent for education purposes come out of the education fund. Uh but it can be used to pay for the cost of district insurance, risk management, um like uh comprehensive insurance, that sort of thing. and payments are toward judgments. The veil sometimes can go in there, but again, we typically use the education fund to pay for those sorts of things. Fire prevention and safety, uh 10,583. This is the fund responsible for capital improvements, health and life safety projects. Uh we just had that redone and we need to take a look at what that looks like for the money that we have. Um we're we're doing really well on our health and life
052safety projects. Um, so we'll we'll put the money towards that. We usually have about 10 years to get that done. So, um, we're in really good shape there. So, no need to ask for hundreds of thousands of dollars in the tax levy. So, if you want to put it kind of all together, and it's a little tough to see on the screen, so I apologize, but I'll kind of go through it. Uh, the ad fund there between the revenue expenditure were technically for budgeting purposes uh, in the red at 305,127. Now, there's a few reasons for this. Um, one when we did the CVA, the collective barney agreement with the teachers uh for this our fourth year I believe in the contract um we expected to do some quote unquote deficit uh spending. Now we
053have the fund balances for it. So we knew we were going to be fund balance spending. Uh also within that we have about an 18% increase in health insurance that we're looking at. I don't know what that number actually is and probably won't till about November, December, but it was between 17 and a half and 18% last year. We were able to get it down to that 17 and a half, but they came back at 18. Actually, originally they came back around 22 23% um when they negotiated that down. So, that number could be lower based upon whatever health insurance comes back. We had met with our insurance agent um and things are looking better than they were in the last year, but there's still some pretty major things out there right now. So, uh
054there's that in there. Uh there's also the para educator CBA um which is new money uh that we that we have as well for those salaries uh and benefits. And then um just to give you a little bit of an idea too for federal funding, we were we're about $70,000 less than we got between our title and our idea grants uh at this moment in time. Now there are times, you know, to be transparent at the end of the year where they may dump some money in, but it's not anything that we that we count on. So we're just fortunate that we we're able to get that. So there's where that is right there. Uh O and M deficit of uh 5,736. So we'll we'll levy for a little bit more there when we come
055to the tax levy. Bonds that's at zero. Transportation that was by design as well. Uh deficit of 129638. Uh we had a pretty high fund balance in that fund. Uh upwards of a half a million dollars. So, a couple years ago, we made the decision that we're going to spend that down a little bit uh because there's no reason to have it in there. We can put that a million other places like education and m we will bump that up just a little bit based upon our contract uh so we don't drain it all the way down. Uh and we have a healthy fund balance, but we're right on track where we want to be there. Uh IMRF and social security showing as 17,074 in the uh red. You know, that one can fluctuate based
056upon number of staff that we have. Uh again, that's the retirement funds there. So, uh you know, we're budgeted there. I think we'll be okay, but just showing that number there. Uh capital projects at zero, working cash, we're at the plus $5,191 toward zero, and then health, life safety at 10,583. So, when you have those all together, it's about $441,81. Um again, a lot of that will come from bond fund balances that were already planned for. Um if we get extra money from the federal, that's going to help out quite a bit. and it just gives me an idea where I need to levy for more taxes um as far as like on and m and transportation. So, uh and unfortunately, you know, everything is going up. We have different maintenance contracts and um you
057know, always always with staff that's always building up. So, uh that's where we are right now. Any questions, comments, concerns? It is a budget hearing. So, if there's anybody in the audience that has any questions, comments or concern, please feel free. >> Is it normal to be that far in hold? >> Um, I I think when it's by design, it's fine. >> Okay. >> Yeah. >> Where do you make up for it? I guess I don't understand how that works. >> So, when it comes to like education and and and what we planned on when we had negotiations, you don't necessarily make up for it. um except for hoping that the state finally funds us at 100% or all the federal money come >> but the money has to come from somewhere. So that's what
058I mean make up for it like like you have to pay those salaries. You don't just get to the end of the year and be like >> No. So we've built up fund balances over the last 10 20 years and the millions of dollars. >> Gotcha. So we just take it from there. Correct. >> It's like dip in your savings account. >> Correct. Okay. >> Yes. Yeah. I mean it's not it's not 100% ideal by any means. Right. You want to have a balanced budget. we want to be at zero. Um, so even though it shows it's a deficit, like we have the money. We're not deficit spending by any >> Gotcha. Do you know roughly what the current fund balance is? >> Um, I don't off the top of my head. >> Yeah, I
059I would say usually we're in the three to$4 million. >> Okay. >> But it depends upon tax money coming in. you want to be around. So if you look at our audit and we'll have that here in the next few months, we're typically around 215 220 days that we could go without any money from any taxes, any state, any anything, grants, right? That sort of thing. Um where the comfort level typically has been in talking to other school districts is around 200 days cash on hand. So we're we're still in really good shape. Um, you know, if the state ever decided to fund us at 100%, this would never be an issue. Gotcha. But they just don't. Um, the other option would be to ask for more tax money, raise taxes. >> It's not a
060very positive opinion to do that. So, um, you know, a couple things that we talked about at the cow the other night might be viable options with the restructuring of the bond, uh, which Bob Lewis is coming to talk about at the October cow. Um, and the the idea has been floating around about the 1% Winnebago County sales tax that can be used for specific things but could help offset other jobs. >> So, is report going to give us essentially an accurate fund balance >> once the money is put in? Yes. >> Because it says 4.5 million for the total. >> Yeah. >> As of September 19th. >> Yeah. There are a couple that were a little off because the money has just come in but it hasn't been posted to our thought. >> Yep.
061And that can kind of eb and flow too. I think we talked about that a few minutes ago. >> Yep. >> So yeah, that's that sounds about right. >> And then we I was looking at it because I kind of wanted to see like a comparison to the the amended budget that we looked at a few months ago. That one was negative 151,000. I'm assuming that's essentially what we ended the fiscal year with, right? Because we looked at this in June, which was right at the end of the fiscal year. >> I guess my main thought here, and I know the the backstory because I've been on the board or came to meetings beforehand, like we're spending down our fund balances a little bit every year. I just am starting to wonder like what's it
062look like long term for us? Because I think we've spent down just a little bit of our fund balances every year since I've kind of been >> coming to meetings or on the board. So, what does that look like long term? Because this one is a bigger chunk than what I've seen previously. >> Absolutely. Um, that's a really good question, Justin. I've never done a like there there are companies out there. forecast 5 is a big one. Uh PMA could be another one that I could tap into. Never had them come and take a look at our financials, but it's definitely something I could do, which wouldn't be a terrible idea anyway. >> Yeah. And I I guess just one thing that it notes for me is some of the things that we have mentioned
063like we're going to talk about potential sales tax or what do we do when the bond the bond >> falls off or whatever that is called. >> Yeah. Restructuring. >> Yes. >> Yeah. >> Yep. I I mean I think those would be great help for us. Um, I think something else that we need to keep in mind is if you look around like there there are quite a few houses that have been going up or complexes. That's tax dollars. That's how I've heard rumors of different companies coming into the area. Those if if corporations come in, that'll be huge. I I do think that's coming. So that's, you know, we're with our tax dollars, what we have is what we have. But with the new money that's going to be coming in, I think that's
064going to be super helpful. >> Okay. those categories for each of the fund balances. So like those categories, is there any restrictions or rules against being like are some funds just untouchable? Like is education untouchable, but other ones can be swapped in and out to take? >> Yeah, it's it's a it's kind of a convoluted thing that I don't know that I can explain off the top of my head, but you can take funds from other funds to put into some funds and some funds are just locked. >> Just locked. >> Yeah. Um >> I actually teach this class. I taught it this morning, >> governmental and not for profofit accounting. So these are all special revenue funds and general fund. Then there's debt service for the long-term debt. There's capital projects for the long-term
065assets. Permanent fund is the only one that can't be touched which we don't have. So everything else we can do transfers to. We just have to get board. >> Right. >> Yeah. One of the one of the ones we've done before for sure is like if we've had a surplus and had a few years ago and we were a little low in the in the OM, you can transfer that. But and that doesn't take a a board resolution, but there are some that do. Uh the if the bond doesn't come up exactly where it needs to be because maybe taxes all taxes didn't get collected like they were supposed to, we might have to do a resolution to move some money from one bond to that. So there you you can play with a lot
066of them, but I'll uh I'll get that to you, Jeff. just I'll put it in the share folder so everybody's aware of what that looks like because it is that there's a whole >> Yeah. Um what what is the state tax funding rate kind of look like now? I know we've talked about that over time where you know they were funding 70% of what they were supposed to. Has that started to creep up still? Are we still trending towards the better? >> 67 and went down a little bit. >> Okay. >> Percent. So, >> yeah, good stuff. >> Your question. I was typing the last one. >> Uh, just curious on what the like the percentage of state tax funding was >> overall compared to what we are expecting or should be getting. >> And
067then the federal money, has that been >> a little lower? Well, it's it's 70,000 less than what we got at the by the end of last year. It is lower, I'd say. See, we got 60. It's it's around 15ish,000 less than what we typically get at the beginning of the year. >> And then the local money we usually whatever we request, we typically get within >> that 5% threshold. >> Okay. Um, and I'll start working on that sooner than later. Um, you know, molt of that money is education, you know, and then where will we need to kind of divvy that up? >> Now, the right time to ask about alternative options when the debt gets reissued. >> So, is that better for a separate conversation? >> Yeah, I forgot you were at the cow.
068Um, so I have Bob Lewis from PMA who's our one of our financial adviserss that they they hold on to the bond right now. So he's going to come and and I would explain this to you, Jeff, but he's going to do a way better job, which is why I'm having him come. He's going to come talk about the 1% sales tax and what we can do with that depending upon what the board wants to do, but also give a preview of some different things that we can do with the bond at the October Cal. Then the idea would be to bring him back in the spring to give a little more in depth idea of what that looks like. So, um, you should kind of digest some of the options, take a look at
069that, and then have him come back and and we can figure out what that means. So, we can, you know, possibly still bring some money in, give some tax relief to the taxpayers. You know, there there are a lot of different things that we can do. >> When are they coming? >> At the October October. Okay. >> Yeah. I try to explain it, Jeff, but it's it's a lot. He's he's very good at it. So, I met with him last Friday. >> We deal with him, too. He's he really brings it down the lane straps. So he's really good at it. >> Yeah. So we'll have notes and all the things and any questions that you have while he's here, please feel free. Otherwise, he's great to reach out to as well. >> Okay. Anything
070else? >> Any other questions? >> Okay. He hearing anytime. 6:28 6:28 p.m. Do you know how to blush? >> I do, but >> so you have to ask. >> Yeah. No, sorry. Thanks. Okay. All right. I'll entertain a motion to approve the 2025 2026 budget as presented. Motion to approve. Seconded. Justin. >> All right. Mucker. >> Yes. >> Mrs. Anderson. >> Yes. >> Mr. Keller. >> Yes. >> Mrs. Finnean. >> Yes. >> Mrs. Eishide. Yes. >> Mr. Lewis. >> Yes. >> And Mr. Sh. >> Yes. Next up, education transportation. Um, we don't have any motions or anything to vote on, but anyone have any questions? Anything? How >> um, we talked about that advancement issue. Is that something that has been decided on, changed? >> Uh, no. >> Do we talk about that in closed?
071>> Yeah, we'll we'll talk about that soon. And then I guess my question pertaining to the speaker is um they were asking about what what's protocol like for teams like that >> like how many? >> Yeah. Like or is that something that's predetermined so that or is it just up to the discretion of the coach? I didn't even remember your side coach here. >> Um I think we always been into the idea of keeping the amount of players that we felt have time. >> Um because then you run into other issue where you have parents players if they're not >> playing. Um so in regards like do we tell any coach you have to be 10 and you have to be 12? >> No. I think it depends on what they decide to run. Like
072the the best offense that Betty runs offense that like Mashik might keep up the old more JB and there's a different they might run 62 instead of 51 or like they might be more specialized in eight for a year than they would give their seven for a year. Um, we've never even again like from my history with it like nobody's ever said you have to have x amount of days of triyouts at this many hours, this many opportunities. It's always kind of been a standard like the coach sets it with guidance. You know, they had questions asked the athletic director Mike for so many years. >> Um, I can't say that anything this year was done differently than it had been all of the years that might year. Um so we have triyouts usually they're
073given numbers and um then they're the numbers are what was posted on Facebook let's say or >> it's not names of kids >> so it's not names um in the past too they posted them on certain Google classrooms like would post them in their PE classroom for teens I think both way have gotten have gotten flack sometimes from parents about you know it's like when kids are in the advance the regular reading fast. Parents all say that the kids all know where kids are anyway. So it's kind of like the same thing with numbers like so um we discussed different ways of how we can do that whether it's like Rosco shared I was talking to Matt Coffin the other day sharing if they do like envelope the end of tryyouts for little hand envelopes
074as they walk out of the gym. Um it doesn't really necessarily allow for them to like jot down full feedback for the kids who didn't make it. Um, but it does like list in the letter something that we can reach out to for that boot back. Um, we talked about I know Vanic this year tried doing emailing. So, she had a an email that went to players who made it and an email players who didn't make it. In basketball, they told them that they were emailing the ones made it. They receive email by Saturday if they made it. Um, so playing with different ways as far as like the number of kids left, we don't ever tell them exactly how, but I would say it's usually between between 10 and 12. I would say that
075number from when coached or I coached years old >> and it's it's pretty similar >> in each team. Yeah. >> It's pretty similar. I've been to every game and the teams we're playing, they're almost the exact same. It's between 10 and 12. Like you don't see teams with 15 16. >> I know that dress and I think 10 for volleyball at the eighth grade level. >> Um basketball I would say similar because it's groups of five players. >> Um >> I think it total like 458 [clears throat] >> and sometime like there was a year >> volleyball had 56 this year. that like I barely had enough graders to >> and there was one there been one girl I that was the one year I can tell you I kept somebody who I shouldn't have
076kept because she the only one that would have made the team and I recommend doing that. >> Um and it it worked out. It ended up working out but I do understand the challenge getting everybody part time when you're trying to balance that too. Um, so is it set anywhere and like in the handbook? Does it say we will only keep X, Y, and Z? No. >> Um, I I do feel like our coaches and our athletic directors have done their homework and what's relative like in our in our surrounding nation's district. >> Um, there's probably I think 75 to 80 kids tried out for girls volleyball at the freshman level. >> You know, they keep however many of those or whatever around that number. And if they move a few up, they'll be back.
077Yeah. >> Uh, so it is in this area unfortunately it's also really cutthroat in sports around here and so that's >> difficult when I don't know you know I I did meet with the Randals we had a long discussion I know Clint met with them and then I met with them again and they met with the athletic director and you know some of the ideas sound good in theory but like I have open coaching positions now I can't build. So I, >> you know, and I have one gym >> that we already have, people like fighting to book all the time. >> Yeah. >> And so between gym time and like I know it's great to think that people would volunteer their time, but I don't know when it really comes down to it how
078consistent that would be. Um, and I I I would imagine from what the conversations I've had, you know, other administrators, they've run into similar issues with their schools as well. I mean, they probably cut a lot more girls across the year here. >> Um, but again, you know, finding the gym time, the coaching time, and all of that, I think, is hard. It's a hard hard sell. I mean, our paid positions now, and I have at least three schedule B positions open at this time. They're always, you know, The hours aren't easy either because we end at 2:30 and so technically practice should start at 2:45 and then they play at their school sport and so like moving the practices to a later time and somebody else can't. >> So um I just want to
079point out because they did talk about Harlem having two teams. >> Yeah. that >> and I I'm curious. I know you won't know the answer now, but my only I'm curious because Harlem does that as far as I know almost across the board for other sports. They have an orange and a black >> and no other nobody else in our conference has two teams. So, I'm curious if the conference, you know, whoever runs their conference, it's usually all the athletics. >> If they ask for that like like could we have a blue and a white in in volleyball and not basketball or could >> so much bigger of a sport. >> Oh, so much bigger. Yeah. And they have two gyms. I mean, yeah, there's so many legit >> the gym thing I don't think
080about as being a >> though that the orange and black teams, that's what they call them Harlem. I do think they've altered. So, like let's say volleyball when I coached it for basketball. If they played, we were playing orange team this time. The next time we faced one, it was the other. >> You're right. We don't play teams twice. Correct. >> Yeah. >> Correct. And it's the same way for basketball. You would play one team one time and point one team the other. >> Okay, that makes sense. I was trying to figure out like for the consistency of running the conference and keeping the teams organized and you know I was like you I feel like they would ask us to commit to teams for every sport and maybe they would. I was just >>
081they can each school has the ability to decide how many teams they're housing but there's only x amount of games in the conference. >> Yeah. And the time that school decides to balance that is kind of their own. I'm just curious if it's if it would even like if the conference if we came to them and said hey next year we want to do a blue and a white team for volleyball will you let us I don't >> and I think I mean ideally right if every every school did two teams then it wouldn't be an issue because you have that many matches right or that many more games you could play but I think if if only one school or three school you don't necessarily have against so that's what they're altering their playing
082time actually then taking away time so Yeah. You know, you're >> It doesn't get a lot of coach discussion. >> Yeah. >> Did you set any expectations for meeting like you think anything's going to change or >> I didn't really say um one way or another. There was um they brought up an abundance of concerns into works. Um, so I listened, I took notes, I asked questions, I gave clarification where I could. Um, and I, you know, I appreciated their feedback and apologized if they felt at any time they weren't heard. But, um, yeah, you know, I guess they're like, when would you have made volleyball, eighth grade year? And I was like, now I don't know. I was like that the sport has evolved so much even since like I did play. um the
083level of like the freshman playing I feel like is what we played at like our varsity year. So like it's just a different world too. So I like I don't know the answer to that. I'd like to know but you know probably not like but we did you know so I don't you know I listened and I said I give their feedback and to take it into consideration you know moving forward but I I don't have a solution >> [clears throat] >> That is your >> policy. >> Yes. So we had our first reading last month at the regular board meeting. We have our final reading or review chance for questions from our press updates. in June or July. Um, very minor changes as we noted in that first cow meeting when we went over
084it. Just general word changes every once in a while like taking out school from school board. Um, some references to different legislation that's applicable to the policies. Quite minor. A lot of >> Yes, there's like 15 or so policies that we essentially had five year reviews on is what really happened? >> Okay, any questions? All right, I'll entertain a motion to approve the final review policy of the five-year review. I'll second. >> All right. Mr. Lewis, >> yes. >> Mr. Keller, >> yes. >> Mr. Spin, >> yes. >> Mr. Shuckman, >> yes. Mrs. Aish, >> Mr. Anderson, >> y >> and Mrs. Lockacher, >> yes. >> Uh, foyer request. >> We have three foyer requests. Uh, WNIGJ public radio wanting to note we had the AI educational contracts, >> artificial intelligence for those who don't
085know what AI is. So yeah, I mean they're just reaching out for school districts. Uh the data branch research team wanted some purchasing data um which we complied with and then smart broker which reaches out pretty much every other month wanted some purchasing information which we supplied. So all pretty straightforward and money a little bit different than normal. I think we are good to go into executive session. I'll entertain a motion to go into close session to discuss appointment, employment, compensation, discipline, performance, or dismissal of specific employees 2C1 as well as lawfully closed meeting minutes 2C21 >> where we >> it was mentioned we were discussing something student related. Correct. Should we be looking at other matters relating to individual students? 2C10. >> Yes. >> Other matters related to individual. >> I noted my exit
086there. >> Oh, >> I noted my exit preemptively. [laughter] >> So moved. >> No, I can't motion. I'm asking for a motion. I said no. That's >> okay. >> Second. [clears throat] >> All right. Mrs. Albacher. Yes. >> Mrs. Aishai. Yes. Mr. Shakman. Yes. Mrs. Anderson. Yes. Mr. Lewis. Yes. Mr. Keller. Yeah. And Mrs. >> Yes.