001Uh Jake, >> um you did answer my question as far as uh the decrease um from option one to option two because I was wondering what do you get for 25,000 if you're asking for 50,000. you did answer that that some programs would not uh be implemented. Now the questions I I h the question I well questions is that in blue when you see the reduction and especially if it's as asset preservation as far as um the pavement mechanical electrical how do you prioritize that if these schools need certain things and I see that in option one is 12 million then is 10 million800 so what are you not doing that you that you really need to do. Yeah. So, I'll walk you Um it it was interesting to hear that like when we're looking
002at a like a potential 3M increase for all of your recommendations that part of the reason that it's a 3M increase is because we have been reducing that mill levy over the past few years. Is that right? Okay. um in order to keep um the overall tax um assessment, our revenue coming in as level as possible that that's been going down. So that's what leads us back to a potential 3 mil increase would actually be up where we would have been anyway. Um, also interesting what I heard most of the folks I think in there and you can correct me if um Dr. Benson was there too. Um, when they heard this and saw that most of the folks in that room, they would be all for a three mill increase, but at the same
003time they were all saying, "But I don't think it'll sell districtwide," which I found very interesting. Most of them were on were all for it, but they're like, I don't think you'll be able to sell it, >> right? >> So, that just tells me there's a lot of folks that we have a lot of education to do um to let people know exactly what's going on, what this looks like, and um what we're doing. So, I guess we have our work cut out for us if we want all the recommendations knowing that this is also a very scaledown list from what you started with. Otherwise, we've got to make some really hard decisions. Um, which we may have to do. So, >> I think that we'll do we get a broader perspective. >> And I'd
004like to piggyback on what Clay said also at the financial and operations meeting. I saw overwhelmingly that the advisory uh group really put the focus on CAPS and CTE. They do not want to lose that and they said that that that's important for our students. So they were really uh excited about that and that's one thing they did not want to really touch. >> Sorry again. [clears throat] Um So, you know, you spoke a little bit about technology, right? Better tech here. >> Um, you know, one to one is the direction we've gone, especially, you know, since co um are we looking at maybe some opportunities with maybe our our youngest um friends um to maybe alter that a little bit that might affect them the bottom line in some way? >> Absolutely. Yeah. >>
005So elementary. >> Okay. Great. >> Great. Thank you. Appreciate it. >> And if I might, Dr. Evans, I'm sorry. We were at tables at the finance and operations committee, and I forgot Dr. Evans was there as well, so I should have referred to both Dr. Benson and Dr. Evans. It was a different configuration, so I she was outside my uh view at that meeting. So, sorry about that, Sonia. >> No problem. You know, I do think it's important to consider what the community has said about this for years. >> Patrick, I'm sorry. I can't hear a thing. You're saying that there's no microphone, so you got to really use your big, you know, big person voice. >> Well, you might hear it or you might not. [laughter] >> Um, you know, it's important for us
006to listen to the community. Several bond issues have have passed because there's been no increase. I think we need to continue on that path. Um, there have been some bond reforms that have failed in larger parts of our community because they asked for so much. As a matter of fact, they asked for quite a bit in in Wok County and they eventually came back and and did a much smaller amount. Um, you know, affordability is obviously one of the issues that we face in our district for parents and staff and if we continue to increase the mill levy on our bonds, um, then that's going to impact affordability. So, I I think we need to decide which side of our mouth we're going to talk out of. But, you know, more specifically, you know, the
007asset pre preservation I think is important. While I think, you know, equity is an issue and weight programs are great, but it seems to me that we're an education institution and if we've got classrooms that need to be built or upgrades that need to be made to our curriculum programs, then I think we need to focus on that. >> I So, just to give my two cents here, that's what we're doing. Um, I think that I would love to see the high school classroom science classroom renovations added back in. It seems like it could still get in there without the increasing by mills because it's like a $5 million difference between the two. And uh, but I do think the safety improvements in the SWAT act definitely that those windows have to go. Um but
008I think no mill increase is the only option we have right now. But we can adjust that timeline. [clears throat] And so just to just to reiterate because some people listening may if they can hear I don't even know if anybody can hear out there but if anybody is listening um can you can you talk a little bit about why you know if we look at your your wonderful um graphics and stuff there's a bit of a gap with the first year you show on there and the next couple. So we kind of went to a three-year bond. Can you talk a little bit about why we did that? >> Yeah. So bonds [snorts] over the course of eight years. We had a a request really from our community and from our board. We want
009to deliver projects. And so who's in elementary school doesn't want to approve that. So that push us to the threeear bond cycle as we plan on facility side again going back to asset pres. >> So yeah I mean absolutely right. We can have conversations around the exact timeline of the bond. You just have to understand there are things that don't get done and it's about 6% increase. >> Great. Thank you. >> So, go ahead. So Jake is this is along the lines of the land acquisition. So we do projections out every year for five years or so. And there is to my recollection no reason to be considering building any new schools in the next five years. Is that correct? No school has overall the district or we have ample occur at our schools in
010the southern part of our district where all the growth is still elementary down about 300 students now 244 students elementary. So and to add on to the Jody your question about we used to have a six or sevenyear bond um cycle one of the issues is the technology was changing sometimes or the need would shift because of the demographics and so the three-year cycle still makes sense >> but more importantly is sometimes we would allocate bond money to do certain things and and now that >> either need wasn't there any longer and so that left that money kind of free floating and you know it it may have been more difficult to figure out what to do with it, right? And so so that threeear cycle still makes a lot of sense. Again, I still
011think it needs to be no no increase. >> Yeah. The other thing that cycle20 like that And >> yeah, I I appreciate you saying that and kind of Patrick uh Patrick's comments too. What I heard of sorry um that um the importance of uh needing to remain agile um in education um you know can't be underestimated. So, >> I um do you have a question about the um if we were to actually be statutoily funded under the special ed funding? Um would we have the option to be able to lower other mill levies? not the capital ones, but would we have the option to lower some of those mill levies to be able to bring up a capital mill levy up so it would effectively be a wash? Would that be one of the options
012that were before us if we were actually fully funded under the sped statute? Special ed line up. >> So, in a lot of ways, it's really critical that we actually get statutoily funded for special ed. >> Otherwise, we're handcuffed. Okay. >> Anything else for Jake? Thank you very much. >> Thanks. I think maybe I can't hear. >> Staying on the topic of finance. Um have a presentation on Blue Valley Recreation Center refunding certificates of participation. David Artberry is here to uh explain that to us. >> Change discuss these young men who leave. >> Thank you students. >> Thank you for coming. >> Thank you. I usually >> welcome David is bomb commissation. project is certification and they did that back in 2015 to fund the construction center. Those certificates have recently become in other words
013without possibly achieve. So that's what we're here to look at. I'm going to run through some numbers here and I apologize they don't present themselves well on this kind of set up this kind of display. So the numbers are pretty small but I'll trying We didn't get the hand >> what you see on this page on the right hand side you'll see there's a blue box total. The cos the final maturity of which is a and they have an annual payment of a little over$1.3 million per year and overall the average rate on What this does is it attempts to look at what a new CP is pays what new issue look like and then it compares payments. So in the middle there you'll see the estimated debt service on the new Total issue size
014about 11.1 million. It's a little bit cost associated with the total annual payments are approximately 1.275 million per year. Um the interest rate on the old cops is about 3.91%. The new cops based on current rates all in the issuance cost the effective cost is about 3.4% lowering the overall that will create savings each year,000. Now these numbers were run a few weeks ago. Interest rates have come down a little bit since then. Right now we're estimating the savings is probably closer agains. So that's sort of what the numbers look like in terms of procedurally in order to refinance. It's a lot like when the original is the commission [cough] to investors in return with final results. Um the school district Oblation this transaction is simply that you're required to approve any lease that the
015commission entering what would happen is commission existing on your meeting as a resolution president the authority to sign And that authority would be contingent upon a certain minush but it's like I said similar to the issuance process that went through last year similar to the process that the school district goes through in this case. >> This may not be a bond question. Certainly in favor of saving that $350,000, but what's the rec center going to do with that $350,000,000 goes back to taxpayers. >> Other questions. >> Looks good. >> Thank you, David. >> Thank you. >> Well, I always like to hear about saving money. >> We're gonna have policy introduction. Dr. Chapman. >> Um, thank you. So, we are um going through all of our board policies and right now the um Blue Valley
016policies are um uh done a little bit differently than um there's a the Kansas Association of School Boards is a part of a national group and they have attorneys on staff that have reviewed and recommended um policies for a school district board to adopt and it's obviously one of the most um it's the fundamental role and responsibility of the school board. Um the benefit of adopting the recommended policies from the Kansas Association of School Boards is they're um they've already been vetted. The the language um works quite nicely. It's consistent. They are um kept up to date with the state statute. So whenever there's a state statute change or a new reference or anything that happens um then they will send us a policy update making it easier um for us to ensure that we
017are in compliance with either state or federal law. And again the board has um the authority to um accept amend or reject any of these policies. So, um what we're proposing is that we essentially um notice the public that we are opening all policies for review and they will be posted on our website. Um and they're actually already there. Um and they're uh posted underneath the board of education and then there's a tab that says policy review and then there are policies currently in review. And so right now we have four sections posted and we'll be adding all of them. So any member of the public can click on any of those policies and they could see the redlinined version. So some of them we've gone in and said, "Hey, we think we need to
018add this to make it um comport to the manner in which we do things in Blue Valley." Um some of these are um not a ton of um of changes. They're um relatively easy to review and say, "Yep, these work." So, what we propose to do is all policies would go into effect in July um upon your final approval. But in order to manage these in a way that also ensures that you've had the opportunity to review them, that the public has had the opportunity to review them, which is actually not a part of the state law, um, but something that I I know this board has valued in the past. So, we'll post everything on um our website and people can um click on a a link to provide feedback on those policies and
019then we'll be reviewing them. So then um what we'll do in February is um we'll provide a highlevel summary of substantive changes that maybe you want to talk about things that are more than um a a slight semantic edit or something like that. So the real substantive ones that we're going to highlight so that we can have a discussion at the board table and then the board would vote on for example in um February we'll take a a a big chunk there's about six or seven sections because they're not substantive changes so we'll we'll uh tackle those I'll provide a summary that says you know substantive changes are on these policies IES might want to have a conversation about them. Um, so it will require us taking a look at things um before the next
020board meeting so that you're comfortable with it. Um, we'll also review any feedbacks provided um from the public and then we'll have more of a discussion about it. If the board agrees um to the edits, uh, they actually won't go into effect until July. So if something pops up between now and or February and July and we've already talked about it, it's not a problem. We can come back in and take a look at it. Um, it's also not a problem that down the road, so if we go through all these policies and and our goal is to have everything done for adoption in July and August rolls around and we're working on, you know, something and we go, "Oh gosh, we should maybe take a look at that policy again." We can bring it
021back forward and make more edits to it as we get going. So it's it's never necessarily a closed version that but we're trying to accomplish quite a bit in this overall adoption. The benefit of going to um the KESB recommended policies, they've been vetted by legal counsel. Um they've been tested. They are in alignment with the Kansas state statute and the um policies and procedures. um and they're up to date. So, you know, it provides us with um some consistency and um we know that they've been um tested, if you will. So, um it's a pretty big um task to go through all of them in such a fast manner. um KSB just as your first um as we are looking at these review, they've had these policies for about eight months and they went
022through all of their recommended policies and then they compared them um to every single one of our policies. And so now what we're doing is going through and saying, "Okay, we need to make sure we retain this or maybe we don't need something." So, that's um what our goal will be. And um February, you'll see a nice um section. Go ahead. >> I mean, if you're not finished, go ahead. >> Yeah. So, I'm good. >> So, so when you refer to February, you're >> I'm sorry. March. Okay. >> I'm sorry. Thank you. This is February already. March. >> Go through it at the same time. >> Yes. No, we're basically what I'm letting you know right now is notice to the public. We're opening up all of them um in March. We're gonna take the
023six um A through um >> H essentially and um we'll go through those and summarize them in March for your consideration and then they would go into effect in July. >> So, a couple more pieces. So, is there going to be some sort of summary of two things. One is the public comments for the board to take a look at. I don't know that we need to see all of them, but we just need to get an idea, I think, of what the gist is of their comments are 4,000 comments on policy A, >> right? >> And you might have two comments on policy B, but you know, the main point is we understand what their question or comment is, the nature of it. maybe all the same. And the same thing on the policies
024that are recommending to be deleted or added. Like we don't have policies on AB or C and so now we're going to have a big policy on AB or C or gee we have something that's maybe more specific uh of an issue in Blue Valley and maybe we don't need that policy anymore which is fine but I think we need to have at least some sort of briefing on we're going we don't need these for the following reason. [clears throat] So that we understand that I mean KSB may may do a great job for the statutory purposes but the question is is do we have specific policies in Blue Valley that were passed for specific reasons unique to us. >> Right. Yeah. Um yes, we will provide that highlevel executive summary and then um we
025do have a number of policies that we have in Blue Valley that are important that maybe aren't even at all in part of um the KSB. So we'll be adding those um into the appropriate section. And so I'll be um we'll provide you a executive summary with both the community feedback as well as our recommended edits or deletions or additions. >> I I appre I appreciate this conversation um and really um you know the opportunity to kind of stream streamline operations. There are so many um interesting things that happen to in Topeka and um keeping up with all of that is is can be incredibly difficult and pretty heavy lift sometimes. Uh things pop pretty quick. Um but having said that though to kind of Patrick's point, this is not a cookie cutter um you
026know situation. We still have and will be using you know policies that are best for us >> too. So, >> a long overdue spring cleaning. >> Any other comments? >> I mean, that's an aggressive schedule, but more power to you. [laughter] >> Yes, it is. Um, it's we're we're grateful that the work that KSB did because they took them about um gosh, like eight months to do their comparative work. So, they really started the ball rolling for us. Um and then we have a lot of our um various leaders of each department are collaborating together and going through them and there may be some that we also take through our committees. Um it just depends. The really um big ones are the um instruction section um the personnel section um and the student section. Those
027are the three that will have the most um substantive edits and um they'll be sort of on their own separate from everything else. So, we're we're starting with the easier ones um and building up our um ability to to tackle some of the ones that are um maybe garner more conversation. >> Anything else? [snorts] >> That's it. We've got one action item tonight and that's approve the Apple contract. Kent Cor, director of technology operations going to tell us a little bit about it. The Apple iPad is for our middle school students. So our middle school devices are a little over five years ago. So we're not per class today. >> Are iPads still the best technology for what we're doing in the classroom right now? Apple Proport is So, I get the familiarity argument, but
028is there other technology that's more relevant to what they're doing or needing to do or should be doing? I mean, in in in the technology lifespan, 10 years is an awful long time. Um, and and I just don't believe for a second that 10 years is the same technology that we need to continue to do. Now, I'm here to listen, obviously, but um is there anything new out there that we should be taking a look at instead, I guess, is my real question. I mean, I get they're being creative and it's a some sort of drawing board or something that has a lot of functionality to do a variety of things, but I mean, are these newer versions? Is there greater functionality on these iPads? Yeah. Styles are all so important to those progressively better
029faster. that very screen. [snorts] [snorts] Okay, thank you. Any other questions? All right. Thank you very much. Thanks. >> Need a motion to approve the contract. >> Now, I move the board of education approve the Apple, Inc. contract with minor edits deemed necessary by legal counsel. >> Second. >> Moved by Dave, second by Jody. All in favor, raise our hand. Passes unanimously. takes us to our closing items, which would be our board [clears throat] comments. Patrick, start with you. >> I don't think I have any tonight. >> No com no comment, >> Dr. Evans. >> Yes. I just want to uh give kudos to Aubrey Ban Middle School for their um arcade that it was about the um the circulatory system, the the digestive system. I mean, it was phenomenal. Those it was [clears throat]
030outstanding. It blew my mind how these kids were so creative and they created games for everything and you won prizes. And Jan, I too ended up with a lot of Jo Jolly Ranchers as well. [laughter] Um, so it was really fun and I totally enjoyed that. >> Thank you very much. >> Uh, just happy birthday to Clay. >> A, >> thank you. >> 29 today. [laughter] >> I can't hear you say 69. >> What? I can't hear down here. Sorry, I did not say that. [laughter] >> Nice. Clay. >> Uh, sure. I want to thank Miss Shepman for coming in and sharing her thoughts today about uh the elementary school changes. Those were very important and we'll take those into consideration. Um, special shout out to our award winners earlier in the meeting, especially Mrs.
031Ramstead. Good job, excellence in education. And our West alumni, Swatha Newm, if you haven't tried her restaurant, of course, over at Bluehawk. Shameless plug. It's delicious. Um, other than that, um, you know, our country is not in normal times right now, but we will continue operating for the safety of our kids and the best delivering the best education we can so these kids can reach their fullest and highest potential despite what goes on outside of our district or what might creep in. So, um that's always on our mind. The And then I just have two questions. If um we wanted to give any legislative update and if we needed any um executive session to continue the discussion we had in our executive session before this meeting or if staff received enough input from us to
032go forward. I don't think they received enough input. >> Yeah, I don't know what's my impression of the meeting. I'm not sure staff received an answer from us. I could have been wrong, but I I did not give an answer. >> Yeah, I didn't either. >> I think we do need additional executive session after the >> How many minutes? [clears throat] >> Well, I uh I can make a motion [snorts] after we go through the other board comments, but plenty >> ahead here. Thank you. >> Had the opportunity to go through uh with Dr. Chapman and fellow board member Clay uh three elementary schools. As a former educator, I just want to call out our uh faculty and staff. I was very impressed with the educational activities that were going on. uh the use of
033the uh I don't know if you still call it the whiteboard technology but uh the applications uh and the instructional activities uh were outstanding. So thank you. >> Um I [clears throat] would like to do a shout out to our board clerk Anna. Uh it was board appreciation uh day recognized throughout the state of Kansas on January 28th. So, uh, we were very lucky to have her as well as Alicia who supports, um, Anna, too. So, thank to both of you. Um, much appreciated. You keep us in line. [applause] >> I'd also like to do a a shout out. Um, as as always, there are wonderful things going on in our community. Great theater, um, and music programs. Um, we were well represented at the, uh, Prairie Wind Festival in Lawrence this weekend. uh went
034to that by students as well as some really wonderful staff who played. So that was really exciting. But I can tell you I went to Little Mermaid at North uh Friday night and um it was an amazing production. But big shout out to Ursula uh who played Ursula. Uh that kiddo knocked it out of the park. Um I I mean I can't even describe how amazing that performance was. It was absolutely fantastic. So, uh, yay to Ursula out there. So, thank you. >> And I had nothing else. Did you have something to add? >> Uh, I was, um, going to say, um, I got to see Greece and Willy Wonka and Little Mermaid and it was unbelievable the talent that's out there in our schools. And um Ursula was played by um the same student
035that sang for good at the fall breakfast. >> Oh my goodness. >> Yeah. >> Uh they are absolutely fantastic. I was amazing. >> Oh my goodness. Yes. >> So um that was a lot of fun. And then um the for a legislative update, we could add that in March. Um and I could have um our lobbyist um add something in March. the session. I can just add just briefly, the session's moving very quickly. Um, and I was there in Topeka for a short while today. Um, I can't necessarily think it was all that productive. Um however um our delegation is doing good work and they appreciate hearing from people and so um the the feedback that we've received um the Johnson County um school districts coming together and and really focusing on um the special
036education funding is critical. Um and and really the reality is special education is fully funded because the school districts are fully funding it. It's the gap in the funding that we have to pull to cover that uh that's that's really that's resonating with our um representatives. Um so we just need to our it's appreciative that our uh community is uh reaching out and making comment and um we need to keep that pressure on because there is a solution. >> So good. >> Thank you. >> Excuse me. It's hard to hear. Are you going to executive session now or we need to have another we'll have to call another special meeting to do that because it's not on our agenda tonight. We've already go ahead. >> Can we move to amend the agenda to add a
037special? >> We just need to adjourn this one and call another one. >> What's that? >> We just need to adjourn this one and call another one. Can we do that tonight? >> Notice it, wouldn't we? >> That's what you're here for. >> We'll do it again. >> Okay, >> that it then. >> Did >> Okay. Wait, hold on. Did we officially adjourn our special meeting? >> That one? Yeah, we had to. >> We came out here and adjourned it. >> Yeah. >> Okay. >> Sorry. >> I thought maybe we we had an opening. >> You are an attorney. You [laughter] are looking. >> Okay. Can I adjourn this one yet? >> Okay. We stand adjourned. >> We're for this >> and then I guess we'll have to call a special meeting at some point.
038We'll work on that and I'll contact you. >> Thank you. >> See you next week.