001Okay, I am going to open the revenue neutral hearing. >> All righty. This law came into play a couple years back wherein if a district is going to exceed the revenue neutral rate with their proposed budget, I'm sorry, Millage. Uh as part of the hearing, uh a resolution needs to be passed by the board with a roll call vote. Uh the revenue revenue neutral rate represents it's the rate that it would take to generate the exact same dollars as last year. Uh it's computed by the county treasur and the RNR for this year is 48.152. Uh our millage that we're proposing this year is 49.079. How this comes to be is anytime your assess valuation goes up uh it's pretty well academic this is going to occur. And you know it's it's a blessing. our
002assess valuation went up by, you know, around $3 million this year. So, uh, that's what's triggering this puppy to occur. Also, though, there's a peculiarity in the law that says that whatever that was, uh, the statutoily the general fund is 20 mills. Well, the RNR for the general fund is at 19.455. as as figured by the county person as well. So there's no way around it. U we would have to pass this uh resolution to exceed the RNR anyway because statutoily we have to have the 20 mills for the general fund. So uh it would just take it would take fewer mills to generate the same dollar amount. That's what the RNR is all about. Uh so um our millage that we are proposing to use this year is 49.079. RNRF computed by the county
003treasur is 48.152. Thus, we're in this position. Uh it's nothing bad. It really doesn't change a thing for us outside the fact that Mr. Jones, we need to pass the uh revenue neutral rate resolution and do it by a roll call vote. [Music] >> I think it's you. [Music] Stay away. >> All right. I need a motion to approve the RNR. >> So, I'll make second. >> Ryan, Rita, and Curtis. >> Okay. Been moved and seconded to approve the RNR resolution. Okay. I'm going to do a roll call vote. All right. Curtis Peterson, >> yes. >> Ryan Tribogal, >> yes. >> Ryan Ruda, >> yes. >> Sean Sheets, >> yes. I'm off. >> Casey Robinson, >> yes. >> Jill George, >> yes. >> And I am a yes as well. Okay. I need a motion
004to close the RNR hearing. Revenue neutral hearing. >> So move. >> Second. >> Fable. And Sean. Move and second to close the revenue neutral hearing. All those in favor say I. I >> I opposed. >> All right. Now, I'm going to open the budget hearing. >> There we go. Back to the good oldfashioned budget hearing. U and so during the regular board meeting get into it. I'll be asking the board to adopt the uh budget that we'll be walking through here. U allows people the opportunity to ask questions and or to present information to you about the budget. Uh B state aid per pupil this year is $5,615 per student. It's gone up by about $237. Uh there's an increase uh roughly of $3 million for our assess valuation. Once again, that's a good thing.
005Uh overall millage is actually going down, you know, so actual tax rate for our patients is going down by.374. Uh this year's rate we're proposing to be 49.079. Last year was 49.453. 453. Uh that represents a savings of $4.30 on a $100,000 home. There you go, Mr. Jones. Uh unfortunately, our overall headcount is down 23 from last year. Uh we're currently sitting at 843. Uh also, a piece of the law says we have to uh talk about the U results of the U building needs assessments. We talked about these last month, uh, but I'm supposed to bring back up again during the budget hearing. So, if you'll recall the barriers that I I mentioned to you last, this comes from the building principles working with their BLTs and their staffs on just, you know, what
006are we looking at? What are we facing? And so, I'm just going to go back through those again. You should have them in your packets. Uh, lack of prek12 centralized professional learning plan, which we're addressing. We're working on that. Shortage of fully licensed teachers, general and new pathways. uh just getting fully licensed teachers here. Uh family and student trauma, really not much we can do about that besides the fact that we are ready for it and we and we deal with it. Uh we're needing to improve our individual plans of study and that also is we're working on that. Uh so those are the barriers we face in this across the the district. Possible budgetary adjustments to this dedicate some monies to professional learning areas uh to address all the different things I just mentioned
007to you and the time horizon. We're supposed to be we're supposed to predict how long it's going to take by just addressing those barriers uh to get 100% of our tested students into levels three and four on the state assessments. Uh I always say it's infinity plus one but officially we say it's seven years. Uh last year I said eight years, next year I'll say six years. So seven years is what we say. So that's important to get that reflected in the minutes and we covered that again. The actual budget document itself, the code 99, if you want to take a look at that, you should have that in your in your packet. Uh the salient parts for you to take a look at. The overall budget we're proposing for you is $18,490,000. It's actually
008down a million dollars from last year because our carryover in our capital outlay. Uh we just didn't don't have as much cash because of the things we've been doing uh within the capital outlay fund. Um we're we're up in the general fund and we're up in the LLB. But you take all these things together and it comes in at a million dollars down from last year's overall budget. So, that is the um overall budget, Mr. Jones. And Mike and I stand ready to answer any questions if you'd have any down a million dollars. >> Yep. We're buying a track. We fixed the playground and been busy. Well, if there are no questions, I'll entertain a motion to approve the budget. >> Well, that'll happen later on. Just close. Okay. Just close the hearing. Okay. >>
009I need a motion to close the budget hearing. >> So, move. >> Second. >> Ryan, Rita, and Curtis. Been moved and second to close the budget hearing. All those in favor say I. >> I. >> Opposed. All right. I need a motion to approve the agenda. >> Some moved. >> Second. Casey, it >> Jill moved and second to approve the agenda. All those in favor say I. >> I. >> Opposed. >> All right. I need a motion to approve the consent agenda. >> So move. Second. >> Ryan, Ruda, and Sean. It's been moved and seconded to approve the consent agenda. All those in favor say I. >> Opposed. >> All right. Recognitions. Um, kudos to all. had a really smooth start to the of the year. And that's particularly uh impressive given the crisis that
010we faced uh right at the beginning of school and the issues we've we've been continuing to have with some technology issues. Uh Skyward in particular yet it's been a smooth start to the year. So kudos to all speaks very highly of who the Longhorns are and we just call them cool and collected and that's cool. We just do. So I appreciate that. All right, let's move to financials. Mike. >> Okay. On page five of the warrants, um you can see um down at the bottom there, the track, third payment on the track, $296,500. And that's the um new surface over here on the playground for to tailor made $256,217.87. and then our electricity bill and then u redoing the high school gym floor $19,950. So those are our main ones. So um $839,87359 warrants this
011month. And I know you you guys can do simple math, but if you were to take out the uh track and the playground over there, just were to take that out of that total, it'd bring the whole thing down about 287, which is far more, you know, normal for monthly expenditures. >> Hey Mike, what was the huddle for 16,000 numbers? >> That's the um how we broadcast our games. >> Oh, okay. And then, you know, the seed there, >> grass seed. I'm trying to get the grounds in better shape. >> Um, and then page six, the uh revenue expense by fund. Cash balances are where we expect them to be this time of year because we don't get any um county tax money till January. And then page seven, seven, our expense summary. still real
012early in the budget year and then pay a new transfers and then the high school middle school reports. So if you have any questions there are no questions I'll entertain a motion to approve the financials at $839,87359. >> So move second. Jill and Ryan Ruda been moved and second to approve the financials. All those in favor say I. >> I. >> Opposed. All right. No public patrons. So, administrative reports. Dr. M. >> A few things to mention to you. Track update. Uh, we're right on schedule. Uh, I don't know if you noticed, but AB3 is being put in today. Uh, and so that's, you know, the next step of getting the the track completed. Asphalt's coming soon. Uh, once that goes in, it has to cure for a few weeks. Uh so we're you know
013right on right on pace. Uh it's supposed to be done finished uh by on November 21st my son's birthday. Um so we're in good shape there. The uh work in the middle of working the soda contracts uh getting ready will re receive soon a bid proposal if you will from Coke and from Pepsi. I should have in the very near future have those for you uh for with recommendation at the October board meeting. So, uh, looking to continue having an exclusive contract with someone, one of the two companies. Final thing to mention to you, the Longhorn Festival is right around the corner. Uh, well, October 1st from 6:00 to 8, I believe it is. It'll be back outside the the fenced area because with the construction going on, I don't think it'd be a good
014idea to be inside there. Uh, you know, food trucks, games, band, cheerleader, back train, uh, crush crushing the car again. So, good opportunity. If you, if you're around, come on out. It's a good time. We have multiple hundreds of people show up for the Longore Festival. So, October 1st, Wednesday the 1st from 6:00 to 8. So, it's around the corner. Wheatland cooking? >> No, Wheatland is not cooking. We'll have food trucks. So, is too busy. >> All right. Thanks. >> You can come out and cook anyway if you want. >> At the food trucks. >> All right. Buildings and grounds. >> Nothing further. >> Transportation. >> Monica is gone. You don't have anything to add for her? >> Nope. >> Okay. Technology. >> All right. Principles. Let's start with Amy. Back to normal. >> She
015was primed and ready when she was. Um, last week we did our career tent assembly for our preschool and kindergarten students as part of our IPS that we do for them. Miss Castillo has done an awesome job and um in providing a bunch of different tents with materials that go with that occupation like we had police a police officer or police department a fashion show that's new this year. um ambulance, space station, post office. I think those were the five that we did this round and then we'll do it again in January. And so the idea is that each of those career tents rotates throughout the five classrooms throughout this semester and the students get to interact with it during their purposeful playtime. So, we take the time to actually introduce them to the tent,
016introduce them to the career, um the importance of the career, and show them all the ins and outs. And so, we did something additional this year, and Miss Castillo recorded um the teachers who help us with this um during their presentations. And so we're going to have videos for each of the classrooms to watch because, you know, by the time they may get the fashion show in their classroom in December, they probably forgot about what that career field would look like. And so the teachers will take the time to watch the videos that we put together to introduce the new tent coming to their classroom for that session. So it's very exciting for our students and they are always coming up to me asking about the post office because that's the one I did this
017time is that they think I work there. Great. >> Thank you, Amy. >> All right, Randy, we'll just stay in. >> Um, so our, if you come over to Hulcom Elementary, our halls are lined with posters of students that want to participate in student council. So that is, I mean, we always have kids that want to do it, but this year it seems like we have a whole lot that would really like to participate. Um, so that's really exciting. They're giving their speeches currently. This week's all about I think they had to have their posters up last week and then their speeches are this week. Then we'll vote and by the end of the day on Friday um we'll announce who our student council is. They do um I don't know all the things they
018do, but I know they do a couple of service projects. They do some for our school. They do one for the community. Um recently they helped purchase the signs u that we have so far in Hulcom Elementary to help guide you know people who come in because it can be easy to get lost in there sometimes. Um and they also purchased recess balls for K five although we are in need of some more of those. I do not know where they go. I don't know how they get lost eaten. I don't know, but somehow we always end up without any recess equipment. So, it's about time for new ones. We've talked about that. So, those are great things that they do for our school. Also, this morning, we had bank teller training. So, um they
019were hard at work in Miss uh Seaman's office working with the lady from uh Debbie from Golden Plains and she is getting them all set so that when we open our bank, it's ready to go. and we have our kick kickoff assembly assembly tomorrow morning. So, that's really exciting. I'm I'm excited to see where that goes. Um, and see how many kids we have utilizing that and and learning about saving their money. So, those are a couple of the new things or things going on at P Elementary. >> Thank you. All right, Dr. Hilton. Every September, our kids have an opportunity, well, our sixth graders have an opportunity to take the Kansas Communities that Care survey. Um, it focuses on uh how how kids feel about climate at school. Do they feel welcome? Do they
020feel that they matter? Those kinds of questions. Um, we get the data 11 months later, so we can't do anything with half the kids who took it, but we could talk about the other half. That's >> so I wanted to I put in my report I I gave no more details on it but there's 18 different categories uh and we scored above the state average five points or better in all but two of them. Uh so two areas for growth one that was pointed out uh one of the statements was I've been bullied through texting, social media or gaming sometimes to every day. We were eight points higher than the than the average in the state. Um, so no, continue to educate them on digital citizenship. Uh, encouraging parents to be involved with what kids
021are doing with their phones outside of school. Uh, the other one was my teachers notice when I'm doing a good job. 74% agreed, but the state average was 80. So encouraging uh teachers just to be a little more overt when kids are doing a good thing. But other than that, um, looking at some of the ways that the domains are categories on a scale, uh, Hulk Middle School is 17 points below the average, the state average in a depressed climate, meaning kids are 17% less likely to be in a depressed climate. Uh, 8% lower in an anxious, conflictual climate, uh, so less bullying in the hallways. Uh, 22 points better than the state average in student voice, so having a say in their electives. uh and the trajectory of the school. I think giving them
022a chance to pick hooks and things plays into that. Uh so overall very good data. Um obviously there's there's always room. You want to always be better like um one of them was. I feel I felt safe, uncomfortable, nervous at school. 4% agreed. The state average was 16. So that's that's good. But that means that we still have 4% of our kids that we need to reach out to that we need to do a better job with. So overall good data. I wanted to share that with you and uh in 11 months we'll see how we do next month. [Music] >> Thank you. All right, Jerry Johnson. Two things we'll highlight is number one uh we asked our student leadership group uh last year how they wanted to do social emotional learning uh not just
023a can program for like um character strong uh and so we got some good feedback from them. We met with uh Mr. Troy Naniga uh who came out and spoke with myself and Wes Wickor and Mrs. Gford uh developed Mr. Shenanigan is going to come in on Thursday and do a guest speaking uh presentation uh about how to regulate yourself. Uh that was one of the biggest things our our students really wanted to know is how do they get over hard like hard things that were happening in their life with the stress, the anxiety and some of that stuff. That was a big thing that they said last year on it. So, um all of our student leadership's going to be surrounded about that. uh he's developed where he's going to have bring three other
024people out and every for the every month uh in the first semester we're going to have speakers coming in and talking about those things about coping skills, how to be healthy, uh how to be happy, uh those kind of different things. So really excited about that. I think this is something that we can actually make an impact not just throw things at kids like actually give them the tools to say is if I'm a stressful situation, how do I get my nervous system back into a relaxed state uh to where I can actually think? So, um pretty excited about that. Other thing to highlight is our um activities we have going on this this year. Uh we have more numbers in the high school participating in activities than we have before. Uh each one of
025our fall sports numbers are up to the highest they've been uh I think since I've been here. Uh and our activities overall sort of sad and um has had meetings. StuCo, Mrs. Gford has done something different this year which is kind of cool. Uh they have a representative per home room that we're voted on. So, we have more kids involved in the stucco uh than we ever have before. Uh K club numbers are really up. Uh FFA uh has good numbers on their participation that's taking place with some of their games and some of the stuff they're planning on doing. So, really excited for our kids uh just getting involved uh with that. We may be down in numbers district-wise, but our kids are participating at a higher level than what they have before. So,
026I think that shows some. >> Thank you, sir. All right. Let's move to unfinished business and introduction of new teachers. >> Oh, right. Every year we have um pleasure of bringing new people on as teachers here in the land of Longhorns. And tonight we have three of our new teachers with us. And so I'll ask the principles, their individual principles to do the introductions. Randy, let's start with you and we'll get the other teachers here in coming months. >> Okay. So, I only have one this year. And >> that's different. >> Yes. >> Oh, yes. And a half. That's right. And a half. Because I have one that I share. But Mrs. Rodriguez is here from Sublette. And she came from Witchah first. Is that right? Or Manhattan or Witchaw. >> Okay. I Anyway, she
027um has been teaching for just a few years, but we are so happy to have her in fifth grade teaching math this year. Um she'll be with us for a little while before she heads off to have this little one. Um so anyway, we are excited to have her with us and her first name is Allison. I should say that. Allison Rodriguez. So anyway, welcome to Whole Gum. We're excited to have you. Do you want to say something? No. >> Where's that land? Where's the spotlight? >> Uh, two gentlemen to introduce that are making an immediate impact on the on the middle school. Uh, Kip Nichols, he's joining us from Garden City. Uh, spent the the bulk of his career or not all of it, uh, in uh, Garden City. Um, extensive amount of time
028doing special education. that plays great in the middle school setting. Uh using some of those experiences um everything in the middle school uh teaching sixth and seventh grade social studies. And then Josh Sigman uh he is our sixth grade math teacher uh most recently from Witchaw but spent a good chunk of time in Dodge before he went to Witchaw and then coming back west. Um another thing that's really helpful in a middle school setting is he spent a lot of time doing positive behavior support classrooms. So, kids with intense behavioral needs and that that just plays into that age. Uh, but he's also assistant football, assistant wrestling, going to be assistant track. So, he's making connections with kids. Um, really pleased with how they're doing in the classroom that they're they're fitting our culture real
029well. So, happy to have them both on board. [Music] >> You guys are all more than welcome to hang around. I would understand if you don't, but it's going to get real exciting here. just a little bit. >> Good stuff. >> The really exciting things. >> All right. >> Let's move to >> new business and approve approval of the HRC 2526 budget. >> All right. Since we are the taxing entity for the rec center, uh it's necessary for if we want them to operate uh for this board to approve of their budget. We have no say so on their budget outside of the fact that we approve it. Uh but you do have their documents before you if you want to take a look at them. Uh they're carrying a it's where that go. They're
030carrying 4.6 mills is what they're doing. They too uh popped the RNR because their assess valuation went up as well which is tied to us. Uh their budget is $1.5 million. of I mean tied to let's see capital outlay uh personnel it's all spread out you know these got a variety of different expenses that you know operate with people and the various things that they provide for the community so I recommend the board approve of the 2526 HRC budget move second and Curtis it's been moved and seconded to approve the HRC budget for the 2526 year. All those in favor say I. >> Opposed. All right. Now we will do our adoption of the 2526. >> There you go. And this is a followup from the hearing earlier. There's no new information to provide to
031you besides the fact that the u it is important once again Robin to get it reflected in the minutes. the we discussed the u building needs assessment information summation of all that the barriers budgetary possible responses and the time horizon to get people up to levels three and four uh but it's the exact same information that I talked with you ear that I discussed with you earlier uh so I recommend adoption of the 2526 budget as presented >> second >> Ryan Ruda and Jill been moved and second to adopt the 2526 6 budget as presented. All those in favor say I. >> I. >> Opposed. All right. Approval of remote learner. >> Yeah. We have a young lady, middle school student who is hospitalized for a portionly portion of the first semester and to in
032order to maintain her education, uh we need to for the board to take an overt action to approve her to be a remote learner. Tyler's working out all the details to make this happen and has a teacher assigned to her who has a a relationship with her from last year has a relationship with her this year. Uh pertinent information to her malady is in the executive session information. Um I recommend approval of the student request as presented to be a remote learner for the first semester of the 2526 school year. >> So move second. >> Casey and Jill. It's been moved and second to approve the student request to be for remote learner for first semester of 2526 school year. All those in favor say I. >> I opposed. All right. Now our good one.
033Elkhart Hi Plains. Elk Artist. Elkhart is continuing their shenanigans. Um, as of when I wrote this, uh, they still have not paid their assessment from last year and they have, uh, held their assessment from this year as well. Um, so HPEC, they're having a meeting tomorrow, uh, with the the leadership of 218. Uh, they're actually looking at choices. They could pull the High Plains teachers from there. That would cause all sorts of issues. uh because then I have to believe the state would get involved at that point because they would not be serving IDA. A major kurfuffle would would occur. Uh they could cut a deal. Uh none of the superintendents in the co-op are in favor of that. We had a conversation today and I expressed that very bluntly. Uh why cut a deal?
034They are in breach of the contract. They should pay it. The end. um they could take on 100% of the KCA sped needs. That's KCA is the virtual school for Elcart. That's what this whole thing stems from that from that um group and because they're upset because their profit margin is going from $6 million a year to $3 million a year profit, not expense, profit. Uh and and they could sue to a they could end up suing Elart to get the money. That's probably where this is headed. Uh depend depending how this goes, we might need to take similar action as well because if they just do not pay, that money needs to be paid somehow some way. And so one way that that could get paid is all the other districts pony up. So
035our assessment goes up and that's just not right. That's just not right at all. Um, so one way to avoid that is all the other districts sue USD 218. Uh, that's dirty. I mean, that's ugly. That's nasty. >> Can we send Soprano in? >> Yeah. >> How many schools are in >> planes? 16. I mean, I I can't believe that they would make that choice. 218 would want to stand there and puff up their chest and say, "We don't get It's This is nonsensical. Well, they seem to be digging their heels in right now. So, >> yeah. >> Have you heard what's the the major driver behind that thing? >> They just don't like it. >> They're not getting the service. They >> Well, no, no, no. That's not That's not the point. That's not
036the point. They don't like it. >> Virtual school, right? >> Yeah. Pearson, who is the evil empire overlord of the virtual school, they just don't like the fact that their profit margins being cut because for years and years and years, the virtual students were not part of the assessment. They just weren't for whatever reason. And so for about a three to four year period, we worked it out. And so every student how we get assigned our assessment or in every district in the in the co-op how the how it's determined is they look at our headcount and then it's one F 1.0 FT. Okay. And so over time we said all right well we'll be nice. We're doing 0.5. We could have done 1.0. And this went all the way through the the High Plains
037Board over a two-year period. It got ratified and codified and pushed through the legal uh process. Whole nine yards. It got approved and new soup came along this last chair said and he paid three of the assessments throughout the year and just decided I'm not paying now the last one because Pearson evil empire doesn't like it. My point is too bad as far as that's concerned. And so he's he is breaking the contract. Ultimately, uh the interlocal agreement may be rewritten to address virtual students in particular. Uh and my attitude at this point is make them 1.0 charge them full full price. >> How many of the other 16 or how many of the 16 are ready to move on separate lawsuits? >> No one said let's do it, but everyone's gearing up. >> Yeah.
038I mean, >> it's the numbers. I mean, if high plains if high plains brings it forward, great. You have 16 school districts that are bringing it forward. I got to believe >> Well, if they pull all their special ed out, >> I can't imagine what what that would trigger. I mean, the KSD would just I mean, have a connection. I mean, because that that's a federal thing as well. I mean, big time issues would would send out the National Guard. >> Yeah. that could occur. That could occur. So anyway, all I'm telling you is I have a meeting tomorrow and in the last conversation that we had with Alexa, the there are 12 soups in on this conversation very overtly said, "Do not cut a deal. Do not Why would you cut a deal?" I
039mean, we're in the right, they're in the wrong. >> You opened Pandora's box there. Oh goodness. And and I told Alex, if if if you let them get away with this, why would they make any payment, future payment? And by the way, why do we pay? >> Why would we why would we pay outside of honor and the fact that we signed a contract? >> And their bills like 200,000. >> Yeah. I mean, that's what they didn't pay for last year. >> That's what's left for them to pay. And every other district has paid their beginning assessment, the first assessment for this year because you pay throughout the year. >> Yeah. So, >> it it it truly is surreal. It just >> And this is the same guy that got released from his former district
040in in uh Oklahoma for trying to bribe a board member. So, he got indicted for that. Yeah. So, I kid you not, I can't make this stuff up. >> I want cold water. >> Yeah. I'm hoping to br >> Okay. Well, Any more questions on that? >> All right. Well, let's move to the acceptance of grant and donations to the district. >> Yeah, we have a couple. We have one grant and and two donations uh that have come to the district in the last month. Uh McFerson County Community Foundation is bringing forward a donation of $500. Uh Triple O Powers providing a donation of $2,000 and Scott Community Foundation's $500 grant to us. I recommend the board accept the grant and the donations made to the district. >> So move >> second. >> Jill, Ryan
041Shrive, and Jill. It's been moved and seconded to accept the uh grants and donations made to the district. All those in favor say I. >> I. Opposed. >> All right. Executive session. >> 10 minutes. Let's see. Let's go into executive session at Ge 7 36 for 10 minutes with >> Dr. Myers. >> You should not have executive session and beat her record. >> You could. >> Can we not do it or do we have stuff to take care of? >> We need something else. You need to hire some supplementals. >> Give me 10 minutes. 7:30. Let's do it at 7:37 now for 10 minutes with Dr. Myers. And that's it. All those in favor? >> I I >> All right, we're back in session. I need a motion to approve Kimberly Gossman as a activities
042bus driver. >> Salute. >> Second. >> Ryan Ruda and Ryan Shrive. Been moved and seconded to hire Kimberly. All those in favor say I. >> I. >> Opposed. All right. I need a motion to hire Roger Redden as an activity bus driver. Second >> Ryan Ruda and >> Casey >> been moved and second to approve Roger Reen. All those in favor say I. >> I >> opposed. All right. I need a motion to approve the supplementals as presented. >> Second. >> Was it Jill? >> Jill and Curtis. It's been moved and seconded to approve the supplementals as presented. All those in favor say I. I >> opposed. >> That is all. I need a motion to adjurnn. >> Second try. Some comments make >> and Ryan Ren been moved and second to adjourn. All those
043in say I >> opposed. >> Three to go. Mike.