APS Board Meeting March 2026 (rescheduled from 3/16)

001Good evening everyone. We'll call our meeting tonight to order at this point and let's all rise for the pledge. I pledge allegiance 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. Okay, I would direct the board's attention to the consent agenda items for your review and uh let us know if you need anything pulled. We've all been here pretty early today so I'm good with moving forward. Yeah. If so, I will make a motion to approve the March 23rd, 2026 regular board meeting agenda as presented. Second. Very good. We have a motion and a second to approve the meeting agenda. Any discussion? All right, hearing none, all in favor of the motion raise your hand. Any

002opposed, same sign. Motion carried. We have a a uh a new agenda. That brings us to our exciting reports for this evening. Um Megan. You're up. Good evening. I'll just get set up. Welcome back. Why, thank you. It's really nice to be back. Is this going to pop up for me? Well, oh, perfect. All right, can you hear me okay? All right. Thank you so much for the opportunity to come speak with you today um about the instructional services department at the AMAESD. Um I know most of you, but um there are a few I have not met and uh while I'm new to the role of the director of instruction for our instructional services department, I am not new to the region. Um I have in my instructional experience here has been as a

003teacher at APS, a literacy consultant at AMAESD. I have administrative experience at AMAESD prior to being able to serve as the assistant superintendent here at APS. So, um have variety of experiences that help me with this role and as the new director of instructional services, my goal is to provide relevant, timely support and leadership to local districts while maintaining an efficient department that models and promotes best practices. So, a few opportunities in my role specifically, um I'm committed to supporting the region with the legislative requirements that are expected of our school districts and supporting grant initiatives including 35A which is our literacy coaching grant, 31N mental health therapy and 35N which is our new competitive grant that I'll be talking about in a little bit. Um I also support and help coordinate regional professional learning

004and here for any other administrative requirements because I know how hard the job is and um and really take my role as a support administrator very seriously. Uh so, but the true highlight is the role of our staff members in my department and I'll start with the literacy support for teachers in your schools. So, this is provided by two instructional coaches, Tina Denbleiker and Aaron Graham and our ELA specialist Julie Bastow. Um so, to highlight just two areas that are of importance this year, the first is the implementation of UFLI. So, our our literacy team has helped along with your your staff to support the implementation of UFLI which is a high-quality tier one resource for grades K through three and then a intervention resource for the upper grades. Specifically, they supported with ordering the

005essential materials as a result of your 35M grant, you were able to purchase UFLI resources and they helped to Stephanie create that order and get got some high-quality printing done associated with that. They created and provided hybrid professional learning course to the list of those teachers up there and then what's most important to is the instructional coaching support that they um Aaron and Tina in collaboration with your instructional coaches are able to provide the teachers once they learn about the program. That link between professional development and job embedded coaching has been pivotal in the implementation of UFLI in order to really get the results that the program has been found to achieve. So, that's very exciting and we have elementary teachers who are currently taking training and some who are ready to get started before

006the target start date of next fall. The other area of literacy support for teachers I want to mention is the 35N read grant. This was a competitive regional grant that we won this year with the goal of accelerating reading achievement through the implementation of the rewards program in grades six through nine. So, as a part of this work in APS, Matt Foley worked with his team to create a course called Lit Lab and AMA coordinated the rewards training for the teachers who taught teach the course and Julie Bastow is leading the continuing PD and instructional support for those teachers so we can really truly work to figure out what is the best structure for this course, how do we best meet the needs of the readers in the classroom at the at the secondary level

007and how do we get the most impact of this semester of instruction? Of note though, this is an exciting opportunity for us. 39 districts were selected in this grant and 15 of those 39 were secondary schools. So, we are one of 15 in the running. At in September of this year, we will know whether or not we've made it to the next round. So, there's three stages of this grant. We're in stage one. Stage two is if we make it to the next round, three secondary projects will be selected to implement in 26-27 with an additional $375,000 awarded. And then after that, of those three, one will be selected for $500,000 in incentive money. I've never seen like a bonus awarded in a competitive grant as a way to acknowledge efforts. So, we're really hoping

008we're going to make it to that next round and we will know within the next six months which is exciting. Moving along, I know we have several presentations tonight. I do want to talk about literacy services. So, this is direct services in your schools through the STARS program. STARS stands for supporting teachers and readers successfully and it consists of RTI specialists who work 28 hours per week as reading interventionists for K-3 students. This program is in its 17th year which is pretty amazing. It started off as a grant-funded program and has now become an anchor in our IDEA early intervening services funding because of the impact that they make on student reading achievement. They are trained in several evidence-based interventions and they work closely with your APS Title 1 teachers and are supported by our

009STARS coach who help assure fidelity of implementation of the interventions that they teach. Average caseload size for our RTI specialists are between 30 and 40 students. While we don't employ a math consultant, we are able to provide some math support for teachers through our AVMR or Advantage Math Recovery initiative. This started prior to me serving in this role and is a collaborative effort in the region to bring the AVMR assessment guided intervention to our special ed teachers so they can use that to support specialized instruction. So we contract with Mary Mary Christensen Cooper who's a local math expert to provide the professional development. And the missing link with this we've tried this probably about I say 8 years ago. We had many teachers in APS trained in AVMR but because it is such a complex

010intervention that really is guided by the data that you collect and then you have to know how to flexibly grab your instructional resources. It was really hard to maintain that intervention. So the the difference this year is if you get professional development in this intervention you also get intensive job embedded instructional coaching from either Tina or Aaron. This has been the ticket to actually making this become an intervention that teachers are utilizing more often and the results we're seeing are pretty awesome. So that is very exciting to be able to continue to do and this year we also added title one teachers. So this is a tool for interventionists as well and I was able to expand our special ed coaching to support title one teachers as well because of the effectiveness of that support.

011In addition to math and literacy as you know you had Ashley O'Connor here to speak about her support with AI integration. I'm just going to touch on this briefly and just give you an understanding of her position is a shared position between all of the districts including AMA and so every district purchases a number of days of her calendar to be able to get her support and then districts then direct what they would like her support in. So this year APS purchased 27 days of Ashley O'Connor's time and through that she was able to lead your leadership team and helping to kind of carve your path for AI practices and implementation. She also provided PD for secretaries and to implement Google Gemini and then was able to attend every staff meeting in the district to

012introduce magic school and Google Gemini. And finally just to end with our GSRP support as a requirement of GSRP funding we ISTs are required to employ an early childhood specialist and that is Danielle Hanson. And while it's a requirement of GSRP funding it is she does provide some very integral support. She leads recruitment enrollment make sure that you have students in classrooms and she does an amazing job of getting it out there and and spending a lot of time starting this time of year through to through to the start of the school year to make sure students are in classrooms. She works with your staff to provide on-site instructional coaching and behavioral support provides monthly PD supports teachers in using the data that they gather to guide instruction and then also helps to ensure compliance

013standards with GSRP requirements. So that is a drive-by really quick overview of the instructional services department. I just appreciate being able to just share some of the great work that our small but mighty department is doing in Alpena schools and if you have any questions I'd be happy to answer them. So Megan just to clarify for me so now our title one teachers can assist in math in math interventions? Yes so they've been trained in AVMR and so actually they're going through the training in AVMR right now. And so they'll be done in May and after that they'll have the tools needed to provide that intervention. In the next in the fall? In the fall would be a likely timeline. Okay all right thank you. Yeah. Anything else? Well it's great to be here. Thank

014you and thank you Katie for your computer. Great. >> [clears throat] >> Okay that brings us then to Thunder Bay Junior High good news. Thanks for coming everybody. All right good evening. We are excited to be here presenting good news this month. So we're going to start off with some introductions. My name is Katie Lee and I'm the principal here at Thunder Bay Junior High. Abby Kowalski assistant principal. Colin Riffert assistant principal. Ruby Waltrip eighth grader. Adeline Mott seventh grader. Sophie Wuscheske seventh grader. Isabella Neilson seventh grader. Brinley Phillips eighth grader. Serenity Papermill eighth grader. We're going to start off [music] with a video. Thunder Bay rocks because the teachers are awesome. >> [music] >> Thunder Bay rocks because we get to see our friends. Thunder Bay rocks because you get to pick your classes.

015>> [music] >> Thunder Bay rocks because all of the staff here are so enthusiastic about helping you to learn and grow. >> [music] >> Thunder Bay rocks because of our sports programs. Thunder Bay rocks because our school bands work hard sound great and bring school spirit to life. >> [music] >> Thunder Bay rocks because you get to see different teachers throughout the day as you switch classes. Thunder Bay rocks because of National Junior Honor Society. >> [music] >> Thunder Bay rocks because the principals are really amazing. Thunder Bay rocks because the band teachers teach you something new every single day. Thunder Bay [music] rocks because of the awesome pep assemblies. Thunder Bay rocks because the spirit weeks are awesome. >> [music] >> Thunder Bay rocks because of the activities [music] you can do at lunch.

016Thunder Bay rocks because the teachers aren't teachers but they're also our friends. Thunder Bay also rocks because our assemblies and dances are really fun. Thunder Bay rocks because of the electives. Thunder Bay rocks because you get to make new friends from different grades and schools. Thunder Bay rocks because of choir. >> [music] >> Thunder Bay rocks because there's extra fun activities that make you feel welcome. Thunder Bay rocks because we help our community. Thunder Bay rocks because the staff are really supportive. Thunder Bay rocks because the teachers helped me with my broken foot. Thunder Bay rocks because of the annual ice cream socials. Thunder Bay rocks because of its clubs. Thunder Bay rocks because the food is really good and the snack line is great. So at Thunder Bay Junior High we encourage our students

017to represent in a positive way and that includes being respectful showing the most effort and also having personal responsibility. We are all wildcats and what represents us more than go green, go white. That unites us all. Um, TBJH is incorporating uh more green and white throughout our building using signs, paint, uh some murals that you might have seen in the video that just went. Uh and you know, this helps maintain a positive culture in our building. It helps us reinforce our REP values that we just talked about and support an atmosphere of teamwork. At Thunder Bay Junior High, we strive to see school spirit. During Winter Fest and other events that the high school that the high school has, we have spirit weeks. During these weeks, we have spirit days where we dress up in

018awesome outfits to show our school spirit. For example, on PJ Day, students and staff are encouraged to wear PJs to show our spirit. We also have class color days on the Fridays of spirit weeks. All of the grade levels have different colors. Sixth grade is orange, seventh seventh grade is yellow, and eighth grade is blue. Along with the challenge days, the spirit day points are added up for classes to win the spirit jug. Right now, sixth grade has the spirit jug. Thunder Bay Junior High had 406 students on honor roll for our semester one that ended on January 16th. Our honor roll students are students that have a 3.0 GPA or higher. Our PAC hosts ice cream socials or Popsicle socials for students on the honor roll. Students look forward to these socials at the

019end of each quarter. Each quarter, every teacher nominates a student that represents Thunder Bay by having excellent respect, effort, and personal responsibility throughout the quarter. Students are recognized at the end of each quarter. Students receive a certificate with the teacher nomination and reasoning on it. At Thunder Bay Junior High, we have challenge days that are typically during spirit week spirit weeks, which are days that we meet in the gym to do fun challenges against our fellow advisory classes. We have limited time to do the challenge and while we compete against the classes, our teachers score points. For example, one of the challenge days we got we had to kick hula hoops on a spot on the floor. If it touched the spot, we got one point, but if we got over the spot, it was

020three points. The office tallies up the winners of the challenge days and spirit days and whichever grade has the most points wins the spirit jug. In National Junior Honor Society, we work together with our advisor, Mrs. Ganya, and follow five pillars. First is character. We show respect to ourselves and our classmates. Scholarship. We succeed in our learning. Leadership. We are leaders in our of our school and community. Service. We have multiple hours of service in our community, volunteering or participating in many events together. The last pillar is citizenship. We have strong roots in our community and strive to make it better. Our goal this year is to raise money to rehabilitate one of our school's courtyards. We'd love to make it a tranquil place for students to enjoy lunch, take a break, and in stressful

021situations and have partnered with Thunder Bay Junior High's Garden Club to do so. There's so many opportunities for National Junior Honor Society students. Members have had have had the opportunity to apply for grants grants and scholarships. Our own Autumn Betory applied and won a grant to support Hanks Elementary in making a sensory room for students. Many students, including myself, have applied to scholarships that required us to write an essay that highlights our most valued pillar of National Junior Honor Society, as well as other things. While we don't know the results yet, we have put in so much effort that at least one of us is bound to get awarded. National Junior Honor Society consists of the leaders of our school and strives to make it a positive to make a positive change in our community.

022Our Thunder Bay Junior High Student Council meets on Tuesdays once to twice a month. During these meetings, we talk about our upcoming events at Thunder Bay Junior High, as well as things that we can do to help improve the school. Over the school year, the student council does multiple activities like Penny Wars, a food drive, and dances to raise money to help out our school. We use the money we raised for multiple things, including upcoming dances. Over Christmas, we provided gifts for families in need. During the holiday season, one of our Thunder Bay Junior High families had a tragedy and we raised our money with Penny Wars to help the family out. Our Thunder Bay Junior High Student Council strives to help make our school the best it can be. There are four sports at

023TBJH: volleyball, cross country, boys and girls basketball, and track. Extracurricular activities help students develop social skills, confidence, and time management while also contributing to personal growth and academic success. They provide opportunities for students to explore their interests, try something new, and build their skill set. In band at Thunder Bay Junior High, we are directed by Mr. Brad Beyer. In band, we not only practice rhythms, notes, and general music, but we also learn how to work with one another. We also learn how to be critiqued without taking offense and how to use that feedback to make ourselves better. The Thunder Bay Choir program consists of the intro to choir and the Thunder Bay Singers. We have multiple performances every year, such as our Christmas concert, choral festival, and our spring concert, which this year's theme is

024decades. While both choirs could not make it to the scheduled choral festival in Saginaw Valley this year due to weather, we will still be doing a festival, just a little differently. The group that runs the choral festival is sending an adjudicator to judge us like we'd be judged at a regular festival. We are doing this event on Wednesday during school with the West Branch choirs at the high school. Everyone is welcome and we would love to see you there. Um, we also host coffee house, which is a group of solo choir students singing their chosen song in public. Choir at Thunder Bay Junior High is a place for growth and learning. We put so much effort into all our pieces and would love to see you at one or multiple of our events. Student Council

025works hard to create fun activities like dances that get students really excited. We organize these activities and create spirit days to bring students together and show school spirit. At the end of the year, we host an eighth grade celebration to recognize our eighth graders. We also sell candy grams during holidays to spread kindness and school spirit. In May, we have a talent show coming up where students can show off their unique talents to us the school. The Student Council loves hosting these activities and seeing our classmates enjoy them. The student team is a group of 20 seventh and eighth grade students who help to promote a positive culture at Thunder Bay. The students provide provide feedback, assist with planning assemblies and events, and are the voice of the student body. Students can apply to be

026on the student team in the spring for the following school year. This year, the student team provided feedback, planned our pep assemblies, helped with sixth grade orientation and open house, and will assist with the Journey Junior High event in May for fifth grade students and their families. All the students presenting tonight are members of our student team. And that concludes our good news presentation. So, thank you very much for having us this month. Can you, before you leave, tell us the timing of the of the choir? Yes. Um, it's tomorrow and I believe we start Tomorrow, Wednesday. Okay. Um, and I believe I'm not sure when the high school choir starts singing cuz we're getting there around 9:00. Okay. Yeah, 9:00 would probably be a good time. Okay. Thank you. And thank you, ladies, very

027much. >> [applause] >> All right. On to reimagine our future. Take it away, Dave. You could have said something, Dave. Yeah, but that's your job. You're on the end. You got to in charge of boards. You're fired. Okay, that's You can't sit there. You're over there. They already told me I could sit here. Oh, >> [laughter] >> she set you up. All right. Well, difficult act to follow, for sure. Um, this presentation is best suited for a workshop, but just with the um you know, the recent events and rescheduling and everything and information coming on, I just wanted to get this information out and then we can certainly have further conversations. So, just a little plug tomorrow uh at the high school in the Wildcat Den, 5:30, we are doing another community engagement forum with

028King Scott. Uh we've been working with them since uh we did the survey. Um, and so uh they're coming and uh it'll be interactive, so hope everyone can make it um and provide some feedback on uh reimagining our future together. So, just a connection to the strategic plan, reimagining our district is uh our strategic plan. It's stewardship and family and community partnership. Our statement uh goal in stewardship is to advance and maintain a sustainability plan, >> [snorts] >> and that's broken down into a long-term facilities and long-term instructional plans. And so the King Scott work and what I'm going to talk about tonight definitely falls into that sustainability plan. And that just means a plan that we can afford to implement for years to come. And of course, one of the mainstays of the King

029Scott work is community communicating with the community. So it's family and community partnerships. And our goal there is to build a strengthening building strengthen a trusting relationship with our families and partners. One of the big ways we do that is through communication. And so this is some feedback in my very well-read superintendent update that goes out monthly. I put in a survey, just a quick five-question survey around communication. I thank you for laughing at my jokes. I think I did it in October, sometime in the fall, and then I just did it this past month's update in the winter. And one of the questions is I believe there's a way for me to engage in two-way communication with Alpena Public Schools. And so you see in the fall 87% of the respondents, and there were

030215 people that responded, 87% said yes. And then the winter participation dropped off, but to 60 responses, but still 88.3%. So that's pretty positive. You know, that goes to our Raymond engagement survey. The data for our staff is even stronger than this. This includes anyone who took that survey, so staff, community members, parents, students. But it's it's definitely showing that people feel like there's a way to communicate two ways with the district. And again, there's another opportunity for you to do that tomorrow night with the King Scott project. And just in a further example, that on the left there, that is we've got 248 responses to our Reimagine Our Future Survey. It is still open. It is still on our website. If you go, just scroll down a little bit and you can watch all

031the presentations and everything, and you can provide our feedback. I don't want to be a spoiler here, so we will go into the green check marks and X's there tomorrow. This is from the presentation we're doing. But 248 people responded to that survey. On the left, I know you can't see that from where you are. It's a little small. We were talking about that. But this is our um what we originally called our wish list, but now we're calling enhancement projects. These are projects that we would be nice to work on in the district. They don't fall into projects like boiler replacement, roof replacements, things that are necessary in order to maintain our facilities, but they're enhancement projects. And again, in my very well-read superintendent update, I put out the survey and we got 329

032responses to that. And I'll come back to the data in just a future slide here, but I really want to thank everyone that's taken time to fill that out. We absolutely are looking at your feedback and responding to it. Again, we'll go into that in more depth tomorrow night. This is a little bit closer view of it. And I did share this with the board. I think the last two weeks in the update, if not just this past one. So how it works is it was broken down into several surveys, Google surveys. Athletics, high school, junior high, and so on. So what you have here is the list of the projects that were identified as enhancement projects. It was a four-point scale. So this is what the average response was out of four points. And

033then this is the number of people that responded. So we had anywhere from 93 that responded to the high school down to looks like 12 at Sanborn. Again, when you consider the size of the high school compared to Sanborn, that certainly makes sense that you didn't get as many. And we did when we sent it out. When I sent it out, I said we'd prefer you to respond to buildings that you have a connection to, whether you work there or your students go there. You're welcome to provide feedback on any of them, but we wanted to really get as close to the the people that are actually impacted by these decisions. So And then of course, some buildings had longer lists than others. This is something we've been working through. Um These lists were longer

034a couple of months ago, but through refining them, some of the projects got switched back over to the long-term maintenance plan, which is just things that we know we have to do, and we don't necessarily consider enhancement projects. >> [sighs] >> So I guess any questions or anything from the board at this point about this. Will you give a roundabout price for some of these things once we get a little further into it, or is that I mean I know I saw the weight room, but Yeah, and we'll talk about the weight room specifically and one other project that's not on this list. But so the idea was yes, we give this out and get the feedback to see what the community feels are top priorities, and then we need to figure out how it

035fits into our budget cycle, and of course what it costs will be a part of that decision-making process, too. So there are two projects. And the balance here is our Reimagine Our Future project is looking out 5 to 10 years. And I think we've had conversations here. We know we've got to do things that might fall into that plan. We can't wait 5 to 10 years to do these things. Or you know, we just want to do something now. How does it fit into that longer-term plan? So that's sort of the balance. So these two projects are just good discussion points, I think, along those regards. One of the things that we've learned through well, just because we're aware of it, but also when King Scott came in and studied, one of the needs at

036our family partnership, which is our home-school partnership housed at Sunset, was they need more space. And there's my little tribute to AI for today. Nemska and Family Partnership share Sunset Elementary, and they both need additional space. So this is one of those projects where we have these two um I don't know what we call them, portables? Yeah, temporary classrooms, portable classrooms. They've been not in use for at least 10 years, if not more. Um But they are attached to the building. And so we were working with both Nemska and Family Partnership to figure out what we could do. And we think we have a good solution. And as we get to the King Scott work tomorrow night, you'll see that they also found that space is of a premium. And some of our options we're

037talking about are adding on to buildings, renovating spaces, and things like that. So this all kind of works together. Those are the two spaces behind the building, and it would equate to two additional classrooms. So we've been gathering information, and you could see ultimately the bottom line is the estimate for getting these classrooms back up and running for the fall is $78,000. And so a couple of ways we can go about doing that, just put in the budget for next year, but then that doesn't hit the timeline of servicing the the partnership families at the start of next year. Or you know, come to the board for a decision to say yes, we want to move ahead and modify the budget and move this project forward. So not looking for an answer tonight. It's not

038an action item, but these are the decisions that kind of kind of those low-hanging fruit things that This is not a Yes, $78,000 is a significant amount of money. But out of a 50-plus million-dollar budget, can this serve a need without altering that 5 to 10-year plan significantly? So this is one of those projects that you know, we can invest in our program, make some improvements, and provide better services to the students. So just throwing that out there. We'll talk about it more a little bit tomorrow, and then Yeah, just just with that, I just want to note, you know, abatement, asbestos removal in those temporary buildings is $30,000. So that's a big chunk of it. So they've probably been there longer than 10 years. Well, the the buildings have been there longer than 10

039years. I think they've been vacant for 10 years. Um So one thing, you know, abatement, we're going to have to pay for that sooner or later, whether we rehab them, tear them down one way or another. Yeah. And so Simon, if you want us So we met with the building inspector who to even decide, you know, can these because right now they're being used for storage. So we wanted to know, you know, would they pass inspection, and what would it take to get them up to that level. And what would they Like what does Jen or Nemska picture happening? Is it They [snorts] would Is it a shared space? I believe Jen was thinking classroom, two classrooms. >> be two classrooms. Yep. And we've had preliminary conversations with Nemska about finding another um solution for

040their storage. Yeah, they're ready to purchase a storage shed or a storage building that would they'd put on site. We Yeah. So. And so tying it into the budget, uh we're due for a budget amendment, which I think we are with the way things are going at the levels above us. Uh May, is that what we're targeting? Or did you say April? Huh? Okay. >> [snorts] >> Yep. Yeah. Yeah, and I I would try to, you know, use as much as our of our in-house, you know, maintenance staff to do most of this work but as much as possible. But there is there is some asbestos concerns, you know, I think it would be that would be best to to get it out of there and get it out of our way. And of course

041the cost of that is it's going to be the cheapest today than it is, you know, 30 years from now, so. And so along those lines, I mean we've been having these conversations with the partnership about space uh over the last couple of years. And um you know, there was suggested that those could be torn down very easily and at one point they were interested in just having more green space for the kids to go out and and play uh out there. And of course when you talk about just knocking down buildings, um you get major red flags around asbestos um because while we may have wonderful giving community members willing to sac you know, donate their time and equipment to knock a building down, they've then just caused an environmental uh disaster [clears throat]

042hazard area um not going through the proper channels, so um whether we use these space is what Simon is saying. Whether we use the building or we decide to tear it down, you're going to have to abate the asbestos cuz you can't just knock it down. Yeah, we have to spend that that $30,000. We have to spend it at some point or another. So. >> [clears throat] >> And so um you know, in speaking with both Nemska and Family Partnership, Jen, this is a temporary situ- solution. Uh both programs are growing um and so the need will be um postponed a couple of years by doing this. Hopefully, you know, 5 years or or more. But that's where the the reimagining the bigger project comes in. We also started conversations completely informal just brainstorming. Could

043there be a new location for either the partnership or Nemska giving that whole building to one of those two programs? Again, to give space um and again, those are preliminary conversations. Nemska has options, you know, that they're not fully aware of all the details but they believe there are options available to, you know, I'm not saying they're going to move but if that's the way we wanted to look of long term, them moving out, uh they could then begin exploring what options are available as far as funding and building and leasing and and those sorts of things. Or uh you know, as through this process, if we decide that one of our buildings can be repurposed um for either of those programs, um you know, going back to what we're talking about here tonight doesn't

044necessarily get in the way of those much longer term conversations and plans. Does Nemska have to be at one specific site or can they be split up the classrooms? I Partnership probably has to stay at one. But You know, I think for staffing, the preference would be one but Nemska is scattered across the county. Um Partnership also is. They do classes over at the Aplex right now. Um and at the the partnership, so um you know, certainly from a staffing and ease of the program being in one location for both would be best. And they currently are. I mean they're at Sanborn, they're at Lincoln. You know, with a classroom, so. And you hear AMA too talking about their early childhood, which is spread spread between um Lincoln and Ella White's and their preference would

045be to have it all in one space, Ella White for staffing again, so their staff isn't split and having to travel around. Did I cover all the I think so. >> details? All right. Um I mean I guess one thing with this I would hope potentially too, instead of, you know, we're going to have I'm just thinking we have 30,000, probably another if we tore them down, have another 20,000 in tearing them down. Um potentially maybe we could we rehab them somebody may want them in the future if we take care of them instead of uh just sending them to the landfill, so. Yeah. I mean we they did that at ACES. They took the ones from ACES over to Emanuel Lutheran, so. Yep. That's You may as well stay up here for the next

046one too. And so then the the other big one, uh the weight room. And um uh So this is uh I guess let me go to the history of the weight room conversation to the best of my recollection and what's documented. Back in 2018, which was prior to me arriving, um there was an official high-level conceptual uh quote that was requested of IDI, our design firm, and at that time Walgas, the construction management firm. Uh and they were looking at a 3,000 square foot facility because roughly the space that we have used since the building was built in the '60s is about 3,000 square feet. And so in 2018, uh the estimate came back on construction only at about 185 square feet uh $185 per square foot. And so roughly 500,000 uh plus all the

047other pieces that come on top of any uh construction project. I have no recollection, I wasn't here, but uh that didn't move forward. When I arrived in 2020, uh we were rolling out the safe warm dry bond. Somewhere along the line we started again looking at the the weight room as a possible project. Um so in 2023, I reached out to IDI and they provided um some more high-level just conceptual. This was one of the recent projects that they had done uh for I think um Durand uh public schools, I think it is. Uh so just kind of a cool, it's got turf and then the weight room's off to the right there. But really they they kind of targeted um and they were looking at adding on to the east side of the high

048school gym. Um And uh basically we revisited, they pulled up the old quotes and we decided they had increased and that it it still wasn't a project uh that we wanted to pursue. So fast forward to 2025 and there seems to be some more interest in this project and I would go back to our um uh enhancement project list and up here at the top, uh the new weight room was the highest rated for the high school with 3.68. And I'd be remiss if I didn't point out that it wasn't the highest rated, Thunder Bay Junior High's outdoor area for students was 3.98. Of course we could get into statistics waiting and all of that and say, well, there are 93 on this one, 60 on that um but also uh sound system for the

049gym uh 3.72 at Hinks um rated higher but we have some data here that confirms that there is significant interest in a weight room at the high school uh from our community. So this is one of those things like a re- recurring um dream, let's call it, the weight room. Uh as I said, we've been getting increasing I don't I don't know how people are sharing their opinions about this project with me more and more. Um And so and maybe it's been a year now, maybe 8 months, um I was told that Johannesburg, Petoskey, Cadillac all did these projects and it was well under a million dollars because we were operating off of roughly a $3 million uh idea from IDA IDI our design firm. I said there's no way you put in a new

050weight room for 300,000 people were telling me to up to 700,000 with the costs that we were seeing on our safe warm dry bond work just was not possible. And so I waited and waited and waited and as one can imagine never got the official confirmation that these schools had put in these projects, these field houses, these weight rooms, these amazing facilities for under a million dollars. That's because they didn't. Uh Petoskey's high school was part cost around $4.3 million and sorry, I don't have a subscription to the newspapers. So I it fades out there, but >> [laughter] >> this is critical because Petoskey's per pupil and ours is similar, which was pointed out to me on the radio when I wasn't there. However, they have a sinking fund. And it's a consistent form of

051funding, but the project is $4.3 million funded through a sinking fund. No 200 300,000. Johannesburg, I was also told that was around 350,000 for a field house facility. Well, that was part of a $20 million bond. >> [clears throat] [snorts] >> And Cadillac, I was also told that that was done for well under a million dollars and you can see it was part of a $62 million bond that was passed. I'm not saying that the gym or the weight room cost $62 million or $20 million or 4.3. But it did not come in under a million dollars, not even close. And so I'd like to go down to Cadillac and take a look and see what they have cuz that must be just a remarkable facility. So the point is um we have two ways

052to approach this project. Um you know, right now I asked I guess I asked Simon and the athletic team to get an estimate of what it would cost to take over three current classroom spaces in the high school and they sit across from the kitchen. Um they're an empty space uh sensory room, instructional coaching coaches room and student leadership room. All of those three purposes they can we can find different locations for those staff and students in the building. So it's not a big disruption. Um so we got a weight equipment roughly 300 260 to what 250 to 294,000 for the equipment and flooring. Um and then you have to do something with that space. And so that includes abatements, knocking down wall in between the classrooms, electrical work painting sound panels, ceiling patch, mechanical

053upgrades and so on. So putting in a very rough estimate um and I just say that cuz construction costs more than the estimate of $321,000 to improve our space and relocate it. But our design firm has been very clear that we will end up with a project um that we'll probably be looking at 3 years from now and saying we need a new weight room. It will not be this kind of facility. It'll be three rooms that were repurposed for a weight room and done on a budget. Because I draw your attention to this very large tube going down here. Airflow is very important in a space like this and I'm going off of my memory here and you can help me. Weight room facilities require three times the air handling capability of a normal

054classroom. And so essentially we went through and our design firm did confirm that yes our current airflow system will meet the very minimum standard for building code but that means that air from the weight room is going up into the offices in the media center and into the spaces there and it's mixing in there instead of doing what it really should do above and beyond code minimums of pulling in so much fresh air and doing whatever it needs to do. Um and then of course you've got a space that wasn't designed for this purpose and you're you're you're you're getting what you would get when [clears throat] um you know, you're comparing 300,000 maybe 400,000 to nearly $2 million is what our most current estimate for adding on to the weight room of 4,000 sorry,

055adding on to the gym at about 4,000 square feet. It's about $350 a square foot nowadays. Um that puts that 1.4 million. Then you have the 25% add-on for um you know, construction management contingency, site work and everything that design fees and permitting everything comes along. So safe you know, conservative estimate for a new space is 1.7 and then if construction doesn't start till '27 cuz it's not something you can just turn around and yep, we're going to get started. Uh they're suggesting adding 10% increase each year to the cost of the project. So construction and everything roughly 2.1 million if we were to do this um and then you got the equipment on top of it. >> [sighs] >> And so I guess I'll pause there. I have more, but we're not looking for

056decisions tonight. But we now have information you know, that we can actually talk about whereas previously we were just operating under yep, this is a $300,000 project, no problem and it'll be spectacular. So I'll just go to my So what we're going to talk about tomorrow and we are not talking about the weight room specifically or the partnership tomorrow. We're talking about how we approach the next 5 to 10 years. What? What? Yeah, yeah. Oh, yeah. I'm setting you up beautifully. [laughter] May not feel like it, but but I am. >> [snorts] >> So Yeah, sorry Simon. I did say I could change my plan as I go, but anyway. So tomorrow we're going to be talking in part about you know, how do we approach what we need to do going forward and and

057big pieces of those are if we need to remodel existing spaces or to add on to buildings, you know, take buildings or portions of building offline. Um and and do all of that work. That's what we're heading to like what is our philosophy as a community and and board and and district. How do we approach those things? And so now Mary, I will go back to if we want to do a weight room right um you are talking millions of dollars. And um >> [clears throat] >> it's it's not just the weight room that we have potentially in 5 to 10 years or even 3 to 10 years. There's a laundry list of items from the long term maintenance plan that we have identified. Um you know, that we would need to do. And so

058going back to when you met with us and and True and back in October, November, we do have another opportunity to to be thinking about um in the next 12 to 14 months as to how to fund all of this work. And so now I've set you up perfectly for a no cost to the taxpayer option. So in conversation with our our bond attorney and our bond consultants we have an opportunity to um extend our bond through a no mill increase. So we would not increase the millage that we levy for the debt fund. And by doing in doing this we would pull in $28.8 million. So it would not be an increase in the levy. That would stay status quo for you know, what 24 years with this series and it would still be

059enough to cover our current debt funds. So this would give us an opportunity to build the weight room that people have in their head >> [laughter] >> to replace windows at Sanborn and um Lincoln. What are our other big projects that We've got facade improvements, we've got classroom interior doors. Yeah. All right. Security, safety a laundry list of items And any renovations, repurposing, adding on that we might identify through the long term planning. Yeah, so this would be an addition. So the um the language for the ballot would be a little bit different than what it was previously, but this isn't like we would still maintain that other language, but we would add addition additions in it so that we could add on to the high school for a weight room. And we would be

060able to finish other projects that we really need to get done. Um we've made a lot of strides. You know, with our with our bond money um and then supplementing with the SR grants that I wrote stuff into the grants for um just taking advantage of everything that we could to offset cost and do more than what and that's how we ended up with the money for this summer and next summer the little bit that we're going to have next summer, but this summer is covering a new roof at Thunder Bay and boilers. [clears throat] Thunder Bay boilers. Yeah. So and then more facade work at the high school. So. Simon would like to say something. >> Okay. I'm glad he's doing that to you, too. >> Good. Good. And step up to the mic

061so the public can hear you. One I just want to say we would need to include Sunset in that grant if or in the bond if possible. That is going to need a new roof. It needs a new roof. So that's another thing. Some work at Sunset. That's possible. I'll have to talk with So anyways, this is a great opportunity to not not increase our millage putting more on on our public's back, but yet reaping funds for more that we really things that would really put it down in our our finances if we have to if we have boilers failing at Thunder Bay and and things like that. So And those are the original boilers at Thunder Bay from when the building was built. And the section of roof that we're talking about is original,

062too. What would this timeline be, Mary? Um originally >> [sighs and gasps] >> he had Oh goodness. >> [snorts] >> Well, it would be a a March a March of 27 issuance and then a June of 28 issuance if we get everything in place to get everything on the ballot in time. So. And so when would it go on the ballots? Not till not this May, but the following May? Um >> [sighs] >> I had it in here and I meant to underline it and I didn't. This email's pretty long. I would I think it would be the May vote. In May 2027? 2027. Yeah. Yeah. May 27. May of 27. Yeah. Cuz I think we're too late for the November of 26. We might not be. I'd have to double check the dates, but

063But so I guess if it was a May 27 ballot, but then I think the March you said March 27 issuance, is that not right then cuz that you can Yeah. You had said March >> That would be that would be moved down. The issuances would be moved down. So it would be sold in series just like we did the 2020 bond. Sold in series so you don't have so much money sitting there and it gives you a longer period and gives you different different advantages doing it that way. So we handed you a lot. So this is obviously not we just wanted to get this out here because we see all of these different pieces that we're working on coming together. And Yeah, I guess I would frame it this way. For me putting

064$78,000 into the family partnership to open up two classrooms is a reasonable investment in our students because we can continue to use that that building those spaces for the foreseeable future. Um and it's it's you know, it's a reasonable price to pay to grow that program and potentially both that program and Nem skub by opening up additional space. The weight room I have had many conversations with Mary and we are committed to you know, she has agreed to fund this project um and the way it's presented um But our our design firm was was very clear that they feel that wouldn't be the facility that everyone thinks it would be. I understand the the need to get out of that that weight room. But you know we're ready to do it. Um But just know

065that 3 to 5 years we may be again looking at it of yep, this [snorts] wasn't exactly what we wanted to turn out with. And frankly, you know, with this dollar amount it's the board's decision. It's the community's decision. Um if we view the weight room as proposed right now as a temporary solution that's understandable, too. Um and then we work to either go the millage route or fundraising or whatever it is. We have you know, more time at our disposal to make those decisions. Um But that's it. Yeah, so we again, we were ready to put this into the budget and make those projects. We do have abatement scheduled for the the weight room spaces. Tentatively scheduled for spring break, but Yeah. So if the you know, the board's interested in moving forward down

066this path we are proceeding as if we would and then ultimately we'll make the decision based off of the feedback from you. And uh that needs again, how much is a abatement at the it's 12,000? 12,000 500 dollars or something. Yeah. So spending money on abatement in a building that students and staff are in is is never money wasted. So you know, I would be comfortable saying, you know let's take care of this and if we change our plans after it's done so be it. We have less asbestos in those spaces. I imagine the ceilings in these classrooms are that grand, right? I know that's one of the big complaints of the current weight room is you know, that's in the basement. Nothing overhead. Is are the does the class are the classroom any better?

067I mean, are we still like I mean the the classroom has a they have a high ceiling. They have a 10 foot ceiling. So they are slightly grander, but you know, there's there's no windows just like the you know, the original weight room and But there are no pipes that you can do pull-ups on. >> Yeah, you can't do pull-ups on the sprinkler system and stuff [snorts] like that. So But uh Yeah, I mean it's a ceiling grid. You know, it's this height here I would say for ceiling. So So again, [snorts] what we wanted to do was there were a lot of conversations around the weight room. Um there were a lot of numbers being thrown at me and Simon of this isn't easy project. It's going to be two, three, 400,000 dollars. Um

068so we took the time to get valid numbers. So now we can at least work off of those numbers to make a decision. Um I I can't flat out disagree with this being a temporary solution um because yes, our weight room right now is 60 [snorts] how many years old and it is is not um a wonderful space. And the proposed space would be much better. But I think you know, we do have to consider how would we feel about it 3 years from now. Um Yeah. Based on we're coming in at [snorts] the very you know, just meeting the code requirements. Yeah. That's the big thing as Dave, you know, the HVAC system is adequate at best. Any you know, any feedback we get that we need to upgrade that that cost is I

069had that cost on the spreadsheet. Um you know 275,000 >> 275,000 in in HVAC upgrades to potentially bring that to bring that space to a you know the modern level. So if just saying if the board the district decided to do this as a temporary just knowing that with ballot being over a year out and then time to actually build a weight room um it's pretty far out although we've waited this long, but um at least like a portion of this 321,000 all of the new equipment would be used in a new weight room. I mean it would be used. >> speak for Ben exactly, but I I think >> So if it's not like the full 320,000 dollars >> say yes. You know, and so that was another piece, too. We we did spend

070about $23,000, $22,000 on new equipment uh in 2023. So, they do have those new pieces. These quotes here that are on the screen don't reflect that. So, those quotes would most likely come down because we would be using that equipment that we just purchased. So, of the $321,000, it's not all a a waste technically. I mean, you've got 12,000 for abatement and then all of the over 200,000 of it would be equipment. >> Equipment, yep. Yeah. Yeah. And you might look at it like that. So, we're going to spend this much money, get them up in a better space, and you then really have two options at that well, at least two in my mind. Maybe you then invest in that space more heavily replacing the air system and you know This is in the

071middle of the building, so there's no locker rooms, there's no um you know, facilities like that. Um if the millage comes along and we're able to really invest in that area potentially, you could get it up to you know this sort of facility. Um you still wouldn't get windows because it is in the middle middle of the building, but you could certainly choose to improve that space. Um or this is a temporary move and we're going to view the equipment as going over to a new uh if we were to add on to the gym or something like that in a different location. Um you know, pay for that through the the millage or donations or whatever it might be, general fund. Um and just know that you know, you're going to spend some money

072now to improve the situation, but then you know, invest significantly more a couple years down the road on a facility that looks more like that. Well, obviously this is not an episode of Love It or Leave It, but I appreciate the work that you've done putting together concrete information for us to really look at because this had been all very theoretical. I'm very curious to hear what our absent colleagues will think when they're back and I look forward to more discussion on this, but I think it was great to have this introduction tonight so that that could be churning around in our minds tomorrow as we as we look at what King Scott will present. So, Appreciate it. Thanks to Simon and Mary and IDI and everyone for for doing the work. Um >> [snorts]

073>> Yeah. Um And so, I guess the only thing we you know, I I just want to be clear like we do intend to do the abatement work um you know, over spring break, which is you know, now it's Friday. >> [laughter] >> Uh unless there's you know, strong opposition. Again, you're removing asbestos from a building and space where students and staff are. Um you know, no, we wouldn't necessarily have to do this, um but I I could stand by saying it's money well spent um to keep this project moving forward. Yeah. And in the interest of our students and staff. >> again, it's money we'll have to spend sooner or later someday, so. So, I found the dates. If we are able to get on the ballot for a November of 26 um I

074can't hear you. If we are able to get on the ballot for a November of 26, we could sell the first series in March of 27, so construction could be begun the summer of 27. The second series would be sold in June of 28. So, those are dates we can get it on there, but we have to get a date with treasury to and develop the ballot language and all of that stuff. So, there's a little bit to it. >> [laughter] >> Thank you. Not to be a fly in the ointment, but I was wondering about moving the leadership in the other two areas you talked about cuz I've been in that leadership room. They have a lot of Yeah. equipment and stuff. Will they be will that space be ad whatever space we move

075them to, will that space be adequate for them? Yeah, I don't recall where Romeo worked with the staff and they were all in agreement that they could do it. >> G116, the old small commons there. Okay. Yeah. So, that's a larger space than what they have currently. >> have now. Okay. All right. Yep. I know their storage of their equipment was one thing and some other props and that. Yeah. Yeah. That's what I was concerned about. Okay, thank you. >> the instructional coaches are in the next room, but they can easily be relocated. >> Yeah, they're going to go to the old attendance office. Okay. All right. I just have a operational finance question for you, Dave. So, with the bond then, that would mean the taxpayer would keep their property taxes at that same

076level for an extended time instead of decreasing, correct? Is that the right language? >> still affect the taxpayer, but do we know how long that that would be for if whatever amount we're asking for, how long that would keep the property taxes up for people? Mary. So, what it does is it keeps the levy amount the same. If the cities or townships increase taxable value that's different. That's not our portion of it. So, our portion is we're levying continuing to levy 1.8 million or 1.8 mills. Um I do have a bond schedule, so just as an estimate the levy would start going down in 2038 and then gradually reduce as the bonds are paid off. So, you do have a stretch of time where it remains at 1.8 mills. Which is what it is currently.

077Any other questions? And improving the weight room is something that the community is really from what it from what you saw that the community is really um supportive of. Uh what I can say is 93 people indicated that it was the top priority at the high school. At the high school. Okay. You know, it's a small sample, but it's it's data that we actually have versus you know anecdotals. Okay. So, with the with the levy just to make a point. So, we request 1.8 mills of a levy. If the townships or city increases the taxable value, that's where the difference comes in, but they have done that consistently for the past 5 years. The values have increased. So, your tax bills are going to change, but it's not what the school district is doing. It's

078what the assessors are doing. Yeah, [snorts] so it'd just be an extension. Pretty much. That's what I'm saying. Yeah. Okay. And and so, I go back to you know, this isn't only about the weight room. The weight room is a very expensive project. Um but we do have a long-term maintenance and facilities plan. Um I think has $9 million identified in the next 5 years of work that needs to be done. Um you know, we could offset some of those costs with this, otherwise it's coming out of the general fund. You know, Petoskey Johannesburg Cadillac I mean, $62 million bond for not just the weight room, there was a lot more to that project. But these aren't projects you can fund with a general fund. Um you know, there's um um it's just they're very

079expensive projects. And so, yeah, November could be the first time, next May could be the next time. You know, we're not making decisions here today. Um and uh continue to hear from the community and those sorts of things, but >> [snorts] >> um I guess the reality is we still have buildings that were built in the '50s. And they're not going to get cheaper to maintain. Um and we do have declining enrollment. And that's not because we're providing a bad product, that's because the county and the state and the nation have been declining in population, especially school-age children. Um we're just experiencing that since 1973. Um and we need to look ahead and say, what are we going to do here because students are our revenue. That's how school funding is set up in the

080state of Michigan. And um we just have to be looking forward uh in those regards. All right. Okay, that's it? Well, thank you very much. Any final questions? Okay. Uh well, thank you very much for that. That was very interesting, good food for thought, and we'll look forward to more discussion. Um all right, that brings us to uh our public comment. Come on up. Hello everybody. My name is Michael Kramer. I'm a resident of Alpena. I come to these meetings cuz I really want to know what's going on. And I've come across some very interesting information after listening to Dennis Schultz comment on the last meeting about how this uh this program that was brought out to bring up the education was just so complicated and confusing that maybe they understand it, maybe not. I

081don't care. It's it's so complicated and yet it's a simple problem. We are letting students cross these grade barriers like the third grade and they're not reading competently. And that is a failure, a failure of the highest order of the school system because that affects those students all the way through the rest of their lives. If you don't consider that the most important thing you do is teaching young students how to read, then you're not really a public school system. You're a large corporation that's got lots of money coming in and it's spending money on buildings and field houses. I never had a field house. We had a gym that converted to a field house. So all this stuff is really nice and it sounds really good, but if your students aren't reading at third

082grade level in the third grade, you're a failure, a failure as a school system and it has to be looked at seriously. Okay, Mississippi went from 47th in the nation in 18 years to their fourth graders were the highest in the nation and that was the economically disadvantaged school districts. So don't tell me that we can't do a heck of a lot better than we're doing and I personally and a lot of people I know in this town will not support this school system expanding financially with that being said. You have to teach the young children to read, period, or they don't progress in life to a substantially uh a degree that's going to let them have freedom. And I have one question for the financing. What is the outstanding amount of bonds in the

083school district that have not been retired? Okay, they're 24 well they're 20 some years out now. What's the Okay, I think you better find that out. Yeah, typically we don't respond to public comment in that particular way. >> Okay, very good. That's fine. I want to know that information, so I would appreciate if the next meeting you express that to us, what the a total amount of unretired bonds is because if we're talking about more bonds or extending these bonds into the future. Sorry. Thank you for your comment. My name is Noni Maller and um is this picking up okay? Can Can you hear me? Okay. Um I went to school many years ago. We didn't even have ballpoint pens then. We still had fountain pens that you had to you know, fill and then

084we got cartridges, but that's how long ago. We had blackboards. We didn't have any computers. We have teachers who knew us by names. They could touch us. They could say, "How are you doing?" Um you know, they they provided the structure of the classroom, the discipline and so on. Now I have never worked out in a weight room, so I have no idea the value of this as a resource for the school. But how will My biggest question is how will this weight room contribute to academic achievement? Reading, writing, arithmetic, that's what we got and then they turned us out into the playground. It was in Florida, so we had grass fields and you know, some monkey bars and that sort of stuff. That was it. And we were all pretty happy. And um of

085course we grumbled, too, and especially in high school, you know, we thought we were so cool. But I just have to look at when are the students going to use this weight room? Is it part of their physical ed? Is it part of their sports program? Do they use it after school or do they get a free hour? I don't you know, this is all brand new to me cuz I'm old and so I'm asking questions. Also, who would be eligible to use the weight room? Students only, faculty, uh parents, you know, what what's the deal and what's the safety of of a facility like that? Do you have to have people paid to be there to keep it clean? I went to a gym, never really liked it, but I stuck with it till

086my membership expired and so they were in there cleaning regularly because there were so many sweaty bodies using the equipment. So these are all questions that I ask and again I'm concerned about the academic um issue that our students are not reading their you know, I I just don't know all those statistics, but this is this whole discussion about the weight room, which I appreciate has really um raised a lot of questions for me like spending that much money and putting our future financial situation on the line or at least a major, major financial expenditure when you've got other buildings that need to be looked at or whatever. I mean, it's just a lot to think about. Thank you. Thank you. >> [clears throat] >> Hello. My name is Carol McKay and I'm a resident

087of Alpena and I have grandchildren in the public school system. I'm just wanting to express a thank you to all of the people that have presented information at the last three board meetings and also at the strategic plan. Um when we discuss academics, I think they did an excellent job presenting what current programs are being used, the positive behavior intervention program that you currently are implementing, the new curriculum that's been chosen. It's very clear through the presentations and then also sitting with teachers at the strategic planning group that there's a lot of background information, good research going on into looking at good curriculum and to help with training teachers because the state there you do have a tremendous amount of new staff and that's a very big group to to turn over and make sure

088you have enough people to help train them and it's very apparent that they're all working together and those programs are very um designed to definitely implement that curriculum and help promote that curriculum. So I guess I would like to say a positive to all the teachers and administrators as well as the students that are working in that. I've had feedback from kids saying we've got a new climate going on when the a middle school talked about the climate there. I hear there's a new climate. Everybody's working harder. We're really trying this year. We're really are excited about what's happening in our school and I think that's a first start with our kids and I think that's important to know and our paraprofessionals, they are the backbone of the community. I see you still have a

089lot of positions open for paraprofessionals. A lot of positions on the webpage. Um and I think it's important for people to know that the public schools are a great place to work. I worked in the public schools for many years and I think it's important for people to know, support our schools. The the teachers are working hard. They've had some days off, but I know that all all that means is they've got more work to catch up on because they still are in the thick of curriculum this week. They still have to get things done before spring break. Grades, all of those things are in progress. So please support our teachers. Continue to do what you're doing. The strategic plan was very informational and if you missed that, you need to go back and read

090the information if you can for those people that haven't looked at the strategic plan and I encourage everybody to be at tomorrow's meeting because I think that's really important. Um if you want to be actively involved and be supportive of whether you're for or against something, it's important to be there and in support and hear all of the information from the people that are experiencing it. So I just want to say thank you to everybody and I think that's important for our teachers to hear that. This is a tough time of year for teachers. The countdown is on. I mean, you know, you don't want to look at it that way, but the countdown is on and they are working very hard at learning how to read and getting ready for each new grade that

091they're moving to and I've got grandkids moving through different grades and to different schools next year. So I'm looking at all those levels as well. Thank you. Thank you very much. >> Okay, seeing no further public comment, we will continue. But, thank you all for that. That brings us to action items. That is the approval of our consent agenda items and um I think Yes, Monica, you did have one item. There was on our special meeting minutes. Okay. Like almost towards the back. Okay. Item D. So, in order to discuss that, are you Would you like to request that we pull that from the consent agenda? >> Yeah, can we please pull the special meeting March 9th from the Let's do that. Let us pull item D, March 9th special meeting minutes. That's what you're

092talking about? Yes. Okay, we'll pull that from the consent agenda items and we can deal with that separately. Why don't you tell us what you've got? Um if you look at it on the vote, the roll call vote, it says MacArthur for I and for nay. Several times. Which Oh, on the very back. Yeah, I'm the On the closed session, not the special meeting. >> session. Okay. Yeah, on the special meeting. Oh. Yeah, special meeting closed session. Okay. So, we'd have to change that. Oh, yeah. Motion carried unanimously. Okay. That's the only thing I caught. Good catch. I'm using it. So, Would somebody like to move to approve the March 9th special meeting minutes with that change? I'll make the motion. Okay. Is there a support for that motion to amend the March 9th special

093meeting minutes before we approve it? I would. I'm just still looking. Is it the closed session? No, no, no. Okay, that's why. Okay, special meeting. That's why I got you. Yeah. Sorry. That's Okay. Okay, that's why. Thank you. That's why I was like special meeting I was like Mhm. I got so many papers in front of me. Fifth or sixth page? >> I got it. Okay. Um Yep. No, you're good. Oh, I see. On On 10? Yep, right before the memo for the buses. Right on the back there. Yep. See how it says MacArthur I and nay? Uh I see it. Okay. Mhm. Yep, so the proposed change would be to leave him as a nay, but remove his name from the eyes. Right. Right. Mhm. Okay. Sorry about that. I was looking in the

094wrong one. >> So, there's a motion on the floor, correct? I'll support that motion. >> Okay, motion support for changing the March 9th special meeting minutes to reflect AJ's actual vote. Mhm. And And just I know a lot of us look at these when we get here, but when I found stuff before, we can also you know you can let her know ahead of time and she'll change it. So, then we don't have to pull it. Like if it's something simple Does it have to be a certain amount of time though or I don't think I mean Just cuz I want to Something simple like that. Okay. Okay. Week in before. Okay. But just that we don't have to pull them. Okay. Well, we would still probably have to make a note of it cuz

095if you reviewed the minutes and then a change got put in, at some point we would wouldn't we acknowledge that? You wouldn't be wanting to be voting on something different than what you reviewed. Yeah, but it's just like the agenda. Sometimes the agenda goes out on Friday and we say, "Oh, we're adding something." And I don't know that we're always notified. >> what I'm saying is that you know, in the meeting somebody might want to just mention that you're not voting on what you reviewed. That you you're not voting on what you reviewed, you're voting on what is actually there. You know, if a change is made. I just I think that's easy. It's easy. So, anyway, great. But, good catch, Monica. Thank you. And any other discussion? Okay, all in favor of approval of

096the amended special meeting minutes, raise your hand. Okay. Any opposed, same sign. All right, motion carries. We have amended special meeting minutes. That would bring us to the rest of the consent agenda. Anything further to pull from that? Okay, well, I'll make a motion to approve the four remaining consent agenda items as presented. Support. All right, we have a motion support on the rest of the consent agenda. We typically don't discuss it by its very nature. So, let's see a show of hands in favor of the motion. Any opposed, same sign. All right, motion carries. The rest of the consent agenda is approved. Wonderful. Thank you and that brings us to additional business board action, the school bus recommendation. We had quite a bit discussion and Mary, you are all ready to knock this one

097out of the park, right? Mhm. Come on up. Hello. So, I have Lacy and Hugh here in case there's questions that I can't answer, but Hugh came to us from Alma School District. Um So, he's been a great addition to our staff as our one of our mechanics. Um So, I sent a question out to the listserv because of questions that were asked in the last uh meeting and one of the um Comstock Park, their transportation director answered me. And so, as we had discussed last week, um gas over these over diesel, so the fuel costs are less, the maintenance costs are less, the parts cost less. Um Bus downtime in the shops are less because the diesels require more maintenance. So, those were his answers to that. And then when I talked to Lacy

098and she had a conversation with Hugh, we have um the gas engines have a life expectancy of over 250,000 mi. I know that we've had buses where we've gotten more mileage [clears throat] out of them because our mechanics really work hard to maintain just like our maintenance group and custodians work to maintain our buildings as much as possible. Um The durability in the buses between an International and Blue Bird are different. Blue Bird has a bodies last longer than what the Internationals do. Um There aren't any Internationals on the bid, but that's just some background information. Um Also, as we discussed last week, cost savings, gas engines are significantly more cost efficient than diesel. For perspective, replacing a complete diesel particle system costs roughly the same as replacing an entire gas engine. Routine service gas

099engines use 50% less oil and filters cost a third when compared to diesels. Gas engines eliminate the high costs associated with turbos and the DEF fluid emission system. The engine stability in the '24 models, which are the ones that we are wanting to purchase is three of the '24s at 80,000 apiece. Um Featuring a more robust engine platform with improved mounts and compressors, these engines are less sensitive to vibrations. Um And then the '24 models as compared to the '21s have offer a longer warranty period. And then we also have uh part standardization. So, when we go to retire a bus, we pull as much off that bus as we can to recycle it through our remaining buses. So, you know, replacing seats or doors or whatever that we can pull off the bus. Um

100So, that saves us money when we go to do that. We do not have any 2021 Blue Birds. We have 2021 Internationals. So, we can't take parts off the Internationals and use them in the Blue Birds. So, that's the part standardization of the difference between the '21s and '24s. And then the warranty is a big concern. Um There was also a question about leasing. Now, I got familiar with leasing school buses when I worked in Augres. Augres is a very small school district. We had three buses. Um we did not have a mechanic. We had a bus driver that knew how to do oil changes and things like that. And any repairs we had to send the buses out. In that school district, leases made sense. Here with the size of our fleet, the abilities

101of our mechanics, leases do not make sense. And currently, like when I was in Augres, the interest rate on the leases was like 4%. It's currently 8%. So, to me and then you don't have any equity in in the bus. You don't own it, you have to return it. So, that was And if you have any more technical questions, Hugh's going to have to come up here and help me. >> [laughter] >> No, I just want to say thank you both for being here. I I really appreciate it. It's really nice to have you here if we have questions. And after some bus research I know there was a lot of problems with the 21 from what I was told so I'm really comfortable Yeah specific ones with the I made some phone calls to

102some diesel mechanics so they did not recommend the so I feel very comfortable going with the 24 if that's what you're recommending. Yeah certainly I think the best way to go is with the gasoline engines the PSI engine that's in the international is kind of an offspring Chevy pickup truck engine would have been the 496 they changed a few things tremendous amount of problems with them between spark plugs random misfires and stuff like that just because the manufacturer changes as for electronic platforms transmissions they're back the entire bus is exactly the same. It's just the majority of that engine platform. We have problems with. With the newer ones the 20 the ones that we're looking at they have a 7.3 liter engine they're actually a V8 the 118 that we do have in in inventory

103right now is a V10 so you have more rotating master you have more sensors. It's just a lot better beefier engine a lot cheaper to replace too. If it comes to it future. Since I got you here I know we've seen the list of it's not our wish list anymore but have we asked the bus garage what they might help make their job a little easier or save more money or how much stuff that we're doing work wise repairs at the garage that we outsource somewhere else if we had different equipment. Yeah we will be we have outsourced some repairs for exhaust manifold studs specifically on one of the the 2018 Bluebirds that we have just because we don't have the the ability to do it in house the technical equipment. I'd be looking at

104a couple thousand dollars worth of an investment moving forward for specialty equipment to be able to change exhaust manifold studs typically what we do is we'll just torch them off we'll weld nuts on there and we'll back them out put new studs in but they do have some pretty high-tech stuff that bolts on there you can drill it out and save a lot of time. Little things like that just general maintenance we actually have two sets of lifts we have one that was about $8,000 to repair just didn't have the money in the budget so we just kind of tucked it off to the side and had something that we're we're hoping to get working in the future. We do have another set that's on loan to us from I believe it's Jerome's. Yeah Jerome's

105wrecker service we have pretty good relationship with them guys and they've they've actually loaned us the best set of lifts that we have right now is actually on loan from them. Long term. Would you come up to the mic just so the audience online can hear thank you. A lot of our buses have rust in and crap caked up underneath them and now that the truck wash is no longer in Alpena we don't have a way to do an underbody wash we have one power washer but I'm just a little bit taller than >> [laughter] >> and and spraying underneath it's horrible to try to get in all those but to preserve the bus bodies it would be great if there was a way to have some sort of a whole body I know they

106make carts that you can put underneath and and power wash to make it easier to be able to get that that would preserve the bodies of the buses a lot better. Yeah if we can look at some of that stuff I think that would be more of a have to have than a A lot of the things fall under the long term. Okay perfect. A lot of the things at the bus garage fall under long term maintenance versus enhancement sort of things. Okay. No thank you very much. We have made improvements at the bus garage we've remodeled the bathrooms painted over there what all have we done over there. Put down the parking lot. Yeah. And holes that the all the staff really appreciate that recycled asphalt over there has made a big improvement on

107that less tracking in in the building as well. A lot of little things that made it more friendly for the the staff to to show more appreciation to them. So we did have the lifts on our radar but that is you know something that might be in the bond or to improve the wash bay would be possibly in the bond too if we were able to do that. Maybe it is but Yeah I mean going back that was 2021 when Aldi's was looking for Aldi was looking for a place and they had approached us and we spent at least a year in negotiations maybe two going back and forth with them they were going to build us a new bus garage sounded like a wonderful deal until we started seeing what it was they were

108going to build us and then all of a sudden the price doubled and tripled and and then there it was but so we have done quite a bit of research on that facility I think maybe even with this board we talked about other possible locations for it you know we looked at Besser Besser's got land and things like that so wholesale project like that we've been very interested in for quite some time and and done a considerable amount of work but just had a flashback or yeah what do you call it yeah PTSD from the the Aldi conversation. Back to buses. So I would like the board to approve the proposal for the three 24 at 80,000 a piece and I would remind the board that due to my professional business relationship with Ken we're

109saving $2,832 on each bus. >> [laughter] >> I would offer the motion to purchase three 24 gasoline lease return units at the revised cost of $80,000 per unit from the Holland Bus Company. Support. Okay we have a motion and support any further discussion on the bus bid. Okay seeing no further discussion let's have a roll call. Member Fritz. I. Member Meinhardt. I. Member Dezinski. I. Member Lawson. I. All right motion carries unanimously thank you all very much for that and thank you Mary all right that brings us to the Besser sidewalk. Questions concerns with the Besser sidewalk project. Oh come on now. I'll make a I mean it maybe not it's unbelievable how much sidewalks can cost I'll make a motion to accept the bid from Droesch and Reed in the amount of $47,990 to

110complete the Besser sidewalk replacement project. Support. Okay we have a motion and support for the Besser sidewalk bid any further discussion. Okay hearing none let's proceed with a roll call. Member Meinhardt. I. Member Dezinski. I. Member Fritz. I. Member Lawson. I. Motion carries all right. We have sidewalk thank you Sandy. All right that brings us to policies second reading on policies and we have quite a few. Um Are we able to do one motion? Do the rescind and then do the Okay. Yeah it's it sounds like it would be a viable option to break these up in the sense or group them together rather in the sense that we could vote to rescind the policies for which the recommendation is to rescind and then approve the revisions and replacements cuz some of them are revised

111some of them are replaced we could move to approve those in another motion and that might unless unless again we have items uh that the board needs to discuss about any of them but we have been over these last meeting. Okay. Seven rescinding. If I count it correctly. Okay I'll make a motion to approve the rescinding of the seven policies as presented. Support. All right, we have motion and support. That looks like the policies for being rescinded would be 1422.02, 1662, 3122.02, 3362, 4362 and 7541. And 4122.02. Yep. Uh yes. Yeah. Mhm. Okay. >> over K. Yeah, you Yeah. Oh, I just missed it. Oh, okay. Yes, thank you. Thank you. Good. That You see, that's what I was looking for. Make sure I wasn't crazy. All right, so we had a we had a

112motion and support for the rescinding of those policies. Anybody else uh for the discussion? Okay. Then I think uh we can uh uh have a show of hands for the approval of that motion. All right. Any opposed? Same sign. All right, motion carries unanimously. We have some rescinded policies. All right. So, some are revised and some are replacement language. Can we do them all together or two separate or >> Well, I think if if the motion were to um either revise or replace Okay. as originally presented. How many is that? Does it matter? Let's see. Um Can I call them off by name? By number? I came up with 11. Okay. Do you want to call them off by letter? >> I got 11 as well. Um I will make a motion to approve the

113either replacement language or the revised language in the 11 policies as presented. Support. Very good. We have a motion and support for the revision or replacement of language in those policies. And just so again, if anybody online needs to know, we're talking about 1422, help me if I miss one, 2210, 2266, 2412, 3122, 4122, 4162, 5517.1, 7540.2, 8300, and 8305. Mhm. Does that sound right? Yes. >> those policies then, if the motion carries, would be would be have their language replaced and revised as presented. Any further discussion? Hearing none, all in favor of the motion raise your hand. Okay. Any opposed? Same sign. All right, that carries unanimously. We have some revised and uh replacement uh language. Very good. All right. Thank you all very much. Thank you. >> It could have been much worse.

114>> [laughter] >> Yes, but uh but uh prod productive nonetheless. That brings us to our staff resources uh update and our I mean sorry, our human resources and uh hello Michelle. Yes, and just a little bit of an update for everybody. Uh March is a little bit light on hiring because we had to cancel two job fairs so far this month. So, um we are not rescheduling those for April just so anybody knows because of spring break and all the activities taking place, so it'll be a little bit later when we reschedule those. So, we do have three hires that we managed to get started all on March 2nd. We have Timothy Jones, a dispatcher for transportation, Gerard Kelly, a custodian at Lincoln Hinks Elementary, and Brianna um Peca, instructional assistant at Thunder Bay Junior

115High. And then we have some resignations. Brianna Bletham, an instructional assistant, Stephanie Goldback, an instructional assistant, Albert Fong is a relief bus driver, Samantha Schmit is an instructional assistant, Josephine Belmore is an instructional assistant, Brooke um Mishley is an instructional assistant, and Alexis Eisman is an instructional assistant. And then I just wanted to point out that we have several retirements that we're going to be announcing, and over the course of these, we have 192 years of experience that's going to be leaving us. So, >> [snorts] >> um Lisa Ray, special education teacher, will be retiring with 12 years of service with us. Steve McCourt is an English teacher who's going to retire with 30 years of service. Jeff Jones is a fifth grade teacher who's going to retire with 32 years of service. Bill Bright

116is a um social studies teacher who will retire with 30 years of service. And Philip Cook is an English teacher who will have 30 years of service. Gretchen Tollen is our first grade teacher with 21 years of service. And Matt Polley is our 6-12 curriculum director with 31 years of service. So, we just want to say thank you to everybody um that has given uh so much to the district. And to point out the obvious, but Lisa's back there and so is Matt. I already told them we're not passing this tonight. >> No, we're not. We've said the same thing just so you guys know. >> [laughter] >> Me and the every time there's retirements it hits, but the end of the year just it always hits so hard and you see you know, last

117last month and Mrs. Zilzie and this year this month a bunch of 30 year service and it's that time of year. Good for them. Yes, always thank you very much. I make a motion to approve the hiring of the new professional staff after the completion of proper certification testing and other HR requirements. I'll second. All right, so we have here uh we have a recommendation or we have a motion and a second on the hiring recommendations. Any further discussion? All right, hearing none, show of hands in favor of the motion. Any opposed? Same sign. That carries unanimously. Uh very good. Well, thank you. Uh Yes, and and thank you to all of those uh who are retiring. You'll be sorely missed. Um we could figure out a way to not let you escape, we probably

118would, but I think our hands are tied here, so uh you know, >> Michelle might have some ways. See See See Michelle after the meeting. >> Yes. >> [laughter] >> All right, and uh Anna has uh agreed to read our charitable uh gifts uh for uh for today. Charitable gifts. The following donations were made to support the students of the Alpena High School 5505 robotics team. Wolverine State Credit Union gave a generous monetary donation valued at $1,000. Alpena Booster Club gave a generous donation valued at $500. Bower, Flaherty, and Woda PLC gave a generous monetary donation of $500. Alpena Alcona Area Credit Union gave a generous monetary donation of $1,000. Greg Rist, owner of Master Fix It, gave a generous monetary donation valued at $50 to go towards lunch accounts for students at need in

119need at Hinks Elementary. An anonymous Hinks family gave a generous monetary donation of $500 to support the students of Hinks Elementary. St. Paul's Lutheran Church of Alpena generously donated personal care items and clothing valued at $300 to support the students of Hinks Elementary. I'd like to make a motion to accept the gifts above with gratitude and thank the donors in writing for the generous gifts. I'll support. Okay, we have a motion and [snorts] support to accept the gifts listed with gratitude and thank the donors. Um any discussion? And hearing none, all in favor of the motion raise your hand. Any opposed? Same sign. All right, motion carried unanimously. Thank you, Anna. Uh all right, that brings us then to information and proposals. Do we have any letters or communications? Okay. Will you handle that for

120me? I don't think it's a good idea. I think so. I reset. Will you go start? Start. Oh, I see it's here. I have my glasses. Uh this letter was sent from Diane O'Connor, Alpena County resident, to the school board members. I am writing in regards to the statement board president Eric Lawson made on February 23rd regular meeting. Just prior to public comment time, Lawson spoke about expectations he had for those speaking to the board. His goal, he stated, is to create a civil and respectful environment and a safe space for all to voice their concerns to the Board of Education. With no shortage of irony, Lawson followed these statements with a direct attack on a community member for a statement this person made 4 months ago at the October 20th board meeting. The fact

121that Lawson was hearkening back to a comment from months ago seemed odd at the time, but became clear to me when I realized the community member he discredited was Yvonne Johnson. By now, all of you would recognize that Yvonne is the sponsor for the recall effort underway for the board members Lawson, Costain, and Dezinski. I don't believe this is a coincidence that President Lawson just happened to choose to disparage Yvonne at the same time the news has provided coverage of the recall effort and Yvonne's name has become has become the person associated with that. It's stunningly improper to use an elected position as a bully pulpit pulpit. Um Lawson's behavior suggested an irrationality that falls far below behavioral expectations the community has for people who are in positions of decision making making. Although this is

122irrelevant to the deep concerns I have about our board president's behavior, it bears mentioning that Yvonne's comments at the October's meeting were in fact accurate. At that [snorts] October board meeting, the board spent copious time talking about the social media and public comment policy, after which attention turned to the strategic plan. The strategic plan Superintendent Rabideau is developing and defining is the road map for our school system and a worthwhile time investment. Yvonne's statement was not in reference to the review and enhancement of the strategic plan, but rather lack of actual action on the part of the school board members improving student outcomes, which is the difference between planning and implementation. Anything else? Okay, thank you. All right. Superintendent update. One second, I got to pull them out. And welcome back everyone. Ice storm once

123We're just talking we've now lived through two once-in-a-lifetime ice storms. So, here's to the third one. Uh So, anyway >> [laughter] >> Probably Did I jinx it? Well, I guarantee there there won't be school closure next week. >> [laughter] >> There you go. >> [gasps] >> So, not to make light of the situation. Obviously, a lot of questions about you know, making up days and those sorts of things. And the short answer is we really don't know at this point. If you remember last year, we had to call a special session. Was it in May or was I think it was in May to decide to forgive those days. Yeah, it was on a Saturday. So, as of right now, we were closed for we've been closed for a total of 17 16 days. The

124state grants us 6 days as a part of normal operations and then an additional 3 days can be appealed. So, 9 days can be appealed. So, we're still looking at the 7 days beyond that. One of those days was December 19th where we held school, but only 65% of our students showed up. And so, people accounting manual doesn't allow us to count that day as an instructional day. But, there is some leeway there. You can schedule because 65% did show up, we have some options of either foregoing the the minimal funding for that half day or adding a half day to our schedule. But, still yet to be determined. So, as far as the ice storm I think we're sort of ahead of the game because Whitmer came out Governor Whitmer announced a state of

125emergency for Alpena County and and Alcona as well. So, that opens the door to the legislature, which is the only body that can um forgive those days. It opens the door for them to go down that path. Our local representative is not showing much enthusiasm for having these days forgiven. But, we've got other entities, the local superintendents and northern Michigan superintendents that were impacted by the ice storm are working different routes going contacting the governor's office directly and other representatives across the region where districts were closed for these the second of the once-in-a-lifetime ice storms. So, ultimately we have to wait and see at this point before determining what days we could possibly how much we would need to extend the school year. There are other options with days that aren't scheduled right now for

126school, but those are pretty difficult to change those plans and things like that, but really we got to first find out what the legislature is actually going to do with these days before we then go ahead and make our plans. So, hopefully that comes soon. Of course, the legislature is going on a 3-week 3-week I'll say it again, 3-week spring break. So, we might unfortunately have to wait 3 weeks for that to have any movement. Yes. So, counting then Dave, it would be June 19th, correct? Is that what you're at if we have if worst case scenario? Uh We have to make up 6 days. Cuz we'd have Is it the 10th? Wait. 1 2 6 So, I think the December 19th, we have a choice right now. Either add a half day or forego

127$5,000 in school aid funding. Um We haven't done the calculations, but we really can't even turn the buses on for $5,000. Certainly not drive them 3,000 miles that day and and bring in staff. So, I think we'll take that one out of the equation. We probably wouldn't make that day up. So, that would then leave us with 6 6, yeah. >> 6. Okay. Just I would just make I know last year it was like so last minute, everybody had plan I would just make sure the community is aware like this may be the last day. Worst case scenario day. Yep. Just so they're prepared. Yeah. We want to wait and see what happens this week if anything. Yeah, but just so cuz I know last time [snorts] it was just so last minute. Yeah. That

128was no fault of the district. It was the legislator waited until legislature waited until that that date and so, yeah. Hopefully we don't find ourselves in that same situation here. >> And with them being gone 3 weeks, that'll put middle or toward the end of April for them to even get back to discuss it. Mhm. And that's 16 days of lost educational time, too. Yeah. Last year was 14 [clears throat] days of lost educational time. Yeah. Yeah. So, that's not And the the I'm sorry, didn't mean to interrupt you, but the um the testing dates have not been changed. Are they going to move those at all? >> No, I don't think so. They didn't last Did they last year? That's right. >> Oh, yeah. Okay. Yeah. Which is an interesting thing, too. The storm

129was 2 weeks later than it was this year. So, that window is still open. We have to test at the window coming up. Okay. If they don't forgive those days, would we be able to ask them for additional funding for those days? To have the state give us additional funding to To go those days. Uh It doesn't matter if we're >> doesn't like to fund things. Okay. >> No. >> [laughter] >> I was I was going to say >> Hey, I just thought I'd ask. It was It was It was a nice try. It was a nice try. Yeah. No, I I >> [snorts] >> I have a hard time saying no to anything these days, but yeah, I would say probably not. Yeah. So, yeah, we will try to get out, you know, whatever

130information we can as soon as possible. But, really at this point we don't have any indication which way it's going to go. So, you know, hopefully I think they're in session and maybe, you know, maybe through the governor's office we can get some sort of indication what's going to happen. And you said it's a law in the state that we can't add minutes to the day. Yeah, so back in the old days as we were discussing, >> Uh-huh. you only had to meet a certain number of hours of instruction. And so, in my personal district I was a teacher and we added 1 minute to every school day for the remainder of the school year. And I think you said 30 >> 30 minutes in Virginia. That option doesn't exist anymore because you have to

131have 1,098 hours and 180 student days. So, you can't you have to do both. You can't do one or the other. And the only day really that we could do something about would be probably the Friday before Memorial Day. Is that the only one that you've I think so. Yeah, at that point. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Well, it's interesting we had that discussion a couple meetings ago, maybe. We were talking about you know, next year's schedule has us getting out pretty late and we were all thinking, "Gee, would it be possible to start go ahead and start earlier?" There seemed like there were a lot of reasons not to. I I I guess I would be curious at some point in the community's feedback as to, you know, what do you what do you value more?

132Those last few days in August or those days in June? I remember somebody pointing out that it usually rains in June and that's absolutely true. There's usually a cold rainy week somewhere beginning toward the beginning or middle of June. But, I I think that would be interesting because you know next year if this happened again we'd be that much later. Yeah as as I was talking to regional superintendents at one district there there and so you need everyone needs to understand the calendar is negotiated is bargained you know in partnership with the AEA the teachers union. So it's not just a management decision to do this that or the other thing but in one of the districts the teachers group advocated to go earlier in >> [snorts] >> June and not I I I don't

133I didn't sit in on the calendar sessions this year I typically don't so I don't know if there is any interest in that but again it it is a a team approach to that and we can certainly gather feedback from the community and and staff and use that as a point of information. Well thank you for that yeah I think it would be kind of interesting I just wanted to point out that we we did talk about that kind of scenario in that meeting and that we are trying to think ahead and anticipate the effects of these kinds of events on our school calendar. And it is these two years you know prior the last time was 2018 I believe when we had 21 days but in that time since we've not gone over those

134nine days that were allowed so we're in unique times. I was just going to add on to Eric too when are the children more productive in the beginning in August or at the end in June would be something to look at too. So stay tuned on this and let's hope that the spring is is right around the corner and we don't have any more days to consider so. Okay. Anything further? I think I've talked enough tonight so. All right well very good you know you have the floor so thank you. All right great well then that brings us to information questions for board members any board discussion topics does anybody have anything? I just have one quick one just for in the future I would have a little interest I guess in our policy that

135we have with um trainings you know how we sign up for trainings and get reimbursed and just that's policy 0144.2 possibly discussing that with the group adding in some language about how we handle it when the district pays for trainings and school board members don't complete them like does the district just eat the cost or you know I know in believe David in your contract there's language about reimbursement and paying the district back so if we just moving forward have some language in there so if we can bring that policy forward to discuss as collective board about adding some language I think that'd be great. Yeah let's let's do that and that would also be something to add into our discussions in our for those of you who were were here we had a who

136didn't come to that meeting we had a board orientation meeting earlier and that might be something to put into our compact covenant whatever. Great great good point. Anything else? I went to Ella White and observed the UFly I wish I had that >> [laughter] >> that's all I can say and using watching them use the boards and that program I wish I had had it eight nine years ago it's really a great program. Well that's wonderful to hear. Thank you anything else? Okay. That brings us to the end of our agenda I believe it's been a productive meeting thank you board and community for your participation in our advanced planning tomorrow we have at the Wildcat Den at 5:30 a meeting with King Scott the Reimagine our Future Together Community Forum in April we have

137some meetings and in May we have some meetings so we'll be here anyway thank you all very much I'll call our meeting adjourned thank you. Thank you.