001Hey, good evening and welcome to the regular meeting of the area school board of education May 18th, 2026. We appreciate everyone who has taken the time to be here tonight and to participate in the works of our district. Your presence reflects the community's commitment to our students, our schools, and the decisions that guide our future. We ask that all who are joining us help maintain respectful and orderly environment so that we can conduct the people's business effectively and in accordance with the Michigan Open Meetings Act. This meeting is a meeting of the board of education and public for the purpose of conducting school districts business. It is not to be considered a public community meeting. There is time for public participation participation during the meeting as indicated on the agenda. Another um board meeting is
002called to order at 6:30. >> Julie Lohila >> here. Tim Tar >> here. >> Deborah Buunner >> here. >> Luke Kusky >> present. >> Travis Neville. >> Richard Pon >> here. Matt Malarch, >> please stand for the pledge of allegiance. >> I aliance 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. Um, I would like to make have a motion to amend the agenda for our close session at the end to be an open session. I'll make a motion that we change our agenda to read uh open session versus close session for the purpose of the grievance appeal. support. >> Motion made by Deb, support by Rich Chris. >> Tim Tarot, >> yes. >> Deborah
003Buuner, >> yes. >> Luke Kakausski, >> Richard Pon, >> yes. >> Julie Lohila, >> she got it. Okay. Um, next thing on our agenda is to recommend Um, we are proud to recognize students whose hard work, character, and commitment for excellence reflect the very best of Shabboan area schools. Each of these students has demonstrated not only strong academic effort, but also the resilience, curiosity, and leadership, and that strengthen our school community. Their achievements remind us why we do this work. Whether they are excelling in the classroom, contributing to the arts, leading with athletics, or serving others through acts of kindness, these students show us what it means to rise to the challenge and support one another. Mrs. Capazolei and Mr. Romano are going to come up the podium and bring those students up. Good evening.
004Um, we have to list starting in seventh grade. We have Drew Holland. Drew was nominated by Mr. Wright. And this is what Mr. Wright has to to say about Drew. Congratulations to Drew Holland, the seventh grade student of the month. Drew is a friendly, outgoing, hard-working, and spirited young man who is welld deserving of the student of the month award. Drew makes good grades, participates, is very respectful, and is a pleasure to have in class. Drew always goes all out on spirit week, and has great costumes. Drew plays basketball for the Chiefs as a center on the seventh seventh grade team. Drew is involved in the community, attending Faith Baptist Church. Drew is an avid outdoorsman. hunting deer and fishing in the local waters. I am excited to see what Drew accomplishes in the future.
005Congratulations, DREW. What a great Thank you. The next one is 8th grade. It's Addison Smiley. And I didn't see her come in. So, Mrs. Gan nominated her and I also have her in my classroom. and she is just a dow. Um, I've had the pleasure of working with Addison for the last three years, says Mrs. Gan. She's a kind, hardworking, and mature student who values her education. She does well advocating for herself and is a great role model both in and outside the classroom. When she's not working hard on keeping up with the class assignments, you can find her out on the soccer field. Congratulations, Addison, and keep up the great work. WELLD DESERVED. ALL RIGHT. UM, my name is Mr. Romero. Uh, I will be doing Ava Brown, ninth grade. So, it figures that
006the first time I nominate students for student of the month, I end up having to present for two of them. But, I am more than happy to present the next two students. The first student I'm going to talk about is someone that works incredibly hard at everything they do. They are involved in many different sports, organizations, and of course, band. Ava Brown is is an amazing student to have in your class because she is incredibly bright, hardworking, and talented. She takes constructive criticism very well, and takes the advice and does her best to improve upon her skill. Not only is Ava a fantastic athlete, but is also a fantastic band. Whether another student succeeds, sorry, when another student succeeds, Ava is right there cheering them on and supporting them. She may she may not be
007your typical band geek, but that has not stopped her from showing excitement and enthusiasm for the band and for those around her. She on occasion does get excited about certain pieces we perform, but her athletic side would be too proud to truly let her band alter ego come out. Her dedication, work ethic, character, honesty, and passion make Ava such a pleasure to have as a student, and Shiten School should be proud to have someone such as her representing what it means to be a chief. Congratulations, Ava, and thank you for being the amazing person and student that you are. All right. Hello again. The next student I will be presenting is uh 10th grade John Crocker. The student that I am pres uh presenting about right now is not your typical straight A student. They
008aren't involved in a lot of academic clubs or sports. As a matter of fact, I think sports is the last thing they would do. But I'm here to tell you about them and why I nominated them for student of the month is their dedication to the band program and their drive and passion to see to see it succeed. John Henry Crocker IV is really into tractors and anything with an engine. But what you would also be surprised to know is that he is also devoted to making sure this band program is successful. John always makes sure he is there when equipment needs to be loaded and unloaded. He is always lending a hand to help younger musicians learn their parts and is determined to become the next drum major of the marching band. He doesn't
009just show his support of the program itself, but to those in it as well. Whenever a student needs a ride to a band function, John is always the first one to offer rides if he is available. He tries to help counsel those around him if they are struggling musically or socially. John holds himself to a high standard and does not make excuses. I always find myself having a good laugh with him as we talk about various topics and when when I make fun of his obsession with tractors. The day John found out he was nominated for student of the month, he came back to class and said, "Pardon my language," "How the hell did I get nominated for student of the month when my highest grade is a C plus?" Well, I just told you
010why. His work ethic, drive, and dedication, willingness to help, and leadership make him the type of student that Shboiden School should be proud to call one of theirs. Congratulations, John, and thank you for all that you do. That leads us to 11th grade. And in 11th grade, Wyatt Wil. And he was nominated by Mr. Glowski. I don't think he's here with us, but um what Mr. Blisscowski says is, "It is my pleasure to recognize Wyatt as Shboan High School's junior student of the month for May. As Wyatt's high school wood shop teacher, I have had the opportunity to witness firsthand his strong work ethic, leadership, and commitment both inside and outside of the classroom." Good morning. >> Wyatt is an outstanding student who consistently demonstrates responsibility, dedication, and maturity. Outside of school, Wyatt is a
011varsity football player who represents Shboan High School with pride and determination. In addition, Wyatt serves as the student representative on the high school wood shop advisory committee. Wyatt is an excellent example of what it means to be a well-rounded student. His accomplishments in academics, extracurricular activities, employment, and career preparation make him highly deserving of this recognition. Job and this leads me to our senior that would be Abigail Bad. Oh yeah, nominated. So, as senior, in less than a week, Abigail Babcock will hear her name called and walk across the stage to receive her diploma. This walk symbolizes a right of passage, the leaving behind of her secondary school years and the journey forward into a very promising future. During her time at CHS, she has balanced education with extracurricular activities, playing volleyball in 9th through
01212th grade, softball 9th and 10th, and being a part of the yearbook staff for three years. Her future plans are to attend Central Michigan University for business, where she can continue developing her very talented, creative side, as well as her practical side that meets every deadline and assists her team by being up for any challenge. Superintendent Bird Abigail would like to present you with the 20126 yearbook. You and our school board make decisions that determine the trajectory of our students educational experience. In the yearbook, we strive to capture the changes and events that make each school year truly unique. I thank all of you for letting us do that. THANK YOU. NOW, UM, can you just welcome us? >> Okay. Hello. Uh, at Interest Academy, we like to call our student of the month student
013spotlight. Um, and one of the main reasons we like to do that is because we like to acknowledge students not just for their successes in the classroom or in school, but also for their successes in life uh overall. And so we got two uh we have two people uh one from our in-person program and one from our virtual program. Both are going to be graduating this week. So we're going to go ahead and start off with our inperson Ariel Flickinger. come on up. All right. Uh so Ariel came to us uh this year uh from Wolverine and she's been with us uh for the whole school year. Uh and she has become um a student who's a very familiar face around the school, right? She's always willing to strike up a conversation with people. She's
014always almost always has a smile on her face and always tries her best to light up the room. Um, she also uh gave me my cat, so you know, I'm a little bit on the soft side. Um, but I have a little uh blurb here from Mr. E Boy, our English teacher. Ariel is an avid reader with a remarkable memory and very quick wit. She has a thing for remembering everybody's birthday and age. Uh she is doing very excellent work at iness staying on pace in her face toface and virtual classes. She is friendly to everyone quick to include new students and encourage others when they seem to be having a bad day. She's worked very hard since coming to our school. I'm very proud of her and can't wait to watch her receive her
015diploma and I am going to have to agree with that. So here is Here's your goodies and congratulations and we can't wait to see you on Thursday. Okay, next up is our virtual student, Connor Bandandy. Connor, come on up. >> All right, Connor has been with us for we just checked the records, four years. which is a long time. But you know what, Connor uh has been working through a lot and Connor uh we know this year you've been working a full-time job and you've also been dedicated to finishing your school which he has done and will be graduating on Thursday. Um I've gotten to know Connor a little bit over the time he's been in school and he's a very fun conversationalist and we're very proud of all the things he's been doing. addition
016to uh working a full-time job. He's also a new father and we're very proud of all the things uh that you are doing and all the things you're becoming. We can't wait to see you walk the stage on Thursday. Oh, Mr. Eway also wrote a little thing about Connor. Connor is a conscientious student. He works independently completing every assignment. He tracks his progress on P school. He takes the initiative to begin tasks as soon as he understands what is expected. He holds himself to high expectations. He's a responsible student. appreciated by his teachers and admired by his classmates. His maturity and consistency make him a good role model for others. So here you go. CONGRATULATIONS. >> Congratulations from the board to all the students of the month. This is truly and honestly the very best
017part of our board meeting every single month. Um, if you are here supporting one of these students, would you please stand so we can recognize you as the role you played in their success, your encouragement, GUIDANCE, at this time you are welcome to stay and watch the rest of our meeting or you may take this opportunity to >> Yeah. Absolutely. >> She toppled me over to the side. >> Too heavy. You're getting old. >> I heard you. You weren't supposed to talk during that. >> Hey The next thing on our approval of the minutes for April 26 meeting >> motion made by Rich. Second. >> Great. >> Second by >> Luke Kusky. >> Yep. >> Richard Pan. >> Yes. >> Tim Tarat. >> Yes. >> Buuner. >> Yes. >> And Julie Loia. >> Yes. >>
018The next thing on our agenda is the board president's report. um matter. The policy committee will be holding anformational meeting for community members interested in running for a seat on the board of education in the November election. Um that will be on June on June 1st. We will be holding that meeting at 6:30 at night right here in the boardroom. Um there will be five seats that will be open on the November ballot. Two will be a two-year term and three will be a four-year term. The deadline to file file for a board seat is July 21st. The meeting will provide an overview of board members um stories and experiences that they had when they got on the board. Um viewing offormational video that's been put on by MASB, questions and answers session and of
019course we will have some coffee and some cookies. Um the m they will have some materials that will be able to help in that will help if you're interested in potential board member to gain understanding of board members duties and responsibilities. All interested community members are encouraged to attend and learn more about serving on the board. So I just wanted to make sure that that got out there. And >> so the next thing on the agenda is the superintendent report. Great. Thank you. Um, I just have a few things I would like to share with you guys with some uh some of the we have some action items, some motions coming up, but before we get to those and give you a little bit of content background. First thing I'd like to do is ask
020Steve and Nate to come on up. If you guys would come up to the podium, I don't know if you know Nate, but Nate, if you'd like to stand up and introduce yourself. Nate is the gentleman that has he's from I don't want to steal your thunder, but works for Site Logic, your boots on the ground at East Elementary. Can you tell us a little bit more about yourself and about how the project is going at East Elementary? >> Sure. I am the superintendent running the job over there. I'll also be doing the high school when that gets kicked off. Um I'm from a little bit downstate. I live down in Midland right now. So I'm very excited to be up in Shbboan as a kid. Shboan UP was where we went to vacation. So
021now I get to do the couple schools in here. So it's very cool. So progress um has been very well. We're breaking it up into two separate parts. We have our addition going in and then uh bunch of our classrooms are getting reworked as well. Bunch of the bathrooms going in. That's doing a great job. We've had a bunch of inspections so far. Everything's passed. Um the classroom work has done really well and our addition is kicking off hopefully in about 2 weeks or so. The engineer had us uh add some shoring to make sure that the building was uh fine, but we're getting that delivered this week. So, we should start the excavation soon. Okay, so things are going as planned. Uh we also have uh some of our architects and design folks from
022Site Logic here. I think Becky and Pete, are you there, guys? >> Can you hear me? >> Can you hear us, Spencer? >> I can hear you. Let me see if I can get you up on the big screen. Steve, while I'm getting up on the big Don't sit down yet. You're not getting up. >> I think everybody knows Steve. Steve is our facilities director. He works directly with Nate. He works directly with me and sight logic in the board. So, do you want to tell us a little bit from your perspective how things how you think things are going yet east? >> I think uh I'm very happy with the progress. Uh everything's going smooth. Um you know, we haven't had any issues at all. So, I'm very uh very satisfied with uh how
023everything's going. It's on time and certain parts are ahead of schedule in the construction field. It doesn't happen very often. So, I'm very uh happy with the progress. Nate's good to work with, very easygoing. Um, a lot of the uh teachers that he's had a little crush on, too. So, that's nice. I throw that out there. >> Okay. More information than we need to know, but that's good. >> Yeah. Yeah. >> I was trying to embarrass somebody. >> Oh, okay. >> But no, but going back to it, it's I'm very happy with the progress. >> So, can uh Where's Deanna? actually hide back there. Um, one of the things, uh, can you guys talk to me a little bit? I know one of our big concerns was with all this commotion going on, uh, around
024East Elementary, we still got kids in school for another 3 to four weeks, right? So, how has the bus pickups and the kids coming and going and parent pickup and drop off? Have we been logistically being able to organize that? It's been going better than anticipated, but not I mean our families have great patience when they're in that drop off or pickup line. Um, and everyone is getting through it. >> And I do I I do understand like with most most construction projects, there's been a few hiccups, but I think uh talking with you, we've been able to iron those out and things are getting better with the busing and the parent pickup and drop off. Is that correct? >> That is correct. Everything is is going really smoothly right now. >> Great. Thank you.
025Uh Pete and Becky, can you hear me? >> Yes. >> And you guys want >> Yeah. We want to give you guys wanted to say a few things right about uh uh East Elementary and also just not East Elementary. We got a lot of stuff going on, but you want to give us a quick summary. Correct. >> Yes. We a couple weeks ago had a opening for high school and intermediate school. uh with contractor interviews after that and we are still working on qualifying those bids. It came in a bit higher than expected. So we've been working with Spencer and Steve on uh options to be able to create good opportunities for for them to board. We're hoping that we'll probably have a special board meeting for that. We're hoping that maybe Tuesday next week
026if that works, Tuesday, Wednesday. Um, so we're really close to having those that final recommendation ready for everybody and available right now for some questions. >> And correct me if I'm wrong, Becky, but um, we have to have the the bids that you've collected, we have to have a special board meeting within so many days to approve them or they expire, right? So, how how what is our what is our cut off date? So, if we got a wiggle we got any wiggle room at all or does it have to be Tuesday or Wednesday next week? Our bids are re were received on April 28th. Um they typically expire a month after that. So we're looking at May 28th which is Thursday >> as the cut offation. >> Okay. So as long as it's before
027the 28th we should be fine. >> Yeah you could and it could be later this week if needed if necessary. It's just a weekend. So, >> right. >> Making the assumption that there people might be taking short on Friday. >> Gotcha. >> Is there anything else you guys wanted to share? I know the uh the bid work that we're currently contemplating is a big piece of what we're dealing with right now. East Elementary, the construction going on is obviously a big focus. Is there anything else that the board should be looking for or paying attention to? I think that we're just really working closely to make these numbers work and fulfill what the community's needs were provided during for that bond so that we can make sure that everything um you know we're just being
028smart with that taxpayer money and do what's best to support the school. >> Pete, do you have anything to say or you just here for eye candy? I don't know what's going on here. >> No, I I can just you know I can just say and obviously you know I've been involved with the c with this project and in close contact with Becky and with Brad and with Nate throughout the process. I'll just reiterate what Nate and Steve kind of shared as well. Things appear to be going very very well. Um the elementary school as we know has been the highest priority um project in this entire uh bond and it is you know on you know right now appears to be on budget on schedule which is really what we like. In fact a
029little ahead of schedule in some areas. Um, and as Becky mentioned, you know, really trying to get focused on the high school and middle school to intermediate scope. Um, that will be part of 2027 work. Um, so you with the vids that we've got and and the work that Brett and Becky have been doing to try to hone in on the best recommendations for the board to consider. Um, you know, that that will be available early next week. That's why Tuesday and Wednesday, you know, either Tuesday or Wednesday night if the board is available, it could make that work could be a great opportunity to to schedule a special meeting. Don't anticipate it would take a long time. Uh but just looking to get those those bids approved um you obviously before the May 28th
030date so that we can secure um those contractors for that work in summer 27 as well. >> And I don't know if you guys know this, but um we had our bond sale call this morning. Are you guys aware of that? Yes. Y >> and it appears that numbers come in better than pro uh projected. >> Are you aware of that? >> We weren't aware of the outcome. Um I do know that the market is has been pretty good lately and that's always a good sign. And and we know right from the beginning PFM really does a great job and and they're pretty conservative in the you know in the initial um forecasting. So, it's always nice when um you know that comes through and we get a little bit better bond market and bond
031rates than than what we're anticipating. >> So, just to tell you real quickly, and that's the email that I just handed out to you guys. I sent it to you this afternoon. The bond sale was uh at 1:30 today. So, this information is fresh off the press. But the things that you need to uh take uh special uh uh uh attention to is our interest rate came in lower. This is our second series of bond sales that we are moving forward with. As a matter of fact, tonight you have a resolution to pass the approved uh group that we're going to work with. They came in with the lowest interest rate. The lowest interest rate uh when they bid for this bond was 3.91%. Uh we were projecting that we would probably get an interest
032rate around 9.7. So we're saving money there on the interest rate. The interest rate came in lower. Also taxable growth. I don't know if you guys know this, but the numbers that have just come in for Shabboan, specifically our school district, our area, the town of Shabboan, um the the group, the financial group that we work with was projecting that the growth for our area would be five or excuse me, 4.5% taxable growth for our area. It actually came in at 5.9%. So our community, our businesses, our area is growing at a little bit greater rate uh than we anticipated a few months ago when we were putting these numbers together. And then also um the premium or the cost for the uh the processing was less than projected. So all of that means uh
033more money for us. So less money going to fees and interest rates and charges, more money coming to the school district for us to do projects with. Originally, our uh our our hopes, our thoughts were to generate $5.6 million for this second bond selling, and we're actually going to come in almost 5.7 around 5.67 or around uh 5.68. So, that that's really good news because of the economy, because things are coming in a little bit better than we anticipated. We'll have more money to spend in our school district. Did you have anything to add to that, Pete? You're a good um numbers guy. >> Yeah. No, I mean that that's all really good news, Spencer. I mean, obviously when your interest rate is lower and your taxable growth is healthy. Um, what that also allows
034long term is, you know, for the community and for the taxpayers is as that taxable growth um, you know, continues to grow, that means that the debt levy for the district will actually reduce at a faster rate than was initially anticipated. And like I said, that that's good news long term for the district and for the community. >> Yeah. And just food for thought talking with R.J. about this, Pete. It sounds like uh 2829 school year uh will be the year that we'll start uh getting to a point in time when we're wanted to thinking about an extension um or not, but that's a couple years away. But because things are coming in better than we anticipated, it's pushing up uh the opportunity to uh do this again sooner than later. So, all right. Anything
035else, Becky or Pete? Nate? I'm all good. >> You're good. >> I'm good. >> Uh Steve, did you have anything you wanted to add? >> I don't have anything. >> Okay. >> I do. >> Yeah. Question. >> No. >> Obviously, Steve and I spent a lot of time last week on a high school intermediate school. I'll just say bid package. >> Correct. >> I'll leave it alone. But you know our requirement if you if you can't give us bids that are apples to apples then I'm going to say what is the risk to let it expire and then go back out for bid. >> I think I think we've I think we've come to a solution uh since you and I have met last. >> Okay. So, um I do believe and Pete, you can
036correct me on this if I'm wrong, but one of our biders did not bid all of the items that needed to be bidded and that's why, uh they came in lower. >> So, that's something that is under contemplation right now. That's why we're not presenting it today or tonight >> because it wasn't apples to apples. You're completely right, Rich. And I think Becky and Pete, you both recognize that as well. Correct. >> So, are they able to give us the cost differential? take the take the oranges and make them apples and say, "Oh, this much more." >> Well, yeah. Yes and no. Uh if you if you wanted the you would have to rebid the project if you want to give them an opportunity to rebid. It's not our fault that they they didn't bid
037the things that we requested them to bid. >> So, probably the easiest u remedy for that is to disqualify them because they did not bid what we asked them to bid. So that that is why um that's part of the special board meeting coming up before the 28th is because we still been investigating this and making sure that we're getting accurate numbers so that we can make good decisions and that's why we didn't do it tonight because we weren't ready. We weren't happy with >> Oh, no. I wasn't happy at all. >> Yeah, right. So Pete and Becky, did you have anything? Am I Am I on course with that or is there anything else you want to add? >> Yeah, go ahead. Yeah, go. Yeah, I was going to say um one thing about
038the rebid is million prices are increasing drastically. So that's the biggest risk I think about the the rebid. Uh we've done that before and it's coming okay when we've done these rebid exercises. So, I think that's why we really want to make sure we're qualifying these bids and giving you guys the correct information because I think there's a high risk right now if we do a rebid that numbers are going to come in higher um versus um if we were to accept and and look at some potential signs that >> I would just add, you know, as Spencer mentioned, you know, Becky and I and Nate Spencer and Steve met on Friday um and really dove into the bid because of that question that you posed about apples to apples really wanted to kind of
039unpack things. I think that's when we decided and we really weren't ready um for a recommendation at tonight's board meeting because we wanted to dig in and make sure we had that comparison for you. Um and and we're really close now and that's why a special meeting next week. We'll we'll make sure we can present this and give you time also to to kind of look over that information prior to that board meeting. >> Okay. And then this work is for 2027, summer of 2027. >> Okay. >> And the risk, I mean, it just seems like we're pushing this very quickly. Yet, we're not even I just drove by East Side today. I mean, yeah, there's a bunch of dirt there, but my concern is this is that East Side at a 10.2 2 million
040is going to come in at 13, let's say, and then all of a sudden we're like, well, we've got foundation for a elevator, but we have no money for it. So, why why are we pushing this particular project this soon? >> Well, I guess I would add, you know, East Side has been out. So, you know, costs are are well known for all of that project. >> Well, whoa, whoa, whoa. But the soil engineering, what did that cost? >> No surprises, but the surprises should be very limited at this point. So, I think we feel pretty confident that it is on, you know, on budget and on schedule right now. Um, and what we're doing with phase two, um, the high school, the intermediate building, um, you know, you want to get out to bid,
041you know, early. I mean, obviously, you know, the latest you want to get out to bid was probably maybe, you know, early in the fall or late summer. Um, so yes, we are a little bit ahead of the game. Um, but if for some reason that we had to rebate or or or go out again to to get new numbers, uh, we want to put the district in the best competitive situation we can to get good pricing. Um, so, you know, as Becky mentioned, right now, this initial bid came in a little higher than what we would have hoped. Um, and we're trying to help unpack that, but we want to present this information to you to try to lock in the best price team we can for summer 27. Um, you know, that that's
042really our thoughts, but ultimately the board will will make that decision. You know, we're just going to present you with all the recommendations or the information. Um, and and then you'll decide how we move forward and we want to provide you the best guidance that we possibly can. >> So, the soil issue at East Side, I know the foundation work or what, how much of a financial impact is this going to be to correct it? >> Total number, we don't know. We're not getting a lump sum price from the contractor. We're going to do it as a TNM. We're trying to keep cost down. We're adding the uh the snow in it back. >> I mean, we all want to keep cost down. What I'm going is we had this bid for this soil this
043way, but now they screwed up. I Okay, maybe I shouldn't say screwed up, but they incorrectly did the soil. There's an additional cost. We know the mezzanine that was a $35,000 changeover just for steel steel structure. >> Well, I think they're still I'm sorry. debating the because the wording on the from the uh soil report said it was re highly recommended but they didn't it was just a wording from the soil if he would have used better wording saying you shall use this but they said they worded it as highly recommended so when a contractor you know recommended or highly recommended they don't have to follow it that's not legal language >> so we're going to cut corners so I think they're I think you guys are still working with trying to beat out the
044issue correct >> yeah that's I guess I'd like to know what that financial impact moving forward. >> Well, uh, Pete and Becky, can we set up a Zoom meeting uh later on this week and and and allow any board members that want to join in and Nate and Steve um if they want to ask a little bit more specific questions, especially before the special board meeting when we have to make a decision. Uh, that sounds like that would be beneficial. Is that something we could do? >> Absolutely. Absolutely. Okay. Well, I'll work on a date and time and send you guys an invite. >> All right. Any other questions? Good questions, Rich. All right. Thank you, Nate. Steve, before you get away, hold on a second. Uh, we got a lot of other stuff going
045on besides the elementary school. We got the track, we got the tennis courts. What other stuff is going on that you would like to just, you know, I know there was a problem with the track. There was a a an area where there was a little sink hole. >> There was a sink hole we found in this in the snow melted. Okay, probably supposed to correct that. They're going to finish the track when uh June June 8th, I believe, are going to start with the final um surfacing and the and the striping up. We'll follow after that. >> Okay. >> The tennis courts or the pickle ball courts are um ready to go when we have consistent temperatures over 50° and then here we go Wednesday, it's going to be a high of 49. So,
046>> what's the what's the final final touches to the tennis courts and pickle ball court? Uh we have all the nets and everything. We're waiting to put those up when they uh paint them and stripe it. That'll take two days. Um so they scheduled it for um they had it on the books for late this week and or maybe next week. Um it's just weather dependent. >> Okay. >> Like I said, they need consistent days. >> So the track and tennis courts will be done this summer and be available for use soon. >> Absolutely. Yeah. And then pickle ball tennis courts will have a little ceremony for that and hopefully that's done by before. And then the other thing is too, I think everybody's aware of this. This is not part of the bond, but
047there's been a lot of concern about the middle school bleachers and we're addressing that this summer. Correct. >> Yes, we uh we have bleachers on order. We we'll be removing them this summer and um the first week of school and maybe the second week then the ones will be installed. They're in production. They started production today. So, >> great. >> Worst case scenario, it will be the second week of school. Hopefully, they're in uh in August. >> Great. I know Ben Schl is very excited about that. >> He is. Can't wait. All right. Does anybody else have any questions for Steve? Sorry to put you on the spot there, Chandra. Okay. Thank you for coming in. Uh Becky and Pete, if there's no more questions, thank you for coming in and we'll uh I'll be
048in touch soon. We'll set up another Zoom meeting to kind of talk about some of those details before and also set the uh special board meeting date. So hopefully we can potentially get one of those bids approved and start moving forward on those projects as well. >> Okay. >> Very good. Thank you. >> Thank you. See you later. Thank you. >> All right. >> I just have a couple more things for my superintendence report. I'd like to call Marty Mix up to the podium. Marty, please raise your right hand. >> No. Uh, Marty's going to share some exciting news with us. Um, we've been doing, uh, as you guys know, we've been doing a head boys basketball search for a while now. It's finally come to a conclusion. He's going to give us some details.
049years. Um, obviously we're coming off a pretty exciting time for Shuan Athletics with the boys basketball season and uh, everybody knows Jason Friday has retired. So, we've done a pretty extensive search to to fill this position and we're very very pleased to announce that Daryl Viznau will be the next one taking over the the the helm of Chiefs basketball. Uh, Daryl comes to us. Um, >> Daryl knows basketball. >> I did not know that. might disagree. >> All joking aside, Yur comes to us um with an extensive history of success. Um as many of you know, he's he's a county uh native. Um grew up, if you remember, uh has coached there for a number of years. Um he has a real estate between him and Gilligaries, they have the two most elite programs in
050Northern Michigan. So, uh, he's made the shift over to the men's side and we're very excited to, uh, see him take over. He's got a lot of plans, a lot of ideas. Um, and just a lot of life to bring to our program. So, very, very excited to have Daryl coming our way. Darl, would you like to come up and say a few words? We'd love to hear I know you're a talker. Don't tell me you're going to turn down an opportunity to share some words. >> All right. I'll be quick. As quick as I can be, which is probably quick, but uh, I'm excited. I'm honored uh for this opportunity. Um I did this about six years ago at In the Lakes when I became their varsity girls coach and I had this little
051shtick I put together. I never coached high school sports before, so I was trying to come up with something and and I said, "All right, my goals are uh number one, I want the players to improve, not just as players with their skills and abilities, but I also also want them to improve as people. I want them to learn how to to be good teammates. I want them to to learn to be coachable, uh to work hard. Uh my second goal uh was I want them to have fun. This isn't the NBA or the WNBA. It's high school sports and that's really important. And my third goal uh is to be successful and to win. And I think um them having banners in the Raptors is something that they can always come back home and
052see. And it's a point of pride for them and for the school district and the community. And that's been my stick for the last six years until about eight hours ago when I had to go present um to my former now former players uh that I was going to be leaving them. And I'm a hard coach and I'm and I'm demanding and I have high standards and I have high expectations. And as the players walked into the room about eight hours ago, um I could see on their faces they knew what was about to come out of my mouth. And it turned into a very emotional um we had eight girls. They were uh crying. Uh the coach was crying. Uh and there were a lot of hugs and there was that. And I had
053a as I as I left uh after letting them know that I was going to be taking this position. Uh I I I come to the realization that that was probably the worst moment of my coaching career. Uh but also the best. And it was the worst because obviously they were very upset and distraught and we had a lot of success and a lot of wins and a lot of laughs and a lot of joy. Uh but it was also maybe the best moment of my career because I could see the love and respect they had for me. someone who was very hard on them and someone who demanded a lot of them and someone who had very high standards for them and um they understood that and understood what I meant and the love
054that I had for them that they saw and the respect and the mutual uh both ways was very powerful and I guess the thing I'm going to conclude with is you know obviously we want to improve obviously we want to have fun obviously we want to win but maybe more importantly uh I hope that I can bring um the the lifong positive relationships uh to the table uh as the head coach here. So, uh as I said, I'm really excited. I look forward to this opportunity. Uh I know there are really high expectations for the program and I hope I can live up to those and uh and we can make the community proud. Thank you for your time. I APPRECIATE we're very excited uh very sad to see Jason Friday leave, but very excited
055um to see what the future holds for for Daryl in the boys basketball program. Also, I'd like to make note, Marty, I don't know if you want to say anything about this, but I believe Steve was involved. Our new >> Yep. >> AD, he came in. He's not even started yet, but he helped out with the committee and the search and all that stuff. Is that correct? >> Yes, sir. >> Okay. So, good. We got two two new guys are already looking to improve some of our uh opportunities and offerings for our students. And then also I'd like to um you know you guys know this, we talk about this all the time that there's a teacher shortage, there's an administrator shortage, there's all kinds of shortages. So when we do have an opportunity to
056fill a a void due to retirement or whatever the case might be and to be able to add value, that's that's a that's a great step in the right direction. And I think we've been I think the administrators who are a part of these committees and going out and we got to look a little bit harder than we used to, right? There isn't any uh 50 people applying for one job anymore. To be quite honest with you, if you get two or three people applying and one or two of them have the proper qualifications, we start to get excited. So, it's a very, very tough market. But I would like to give credit to the building principles and to Jessica for going out and beating down doors and doing whatever they need to do to
057bring uh people of value to our school district so we can always be growing and getting better. And Ben Schly is over there. >> He's here. >> Ben, come on up. Ben is also going to try to add some value to the intermediate school, right? You just got some good news today. Is that correct? >> Yep. We uh have well she'll be up for hire today. Uh Caitlyn Bricker, actually one of my former students, uh has been teaching in Traverse City at the old Peninsula School, I believe it's called over there for the last two years. Um so we're looking to bring her back to she's from Pelston, but she want she's going to come in as our our third grade teacher. Again, assuming at the end of, you know, your approval here. Um but
058experience there, great person. She interviewed very well. Again, I've known her personally as a student, but uh she's uh she'll be a great fit to our our team and our community, and so hopefully I'm looking forward to bringing her in. And I know your committee was very excited about uh trying to trying to get her in, right? >> Yep. Yeah, we had uh a couple different teachers on the committee, obviously, Ashley, myself. Um and then we're excited to to try to bring her in. So, great. So, the board, you'll have an opportunity to uh approve a recommendation uh for her this evening. And it sounds like again we got a we got a good one. >> Yep. >> All right. Thank you. That's the end of my superintendent report. Does anybody have any questions for
059me? >> All right. Thank you. Okay. Um, moving on. Our the next thing on our agenda is acceptance of a retirement. We have um Kelly Redmond retiring. Uh, as an administrator, can you give me some how many years Kelly has been with the district? >> She's been with us just shy of about six years in. Um, but she is a special education teacher that is top-notch. Um there's not a piece of paperwork that you ever have to look for with her. She's got everything done and it's a very tough position that she's in and she handles it with grace on a daily basis. So, uh we're going to be sad to see her go. She's a great employee to have in her building. >> Thank you. Okay. Um so I need a motion to accept
060with regrets the notice of retirement of Shelley Redmond, high school special education teacher at the end of the 2526 school year. I'll make that motion. Motion made by Deb. >> Support by Luke. >> Rich. >> Oh, sorry. Rich. >> Chris. >> Luke Kakowski. >> Yeah. >> Richard Hilon. >> Yes. >> Tim Tar. >> Yes. >> Deborah Buuner. >> Yes. >> And Julia. >> Yes. >> Uh, we have an approval of a new hire. who we've just heard a lot about. Um, so we're going to make it official. Uh, I need a motion to approve the hiring of Daryl Viznot as varsity boys basketball coach for the winner of 2627 season. >> I'll make a motion hire for the boys varsity. Motion made by Luke. >> Support by Rich. >> Luke Kusky. >> Yep. >> Richard
061Kan. >> Yes. >> Tim Tarot. >> Yes. >> Deborah Buuner. >> Yes. >> And Julie Loila. >> Yes. Welcome. And next we have um a motion to approve the hiring of Kaitlyn Bricker as elementary teacher active at the start of the 26th school year. >> She is not here right >> she's not she's in >> okay I'll make that motion motion made by Deb >> by Tim >> Luke Kakuski >> Yep. >> Richard Pon. >> Yes. >> Tim Tarot. Yes. >> Debra Buer. >> Yes. >> Julie Loila. >> Yes. >> Okay. So, the next thing on the agenda is the um MHSA resolution. We fill this out every year. Um everybody has that copy of that in front of them. We need to approve the Michigan High School Athletic Association resolution for the 2627 school
062year. Any questions about the resolution? Take any motion. I'll make that motion. Support. >> Motion made by Deb, supported by Tim. Motion made to approve the Michigan High School Athletics Association resolution for the 2627 school year. >> Luke Kakusky. >> Yep. Richard Pon, >> yes. >> Tim Tarot, >> yes. >> Deborah Buunner, >> yes. >> Julie Loila, >> yes. >> Uh, the next thing on our agenda is um stable finances and we have a building and grounds and finance committee update by Rich. I >> think we pretty much went through it all. Uh we just talked about the high school intermittent school bid uh issue. I won't call it a fiasco yet, but again no electrical bids were received for this project. So that has to go back up for rebid. Uh we definitely need
063to discuss the timing state of those projects. Uh we talked about soil issues still not resolved. Ruth Riley will take care of the track sinkhole and a damaged four road conduit. Track courts and track tennis courts and track touches should be completed soon as soon as we get out of the winter. Tennis courts will be open to the public but not during school hours. We'll put signage up and some simple landscaping for the test courts. We discussed uh the bond sales. Spencer already made that. Uh we reviewed our finance goals noting the progress. Every year we go through the strategic goals for finance committee and we remove the ones that we've completed and updated the ones for the next meeting that we will add and then learn something new every time. Uh we have actually
064substitute custodians which I didn't know and they have not had a raise in five years. They're currently at 1350 an hour and the recommendation was to move the substitute custodians up to 1405 an hour. So I think we need to make that. >> I think it's a motion, right? >> But that was shocking that they've not had a raise in five years. That was it. The meeting was adjourned and there's no public comment for us. >> Any questions for Rich? discussion. >> I appreciate you staying on top of that bond stuff. >> I know. It frustrates you, but it's important that we have eyes. >> When a couple starts speaking on the screen, it's like they're sales. I'm sorry. That's just way it came across. I love Pete, but not that much. >> Okay. So,
065the next thing on our agenda is the payment of bills. Uh, I need a motion to acknowledge payment of the regular and bond invoices in the amount of $258,331.93. We are acknowledging them. >> I'll make that motion. >> Motion made by Rich. >> Support by Tim >> Luke Kapusky. >> Yep. >> Richard Pon. >> Yes. Tim Tarch, >> yes. >> Deborah Buunner, >> yes. >> Julie Liva, >> yes. >> Okay. Next, we have the COPD 2627 budget resolution, which we also look at every year. Um, there's a resolution. We either have to make a motion to dis uh approve or disapprove of it. So, uh they are both in your packet. We do this every year. This is the COP ESD regional budget. Um, all 10 school districts >> within the COP ESD region have
066to take it in front of their boards, redo it, and hopefully approve it. >> So, I need a motion. Any questions about that first? We have it. Okay. Okay, I need a question to adopt or not adopt the resolution in in support of the COPDSC proposed budget. >> We'll make the motion to adopt a resolution in support of the COPS proposed budget. >> Motion made by Tim. >> Support by Rich >> Delusky. >> Yep. >> Richard Pon. >> Yes. >> Tim Tar. >> Yes. >> Deborah Buuner. >> Yes. Julie Loila. >> Yes. >> So now can we discuss it? >> Oh no. Just to me I look at the budgets we use and they always have the previous year's information >> right >> this year. You know they just say this is what we're going
067to do this coming year. Yeah. We're like and then the little line items they're like oh it's a 3% increase here. Yeah. Why can't they just do a real budget like your previous year's budget and actual versus what we're proposing? >> It just seems like a big question for Jamie Hub. I wish she was here. >> Yeah. I'm not I'm not quite sure why they do it that way. >> I guess I would like to have someone from there before >> we can request it to approve it. I mean, I I have no idea what goes on at their board meetings. I guess it would have been nice if maybe they would come and at least give us something, make a video for us to watch to explain something. >> Yeah, >> but just my
068thought. >> I'll share that with Jamie. >> Thank you. Thank you. >> Okay, so the next thing on our agenda is the to set a date for truth and taxation hearing, which we also do every year. Um the date that we have is our next board meeting is June 22nd. Correct. Yes, June 22nd. And um there's not a time in here, but usually don't go like 6:15 instead of 6:30. >> You can actually be part of the regular board as well. >> Oh, >> I we we I think we >> always Yeah. Yes. >> Uh that we Yeah, we usually >> it doesn't take 15 minutes, but we we do do it at 6:15 and then we're ready for the board meeting to start at 6:30. >> Yes. So, um any any questions or discussion
069about that? Okay. So, I need a motion to set the 2627 budget hearing for Monday, June 22nd, 2026 at 6:15, 15 minutes prior to our board meeting. I'll make that motion. >> Motion made by Deb. >> Support by Tim. Any other discussion? Chris Kusky, >> Richard Pan, >> yes. >> Tim Tarot, >> yes. >> Deborah Muner, >> yes. >> Julie Loila, >> yes. >> Okay, the next thing on our agenda is to is the food service contract. >> Uh we also we approve that Spencer. Do we approve that every year? >> Yes, it is annual. >> So we approve that every year. That also is in your packet. Um, any questions about the contract? >> I assume we're staying tired. >> Yes, correct. >> Yes. >> I saw it when it's online. >> Oh, yes,
070it is. This right here. There was no like total amount. Spencer, can you explain that contract? >> Um, I've not briefed it this year. What do you have a specific? The only thing I can tell from what's on the sheet is >> the only real number on this sheet is line two is their administrative fee per meal is going last current this year was uh 6,530 or is that 6 million? I have no idea what that number even is. It's weird. Not to mention microscopic if you can't tell. >> Um, what I would suggest if you have we can table this and we can have John come through that the special board meeting next week and he can answer your questions directly. >> So the original contracts from 2024 and all we're doing is a
071renewal of the original with a to say increase. Yeah, it's like a the cola the cost of the increase, right? >> Was it talked about at finance at least rich? >> Nope. >> It would be worth getting the original contract. >> I think yeah, >> that's table. >> Okay, >> I'll get John in here. We'll have John come to the uh finance committee meeting and then uh answer any questions you might have and then you feel more comfortable voting for it and maybe we can even get that done before the special. >> So, I need I need a motion to table it. I'll make that motion. >> I'll support it. >> Motion made by Deb. >> We need the original >> says the original contract was 2024. That's >> Luke Kausski. >> So, wait, you
072know what? I think I should just read that over again. >> Okay. >> Motion made by Deb, supported by Rich to approve the food service contract for the 2627 school year. >> Table to table. to table. I'm sorry. Let me try that again. Wish made by Dev. Support by Rich to table the food service contract for the 26 27 school year. >> Luke Kowski. >> Yep. >> Richard Pilah. >> Yes. >> Tim Tarot. >> Yes. >> Deborah Buunner. >> Yes. >> Julie Lohila. >> Yes. The next thing on the agenda is the bond resolution. Spencer spoke a little bit about that. Um, are there any questions for Spencer or discussion? Good. >> So, what I need is we need to approve the resolution for authorizing the sale of the second series of the 2024 bonds
073in the amount of $5,720,000. >> I'll make a motion. >> Motion made by Rich. Support by Luke >> Luke Kusky. >> Yep. >> Richard Kean. >> Yes. >> Tim Tarot. Yes. >> Deborah Buuner. >> Yes. >> Julie Loila. >> Yes. >> Okay. As Rich talked about in his finance report, the custodian substitute custodians have not had a raise in five years. Is that what you said? So, uh we need to give them a raise. Um I feel like there is a um motion to improve increasing the subcustodian pay from 1350 to 1405. Any discussion? Okay. So I need a motion to approve the increasing sub custodian pay from 1350 to 1405. >> Make that motion. Motion made by Rich. >> Support by Luke >> Ly. >> Yep. >> Richard Pean. >> Yes. >> Tarjack. >>
074Yes. >> Deborah Buuner. >> Yes. >> Julie Loila. >> Yes. Next thing on the policy is on the policy. On the agenda is the policy committee by Dev. Okay. uh policy committee met on May 12th um and had Julie mentioned um in her president's update, there will be five open school board seats on the November um election. Two of those are two-year seats, three will be fouryear seats. Um, we felt it was important for us to try to come up with some information for folks in the committee who are considering uh running for school board seats. So, we did quite a bit of discussion and planning for theformational session that we plan to hold. Again, that is going to be June 1st at 6:30. Um we hope to that we um we'll have folks who
075are interested want to join us that evening. Um basically I'm reiterating what Julie said but uh that's we spent pretty much our whole committee discussing that um we felt it was important first of all to get to know one another a little bit. Um we felt it was important for some of us to share our experiences. um even though I taught 31 years being a school board remember lots of things I have learned I'll say it that way um so some of us will um be sharing our experiences um from our either election or appointment to um now uh there is some great information that's being put out by the Michigan Association of School Board Members and thanks to Chris for going to a conference and she brought back this awesome program called well get
076on board >> get on board. So um our goal is to make sure that the public is well aware um that there are going to be seats open um and we hope that we can get some folks to make some informed decisions and want to join us in this fantastic opportunity for our community. >> Did I sell you Rich? I'm just >> I'm not sold yet. and well I taught middle school so you know >> um anyways we will have uh some info for you to take with you as well we'll open up for some question and answers and of course we'll feed you so hopefully you will count cookies and coffee and Chris says she makes the best chocolate chip cookie ever but I'm not sure have to see all >> and that's pretty
077much what we spent talking about policy Any questions? We're done. >> Rich, no questions for Doug. >> Okay. All right. Athletic committee update by Right. >> Yep. >> So, the athletic committee update, we met this month. Um, continue discussions about bringing internet to the football fields. That's a project that you're going to follow up on, if I'm not mistaken, with Jordan. uh the elevator project at the school for uh the basketball. It will be the footings will be laid out uh teeth by the end of the school year. It looks like maybe the middle school bleachers. We talked about that. That's nearing completion probably in the summer. Actually, I think it's the first week into the next year. Uh the banners, we have athletic banners that we have ordered. I mean, we're two years delayed
078on this darn project. Um, we talked about that with our new AD. Um, I know Jason was on it, but it just kept getting delayed, delayed, delayed. So, hopefully we have some outlook at the end of that project. We're going to get new banners for our athletics track project supposed to be done this summer. Uh, there was a scoreboard. Electrical line was cut. Repairs are going to be planned to do that. Uh, make know they're doing the track. Arbiter. We're moving to Arbiter, converting to Arbiter for payments of the athletics. Um talk about our code of conduct, discussing updating and reviewing that. Um the FAP program for female athletics. Um that just would be an additional support for females to have a a space to to work out and do their thing. continue focus on
079student accountability, behaviors, athletics, academics. The Hall of Fame, we've discussed that as well. Still moving forward, but that's not a pressing issue. So, obviously, the Hall of Fame has been table, but it's it's certainly moving forward. We're making progress there and I think that's going to be a cool thing for the community and bring some people back just to, you know, take a look at their their picture. Maybe the Hall of Fame or their team that got >> might be the first one inducted. >> Don't you dare do something like that. But, um, you know, just continue to talk about supporting our athletic community, um, our athletic kids. And, you know, we got a new athletic director. We hired him. We talked about Steve. Uh we also had five applicants and we picked a coach
080tonight. So I do varsity boys basketball coach. So we're I think coming into this next year really strong with our athletics and um just continue to progress in that. We talked about the tennis courts um and when there's those going to be stripes and boy it's an exciting time to be an athlete in high school. That's for sure. facilities that we have and stuff we're doing is great. So, that was all I had. >> Any questions for those? >> Yeah, the banners. That wasn't one of these things like we paid somebody and they're just not delivering. It's just a delay on our part. >> Have we put forth? >> That's a Jason Friday question. I I don't know. Marty, do you know if uh I know we've been waiting a long time in >> Oh,
081we did start getting some in. Okay. Well, that's but not whole. >> The old ones have a Jason Friday question, bud. >> They must be handstitching them or something. >> It's two years running. >> Yeah, that's not acceptable. >> Okay, any other questions, discussion? Okay. So, the next thing on our agenda is um public comment. Make sure I'm skipping. Thank you. Uh um so as we move into public comment, each speaker will have up to five minutes. This time limit ensures fairness and allows everyone who wishes to speak opportunity to be heard. We ask that comments be directed to the board to remain respectful and focus on matters within the board's responsibility. Under the Michigan Open Meetings Act, the public has a right to attend and observe our meetings. The act also requires that the
082board maintain order so that the meeting can proceed. Zero tolerance will be enforced at all board public meetings for behaviors that are disrespectful, unprofessional, confrontational, intimidating, inappropriate, and completed or threatening. to ensure our meetings remain constructive and welcoming. These standards protect every participant's right to speak and be heard in a safe civil environment. This early content such as shouting, interrupting speakers, refusing to be meeting the floor, otherwise preventing the board from conducting its business may result in a call order, a warning or removal from the meeting. These steps are taken solely to preserve the public's ability to follow the meeting and are never based on the viewpoint being expressed. The board will not respond to comments at this time, but please know that we take your input seriously and your concerns will be reviewed. Someone
083will follow up with you if a response or additional information is needed. Our meeting minutes and video of the meeting may serve as our followup on public comment if the action is taken during the meeting. I also want to emphasize that the community input is valued. Public comment is a vital part of democratic governance. While the board does not respond during the portion of the meeting, we listen carefully and your perspectives help inform our work and strengthen the partnership between the district and the communities. Thank you for your engagement and your commitment to our schools. With those guides, lines in mind, you may become um My name is Meritt Brand and you have all my um I'm going to start with a quote I heard last week. Um to a large measure in our lives,
084we are what we do. That was a quote by another judge, Erin Gothier said that last week. >> A real judge. It really stuck at me. It really stuck at me because it is true. We really are what we do. >> Um, in March, I requested financial statements from Laura Nestle as well as the finance committee meetings from Chris Hes. Um, I was later told that the information would require an official foil request. But before I even had the opportunity to respond, I hear back from multiple people in town about my request and how it was denied because I didn't send in the right form or do the paperwork correctly. Um, that's specifically on the finance side. Um, I was also told overheard conversations that came from these offices here about how much they can
085charge me for the records and how they're going to make it make an effort to make this so financially burdensome that I could not obtain them. So because of that, I temporarily chose temporarily chose not to pursue it further. At that point, there seemed to be a really troubling culture of internal gossip and leaked information coming from this office, the superintendent's office and the business office. Um, multiple situations, including private meetings, private emails. Jaime's meeting was leaked. The email with the report against Julie was all leaked. And people are hearing about this in the hair salon before even board members found out about it. Rich admitted in public comment, you know, that he was finding details out about Jaime's meeting with Spencer and and Julie, details he wasn't emailed that he had never heard before.
086Um, it damages public trust, reflects poorly on district leadership, and it creates the appearance of dysfunction. It's unprofessional, and it needs to be addressed. It needs to stop. Um, I would also like to ask why there's no standardized FOYA form readily available to us. Um, there's forms explain how you will charge citizens for for your requests that you can view. But citizens are like me. I was just told to interpret this policy, but if you don't do this correctly, it'll be denied. Um, doesn't seem to really promote openness or public trust. It' be a really simple issue to fix. If the board could simply create an accessible FOYA form for the public to fill out so they knew what sections had to be in there, it would probably save everybody a lot of time. Um
087uh further financial reports and committee meeting minutes. Why are these just not consistently available online? These documents are already being produced. They're already there. You have a huge website with documents all over it. Um I know that you publish board packets, but we don't get to see those. Only the board does. Other public bodies, the county, other organizations, they publish those monthly board packets with the financials every month. Um, years ago when you came to the meetings here, there was a the board tack was next to if you wanted to view the list of bills, the financial statements. The public just doesn't see that anymore. Um, we only hear lump sum approvals for the month's bills. We don't know what those are. Um, citizens can't meaningfully raise concerns about spending when the information is largely
088hidden from us. It just makes more lack of transparency, leads to mistrust, raises more questions. In March, Spencer reported almost $2 million deficit at the meeting. The community takes that very seriously. People hear about spending freezes at the CTE meeting. Um, and simultaneously we see repeated spending decisions that the public sees as questionable. Um, our community is deeply concerned about where funds are going and ensuring money is handled safely and appropriately is important to us. And um, at the same time, we see the superintendent repeatedly applying for positions in all these other districts. I mean, how does this appear to the public? That's the problem. How does this appear to the staff? It's a bargaining year. What What message are you sending? There's never been a more important time for financial transparency. This community has
089a lot of questions. The level of concern and discussion around these issues is at an all-time high right now, and taxpayers deserve to know where our tax dollars and where these federal funds are being spent. Tonight, I'm asking publicly and respectfully, is there any member of this board, particularly maybe one serving on the finance committee, willing to voluntarily provide those records? Maybe you, Rich, you seem to really have your number on the button, which is I mean your finger on the numbers, which is good. Um, if not, I will move forward with other citizens and we'll do some crowd fundraising to raise the funds to see the financials because transparency matters, ethics matter, and professionalism matters. And I'll begin I'll end where I began to a large measure in our lives. We are what we
090do. So please somebody help out and get some transparency into this community. >> Thank you. >> So that is for >> I didn't anticipate talking. Could I still do it? >> A question came up during the presentation about the middle school. >> No, we have to turn these in prior to the board meeting. So, if we have a question that came up during the presentation, how do we do that? >> You can email me directly. I'll make sure that >> not required to speak and it's a courtesy. >> You're a member. You can that it's a courtesy. It is not required. >> I'm happy to fill it out. I didn't anticipate. >> Can she give it to you after? >> You can you can email Spencer or me or and we will get right back
091with you. >> Okay. I guess I'll email the full board though because it's a comment that I >> That's fine. You can email the whole board that that's >> you can't fill out a form right now. >> It is our policy. We can uh talk about that policy after that. Actually, that policy is on we have to follow policy. That is one of the things that the board has to do is they have to follow the policy. The policy book is like we we have to follow it. >> Okay, that's fine. Next time I'll fill one out kind of like preemptively in case I have a question next board meeting. That way I'll have it in my back pocket if I need it. >> But for sure email us. >> Okay. >> Because we'll get
092I I would get right back with you and >> we'll find an we'll get an answer for you. >> Okay. I appreciate that. >> And we are we are looking at that policy at the board meeting. We've looked at it for the last couple months on our um our and then we have to send it to an attorney and then the attorney send it back to us. >> I'll just always fill one out and then I mean because if you guys present things that we have questions about it's our only recourse is to ask the questions but we don't always know what's going to come up in the meeting. So I'll just preemptively fill one out when I come. >> Okay. >> Thank you. >> Okay. So the next thing on our agenda is uh
093>> to public comment. We if we didn't have a form we can't comment. >> If you don't fill the form out that is our policy that the form is filled out prior to the meeting and they're right there by the door when you walk in. >> Before the meeting start it has to be done. Can't be handed at any other point. >> Yes. Okay. So the so the next thing on our agenda is a grievance appeal and I'd like you guys to step right up here and also Marty and um >> and because we will we will need we can ask you questions from there if you don't want to come up >> however you want to do it >> just wouldn't mention. >> Yeah, you can come sit right up here. That's fine. Yes,
094she does. She's special. Hello. Beautiful. Good evening. My name is Sandy Sapper Gra. I'm a teacher at the high school. And um here today I also have Jenny Hayden. She'll be taking notes for our union. And then uh Andrea Schlack. Uh we are here to discuss the testing coordinator grievance um that has been brought forward. So before we start, I wanted to provide the board with a little bit of information. So um one of those things you have the bigger packet is some of the contractual language from the teachers contracts that I'll be referencing um just so that you have it available for you. Um if you keep flipping pages, you will also see Andrea's contracts that she signed during her role of testing coordinator dating back to 2017. If you continue to flip, you
095will also see um there is a contract in the back uh to show the similarities between her contract language and also other supplemental services for schedule B. You'll see on there a position uh for mentorship where the language if you look closely in her contract is mirrored to that of other schedule positions. Um, in addition to that, I can also attest I didn't include it as part of this packet, but as a varsity cross country coach, mentor teacher, and then also seventh grade basketball coach in the past, my contracts also near the exact same language that Andre's contract does. Uh, just maybe the amount is different. You will also see if you continue through the initial posting for the position in question that we'll be discussing as well as her uh high school guidance counselor
096position posting that was put forward. Uh you'll also see two other postings in our district that discuss the idea of mandated state testing and responsibilities as well. And I think that's it. Okay, that's it for the packet information just to help with some info for our group and for part of our discussion. Uh the other sheet that was provided to you is just some data points because I might be an English teacher but I do enjoy math with that there are some mistakes so I'll mention that but um just some quick facts information before I start to speak um on behalf of as the union rep for the grievance. So, the first one there, uh, number of years Andrea has been paid to be the testing coordinator in our district has been eight. Grades for
097the middle and high school that needed testing this year, uh, this is one of the corrections. You'll see it says six there. In the spring, it's five grade levels, but with the addition of of ASPAB testing for seniors that are included, and that's usually in the fall for those interested in the military, it does make six grades because seniors are part of that as well. You'll see there number three talks about the number of different statemandated spring tests scheduled. across grade levels is 11. Uh the number of teachers to organize, coordinate, and adjust schedules per test. I won't read all of those numbers there, but that shows you the breakdown of all the different tests that are administered in the spring in addition to the cumulative amount, which is 52 teachers schedules need to be
098adjusted over multiple testing days, uh which Andrea has been the one responsible for coordinating that. In addition to that, because of the flooding situation we had, we had to revise and change some of our testing. So, just when we thought we had everything sorted out, Andrea had to go back and reorganize to complete the testing round. And we had one day in particular where every single teacher in our building was affected with testing. And um that changed 33 staff members schedules. And why I point that out is because she also takes a look at, you know, who has certain grade levels, where would they best be placed? Um, if a teacher like myself is testing 10th graders, but has juniors who's watching those students. So, it is a mass coordination effort on her part. In
099addition to that, you'll see there for number five, the number of makeup tests for seventh and eighth grade was 709 students. This is not the number of students that are in that grade level, but due to the test being untimed and the number of absences, she had to reschedule again 709 tests essentially between math and ELA for seventh and eighth grade students. Uh number six there lists for you the number of accommodations that we have for testing per grade level for the total number of students whether it is 504 or IEP. Um you'll see there number seven number of testing platforms that a person who is our testing coordinator needs to be adept at using in order to schedule our students which is four. And then number eight tells you just the week before testing
100happens. Um the additional number of hours that Andrea worked and then number nine the additional number of hours she worked during testing week beyond her contractual time. But I do want to point out that that does not represent the full number of additional work hours that this position um entailed. She also goes all the way back in September and November, reads through weekly updates for testing for the state. In November and December, takes webinars, trainings or Zoom calls for testing and mapping. In January, she starts rostering students aka preID process. um she takes a look at the October data pool to see who are students no longer in our district and who are new students to our district. Um this year of course with Elizabeth McNeel leaving our district that changed some things also for
101her role for testing coordinator. And then in early February when college board opens, even though we think of testing season as April and May, it takes her um it well it took this year in particular three 10 to 12 hour days over spring break to complete registration for testing alone. So uh they did try and suggest she could do this on work time or on school time, not at work. But the problem is the coordination and talking with uh other other counselors, administration, getting um schedules taken care of. So it's not solely something that can be done um just at home sort of position. Um Jessica also helped out for two days while um they were coordinating things before spring break. So this is not just a spring break job. Can't be something done from
102home. It requires things like printing 700 test tickets at school, sorting them by teacher, sorting them by room, um sorting them by test. So the 12 and 1/2 hours mentioned the week before and the 22 and 1/2 hours mentioned the week of does not really show the full measure of the amount of time she is spending in the additional months for this position. And then lastly, there you'll see the total number of students. It's actually less than 600 students, but uh the test approximation is pretty accurate. 2100 tests that students need to be preided for, scheduled across four different platforms um again for multiple tests depending especially on the grade level for students. So I just wanted to share that with you to set the stage before I start talking about why we are here
103or why I'm here tonight. So, our goal is simply to help educate the board about this year's changes in working conditions, hours, and wages for guidance counselor Andrea Schlack. In addition, we are not asking the board to guarantee anyone, including Andrea, a specific job in the future. That is not part of why I'm here. What we are seeking is that one, the board recognize some decisions have to be bargained with the association before they're made, and that two, Andrea should be compensated for extra duties performed beyond her contract. So to begin simple version is for eight years Andrea has served as our testing coordinator at the high school. This was extra work on top of her contractual job as a teacher and now guidance counseling position for which she has received for eight years $8,000
104or sorry not 8,000 sorry $5,000 as an annual stipent. This year the district ended the stipen but the work of the testing coordinator position still fell on Andrea who is one of two counselors at the high school. The association was not notified of this year's change in working conditions that Andrea would still be expected to perform this role. This is the problem that goes far beyond who does the job. The problem is that the district made a decision that affects the wages, hours, and working conditions of one of its employees without sitting down with the CAE first. The association was not notified. It was not consulted. It was not bargained with to talk a little bit about contractual language that you have copies of, but some of the contractual language that was violated. Section 1.3
105of our contract says the district has a legal obligation to bargain with the association over wages, hours, and working conditions. The association was not bargained with at the onset of this position or its termination or the changes for Andrea. Section 1.4b 4B says the contract overrides any individual side agreements. The district cannot get around bargaining with the union by handing an employee a personal one-year contract instead. So section 1.5 1.4 reads, "This agreement shall supersede any rules, regulations, or practices of the board which shall be contrary to or inconsistent with its. It shall likewise supersede any contrary or inconsistent terms contained in any individual employee contracts hitherto for an effect. Make no mistake about it, creating an individual side agreement and terminating that agreement with an employee is contrary to and inconsistent with the CAE
106contractual agreement with the district. In addition, the district acting on behalf of the board created contrary terms with their inconsistencies with this position when they decided not to pay for extra duties as they have in the past. In addition, this this position has been set as a past practice for almost a decade as a paid position. The testing coordinator position has existed and been compensated since 2017 through four superintendents including Mr. heard and as many high school principles who have recognized this as a needed extra duty paid position. Section 3.8 schedule B1 paragraph 4 says when schedule B positions are restored or newly created the pay rate will be negotiated. Schedule B lists extra duty positions, things like coaching, clubs, mentor teachers, department heads. The association was not negotiated with for this position originally, as
107other extra duty positions are negotiated. Whether the district wishes to characterize this as a scheduled B position formally on the books or an extra duty assignment handled through individual contracts, the reality is that an extra duty position has existed continuously and is now being eliminated, but the work has been expected to continue. Section 3.8 requires negotiation when schedule B positions are restored or created. The same logic applies when they are ended. The union must be consulted when it impacts the wages of its members. To argue otherwise would mean the district could create extra duty positions outside the contract, which was done, benefit from them for years, and then eliminate them at will, but continue to assign the duties, making this section futile or inconsequential. Lastly, section 2.9 says that the normal employee hours of attendance
108shall be 7.5 hours per day and that any deviation from the normal teaching hours will only be by mutual consent of the parties. The association was not notified of these changes to Andrea's daily working conditions without pay and it was not agreed upon by mutual consent to change these conditions which includes wages. But this also matters beyond Andrea. This isn't just about one stipen or one employee. If the district can take a paid extra duty assignment, eliminate the pay, fold the work into someone's regular job without bargaining, they can do this to anyone. Okay. Where is the limitation to this type of managerial overreach? Today it could be the testing coordinator position. Tomorrow could be another role that's been compensated for in the past beyond the regular schedule salary. This is something our board should
109care about to avoid setting harmful precedents within our district, especially at a time when we are competing to attract employees. Here are some of the uh refutes to the district's arguments that have been presented to us in Mr. Bird's denial of the grievance because that is the current state we are at. Um, one of the statements in the email response was, "Management has the right to assign duties." This is true, but section 2.3 of our own contract says management's rights are limited by the Public Employment Relations Act. This law, this act requires bargaining over wages, hours, and working conditions. Adding substantial duties to only one counselor's regular workload with no extra pay is a change to all three of these. Management rights do not mean do whatever you want. It means do what the contract
110and the law allow. This is not other duties as assigned as administration would like it to be believed. Both our counseling positions state assists with statemandated testing. The fact is we do have other positions in our district that were assigned as administrative statemandated testing and district testing coordinator. For whatever reason it could be new staff, new positions. This did not happen. And this role was placed on Andrea this time without pay. Okay. Administration should not include a duty in someone's job description and put it on someone else without compensation. Other points, the contract doesn't mention testing coordinator. This was also mentioned in the grievance denial. That is exactly the problem. It should have been in schedule B all along, negotiated with the association just like every other paid extra duty in the district. Not to
111mention, if you look at the contract language, it mirrors to the letter besides the pay all other schedule B contracts. While the contract may not mention testing coordinator specifically, it appears that the intention of the district was to mirror the schedule B contract language. The language of the individual contract created for this position to the letter is indeed making it a de facto schedule B contract. Likewise, while the district notes that this position is not explicitly listed on schedule B, its historical existence and established compensation structure make it a past precedent in our district. Under labor law, an employer cannot unilaterally eliminate compensation for an existing position that has established a clear past practice of payment. According to the National Labor Relations Board, a past practice must occur with such regularity and frequency that employees
112could reasonably expect the practice to continue or reoccur on a regular and consistent basis, which is what Andrea believed. Last point, um, from the grievance, uh, that was refuted, Andrea signed a one-year contract. The district's assertion that this is merely a one-year contract is an attempt to bypass the association. Individual employment agreements cannot be used to circumvent the district's statutory duty to bargain. In addition to that, nobody is expecting this job to be forever. The status of this position and any changes to its compensation, however, must be negotiated with the association. The district should maintain the status quo regarding compensation for this position and immediately enter into formal negotiations if it wishes to alter these terms. In general, the district cannot work around its bargaining obligation to the association by negotiating privately with one employee.
113If they could, the whole concept of collective bargaining would be meaningless. So tonight, we're not asking the board to guarantee that a job is forever or that it's Andrea is forever as was stated in Mr. Bird's grievance denial. He actually answered a question that we never did ask. We are simply asking that Andrea be paid rightfully for her service to the district. The association brings very few grievances to this level with good reason. We bring this one because the principal matters and we think it's important. When the district wants to change wages, hours, or working conditions, they need to honor the legality of the CAEA contract and have a fair and equitable conversation, even if it only involves one employee. That's how our district has worked for decades. That's how it has to be working.
114What we are asking, what Andrea is asking is for this group to do the right thing and pay her. She's not demanding an increase in pay even though the duties increased this year with an extra grade level coming to the high school and the flooding that happened and having to reschedu everyone around those things. She probably in fact should be paid more, but that's not what she's asking. She's not being asked to be kept in this position forever, but it also should not be reassigned to her or anyone without compensation. It is that big of a job unless it is part of their official hiring duties. Andrea is a hard worker. I've known her for 22 years I've been in the district and she's been here much I don't want to say much much longer
115than that, but yes, much longer than that. She's not asking for anything that she doesn't deserve. And she's not the type of person to raise a grief without grievance without big measure. She's deserves to be compensated as she has ex sorry she deserves to be compensated as she has historically been for eight years. And then I'm going to invite Andrea up here to say a few things to add a little bit more information to her. Okay. Good evening. Um I want to thank the union. Thank Sandy for the work that's gone into this. Um, this is the last place that I want to be tonight. Um, I'm not I have been with this district for 28 years. Um, I've been a teacher out of my own pocket paid to get my counseling certification so I
116could be a licensed counselor. I have acted as testing coordinator, yearbook advisor, government teacher, introduction to education teacher. You know, I've done a lot of things and I have a tendency to do what I do and try to do it well. Um, I have been paid for this work for several years. Um, it was my understanding this year that that would no longer be the case because the position had been reassigned. Um, but through nobody's fault, this wasn't something we foresaw. Um, the new position had to also teach an hour that was not anticipated. um series of unfortunate events. I end up as a school counselor, licensed school counselor, training a new first time in the office school counselor, training a new professional to do dual enrollment in early middle college and navigate those avenues.
117Absorbed a new grade level, adding the seventh grade to our building. I the way that our case load was readjusted. I took on all of the 10th, 11th, and 12th graders. Um, which means that I've been working with seniors on college applications, financial aid applications, scholarship applications. We spend hours today and I spent hours over the weekend and we'll spend more preparing for our scholarship night tomorrow night. I hope that you guys might be able to attend. Um, I'm not blaming anyone for how we got here. Um, but I did find myself in a position where I have been asked nicely to do more than I have ever done before while at the same time being told that I have to do it for less pay. And I stepped in and did what needed to
118be done because it was the right thing to do. And I hope that we can fix this for in the future. But tonight, I'm just asking you to please just do the right thing and compensate me for what I have done and work to fix it in the future. That's all. Does the board have questions? >> I guess I I guess I my my question is like Why? Why wasn't a contract signed for the last It's not just one year, right? It's the last It's the last couple years. Why Why wasn't a contract signed like they were in past years? Because um I don't think we just, you know, should be in the habit of just saying we're going to pay people without a contract. So that why wasn't where what happened there? I believe
119the last Can I do I answer that? >> Sure. >> Okay. Um the last contract that I had signed was for the 20 school year. um for the 2425 school year last school year um our principal signed that contract um I performed the job duties and when it came time to pay it, he redistributed had the funds paid to me because I did the position. I'm not sure why I didn't sign the contract last year. Um but last year was the first time I did not sign a contract. And at the beginning of this school year, I didn't sign a contract, but I also didn't anticipate or expect that this would turn into what it did. You know, a lot of other jobs had a lot more responsibilities which led to this. >> But you
120did sign a contract >> to do the mentoring on Nate. >> Yes. >> Okay. That was September of 2025. >> Yep. That's this school year. need is our new counselor. >> Okay. And thank you Sandy for all this information. But you are right. It's not in schedule B. I know it's not. Testing coordinator never has been. You know, and I read these yearly contracts. I take it. I'm sorry, but you know, I ran plants where we had contract employees show up and they we do six month contracts and at the end of six months you're going to say you did the job or you didn't. If you didn't, no more bring in somebody else. So, you know, the fact that they have this contract, it does mirror schedule B coaching. I guess I look at
121where'd she go? >> But I mean, we sat here what month or two ago and had to go through every coach contract. And it's a one-year thing. That's it's And if we didn't because we had to make the decision, do we keep this coach or not keep this coach? And if we said, "No, we're not going to keep this coach." We don't sign that contract and they don't sign it. So, I guess I'm missing the point there a little bit. Now, as far as doing the extra work, you're right. There probably is. But at the same time, we all got affected by the flooding. We all had jobs shoved on us without extra pay or in case you're wondering, pay freezes, which I've gone through for three years in a row before. Also, had interview
122for a job to keep a job in the same company I'd already worked for for three years. So, I understand all the reasons and that, but I looked at these contracts just like any one-year contract. If you don't resign it up, you shouldn't be doing it, I guess, is the way I look at it. So, I don't know if there's any other questions. I think Marty probably should make a few comments, but I mean, I'm looking at it that way is these are the contracts, schedule B, which is a nightmare. total nightmare, but I think communication has been that this position was not going to be redone for this past school year. So, understand that you've done a lot of work and you're probably the most experienced at it, which is great. And then, you
123know, I do know doing some things on weekends and that, but at the same time, I've had a math teacher meet me in a hotel on a weekend and give my son math stuff because that's what she does. So, those are my comments. >> Were you told to just do what you could do during your contracting time? >> Initially, that was how we tried to operate. Um and Jessica did sit down with me a couple of days. We locked ourselves in a room and um coordinated worked on the schedule. Um ultimately that was not feasible because what ended up occurring is I have a list of kids who have signed up to see me that I'm not available to see. So now I've got to track down all of these students which I can't do
124outside of school hours. Um, and so it just became it just wasn't really possible to do both things well and one I could take home and one I couldn't. >> It's I have a question from the union perspective. >> It's my understanding that this was kind of a side contract. >> Yes. >> Okay. We are only bargaining with the bargaining unit. I I guess my question is why is the union representing this grievance? >> Because of the the violation to the wages, conditions and hours of Andrea as the employee because it changed her working conditions took away from her actual assigned duties that she had as counselor to do this, increased her hours. >> But it sounds to me like she made that choice. >> And did you ever go to administration and say, "I
125cannot do this work. It's too much." >> Any response? >> She never used those words. She would never use those words. So, I mean, she's going to get a job done. So, she wouldn't say, "I can't get this done because it took time outside of her school day to do it." >> I'm curious if I would have said that, though. who would have still needed to get it done. >> Ultimately, it needed to be done >> and I I don't want it in the future. >> So, yeah, I'd like to make a quick comment here. Andrew has done a wonderful job with the test coordinator uh helping out since 2017, way before I was here. And she's a very diligent worker. Uh I could not so I was not aware of that this year until
126after the fact, after the job was done, after testing was done. That's when you guys grieved. Um it was my understanding that you were not going to be the test coordinator this year. So I cannot my my concern why this is why we're at the school board. You know what I what I what maybe could have happened but it's it's spilled milk now is prior to assigning these additional duties again. There should have been a meeting about okay she's going to need this she's going to need the stipen again. But I I can't write a I don't have the power to write you a check for the amount of money that you're owed for doing a job that I was not aware of. But I know in 2324 3 years ago, you resigned at the
127end of that year, right? >> I tried. >> Right. And I think you've been trying for a couple years to to not be the test coordinator and and going into this year, I was the under the impression that was going to happen. It it really wasn't until the grievance did was I aware and I understand your your you know bringing it forward saying well hey if I if I did the work I should get the pay but I couldn't satisfy your grievance because I don't have the power to do that because there was no contract in place. >> Does that make sense? Mhm. >> So, I do think this raises to the board level and the board is asking some very good questions and it'll be yet to determine what the solution is, but there's
128a lot it seems like there's a a lot of confusing communication possibly going on. I think that's created the environment that we are here today. >> Was was the um EMC coordinator was it the intention that this would be her part of her duties? Is that what I heard? >> Possibly. She's got other testing requirements that are collegially involved, but her schedule changed when we had a change in her schedule last minute and then not having teachers to fulfill other spots. She still had to teach classroom instead of being EMC all day. that impact that >> change the nature of that as well. >> Yep. Was a domino effect. >> And I think Andrew, just to clarify, when I talked to you at the grievance hearing at the high school that we had together, >>
129you have no interest in doing this anymore. Correct. >> I I I wish that I could get rid of it. Um >> Yeah. But I will always do what is asked of me and I will >> and testing has grown and changed so much in the last 10 years. It's a completely different animal than it was 10 years ago. >> Optional tests. We are testing over, you know, 600 kids on four different testing platforms, >> right? >> I mean 11 different tests we issue in the month of April to the grade levels. And for every test, every student has to be placed in a session. A teacher has to be there. Someone has to be covering those classes. Tickets have to be printed, cut, distributed. I mean, it's all so petty. I think it's ridiculous
130that we're discussing this and that I'm emotional talking about this. >> Don't don't worry about the emotional because, you know, that just tells me how dedicated you are, how how how you will do what it takes to get the job done. I I I know that there is not a dedicated teacher out there that can do their job in the seven and a half hours that they all do stuff over that and I do understand that they the issue the issue becomes the contract. Um and also for me I'd like to ask Ben and Deanna a question also with this is um the testing does occur in your buildings also a testing coordinator has never been paid. Do they take that work home? Are they are they as as um overworked I guess the word
131would be during that time period. Also, I'll speak up because I do um not the amount that Andrew does, but the same test that Andrew does because we have high school also. And even for my 100 kids, um it was a lot of work for me because I had to do it all. >> It's a little different for the lower level, but high school test, >> the testing is a little different. I think that's where high school is different than >> but the people who worked on those were able to do the job within their because it wasn't it's not 600 students you know first of all go there and it's not as many >> testing starts in third grade so I don't think that really affects >> they don't have it >> so and
132for us >> but we do have we do have someone who oversees all the testing that happens in that building So you do you do testing of students one on one student at a time. Yes. >> So um that that is that is a >> well that's that's two grade levels in comparison five >> for one example. >> Right. Right. I'm I'm saying that but that those buildings have never paid a testing coordinator. Correct. And then correct me if I'm wrong. board of the entitle one who does that. >> Yeah. So that's it's obviously it's a little different just because the high school has the multiple platform. It's a different scenario, but we do Laura Wyman and Sydney Home this year helped us out quite a bit. Um and there it's a lot of work
133and so they within our office we did like the accommodations and all that and the tickets and one of our office staff did like the printing and the cutting of the tickets. we kind of piece it together. But, you know, Laura and Cindy have been support that as well, but again, it's it's kind of hard to compare. >> And they've been helping you for years, right? That's the title one teacher. Who else is helping you? >> Cindy, the other two title teachers are helping. They don't get a statement for that, correct? >> No. >> We also don't have title one at the high school. So, that's or the supports in that regard. So, um, while I was like, because I I used to be a title one teacher and that actually was part of the
134job description, >> this was not part of the job description. >> And that takes us kind of down another rabbit hole we could go down. I don't know if because that is something that we've actually talked about trying to take away for next year because well, is leaving and the six weeks that she's helping with testing, kids don't get small grouping. Not that at all, but like it limits the the amount of time we can support those kids. So, we're actually looking at taking those the amount that she has helped over because the new person coming in, it's just going to be a lot if that makes sense. So, um, any other questions from the board that will enable you to make a decision that you need answered? >> Is the expectation that this is
135going to be resolved tonight? >> No. Well, they I'm sure we would like it to be, but we have five days. So, um, five days and I think they're five day. Are they five school days or five school days? five school days. So we actually have till Tuesday. Correct. Today's Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday. Tuesday because there's no school. >> That's right. >> So yeah. So we actually have till Tuesday, which is the same day that we're going to have a special meeting for >> Tuesday or Wednesday. We have to have it on Tuesday if we had one more Tuesday. So, no, your answer is no. No, we do not have to. We need some time to digest all this stuff. I um I think something we're moving to is this this is a very large
136position. It is something that to try and incorporate as someone's just general duties is really quite difficult above and beyond unless that's exactly what they do. And I know like Rich had mentioned she signed contracts for so many years and then did not even the last year she did not actually sign a contract. She was still Thanks. Thank you Marty. But she was so awarded the pay because he recognized the amount of work that she did and that she was deserving. So even without signing the contract, the district still paid her. >> I don't know that we can do that in this district. >> Well, I don't I I don't that that's something that probably shouldn't not be happening, right? That's not okay. Yeah. So maybe Yeah. Maybe it could be that needs to be
137that needs to be >> This is This has been going an ongoing conversation for three years >> and I know Andrew's been trying to get out of it. And Jessica, I know you haven't had a chance to talk, but you're the district testing coordinator, right? Um she's new. This is her first year. So, I'm very interested in seeing how she feels because the other thing that we've talked about, the building principles in the corner know this. You know, the question has been does everybody get a testing coordinator or where does where do these responsibilities fall? Is it a building principal? Is it a assistant principal? Do we do we bring teachers out of the classroom and bring in a sub to take care of this responsibility? Um, this has been the short-time solution for the
138high school and I don't think Andrew ever since 2017 and I think Andrew never thought that this would be going on every year for seven or eight years, right? So, um, I understand her concerns with that. So, we need to come up with whose job is this, right? And and it needs to be proactive instead of reactive instead of, you know, before we test. I mean, right now testing is over and we're trying to figure out what we did. So, I don't know. Jessica, do you have any any thoughts on how to fix this? >> I think you're exactly right. It's a bigger conversation on how we're going to do that in the first moving forward. Um, you know, as as a district coordinator, you don't go into each building and print their tickets for
139them. Like, you know, you oversight, you help you help each building if they need help. >> Why we met, right, >> um, back in January to say, "How are we going to make this happen?" So, Andrea and Marty and I all sat down and had that conversation. um which is why I was over there helping things and we all know we can't control the weather as much as we would like to. It impacted a lot of things that we did last year that >> um you know there were some things that I did to help out that I probably wouldn't normally do but that was part of the >> the agreement help out with that. So, um, as far as this situation, I it's up to you you folks to make that decision. However, I
140think we do need to have a bigger conversation about what this looks like in our district because even with preK through first grade, they have testing that they do progress monitoring every couple weeks. So, that testing is ongoing. And while it's not the same um you know I guess intensity as it is in the spring, it is still probably the same amount all throughout the year. >> So one student at a time. >> Correct. So I'm just saying it's different. It's but >> it's similar. You're right. We're talking about assessment and assessment is a big part of what we do with teaching and learning. Um and especially if that's something that we want done well. I think it's a conversation we need to have. Um, I think for this year we did what we could
141to try to support, but we're here at this point with us. Do you have specific questions for me? >> No, I have a question for Marty, Ben, and Deanna. Is there any other type of off the book contracts hanging out there on us? >> This should be the one >> because it's off the books, >> right? >> It's not schedule B. It's not a contract. No, it's it's like someone on a napkin and whatever this was supposed to be a short short-term solution in 2017. Correct. >> Yes. Originally, it was I was in fact when there's when the first pay was established, it was based on one sixth of the salary just from March through the end of the school year. And I was helping with testing and then entering student schedules. Um and then
142the following year is when they transitioned to a position um at administrative request. I mean there Laura Nestle and Sandy Janat used to do this >> and they said this is the dollar amount it's worth to hand this off so that they were not responsible for it. So it >> well it was off one six of the future sale. That's what it because it was during the planning time. >> So you were you essentially was supposed to spend one hour of the day >> for >> doing whatever you needed to do to assist in in high school testing >> and then it just turned into the next school year. It was a $5,000 contract. Not a dollar amount that I came up with or I suggested or I offered was provided to me. >> So
143I continued in that capacity and sign that contract. >> Right. So just just I mean we must I mean what what Andrew is asking for is actually I mean I don't know if it was intentional or not intentional but she essentially did the work that she's done in years past without the pay. I was informed of it afterwards. Only the board can approve it if indeed that's something you want to consider. But the reality is regardless of what happens, there's obviously a lot more to be talked about in regards to moving forward on I mean at the curriculum committee probably was where it would probably be the best topic and talk about how do you want to handle testing in the future because it's it's been it's continued to be pawned off since 2017 and
144we need to get our arms around it. Anything else? >> So, so see what I'm just going to think this through because you know my brain doesn't always come up with right words all the time. Um I I what what the grievance what is the the goal of the grievance is to get Andrea paid but what is the ultimate goal of the grievance because there's other things that you brought into it. So can you just say those over again? >> It's kind of a twofold piece. It is the um as was mentioned down the other end of the table. This has been a contract outside of bounds. So while the principal intimated that this is the only one that exists in the district when it shouldn't have. So that's one piece of it is to
145make sure that side contracts are not being negotiated individually with employees. But the other piece is the loss in wage, change in hours, and um like compensating Andrea for that as she's been. >> Andrea, did you keep track of your hours outside of contractual day by chance? >> Someone if I had 2020, hindsight's 2020. I >> I yeah. because it is the sort of thing that we do feel should be a >> well I talked about a talked about conversation >> but now it's not >> so so part of the contract or the agreements to to um finish it would be to sign contracts that would satisfy that >> yeah one portion >> just to have that Okay. And the second is for Andrea to get paid for the work that she has already done.
146>> Although there was no contract. Well, it could be like an situation potentially one year until we um >> a memorandum. It's it's kind of a one year until we finish debt negotiations. But don't we usually give those out prior to the work being done? >> Well, I will say this, okay, this does not speak highly of me, but there have been years that I have signed contracts for jobs I have done after the job is completed. So, I've signed my basketball contract after the season's been done before. >> Just saying. >> Bad practice. >> I It is not It is not good practice. I agree. But it it has not been an uncommon thing cuz honestly sometimes those things kind of I don't want to say slipped through the cracks but on occasions answered
147and uh we we need a motion to uh we At that point, we need a motion to either make a decision. Someone can make a motion. We can make a decision or make a motion to um come back in 5 days, which would be Tuesday. Uh what is the date on that? I don't know. 20 something >> 26. >> Monday would be the fifth business day from now. Yeah. >> Uh 26 would be May 26. Come back on May 26 to um >> standard time 6:30 or what? >> I guess next week that would be fine. This week it wouldn't be because of the all the things going on in the evening. But uh 6:30 on the 26. Does that work for board members? Cuz we have to have everybody here. Doesn't work for you.
148>> Okay. I have to have four people. >> Oh, you're here. >> I can be here. >> Tuesday. >> 6:30. Did they say >> we didn't say yet motion? >> So, but that would be it. May 26. I will make a motion to table um the decision in regards to the grievance until a special board meeting on Tuesday, May 26th at 6:30 p.m. Is that special? >> That's special. All meetings are open to the public. >> Always. Any discussion? There's a motion on the floor. There's support. I know. Oh, I ask for discussion. Okay. The motion was uh made by Deb and supported by Tim >> Luke Kuski. >> Yep. >> Richard Pon. >> Yes. >> Tim Chara. >> Yes. >> Deborah Muner. >> Yes. >> Julie Loila. >> Yes. >> Okay. So just this
149time >> as a point order could are we going to go ahead and schedule the bond information for that? >> Yeah, we'll have several items on that. We got a couple things that we're going to need to logic be ready. >> Logic should be Yeah, they have to be ready. >> Just tell them they have to be ready on time. >> Pardon me. >> Tell them they have to be ready on >> Yeah, there's a time limit for that. >> Too late for us. Yes. >> 28. >> Okay. I would like a motion to adjourn the meeting. >> I'll make that motion meeting by Luke. >> Support by Tim. All those in favor? >> I thank you.