001Okay, I'd like to call this meeting to order at 6 p.m. Would everybody please stand for the pledge of allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. Cory, would you please note board members and admins present? And then board, you have an agenda in front of you. Are there any changes? Okay. I would entertain a motion for the approval of the agenda as presented. >> I'll make a motion to approve the agenda as presented. >> I'll support. >> All right. All in favor say I. I >> motion carries 70. >> Next up we have the consent agenda. Um for the approval of board meeting or approval of meeting minutes for the regular board meeting
002um dated August 18th, 2025, the close session dated um August 18th, 2025. in the special meeting August 2525. Um the approval of the accounts payable in the amount of 573,3585 for the month of August 2025. The approval of the treasures report dated August 31st, 2025 with a balance of 5,945,41548. The approval of new hires recogni um retirements and resignations. Dr. Newman. Good evening. We have a handful of new hires. We've got two custodial teammates. uh Blake Cartwright Oerling and then Nick Martin. We also have two special education pair professionals at the primary, Nathan Earles and Taylor Hartman. And then we have Shawn Clinger as our middle school wrestling coach and Christina Hill, a title one reading support pair professional. We have no resignations and no retirements at this time. >> Thank you. >> Does it
003work? >> Yeah. Um, so at this time I would entertain a motion for the approval of the consent agenda as presented. >> I'll make a motion to approve the consent agenda. Agenda as presented. >> I'll support. >> All right. Roll call vote, please. Corsy, yes. Davidson, >> yes. >> Sorry. Villette, >> yes. >> Smelter, >> yes. >> Shute, >> yes. >> Wiltz, >> Yes. Motion carries 70 reports GAA update artist cook >> and Karen Wilson >> and Carrie Wilson. Thank you ladies for coming. >> Okay. Gailberg Augusta Inspirational Association Award. >> Yeah, alumni award. So I get enough A's in there. Uh we just you have a handout and we just wanted to first of all publicly thank the school personnel and everybody in charge that's helped keep this going. So specifically Dr. Newton, Theresa
004King, Brian Dolph, so many people make this happen and without their help, it would never happen. And then I wanted you, because some of you are new to the board and weren't here when we first established this, I wanted you to see the mission statement and the list of people who have already received it. What do you want this folks? >> Just we want to thank everybody for your encouragement that have already known about our little association, our alumni award, but especially to Teresa, Lindsay, Brian, and our student. You always have a student that's assigned to us. And just as a piece of background, when we first started this and did research of other schools that were started, some kind of an alumni award, most of them died after 5 years. And so I guess
005the other thing is we're requesting help and and encouragement and support to keep this going. I think it's a been proven to be a really positive thing. I know some of you have been at the ceremonies and it's it's very wonderful and the people who have come from afar way far have really expressed their gratitude and so on. Do you have questions about any of the people or why >> is there any specific kind of help that you guys need? >> To be honest, we've only had two new nominations since last year. >> Okay. And we do have I don't I'm not concerned because we have enough carryover from before of people that were close but didn't get it. But that's not enough to really keep it going. And even if you know someone's been
006nominated, nom do your form too because like if I nominate someone and Karen nominate someone, which we can't because we're on the committee, but if we were, we would have a different thing to say about that person. So if I want to nominate Jesse, then she's going to say something different than I'm going to say. And the more well-rounded picture we can get of these people, the better it is. It's more helpful. And >> it helps also when you've posted it on Facebook on your Facebook page because the words gets out there. >> The announcer, word of mouth, whatever. >> Do you guys have a Facebook page? >> Okay. Cuz I'm new to the >> Yeah. Okay. Great. >> That's great. And it's under the same name. >> Got it. And you get you can
007get there with just the initials or with writing it out. We should also thank Bruce. So he does such a great job. It's nice that you're here to be publicly acknowledged for that. >> Good question. Anything else? >> When will you be looking for the 2026 recipients? >> That deadline is November 1st. Okay. Last year we extended it to the 15th, but we haven't talked about that yet. So, >> and one follow-up question. Sorry. Is your criteria on the Facebook page, too? >> It is. And it's with the forms. We have a forms area that you can go on. >> Okay. >> I'll share that with these guys this week in my update so that they've got it to share on their Facebooks as well. >> That'd be wonderful. and it's been going really well
008and we I guess the only other thing is at some point some of us old farts want to get off of the committee. So if you can if you know some people that would be interested in helping to keep it going, maybe somebody younger. >> I'd be appreciate. >> Love you guys. Thank you for all the time and work that you do and your smile neighbor. She's my neighbor. A huge thanks to you ladies and the rest of your committee. Thank you. >> Next up we have Gailsburg. Um, I almost said Gailsburg asa Gailsburg City Council Tony Tipkin. >> I don't have really anything new from the city, but I did promote the bond proposal with um our meeting last month, but with what they were talking about, I can bring your info back to
009the council. Might be a whole lot about that >> and be able to keep it going also. >> But other than that, I don't have anything really going on with the city right now. But I did want to let you guys know that I did pump in the bond proposal. Hopefully, we get some more votes in there. >> Next up, we have the superintendent update, Dr. Newton. >> Hello. >> All right. So, as we always do in our updates, uh, superintendent board report, um, we have our identifi we have our four four goal areas for our strategic plan. So, our first is identifying and addressing student needs through a whole child lens with improvement of well-being. So, I want to give a shout out to the high school. They put together a peer mentor program
010um that includes the high schoolers or sorry, our seniors are paired with our freshman um and it's I think big Rams, Little Rams or something like that. >> They name they picked the name. Student council picked the name, but they uh it's like a mentorship program. So, they had pizza last Friday together. The kids were just really receptive of it and it's just one of those awesome things that goes to show the camaraderie and Briam familyness that we have here. U we've also implemented a character strong curriculum along with our trails curriculum which is just really around our whole child teaching. So how are we instilling character into our students and building that character? It's not just something that you know you learn it when you're little and you manage it. It's something to learn
011all the time even as adults. So, that's just something that we've been focusing focusing on. Also, um meaningful relationships and connections uh through students and staff. We had a staff appreciation football game last Friday and our senior football players pick somebody during the week to honor and then they give them that jersey and they um go out into the football field and get honored as to why they were such an impact in their life. So, I think we have how many do we have in here? Teresa, you were one this year. Zack, you were one this year. Okay, awesome. So give it up for that staff for appreciation. Also, this is just something really little, but as I've been doing my walkthroughs in the morning at all the buildings, I just see teachers out in
012the hallway greeting. It's just it's just a little thing that just goes a long way and it's, you know, it's really valued by our staff. There's a million things that they could be doing in their classroom every minute of the day, but they take that time to get greet their students every morning. We appreciate that. Um pro uh providing and facilitating opportunities for Ram family networking. So, two Fridays ago, Bruce, did we have Ram Jam or was it already last week? No, it was two Fridays ago, right? We had our Ram Jam and our Mascow night, uh, we were able to have a lot of alumni and, uh, past community at our football game. It felt like it was way back in the day when we used to have tons and tons of people at
013our football games. So, that was really awesome networking that we had there. Um, we also have a couple bond informational sessions that we've had at the volleyball game. We've had at Diggan Cafe over in Augusta. So just more opportunity to connect with our community as well. Um and then equipping professional learning and collaboration, student engagement pro uh towards real world scenarios and problem problem based instruction. I had a parent reach out to me that their fourth grader wants to highlight our steam programming over at the primary. They want us to do a video and tell all the cool things that they do in their steam class. So being that that's a student that wants to make that happen, we are going to prioritize that and get something together so we can share with our community
014how awesome our steam program has le lifted off the ground. So that's pretty cool. Thought I'd share that with you guys. Um I mentioned I think it was last week that we had some budgeting reallocation that needed to be done. We received two different grants. One grant said you could do this, another grant said you could do this. Uh but we'd already purchased this with this. So long and short, we reallocated some funds so that we could uh be smarter and more fiscally responsible. So we were able to get some more instructional materials for our students. Um student count, we have count date on October 1st. It's the first Wednesday in October. We are up to 111 students. That's uh a lot more students than we had last year. A lot of we have 58
015of them that are preschool. So we are up around 50ish kids uh give or take. Um so we will we will tune fine-tune that in here in the next couple weeks to understand where we are. We budgeted for 10 or I'm sorry a thousand5 and so that's that's good news for the district. Graduation date. We normally don't release this until Thanksgiving but we figured since it's a little bit of a change we're doing it on Thursday May 21st. It's before Memorial Day weekend. So again mark calendar's graduation Thursday May 21st. Uh academic focus this year. I've mentioned that to the district that assessment and feedback is what we're really leaning on. how are we taking what students uh learn and then how what are we doing with it if they do do well and what
016are we doing with it if they don't. So um September we're really focusing on uh cadence and NWA testing getting some benchmark data so that we can take our students that are maybe excelling a little bit more and pushing them and then students that maybe are needing a little extra getting them some intervention groups reassigning staff to the areas of need. So that's exciting coming up here. We'll be looking at that data in the next few weeks. Um, as you may know, or if you don't know, we are uh going to be on the ballot on November 4th with a bond proposal. It's a zero mil increase over the current debt levy. So, that can be explained as it's not falling off, but it would remain the same if voters chose that. Um, we're going
017for mechanical updates, aging infrastructure, so a new transportation facility. Um, and then some safety and security. Our uh like frames of our doors at the high school, there's some rust and things of that nature. Is it safe? Is it fine right now? Absolutely. Is that up something that we have to plan for and and restructure that? Absolutely. So again, be informed on that. There's lots of information on our website. There's some information over there on the podium as well. I am always available for questions if you have any. Um we have our RAM announcer that went out today. Anybody see it? >> Yes. >> Okay. Got the RAM announcer RAM announcer out today. We're also selling them sending a mailer home for the bond information as well. Um facilities. We've done a ton of work
018with SEC. um that's escaping me what that stands for at the moment. Uh but it's safety and security uh programming. And so we worked with them over the last handful of years. We've done a ton for the individual buildings. It was now time to f focus towards our athletic facilities. So if and when we're at a at an athletic event, what are the safety measures? What are the things that we need to focus in on should something happen, right? So that's uh just our next area of focus. We've received that report from SEC. Now, we have to analyze it with our safety team and then come up with some actions. Um, athletics, I want to give shout out to this to the board. They were able to do um concessions on September 9th. Thank you
019guys for stepping into the community and doing that. We're doing it again on October 9th. Thank you guys. And then any of you that would like to do concessions, please send sign up. There's definitely a need to do that. Um, just another update. Uh we did have an incident this past week uh that that's brought some social media attention. We had a high school teacher um bringing some public community responses. We've gotten over 250 plus almost 300 phone calls, emails, text messages, voicemails, Facebook posts, Facebook messengers. Um our actually our Facebook Messenger is what we really rely on and our Facebook platform is what we really really rely on to communicate. Um we are up 225% notice in our district right now. Unfortunately, it's under a negative light. Um but again, those are just some
020of the facts of what we've been dealing with this past week. Uh we've had some student responses that we've had to deal with at the high school. Students wanting to recognize their First Amendment rights, so navigating that world. Um so yeah, we've just there's just been there's been an impact that we're we're really trying to as a community uh navigate. Um, so yeah, that's just a few of the things that are updated in my world right now. Thank you. Um, Christy, can you get the yellow sheets? Next up, we have community input on agenda items only. And before we open the floor for public comment, I want to take a moment and thank everyone for being here and participating in this important process. Under Michigan's Open Meeting Act, um, everyone has the right to address
021this body and we truly value hearing your perspective. That being said, we will ask that all comments be delivered respectfully. Swearing, personal attacks, disruptive behavior, or threats of violence will not be tolerated. These rules are in place to ensure that everyone, regardless of viewpoints, um, feels safe and heard. Let's keep this space constructive, civil, and focus on the issues that matter to our community. Thank you. And you'll have three minutes. You'll need to state your name for the record. First up, we have Tony Tipkin. Um, I just want to thank the school district for what they do with the youth football program. Um, a lot of school districts charge their youth football program and ours does not, which saves on our fees, but it also relies on volunteers. We have a lot of volunteers. I'd
022say as a parent, as a coach, you know, all of that. You know, I've coached for the last two years. My kids have been in the youth football program here for three or four, five years now. But, you know, it just takes a lot of work from you guys letting us use the facility with with no charge. I do know there's multiple school district that charge a hefty amount to allow their youth programs to run, but I just want to thank the districts for allowing us to use your our facilities here with no cost. >> Thank you for the Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Okay, next up we have um Cheryl Vanderin. I'm Cheryl Vander Bean and um this may not be the time for you to answer this question. So if it isn't,
023just tell me. >> So this is public comment. This is not a conversation. So we will not address you. >> Okay. >> Today and who I should contact. >> It's a question on the roofs. If we're only doing part of the roof, what is the life expectancy of the remainder of each of the roofs? Why aren't we doing all the roofs? Or were the other parts already replaced and these are This is the second half. That was going to be my question. So, who should I email my question to? >> I didn't know if you had a committee. >> Now, it's a game. Cheryl, I'm going to get to you before you get to me. >> I'm sorry. You're just handling everything at the school. Okay. Got it. >> Um, >> how do you say
024it? Next up, we have >> Gillopski. >> Melona Gillopski. >> Oh, wait. >> No, wait. Sorry. >> Okay. Next up, we have business items for discussion. Middle school baseball proposal. You have to hold it down. Turn it down. >> Hold that button down for a second. >> Is it green? Yeah, there it is. >> Um, good evening. Um, so I am going to present kind of the economics, the why, um, and how and what the what middle school baseball would look like and then our varsity coach, Mr. will probably come up and specifically talk about the benefits to the to the baseball program as a whole. Um, you all received the letter that I sent to Dr. Newton and the board um back in July and I um dated it um and also the u
025specifics of the middle school program, the objectives, the structure and the budget overview. Um just to kind of do a quick synopsis, we started middle school softball um four years ago. Um our softball program was struggling in numbers. I was struggling competitively being a competitive program. Um so then Mr. Woodard, myself and Jeremy um Johnson, the varsity coach said, "You know what? If we are going to make a significant change and start to improve, we need to start at a younger age." Um so for the f first three years of middle school softball, um we've been having 16 to 18 girls. Um we've been extremely competitive. Um and I want to say we've won many games. um we had like a 91 record last year in our first games. So, it's really made an impact.
026I've seen a high quality um of of play. Um we have more girls now playing travel softball. We've got girls that are teaching taking pitching lessons during the summer. So, we are on an upswing with that. Um the way this is going to look is that this would be a spring sport which would run from the end of March, so last week of March through the middle of May. Um there are usually 8 to 10 double headers. Those double header games are played on Wednesday nights and um Saturday mornings, Saturdays. Um so usually we average between 16 and 20 games depending on how that weather works. Um practices are every day um after school. Um our objectives are that we want promote physical activity and healthy lifestyles. Um we want to encourage teamwork, leadership and
027sportsmanship. Um fundamental baseball skill going to be taught. Um it's a good way of fostering school spirit and um it's a foundation for baseball in the high school. Um people have asked, well, how come we haven't done baseball time as we done softball? Um when we added the softball, we eliminated the JV softball program. So we were running a varsity program and a middle school program. um over the past few years they've had enough baseball um players to field both of a Mercy and JB um but I'm not sure where those numbers are are going but I know that um it still is needed to start developing those programs. Um there's also some financial considerations. Um two years ago we made a priority to add middle school football. So that kind of took a lot
028of our funds and that was kind of our top priority. Um, and then last year, um, we just didn't feel like we were ready for that move. Um, but I've been asking for it and kind of pushing because it's really hard now to not have it since we have a softball program. Um, and the community parents and kids have been asking for. So, we really feel it's a time. We don't really think there's a huge cost. Um, if you look there at the budget overview, um, we will have to get some type of uniform. What we did with softball is we just got like a uniform jersey and the kids had to buy their own pants um and and a cap. Again, I'm sure that that's something that the varsity coach will talk about because
029he might have some equipment and some ideas on the equipment, bats and balls. Um field maintenance, umpire costs. Um umpires, we usually hire two umpires, one in the field and one out behind the plate. Um coaching stipen will hire just one coach, which is $2,100. Now, the biggest um obstacle that we have with this middle school baseball program is we could potentially have three teams, a JV varsity and a middle school team and only one field. And knowing that varsity and JV usually generally play every Tuesday, Thursday, sometimes Mondays, whatever. I mean, it varies. Our our middle school games are Wednesdays. So, there might be two or three Wednesdays that varsity and JV is going to need a place to practice. So, that's been is our biggest challenge. Um, I made some phone calls back
030in August, um, to River Oaks Park. Um, we kind of thought that might be our best option. Um, I can't I couldn't give them exact days or anything and and all that stuff kind of starts taking place in January, field availability and stuff. Um, but they had quoted me a price of $30 per practice. So, we'd be looking like a three to five 3 to 5:30 type thing for practices. >> So, is that they have a they have a baseball field out there. So, the the um practice field amount is for that $35 for a practice. >> Yes. And like I said, Mike and I talked a couple times and we were thinking at least probably two times a week, potentially three times a week. So, that's why it's 360 to 540. I mean, honestly,
031there might be some weeks we don't lose it at all. Rain, weather, whatever, right? So, um it's hard to get an exact number. Um we don't have schedules really for baseball yet. I mean, just have a few schedules. So we were just going to sit down and say, "Okay, these are the dates that we would have." Um, but obviously that will be something that we will have to have a discussion once this gets approved. What's that going to look like for the JB varsity and middle school teams getting the River Oaks? How's that going to work with paying all all those logistics? But, um, we really feel that that's the best option that we have right now. Um I have made some inquiries because some people have asked about we do have a baseball field
032a field say down behind the middle school big grassy area. There's a half a back stop there. Um I did inquire and I haven't heard back about um an escalating company come out and skin some dirt, you know, and put some stone dust there. Um but I will say that Frank and Andy aren't too excited about that because that's something else they would have to take care of, too. So that that would be a maintenance issue too. People have asked me about the softball field. Um obviously softball is a lot smaller field. So hitting baseball is out there. I mean maybe they could do some ground balls or something I guess but it's not really set up for baseball. >> How where would you see the um middle school baseball team like practicing on the
033I mean cuz that's a problem too, right? If you have games >> if there's a varsity or JV game, the middle school would go to River Oaks to practice. That would be our practice field. There might be some days where we just say, you know, we're not going to go over there. We'll just go out here by the football field and do some fly balls and batting practice or we'll just go to the gym, whatever. I mean, >> lots of coordination. >> Yeah. Yeah. Just we just that'll be a coordination type thing. And that'll be something that we will have to work out. >> What um kind of increase in numbers have you seen in the girls program? Like are we anywhere near having a JV team again? I fully anticipate we'll have a JV
034team this year. Last year, I want to say we were at 17 18 girls um on the varsity, which obviously that meant a lot of girls didn't get a lot of playing time, >> right? >> So, we we should have eight or nine girls this year that are freshman playing high school ball. >> So, possibly we could have three teams for softball also. >> That is possible for us if that's if that's the path that Mike wants to take with that program. you have any other like logistical questions, financial reasons? I just think as an advocate for middle school sports, um the boys need it. >> I will say that that the only push back that you may hear out in the community is I know when we started the softball program, um I got
035some push back from Quad City's Little League, but we killed their softball program and and now we're going to add baseball. it means that there's going to be fewer kids playing quieties baseball. But um I really feel that the benefit to always put a good gut to the students in our softball program and then if we add it with baseball is greater than than that. >> So currently Quad City has teams that would be for these age groups. >> So like Yes. >> Yeah. Okay. A parent told me they do. >> There's not many that do but because a lot of kids also play track. >> Oh. So, it's hard for them to get also add, let me just add on that conversation. Um, we ran into this a lot with softball a little bit
036cuz we're starting to get more kids playing kind of travel. If they play middle school baseball, they are not allowed to play travel baseball at the same time. They can play two weekends or two games, two weekends. Um, but they cannot play both. Um, and that really we'll have to do a better job this year making sure parents are aware of that before the season starts that hey, baseball You can't play both. But I'm also going to say that it's not going to be our coaches or my job either going around on weekends monitoring who's playing ball. I mean, I I had that issue where we had some girls that might have been playing travel ball and some parents said, "Well, my kid followed the rules and this kid is that's not going to be
037my job to >> with that. I'm going to hand it over to our baseball coach and he can talk more specifically about um why you feel it would be beneficial for anybody baseball or this high school program. >> Thank you, Jeff. >> I'm uh I'm Tim Bren. Um happy to answer any question you guys may have about the program. Um tell you guys a little bit. I definitely don't need a microphone. I got a couple guys in here that have played for me. I 100% don't need a microphone. Um telling you guys a little bit where we've come from. Um Tim and I took over the varsity or the baseball program as a whole six years ago. Um we've been with the baseball team for five. Obviously we had the co year. Um our record
038is 8730 and two. That's a 731 winning percentage. All right. That starts by getting these guys in the gyms and active at a young age. Um we for the second year we're here, we ran um yoga class in the gym every Sunday. Uh there was kids from the little league, girls from the little league. I mean, any any kid that we could get in the community into the gym on a Sunday, we did. Um, and that's kind of where we built that program from the bottom up. We started out by being a little bit more interactive with the little league. Um, I don't know how many parents in your head has kids that play little league, but it's kind of a dying system. It's unfortunate, but it is. Um, the younger they are, it's still
039awesome. It's magical. Um, they still get out to go out and play with their friends. Um, it's local. Grandma and grandpa can come see him play. The older they get, it's just not there. Um, the older they get, either you're going to find grandma, grandma Bob, mom or dad coaching teams at the little league. The older they get, that's not the coaching they're looking for. Um, if they're competitive, they're finding that avenue outside of the community. All right? They're going to the travel ball organizations, they're going anywhere they can to start laying that foundation. Um, before Tim and I got here, we didn't have that. We we've interacted with those guys a little bit more. We've tried to to interact and run um clinics and things like that for the coaching down there as well
040as some of the players. We run co- practices with their older kids down there. We brought them up to our field. Um and random person guys, you know, shoulderto-shoulder with them. Um the first year we ran a clinic for the coaches, we had one person show up and it was a grandma. Uh she was coaching a T-ball team and asked us if we could give her a crash course on on the rules of game. that ain't happen um not in an hour time. All right. So, this implementing something like this, it gives these guys the ability to get involved in middle school. Another reason uh you don't see more kids getting involved the older they get is it's expensive. Baseball is not cheap. Um you're looking at playing in the travel ball organizations. If your
041family doesn't have money, that's kind of where I came from. Usually, it's 100 bucks to play. You play a couple months and you're done. uh the kids that have the ability to play travel ball or the parents that have the ability to pay for it. Um that starts at about $1,000 for the lower level teams. All right. The teams that are competitive, the teams that travel, the teams that have the training that some of these kids are looking for, that's $2 to $5,000 per year. It's not cheap. Uh Coach Crew and I ran a team of 17U college prep kids uh three years ago and it was $2,400 per kid to play on that team. All right. It's not cheap. Uh, since coming together with them, we've just seven kids just from GA, we've either
042directly influenced or helped them have that conversation to play college baseball. So, we put seven kids in a position to to play at the next level. Me and him have put 15 kids total together of kids that come outside the Gailsburg network to work with us. >> All right. So, we've laid the groundwork here. All right. We we're going to need help continuing to keep the younger kids engaged. uh keep them active uh and give them out an opportunity to play. Uh because as we know with this community um a lot of our parents and a lot of our kids are not going to be able to afford one two three $4,000 for but we could put them at a middle school program and get them in the gym with our older kids with some
043of the the good role models that we produced here and let them let them learn from that. >> Any questions? Happy to answer the question. Thank you. Thank you so much. >> I have a couple questions. >> So, is this co-ed girls only, boys only? >> No. Co. This is just baseball boys. >> Yeah. One of my concerns, questions about what you is whether at this age and I don't know what we've got for pictures of the other side, but being baseball, you know, the odds of hitting one in the head are probably a lot higher at this age than they might be later just because, you know, they they lack the agility. So, I'm just raising that as a question. You know, softball from my mind would probably be better at this age, but
044with the problems you've addressed from better standpoint. I mean, maybe there's no choice in that. >> So, what's the question? >> If it's been baseball or softball would be better or putting the boys in softball at this point in time, I'm confusing what question >> in my mind at this age probably. But, um, >> it's just my opinion. >> Are there any safeguards for like what he's saying? Like there might be obviously they're not as talented at that age. I know that the girls wear mask in the infield. Is there anything like that for baseball? >> You'll see kids who get they get hit a lot more at a younger age uh just because the control isn't there. The older they get, you're not going to put a kid up on the mom that's throwing
04589 miles an hour. They have no control. >> Yes. >> I guess from my perspective and on that issue alone, the more you can do to alleviate that problem, the better. So I don't know if that you know special gear or whatever >> good coaching. >> I just throw that out for whatever. So >> thank you Gary. Thank you. Thank you guys very much for about the co-ed thing. Um the way that um softball and baseball teams are set up it's basically set up our league schools that we play. We also play softball boys who play baseball. I know from the softball perspective um I meet girls who are face mask on the field. When we're doing batting practice we always wear helmets when batting. So really it really comes down to the coaches doing
046their job with their supervision and making sure that those safety protocols are established. Two girls and boys to do they get the baseballs. I mean I had a girl one time many years called J. She's there hit her right in the face. So that's I mean that's going to happen but that's why I make them wear face coverings. >> Thank you Mr. Morrisco. at the now you won't see that higher level but really we we do that that's kind of one of the culture's responsibilities is providing a safe environment >> thank you guys >> thank you >> next up we have the senior trip overnight field trip Emily Gates She's going to pass the right one. >> So, I'll make this quick, but I'm just requesting permission to take class ago. Um, on the trip,
047they've chosen Tennessee again. Um, correct me. >> We are looking at I talked with Mike Woodard and they moved the dates a little bit, but it'll be April 16th through the 19th. Um they had a conference track meet that was on the 15th that they couldn't move. So we had to shift those dates a little bit. Um in your packet is the itinerary that they chose. Um still being finalized a little bit as far as like hotel and things like that. But um the basic idea of what they're going to do while they're there. Uh we had a senior parent meeting on last Tuesday the 12th. Um and they voted on the location cost all that. that they had between Matt and another one in Wisconsin Del is the one they chose. Uh the cost
048right now about $1,100 a student before we divide up the class funds we have and the fundraisers that we're doing. Um we have about $5,000 right now in our class account. Uh we've paid for everything except senior like our flowers and things for graduation. Um and back they have to decide on as well. So we've already done everything else. Uh we have several fundraisers right now planned that are all going to go to individual students um for their senior trip and then anything else beyond that if it's a larger fundraiser we'll divide up between everybody equally that wants to go. Uh we have butter braids coming up. the Chuckle Puck fundraiser that we do every year that brings in usually about $1,500, uker tournaments that we do that bring in about a thousand, and then
049we do a donate the date fundraiser um a couple times a year. That that alone for each student that does it can bring in about $500. >> So, there's plenty of opportunity for them to pay for their trip. Okay. And right now, we did a a commitment initial commitment just to make sure we had because we told them we had to have a minimum of 30 kids committed to going. And right now we have about 35 that are committed to going. So we're >> right that line, but we're we're there. So um >> so yeah, so we're looking for permission to take the kids to Tennessee. >> Any questions? >> A lot of hard work. >> Many of us know how much work it is. So thank you. Thank you very much. >> Okay. Um,
050next up we have the MASB self evaluation survey. Um, just so the board knows, I'll be sending that out to you probably tomorrow and we'll have two weeks to complete it. um we do it all ourselves so we don't have to pay the firm um to do it and they'll um calculate the results and within two weeks of the first person completing it they will send us the results and then hopefully we can go over them at our October cow or maybe we'll have to schedule a special meeting for the board assessment. Any questions on that? Okay. Um strategic planning update Dr. Newton. So, we are coming up on the end of our 2026 strategic plan. So, I'm doing a little digging to see how we're going to tackle going into our next three or
051five years strategic plan. Um, so I've reached out to Niola and I've re reached out to um NASBY or wait um and so I've got some I provided that information for you, but you can see that uh Niola to do a review of what we currently have. um probably about three two-hour sessions would cost us about $3,000 to revamp it and start from scratch. Uh we would it would be three two and a half hour sessions, but about $4,000. We've done a we've done a nice job uh addressing a lot of the things within our strategic plan that we currently have. So I my recommendation that we would do a new one, a a total uh new plan. And then if you look at MASBY, um both similar. Neiola and MASBY have similar process in
052the strategic plan. Uh for MASBY, it's $8,291. So, we've just got some we've got some more digging to do. I just wanted to provide you an update of what we where we currently are. I want to look at a couple outside consultants as well that do it that have done this, have experience in it, right? We don't necessarily need a name. We need the process. Um so, going to be continuing to look into that. That's just an update. >> Is there any significant differences between the two? Cuz the price is pretty significant. >> Well, the the Mazby it starts from it's a lot deeper. So, it'll start with a session with me, it'll go to a session with you, it go to a session just like we s like we did the last process. >>
053I think the difference is is we're very in tune with where we are and we're in a different um different place when we were 3 years ago. So, um but again, all those things are we need to weigh. >> Thank you. >> Is this are we going to make a decision on which of these? >> No, sir. Nope. I think that we I my I'm shooting for Februaryish to have a decision or let us make a decision on that. >> Okay. Next up, we have um of course you can go get me the paper again. Next up, we have public participation. Oh, I'm sorry. Never mind. Public participation followup for mental health. This was a previous question. >> Yep. Oh, so one of the one of the goals that I had as taking over superintendent
054is to really make sure that and when there is public participation or public comment, community comment, community input that we get back to you. Um that's just something that was resoundingly a need in our district. So we had uh Raina who came to our last board meeting in what month is it? September, August, and uh she just mentioned that we weren't very clear or she wasn't very clear as to where we were with mental health supports, whole child supports. So, I scheduled a meeting with her. We were able to sit down and discuss all of the supports that we do have. Um, how we use mobile crisis when we're in crisis situation in district, how we um use 31N6 services, how we have different therapy and counselors that we that we network with um and
055how our counselors are used, how our deans are and behavior specialists are used. So, it was just a nice insightful conversation, community conversation that uh maybe we can do a little bit more with on our website to provide parents that may be struggling but don't necessarily bring it to the school yet a resource. So, that was just really good conversation. Uh we got into some career development talk as well. So, excited to partner with her. Um so, just an update. >> Okay. Now, would you please get that form? >> Okay. Next up, we have public participants. Um, again, I would just ask that everybody keep this space constructive and civil and please state your name for the record and you're given three minutes. We have a timekeeper. And first up, we have Melana >> Mavina
056Gleky. >> She's not going to go. >> Okay. Then we have Jennifer Davidson. >> Okay. Sorry again. >> I just wanted to come and comment on the um posting by Eric Curtis on Facebook. Um I know that a lot of people in the community have been really upset about it. Um which I understand. I read it. Um it's callous um careless, but I know that there have been a lot of people saying that you should be fired. Um, and I just want to kind of ask everyone to try to bring the temperature down in general. Um, that on so many things right now, we are so polarized and people are so quick to attack um, a perceived other side. And I just would ask that maybe we be better than Mr. Curtis was in that
057moment when he posted that um that we not be quick or the board um be quick to fly off the handle in reacting I guess. Um and I just want to kind of offer some context while I don't in any way condone that post. Um, I think that being an educator myself, um, I used to teach high school in another district. I currently work um on a college campus and I know how educators feel about um the idea of the quote that was shared um the idea of saying about shootings that there's a certain amount of shootings that we that are worth it. um which is the quote that was shared and I know that as a teacher who and I don't know how many years Mr. Curtis has worked here. Um, I believe it's
058been quite a few. Um, I can only imagine how many active shooter drills he's had to lead his students through. And so I know as an educator how much it breaks our hearts every time there is a school shooting. And so I just think that to for people who are really upset about the quote, I understand that. I don't think Mr. Curtis did a good job of stopping them thinking about the fact that a wife and kids had to see their husband and father shot in front of them. But I also don't think that when Charlie Kirk said some of the things that he said that he stopped and thought about people losing their kids, people losing their students to shootings. And I think that as an educator in that moment, I can see how
059somebody would be like, "This is what I'm talking about. Shootings. Isn't there something we can do?" So, let's just thank you for your time. Do we have anybody else? Mel Bonus, do you want to speak now? [Music] Good evening, members of the board and uh superintendent. My name is Melbleski and I serve as the representative for our educators. I want to take a moment to address um concerns around one of our teachers in the recent post. Um first, let me be clear. The teacher has already acknowledged that his choice of words was inappropriate as he did with you know he submitted to the board. He has taken responsibility and issued a statement clarifying his intent. He has since removed his social media account entirely. His intent was to critique comments made by Charlie Ker, not
060to celebrate violence or death. Still, he recognizes that the way he expressed himself would have been stated differently and he realizes it did cause some hurt. Second, I want to stress that he is already on leave. That step was taken to allow emotions to cool and to protect both him and the school community. Escalating the situation further by a resignation or a termination will not heal the community. It will only deepen divisions. We must remember that our schools function best when decisions are made thoughtfully, not under the heat of public outrage. Due process matters. Fairness matters. If we allow individuals, work groups to pressure, to dictate employment decisions, we set a dangerous precedent that weakens protections and has a chilling effect for every educator in this district and potential ed educator that might consider coming
061to this district. Finally, I urge this board and this community to focus on restoring trust and moving forward. The teacher has accepted responsibility. He is not engaging in further public commentary. Let us allow this to settle so we can return to ma to what matters most and that's supporting our students and strengthening our schools. for your time. Next up, we have close session um under the Open Meetings Act section 8H. Um I would entertain a motion. I'll make a com a motion to convene in close session under the open meetings act section 8h to consider a letter from an attorney dated 9:15 2025 for the reason that the letter is exempt from disclosure under state law due to the attorney client privilege I'll support roll call vote please yes Davidson >> yes >> Gillette >>
062yes >> smelter >> yes motion carries 0. Um we'll um go into close session at 7:00 so that we can clear the room. >> Business items for division senior night senior trip overnight field trip. I would entertain a motion. >> I'll make a motion to approve the senior night o the senior overnight field trip proposal as presented. >> I'll support. >> Is there any further discussion? just thankful for all the work they put into these kids so they can have really fun experiences >> and it's different than last year's and the year before. So new experiences. >> Okay, roll call vote please. >> Corsy, yes. Davidson, >> yes. >> Gillette, >> yes. >> Smeltzer, >> yes. >> Shute, >> yes. >> Wilts, >> yes. >> Eberstein, >> yes. Motion carry 70. >> Next up, we
063have communications board comments. We'll start with Gary. Do you have any board comments? Do you have any board comments? >> Um, no. Okay. >> Um, yeah. I mean, it's been a crazy couple of weeks and the beauty of Gailsburg is that the Ramaganza went off wonderfully. It was an amazing weekend in the community. Uh, I did get dunked dozens of times in the water or in the dunk tank. Uh so it was nice to see just the families coming out uh and the outpouring in the community. It was just it was two full days of football, two full days of community and two full two full days of fun. So uh just really pleased to see that here at the school. >> Uh I also am very blessed with all the the family we have
064here in this Rambley. Uh between the football with flag and the middle school team playing and watching my boys out there, it was wonderful. And then I had a lovely incident with the last 15 minutes of school Friday with a dislocated finger and how everyone came together trying to help uh get my child where he needed to be. Um I was very very much feeling the love including teachers reaching out after hours to check on him. >> So it was very sweet and I'm just very happy we have what we have here. >> Okay. >> I'm just excited. Homecoming's in full effect obviously. So float building kicked off tonight and there's some really fun exciting things that are all centered around Halloween. So it's going to be pretty cool to see. >> Sarah, >> uh
065loving the football scores. >> Me, too. >> Um way to start off a good season. Uh a couple really big uh big numbers on the board. Looked good for us and then getting some more attention there. So that was good. That was good to see. Um thank you for being our fearless leader first of all. most of all, you're fantastic. Um, second of all, the band this week on Saturday, they will perform at Portage uh Central for the Portage Central Marching Invitation. They play, I think, at like 3:50. >> 3:30. Sorry. Thank you. See, uh 3:30. So, you know, if you want to come and watch the band perform, even though I know they perform at halftime, but competitions are so much better. You can watch other bands, too. Uh come support the Ram Band.
066Okay. Um, I just want to say like Ram Jam was amazing. So, thank you for your staff and everybody who partakes in that. It was just a great community event to have everybody come together. Um, I love that we revealed the Masville um, statue and all the different decades of former players coming together. Um, it was great. Just a great time. Um, I'm supposed to be on a commercial for Consumers Energy. >> Oh, you did? >> Go around. Um, and then I also want to um thank Lindsay and her admin staff for the support over the last week um, dealing with our current issue. And you guys have just done an amazing job at getting back to the community and really shielding us from the broad range of this. So, thank you. >> Okay, superintendent
067comments. >> Before I forget, we have a diploma to assign, so we can't forget that. Yep. Thank you. Um, I just want to make this statement that as superintendent, I want to take a moment to speak directly to our students, families, staff, and community. While our district has recently been under the public eye, we recognize that there's been a little bit of negative attention. And we want to be clear about one thing. I'm proud to serve as our superintendent in this district. Every day, I see the dedication of our teachers, the resilience of our students, and the care of our families and staff that pour into making this an outstanding place to learn and grow. These moments of challenge do not define us. They remind us of the importance of listening, working together, and staying
068focused on truly what truly matters, the education and well-being of our kids, our students. I love to work here. I'm deeply committed to continuing to lead with integrity, compassion, and pride in the values of what we stand for as a community. >> Thank you. Okay, I'm going to adjourn this meeting at 8:05.