001[music] Special meeting of the Richmond Board of Education will come to order. Please stand for the pledge of allegiance over here. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands. One nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. Sandy, please read our mission and vision statement. Take hold. Sure. At Richmond Community Schools, we provide a quality education that empowers students to be successful in the global community. Our [clears throat] vision statement is to foster a culture of academic excellence, creativity, and character, ensuring that all students are prepared for success in an everchanging world. And then board member Michan >> here, >> board member Cunningham >> here, >> board member Talto >> here, >> board member Styer >> here, >> board member Gillis
002here, >> board member Sutton >> here, >> and board member 429 here. And we have a >> That's it. Yeah, I'm looking for a motion to approve the agenda. So moved. >> Uh, do I have support? >> Thank you. Any discussion? I do want to discuss, I guess, the agenda for the actual workshop. Um, I I'm not quite sure that we're going to be able to get through all of those things in an hour. And I'm also I'm not I'm not sure I guess I'm not sure that an icebreaker is necessary. Like nobody's new. Um, and I mean quite frankly I and this is my fault. I should have probably said something sooner, but uh I was kind of really just thinking that we would be going over the agenda and like how we want
003that to go. Obviously our goals and stuff with the superintendent, interim superintendent and then uh bond stuff like I we don't have I don't think we have time for like a board evaluate like we don't have time to do that. That's my opinion. So, I guess I um I would I am I guess thinking that we should take the icebreaker out at least and the board evaluation. >> Okay. First, I'm sorry. Go on. >> No, I just want to say I had just emailed Deb that I didn't think an hour was an efficient amount of time in the first place to have a workshop. Um >> she's the only one though that I heard. >> Oh, okay. So, I just just since you brought it up in your motion, I'm just going to say that
004and and I I think there's too many things here for an hour or two, but Okay. So, first off, the board communication piece, all that's on there is a discussion about how we handle ourselves as we go into this um uh time of the bond and the superintendent search. >> I'm only asking that we're taking the the first bullet point and the last bullet point. I know, but I want to explain the boarding bell >> is a two sentence statement that I was going to say to please let's remove it until the summer because we have so many things going on between the bond the search. So then we'll just >> if we're okay with that >> Mhm. >> Um my my board communication piece is about maybe five minutes tops. >> Okay, then yeah.
005All right, then let's carry on. Okay, >> any other questions? Okay, this will be a roll call vote. Margaret >> I >> Sarah >> hi >> Danielle >> hi >> Raymond >> hi >> uh Sandy >> I >> uh Candace >> I vote I motion carries. >> Okay, we're going to start with Billy. She's going to do public comment. I'm sorry. Do we have any public comments? Okay, being no public comments, we'll move on to our actual workshop and I'm going to turn it over to Billy. She has the icebreaker one. Okay. So, we'll we'll uh table the ice breaker. Um if we magically get done really early, we could sneak it in. >> Okay, that's great. >> And if not, then we don't. And that's okay. But I knew so that was the but
006I totally if we had a afternoon then we would have done it and I'm totally fine with not. Um, so I just but again because I am new and so something I thought was important just from questions that have come, comments kind of as I did uh move into the interim superintendent role um after only being with the district for you know a year and a half. I thought that maybe it would be important for me to share just briefly a few things about myself so that you you know as a board kind of can understand um you know what different background and experiences I that I do bring. Um, so I'll take just a moment to share those pieces and then we'll get into kind of what the from there what my goals are
007for this time that I'm still here um or in the world. Um, so um I like I said have only been in the district since uh July of uh 24 um but have um been in Mcome County for the bulk of my teaching and education career. So on the family side, mom of two, my daughter Alita is 15, my son Erica is 12. We live in Chesterfield in the Baltimore area. So they do attend Acre Bay. Um I've lived in Mcome County since 2006. Um as far as kind of early years of part being part of education and kind of moving my way up, um was a substitute teacher and YMCA childcare worker in Kazoo when I was attending Western uh Michigan University for my bachelor's degree. And then when I graduated from there, moved
008back this way and was a pair professional actually for a post-secary program in Oakland County. um as I searched for that first teaching job and that came as a high school English teacher in Detroit um at a charter uh public or charter school and um I was there for a few years before getting a teaching position on a public school in Van Dyke. Um [snorts] so I was in in that role as a teacher for my first years. Very quickly I became that learning communities um kind of the way that they were set up and so there was a lead of the learning communities. I was one of those leads. Um I was a school improvement chair and team um member before the being a chair department head when that position opened up Mcome County
009teacher of the year in 2013 and um during that time finished my master's degree in educational leadership. So in 2014 we were looking for a new high school principal at the building I was at and the superintendent there at that time kind of tapped me on the shoulder um and I moved into that role that I did um from 2014 until 2022. um bigger highlights I would say during that time was um when I became principal the school was identified on that state priority list bottom 5% we turned that around during my time came off the list um maintained that during my tenure um and then also during the time as principal earned my administrative endorsement in 2019 or central office endorsement excuse me um and then I had the opportunity to work at the
010MCOME ISD for um just shy of two years Um so a lot of great learning there. That is I'd say that's probably the most important piece in in coming into this position is um you know we know that we look towards to the ISD for a lot of our initiative support um professional learning and so I was involved in a lot of that one you know personally. So that's been really helpful. Um the bigger pieces that I was involved on setting up or being a part of doing the trainings um was the formative assessment for Michigan educators through the FAME program. So that's with a state uh group. Um guaranteed a viable curriculum. Um I was part of several PLC kind of revamps and refreshers which again will play into what we're kind of looking
011at with our scheduling here in the future potentially. Um adaptive schools and cognitive coaching. So that's really more about um not like a it sounds almost like special ed off the bat, but it's more just about kind of staying adaptive to the changes in education that are coming and how to approach things differently. um was I did mentee training or mentor training through MASSP. So I actually mentored two um incoming administrators at different places in the state when that law changed and that was required. Um and then also led the principal network professional learning series for the ISD um during that time. So those were the pieces I want to highlight because I really feel like those will be things that no matter what I will be able to bring here. So just this that
012was kind of quick background just to help everyone understand and you know kind of see where different things were that I might be uh angle I might be coming from with those experiences. Um so now in this position um my own goals are to you know like we talked about from the beginning was really having that you know smooth transition making sure that between now and June which is you know a brief amount of time one semester that things really just stayed on track. you know, it's not a time to upheavee anything right now and, you know, get too too wild, but really just make sure that we're staying the course that was set as we look towards those new pieces and what's going to change in the future. Um, so again, some of the
013key pieces and initiatives that I'll I know I'll spend a good deal of time on and we will as a district um would be our Ron Clark Academy and the classroom pieces. You know, our our staff has really um gone deep into that training. So, we will absolutely continue to to work towards that and continue to train staff and bring in those pieces of that initiative um throughout the rest of this school year and beyond, I'm sure. Um we also know that we've over the last few years implemented new curriculums in our core areas. So, um just that we're still in the process of doing our ELA and math training for those ongoing because it's those first couple years. So I'm still definitely um ensuring that those pieces happen and you know part of those
014conversations and those trainings um to make sure that that you know tier one foundation u of those courses is really solidly in place. Um I in the curriculum role position was working very closely with our district and school building um continuous improvement teams um and so really focusing through the what they have in the plan um this year that was presented is you know a focus on collaboration time. So, we've talked about the teachers are really meeting a lot more during planning times and bringing data together, talking about what's working, where to to make adjustments. And so, really making sure that we continue to foster that time and um allow teachers to have that time. Um and then another piece of that is uh kind of comes with that PLC is when they realize, okay,
015we have some students struggling. What do we do? Where do we go from there? Um really focusing on that tier 2 and three instruction then. So we have the tier one what all the students get and then when we have those that might be struggling or on the other side those that might be getting it really quickly and advanced. What does that look like? What resources do we have? Um so at K5 they really are getting um pretty adept at using ISL was our program for intervention that we implemented this year. Um excuse me last year actually was implemented and continued it this year. um at the high school they've really are leaning into across content vocabulary very much focused on SAT um language and making sure that's being used across all classrooms um not
016just in those four core but what does that look like in an art classroom and having some really great conversations about how to get students involved in that piece um our fourth and fifth grade students at the middle school um those teachers have really adopted they call it their all hands on deck I know we've utilized that at the le school in the past um so that's really kind of transitioned up to the middle school this year more so than ever. Um, you know, a student from this classroom is is, you know, performing at this level, well, that's going to be the intervention teacher and they really move kids around for certain parts of the day or certain parts of the week to um get them the the targeted support that they need specifically for
017where they are. Um, so again, those are places where we spent a lot of time this year and and again, we continue to see that through till the end of the year. um hopefully goes without saying but you know continuing to create a safe [clears throat] and welcoming environment for our students um not just with the engaging academics but making sure that we have solid enrichment opportunities. So um whatever you know resources, grants um you know opportunities are out there making sure that we're seizing those um at every opportunity. Uh I think again a big one especially right now with what we see going on across the state and federally is um of course I will keep a very very close eye on making sure that we maintain a balanced budget in the face of
018you know funds being cut and um we know that we did increase salaries which absolutely was you know important through our contract negotiations to make sure we maintain great staff but um it you know we'll look at where do we have to kind of tighten the belt a little bit that isn't going to impact our students in a very you know in a big way at and again to make sure that we're able to ensure keeping great staff especially as we go into, you know, the end of the year and that's when people can make some choices. So, we want them to continue to choose to be here and and that will be really a priority for me. Um, and then, you know, I was very lucky to have the time um that I did
019have um up until now in the curricular um curriculum director position. Um, I was really able to be in I think every classroom at some point or another and really build those relationships, really work with, um, building level teams, whether it was the grade level elementary PLC's or last year the electives were the the team that were adopting new curriculum. Spent a lot of time with that group. Um, again, we're doing the ELA and math PDS, so I was typically always in there with those pieces. So, again, really have had an opportunity to build some pretty strong relationships already. So, I don't want um that's just really important to me that in this change of position for the next few months that I maintain and keep those relationships up because I think that's really important
020and um you know I feel like people have that level of comfort now with that connection between a building or classroom and central office. And so I want to continue that. Of course um the biggest focus will just make sure that our students are able to continue to be as successful as they have been and how do we continue to push that bar a little bit further. Um, again, especially during a big transition like we're all going through, you know, making sure that they are just able to continue to flourish and succeed in whatever it takes to make sure that they do not feel any sort of negative impact um would be a goal for me. So, I will open up if there's any questions or discussion with that piece [clears throat] and then kind
021of go into expectation pieces. >> Anybody have any questions, concerns or anything? >> Were you a principal for middle school or high school? >> High school. Yep. Good. We fit there. >> So, yeah. High school English teacher in the high school principal in the building I had most recently been a teaching. >> Okay. >> Well, I learned a lot about you. >> Yeah. You didn't have to ice. [laughter] It happened. Um, so as far as kind of how I would like to see us move forward, again, this is I mean the reality is it's temporary, right? we don't know where and who's going to be in this seat um come July 1st and so I on one hand I don't think it's a time to just like with the district at large I don't think
022it's a time to make sweeping changes by any means um but it is the beginning of a new year and a new you know new board year and so I think it we would be remiss if we didn't at least review it and look at it but I'm not anticipating anything like I said anything major major that you know and again I think that's why we thought it probably could be a more brief meeting than um than typical you I'm sure next year will probably look a little different. Um, again, much like my relationship that I have with staff members, I really want the um, you know, the perception and the the kind of working life of the board to be very welcoming and inviting for everyone to feel like, yeah, you know, a board
023member could be here. I could, you know, have a little conversation with a board member and not feel like that's not allowed, not feel like that's not um, appropriate, you know. Um and certainly you know myself and the seven view would need to have um you know very continual conversations and and open communication um you know so I guess on one hand obviously we know that a lot of those conversations things come up when you're visiting a building right and so we visit for a number of reasons you'll continue to be invited you know some invitations will come from me or Cynthia if it's from central officeled but again you'll see invitations that may come from a building secretary or building administrator I will ask that if they're reaching out to a board member that
024they would CC me just so I know that communication's happening. But I mean I'm I am comfortable with them saying, "Hey, we have this great event going on. Whoever would like to come, you know, please do." We don't we don't get invitations like that. >> Yeah. So I will do the Nope. The only invitations we get that didn't come directly from Ryan is reading March's reading month. Whoever the reading people we don't get any of the veterans I got those didn't come from Brian I got one for the food taste test thing directly from >> Oh did and I'll encourage that be a little shift >> especially right now because with at this point in the year I'm not sure you know there may have been things I've already planned when Brian was here and
025something so I want to make I don't want you guys to miss out on an opportunity to come in so you know if they're planning something I want them to make again it's more about they're welcome to you're you're welcome to be there and I don't want them to feel like I must be the gatekeeper of them inviting you somewhere if it's a open event that families you know public whatever that might look like are going to be at I want you all to know about it and feel like you are welcome to be up there um and so I so that was kind of leading into I know that's where you know conversations come up you're chatting right of course um that's natural if that leads into a concern or question that you have
026at that point I would prefer if that comes back to me. You know, I don't want you to have to hash out some problem in the middle of a choir concert, right? So, if you know if a time when you're in the building things come up or again you you've been made aware of something then I would still rather come to me. So, a concern a question you know maybe it was snow removal right lately right that's been a thing. So if if you have those concerns, um certainly we know you know maybe Preston or you know a staff member of that nature would handle that and you probably are aware of that but um you know we may have already handled it that kind of thing. So if it's meant to be a worry
027that you have or even just a question that is you know a fairly simple question I would appreciate if those still come to me if that seems reasonable. I think that's probably been kind of how that's board 101. So hopefully everybody >> um if you're wanting to go into a building outside of you know an event type of a thing and I'm thinking I'm going to say like Sandy came to see the sensory room a year or so ago, right? Just we talked about at a board meeting and she was really interested to see it. Again, by all means I am more than half like ecstatic to have you guys come and and see things like that. You know, if you want to come check out a classroom where the stages are, that kind of
028a thing. um just let me know that you're interested in you know seeing something like that and I'll go ahead and help you arrange it and we'll you know and then I might even say you know what sounds great I'm going to give you Miss Klein's number at the elementary school or obviously have her number you know I'm going to have let Miss Klein know that you're going to get a hold of her to schedule the right time that works for their building and you know just keep me in the loop but let you guys you know kind of hash out what works for you. Um, so I think that would work well for where I'm kind of seeing things. [clears throat] And again, just letting it be sort of a little bit more maybe
029natural and and again more welcome and inviting. I guess that's where I'm kind of going with it. Um, concerns if it is a cabinet member. So, you know, again, say Tammy says bring something up about a business report or Sarah, you know, something with HR. I am comfortable with it a cabinet member. You know, if it's a direct, you know, Tammy's the one who talked about it in the meeting. she's going to be the one who answers it more so than me. As long as you include me. Hey, Tammy, I had a question about that report you had at the board meeting. You know, can you give me a little more detail on XYZ? Um, I'm comfortable with that being something you would direct to a cabinet member. Um, as long as, you know, I
030was part SEC on the email, so I know that's going on. But again, I think those things help are helpful to you because if Tammy can answer right away and I don't see the email till the afternoon, hey, maybe she already got your answer. That kind of a thing. So I think just efficiency wise again I'm comfortable with you communicating with our um administrative cabinet members as long as I'm CC. [snorts] Um typically I would share any major announcements um with the full board. So again you guys get like again a snow day announcement or if we have um you know an unexpected event that came up or change you know those type of things I'll continue to send out to the full board. Um Deb and I will continue to meet to build out
031the board agendas. Um, so we've already started that process for our last couple. Um, if there's something that she needs to relay back about the board agenda, that would probably come from Deb. Um, and then she can kind of bring it back to me. So, so those pieces, you might hear that communication more so from from her than me, but it would go to your whole group. Um I will try my best. My goal would be to have my um practice be if um you know if somebody did have a question and maybe you didn't uh include the whole board. I will my goal would be to include everyone in my response or if I feel like it was maybe not meant for that I might confirm with you before I do are you comfortable
032with me including everyone just because we know if one person has a question sometimes everyone or someone else has the same question that way I'm feeling it one time and we all kind of see the same answer. Um, but again, if it's something that seems, you know, just a one-off type thing that was just a um, you know, something more of a one-on-one, I will, you know, make sure that I wasn't off, you know, or thinking something different than you were thinking before I do make that response. But typically, that would be my goal would be a response to a question for the whole group. Um, I think that pretty much covers it. And then I know I was just going to touch on this too. I probably should add up but um of course
033I unexpectedly was out of the district um earlier in January um and just kind of for your peace of mind our process for that if I am out or again last last week was at the um superintendent's conference was which was a phenomenal experience I appreciate the opportunity to go to that um but it will I will always um if at all possible which typically it would be um would have one of our cabinet members um take on and and continue the operations of the district in my absence So, um, again, depending on where they are, if they're going to be in the district, um, Sarah, um, Mitchell Ogden from HR or Tammy Shag from the business and finance department would typically be, um, one of those. If we had to go beyond that, um,
034we have had some conversation about that, but the goal would be I would have a member step in if if at all be. So, >> do you foresee being out for any period of time from now until July? No, I didn't foresee the first one either, but no, everything is looking good. So, no, I think everything will be good. >> Yep. Any other questions? Questions? [clears throat] >> You got a quick question? >> Whoops. >> Right. >> Thank you for for sharing all this the information about yourself. >> Can you turn the volume up a little? Can we get a volume? We're trying to get a volume a little. >> Hang on one second. Right. >> Okay. >> Just talk louder. No. >> Oh, it's at the highest neighbor, so I can't read too loud.
035[laughter] >> Okay, hold on. I'll listen carefully. >> Okay. Um, uh, so yeah, a lot of a lot of great stuff, things I didn't know about you, so thank you for sharing that. Um, >> you mentioned that, you know, you want to pretty much keep everything, stay the course, not making any radical changes. Um, which is awesome leader coming into a new position. Um, so if you had a chance though, is there anything that you would like to see the district make a change in or or direction? >> Sure. I think that um, you know, again, I think a big piece of of where we're going and we're taking the steps there. But for me, what I've seen is just that ability to have um, kind of top down every direction collaboration. you know, I
036mean, we're we're getting there now where the teachers are starting to have the opportunity, but I I'd love to see even more of that so that way and so that we're really hearing all of the voices. You know, I feel like that comes up often in our meetings here, right? Um, you know, it there are decisions that are made that sometimes we might not realize how that would impact the, you know, the IT of the situation or the custodial part of a situation. Um and I think that's you know an important piece that everyone kind of is able to sort of give their you know their input on something as we are making decisions. Um you know from that bigger district lens and district um side of things. Again I mean I think that we
037will I guess I don't know that it's a a change per se but a lot of energy I think will need to go into um really kind of taking a really good inventory of the budget. Brian uh Mr. who did such a phenomenal job of leaving us in a a great place. So I just want to make sure that during this time and especially if it ends up you know that we have obviously somebody will be in that chair permanently. I want to make sure that everything is is you know nothing is going in the wrong direction everything is going in the right direction here which I only bring that up because we are facing so many different cuts and challenges with you know what the state and and and federal um funding what we
038see coming at us. So I think time will need to be spent on things that we might have used to be able to do. Is that still reality? You know, and if and again if there are some changes that need to be made, I want to make sure that too, like I said, that I'm hearing all the voices and then whatever that is to make sure that it is not something that's going to make a negative impact on our student and their students and their ability to succeed that we're have a very, you know, just thorough high school um our school K12 experience. um with like I said those other opportunities up in in addition to just academics. >> Thank you. >> Um and I just want to ask the superintendent conference um what was
039the point of going there and where I'm coming from is interim superintendent. Um and I looked up the conference and everything that was happening that day. mean that's a conference for real superintendent. >> So what so what was the point and where did did Deb say that you could go? I mean how did how did all that work? I'm just I'm looking at >> the interim superintendent >> is just keeping everything flowing as we're going along. Just keep us and I have every faith in you that that's going to happen. So, I just don't understand what was the point of that 3-day conference. >> So, I mean, double I will say that um or a couple things to to follow up on it. I mean, it was something that was already like Brian was established
040to go, right? So, I mean, it was budgeted, it was planned, it was mapped. >> Brian was already established to go. >> Yep. Yeah. So, we switched everything over and everything. Um, so I mean, as far as that, it was it wasn't like a new, you know, like, oh, we're doing this now that we weren't planning on doing before. Um but I did ask you know around to different people you know like will this be valuable? What is you know what do you get out of this? And so there were a number of kind of superintendent you know intro pieces if you will. Um and so several of the pieces that I attended were around um different resources in kind of navigating those new budget pieces. So again I think that is something that will
041be relevant now until June. Um, and again, even if it's something that carries over beyond that, um, I, you know, do hopefully have the the benefit of, you know, no matter what, staying within the district. And so I can take that knowledge and, you know, still have it apply to a curriculum budget and apply to different pieces that I would still do even um, outside of that position um, of superintendent. Um, and then it was also there was actually a I met a number of interim superintendent. So I was actually surprised that you were in different sessions, you know, when you introduce yourself. Oh, I'm interum, too. Oh. So, um, that wasn't unusual for the conference. I wouldn't say I definitely I would say almost every group or session I was part of, there was
042somebody else that was also interim. Um, and so again, during this time, I also want to make sure that I have and that I wanted to make sure that I would have like a connection depending on what came up, right? like if this occurs during my time, there isn't another superintendent in Richmond for me to go to. Um, so I wanted to make sure that I had, you know, was well connected with the right people at the right time. You never know, especially going into bond. There was sessions related to bond work, which again is happening now. Um, so there was I mean it was incredibly valuable and I I like I said it's I there were absolutely things that will be so beneficial for the next 6 months or wherever we are 5 months
043at this point and again that I can take no matter what role in the district I we have and and be able to support that work. So um that's kind of where we are. Then I have a couple updates. There was a lot of legal, you know, updates information which will be relevant right now too. So, I'll be able to continue to share those out. We'll talk about a couple um at a regular meeting that >> Can I jump in on that, too? >> Yes. So, I feel like [snorts] I know like Margaret's saying, you know, it sounds like you weren't supportive of it. I don't want to put words in your mouth. It sounds like maybe you weren't supportive where we're going, but I guess from my perspective, I want I mean intram or
044not, you are a real superintendent right now. >> Even if it's short term, I don't hear the word interim. And >> that didn't come out. I shouldn't have said >> real when I didn't come out right and I did and when I looked at her when I said it that's not >> maybe sense yeah when I hear >> I didn't mean it in a derogatory way and I cuz you are real that is not >> when I hear interim I don't hear >> not real I hear >> shortterm it filling filling a need or a gap or a void and I feel like that is more important to go make these connections to make these real people who are doing the job. I think it's more important as an interim because you are kind of
045thrown into it. Um it was kind of last minute. You didn't have a ton of time to prepare and I want an interim superintendent or a a full-time superintendent who's going to immerse themsel in the process and immerse themselves and give themsel the knowledge by putting themselves in the situations. To me, that shows initiative. I think Billy could have very easily said it doesn't really apply to me because I'm just the interim and this might not be me. But instead, I think showing that initiative and saying this is my real job right now and I'm really responsible for this district right now and I appreciate taking the initiative to do it. If you were gone for a few days for the conference, I don't care about that. I don't care if Brian wasn't planning on
046going. Um I think if you're new in this role and you want to be good at it, you've got to place yourself in a position to get the information. and you did that. So, I don't have a problem with you attending. I think it's a positive. >> And again, that is not I deeply apologize. That is not where I was coming from. >> I was trying to make my face to you that that wasn't what I meant. So, thank you, Sarah, cuz that really wasn't what I meant. >> Yeah. Yeah. >> When I said real wrong word. >> Anybody else have any other comments or thoughts before we move on? >> No, no, I I agree with Sarah. you know, I think yeah, you're filling that role and you're you're doing the things that you
047should do. I thought I think that's a great thing. So, >> thank you. >> Okay. Okay. Next item on our agenda is our board meeting agenda and logistics. Um, it was brought up at our last board meeting. Uh, Sandy made a suggestion that is there some way we could shorten our agenda up or shorten our meetings up? Um, I thought I, you know, you all knew it was going to be on. Does anybody I can do my popsicle sticks here and we can work around. I have some thoughts. Everybody, you know, I can start if you want. Um, what I was I I will agree with Sandy and and those of you who've been on the board know how I feel about this topic that I've been wanting to shorten it up. Um, we and
048actually Billy and I talked about a couple of things. Um maybe we can make a suggestion that under our keep our presentations board presentations but if it's not um if it's just anformational one maybe we keep it to 5 minutes nothing longer. So if we have something someone coming in to show us about we've had the special ed department come in or you know whatever that we tell them they they've got a five minute window and we keep it to that. That's just I'm making suggestions. Um, another one that I had, I know this is a a touchy one, but I say we move the blue devil raves back into board items of interest. We could rename it. Um, why are we, you know, two different times I'm calling you on it and and sometimes
049some of you forget to do blue devil raise and then when we get to items of interest, you're giving me positives anyway. Um, so those were just two thoughts that I had. Sandy, you brought it up. Is there anything you want to >> So, I just to piggy back off what you said. I um I like the presentation part obviously is the meat and potatoes of the meeting, right? Like to me anyways. Like I feel like that's all the information that we need. I'm not sure about I I suppose some of those could be shortened depending on what they are, but like I don't want um when they're when they're coming in to talk about like the curriculum and stuff, I don't want them to feel rushed. That's certainly important that we get all of
050those details. Not that I'm talking more about just >> but I I like those things. Um I just But maybe we do put a time. I don't know about 5 minutes, but maybe we do put like a time on them. I don't know. So that's I'm not necessarily against that. But as far as the raves and the um the raves and the items of interest of the board, I like them separate because they're separate. Like the items [clears throat] of the interest of the board are things that you you know either you have questions about or you want to bring up or things like that. when raves are and that could be could be negative could be positive could be both you know whatever could be you know whatever um and raves are just simply
051like this is something and I just don't think that takes much time in our meeting um now as far as like and I and I'm not like look I I want to do the time like I'm not trying to be necessarily a complainer about the meetings we should not there's no other district that has it's just not normal doesn't happen to have you don't have four and five hour meetings. Um especially when you meet twice a month like they just they don't. Um and so I don't know if that's like I don't know something that we have to work on like as far as like us maybe we're too longwinded. I don't know. But um as far as the what the suggestion that I have in regards to our agenda though is I would like
052to move the um the student rep report to right after the presentations because then if it is too late like they have curfews and stuff then they can leave and then I just feel like then we have we got we got all of our information now let's have our meeting to talk about it kind of thing. You know what I mean? Um, that's just I guess what that's the change I would make is honestly is I would put I'm okay with putting in time on some of the presentations but not like um like I said not like the curriculum not like that like I would agree >> like special type presentations I guess maybe you call them I don't know >> yeah those ones are almost a business right budget like there was another one
053I just had >> I don't know that that's a presentation it's more like like you said it's like a >> details I I like the budget ones I don't think we should be Yeah those cutting those. >> No, we shouldn't. No, we absolutely shouldn't. Like that. That's >> I'm not opposed to moving the the student rep. I think that's a great idea because it can get them out of here sooner if they need to leave, but I don't think that's going to shorten the main thing. >> Sorry. I just have a thing about how many presentations in one night. I mean some sometimes we don't have any or we'll have one but then the the month before we had five you know so maybe that could be >> well really our agenda was on I'm
054sorry Margaret on the first of the month we did presentations >> with the intent that the second meeting of the month is strictly action items and that is supposed to be the shorter meeting. What happens though is that some things just happen or come in and then we're shuffling them in. I don't know. You know, do we make sure that this is all we're doing? >> I don't know. Margaret, go ahead. >> Okay. That's that's the whole point of it. Our meetings, that's the whole point of having the two meetings. The first one is the presentation, which should be the longest meter. That's when everything happens. The second meeting is the one when you're voting on the stuff. So, the idea is whoever's putting the agenda together has to be cognizant of that. And there
055has to be deadlines. if there if you want something, let's say even the um the field trips, >> the the the trips, the there's there's a deadline. If you don't make it in, you have to wait till the next month. And if your timeline doesn't matter, you know what I'm saying? So, it's it's that stuff we we do. We have done too much in the last few years of just piling stuff on our meetings and we're not following our presentation and our second meeting. If we ever got to actually doing it like we should, we're not going to have both meetings being so long. That's just the reality of it. If we do it properly, the first meeting should be the one cuz that's when the one we should have all our questions for. Whatever
056the presentations, everyone should be talking and asking. And so in two weeks later, it should be like it is tonight where we're coming in tonight and you've got action items. Boom. We're done. We're out of here. We should be out of here in an hour and 20 minutes tops. But that comes from putting the agenda together properly. >> Yeah. like maybe we only like when you are when you guys do sit down and put the agenda together um you like I mean I don't know that there should ever be more than four presentations and then also too like if there are going to be four it can't be a big giant budget one and this you know what I mean like you just I think we have to be um >> cognizant of of what
057what the presentations are I guess just you know there's like hey this is probably going to take this much time this is probably going to take this much time this is probably and I mean you might you know give or take or whatever. He might be wrong sometimes, but you know, I cuz I don't want to shut the I don't want to necessarily cut them short, but um I mean maybe they don't go on until the next month then if there and there are times like we have tonight this this DECA there's a there's a timeline. Our kids won the competition. So we got to present it and vote at at the same time. So that stuff's going to happen. Yeah, >> but it it is truly and there are things every month certain things
058happen every month in an agenda. It's just it you can you can look last year in February something so you know that stuff's happening. So when you're you're setting the agenda, you you realize that and you just you just set the agenda up better that the pres the whole idea of that presentation though as a group if that first meeting is a little bit longer than the second >> because that's how it's set up to be. So you should be okay. >> I'm 100% okay with that. I just it it should not and could it should not go over 4 hours. >> Yeah, it should. We have not had that many go over four. >> It's a lot better than years ago. I mean, years ago, I could remember I I couldn't even count the
059amount of times we were here to 11. Like, we were here for so long. So, I do think it's better this time around with this past year need being back on the board. >> But I would say if you do the presentations all in one meeting, which I'm totally not opposed to at all, then maybe you cap it on certain like and maybe it's not all if we have a budget meeting, but then you have something else that's maybe Or if you have cuz I don't agree necessarily if there shouldn't be more than four because what if it's if there's seven field trips. >> No, I know seven but that's why when I try to change it and say well you should go through and be like well this one should take about this much
060time and so on and so forth. It's like a scheduling like you know >> I think we should more think about okay presentations should take no longer than x amount of time of our meeting. If we have x amount of presentations we have to all lot some time but maybe this one needs a little more time than >> etc. Except you can't you can't say that when it comes to budget talks that >> budget conversation can take over an hour just >> there's going to be certain ones that are non-negotiable but when we're learning about something just to learn about it maybe they do need a little okay we've got because we have a stacked agenda you've got 5 minutes or you've got 10 minutes >> I think 5 minutes is insulting but I think
061I think you should say you should say no more than 15 minutes and someone's going to be done in about 10 >> and I think some people >> they usually aren't that >> they're not asking for approval >> those typically aren't talking information and you just do what makes sense you know if you think that it's not going to take more than 10 minutes then I don't think five is insulting for certain topics but for some it might be so I think you just use your good judgment >> if I'm if I'm staying here after school or after work or coming back to give a presentation and I only get to speak for 5 minutes on something. How how is that really acknowledging my time and my effort if I'm only getting 5 minutes? >>
062I don't think that you we should necessarily put a timer. I feel like you just look at it and you say this is going to take 15 minutes. This is going to take this much time. Like and you know that when you agenda together you can't go over this amount of time like you go through the whole thing like okay I mean you call the order a minute you do this you know a minute you do the you know the mission statement and the roll call 5 minutes so >> what are you going to do Sandy when you add up all the time you're like so we're going to be here till 11. >> Yeah or something you have to move Exactly. [clears throat] Exactly. That's correct. So you have to move something then to
063the next month. But I guess if I how long how much in advance do do teachers, administrators know that they're going to be on a board agenda? Because if I've been planning this day to stay late and do my presentation and you tell me the week before, well, you're going to do it next month. Now, I'm going to be frustrated. Like, I already planned on and set my night aside or got a sitter or did whatever I needed to do. >> That's why you don't You're exactly right. And that's why you don't have five presentations that you say we're going to have you come February and they're lengthy. When you're planning the agenda, you know, you you know those five things that you're asking. You've got a good idea of what those presentations the length
064are going to be. You're right. Don't don't have me put everything together and then tell me 3 days before you don't fit into the time frame. No, >> because [laughter] especially what if we have a closed session then? To me, the close sessions are what takes a full day >> and they're they're random. We don't always know when they're coming. Um, >> but we haven't had a long time. >> Yeah, we have not. >> I'd like to ask another question. Um, under under our agenda, you know how we have the consent agenda items? Brian always went through and read, you know, who's new, who's not, D, here's the count, whatever. Um, do you feel that needs to be done? You all get a copy of it. You can read it. Why do we need to
065repeat it? >> I You mean the personel? >> I don't It includes the personel and the enrollment and stuff like that. I don't feel like Billy needs to repeat the information that's in there because you've all gotten a copy and you should have read it. Now, if you had a question, >> yes. >> Right. Is there any discussion >> other than welcoming a new staff if they were there? >> Yes, that's probably that would be a good one. Otherwise, otherwise or a retirement. I think that might be an acknowledgement to say so and so is retiring after x amount of years. Those your typical resations I mean your typical res. >> Yeah. Right. >> I agree. >> Yeah. Could resign thing, >> right? That like shortened it up by about 2 minutes. >> We got
066two minutes. [laughter] Amazing. else that we want on the consent agenda. >> No, there anything else you That's all consent agenda items are. >> Okay. >> But to but to Margaret's point, you know, things that happen and to bring sir's point into it, things that happen on a yearly basis, >> right? They're repetitive. So like we we're not going to like the people who have to talk about curriculum or we want to bring the them to talk come in and talk about test results results and whatever like we know those are going to come up >> right >> to me if I was planning the agenda or if I was Deb my my thing would be to be proactive would be I'm going back I mean he's here recording right now I'm going back to
067last February 1st meeting and looking at it and being like okay these were the things that were on it. This meeting ended up lasting 5 and 1/2 hours. Heck no. What can we do to shift those things around? And then that presentation, we at least could move it now or in the beginning of January where you're being proactive to those regular things that come up and like, oh, that took way too long or way more than we expected and shift those things around. But like like to Mara's point, we've been talking I mean I now I've been here since 2020 and we've been talking since then about the first meeting is going to be you know longer and the second meeting is going to be shorter and I could probably count on like my two
068hands how many times that's actually happened. And so like we could talk about it all day and we could talk about it again today but like I'm not holding my breath to be years. So like holding my breath. >> Well, I just have one question. Is anybody else cuz De I like your idea of condensing raves worth and items of interest from of the board. Whatever. To me, it's like a whole second time you're calling people. Why can't we just say everything all at once? >> 30 seconds. >> I mean, it might, but the information is still getting put out there. It's just a whole one one less agenda item is just like, Danielle, is there anything you'd like to say? Or Sandy, anything you like to say? And it could be good. It could
069be concerns, but no. But you like this is a rain that's a question. >> I personally like them separate. >> I think it's really important that board comments could be very negative and or very challenging very >> lengthy and then those raves get lost in that. I think >> I think it's really important and the whole idea behind that when we put it out there was to be able to have a section on the agenda where we raved about something that was happening in the district and to take that off and combine it with something else. I just don't like it. >> Well, and I so and I'm fine with that. I just want to point out that okay, so we're not we don't want to limit presentations. We don't want to combine anything on
070the agenda. >> We have to be okay with some 11:00 meetings then, guys. Well, no. I'm saying >> we haven't cut anything. The reality is you don't have to cut anything out. You just have to look at it. >> Look at it and be like, "We can't do that." Like, "This has to be moved or whatever." That's what you have. >> I'm not interested in setting too too harsh of deadlines because at the end of the day, if it comes down to kids getting to go on a field trip or a deck or whatever versus me giving a rave, I'm going to choose that any day of the week. >> Yeah. Raves take 30 seconds. Everything 5 minutes. >> Well, there's my point. See, there's where I wanted it together because and I brought it
071to that last workshop and we and I did a background breakdown of how many times you guys did raves and how many times did you do and you know what most of the times >> there was one or the other or and or none. Um and if you want I could do it again because I keep all that information. I just feel like we could do it in one and you can if you want to say it's a rave then you make sure as a board you say this is a rave I want to rave about you know whatever instead of having a whole separate that's just my opinion I want to keep it as it is cuz I like it on the agenda that the board is acknowledging recognizing a valued employee and student
072that it's on our >> not change that item to read raves and >> nope okay >> would you just what if you open it up just general any board members who have something uh to rave about instead of going to each person down the line. I mean >> because to me this is quicker if I just do them and just go around real quick. The majority don't there's only two people sometimes it's otherwise you're >> yeah I don't have the wait time I just Okay Margaret no Sarah no you know and it's just to me it keeps us rolling trying to do the time thing um okay I've got some good ideas I think Billy and I got [laughter] one more >> okay I have been asking this forever um the part of the agenda
073that has action items action items I I I have never agreed that it says approval of blah blah blah. It should just simply say whatever the action item is cuz the reality is it might not be an approval. >> I always that's what Brian was recommending though. >> Yes, he's recommending approval of >> but it doesn't m in my opinion. It just it the action item says approval of blah blah blah. >> but it could not be. Well, same with approval of agenda. Then you already you're just going to put agenda. >> So I'm looking for a motion to >> what? >> For an agenda. >> You could just you could just put >> regarding action item for the overnight extended trip. >> Okay. Well, what about the agenda? I'm looking for a motion to
074approve. No, >> approval of agenda. That's all part of rules stuff that that's what you're doing with that. But an action item, you're listing what your action items are. And when you're putting your action items, approval of approve, it's almost like it's it's a conclusion. >> I think >> and in reality, it's it might not be that. >> Okay. So, you >> I'm sorry. No, >> it just the uh the verb should just be the vote on. No, I'm just saying where it says like 14A Ray for tonight's meeting action items. Instead of saying approval of overnight extended trip request DECA, it just says A is overnight extended trip request DECA. So it's so then Deb says we're moving on to action items. A overnight extended trip request to DECA. >> There is a there's
075a motion. >> Do I have a motion? And then whatever the motion is, supposed to re I'm supposed to Robert's rules. I'm supposed to >> read at least the opening part of whatever like I've been doing like this is a motion for but I'll just take out the to approve to just say this is a motion for >> the overextended yeah and take out that word >> or or you can say there's a sample resolution regarding this action item that's proper as well. >> Okay. you do have to um when I took that training on that is >> because if anybody in public sees an agenda, they're just assuming that >> it's already said and done. We're not having any conversation >> about it. You know what I mean? And >> well, somewhat it's supposed
076to be because we're supposed to >> it's not somewhat supposed to be, [laughter] >> but it doesn't necessarily mean it's approval. I mean, so what instead of if something's going to be voted down, you're going to write a disapproval or denial of the action item as a denial to us. >> You know, show that, right? >> But I mean, in the agenda, in the list of the agenda, you're not going to say, oh, the approval of, you're going to say the denial of in my opinion, it wouldn't be brought to us if if Billy or Brian were trying to not make it pass. or >> chances are it's not going to be at at our table. I mean, that doesn't make sense. >> Yeah, that sure it does. Think just just think. Just think. >>
077Sure does. >> Like Brian would bring something else to write down. >> I'm I'm not going to say it out loud, but just think >> I can't persuasion. It does happen. >> I just think that's just not a big deal. Like it's so just just don't. >> Okay. Are we good? >> I don't know. I thought I think the two of us I feel like Billy and I are meeting. >> So, we're going to look at everything. We'll look at what we'll do. We'll we're going to take what you suggested here and let's see what we can do. Okay. And then are we are we going to move the student rep to stay? They would, but they need to get home cuz it's 11 just for that >> in for the next >> month or
078so because of cheerleading for um >> what's her name? >> Elizabeth. Yeah. >> El what's her name? Elizabeth. >> Elizabeth. >> Um >> she gets here at 7:30. So what I would just what I'm going to do if it gets to that point, I'm going to make a motion to just table it >> till she gets here so that she doesn't miss like she did last time. But I don't think I don't think we are ever done by 7:30. [laughter] >> We were at that point. >> We were last time once in a while. >> No, [laughter] I'm just saying. I'm just saying that's that's what I would do so that she doesn't miss the next couple months when she's got >> Well, ends March 6th. >> That's what I'm saying. >> Like March 5th.
079>> I'm counting, right? [laughter] >> Okay. Any other comments? We're ready to move on to communications. Okay. So, again, my my thoughts are here. I'm going to just kind of read some of the thoughts. This is partly from meeting with our um I know I watch the time. I got five minutes and I'm going to do it. Um this is partly with meeting with our our person for um who's doing our uh superintendent search. Uh you'll probably hear more of this next um Monday when we do have him meet with us. But just a few things I want to really quick hit with you guys. First off, remember that they we're not only interviewing our superintendent, but they're going to be interviewing us and they're going to be looking at our board meetings. And so
080I just want to make sure that um when we are meeting, you know, keep let's try to keep respectful and we I think we do a good job of that. I just want to continue. Um >> shouldn't we just show them what they're getting into right off the bat? No, we're never kidding anybody. It's not a horse and pony. [laughter] >> You're kidding. We are WHAT WE ARE. NO, WE'RE NOT. >> OKAY, moving on. [laughter] >> Um, make sure that when we do get into this process, anything about the candidates, the timelines, procedures, got to make sure we watch who we're talking to. You can't share any of that until and you're going to hear more of this until we especially when we start looking at them because you cannot put their information, their name
081or anything out there until we actually interview them. Okay. So, keep that in in mind. >> But but we but that that that's only that's going to be just the one night. >> Well, I know but still we interview after that one night. >> That's not true. >> That is that's what he said. >> I thought that's what he said. That's how I interpret that. We'll let him explain it then further on Monday. >> Um remember confidentiality. If we do anything in close session, especially with our search, it has to stay there. It cannot go to anybody. Um as far as anything um we are Cynthia and I are working. We're going to put up a link on the web page for transparency for everything to do with the search. So, next week we're going
082to put a calendar together and when we do that, we're going to put it up and it'll have its own label just like we did the bond. Uh, we're going to continue to do the same thing with the bond, too. So, again, hoping to help with that transparency piece. So, all of that's going to come through me, you know, as far as what we're putting on it so we can it gets approved or we agree to it and then I'll give it to Cynthia to download it. Um, I think that's it. I just I just want to make sure I think the biggest thing is is that let's make sure that as we proceed over the next three months that we [laughter] try to be nice to each other publicly, right? [laughter] And just watch
083what we say, how we say it, and what we're doing. Okay. Last item is board. I'd like to push it off until August um after we have the bond and after we get through our superintendent search. I just quite frankly I have spent a lot of time just in this last two weeks um with Billy with doing uh things with the superintendent. We got to work on the bond stuff. I personally don't know if I can add another piece on my plate. Um so I would like to do that if you are fine with it. If you're not, let me know. Okay. I like a piece. >> We good? >> Okay. Thank you very much. You have to Heat. Heat. >> [music]