001Well, good evening everybody. I'm going to call this meeting to order. So, this is a regular school board meeting of the TriCe United School Board. Tonight is Monday, April 27th, 2026, and we are located at the TCU High School Media Center. Um, so I'll call the meeting to order at 5:00 p.m. Uh, pledge of allegiance. I ask everyone to stand and do the pledge of allegiance, please. I alian 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. >> Thank you. Roll call finds all present except for Cindy is absent. All right. Next up, we have employees of the month. Can everyone hear me? I'll try to do really really loud as best as I can. Employees
002of the month. So, we have Payton Singleton up first. >> All right. >> You don't. >> That's all right. >> All right. Payton is a special education pair professional at TC LUNZA. Um, this is what some people have said about her. Payton is incredible and consistently goes above and beyond for students, always meeting their needs while thinking ahead and problem solving to support wherever needed. She has built amazing relationship with both students and staff and is always flexible, willing to jump in when necessary. Her study presence and support in the classroom all year long, has made a meaningful difference, and she is always ready to collaborate and problem solve for students. She maintains fantastic relationships with all staff, and is truly the best. Payton Singleton. CONGRATULATIONS. >> Thank you. >> Good job, baby. Congratulations. And
003next up we have Shelby Boy. All right. Shelby is a speech language pathologist at TCU Center, TCU Lawnsdale, and TCU Montgomery. Shelby is recognized for her outstanding dedication to students and her consistent commitment to going above and beyond for both learners and colleagues. She brings a strong blend of expertise, compassion, and teamwork to her work. thoughtfully meeting individual student needs and supporting meaningful growth. Always willing to step in, share strategies, and help solve challenges. She also builds strong, trusting relationships with students in a safe and supportive environment. Shelby is approachable, collaborative, and and helps foster a positive school culture where students feel safe, uh, valued, and supported. Her empathy, flexibility, and commitment make a lasting impact across our school community. Shelby Boy. job. >> Congratulations. >> Uh, next up we have Jenny Gerties. >> All
004right. Jenny is a special education teacher at TCU Center. Jenny is a true team player who consistently goes far above and beyond her standard job responsibilities. She dedicates significant time and energy to supporting her team both directly and indirectly while balancing a full plate with professionalism and grace. She ensures that no student slips through the cracks, often wearing many hats at once to meet a wide range of needs. Jenny knows all of our students well and works tirelessly to support their plans, adjust to changing needs, and respond daily with care and flexibility. Even when facing challenges and constant movement, she leads with steadiness and composure, making it look easy even when it is not. Her commitment and impact are deeply valued and truly deserving of recognition. Jenny G. Congratulations. THANK YOU >> and Theo Freeman.
005>> All right. Theo is custodian at TCU Center. Theo consistently goes above and beyond to ensure our school is safe and clean. He is always willing to take on any task with a positive attitude and a smile, making him a true pleasure to work with. The staff he serves deeply appreciate his work, hard work, and dedication. Theo plays an important role in creating a safe and comfortable learning environment for students, and his impact is felt throughout the building every day. He never complains, even during especially demanding times, and continues to show up with reliability, kindness, and a positive spirit that never waver. Theo Freeman. >> Thank you. >> Congratulations. >> Thank you. All right. Next up, we have our administrative reports. So, we have our principles up. I don't know who wants to go first.
006She's right there. >> I was getting it over. >> Thank you. you for letting us um to kind of speak here as we wrap up the year and enter one month left of school. Um us three have kind of always divided and conquered and we're going to do it a little bit differently so you guys aren't always getting the same reports. I'm going to talk a little bit about highlights from the school year as a whole. Aby's going to be talking about how we plan to wrap up the school year. And then Jeff is going to talk about a few um road bumps we kind of encountered this year that we're looking forward to improve upon next year. So you guys kind of get a whole picture of the the school year. Uh the first
007thing that I'm very proud of our principal team is uh we spend a lot of time on building culture and support each day. Um we are the one person in each building who is in that unique role. And I'm so thankful to be able to collaborate and work with Abby, Jeff, David, Allan, as well as our teaching and learning team, our special education directors, and so much more. This year, I felt like we've been on the same page um more than any year. and it's easier for us to get off topic sometimes because we all have our own unique buildings with our own unique um circumstances that come up and this year I felt like that's been a highlight of just planning. Everyone's been um improving on their school improvement plans and I wouldn't be
008able to do it if we weren't able to collaborate. So I really appreciate those times. Um, other areas that we've improved in consistencies are looking at the instructional minutes from an equity standpoint across all three buildings to make sure that the students in Lndale, Montgomery, and the Center are getting the same type of coursework, their teachers are getting the same type of trainings, they're getting the same amount of time. And so, we're seeing a lot more consistencies too when it comes to assessments um, and all those types of things. Another thing that I'm very proud of this year and I think we are as a group as a whole is our building instructional practices have seemed um very focused. Kudos to teaching and learning team as well as our teachers for implementing new curriculum when
009it comes to literacy. Next year we already have teachers who are so excited to be doing the math. Some of them are already piloting it. So we're getting we're getting a lot of good buyin and I think that's because it's not just here's the hose, try to drink from it. It is very much having a plan to help teachers and understand here's the curriculum that we have, here's the standards that we have. We're here to coach you guys along the way um as you improve. So that feels um excellent. Um we've also been able to go around two buildings and do checks on what it looks like in Lndale for implementation, what it looks like in Montgomery as Welsley Center. We even get to go to the high school too to see what the expectation
010is for when our students get there. And that's been another thing for us is it it should be about consistency and providing that same um rigorous experience um for all of our students. Another thing when it comes to um staffing and culture um we've had lots of different programs um over the last couple of years that have helped us add to our tiered instructional supports and our teams. I know the ADS grant has allowed us to have interventionists um at every single building um which has allowed us to provide um a lot of instruction that we wouldn't have been able to before. So we're really excited now that next year will be year three of our core curriculum when it comes to reading. It will be our second to third year of our intervention services
011to see if we can really get to that goal of ADSIS, which is to reduce the amount of kids that we're referring to special services because we know if we don't if we don't ultimately get there. Um we're failing kind of from the the top down from referring students to special services and that's what we want to try to eliminate. Um and then all just the additional support. Um, we have such a big team and sometimes you always don't really realize it, but when you have 70 people in the Lzil building to however many we have in Montgomery and Lee Center in the high school all working together for a common goal, I think this year we've we've hit the mark when it comes to that and I think next year will be even better,
012too. But those are some of the highlights um from this year. >> Um, so as we prepare for the final months of school, we are excited to show all that we have learned through our statewide and district selected assessments. Um, a highlight of this, um, is celebrating how much growth our students have made. Um, the springtime also brings our yearly favorites, which include baby animal day, track and field day, or outdoor day, and much more. We celebrate our kindergarteners and how much they have learned, along with wishing our sixth and eighth grade students um, who will be moving to a different building the best of luck. And this brings us to Jeff who will talk about planning that has already begun. >> Yeah. um talking about a few things that each of them talked a
013little bit about. Um one of the areas that we know we need to see some growth in is um is our math instruction, our math scores and our math curriculum. And so obviously you guys know you've approved a curriculum purchase for next year in math. And so I know uh Alida and her team as well as the principles, we are very excited and especially our teachers are excited to get something new and different and to start some training on that. So we are excited to see how that goes. Um, we are just finishing up MCA testing as Abby kind of alluded to and math scores we can see um, right away and so we'll be able to kind of dive into those numbers and just kind of see um, but we're also taking that with
014a grain of salt like this is the last year of that curriculum and so um, we'll look forward to seeing how those scores um, kind of hopefully go up from here. So hopefully this serves as our baseline as we start to uh validate and um assess how the new curriculum comes in. And that might take a couple of years. They say it takes three or four years before you see a significant jump in assessment scores. And so we'll kind of see how that all all plays out. Um with math as well, there are new standards coming. And so, um, there's some, uh, really surprising things that the state department has decided that we are no longer going to teach or teach at certain grade levels, including how to tell time and things like that that
015were kind of eye opening for us as we were wondering why. And so, we are working with our teachers to look at uh, what's coming in, what's leaving, and what they don't necessarily need to teach towards any longer in terms of the state requirements. Um, so we're still kind of trying to get a good picture of what that looks like. Tony alluded to that MTSS process where we're just trying to make sure we've got support for kids at all different tiers and that's something that we'll continue to grow in. We've become more aligned. Elite has helped us bring in a lot of database decision-making protocols that we've really been able to put into play this year. And so that's helped us and I know from personal opinion in the center. Um we feel like we
016have kids grouped in the right spaces for the first time in probably five years instead of we're always chasing some that oh we need to move this one and this one. We've had less referrals to our team to assess. we've had less um movement of kids in terms of where they're learning and what they're at just based on using good data protocols. And so that's been helpful. Um one of them mentioned our school improvement plans. Um those have always been something that um well if we go back in time a little bit Terry uh Chrysler was very big on making sure we had those in place and then we kind of hit co right and we were just trying to survive and um superintendent Ciphert just kind of wanted us to get through the years
017and so those kind of started to go away and now um with Kevin and Elida bringing those back um and now we are moving up the timeline and so we're going to walk into the middle of summer uh or even early summer already kind of knowing what specifically we're going to work on. So rather than just kind of all of a sudden deciding in the fall these are the pieces we need to do, we can be intentional about planning. And so we're we're excited to work with Alida on that and continue to um have some planning done and very being very intentional about some of the steps that we're going to take. And as I mentioned about the MCA results in reading, uh one of the piece or excuse me, math, uh one of the
018pieces that we have this year, we're really excited to see our MCA results in reading. However, the state changed the test and we won't hear about those until >> August probably. So, uh we will be taking the uh fast reading assessment. Um and so that will give us some data um that we'll be able to go off of to measure some growth pieces that we're all excited about. Um but um that's that's a piece we have to wait a little bit for. So, I know with that new curriculum and a lot of them are in year two and some of them in year one, we're excited to see impact. Um, but we have to wait and we can't do anything about it. And somebody asked if we pay more money, can we get them earlier?
019I don't think that's legal. So, the answer to that was no. So, we're not asking for any money tonight. Maybe tomorrow, but So, do you guys have any questions for us as we kind of wrap up and project forward for next year? I just want to say it's fun to see the collaboration that you guys have and knowing that you're trying to integrate everything into all three buildings. It's really nice to see. >> Hey, I'll be honest, it's not perfect yet. >> I know. There are still things that are different and and ways and staff will ask to like, "How come we're not doing this or we're doing that?" And so, we're having a lot of conversations uh between us and Shelley and Alida about what are we tight on? What are the main things
020we have to all do? But how we get to that might be a little bit different in each building. It's just like the teachers, right? We've got standards that we all have to teach, but the art of the activity and the project and how we get there is often left in the teachers hands. That's a little bit what we're trying to help our staff understand is yes, we've got some standards we're all committed to, but what Aby's crew or Tony's crew do to get to that point might be a little different than what we do in the center, but we're all going shooting for the same goal. And so, um, we there's some things we got to tighten up, get to. >> I think we're finding I think we're finding balance. I think for a
021while we tried to be too perfect where we just make it one sizefits-all and that's not what education is about and we we want to strive to give the same experiences and how they're delivered might look differently based on the staffing and everything that we have. So >> well it's just a nice progression. It doesn't get lost in the shuffle and so it doesn't go so you guys know that >> I had a question. How are you supposed to make use of data if you don't get it till August? I know it's kind of a >> well it's just one data point as we always tell everyone. Um it's an important one because it gets published on MDE and all the different things but it is just one data point and uh we've got teachers
022that are taking data weekly and in some cases even daily or every other day on different uh parts of literacy whether that's the basics down to letter sounds and letter names all the way up to some comprehension interventions that we're doing. So um it's one piece of data. Um, unfortunately it's the one that gets published the most and the one that everybody refers to because you can look it up. Um, we've got loads and loads of data that we don't publish and put out there all the time because and that's something our teams are getting better at is not just looking at one data point. Um, an MCA test is probably two or three days for a hour at each time. A fast bridge assessment is sometimes 20 minutes one time in three months. if
023we're having a bad day and we don't have a great test, that shouldn't be the only piece that we look at. So, we're really trying to dig into multiple pieces and um >> using our weekly and daily assessments, just knowing where our kids are at. >> Just so you guys know, too, I think something that we strive to chase and that we do not have right now, and it's probably not uncommon for school districts, our grade books do not match our fast scores and they don't match MCAs. If we if it did with the same amount of kids getting B's or A's in our grade book should be the same that are proficient on FAST and it should be the same that are proficient on MCA. We're we're not at that point. We're very much
024at the point of living in the ones that are closest to the student and trying to find out if it comes up where they don't meet troubleshooting. It's it's indicating the check oil lights on and the teachers got to try to figure out what that is. But that's what I think we're striving for is to make sure grades and test scores match across all subjects to get a true indicator. >> Well, thanks everybody. We appreciate your support. Thank you. >> You want me to sit by and see if I'm a big boy? Good evening, school board members, superintendent Babcock. Uh to people inside the audience, this is the high school principal's quarterly report. Um as many of the people sitting here today, uh we had the fall semester 2526 academic lettering program and breakfast. We
025had 229 Titans, 40% of our student body qualified for that program. Uh if you keep in mind this was a program started by the uh longtime uh ML teacher Carol Lila back in the day and it's something we continued on when we became Tri City United because it recognizes young people for the excellent academics that they show and do on a daily basis. Um for those that don't know the academic lettering in grade nine you have to have at least a 3.67 semester grade point average. No grade lower than a B minus. And you must earn at least six credits per semester. In grade 10, at least a 3.6 semester grade point average, no grade lower than a B minus, and must earn at least six credits per semester. Grade 11, at least a 3.5
026semester gradepoint average, no grade lower than a B minus, and at least six credits per semester. And in grade 12, at least a 3.3 semester grade point average, no grade lower than a B minus, and at least five credits per semester. And any student that hits those marks, they qualify for that. Uh coming into this last semester, spring semester, will have a number of seniors, um one sitting behind me, a number of seniors, one sitting right over there, who will qualify all eight semesters of their high school career. And that's quite an accomplishment. That's fantastic. uh online ACT test. We had we gave about 120 juniors who took the test and um that happened back in the G-wing on April 21st. Uh these results will come faster than the MCA test results. So we're hoping
027to see those here in a couple of weeks. Um MCA testing, uh Mr. Epin touched on the reading. Well, at the high school, both the reading and science MCA tests are new this year. So, I'm hoping by the state fair time we have those results. Our sophomores took reading and science. Our juniors took mathematics. And if some of you are more my age, you can remember when the state department put reading scores on a stick kind of like pronto puffs, cheese curds, and alligators. So, I don't know if they're going to pass those out again this year that way, but those scores for the district should be there by then. Last weekend was prom and postp prom. You two still look tired. Um, but Saturday night, uh, we had the grand march here at 4:00.
028The place was was packed. Want to give kudos to Carolyn Harmier, our prom adviser. Uh, this year's theme was something about legends of rock and roll or >> is that that close? >> Yeah. Okay. >> Rock and roll something. Yes. Um I heard a few Prince songs as you know. It was 10 years ago this last week that uh Prince passed. So they kind of tied some theme in there. Uh the dinner and dance is up at the Science Museum of Minnesota. We are on a rotation basis. And that's uh probably since TCU started the fifth time that we've gone there. It's a fun spot because for those that um don't know their quote date all that well, you can do science museum activities and it's pretty non-threatening. You don't got to hold the date's
029hand. You can just do whatever is in front of you and laugh and have fun. >> That's awesome. >> Super or uh Mr. Belie's laughing. He's having flashbacks. And then postp prom they boarded buses went to Lucky Strike Bolero in Lakeville and from what I've heard from I talked to the senior boys at launch today and they said it was so much better than last year back here at TCU High School. So um laser tag uh dancing um somebody said the DJ wasn't great. As long as you got the music playing that's usually a positive. Uh, the early morning ended with prize drawings back here at TCU from 3:30 a.m. to 4:30 a.m. My son complained about his prize. Boys never happy. Midquarter 4 is tomorrow. Midquarter. I sent a blast out today. I sent
030one out a week and a half ago. And um, we've already had some senior in danger meetings. That's to get the seniors and parents to realize that the end is coming, but your end is not here yet. You need to earn the credits in order to graduate. And those are always tough tough meetings, but they have to happen. It's kind of the wakeup call that some seniors and some parents need to get their student in a spot where they can study quietly, where they can do different things to complete the school year and their senior year. Um, classroom walkthrough window opened up yesterday. that's across the district and the teaching and learning department continues to gather instructional data through formal walkthrough windows. These walkthroughs are non-evaluative and anonymous but they provide us with a clear
031picture of the instructional practices across our schools. Uh these we we be we began the fourth and final window um today yesterday. Uh the goal is to do two walkthroughs for each teacher before the year is done. During this round, we are looking for students actively engaged in standard assign aligned tasks that incorporate grade level resources. Teachers clearly unpacking learning targets and explaining how each part of the lesson moves students towards mastery. The intentional use of protocols that require students to do the cognitive heavy lifting and students persisting through challenges by revisiting their work and thinking independently. One of the challenges in our well in all schools but in high school today is that use of AI artificial intelligence. That's going to be a changing feature as we go forward. Learning how to work that
032into lessons instead of forbidding it will be the challenge that our high school teachers and middle school teachers will be facing on a regular basis because it's out there. those that were at the um academic lettering program and breakfast, I spoke about that as my speech there is doing things correctly and honestly is still what we want to see from students. Uh Titan Achievement Academy, the TAA over the past three years, Titan Achievement Academy has been highly successful in supporting students towards graduation. Building on that success, we are shifting from primarily reactive model focused on credit recovery and intense support for current classes to a more proactive systems-based approach. The TAA team is refining clear entrance criteria to identify students earlier and formalizing exit criteria and procedures to ensure students transition out once they are
033back on track. This work will strengthen early intervention, improve monitoring, and keep the TAA tightly aligned to our graduation goals. This Wednesday is our TCU High School chapter of the National Honor Society induction ceremony. We've got a number of young Titans coming in, sophomores and juniors. Happens at 700 p.m. in the PAC. Um, all are welcome to attend to support our Titans being inducted into the chapter. Uh, celebration cookies after the ceremony. Yum, yum, yum. Dinner with dinner music and the pops concert happens on Friday, May 15th. A wonderful evening of soloists, duets, ensembles, and uh for the dinner music in the gym and the pops concert in the PAC after the dinner, the music department's big annual fundraiser. Uh, come on out. General orders are due by Wednesday, May 6th. and reach out to
034one of the directors or see a band or choir Titan to place your ticket order. Senior class of 26 honors and awards night. May is not boring, by the way. Uh takes place in the pack at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, May 20th. This is an incredible night and one that recognizes so many Titans. It amazes me each year the scholarship dollar amounts that some of our Titans are awarded by colleges and universities. six figures. The numbers are incredible. Um, all are welcome to attend. It's been running about 1.5 hours the last couple years as our graduating class sizes have increased and more scholarship dollars, athletic awards, and community groups contribute to the night. Spring semester finals, yes, take place roughly the last eight days of the school year and spring semester, give or take. More
035fun, fun fun. Cap and gown photo. Taher food service breakfast, graduation practice in unity day. Yes, they all happen on the same day. It's a busy day for the class of and it's Wednesday, May 27th. Also, student council president Jules Roder right there um is working with the TCU elementary principles to have a class of 2026 graduation walk in the four schools as most holy redeemer. Carrie Marsh, principal there. They're planning on May 14th that morning and our three elementary principles are planning on May 15th working with Jules. This will be at the start of the school day with seniors in their caps and gowns. Jules, anything more on that? >> Well, it all. >> All right. >> Excited about it. Be fun. >> And the big event graduation >> that happens on we celebrate
036the class on Friday, May 29th, class of 2026. And for the first time ever, every one of you board members will be sitting on stage. At least that's what I learned at the last meeting. So I don't think any's changed. >> It's because Carter's graduating. >> True. >> I'm sure not. >> Um other board members, you'll be joining Superintendent Babcock, uh Assistant Principal David Reese, and myself up on stage. On that night, it'll be a time to send these seniors, soon to be TCU High School graduates, into that next phase of their young lives. >> Thank you. Any questions? >> Thank you for all you've done, Mr. Fitter. >> Thank you. >> Is this your last update? >> This is last update. >> My last update. >> Thank you. >> You spoke lunch in June.
037>> I know it. Okay. All right. Thank you for all the updates. Uh, next on the agenda, I need a motion to approve the agenda. >> I'll make a motion. >> I'll second. >> Is that Susie? >> Yes. >> I have a motion by Chris Velasak, second by Susie Rip to approve the agenda. All those in favor? >> Those opposed? Motion has passed. 70. Next up, we have our consent agenda. We have approval of our minutes from our March 9th, 2026 special schoolboard meeting and March 23rd regular schoolboard meeting. Under personnel, we have employment ending. We have David Azerki, uh, custodian. Jeff Kramer, custodian. Rachel Johnson, par profofessional. Um, Hannah Roars, activity administrative assistant. uh Katarina Ellis, PAR professional, Teresa Gtle, cooks helper. Rebecca Burgerer, ECSE teacher, and Candy Ty, health aid. Under new hires,
038we have Taylor Johnson, junior high track coach. Melissa Mock, special education teacher. Jamie Dre, fourth grade teacher, Grace Settle, art teacher. John Schmezing, assistant softball coach. Sarah Adams, assistant softball coach. Carolyn Harmire, assistant softball coach. Uh, Dilla Padla, custodian maintenance. Um, Caleb Istrike, custodian maintenance. Addie Miller, high school science teacher. Jordan Squire's third grade teacher. And Alexa Thomas, special education teacher. We have leave of absence. We have Jesse Johnson. And we have our approval in the bills of the amount of $1,3791.40 and our finance report. I will seek a motion to approve the consent agenda. >> I'll make a motion. I'll second. >> I have a motion by Trevor Hol, second by Josh Bulky to approve the consent agenda. All those in favor? >> Those opposed? >> Motion has passed. 70. Uh next up we
039have open forum. Uh just a few reminders about the open forum for tonight. Uh we do have some that have filled out a form in order to speak before the board. Uh just remember that there are 30 minutes total uh for open forum. You can speak up to five minutes. If you take up that five minutes, that only allows for a few people to speak and I believe we have seven that wanted to speak tonight. Um just know that the the school board will not address anything that has been said. Um just remember in making sure that nothing is obscene or rude um in regards to the comments that you make. And uh if there is followup, we'll have the superintendent follow up on behalf of the board. And I believe that is all that
040I had. Do you have anything else you want to add? >> Yeah, right before we start. So, uh before we move into the forum, I just want to acknowledge that there has been obviously community interest, feedback regarding a personnel matter on tonight's agenda. We value hearing from our community and appreciate those who choose to speak this evening. As a reminder, the open forum is an opportunity for the board to listen and the board does not typically respond to comments during this time. As with all personnel matters, decisions are made following established district processes and with careful consideration. It is also important to note that personnel matters are confidential and we are not able to discuss specific details in an open meeting. Thank you for your understanding and we will now proceed with the open forum.
041>> Um before we start, I have a Heather Neville. Is she here? Are you speaking tonight? You're just the ones that are speaking that you wrote on here. Correct. >> Yes. >> Okay. Um I have you time as device. >> Yep. >> So we're going to start 30 minutes. Let me know when you're ready. Claire Meadows will be the first one. >> You've never done this. Do we just come? >> Yep. You can just sit right there at that table. Yep. >> Okay. I Sorry. All right. Go ahead. Okay. Thank you guys so much for having us here tonight. I'm just gonna dive right into the letter you will be receiving later tonight. Mr. John Sosa has taught TCU students to use their voices. Now, we must use ours. We respectfully urge you to reconsider
042the decision made by administration not to renew Mr. John Sosa's contract as choir director at Tri City United. We understand concerns may relate to administrative responsibil such as deadlines and paperwork. However, these are skills that can be developed with support and guidance. Mr. Sosa began as a student teacher and was hired in spring 2022, taking on the concert choir of approximately 25 students. By 2023, he had grown the program to 35 students, and it continues to grow with over 70 students this year. This demonstrates Mr. Sosa's strong ability to engage, inspire, and retain students. Prior to the 2024 25 school year, administrative leadership of the music department was handled by the former band director. Mr. Sosa then assumed these responsibilities while we working between two schools, TCU High School and TCU Middle School, and their
043respective administrative teams. This transition un understandably involves a learning curve. Mr. Sosa has improved the TCU music program in profound ways. He has given choir students the opportunity to learn with choirs from other schools by participating in both the MSU Coral Festival and the Big South Choir Festival for the past two years. In the 20 22 23 school year, he reestablished the Encore program. Since then, Encore has participated in solo ensemble contest every year with the exception of one year due to the weather, earning a superior rating each time. Under Mr. Sosa's leadership, TCU Encore was also selected to perform the national anthem at the Minnesota State Wrestling Tournament in 20 in 2025. He coordinated section large group contest hosted at TCU with the choir both participating and hosting the event for the first time
044in 2026. Mr. Sosa has also brought two new classes to school, rocking drummen and drummen and music theory. These accomplishments reflect drive, leadership, and commitment to expanding opportunities for students. Beyond the classroom, Mr. Sosa has been an outstanding collaborator, contributing to the TCU musical, working with Mr. Reed, taking over Triumph Fest in 2026, and helping build a unified music program. He also provides a safe, inclusive space for all students, including those who may not find their place in other activities and students with special needs who are gaining confidence and belonging through choir. Mr. SA's ability to connect with students and foster belonging is not easily replaced. We respectfully ask you to reconsider this decision and consider supporting his continued growth in administrative areas rather than moving to non-renewal. Thank you for letting us thank you
045for letting us use our voices as Mr. Sosa has taught his students. TCU music boosters. >> Thank you. Thank you. And can I pass out what I have now or after? >> You can wait till we're done. Yep. >> Um Dakota Meadows. >> Hello. My name is Dakota Meadows. I'm our TCU choir president. Members of the school board and administrators. Mr. Sosa is an amazing teacher and an amazing person. He has helped so many people within our community become who they are today. I have heard from countless people that joining choir has changed their lives because of the kind of teacher Mr. Sosa is. He's kind, chill, and he always listens. He has helped me countless times when I'm feeling stressed, reminding me that it's okay to take a break. He's given me the opportunity
046to be a leader within our choir. And today, I'm going to lead by telling you you should reconsider your decision to release Mr. Sosa from Tri City United. He has grown our choir program year after year, not just in numbers, but in scale. We improve every single concert. We've had the opportunity to do things outside of TCU concerts, attending various festivals for both choir and encore, singing at the state wrestling match, and performing on a cruise ship. He's taught two new music classes, rocking strumming and drummening, and music theory. Joining choir has given countless students a reason to come to school and just something to look forward to every day. Choir is an amazing community to be a part of and that is all thanks to Mr. Sosa. He keeps us positive and productive, letting
047us have fun, but also helping us recognize when it's time to be serious. He teaches us coral techniques, and I've gotten to see his skill, confidence, and experience grow over the past four years. It's heartbreaking to see that all of this isn't being recognized. I don't understand it. When we found out about the news in choir class on Thursday, we were all devastated. It's evident how much we care about Mr. Sosa being our choir teacher. This is when we decided to take action. The music booster started a petition that's gained 479 signatures. We have past and present students sharing the news and inspiring more to act. People have sent letters and yet we continue to spread the message because we care about our choir teachers job. As a senior, I understand that this situation does
048not affect me as much as it does the younger students, but I have seen firsthand what Mr. Sosa does for our choir. I want the next generation, the incoming freshman and middle schoolers, to be able to have the same wonderful experience I've had working with him. I want my little sister to have the opportunity to grow under this amazing choir teacher. Please consider renewing Mr. Sosa's contract and let him continue to change lives. Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Um Audrey and Bella. >> Um hello, my name is Audrey Kelchin. I'm a senior, an encore member, and a section leader. Um, members of school board, Mr. Sosa is a teacher who truly means the world to so many students. When he told us he wasn't coming back, he said, "I love you all, and it's
049been great being your teacher." And everyone gasped. A room that is usually full of laughter went completely silent, then was filled with tears, sadness, and confusion. Mr. Sosa is an amazing teacher who works so hard. He stays after school for the musicals, encore, concerts, trifest, pops, and has even gone to speech meets to help us. Mr. Sosa teaches more than music. He teaches students how to be good role models, to be leaders, and how to overcome problems. He welcomes every student and listens to what and listens to what students have to say, even if it's as as re irrelevant as what they had for for breakfast. Mr. Sosa has done an amazing job. He grew the choir from under 20 people to over 70. We have encore back do solo ensembles and contests. As a
050senior, I truly care so much about the program. I have two younger siblings, one joining choir as a 10th grader and a current fifth grader that is super ecstatic about choir because of Mr. Sosa. I want them to feel safe and to become great seniors who aren't afraid to use their voice. Now I'll use my voice and ask you to reconsider his contract. Please see the growth he has made and the kids he has helped. Thank you. >> Uh my name is Ivan or Bella Kelchin and I am in ninth grade and in band. I have never been or I have never had an interest in choir but that changed after working with Sosa whether in theater trifest or even talking in the halls after classes. Sosa takes his time to understand his students and
051really listen. He has made a safe place where people like me um people with autism and different um spe special needs can feel comfortable to be vulnerable and do something like u singing even when they're too scared to time with working at TCU. The amount of people in choir like Audrey said has skyrocketed to the point we need more risers uh for the class. Even I am taking the chance and I am grow joining choir my 10th grade year despite disliking singing in public and or to crowds. This is because of Sosa and his impact he has had on me. And not only me but my whole family. My older sister is more confident with herself in her singing. My little sister can't wait to be in his class and she is only in fifth
052grade. And my mom enjoys working with him in the music boosters and she is the secretary. Mr. Sosa is the kind of teacher everyone wants because he's amazing and he really does listen. >> Thank you, girls. River Johnson. >> No. Okay. Andy and Nathan Glockner. Make this quick, I guess. So, every one of you should have got this email today. Um, I'm assuming you all check email. Did everybody get it? Okay. I am not going to read the whole letter just to save some time. I'm going to skip to a part. Um, and coming from a three fouryear ex president of TCU Boosters who's worked with Costello and SOSA, um, I'm going to start about halfway through. It is vital to understand the professional environment Mr. Sosa inherited. During his tenure with Sarah Costello, the
053department was run with a very type A approach. Miss Costello handed every logical administrative detail personally. He was effectively sidelined from the administrative role of theart department. Last year was his first real opportunity to lead. In many ways, this has been his first year as a teacher. Now, I'm going to skip a little bit more because you've all read this and one sentence in here, and I want everybody in this room to think about it. The personality of a teacher and their ability to connect with students is priceless. Paperwork can be learned. The ability to inspire a room full of students cannot. So, let's just kind of let that sink in. Um, you can I urge you go home tonight after all these comments, read this email again. Um, again, coming from somebody that's worked
054with Costello and now Sosa for three years, um, it would be a true loss to this to this district. Thank you. >> Thank you. Um, is it Emlin? Is that if I'm saying that correctly? Okay. >> I don't necessarily have anything prepared, but I do have an idea. Um, my name is Emilyn Leeard and one of the first things that I want to say is I am a very anxious person. Always have been. And in middle school I joined choir and I wasn't very aesthetic about or aesthetic about it. But um, I was like, I'm going to try this and I'm going to see where it takes me. And it was a very awkward stage in my life. But once I got to high school, even though I was kind of iffy about joining joining
055choir, I did. And it is something that I will never ever regret. I have so many interests and I've always been interested in musicals and singing is something that I love about musicals and it is something that has helped me through very hard times. I I sing when I cry. I sing when I'm mad. I sing because it makes me happy. And I used to be terrified to use my voice. Now I am very confident in my ability to sing, especially the alto line, even though it is sometimes impossibly difficult. Even though you have the same note every time, it can be hard to harmonize. And Sosa gave me the confidence to sing out. And now as a section leader who is a junior, it is insane to me that I am here now. And
056the only reason I am here now is because of Mr. Sosa. He has helped me so much with my confidence. Not only just in choir to use my voice, but outside of the classroom, I have gained so many friends from choir. I have gained so many friends from theater in which he helps with the musical and knowing that he is always there for students to help whether it is with singing or with situations that they may need advice on. He is always there for students and he tries his hardest to do as many things as he can. And the only reason that I think Trifest went the way it did this year and the amazing singers that we have now is because of him. He has influenced so many people and it makes me very
057proud to see him grow and to see me grow from my freshman year to now, especially with him having a new band director and taking on things that he's never done before. He is doing an amazing job and he is trying his absolute hardest. I really hope that you reconsider um renewing his contract and thank you for letting me speak today. >> Um I have one last request. Bailey Bailey C. Hi, my name is Bailey Capony and I didn't really expect to be full on speaking out today. I just sent that email because I wanted to make sure that we had this laid out and all that and you know it get I get really nervous when I get like speak out loud to a lot of people and you know Mr. Sosa he helped
058me with that a lot. He helped me just be the person who I want to be. And you know, I'm just like I don't know. I'm totally freaking out right now. But Mr. like he just helped me so much and he's the reason why I'm here right now trying to speak about him. I want him to stay and be my teacher. He's been my teacher for four years and I did not expect it to be the last. I really want him to be there for my graduation and I want to speak my mind about him right now and that's what I'm doing. So yeah. Um, yeah, that's all I got to say. >> All right, that's all the requests that I had for tonight. I think we're still under the perfect >> our forum is
059is they have to fill the form out before the meeting. So, I'm sorry for that. Um, so we'll have to continue to move on. So, I'm sorry about that. That's just the way we have to have rules in place in order for this to keep moving forward. Um, next we have our students school board report. >> Okay. Hi everybody. >> Hey guys. >> You might get deja vu listening to my part. Uh, I'm going to repeat a couple of things here. Um, just like Mr. Fitter said, juniors took the ACT last week on Tuesday, April 21st. We had prom this last weekend. uh pictures at Revival downtown Montgomery, grand march here at TCU, prom at the science museum, and then postprom at Lucky Strike in Lakeville, which is Bolero. And then we came back here
060for some prizes. I think I left about like 4:30ish. I got home at like 5:00. It was really late night, but a lot of fun. And I saw that across all different friend groups and grades and stuff. I think everyone altogether had a lot of fun. It was a really good night. Um FFA had their state convention and we had 13 different groups and individuals uh receiving recognition. Art team has a field trip this week on Friday to the Walker Museum. The senior mal uh excuse me mural is all filled. Um just working on second and third coats. That's for the 2026. Next year 2027 mural has been selected and approved. And then we have our new officers for next year. President Camden Flechek, Vice President Grace Harmier, Secretary Elizabeth Hitzky, and Maline Holland Treasurer.
061Our next blood drive will be on May 19th. That will be led by juniors Allison Renda, Maline Ryan, and myself. Please let me know if you want to donate because that's for everybody cuz we have a lot of slots to fill. >> When is it? >> May 19th. >> During school, right? >> Yes. During the school day. >> All right. Student council high school safety week was last last week. We announced safety week facts each day. We had safety themed dressup days. We had a toward zero desk speaker Matt Mass who came to share his story about his son. Um we had a safety week video contest. The theme was road road safety. This year we had three submissions and Derek Black won the $100 first place. Um, we had our golden seat belt buckle
062scavenger hunt as Bella de la O found it this year. We played safety week wheel of fortune. We switched up from the family feud. Um, went out pretty well. We did it on Friday and then we finished it today during GLA and seniors won. Go us. Um, we had abundant an abundance of prizes this year ranging from candy and Red Bull to a brand new mini fridge and Beats headphones. Um, NHS induction night is on Wednesday for new members and those lettering and then like Mr. Fitter said, I'm planning a graduate walk through the elementary schools and we already said the dates and stuff, but we're really excited about it. That's cool. Yeah. Um, and then Mr. Babcock wanted us to talk about some feelings about the end of the year. We only have 30
06332 days left of list of left of school till graduation and everyone's feeling ready because after prom being over last big thing is graduation. So everyone's like it's coming down to it. Um and then Mr. Babcock gave me some absentee ballots for the bond and I gave them to interested 18 year olds and we're planning a day for Mr. Babcock to talk to the senior class about the bond for them to be educated on what it means for voting day. That's kind of it. >> That's all we got. >> Any questions? Do >> you guys have any questions? >> Thank you guys. >> No. Thank you guys. >> First student council. What? >> Oh, we don't know. I think we'll know next fall. >> What are we doing? >> I I just asked who was
064moving up in the seats. >> Well, Gavin will be president next year. >> I'll be taking Juel's spot. Yeah. >> But we'll figure that out once the rest of them will see. >> Yeah. Once we vote in new members in the fall. >> Gavin will have a new buddy. >> Yeah. >> You don't get to take the student representative. All right, thank you guys for that. Um,formational items. We have an enrollment update. >> Yeah, we are up three students from last month and about four down from last year. So, we're about the same spot as last year. So, not much shifting, not much changing at this time of the year. >> Okay. Health insurance renewal. >> Yeah. Hold on one second. Let's freeze all around with that. Uh, so notes from uh NIS who is
065our partner with our insurance. Um so renewal position notes renewal position is developed by blending 24 months of claims experience. The experience is blended and then trended forward and cost is allocated on a per contract basis. Um this fixed cost projection utilizes the same formula as the MLR report. The revenue position has been annualized from January. Current renewal position projects a needed increase of 5%. Renewal display is using 100% of district's own claim experience. High claims have been removed from the formula uh and will be projected at a 14.3% increase. So in this current year we're about 15%. So we're down slightly but very similar increase on overall insurance. >> All right. Thank you. Um committee updates finance U finance met two weeks ago very brief looked over uh revised budget for this year started
066talking about next year's budget uh some staffing items and >> yeah it wasn't much more than that perfect thank you all right we'll move on to new business first up we have donations >> be resolved that the school board of independent school District number 2905. Accept with appreciation the following donations and permit their use as designated by the donors. Dr. Bill Volmar, New Craig Vet Clinic, $20 CE Friendship Adventure. Alan Pitterer, books for the media centers. Sheriff's Youth Project, Lour County, $500 for Montgomery 4th grade field trip. An anonymous donation of $110 for Montgomery kindergarten graduation ropes. Goen and Lisa Crochock. $50 for Montgomery Elementary Iverson Memorial. >> All right. This is a resolution. Josh has introduced it. I need a second. >> I have a second by Chris Velasak to approve the donation list.
067Uh this will be roll call vote. Cindy, >> yes. >> Uh Susie, >> yes. >> Josh, >> yes. >> Trevor, >> yes. >> Marsha is a yes. Chris, >> yes. >> Hillary, >> yes. A motion has passed or resolution has passed 70 vote. Uh first up we have our first non-renewal 1.0 FTE for Tammy Burman. >> Whereas Tammy Burman is a probationary teacher in Independent School District number 2905 be it resolved by the school boards of independent school district number 2905 that pursuant to Minnesota statutes 122A.40 40 subdivision 5 that the teaching contract of Tammy Burman, a probationary teacher in Independent School District number 2905 is hereby reduced by 1.0 FTE at the close of the current 2025 2026 school year. Be it further resolved that written notice be sent to said teacher regarding termination
068or non- removal of his her contract as provided by law and that said notice shall be in substantial substantiality the following form. >> All right. This will be a resolution. Josh has introduced a resolution. I need a second. >> Uh Chris has seconded the resolution for the non-renewal rule 1.0 FTE for the teaching contract of Tammy Berman, a probationary teacher. Again, this will be roll call vote. Cindy, >> yes. >> Susie, >> yes. >> Josh, >> yes. >> Trevor, >> yes. >> Marcy, yes. >> Chris, >> yes. >> And Hillary, >> yes. >> Resolution has passed 70 vote. >> Up next, we have another resolution um in regarding the den renewal of a 1.0 FTE of Carrie Trosef another probationary teacher >> whereas Carrie Trosef is a probationary teacher in Independent School District number 2905
069be it resolved by the school board of independent school district number 2905 that pursuant to Minnesota statutes 122A.40 subdivision 5 of the teaching contract of Carrie Troth a probationary teacher in Independent School District number 2905 is hereby reduced by 1.0 O FTE at the close of the current 2025 2026 school year. Be it further resolved that written notice be sent to said teacher regarding termination or non-renewal of his or contract as provided by law and that said notice shall be in substantiality the following form. >> Josh had introduced the resolution. I need a second. >> I'll second it. >> Resolution has been seconded by Trevor Hone for the nonrenewal 1.0 FTE of the teaching contract of Carrie Joseph of probationary teacher. This would be another roll call vote. Cindy, >> yes. >> Susie, >> yes.
070>> Josh, >> yes. >> Trevor, >> yes. >> Marca's yes. Chris, >> yes. >> And Hillary, >> yes. >> Resolution has passed. 70 vote. >> We have another resolution relating to the non-renewal of a 1.0 FTE of the teacher contract of John Sosa, another probationary teacher. Whereas John Sosa is a probationary teacher in Independent School District number 2905. Be it resolved by the school board of independent school district number 2905 that pursuant to Minnesota statutes 122A.40 subdivision 5 with the teaching contract of John Sosa, a probationary teacher in Independent School District number 2905 is hereby reduced by 1.0 FTE at the close of the current 2025 2026 school year. Be it further resolved that written notice shall be sent to said teacher regarding termination or non-renewal of his her contract as provided by law and
071that said notice shall be in substantially the following form. >> Josh Balki has introduced the resolution. I need a second. >> I'll second it. >> Trevor Hoen has seconded the resolution for the non-renewal of a 1.0 FTE of the teaching contract of John Sosa appropriate appropriationary teacher. Again, this will be a roll call vote. Cindy. >> Yes. >> Susie, >> no. >> Josh, >> yes. >> Trevor, >> yes. >> Marcia is a yes. Chris, >> yes. >> And Hillary, >> yes. >> Resolution has passed with a 61 vote. I please ask you keep comments to yourself during our meeting. So, thank you. Special education teacher, we um have a motion to approve adding a 1.0 FTE special education teacher for the TCU Lawndale. >> Do you want to talk? It's just a process. Okay. Um
072I need a motion to approve. >> I'll make a motion. I'll second. I have a motion by Hillary Birdsell, seconded by Chris Palasc to approve adding a 1.0 FTE special education teacher to TCU Lawndale. All those in favor? >> Those opposed? Motion has passed. 70. Um, we have another uh special education teacher adding to the TCU high school. I will seek a motion. >> I'll make a motion. >> I'll second. I have a motion by Trevor Hol, second by Susie Rip to approve adding a 1.0 FTE special education teacher to the TCU high school. All those in favor? >> Those opposed? >> I All right. Motion has passed 61. I have now a S a school psychologist. This would be districtwide. I'm adding a 1.0 FTE schools school psychologist districtwide. I need a motion. >>
073I'll make a motion. >> I have a motion by Hillary Birdsell, second by Chris Velasak to approve adding a 1.0 FTE school psychologist districtwide. All those in favor? >> Those opposed? Motion is passed 70. This would be a speech language pathologist of adding to uh the school districtwide. I seek a motion. >> I'll make a motion. >> I'll second it. >> Cindy. Okay. I have a motion by Chris Veloc, second by Cindy Felichek uh to approve adding 1.0 FTE speech language pathologist districtwide. All those in favor? >> Those opposed? >> Motion has passed. 70. I now have a motion for the healthiest you adding the healthiest you supplemental insurance program paid by the district. And I'll seek a motion to approve. >> I'll make a motion. >> I'll second it. >> I have a motion
074by Hillary Birdsell, second by Josh Balky to approve the adding the healthiest supplemental insurance program which is paid by the district. All those in favor? >> I. >> Those opposed? Motion is passed. 70. At this time, we are going to close our meeting for a superintendent evaluation. I need a motion to do so. >> Motion. >> I'll second. >> I have a motion by uh Chris Velasak, second by Susie Rip to close the meeting at 6:03 p.m. for the superintendent devaluation. All those in favor? >> Those opposed? Motion has passed 70. I ask everyone that you um leave because this will go into a closed session. I do appreciate everyone coming this evening. Once we're out of the close session, we'll make a motion to go back in and endorse the meeting. So, there won't
075be anything or more business than Yep.