001Good evening everyone. Welcome to the GFW School District regular board meeting. May 18th, it is 6:02 p.m. I'd like to call this meeting to order. Uh staff from the budget meetings. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America. And to the republic for which it stands, one nation indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. Do I have a motion and a second to approve the agenda for tonight? I'll make a motion to approve the agenda. I'll second. All those in favor? Uh visitor recognition. We have nobody. Do I have anything in the second to approve the agenda? Uh Hearings, do I have a motion and a second to approve the consent agenda? I'll make that motion. I'll second. Okay. Um as the consent agenda reads, uh approval of special meeting minutes,
002approval of regular board meeting minutes, approval of financial report, approval of activity account review, approval of personnel, um field assignments, and resignation and terminations. Um And for items Superintendent reading now. Vote. Vote. >> All in favor, please vote. All those in favor approving the consent agenda? Information items, superintendent report. Yeah, lots of exciting things happening around the district. So, our elementary, middle school, high school students impressed our families and staff during their spring concert performances, um including um a lot of artwork displayed around the building as well. If you get a chance to go take a look at it, it really highlights the strengths of our music and arts programming across the district. Our earlier this month, um some of our elementary students were able to participate in a leadership opportunity as junior coaches, where
003they represented our district at the statewide Playworks uh youth leadership summit along nearly a thousand other students across Minnesota. Um we've had a lot of a lot of events happening across the district throughout the past month, like spring fling week, the variety show, student council activities, and the upcoming evening of excellence and National Honor Society induction ceremony. Our community education and early childhood programming continue to be a major strength for our district, and if the in-flight should be delivered to mailboxes either already has and within the last few days or is on its way. Um check out Make sure you check out a lot of the great feature articles that are in there as well as some of the summer programming that's happening. Um Now, to talk a little bit about what's been happening at
004the state. Last night, the legislature adjourned, and there were some positive investments in education package, but overall the funding remained very, very flat and not very positive for a lot of school districts, um especially with increasing operational costs and um inflation pressures that we're experiencing. One of the largest concerns is compensatory revenue funding, which school districts across the state, we requested about $90 million to help keep us flat while they figure out a fix for the free and reduced meal programming. Um we requested $90 million and the legislator invested $10 million into the program. We don't need to worry too much about that because um I had a feeling that this wasn't going to move forward, so we already did that first round in our budget cuts um for the compensatory funding falling out. For
005record, we were expecting, if nothing had changed, $718,000. Um the law that was in place would have funded us for $595,000. Now, with this $10 million fix, it's a $642,000 in compensatory funding. So, the state still shorted us about $76,000 of funding for our district. Um in addition to the compensatory struggle, we are still anticipating $250 million in special education-related reductions or shifts statewide. We have not been told yet what that's going to look like. Um ultimately, the governor directed the Minnesota Department of Education to identify alternative funding solutions before reductions would come directly from the general education revenue. They did that with the establishment of the Blue Ribbon Task Force. The Blue Ribbon Task Force has not completed their work. So, the $50 million is going to come out of probably general education funding.
006So, we won't know for quite a while as to what that is going to look like. Um and so, that's really hard exactly to pinpoint where the money's going to be reduced and how much GFW's share of that $250 million is going to be. So, given the state um current funding and lack clarity around it, um the district is going to temporarily freeze external hiring. We're going to live within the FTEs that we have um for the time being and making sure that we honor the contracts that we've got before we bring in the outside hires. So, we're going to start looking at shifts with that. You know, we remain committed to doing what's best for our kids. Um, it's unfortunate when the state funding does not keep up with what we need for our
007students to be successful in the classroom. So. Um, other than that, you know, we continue to provide great opportunities for our kids. It's been really fun this spring watching our kids interact, um, A12 having breakfast together, and seeing each other in the hallways and stuff. We continue, there's another student who gave us an 8,000 star review the other day. So, I'm very excited about that. That's probably the best you can get, right? I mean, I don't think there's anything better than that for a school district. So, that's my update for this one. So, we'll give you an update. Elementary school. Or middle school, high school. I have that, I don't have the elementary, but um, so as stated in previous board meetings, this has definitely been a challenging year for various reasons. However, also a
008great one. So, many firsts have taken place in this building, and our seniors [clears throat] are thankful they were able to experience and enjoy this space for the short time as they had here. Right now, they are focused on finishing the year strong and making the most of their final days as GFW students. We have also had many field trips and activities taking place this spring. And it has been a very busy time across the buildings, like Mr. Byrd had expressed. We have now finished our senior meetings, and their final meeting has concluded. Students were handed their caps and gowns, so we're now moving to the finish line. Next Thursday marks the due date for our seniors and some of our high school classes and the following Tuesday will be our seniors last half day
009as GFW students. On Tuesday, [clears throat] they will share lunch together before they conclude the day by participating in one of their long-standing traditions, the kickball tournament. So, it's the battle of the grades planned by our student council. Unfortunately, we'll have three golf students that will that are seniors won't be able to participate, but they're they're a little bit sad about that, but we just can't make it work. This Friday, we will take time to recognize and celebrate those seniors that are student of the month and our high school highlights assembly. Following the assembly, we will host our senior breakfast. Later that day, students will have the opportunity to help with the elementary track and field day. In addition, our student council and NHS students will also participate in ditch clean. Prior to the assembly
010on Friday morning, we will host an elementary parade with our seniors, so they will get to walk through and be a part of the infamous tradition of the elementary students celebrating them. Our student our school band always plays to help bring the school spirit at our assembly and we are going to have some special music prior to ending the assembly with our school song. This Wednesday, we will host our NHS induction at 6:30 p.m. followed by our evening of excellence at 7:00 p.m. And both events will be hold held in our high school gym. So, I would like to extend the invitation to our school board members to join us for the parade on Friday morning. That will start at 8:20 and we'll attend um what will be the seniors final student of the month
011and high school highlights where they will be recognized. And we also had an awesome variety show this last weekend, Friday and Saturday. Saturday is typically a little bit smaller in numbers than Friday, but we probably had over 200 people on Friday. And Saturday was slightly [clears throat] less than that, but still a decent crowd. I also wanted to thank Mr. Jacobson for his knowledge and his expertise in technology and sound because it really sounded great in the gym. And since we moved in here, he has done an awesome job helping those events take place. Otherwise, we may have not been able to have them. So. That's all I have. Thank you. Student Council? Um, I have all sports are wrapping up their season. Track has their subsection meet on Thursday, the 21st at Sleepy Eye,
012where athletes will have to place top eight for individual events and top four for relay teams to move on to sections, which will take place on Saturday, 30th of May. This week, on Monday, baseball has a game away versus Martin County West at 4:30. These two sports will conclude the spring sports season. NHS successfully put on their second blood drive for this year. The night of induction will be held at 6:00 on Wednesday, the 20th, where where they will welcome the new members into NHS. Student Council has worked hard all year in order to provide fun and safe activities for all students. And to conclude the year, we will have our end of the year kickball tournament on Tuesday, May 26th for grades 9th through 12th, and grades 6th through 8th will play on the
013Wednesday, May 27th. Student Council has already started preparing for next year with electing new officers. Our next year president-elect is Claire Mazilli, secretary is Kirsten Jazinski, treasurer is Matthew Lee, historian is Michael Nakagawa. And along with president-elect Laura Stegman stepping up as president for the upcoming year. Variety Show, the Variety Show was held on February 15th and Saturday the 16th. The Variety Show shined the spotlight up many GFW students by showcasing band, choir, and senior art case. Three awards were handed out on Saturday night at the end. The John Philip Sousa Award was rewarded to Luke Bastian and the John Philip Award is the pinnacle of achievement in high school band. It recognizes superior musicianship and dedication. The Louis Armstrong Jazz Band Award was awarded to Cole Jacobson and the award honors the most outstanding
014senior in jazz band. Cal Aden received an award for her service to all of the fine art programs at the GFW. Going above and beyond to help advisors and fellow students when needed. FFA had their barnyard day was it was held on Friday Friday the 15th where all elementary kids got to see and pet animals. They had sheep, cows, rabbits, chickens, ducks, and peak a peacock, a pony, and a pig. Along with the animals, the kids got to look at cool equipment such as tractors, a baler, lawnmower, and a skid loader. The kids also got a chance to learn about plants. FFA had their banquet where they announced all their new officers. Kelly Wilgo was elected as president, Annika Lee elected as vice president, August Rudolph elected as sentinel, Matthew Lee elected as secretary, Caden
015Stutz elected as reporter, Joe Beranek elected as treasurer, Bradley Worstell elected as advisor, and Annie Worstell elected as historian. At the banquet, they also gave a shout-out to all the students who participated in the state convention. Some contests at the states that the FFA students participated in were ag money competition, companion animal science, best informed greenhand, and general livestock evaluation. The evening of excellence. The evening of excellence will follow the NHS night of induction at 7:00 p.m. on Wednesday the 20th. All seniors are eager and thankful to find out what kind of scholarships they will get the privilege of receiving. Thank you, Matthew. Thank you. Um board reports. Riverbend? Oh, Riverbend, yes. Um The area learning center has advised 76 students right now, 49 in person, 27 online. The Imprints area has 26 students in
016four classrooms. The Raptors have 20 students in three, and the Rise have 20 students in three sections. So, they are full and doing well. One of the good things that came to Riverbend was big ideas, which shows students virtually what an occupation may entail, etc. That was big, yes. Other than that, it was basically a budgetary discussion, and like Georgetown, many budgetary concerns. Not any immediate, they're doing well in the immediate, but it's what's coming up. But, one of the And on a positive note, one of their strategic educators, which are hard to get, they have already hired, so made Mr. Hayson feel pretty good. So, overall, it was a quite a positive evening. And let's see. Oh, I forgot to do one important thing. They had a recycling challenge, and those kids collected 1,876.45
017lb of plastic. So, just in here, they describe it as a visual, so you could picture a mature cow or a small compact car. Those kids managed to collect that much plastic, and they were able to submit it uh entries into some sort of raffle thing for possible prizes, but apparently, collecting plastic uh excited River Bend students certainly so. And they did well. Congratulations for all that. That's it. That was like a lot of plastic. Um policy committee, we really didn't have anything going on. Uh FFRP committee? Uh we moved it to tonight after the board meeting. It was It was canceled last time. Uh community engagement? Mhm. So, we spent quite a bit of time talking further about uh given and went through our buildings, all the options >> [clears throat] >> that are
018involved um there. And then um we spent a chunk of time talking about a potential fourth question on the November ballot regarding GFW school districts, which again, we will talk about at committee of the whole coming up. And then I'm missing one item. >> You are at the policy on the the deportment that is going to be expected of the employees and teachers. With strategic planning. Strategic planning. The most important one, yes. Yeah. Uh that was everything. Good. Uh executive committee, we didn't meet. Um enrollment K through 12 is at 539, which is down a couple from last month. Um on the action items, um approval of GFW principals association contract. That was an attachment. Um Yeah, no, I just want to thank both principals for working really hard on the association contract. We are
019still following the um Minnesota School Board Association and Minnesota Association of School Administrators standard contract language for when it comes to um doing contracts with principals. Um it does reflect a 3 and 1/2% 3% increase um as well as some additional language related to uh stipends um for after working after school activities and events to help back up our athletic director um when we need additional administrator supervision at these events. Um otherwise, it's my recommendation to move forward with the approval of this contract. Okay. Um approval of um representation of exempt employees guidelines. And we have a motion. Second the motion. Do I have a motion to approve or a motion to approve and a second for the principals association contract? I'll make a motion to approve the principals association contract. I'll second. All those
020in favor? John here. Who? Non-represented exempt employees guidelines. Yeah, so this one again is this is for all the salary positions within the district like our transportation director, community ed director, technology director, district office staff really. This represents a 3% increase on the salary ranges that are identified and then the other big item change was aligning their holidays with the rest of the district. So I believe it was President's Day was added in to the to the agreement. So everyone else in the district had President's Day in their contract and so now we've added it into theirs too. So it's my recommendation to move forward with this one as well. So it's like a $57,000 increase then in wages across the board. Did I read that right? The 3%. It had like 50 one maybe
021it was 54,000 from 25 26 to 26 27 it was like 57. Yeah, so the bottom Yeah, at the very bottom of that. Very bottom of it. Yeah, based on the the assumption the budget assumption of the 3% increase that we had that we had identified in the budget planning. Good. Yeah. Motion of who would second I'll make that motion to approve the non exempt employees. I would second it. All those in favor? The jury page was seconded. Thank you. Um Who will resolution for 26 27 Minnesota State High School League membership? This is the standard annual um MSHSL resolution. We're just really ahead of the game this time cuz they sent it out early. So, normally this is actually due in July. So, nice to be ahead of something for once, right? Yeah. Can
022you just explain briefly as the reasoning to this? Yeah, so the State High School League asked that all member districts do a resolution to commit that they're going to be a part of the Minnesota State High School League. They are going to follow the bylaws and the guidelines that are associated with the State High School League. Um it's written in that we're also going to have designated in the event of something was to happen where the State High School League was to ask all the member districts, "Hey, would you send a representative to vote?" Um we would have to identify the designated school board member, the designated school representative, which would be our athletic director, the activities um there's one for boys and one for girls. designated representative Um and then our global advisory committee,
023which a lot of districts just use their school board and their administrative staff do. What happens if a district isn't a member of them? Um so, we were actually talking about that a little bit tonight. We believe that they would not our students would not be able to um go to state or they would not be able to participate in sections like the State High School League sponsored tournaments. is my understanding. So, it's 100% just sports related. 100% Well, and And arts. Um And yeah, the arts. Yeah. Anything that is competition. Competitions, yeah. I have first and a second to approve the 26-27 Minnesota State High School League membership. I'll make a motion to approve the resolution to approve that 2026-2027 Minnesota State High School League membership. I'll second that. Roll call. Starr? Yes. Frias?
024Yes. Nelson? Yes. Miller? Yes. Acree? Yes. Erdahl? Yes. Motion to adjourn. I would make that motion to adjourn. The motion first to three of the vote. I'll second. All those in favor to adjourn? Meeting is adjourned.