2025.06.16 GFW School Board Meeting (June, Regular)

001Well, I'm in a waiting room. There you go. Good. All right. Good evening everybody. Uh we have a lot of ground to cover tonight with a lot of uh tough decisions and good dialogue. So let's get going. Let's call uh the speed meeting to order for Independence School District 2365 at Fieldman Elementary. And it is now 605. I get a motion. That was the motion. So we'll do the pledge of allegiance to the flag of the United States of America. to the father nation indivisible and justice forever. Okay. Before we approve the agenda, Kelly, I would like to move action item A. Correct. uh associated with uh PMA uh to immediately after uh visitor recognition public comments uh item A and also we would like to add a letter or a item K uh recommend

002lowering change order approval amounts back down to $25,000 for the remainder of the project. That catch. Okay. All right. Uh, can I get a motion to approve the agenda? Oh my gosh. Take a second. Second. All in favor. All right. Right on to visitor recognition and public comments. We have Steve Humper with us from PMA to give a report on uh And I got to wait. What am I supposed to I running this or you here? Okay, I should be able to. So, which one do I need? So, go to We just said a chalkboard. Oh, great. Right. You're going to advance for me, Kelly. I keep Well, good evening everyone. Keep up with you. Chair Miller, board members and superintendent stuff. Steve Pumper with PMA Financial. Um, you may remember I was in front

003of you at your last meeting on May 19th where you approved a parameters resolution and held a public hearing um to issue a,950,000 worth of abatement funds. So since and you approved that resolution. So since that time we took some action to get those sold. So that first page just kind of shows you again the purpose of this is for um parking lot improvements that you'll use at your new um facility across the road. Um these are called tax abatement bonds and the the listed statute authority is is there available for you. So here's what we would have shared with you um at your meeting. Kelly gets back there. It's okay. It's coming from here. Okay, thank you, Kelly. Um, so that very first column, um, shows you what we anticipated, um, how the sale

004would go, um, prior to actually executing it. Um the most noticeable piece on there is with the true interest cost we were assuming a 4.31% with the total print principal interest down there below. Um when we actually held the sale on uh June 4th um it came in much better and so you have um a true interest cost of 3.75% on your money which saved um obviously on your interest cost for the total project and gave you slightly more money in to your construction account as well. So the the results of the sale working with RW Bar were very um very favorable. Um the next slide just shows you those red bars um shows you the additional debt that you are incurring over the next 10-year period of time um because of the sale of

005the abandon bonds. All the blue bars represent the um the principal interest payments that you're making on your new building going forward. We go to the next slide. the tax impacts um show you again the the uh second column over would have showed you what we thought the tax impacts would be um prior to actually executing it. So, if we highlight the average home at $175,000, we um anticipated the increase, the annual increase would be $1444 and the actual increase because of the better interest rate is 13.96%. I mean, sorry, $ 13.96 and annually as well. And if we go to the next slide, this is just again just wait a second. What's $12,000 acre land not homesteaded? What's that? Drop the penny. dropped a penny. It was 12,000 nonh homestead. Is that you're asking?

006Non homestead. It was It was 36 cents anticipated. It actually is 35 cents. I mean, so roughly Yeah. 35 cents today. Yeah. Thank you. You're welcome. Um the sources and uses. So this is again um post sale. So these are all real numbers. So shows you where all the um dollars are going. the,974,000 um to your construction project and then all the expenses um under underneath that dollar amount or who you're paying for your associated partners in this deal. And then we get to um the calendar event that started back in April 2025. Um again, I I told you what happened on May 19th when you were authorized to sale. Since then, we had the rating call. Um, we released this to the underwriter and the sale was on June 4th as I mentioned and

007so we're today in front of you on June 16th because the last action the board needs to take is to ratify the sale as a full board. You gave permission um on the parameters resolution for the superintendent one board officer to execute on the day of the sale and that took place on June 4th. So now the full board ratifies tonight. Um pending that you'll receive your funds on July 1st. Um, as we go forward, um, you can see the nice note that was a highlight from the rating report that, um, Kelly took place on along with us. Um, and you could see that, uh, they're recognizing the improved finances that the district had is, as I'm sure all board members remember, the district at one point in time was an SOD, and you've come

008out of that, um, well, and they're recognizing you for that. Um, so that's very good news for you. Um, and then the last slide I have on here is again the funds um will be available to be spent um as soon as you receive them on July 1st. Um, they will be invested in this case. I believe that you're going to be sending a lot of those funds directly to the city very soon. So, there won't be a whole lot of funds to be invested, but there will still be some dollars that will that will be and that they'll earn interest and be used towards project um budget. And then certainly PMA will continue to monitor those proceeds so that they are um invested in compliance with all IRS standards. And with that, I'll stand

009for any questions before the chair would then go to the motion to pass the resolution. What was the uh 175 residents annual? $13.96. $14 went from 1444 to 1396 gross me anything on your engine. There is no wind. Okay, think we're all good. So, we have this ratifying resolution that we need to Yep. Yep. This be a roll call. Yep. Yep. So, so you need a motion first. Would you know? So, we need a motion to recommend to approve ratifying resolution for sale $1,950,000 baitment bonds. I'll make that motion. Thank you, Emily. Second. Second. Um, okay. Roll call. Sarah, yes. Turtle, yes. Yes. Miller, yes. Breeze, yes. Yes. Very good. Thank you all. Thank you for coming down. Drive safe. That's out there. Yes, Steve. Thank you. Thanks. Okay, we're gonna move on here. So,

010the agenda. Um, yeah, just want to touch base on a couple items there. Um, I we're reliving our executive committee meeting from Wednesday night where we talked about staffing and said, "Yeah, we're pretty good shape. We have new people hired." And the next morning I had resignations from two people and then was informed of another one that had come in the day before to uh to Jennifer. So So we have a number here um just uh that I hadn't mentioned before. Joanne Wheatley Elementary School uh resigned take a position closer to her to her home. Um Anthony Jackson u is a teacher. we hired in March and has resigned before he hits the door. So, um pretty disappointed in that one. Um and then we had a classified staff person resign at the end of

011the year. Uh Greg Olsen who's done some substitute bus driving uh resigning and then Alexander Stokes put her resignation in and that was one of the positions that was going to be going to be cut here. But uh so just a um and then oh I I do need to add one on here too. I sorry um I suppose I might have to approve that at the next meeting I guess because we already approved agenda. Um but I will announce Marilyn Stzman English as a second language. Um thought we got that on here so I apologize. Um resigned as well. Um, and so we are currently looking for a high school English position and uh and an ELELLL position. Um, so there is a lot of movement that's probably going to happen this summer. Um,

012as uh we try to fill those positions. uh some of the candidates for our elementary positions have had either background in e English as a second language or uh are close to lensure. So uh Jennifer was going to look through some of those as well but uh we're uh we got a few holes to fill that I as of last Wednesday night I didn't think we did. So, and then the last thing on the con general consent is just the uh uh approval of that memorandum of understanding between the district and the GFW unified education association regarding the read act and there was a copy of that uh in your packet as well. So, are we there's an old machine? Well, we were How many How many spots are we hiring right now? So, we

013have the EL position and a high school English position. And then, uh, and the EL stands for English as a second language. Uh, high school English. And then we have uh we will be posting a egg position. Um, and frankly I don't know that we'll have any applicants at this stage of the game here. Yeah. And we also and and then Joan Wheatley's position fifth grade which is posted out there already. So and then uh we currently have a Spanish I mean we have we we have a plan for that but I mean we we posted a Spanish position which we have basically all year long. Um, right. This past year we did Spanish um via online program through um Northstar online. Am I saying it right? Northstar online through our South Central Service Co-op.

014Uh, which ended up I think being a very good program for kids. Um, so we have that in place in the event we don't find Spanish teacher. But and then we also have special education for sure. Yes. And so I mean there there may be some shuffling as we go through um to see what what we're able to fill or possibly move people around a little bit to to fill some of those spots. That's plenty. It's plenty. Yeah. Yeah. And then Greg, he was kind of coordinator of our trip. So he still will be assisting but not our employees. We have through CESO. Yeah. So, he will continue to do that. Um, so he's just uh resigning as a temporary bus driver. Basically, he did some subd driving and event driving so forth. Anybody have

015any further questions on any of that? Your way? Yeah. Sorry. Any questions? No. Okay. Well, then I think we could move on to information items. Uh, superintendent report. Well, we need a we need a action. We do the action on the consent agenda. I make a motion to work with a different consent agenda. I'll second. Second. All in favor? Sorry. Okay. Now we can go to the break. All right. Um, first, uh, Miss Mr. Pumper mentioned uh a payment to the city city of Given. Just wanted to let board be aware. I did go to that council meeting. I was that a couple weeks ago, last Tuesday. I lose track of the weeks lately here, but um when they were talking about what they would do and pay that bond off and their investment strategies,

016their financial advisor gave them a couple strategies um options for for investing those proceeds. Um they did not make a decision that meeting, but I did inform them as soon as they make a decision, we have the funds available. actually tomorrow we could s wire money to them because the money is coming out of our construction account and then the new money from the abatement bond will go into the construction account to be used for the parking lot. So just uh I wanted them to know that we're ready whenever they are and uh our intent was certainly never to stick them with a bill of any kind and we we believe that they can invest those dollars and their advisor gave them an option that was basically break even that they wouldn't be paying any.

017So, um then, uh just uh want to mention the building updates. Um kind of the first uh grumble from construction managers on site that it could stop raining at any time. Um although, you know, obviously a lot of work going on inside is still progressing. Um but outside uh they they're getting ready to do curbs for the driveway and parking lots and it's just been tough in some of those areas where u where they've spread black dirt already been pretty tough to navigate in some of those areas. So uh hopefully it can stop raining for a little while. Otherwise making progress outside. Uh if you've been by there, you see that a curb for the inside of the track was put in here at the end of last week and they've been working on the

018grandstand, the footings for the grandstands on both sides. Uh next week, the football scoreboard, uh the the poles are supposed to be installed Monday, and then the scoreboard itself is supposed to be here on Tuesday. And then the the turf for the field is scheduled to install scheduled to start uh July 28th. Again, all of those things are weather weather permitting. Inside cabinetry and painting is continuing. Um putting the last cubbies in the elementary wing. Um first coat of paint is done throughout that area. Um the the center staircase is expected to be on site within the next two weeks in the commons area there. Um they started installing Friday the there's a face brick on some of the block wall on the interior of the commons. It's a skinny brick they call it. They

019started installing that. So you're starting to see what the finished product will look like. And then we're still weather weather has been an issue with the fiber connection to the building. Um that uh as soon as it dries up enough they will get that installed and uh RS fiber is ready to go to to connect fiber and we we need to get that sooner rather than later. So um time capsule I just had a note uh to the public. Uh we intend to um enclose that capsule. It'll be in the bench underneath that gra that main central staircase and that will probably happen in in mid August. So if people have ideas of things that should be in there, um please please let us let us know and uh we'll see what what there is

020room for in there. uh things that we're planning are obviously the whenever we do it mid August that week's paper from Fairfax and and Winthrop News um copy of the student schedule for next year the class schedule um this year's yearbook um you know other school related items as well um so if you have ideas certainly let us know and we'll we'll try to include food things if appropriate. Oh, should they let us not just email? Yeah, email me or contact Julie Elmer or myself. I was going to say, do you want them to email you? Might be best to contact Julie Elmer. Julie. Yeah. Yeah. Emma with ideas. Was there a time capsule made for the piece? Not that I'm aware of. Not that I'm aware of. Um, and that brings up a good

021point. There will be a plaque or something so people will know. Um, and I think I shared the story. Um, the superintendent at at Jordan is um um Renee U. Case evenson was a GFW graduate and uh and she actually taught in in Jordan. And when they were doing a remodeling project, they're tearing down a wall and found a time capsule and it was in the wall of a room, but nobody knew it was there. So, we will have a plaque above that area that will be visible. And the plan is it will be open the year that the last bond payment is made. So, that's in 2022. We would be holding it. So, and it will be fairly accessible. We won't have to tear down a wall to get to it. it'll be under

022a bench. So, so February of 52 I think was the last bomb payment. So, and then last comment just congratulations to the class of 2025, the last uh graduating Thunderbirds. Um, and then uh I got to give a shout out to Annie Worell placed 11th at the state track meet in the discus. And then I know Jo George George had some success at trap track. Yeah, we had uh one athlete uh Taylor Bower. She shot a 25 straight and she also took first place and female novice was 489 for the day and that was a statewide Israel. So congratulations to her as well. That's all I have. Okay. Well, congratulations to who was the track athlete? Annie both girls. Good job. Okay, Erin. So, unless you want me to read Jennifer's, Miss Principal Thompson's um

023hers was ech. Okay. So, 2024 25 school year concluded as Dr. Smith said on a historic note with them being the final graduating class as the Thunderbirds and the last to graduate from our current school site. It was an exciting and memorable milestone as students now begin their individual post-secondary journeys. As the year wrapped up, staff had the opportunity to tour the new school building site. The visit generated a great deal of excitement and thoughtful conversations about what next year will look like in the new facility. Principal Thompson and I also had the opportunity to walk through the new building last week with our new superintendent, Alen Berg, and we are equally excited about the space and what it can offer our students and staff. One positive note for our staff next year is that

024there will be no major classroom relocations or any selecting of new curriculum. Teachers will continue with their current instructional materials, allowing them to focus on enhancing their syllabi, deepening their understanding of standards and best practices for instruction and student engagement. This continuity will help ease some of the typical anxieties associated with a transition that is upon us. We will also need to work towards meeting the new reading requirements mandated by the state of Minnesota through the read act which is reading to ensure academic development. A focus for us next year and in the future will be to learn more about teaching reading across all subject areas no matter what you teach. We are continuing to work on filling a few teaching positions as Dr. Smith has already mentioned, including the CTE, Spanish special education, and

025ELA. This remains a priority for the summer weeks ahead. Additionally, planning is underway to support our new teachers and non-tenure teachers through intentional onboarding and continuous support, building the master schedule, and preparing for professional development and back- to-school activities. We have also begun initial conversations around the processes and procedures that will be in place when we transition to operating together at one site in the new building. Any questions? No, you're planning going on. Anybody have questions? All right. Thank you, Aaron. Uh the dasher update wasn't um much. Spraying some weeds, cleaning and packing. That's what they're up to these days. Um yeah, that's really it. So they'll have their hands full for the all summer. That's for sure. I did see a student council update in the packet. I could have missed it. No, just

026for summer months. Should we let them have the summer off? Yeah. And then I don't know that they will have one in September either. We shall Okay. Okay. All right. We'll move down to board reports. So, canal riverbend district. I have nothing to report in as so much as I was unable to attend. I never checked Paula Williams other than a couple changes. The agenda was fairly straightforward meeting. Fairly mundane actually. So, okay. Well, you've had some pretty lengthy updates prior, so we'll give you a pass on this one. Well, it uh it seemed that Memorial Day caused great confusion on the concept and days of the week. That happens. So, Monday came with the Tuesday. Yeah. Yeah, I hear you. On Wednesday, I realized it was a Tuesday. I should have been there. Um,

027that happens. Okay, we'll move on down to policy. George, we didn't have a meeting. So, and we uh but we will be this month. So, yep. Report next month. FRP another one. What's that one going to be? Focus design building project. where where the budget's at. This might have been more detailed update. Okay. Your short time you're aware of uh community engagement. You guys left there. Yeah, we have that. Yeah, it's kind of a talked about the honor wall again, which we've discussed before, I guess. And then open house for the elementary, kind of a not not a big opening, just a kind of a preschool, and then kind of a a bigger one at a later date, which we haven't decided when the whole school is open. um time capsule. Obvious that some talk

028about the facilities that were closing. So that's kind of all up in the air depending on financing stuff like that. So okay, anything to add? Nope. Um yeah, biggest thing probably to report is just that what date we should host a open house. So I mean opening in winter is tough. So probably looking to push it out to switch time frame unfortunately. But just better weather and so we'll have a partial meeting room for the elementary and a larger one at a later date. I think the elementary partial smaller one will be summer or fall or before school starts or after. I guess that one is really already scheduled. It's the Wednesday of that workshop week August 27th. Okay. Um and which would be when we typically have an open house at at at our

029buildings. Um so yeah, that'll be call it a soft open house because the whole site won't be ready to to tour or anything. Um and then the official dedication of the the new school would be at that later time. And we talked about there's no need to have it right when all the kids are in there. It's going to be January. Um I my recommendation was certainly to wait until at least everything is done or close to done like the theater won't be done for when is that scheduled to be done? Well, right now it's like February 1st or something like that. They want to have the theater maybe done and go after that. So that would be the the formal dedication of the building. Okay, good. Executive committee George basically went over what we're

030going to be going over some of the budget materials and plus contract stuff like that. Yeah, it was a whole hour. That was uh some good talk so far department. All right, we'll just keep moving right along. And so we go down to action items. Uh item B. Um I get a motion recommend to approve CISO food service director agreement at a cost not to exceed 10 or $40,000. I'll make that motion and cut. I'll second. Okay. So, really I'm going to number. So, um we don't currently have a food service director that was done by Lindsay and were you doing some of it too? Well, I was officially because I'm on site. So I I worked with cooks if they had day-to-day issues. Um Lindsay did the menu, you know, menu prep and and

031that. So um CISO has two very veteran um food service directors that they contract out to schools and uh um I've shared with them my main priority for the coming year is is menu development. and we we want to have a a new manu as we move into a new school. Um and uh and they have some experience opening new buildings both both of them that uh will probably be working here in and in in some uh way shape or form. So um they can help with some of that those transition items but uh and they're not physically on No. Yeah. So we still have our boots on the ground that we always had. Yep. Um and then they just were remotely, right? Y they will be out here on occasion. Primarily it'll be removed

032instead of one year contract. Yes. Yes. So because we don't Yes. Well to see. Yeah. Maybe the scope of responsibilities changes after a year. Maybe the district decides we really need somebody in house to do to do that work. Um, so yeah, it's a one one-year deal and typically that position that you had it in house would be between 50 and yeah. Yeah, at least that when you talk benefits. Sorry. Um Y and I I would just say I did reach out to some neighboring districts just about possibly sharing and the one that maybe considered they had a fairly new person and they didn't feel they were ready to take on another district at this part point in their careers. So, but maybe down the road that might be an option, especially as we've transitioned

033in the facility and it's maybe picking up a more um standardized operation that's already running. So, we should document that somewhere too. Bring that up for Mr. Allen from next year so we can let him know who that was. Yep. Yep. That could very well be a good possibility to get a year under their bill. Does FFLP know who the neighboring district is or back? No, we can talk about that. All right. Any questions down your way? So, as far as compliance or those like in-house people that we have like making sure that the freezer is the right temperature and all that kind of stuff, they'll So they'll be responsible for that yet like they have been this year as far as so that their role will really not change. We um especially this year

034because we're starting out in two separate buildings. So we'll still have two head cooks and they'll be responsible for that type of dayto-day management. Good question. Anybody else? All right. All right, I think we can move to vote. Um, all in favor? All right. Can I get a motion to approve recommendation to lease one large bus and one activity bus from full warranty bus leasing? Make a motion for that as well. Okay, a second. I'll second. All right. discussion. I'll just start. Um, obviously this is an alternative to buying a a new bus for 100,000 which you'll see on on our budget adjustments when we get to that part. Um, full full warranty bus leasing is uh out out of New Alm um and they lease used buses. Um, and so this would be leasing

035the a 2016 Bluebird bus comparable to what we have right now. And then a an activity bus. And I I need to emphasize again that activity bus is strictly for that. It can't be used for regular to or from school transportation. So, the idea behind going with an activity bus is to free up our regular buses, especially in the spring when we have so many events or field trips going on. Um, the golf team, let's say, could take that activity bus um and free up a full-size bus for uh that might be going on a field trip or something. So, um, and the price for the two of those buses combined is $24,165. Um, I apologize they didn't send out a that lease agreement. There's a copy of that by your station tonight. But it

036but essentially um full warranty bus leasing will will um take care of all the maintenance on the bus other than we would need to top off fluids on a regular basis. Um, but they would do oil changes, tire change, uh, any any mechanical work that needs to be done, and they would provide us with a spare while they're doing that work. Um, the buses will have GFW schools on the side. Um, yeah. So, and it will be guaranteed to pass state inspection, which is the key key factor for us using the buses. Correct. So what do we use right now for these two needs? Do we have something now we just don't believe it's compliant anymore or it's not passing that is to a point that um that we're getting nervous. I think it's a

0372012 that we would phase out and it would be a spare only rather than doing a full regular route. Yeah. Um, and you'll see on here there's a limit of 18,000 miles a year. And I thought, oh, I better check. Um, because we could be getting close. But even our longest routes, we would be well under that 18,000 miles. Um, but yeah, we would phase out like at 2010 or 12. I can't remember the exact year of bus that we would phase out. And someone had asked me, maybe that was in the FFLP meeting, what do we do with the old boxes? Well, we put them up for sale and just move them on. We only need so many stairs. Yeah. And my guess is you would get a whole lot. What's the the lease

038period of time? It's a fiveyear lease. Y this lease agreement, it comes up to 26.85 for leasing the two vehicles. Now there's two listed on the blue bird is 1860 and the 14 passenger is 18 is right okay so what did you say the total was 2685 yeah that's per month for nine months so take that times nine months and that's the 24 that's the 2416 65. Is that the number I said? I think I did my math right. Double check that. That's using the the 2016 bus. So, after I read this, I think it's, you know, you don't I think it's a good deal for the most part. Um, you don't need, you know, contingent upon leasing three units. That means they'd always have a spirit sitting in your shed for you. Yeah. So

039if one breaks down, they promise you one within 24 hours or we have to have something to fill in that void if we need to. So my question is with our budget situation, can we squeeze one more year of our current system and then address this next year? Are we roll? Are we silly for that? Well, um we we um the short answer is yes, you could. Um we had a lot of repair expenses this year and what we're trying to run on regular roads and it's just And was that scattered through how many different buses? Uh it's primarily geared toward the old on the older ender which was two of them. Yeah. Yeah. So, we're really placing one of them. Yep. Um, so, you know, obviously it would be checking with Mike Ryder on

040what what bus we're going to phase out. Um, but that's the rationale is that um, and when those maintenance issues came up, we didn't know when parts parts were very unreliable. I mean, it could be two weeks later that we'd have a part. So, we got I think we've been kicking this can so far, you know, for quite a while now. Sooner or later, we got to make a decision. You know, you could have another you could have 25,000 odd more pairs of what you figure for next year, which pays for our lease of a couple of them. So, you can't keep kicking the can. We have been kicking the can. We have to update something. And I think this is a start. So, you think we can comfortably get within 18 or be under

041$18,000? Yeah. Yeah. Um, is full warranty bus leasing the only quote that we got for leasing or there other It is just because they're right around here and they're the ones who brought it to our attention. So, yes, that is the only one that we received. They were a spin-off of one of the they're Yeah. transportation companies. Right. Right. Right. Mark, that was good insights. We appreciate it for that. I think you know we were statuto death and stuff and that's one of the things we we quit doing is buying buses. Yeah. So I think it's we have and this is only two. It isn't like we're jumping in and doing but you know we we just can't keep kicking the can. Yeah. So we're going to pay 125 grand for these two over the

042course of the lease which would buy one that we would own. Do we own these at the end? Is there a buyout? No. No. So we have nothing. Y and I think actually our repair budget was used up pretty much by February sometime if I recall. What is that repair budget? I don't know what it was, but it just tells you that there's a lot of repairs going on, right? Well, I no doubt it's probably close to this would be price was more than that. But next year if we get some more students and our budget looks better, we can always buy a bus. Well, that's just it. So So I think this is a start to improving what we have. I like to see us try to stay on the longer side and yeah,

043but still move forward a little bit. So yeah, something that I appreciate is that this says first time customers will be given the option to exit the lease agreement. Yeah, could be out there if you want. It's not working. Yeah. So we have one school year basically to and this agreement is not saying you're buying you're leasing another set next year. That's just a whole new decision. your finances are because it you know any district I've been in a bus purchase is one of those first things to get pushed aside when when you start making budget reductions because it's 100 grand. Um so um yeah there's no commitment beyond this one year. It's not working out. Can we send a bus back different direction? Anybody else have further questions? George, I personally think we should

044skip it this year and see what next year brings. Maybe just go for a purchase or maybe lease something next year. It's a fair point and that's why I brought it up too, but uh so we're going to talk about it some more. Maybe I would like to table I'd like to wait until uh Mr. Bird gets here and get his insight. a lot of the stuff that isn't included. I mean, we're still paying for all the fuel, batteries, lights. I think we did that on any of the, you know, if we went and had a service take over the whole fleet, that that was something we paid for anyhow. We still did the fuel. That was our obligation. Yeah. This is batteries, lights, we would still have to have the insurance to cover these

045buses. Um, I guess I would just I would like more information on other options that we have. I don't really want to commit when we've only seen one. I don't think a lot of us companies that even offer this. It's kind of a unique thing with No. I don't think there are a lot of other options. Yeah, I don't think there are a bunch of options. you know, the interview we had with with them, they I like what I heard from them. Even if we did a complete project with them where they take everything, um they just seem like they're local and pretty straight shooters. Those Damian or Jordan came in an interview with you guys. Yes. Yeah. But I think, you know, like I said, we've been kicking the can for quite a few

046years. We just can't keep kicking the can. And that's what we're doing by tableing it. I think the difficult thing too is I mean when if we spent you know our budget on repairs by February that's just that's you know another bus with another year on it backwards. Yeah gamble for sure. It's a gamble. Yeah. That's a good way to put in this. I think we've been gambling long enough to a vote. What's uh what's been our previous year's expenses for repairs on the buses just this last year? Do we have more than just this past year? Um, is there if you want to table it, that's that's fine. The the only possible downside is in here somewhere. It says very close. It says, yeah, delivery would be buses would be available for lease within

047four to eight weeks of signing of the lease. So, um should be okay if something in July, but we're pushing that it'll be tight is the only concern I would have about well, so I can certainly so pay gas for the bus that we would be driving. Right. Right. where you pay insurance for the bus that we would be driving, where we pay for the light bulbs that would go out and the battery and the foods that we would get topped off. So, we're not really the only thing there, right? It's it's just a matter of rolling the dice on major repairs. Yeah. That could that would have to extend 24,000 that's and and also we're getting a second vehicle with that as well, right? Um, I think we should just bring it to a

048vote. See what happens. It's just one of it right there. You just It could go really good or go really bad. I think it's necessarily that it's going to go really bad. I think the bigger reasonable is, you know, that other bus has aging. What are we going to put into that bus? I think that's Well, that's what I mean would go bad. It's like if we roll the dice, it could go bad and we exceed this repairs because now we have to get that thing back on the road. It's kind of like having an old school where you could spending money. And we know what that's like. So, um, all right, bring it to a vote. Okay, it's a tough one. So, I'll go input everybody for sure. So, um, all in favor of,

049uh, less before it hit. All right, slide passes. Like I said, all good good thoughts of your talk. Um the one uh can I get a motion for recommendation to propose 2560 budget? Well, we have a deficit budget that we're looking at, right? Yep. It doesn't look like we're going to prove it tonight. Well, then we have a special meeting before the Y. So, can we have open discussion on what where we want to get to and no? Well, we'd like to get to a balanced budget. That's simple. Don't want to just don't want to bring a new school superintendent into deficit budget if at all possible. So there's always things when you're and we have two schools to maintain. We have the there's always going to be unforeseen expenses. So approving negative budget and

050then unforeseen expenses. That makes me agree. I agree. Um and so while we were going through so what is it 85,000 right and then the one thing I thought of I thought we were talking but I don't know how many how conservative were you with pupil well we reflected a a drop of was it 10 15 to 18 students enrollment and then We so we included no enrollment under open air. So I think we were I was concerned it is that we couldn't get on the road side. Um yeah and I'll just So how many how many pupil unit did you go by pupil units or actually students? So essentially every I use a round number of $10,000 per student. So, so nine students and we'd have a balance. Um, if we have under open

051ed we would need there it's there it's um like 2500 per student if we get 25% of that. Um so um we would we would obviously need need more in that case. We mean 40 46 85. What did the other two schools that have open-ended? There's any history of what they're bringing in for number? Well, again, the Minnesota schools are they're just really started recruiting. So, you know, they'll be enrolling this fall as they get going. So, no work there. Um, and our contract says we won't start until second semester. So, halfway through the year. Um, but history from others states and districts, they they've usually exceeded, you know, 100 kids in the first year. Now, that's with a limit of two districts per state. We have three here. Um, so the other the two

052that the other two districts are where? They're northwest Minnesota. So, Lake Park, Ottabon, and Managa. So, There's nobody in a southern half, right? And situation again what what the open ed said they would do because I asked that question, are you going to do uh enrollment geographically or so obviously the first half of the year they're going to go that way and then um they indicated that they would try to catch us up the second half. So we would be enrolling kids that come on board second semester and then after that it's basically spread evenly between the three districts. So three unless there was a student who was currently homeschooled in our district, we would get that person regardless of when they when they joined. So um yeah, so didn't include any revenue for that.

053um factored in a drop of 15 enrollment. Basically looking at we've got 55 roughly graduates and 40 kids expected for kindergarten. Um and again you get into pupil units we gra that's that's a little bit more than 15 but then we also have some uh pls kids that come in in the midst of that. So roughly 15 difference difference um is what we were looking at. Um I I don't want to be too polyiana and believe that we're going to have 25 new kids because we are a new school. I mean you can't count them until they're here and we can't count open until we last year. But we're pretty conservative on the numbers. But we're very conservative on our numbers. But and I think if you get those if you get additional students and

054you get open ed you know that's on top additional that's great and then that can work towards what other things we like to do for the school and the the people that work at it. So I I think um we a Kelly did a really good job of getting us to this point. What did we cut out? 36 something was it? Yep. 371 or 3 No, 3 37. 464 we reduced and the deficit last meeting that we presented was 371. But since then the state legislature has uh finalized. Right. Right. And the the one so we're thinking we're at 85,000 but I challenge that. I'd say cuz we had a this teacher resignation that we need to fill. So which once that gets filled now you're uh you're 68 plus 85, right? Correct. So it's

055a little further away than but I would say you have about a 1% chance of filling that for fall semester and a 10% chance of filling that for second semester. Okay? because we've had um like we said, we've had Spanish posted all year long and we've also had a CTE position just because we wanted to see who's out there. I think we had one inquiry and they didn't even agree to fill out the application. Even if they did, I would Yeah. So, so they're they're a very limited quantity. Um so so that the overloads are are there in an effort to to cover for some of those class. Um but we just won't be offering as many a courses each semester as you currently are, which is a shame because we're a we're an egg

056country right here. and and maybe you'll have a better chance next year when that new school is up and operational um people would see it. I I was just going to add that I've had some ongoing conversations with um the CP teachers who um will be here next year and taking a look at our courses. um they came to me and felt like some of the classes are overlapping and there's not a lot of meat and potatoes within some of those courses. So, they have come to me and said, "Hey, we're we're struggling with what we're supposed to teach in some of these classes." And so, I think we need to take a look at them and see if we can pair them down um because they're they feel as though they're kind of running

057a little bit thin. Sure. So, we might need to take a look at um our cycle and how we offer them and the programming um and the pathway and some of that. Um yeah. Okay. We didn't say it. Um so, my heart says that we have a lot of health currently that we pay. Um, and I challenge that count and you and maybe Mr. Bur part of this because we have to have this still done within two weeks. I don't know if he can have any input or not. Is that legal? He gives insight to the budget. He's it's his budget basically. We got to be done by what June 30th. Yeah. So, what are you going to get next week or shortly after that? Well, he's he's been getting the any materials that you

058get. So, okay. He's he's aware of it. So I would I would bounce it off him and I would rather see us get that 85 down and if it means if if some positions are taken but we there's extra money that we pay our talented people even though they're already running lean. I think it's just one more year. We should be good once we start getting some of this other revenue rolling in. But we can't count on it quite this year is that's how I feel. I would concur with that. And I would say let's pay a few extra thousand dollar each these people that are going to be required to work a little bit harder. You know, maybe it's more than a couple thousand, but to get us just this one year. So I

059would say if you can get sit down with the talent in your building and we all know who those are and see if you can come up with a strategic way knowing that there could be more money paid to employees that currently work here, but still getting that down one way or another. So, what are we you asking me to get that down to? Because you're now saying we need to come up with extra money. Well, if if if there's a position that costs $100,000 and it goes away, there's $15,000, we can pay a little bit more towards four or five more teachers that currently would be helped in doing whatever needs to be done for this year. Know what I mean? Yeah. I mean for maybe I'm saying it wrong. Maybe overload is what

060you're trying to say. And we don't want to over but that's why we want to reward them too. And I think next year we'll have the money to have more help here. Well, I don't know that it's a reward to have somebody duties and then get 2,000. Well, I don't know how much it is. But is that realistic? I don't think so. Doesn't sound very realistic. Well, that's why we're talking about it. So, yeah. What is realistic? I don't think approving a a deficit is realistic. Well, I think he's really conservative on numbers. So, is there a number that if we could get closer to we feel comfortable? I mean, I think if we can get closer to break even and then like we said, if we can increase enrollment, we can get money. This

061will be year two now. Like last year, we were put in a real predicament with the budget. We approved what was it the 150 240 240 deficit so I don't think we went we came back and lost 80s 86 I think the final number is right we're projecting it right so oh but for this for this year this year I don't think we gain I mean we gained ground but we had to cut a lot to gain that ground so we went backwards didn't we no technically we made progress because we were at 240 and then came back around and we ended up only at for the actual budget for this year for this year. all you had deficit budget the revised budget and I was it original 240 deficit and I think there had

062been some there was hope that there was a grant that was going to come in cover some of that and and we didn't get the grant but then we revised the budget even after having fewer students than we had expected and we're at $85,000 and and That's I believe because of Lind Lindsay's conservative budget. So now we're presenting a budget at 85 um which is closer to break even and it's still a conservative budget. So, um, like I said, I I am not normally in favor of a deficit budget, but I believe you have a path out of that after next year. Um, as you make adjustments, and there's so many unknowns this year. We've said them all, the facilities, the uh, enrollment, what's going to happen with that? Are we gonna get kids through

063open ed? Um, you know, um, yeah, I think 100 kids is 50,000 for it could go our favor greatly and quickly. It really could. But I would feel we don't know that. We don't know that. I would feel better if I think we need to be lean and mean. So if we can come back in one week and if he can spend one week with a little more strategic thinking with the leaders of the school and maybe Bird's opinion, see if there's something we can do to get that a little closer. I don't know if we're asking for it to be completely even, but it's, you know, 10 grand is 10 grand. If it comes down to 75 and that's 10 grand, it's uh I I would feel better if we took one more stab

064at it. And I know. Yep. I can I can do that. I know you lost sleep over it already, but y let's uh She didn't sleep after the first. You only had two weeks left and then you're fine. Well Well, I'm just going to put it out there. What if I come back and it's basically there I I will not come back with a recommendation to cut the teaching to learning. tell you that right pal because I think that is but is there something sacrificing your academic well I can look for that but I want the board to be aware of that can we talk to everybody that leads these schools and say is there anything that we miss you know we're looking at $5,000 here $7,000 there we're really trying to get out of

065this and just whittle that down as close as we can well and that's one of the reasons why I wanted to table the bus these times And yeah, I mean I go with there. I mean, we haven't five years. And I mean, at some point you're going to have to do now. Is this the right year? I don't know. But I mean, if somebody wants to resend that motion, then there's there your $24,000 toward toward that 85. Um, again, again, I don't know that that's a good decision either because I believe you'll have repair costs that are going to be very significant if we don't start doing something else, but but that's speculation. I would be curious why this teaching and learning coordinator position is so necessary. It's been a one-year position that two of

066them had fame to uh for one of the individuals to take the superintendent course in college as part of a contract. Um I I really like to see that there's some bang for the buck there. I I can't see why with the principles in place and the curriculum in place etc. Why do we need yet another principal superintendent? Maybe we can have our principal here about them. I'll just make one comment because it came up in the executive committee as don't we have curriculum in place here? We have curriculum, but we don't have standards aligned with that curriculum in all areas. And that's been the work that's been going on last year and then again this year and will continue next year and probably into the future. Um and and that's work that I believe

067needs to be done in order for us to start moving our test scores forward. that that we we have curriculum, but are we through that curriculum actually teaching what needs to be taught at the appropriate grade levels so our kids start to perform better on per on standardized tests. Now, I wish I I'd been here one school year, but I can tell you uh the high school principal doesn't have much time to do curriculum because she's putting out fires. I mean, that's just the nature of a high school principal job, right? Um and um is there curriculum is it because of the amount of uh international teachers that were not allowed yet or I think that's been part of it that we have have had eight international teachers plus a lot of probationary teachers new

068teachers this year. Um, so that that does take the principal's time because they got to do three evaluations for each of those three people. But how many teachers do we have that are three years and less? We have to count them all across the district. I'm not sure about I think we have 25 districtwide that were I think non tenure teachers, which is to me an incredible number to have almost half of your staff non-tender. So yeah, so I'd like to just speak a little bit like um so you can have a teaching and learning coordinator which is a little bit more rounded in the category of curriculum and standards and then also mentoring and coaching. Okay. So, there's this um organized nonprofit organization called the New Teacher Center, and DFW has been working with

069the New Teacher Center probably for the last uh well, since I was an instructor coach at GFW, I was trained through the New Teacher Center. Um if you look at the New Teacher Center website, um I I have it pulled up here. It says 44% of new teachers that quit, they they've quit within the first five years of teaching because they don't have support. That's nationwide study. Okay. 50% of those teachers um their their their turnover rates, their the higher teacher turnover rates within schools that have limited resources. And that limited resources would be rural school districts, right? You might have the curriculum, but we don't have the funding for extra bells and whistles for that support. Right? And then it says 2.2 2 billion annual teacher turnover costs for the United States school districts

070due to recruiting, hiring and training new teachers. So our teaching and learning coordinator coordinators they had been um going through the new teacher training that I have been through and it is more in the along the lines of a coaching cycle which is a teaching and learning coaching cycle. And so what that person does is they strategically plan with that teacher with their hey this is what you need to be doing. So we've been doing that sylli work. I say okay you need to have these things done by December. Okay how are you going to get there to ensure that there's not learning loss? Right? So what are those like that planning? What is an instructional strategies going to use? What are those student engagement strategy going to use? Um because if the teacher isn't

071good at that, we aren't going to increase our scores ever. Like so we have to have someone that's doing the intentional work with our um new teachers so that they are feeling like they're comfortable, they have someone to go to because what happens is they typically say, "I can't do this, right?" And so then they leave and the school district goes over, you know, new teachers every year, which is what the middle school high school site has been enduring. I am happy to say that this is the first year that we have very few teachers that are new coming into the district. Um, of course, we've had some unforeseen circumstances, but they're not flocking out of the district because they don't feel like they don't have support. The reasoning behind Dr. important adding them is

072because we said we need support in the classroom. And so um that is the reason behind why we moved towards that also because the staff across the district was saying that we need support for our teachers and we we as a their their peer cannot have the lift that is needed to help that teacher to the extent in which they should be supported on a daily and weekly basis. Does that make sense? So it's also um the burden of their peers when you have new teachers all the time. They can help them of course because that's what we do right but to the extent and to the level they don't have that time. So, the teaching and learning coordinator, the one that we current currently will hopefully have moving into next year, is supposed to

073be reserved for the teaching and coaching cycle where I plan with you, you tell me what you're planning, I come in to watch it, I might co-e with you, um, we're going to reflect on your practice, we're going to set goals, and it's not like just a mentor, I'm going to or a QC comp person, I'm checking you with twice a year and then you're Awesome. Great. Got a few things to work on. I'll talk to you in three months. Right. So, it it's really supposed to be that type of work, but also not to have like the principal not be involved with it. So, we would say I might say I want to see when I come into your evaluation something you've been working on with your your coach and I have already been

074doing that. I want to see what you're working on. Okay. what is it that you're you're working on and what were your action steps? Um, and then what is your your reflection of your own practice and then also my my professional opinion in regards to the strategies that you're using. So, it is a pretty intricate thing and our school district has spent money to to train her and the other teaching and learning coordinator. Um, so I mean there's just really a lot that goes into that type of position. It's a it's a partnership, but each of us have different roles in that, if that makes sense. And they're just working with the untenured teachers, three years and under. Yeah. So I I was actually just talking to Kelly about this. Um, is that's where the

075lip is, right? Like and we're trying to build like Okay. when you come in as GFW your first year, what does that support look like? Then the second year, what does that look like? And then the third year, what does that look like? And let's say you're teaching in another district, maybe if you're under five years teaching someplace else, what does your first year look like at GFW? And what does that support? Right? And then does that person need a second year of support? Who knows, right? Even if you're 10 years outside of the school district, you come into a new school district, the process and procedures are different and new, right? So the person that left us for the ELA position, he had 12 years somewhere else. He still was going to need a

076year of support, right? He's got new curriculum look to look at, planning, preparation, syllabus, like all of that stuff. So it's more of an intricate detail um that the teaching and learning coordinator is what we want them to that's where we want them to be and we were inching towards that this year um supporting PLC's. The other part is our tenure staff. They still need support too. That's where I come in, right? So that's where you can you can split it a little bit where I'm still supporting everybody. Jennifer is still supporting every but the conversations are a little bit different with your non-tenure teachers than with your staff. Currently, right now, the state of Minnesota only requires us to do one evaluation every three years. I think that's dumb. Okay. But that's not to

077say that as a teacher or the principal doesn't go in and have, you know, a conversation and watch a lesson of that teacher at least once a semester, have a little bit more of an informal conversation about their goals and what they're working on, right? Everybody can work on something. Everybody in this room, no matter what we've done, we can all work on that, right? my you know like you know the most decorated Olympian in the entire world didn't get there without a coach. I have a question regarding the standards. Aren't these standards directed by the state? Yes. You talked about implementing them or getting them down there. Aren't they already there in place? We know what they are, but the and Erin can probably expound on this, but the issue is with the curriculum

078that we have, where are they placed within that curriculum? So, we we guarantee that we're teaching those standards at the appropriate grade level. Wouldn't that uh part of the conversation when we decided on the curriculum? Yeah. So, yeah. So we we talked about this a little bit when we selected the curriculum is that most of the curriculum in the United States is based off a common core. The um Minnesota does not do that. We have our own standards. And so most of the curriculum is common core and they do a crosswalk to each of the states that don't do the common core standards. So what our teachers need to do is they need to like the first year we say okay you got to look at your curriculum. Does it meet the standards? If it

079doesn't meet the standards, let's say 80% of it meets the standards. Okay? The other 20% you got to figure out what you're going to do in order to meet those standards because they will eventually come around and be tested on them not only in that year but probably the next year and the next year. Right? So that's the importance of the sylli work is that you got to know your curriculum and you got to know what chapters and in that curriculum actually meet the state standards and then if it doesn't that percentage that doesn't then you got to figure out how you're going to do it right. No curriculum ever will meet 100% of any state standards unless you are common core. I understand our test scores are kind of going sideways. So, we're trying

080Yeah, we're trying to improve them. You know, there's still parents that come in and look at a school district and if your test scores aren't where they think they should be, they won't enroll their kids. So, you're kind of shooting yourself in the foot. We're trying to lift our test scores and if we don't, it could hurt enrollment. So you got to be careful how much you cut some of this quote for these positions. Yeah, it's a lot. You got to be careful that you're not going into statutory operating as well. And you know, you want to like you said, we want to be lean because concerned about other buildings that we don't know how long we have to do maintenance on. There's a lot of unforeseen expenses that could come up if the new

081buildings is not built yet. We also aren't there. So it is, you know, we we have a furniture budget that have to bring some furniture over. There's not going to be things that are completed at the school that we want done as well. But I guess Erin, what you were saying and everything that you said, I guess, you know, my concern is not that it's kind of the, you know, we could probably never get rid of this position then because if there's continually continual coaching that needs to happen and you don't have time, how do other districts that don't, you know, have a teaching learning coordinator of our size handle this? It's about priorities. What do we want? So, you know, and if we and if we want support for our teachers, then I would

082say that's a priority. So, we have about two years before all these new teachers become tener. I mean, we're going to go way down on hopefully new teachers within the next couple years, right? Hopefully. Um, but there'll always be turnover every year, you know? I mean, there's always going to be enough, right? I mean in like four years this is the least turnover five years this is the least turnover that we've had. So I think there will always be turnover. It should be right. Um but I will say that it's a testament to the the split work that we did. I know that we went down with one of the um teaching and learning coordinators but there was still a lot of back work that happened um and a lot of support in the math

083department and also our CT department. Well, I think that's good points by Mark. I definitely see yours too because we're trying to advertise to get people here and way of that is good test scores and you're on Q2. But, you know, at the end of the day, it's we're in the hole. So, I don't disagree at all that we need uh this role. Um Russ, can I just add one thing? um when we're doing our interviews, um Jennifer just actually mentioned this to me is that the the people that are coming here are asking us, "What do we have for new teacher support?" So, if we're trying to get teachers and we're struggling to get teachers and we tell them that we don't have anyone that can support you, that will deter them from coming

084to our school district. You don't think they're asking what type of, you know, support you provide? You know, when I interview with somebody, I want to know what kind of manager and teacher they are. I'm asking them what support they provide to a new role. They're specifically asking for a mentorship program. So, can they have a mentor within the department? It's a lot different than what I just described. That's a building buddy and someone that works with you in your professional learning community. um but it isn't something that sits down with you and strategically um helps you with your lesson plans and ensures that you're um aligning that work with the standards um and actually playing it out in the classroom. So this escapes me it just seems to me that it would be the

085teachers um job their requirement be able to understand these standards and put them forward. Isn't that what they're hired for? That is, but we also have tenure teachers in our school district that don't do that either. That's why we have a lot of work that we need to do. And so that's why it takes more than just one person. It's a strange new world. Is it the So the tenure? So that is interesting to me. So they're not even capable of dialing in the curriculum or is the curriculum too new that we overhauled on them that they just need time just like anybody starting new fresh. Well, if I'm going to be entirely honest, I'm going to say that there are teachers that um make it look like they're using the curriculum and they're not.

086Okay. Um and there are also um teachers that refuse to teach change their teaching practice who've been teaching for a very long time. And so there's a lot of massaging that needs to happen and a lot of support and the reasoning behind why they're not doing it. So a lot of times we do what is easiest for us and not necessarily what's best for students and um what we're what we should currently doing as practice in our classrooms. So for those tenure teachers that are doing this, do they fall under your guidance at that point or the learning coordinator? Well, everyone is underneath my guidance and I I guide the teaching and learning coordinators. I'm saying this now because they were mostly in my building last year. Um, but I'm ultimately the one that's responsible

087for what's happening in the classroom, but it's it it you can't have one person also be the principal and be the person who is in everyone's classroom all day long. It's just not possible, right? So, a lot of school districts will share across the board, you know, like a curriculum director also might be a DAC. They also might be um the instructional coach, the teaching and learning coordinator is the instructional coach, right? Like, you say districts share that. There's some that have shared that position. I mean across their district like if they're like a you know when I was in Redwood they did that too where they were at the they were at the elementary but they also did middle school they did high school right across the board and then they worked with the

088teaching and learning director to ensure that that happened. Y um well I see where you're at. I see where everybody's at. So I think we just put out all the challenge to you just where are we with this def where are we in our reserve what's it look like you know financially where are we sitting there I mean so we're supposed to have a certain amount of reserve 12% are we at the 12 or so 12% is they don't want you have any more than three months which is the 12% I believe We're talking the the the district's fund balance policy is 12 12% is our goal for un for the unassigned general fund. So I put a copy of this at your station tonight as well. So Mark's question was what's our picture? So

089this currently the end of this year we're we're projecting that we're going to end up at a million17,000 in unassigned fund balance. We would drop by about a 100,000 in that area. Um part of that's because of some transfers out to cover deficits in in other areas. Um but um so we're dropping we're going to drop a little bit. Um that's the other thing. Um you know it the discussion we've had tonight is about solving this bottom problem. Um total general fund you see drops from two 2 million 911 down to 2,826. That's the $85,000 deficit. and it looks different. I got rid of this run 21 because that was confusing and so I just got rid of that for this example. Um, but let's let's say we cut a teaching and learning coordinator that's

090actually not coming out of this unassigned area that's up above here in uh um in this uh basic skills area. we're able to put that in there where we actually we're deficit spending in there, but we have a healthy fund balance with ongoing revenue coming in there. So, um you know, we may get a total balanced budget, but that doesn't guarantee that that unassigned is not still dropping a little bit. So, try to be careful about that as well. So, but isn't the covenant based on the total fund, the total general the the the um no the board policy is on the unassigned general fund. So, just that portion and how do things flow to the unassigned? So, so all these all these areas up above here, literacy, read act, uh oops, typo there, literacy

091incentive aid, basic skills, library aid, all of those come they're what's called categorical revenue. So, they come with a with a hook on them. You have to use it for this particular type program. The easiest one is LTFM, long-term facilities maintenance. We can only use that for projects that qualify under long-term facilities maintenance. Um fixing fixing a water cooler um thing a boiler whatever. Um we can't use that money to pay teachers unassigned usually. And you'll notice we get the most revenue in that category, 9 million. That's primarily the general ed foundation. That's the the revenue per student that's coming in. It's it's not earmarked for any specific purpose. It is unassigned. So when you talk fund balance, you you want to look at that area because um you can see in these other areas

092we have some pretty large fund balances in some areas. Um, but it really doesn't LTFM that fund balance is going to sit there for quite a while because we're hoping we don't have a lot of maintenance issues on another school that isn't covered by warranty for a few years anyway. Um, so the 12% is on that bottom line unassigned unbs. Um, and so we are we are dropping down in that area a little bit. I don't know if I answered your question, Emily, or not. It Yeah, it gets starts to get into the weeds when we start talking about all these individual areas, but so it's unassigned and it flows into the unassigned category. Then what does it use? teacher salaries primar I mean um teacher salaries some some teacher salaries can go into this

093uh basic skills area but like a high school science teacher couldn't go in that area it's not a basic skill high school science um we we have elementary teachers um in um teaching and learning coordinator because they're trying to de improve the teaching skills of all of our teachers. Um, but most teacher salaries are going into that unassigned general fund. And our electric bill, our insurance costs, all of those things are in that unassigned. That's the biggest budget area in the whole district. Was there one of those funds that we could transfer into unsigned for part of it? Not not of any of these right now. No. Occasionally the legislature gives some use some authority to make transfers. We were talking about that a few weeks ago, right? Yeah. But they uh they did make

094some changes on LTFM, but that's the extent of it. I I I haven't seen anything in any reports right now that we would have transfer authority facilities. We would we would have one you could do um because that's one that you set up as a board and a district um and that's uh uh for you you did this assigned strategic plan. Um and there's a h 100,000 coming out of that right now that is dedicated to the new facility. There's a portion in the budget that said uh we've that the district would pay um that's a h 100,000 there. Um the rest was intended to be for strategic planning purposes slashtechnology um purchases moving forward. Um but that's one the board established you could change that. Um then you then you'd be looking at what

095should we do for a tech replacement schedule in the future if you read that. So there's technology that's coming out the technology on the technology at least. Say that again. Follow that. But then we do a race with team, right? Oh, well, well, we don't know where that's going yet. So that I mean that's a possibility. We're going to talk about that at FFL or PMR. So whether whether that's the right decision, you brought up a lot of questions about that. Sorry about that. No, no, they were good questions. Um and we we have been talking to an attorney who is a specialist in that area FCC licenses. Yeah. So um number one, I don't know if a recommendation will come forward to to sell that lease or do we counter with the it is

096worth more than what has been offered so far. Um, so but yeah, if if we did do that, I would recommend that that go into that strategic planning account because that's to support that now, George. Well, it's not an easy decision. It's not. Is there any harm in saying, "Hey, let's take one more week and take one more crack at it or any ways we can skin it." I know. No, I I I want lean on lean on I want to clarify one thing. I said, "Yeah, we can meet June 30th." And I would recommend against that. I would say we meet next Monday, 23rd. So, there is some time. So, you have time to submit it because you have to. Well, don't no it's just I don't know something goes wrong and we have

097tornadoes and don't meet who knows I don't want to be meeting literally the last hour to approve of our either way we're in better shape if we were last year but potentially so last year we were been kind of but improved from what we had for budget when we got the actual so it was you know it was gloom and doom to begin with it ended up better better. We're at Gloomville now. So, so another thing might be all of the utilities for all three sites are in here for this year, right? And the insurance and the tax and so we even though we planned on being all moved in August 1 and then you then we got set back by a lot of weather delays. We didn't anticipate that. So we haven't harvested the

098savings from savings there. One site. Yep. In a lot of ways. So there's a lot of I feel we're we're going in the right direction. I think next year's going to be a lot easier conversations. Oh yeah. Um but let's not put the cart before the horse and let's still be frugal and and just take one more crack at it. see um utilize the brilliant minds you have and let's just see when you guys come up one more week what's one more week of uh good old good old hard work before you hang around had my feet up all day today um yeah I'll have to contact Mr. soon because I know he's leaving for Alaska short for 10 10 days before he comes on board August 1 or July 1. So do we have

099to uh table table that indefinitely because it's mean it comes back you table it it has to be today if you do it indefinitely it's at the next time we bring it up which will be a special meeting. So, can I get a motion with the table and definitely the recommendation to approve proposed 25? I'll make a motion to do that. Second. Second. All in favor, right? Okay. Things get easier. Uh some well some can I get a recommendation or a motion to approve recommendation to call for bids for dairy products and fuel for fiscal year 26. I'll make a motion to call for bids for dairy products and fuel. We did that every second. Second, George. Thank you. All in favor? That's a public opening or is it just you just open? Normally, normally

100a superintendent opens them and then brings them to the next award meeting for typically would just notify the parent winning vendor. Y and they said there is only one, right? Normally we have limited durates. Yes, we a couple options for fuel. Yeah. Okay. I get a motion to recommend to designate fiscal year 24 donation for CTE projects at new building. I'll make that motion. Okay. A second. I'll second. Okay. And that was is this the one that we want to memorialize? Yeah. Yeah. I'll just explain a little. So there were donation given to the to the district uh to go towards CTE programming or or facility. And George brought up a comment our executive committee that um that he he he understood that that was there to cover any cost overages because square footage was

101added to the facility. And I believe that is accurate. Um but when bids were done, we had a balance. We came in at at budget. So, uh it was not used for that. Um with all the transitions, I just thought it would be a good idea to get it in the minutes here that that it's a it's $117,000 now after investment over the past year and a half. um that those dollars be used for CTE project at at the high school. Um and I would reference the greenhouse project that that's kind of seed money for that if if and when that happens, but I don't want to just specifically say only that item because it was intended for the CTE participant. But that's the major major wish list out there right now at CT. So,

102um, and I just thought it would be good to have it in the minutes that that was what was was documented that that's that money stays with the CT program. Yeah. Regardless and I and that's the donor that's where it was intended. So, that's where it should should lie. Anybody have any comments? vote. All in favor? Okay. Uh I get a motion to approve the proposal for construction consultation for one day per week. Okay. A second. Okay. Now we're going to discuss. So it really wasn't in the packet but uh no one we've talked it's been discussed at the very meeting. So and really it's it's uh Dr. Smith just working you know roughly one day a week whether it's answering emails attending on-site meetings with Carl Anderson maybe even bringing up Mr. bird to

103speed and I think I think it's valuable um for the knowledge that Dr. Smith has. If you look at what we lost when Dr. Horton left and what Dr. Smith had picked up on and that that's a lot. Now we got a new superintendent coming in that primary focus should really be uh the staff and the school and the kids. um at least for a couple months and then maybe this thing is nearing end anyway, you know, then maybe he can he can wrap it up. Uh I mean we have a proposal like is it month by month or Yeah. Um you know I in my comments to board members in various committees I said I'm willing to stay on until middle school high school kids get in the building. That doesn't mean I you

104are obligated to have me stay on. And I've talked to Superintendent Berg as well and he mentioned, yeah, maybe by MEA there isn't enough to keep you busy. I hope that's where we're at. And I'm happy to walk away. Um, I think it's very cheap project management. I I know it's and it was $500 per day or Yeah. or doctors have to keep an eye on it. Yeah. And we can we can end it at any time, you know. So, we're just a little gunshy cuz we had a superintendent that tried this too, but it was way different way much bigger. And I want to qualify that much. You're not going to lose any sleep over. I think it's um you know I don't know if that's a is there a contract that needs to

105be written and of course we want legal see but I think it's a cheap um project management fee and it comes out of construction fund it doesn't come out of what we just talked about here um which is looking healthy hopefully healthier we down item K um so That's my thoughts. I think it's a cheap insurance policy to keep things moving in the right direction, not reinvent the wheel of a new contact, somebody that doesn't fully understand the construction process of the building stage that everything's in. And Dr. Smith has done a really good job of keeping an eye on everything, giving us great updates and detailed updates in his weekly update emails he sends out. Um, like I said, if get us through the summer and school's open and that thing's basically in falling

106forward towards the finish or finish line, I'm out of here. I So, I'm happy to do that. Yeah. You know, I I can write something up and I can even put in there that, you know, Superintendent Burr controls the ending. Y cuz if he if he's cuz I agree with you, Chair Miller, that uh I made the offer because I believe that he his focus needs to be on getting the school year starting now and uh all of that that I thought we'd have it under control, but um yeah, and and there's just a lot of conversations to pick up that have happened in that building project just within the last 11 months that I've been here. So, um, it takes that off his plate for the immediate future. And once he's ready, he says

107the word and I'm and I'm out of here and available for for phone calls from him, whatever. But I wouldn't be running out of here for meetings and so forth. We're going off those numbers. I say not a chance, but we're going off of construction. So, yeah. Um, how many hours per week do you think? Yeah. Are you estimating? It's It's hard to tell. It It's going to be at least a day I figure week whether I'm out here or answering emails, phone calls, whatever. I think it's important simply because you've established a relationship with everybody involved in this operation already. Well, and we can't afford to have any balls dropped basically. There you go. It's and it makes the transition that much easier. It's quite inexpensive. Yeah, I think it's good for both parties,

108us for Mr. Berg and getting his team up and running with Faren and and Wade and Principal Jacobson or Thomasson as well. So that's where I stand probably. I mean, I know Emily, we were just fortunate to get Dr. Smith that had building experience. Yes. You could have got a superintendent to had not and then you would have had hired somebody to help get through the project. So, he's done a wonderful job. I'm all for hiring him as a consultant for one day a week. Amy or George, anything to add before we I think we should. Yeah. Okay. All in favor? We had three four. Okay. All right. On to maybe this. Should I explain this real quick? Yeah. So, one of this happened um I believe in the first board meeting that I attended

109in August that I was designated as the the identified official with authority for the district. And that's a long way of saying that I can give permissions to Mr. Wernern to do MCA, you know, handle testing stuff and Principal Jacobson to do the disciplinary incident reporting system. Can I ask to not be that person? Yes. No, you can ask, but the answer is no. Um, and all these various reports, there are different levels. You can either be a user or an editor, whatever. The superintendent typically is this person. And I just thought it would be a good idea to designate Superintendent Berg as that person effective immediately. Um, so when he starts January or July one, he is ready to make any of those appointments and you got to go through the MDE website to

110do that and it has to be recorded with them to do it. This isn't just an obvious task for a superintendent. Um, yeah. I don't know why they made it so official. I I I think it's because it it there's confidential data in a lot of these reports. So there ultimately the superintendent is responsible but he is he or she is not doing all of those reports. So um yeah it I don't know when this came into play probably about 10 years ago. So wasn't always but that's all thing to have in place right before before he starts instead of waiting your July 20th meeting or whatever date that meeting is going to be and then suddenly he was wanting to do something and say won't let him he'll be ready to go. So all

111right so I have to read this whole thing on that yeah bear with me everybody. Uh, can I get a motion for resolution approval of identified official with authority, also known as Iowa? The Minnesota Department of Edie Education requires that school districts annually designate an identified official with authority to comply with state access control security standard uh one, which states that all user access rights to Minnesota state systems must be reviewed and reertified at least annually. The identified official with authority will assign job duties and authorize external users access to NDE secure systems for their local emergency or education agency. It is recommended the board authorize Alenberg to act as the identified official with authority for GFW school district 236501. We get a motion to approve. I'll make a motion to approve the resolution. Okay.

112Second. I'll second. All right. And then roll call. Sir, yes. Turtle, yes. Yes. Miller, yes. Gre, yes. Rosome, yes. All right. Thank you everybody. Um, can I have a motion for non-renewal resolution? There's an attachment to print that out. We'll make a motion for the nonrenewal resolution. Make a second. I'll second. All right, Dr. Smith, you want to just um this was non-renewing uh m Mr. Balakoko, English teacher, um that we had informed that u we were looking to not non-renew him and actually gave him an an offer to either submit a letter resignation or or have us do this non-renewal and he said we should do this. So here we are and this is the position that was open um where we hired Anthony Jackson who is now resigned as well. So we still

113have this position. So is it the position question that position has struggled for the last I would say four five years and it's not been good for our kids. No. And so that's why we have to Yeah, get the ones that are good initially and have a lot of potential and then support them along the way to stay because if we want to keep them, we want to keep them. So, we just got to find the right one for that upper ELA. And did George, you had brought up there because it was odd that he actually resigned at one time and rescended that and wants this. So is it a Did we look into what George had asked if there's any we liable for for Yeah. The question was is he doing it for unemployment

114purposes? No. Is we hire these international teachers through Amity is the name of the company and it was their recommendation. Um, and I'm not sure why they didn't because I I don't know that he will be eligible for any unemployment. He he's paid through will be paid through August and then has has a new job already at at Mang I think it's Manga Academy in St. Paul starting September for this already moved down there. My assumption would be because I have to do reports for AMD throughout the year and so I do progress reports with them. So there were previous conversations that I had had with them indicating this was coming. Yeah. So that's my assumption. I don't know that for sure. Um that makes sense. Yeah. They have detailed documentation through their program. Okay.

115Well, as long as there's nothing that's some angle that they can come back on and or we just suck pay him for a year of no teaching that he's not going to teach or anybody else as far as that goes. You know, if if he was a tenure teacher, we couldn't be doing this at this late late stage, but he was a probationary teacher. So, it's one action and and he's done. and we need to either do one or the other. And that's why I actually gave him the option. Some people don't like a non-renewal action on their employment history. Y and I was a little surprised when he changed his mind and said he'd like us to do this, but that's what he requested through through email. So, what if he resigned? It would

116look like he's jumping around too. So, yeah. So that makes sense. Anything. Okay. Actually, we did the motion. Yes. Yes. Miller. Yes. Breeze. Yes. Rosa. Yes. All right. Thank you everybody. Uh can we get a motion for accepting donation resolution? I'll make a motion to accept donation resolution. I'll second. Okay. And what we have is um $71 anonymous uh restrictions community bus, winter Bible study group, $418 community bus, and William Bastion $100 restrictions high school football, which those are all wonderful. So, um thank you for them. And William just graduated, too. So, that's pretty neat. Already given back. Look at that. All right. He's a very mature student. Um, so thank you to those three. Um, and we'll go roll call. Stair, yes. Turtle, yes. Acre, yes. Miller, yes. Yes. Awesome. Thank you, everybody. Okay.

117Now, item K is what we added and uh which is uh recommending Lauren change order approval amount back down to 25,000 where it was originally. So, first we'll start with a motion. I'll make a motion to lower the change order 25,000. I'll second. So, the discussion and the my thought process on it, you know, I was going to give Dr. Smith a little more work possibly, but you know, the reason it was up is because we didn't want to hold long lead items, which would have be, you know, impactful to the schedule. Um, and during the process there's a lot of changeovers. We having a lot of special meetings or uh waiting a month to approve. Now we're to the point where everything should be ordered. There shouldn't be anything that impacts the schedule unless

118we decide to legitimately change something, which would be foolish at this point. But we have a very healthy budget yet. We're uh we're on track to be sitting really good um with contingency money about 1.2 millionish. Yep. And what I don't want is for um because these these construction crews, they know each other and it's they I just don't want things coming at the end because they know they have money sitting there and I just want to keep a closer eye on it, especially now that um well, you'll be keeping an eye on it as well, but um you know, if it was going to be burned, whatever. I think we just want to make sure that they just don't burn our money at the end because it's sitting there and it's it's not going

119to there's nowhere else for it to go. So, their thought process might as well use it. I think it would be better just to have a more public discussion if there is some extra funds about what we spended on because everyone's had input and we had the site team and so this will allow us to have better discussions about any remaining balances. and be able to and include more people. Yeah, I think that's what do I think very need to be open about it and not let that money just skip or if we can use it to add do something that it has to use within three years, right? So, we no trouble getting rid of it. No, but you want to us, but um there seems to be a you know like a secret

120agreement to how to grab some of that money. It just scares me. Well, so that's this stops that. Yeah. So there, trust me, there's still ways to do it at 25,000, but it's they'll think twice. Um makes them work harder. Well, but change orders go through Kelly. So, you get a detailed list of this is a change order, but but it's, you know, but but it was 150,000 or 100,000. But my concern with that lies when you said that there are ways to do it within 25. Well, I'm just saying but there's a close eye on it. It's at only 25, right? You know, we could say zero and it' be almost impossible, but they would have challenge every single thing. But what I'm saying is like so if it's $100,000 and it's a mechanical

121change, they'll say, "Well, no, 50 of it's for HBAC and 50 is for plumbing." Then they they Well, it's kind of like it's kind of like both them and me was hired to do the dirt worker design and then they do an analysis of some ground and it charges 25,000 to make that determination which I think should be legal. We pay $19,000 an acre. They're hired to do the dirt figuring and then they charge us a bill to figure out we have 1.6 acres of wetland. This legalized stealing and they get away with it. Disagree. So, it's really it forces them to not be so liberal with the funds and uh what they think they're going to charge us for and what they're not. And it's they they see a big they know exactly what

122our contingency is and they I would I I did share with Chair Miller the change orders have definitely slowed down the last three months and that is typical. I mean uh now will they end? No. Um and by and large any change orders that have come along have probably all been under that 25. If if not, it it hasn't been over by much, but which is fine. But so the you know, the only thing is if there is one now that comes over 25,000, it'll wait till the next board meeting. Um and just need to be aware of that. And like I said, that shouldn't really mean any I mean it shouldn't be they'll let Carl will let you know that's an issue, but there shouldn't be any more me time issues, you know. So

123everything should been ordered. I I don't except for the kitchen being an issue. Bulk in the kitchen. Um and stuff is ordered, but getting work done. Yeah. So, um that's great that there's very few changes and there's good if we start seeing, you know, eight or 10 come in that are, you know, if they start piling up at that 25 current grand mark, we'll know about it. It's just to keep a closer eye right there in the crash to make sure that uh all a sudden that 1.2 two just disappears for under great promise and we don't know why because uh our nonapproval amount was so high by the board at a board level. That's my thoughts. Anybody want to chime in? It's great insight. Appreciate that. Thank you. Good. I mean it's more tedious

124but um so if there's something that would greatly impede the progress then we have a special meeting then we can call a special meeting correct three days notice that special yeah so okay I mean they were going to have to run into a $100,000 change order to do that or well $26,000 change order I guess but I can't imagine there's much like I said I I think I approved six change orders last week for a total of 26,000. You know, they were $4,000 here, 5,000 there. So, and you can tell Dustin that uh the whole gas line connection and the utility connections just has us a little on edge and fired up even though it's really not his issue, but it's Yeah. And the turn lane. So, all right. Put the vote. All in favor?

125All right. Well, great job everybody. A lot of four talks. Appreciate you. So, oh, so we should probably set a board meeting for Monday night 6 o' 6 o'clock in uh this room. We have policy committee before that. So if anything more than that other just say we're having one. Um why don't you have somebody make that motion just so we have a motion to have a special meeting uh a week from today at 6 o'clock Monday in this room. I'll make a motion to have a meeting at 6:00 next Monday. Second. Second. All in favor? All right. I get a motion to appear. I'll make a motion to adjourn. I'll second it. All in favor? You so slow on that one. I was already pointing. I thought no one was coming through. I saw

126that. Um,