001Our consultants share preliminary findings with district leadership identifying key themes around academic excellence, equity, and student well-being. There are still a few more groups that the consultants would like to hear from. So we so we have upcoming focus groups scheduled. I want to thank everyone who has contributed their voice to this important work. Last Thursday, St. Park Middle School hosted its first multicultural showcase. Students, families, and staff came together to share performances during the school day. The event highlighted the importance of creating spaces where every student's identity is honored and celebrated. Thank you to the staff and volunteers who made this event such a meaningful and joyful experience. Additionally, the middle school and high school have upcoming theater performances of Singing in the Rain and Little Women. These are just a few of the things
002that are happening across the district. Yesterday, I held a superintendent question and answer session for families. I heard directly from families and answered questions about district initiatives, including updates on the strategic plan, academic priorities, and other areas of community interest. We hope to foster open dialogue and strengthen partnerships between families and our schools. I encourage all families to attend and participate in future opportunities. There are many more opportunities for engagement within our schools. We are beginning the the search process for our principal for Susan Lingren Elementary School. Principal Pollockch has spent many years with the district and his presence will be missed. Thank you. All right. Thank you, Dr. Hines, for that superintendent report. Uh that brings us up to number six on our agenda, which is discussion items. And that um for the first
003thing we have on our discussion items tonight is community education budget presentation. And is that you director Magnus and and Director Howard? and director Howard, you're coming to the table here. Um I believe that we had a preview of this at our last study session, too. This is an a bridged version. Yes. So, we'll just run through this so um we have some context for the action items later. Great. Thank you. So, good evening, Chair Cox, Superintendent um Carla Hines, and members of the board. We're glad to be here tonight to take you through um the a review of the community and school nutrition budgets. So, we just want to make sure that you're prepared and have the context for taking action. And as Chair Cox said, we've reviewed this um previously. This is just
004a reminder that we're deep into the budget process. And one of the important things we do is update the current budget. So, we're preparing for the audit and then as we prepare the budgets for next year. You can see here we are in April almost to um the final approvals of the budget which will happen in June. So we'll we'll quickly move through the community service budget and overall it's an improved budget from original which we have been anticipating um under uh director Howard's leadership the community service program has flourished and gone from a negative fund balance to a really nice positive fund balance. So we're thankful for that. On the revenue side, um, in overall community ed revenue will be increasing by $686,000. The majority of that is in tuition and fees and that
005was because of conservative budgeting around the kids place program and I don't know if you want to add any context around that. Um, and you'll see the other side of that here in expenses where we held back on some salaries um, knowing that we were we were waiting to see if these programs would fill and we could hire the the commensurate staff. Right. And then just some additional cost containment strategies we had in place. Um and we were able to um expand um some of our offerings with uh at a particular a couple of particular sites as well as kids place preschool. Um so then that also required additional staffing. So we were able to take some uh participants from the weight list and add staffing. So and they're just going to put back real
006quick. So there's a $686,000 increase in revenue. offset by a $535,000 increase in expenses. Um so the total fund balance um is increasing for community education by $357,000. Then as we move to school nutrition, um Tammy was here last um time we met, the school nutrition revenue is increasing. We're recognizing the new federal rates and the changes to state and local revenue based on free meals in the state of Minnesota. We added this slide. Um we thought we had it in there last time. We described what's happened with the state rates and how large the the state reimbursement is now and what an important part that is of of school nutrition. And we're hopeful that that will remain in place. It's a really important part of a student's day and it's um helped our participation
007and I believe the um ease of students experience in the lunchrooms having free meals. So, we're very thankful for that. Um expenditures are going up by $169,000. Um a lot of that is in that supplies area. We're watching food prices. We're watching potential tariffs and other things that might impact the prices of ingredients. And so we're just being mindful of that budget. So the entire school nutrition fund balance is going up also by $357,000. It's important to note that these are two funds outside of the general fund. We cannot take this money and move it to the general fund. However, if either school nutrition or community ed go into the negative, we must take general fund money and move it into those funds because we cannot close them with negative balances. So, these are vital,
008strong programs in both community ed and school nutrition that serve um our community and our students in really important ways. And the really strong budget management by both Tammy and by Director Howard um save the general fund and really serve students so and families. So, here's our next steps tonight. later. Um we're asking the board to approve these changes to the budget and then we'll be coming forward with the budget um board next year fiscal year 2026 for all funds on June 10th um for a review and then to be approved on June 24th. Can I ask a quick question? Um this is relevant to something that came up in our listening session earlier. So, if we were to have reduced or lost um some special education funding, can the community uh service and school
009nutrition budget um like for example for Kids Place, if you have kids who require special education supports while they're at Kids Place, can that can that fund balance be used for the for that? We already have a tax levy for the for the students who we serve in Kids Place with the disability. Um, so there's a tax levy and those those separate funds are a part of the community service fund, but beyond that's that's already a placeholder in the community. So they're categorical funds specifically for the particular program use, but we do get um funding for um children with disabilities and we do apply that currently to our ch our kids place program. So that's how we're able to increase staffing to support students that have um special needs. If there were further cuts, there
010is not any flexibility under current law to take funds from community ed or school nutrition. Now, there's banter about creating um more flexibility so that fund balances might be moved into the general fund, but that would take a change in law. Thank you. Other comments, questions? Again, you've heard a lot of this which just informs sort of the conversation that we've heard here. I one big takeaway I had that I just want to echo because was just how much Tammy works to get our meals in uh at a reimburseable budget and how helpful that is because that means then we've got a and not just a meal, just a nutritious, nice, attractive meal from what I understand too. And that just has a benefit because we're giving good food and we're getting fully reimbursed for
011that or reimbured to the maximum there. And I just really appreciate that that we have somebody who's taking the time to do that. So, thank you. Any other comments or questions? I don't have questions, but you know, you already talk about it, but because all of the community me and and the nutrition, so those those are restricted plants. We can always I think we should keep reminding that always all the time. Yeah, maybe we can build in a disclaimer in each board presentation right at the beginning a big slide that says uh these are the funds that can and cannot be used. Um it is tricky. It is it's very complicated and I think we always say thank you for navigating us through the complications and that it's not just you. It's a small staff
012of um people that are doing that, looking at that stuff and making sure that we're we're following the letter of the law and making sure that we're being smart and all sorts of things there. And it's and it's not easy. Um so we appreciate that very much. All right, unless there's anything else, then we'll move on to our construction update. Thank you, director. Thank you, Director Magnus. And we'll bring up Jim Lang and our facilities and safety manager. And you have a convenience. I do. Construction representative. Yes, I do. Thank you very much. Uh, Superintendent Hon, Chair Cox, fellow members of the board. Thank you for this time. I brought with me tonight, uh, Richard Yali. He is one of our superintendents from Canut and Construction. And rather than listen to me talk, we're going
013to let him talk this time. So, we have a a brief construction update. It's kind of an exciting time. We're back into the thick of a lot of construction going back on. Depending on which way you came in, you would have noticed the stadium is gone. The the stands are gone and it's an empty shell out there right now. Um, Aquilla is going up. Uh, the we'll let him talk about this as we move forward here. So, uh, Hines of Cox board members appreciate and thank you the opportunity to have you come and talk to you what's going on. Um, if you have a questions of on each project, just let me know. First up will be the community center central pro. Sorry, I'm getting ahead of myself. Central Community Center project. Um, this one
014is a renovation of the pool, locker rooms, and the pool and then gym locker room started. And then if you go to the next slide, ch or is this the So, this is a down in the locker room area. This is like the main joint hallway. We're moving into the finish stages down there. So, this is what a finished wall will look like when we clean it up a bit. And this is the joint area will lead to three separate locker room areas. There'll be a men's, a women's, and a family in the middle. And then next slide. And then here's a look of how far we're we're pretty much getting close to the done stages for all the restrooms and the bathrooms in there. Uh res the flooring is currently going in this week
015as we uh speak. So we are getting real close to being done with there. We do have um a new lift that will provide for handicap accessibility from the locker room area up to the pool deck area. This was one of the bigger challenges we we encountered with this bu with this age of the building and the pool and the location. Um part of the referendum was to make sure that the pool the community spoke that they wanted to have uh handicap accessibility to that. So that lift will lower them down into a a central station between all the lockers that whether it's a family member, whether it's a a male or female can they can they go into their lockers from there off of off of the new lift. So Yep. And that lift
016I mean what I'm trying to remember is that like because this building has been pieced together over time, right? I think you were sort of suggesting that even like just because things weren't level, there just weren't like natural places because this has just been pieced together. And somebody thought at one point, well, we can fit a pool here. We'll sink at 4 feet and all sorts of things, right? Yeah. I mean, you if you look at it, the where the bottle of water you see right there is actually the pool deck. So, and it's actually sitting at the and then the metal at the bottom is actually the the level of the locker room. So, the only difference is, you know, five feet here, but it's a big five feet. And it it was a
017real challenge both structurally, engineering, and everything else just to find the location that this would work for all the all the locker rooms and getting to the pool. So, we lost a little bit of storage up in the pool area, but in doing so, we made sure that, you know, the community members and everybody has access to our pool now. Jim is correct. That was a very fine balancing act between everything, meeting clearances and everything to fit that in and have that work. Uh, next picture. So, here's a shot of the pool. We are pretty much done in this room. We have the new diving blocks on. They've refurbished the gutter and recalled it. There's the new ADA chair in the way. We're just at a kind of a pause in this room until we're
018ready to refill the pool and in a little bit here. And then next slide. And then with this project also here's we're far along in the stages of installing new pool equipment and mechanicals for the pool. So it'll be pretty much close to a new infrastructure for that pool inside. And then here's some shots of the main floor gym. This will become so this was the old basketball court gym that this is going to become the new gymnastics gym. And this shot also gives you a good look into the new openings that you see for the small annex area of gymnasium room that'll be available. And I believe we're going to be framing that in soon and they'll be open to that space. And this is actually a really good structure shot of the old
019history of the building where what you're seeing there would have been the old auditorium archway from the backstage to the front of the house and you'd be in the front of the house looking. So, I kind of thought it was a interesting shot showing the history of the building and where we're going with it. Um, and then here is a shot picture of the what will become now the new gymnasium or a basketball gym and a few other sports. Uh, pickle ball and a couple of bad and other things will be available in there. And they're starting to put new HVAC and things in there and padding will go in soon. So, we're on This is the old gymnastics, right? This is the old gymnastics gym. all our um all the equipment will be up
020in this area here that you're seeing where the lifts are currently. So rather than when we had a gymnastics meet, it was kind of challenging for us because not only did we have the one lower gym was full of equipment, we had to bring up uh the pommel horse, the uneven bars, set them up, get them up there, and um it was a big challenge for us. So now when we're completed with this project, gymnastics will be in one location and everything will be in one location. I don't remember but my daughter. So you had to run up and down the steps. Yeah. No, there will be no more of that. So and next project up was going to be the Aquilla edition and remodel. Uh we're this is about 15,000 foot addition along with
021new spaces for kindergarten classrooms and stuff. We'll kind of expound more if you want to go to the slides, Jim. This is the current timeline that we are looking at for Aquilla. Um we're start we will anticipating to start to do the remodel portion when school ends inside the building. Our goal is is to turn over the office and sensory resource areas middle of August, support them for start of school activities and then have the cafeteria area which is the high most intensive amount of work for the summer be done right before right we want to have that completed and it's going to we're projecting it'll take us right up to the the wire there. Then moving into the fall, October is the time frame we are projecting to have the building complete from a
022standpoint of getting a certificate of occupancy, get it final cleaned and ready so that the district can then in the month of November the infrastructure, furniture, technology items that will go into the classrooms, get that set up, and then a move will happen. And the ultimate goal, Jim, I believe, is you guys want to have students in there on January 5th when they return from break. Yeah. So, one of the bigger challenges we faced was uh when we had to bid this out in two separate phases. First was the phase for the addition and second phase was for interior work. And that um this there was a little bit of confusion between the city, us, and the watershed district all trying to get this uh September one date in place. Um in the in the
023meantime with many discussions with Canutes and myself and Patricia um it became pretty apparent that the new addition was going to struggle to be opened in dime. Um so the focus then became or is now to make sure that we don't interrupt school that they could start on time. They will still have the interior renovations done, ready for them to start school while we finish up the new addition and then move into it on a gradual basis. The next logical time frame came after winter break that it would be set up ready for them to go. So when they came back from winter break, they were going to be starting, kindergarten would be starting in their new classrooms and we would have everything functional rather than um we looked at the intention of potentially working
024overtime and working Saturdays and Sundays. It didn't seem to be fiscally responsible to do that right now. The the dollar amount was rather shocking, let's put it that way, when you start adding overtime and and Saturdays and Sundays uh to the to the union contracts. Correct. So the decision along with Maria and Dr. Hines was let's make sure we've got the interior of the building this the the structure ready to go for them and we can concentrate. They've been operating without the new kindergarten rooms. So we really aren't going to be the one challenge we're going to have to do is focus as where because the band room currently is going to be the new corridor or part of the the cafeteria leading into the new uh addition. So, we're going to have we're going
025to find a space for band in the interim while the new new addition is being completed. Um, were there any surprises from the watershed district like we had? None from the watershed. Uh, so far we were fortunate. I think we did have to go about a foot deeper and maybe a little bit wider on our our rain garden that we have out there. The bigger push back, ironically, was from the city and they lost a softball field for the summer. um you know which realistically the district actually owns that is our land and we have anou with the city and I after discussions with Jim and some of the city folks it was like we've got to have space because I can't take up the playground for lay down area for construction materials and by
026saying we'll return it back to what it was um they were happy with that and finally so that's the field that's on our side of correct but there's still fields on Yes, we in Aquilla Park. Yes, we didn't touch Aquilla Park. We are just just using the current field. And if you've driven by there, you'll see a lot of equipment down there right now. So, okay. Thank you. Do we have to put an awning on the field there? No, I'm just kidding. I'm just kidding. We do, we do, we get it that other agencies are involved with this and it's sort of, you know, I have a connection to the watershed district. I used to be more connected with them and understand their mission and stuff and it is frustrating sometimes when we we have
027a lot of these things that we too. So we get it. We get it. Did you Yeah, there's a couple questions here. Question. Um trying to think of everything that's you know changing internally in the current structure um this for the start of next year. Are there any other temporary spatial constraints that um because we are add like I said with um we are making some new sped areas over there um creating some more quiet areas, quiet rooms if you will for special needs students that need to have that area. So those will be done before the start of school. That is our mission is to make sure that those are done. And I've pretty much given the ultimatum that we don't have a choice here. Those are going to be done and we will
028be ready for uh September 2nd actually is when school starts next year. So because I kind of remember the whole parking lot did you? Yes. I think oh central I have like Yes. Can we give a timeline same way you um so we are going to be um pool and locker rooms are going to be uh operational and available roughly um about a week after the 4th of July. Um and then the intention is to have substantially complete with the remainder of the gym, the training room, the boardroom, the gymnastics gym and the annex gym. Um the parking lot out here is getting redone. Um a lot of exterior doors are being replaced and upgraded. Um that is a substantial completion I believe is August 29th on that. Yes. Um but we will still be
029needing the boardroom and that training room because of the amount of technology going into that. Um we are looking at potentially another about another month to make sure that we're set up and ready for that. We were we're hoping like I said it's it we're stretched right now thin on that and I if you saw the pictures if I go back to the the the gym picture being the auditorium one of the major constraints we were running into was engineering wasn't signing off on the load restriction on the floor which used to be the seating. So when they took the seating out, they built the second level there to match the level of the stage. And we we can't find any prints that said how they built that. Um and so engineering was like, I
030can't sign off on us driving our lifts across there. We've got to we ended up rerouting a lot of duct work because we couldn't go across this area. And so that was one of our other challenges with that gymnasium slashstage area auditorium that used to be there. So yeah I mean I was being flippant but I'm also very serious like are we you know we had to delay the start of school wasn't it this year because of parking because the parking didn't get No it was no what was the because we lost power the power two days. So I mean are we yeah is there will there be a secret contingency plan just in case we can't open a given No I'm not the interior portion of it I'm not worried said we've gone over
031this schedule time and time again to make sure that we can reach those date and what the terminology that Canudson uses a lot and I've come to accustomed to is called a summer slam this is a pretty customary interior job for a summer slam to make sure you're done in time for the start of school. we are don't have a lot of structural loadbearing issues that we're going to have to deal with um with Aquilla and that was part of an EV uh engineering val value engineering that we did a little bit later on with Canudson and Cuttingham the design because initial design had a clear story in the in the cafeteria twotory clear story all glass wall and we started looking at that and I asked the questioner early on and said, "How are
032we going to do this and still be ready for school?" So, we revamped the roof line to bring it down to the current roof line with a with a I don't say what an arched sport in there. Yes. such that you'll still have more light in there, but yet we're not going to have a full twostory clear glass in there simply because with all the structure that that we would had to have done, Kenudson, myself and Cunningham reluctantly agreed that the schedule was not going to make it. So, we brought it back to within an area we believe and are confident that that cafeteria and interior structures will be completed on time. And in the remodel area is going to take priority. We have our workflow set up that we're going to be tackling the
033office areas and that first and then the cafeteria and then move into the addition stuff during. So that that area is going to take priority because that is the most urgent goal for you guys to have a successful start of school. So and this is actually what the remodeled floor plan will look like. Um, so essentially we took out room um I don't know if I got to go right right over here which room 208 which was a sped room and now that becomes uh part of the office area and and conference rooms and more offices for staff. And then over on this one over here is the revised sped area with the quiet rooms. Um we are adding bathroom over there for sped students. The north Yeah, the north room has a new bathroom.
034It's enlarged a little bit to accommodate special needs and lift and some things like that too that we talked about or is that the lift for some of the the Hoyer lift and that? Yeah. Yep. That'll be part of this as well. Yes. And then the inclusive restrooms on the cafeteria side. And that Yeah. So with the new cafeteria over in this area right here, we have put uh what is that? Five, six new inclusive restrooms over there. high school. Yep, exactly. They'll look and be modeled after the high school. So, and then next one is a slide that's going to show the addition floor plan. So, the four kindergarten classrooms are out on the west. The new music rooms on the north side. The um kids place, which which I'm understanding is like the
035daycare before and after care where my kids go, the Yare program. Currently, kids place operating out of pretty much a closet over there. So they have their own space, their own storage. Let's be clear, the kids aren't in a classroom. No, the program the program that staffing, the offices, the storage are in class. Okay. Yes. So we're doing that. And then also on the right, which we call flex um this whole area over here is the new storm shelter. Um which is about the the panels are all up if I'm not mistaken. Right. Correct. Storm shelter up. We're um finishing up some detailing of the panels and we'll be looking to push forward on doing that. We can actually we have some pictures if we want to go through. So this was a a picture
036about the end of I'd say the beginning of Marchish, first week of Marchish where we completed the soil correction. And then the next couple three pictures are so this is a a look of the storm shelter area with the foundation going in with all the formwork in and we poured very shortly. Here is a picture of the classroom area with the foundation in and the center walls being poured. And then I got another picture kind of showing we're back filling the foundation. And here's this a look of the center commons where this will lead into the new cafeteria. And then I do have a couple pictures of here is a an action picture of the company setting pre-cast panels. And then this was about the time when I turned the presentation in of how far
037it is. And we are fully complete now with that structure. And we're starting to No, that's good. Then we're starting to um interior and backup CMU walls in the classroom area going up right now as we speak. So that's kind of a little update of where Quill is at. Uh high school stadium. This project is taking down the old homeside bleachers. Building a storage space for school district for storing things. Um and then also a team room storage or storm shelter area underneath. New bleachers on top. and then replacement of the turf field and field uh sidewalks and improvements around on that side. And then so this Go ahead. Yes. Yes. So So the the structure on the right on the right hatched in has four bathrooms for the team rooms and we're um any
038sport can go in at halftime or at recess and and meet there and have restroom facilities. There's three restrooms that were added on the storage side. That is, I believe, Jim, that's where the fan stadium access is. Correct. And then the new bleachers will be set on top of that. I have a question about the team rooms. Yeah, this might be a logistic thing more for gym or something like that. Is that stuff when if somebody rents the field or uses a field, do they get full access to that stuff or is that sort of um that's still under discussion. So, okay. We haven't decided how we want. I have a quick question for cost saving. The turf look like new. Can we reuse it? And you know, and it's funny because they they what
039they've done is we're recycling the the the fill in there. So, they spent the last week going and essentially vacuuming out all the sand and the rubber material, which we will reuse on the new one going down. So, um, and if you know, he walked me through it and he says, "You're at the right time when we did this." because he started showing micro splits in the fiber and the seams. Uh and that would have become uh far more problematic in a year or two if we weren't doing this right now. The average lifespan of a turf field is 8 to 10 years. We're already at 12 with that. So, we've got our we've we've gone beyond technically our expectancy of that. And I put I counted that to, you know, our ground staff taking
040good care of it, making sure that we do have them out doing their compression tests on an annual basis and doing a once over every every every once a year or so. And then here's some renderings of what the design from Pope did for what they anticipate the new stadium shelter and structure will look like. uh front view and that and then and then here I took a picture. We already took taken the press box off and stored it on the side. And then actually this was when they started demoing the bleachers last week and now as Jim said the bleachers are entirely gone. And this is a picture of what the actual pre-cast panels will look like. Most of what you'll see on the exterior is going to be the panel on the the
041left with the brick and then the behind the scenes stuff will have the the city's requiring that we have the panel on the left facing anywhere that's readily viewable from a street. So, and then the last project is the Can I do one more thing about the stadium just to to while while we were on it the um taking out of the bleachers they've been similarly some questions about their lifespan too take it but but also some mostly functionality. Yeah, functionality because they're not they weren't ADA compliant and now we are fully ADA compliant. Um, we have a much better ramp system going up that allows uh people to use it. Um, in the current stadium that we had, we had one area where they could be. Now, whatever section students, parents, grandparents want to
042be, we have an area uh set up for them to be if you're if you're in a wheelchair that they will actually be in. Yeah, I think that was one key thing that I actually heard and seen with the football games is that we had um a kid who wanted to participate and be with his peers in the cheering section and didn't have that option to do that and now and and now that's part of it. I also know that like some people that I know, including myself, appreciate that we'll have some railings. Yes. Going up and down the stairs too because that's been a challenge for some people too, which is not necessarily a full accessibility thing, but proves to us how accessibility benefits us. That's all. And that was the other point I
043was going to bring up is yes, there will be railings on every section set of stairs going up and down. So, yeah, I've watched people trip that are using other ways and it was an awkward rise overrun scenario. So it wasn't a natural step going up there. So you kind of half stepped it half down and you're not quite there and it wasn't so much going up. It was going down. Yeah. That you had the challenge. So Okay. And I and I just want to clarify review um for those folks who may not have been here going attending um schoolboard meetings since September that um one the bucket of money for infrastructure is different than the bucket of money that goes to operating costs like teachers and things like that. And then my understanding because
044I get a lot of questions from swim parents for the swim team is that the the changes in the stadium were necessary correct and so we had to make necessary changes. So in addition to those necessary changes a couple things happened. One St. Louis Park the city came up with some requirements. Am I correct? And then also um we also are just taking for the field replacement it was because of all of the other construction we did. We were we've been fortunate in the cost savings we've had that we've been able to wrap but also there was also deferred maintenance in there and if we didn't do it now that would have increased further down the road. I think there's just a heightened awareness right now in our community about how we spend our money
045and that um we did not decide to do this on a web. No, that it was a necessary change that we need. It was it was always in the the bonding referendum that we went through. We expanded a little. We added the turf as part of that just because we had hit the the life expectancy of the turf. And so, and then the last one is the restroom remodel at the high school. And real quick, it's we're just doing two restrooms, one on top of each other. So, that we're going to be replacing the plumbing and infrastructure all the way throughout in house. And it's just it's going to be uh basically new finishes, new um plumbing, reput tile, tile walls, um vanities and fixtures, and us. Yes. So, this was also, as we've talked
046before, we were going to try to get all 14 of the bathrooms done. Um the challenge was we were going to initially try to do it with the project. We were just running out of time. Um and we couldn't get it done during that period of time. So, what we did is we these are going to be two of our, for lack of a better term, uh, initial experimental bathrooms to see how this design works. I mean, it's going to be very similar to what we currently have updated. Um, rather than singular hand sinks we have and those god-awful round Bradley trough sinks, we're going to they're this sink is going to look just like the one outside the inclusive restroom. So, it'll be a solid surface. It'll be nice and clean. it will function
047properly. Um, you know, so you know, the other reason we chose these two is because then that finishes off the A-wing bathrooms because of the inclusive restrooms first through third floor will be completed at that point in time. And then we'll systematically look at B-wing and or C-wing, whichever we feel is uh on the next I anticipate is taking about two to three more years to get all the restrooms completed in in the high school. Um I the other challenge with doing all is we would have to almost shut the building down again if we were going to go through and do all the restrooms. So it' be shut down for yet another summer. I think they've endured enough for the last two and a half years that it was a chance to get them
048back in there and let them use the great spaces that we've just completed. So I think if you can do these bathrooms for $400,000 for the next few years and we can adjust our school start. So that's part of the Yeah. Just kidding. I'm just kidding. The landlord will be approving the bids for this for this process. Is it just a joke? Because it's the many things as we talk about the many things that overlap and things that we have to battle all the time and why whatever. I'm not going to get into it any more than that. Okay. Other real questions, comments for people. We I think we we interjected with a number during here, but are there any other comments? I think we're we're just grateful to see that we continue to improve
049our facilities as um Vice Chairman or Yeah. Vice Chair Mini said like uh we are um we have different buckets of money and this this is largely money that's coming from our taxpayers. We're appreciative of that that this is money that they've said yes, go ahead and update the facilities. It allows us to have great spaces and modern spaces and inviting spaces and inclusive spaces um and also um uh comparable spaces to what we see at some of our other schools nearby that can have pretty they have new builds and some other things too. So, we know that we're limited with some of our structures, but we just I think appreciate I I don't know. I think I've seen this from I was in the learning design team as they called it back 15 years
050ago when we're just looking at this stuff conceptually and we're like what are we going to do? How are we ever going to get these buildings updated and we're getting very close to being through all of them and getting completed and it takes time and energy but we've had a lot of good thinking. That's all I can say. Michelle, just one quick question. Have we purchased pretty much everything that is going into these or are we going to be seeing um We do always in the project budget for each individual project we have. We always have a line item and it's called PP and E uh uh or FF and excuse me, sorry, not PP, furnitureures, fixtures, and equipment. So, there's usually a line item for every in there that we go ahead and if
051it's furniture, if it's uh new equipment, if it's air handlers that I'm buying because I can find, you know, purchasing through the state contract rather than through a contractor, it's more efficient if I buy them directly and then they install them. Um, so I guess what I'm really asking is are we anticipating tariff impact on our purchasing? You know, I think we're early enough on that I haven't heard. The big one is going to be the furniture for Aquilla. Um, and so far I think we've got our numbers in. Whether they're going to like CO whether they hold to those or not, there's always a small caveat in their contract that says due to, you know, forces beyond our control, you know, we may see increases in this. So far, we are they're telling me
052no, but we're still four months away from delivery date on that. But it's good that we're at this point and not three years ago. Correct. Correct. So I just want to know if I can like as a child of the 80s that round where I'll save you. If you like it, there are some people that might need a planter and I was just appreciative that my daughter got to see what it looked like when I went to school by using those round things where you put your your foot you step on it squirts out and it squirts all weird. A and I think there's only one left in the district that actually works out that way. We some of them been upgraded to the electronic eye that when you wave your hand underneath it, it's
053supposed to come out well. Those electronic eyes don't always work the greatest. No, I I know that from personal experience as well. Appreciate. But I will save that for you. I'll put your name. Go ahead. Quick question. Yeah. Uh you had talked about in the boardroom and training room some technology uh constraints. Could you uh would you be able to share what some of that technology is? Just the overall um because it it has a lot of uh technology going in there with with wireless microphones, TVs, monitors, uh cameras, that sort of thing that you know we want to make sure that that is up and running and running right before we open that up. Everything that will make this kind of experience better for the community. Absolutely. Yes. Yes. We won't have that. I
054think a lot of people would be appreciative of that. So, I think you should make it acoustically designed so we never need any of the the equipment, too. No, I'm just kidding. But, all right. Any any other questions, comments? Really, again, appreciate all the hard work you're doing here. Things are looking really great and we I think we're getting I don't think we're hearing any blowback, so to speak, or feedback from the community that's negative about this. Um, but I just really appreciate the work that you're doing. Thank you. Thank you very much. Thanks for the kind words and appreciate your time. Thanks. That brings us up to consent agenda which has a number of things on it. Our payroll accounts payable dispersements, electric fund transfers, bank charges, investment holdings, donations, personnel minutes, and then
055um the second reading of votes uh for policies in the 100, 200, 300 series which we talked about. Wait, that's a separate thing. Sorry. Okay. Sorry. So, it is they're on the consent agenda. All right. Yeah, that's what I thought. Okay. And yeah, 70. Yeah. Okay. I just it said presenter and I got thrown by that. Okay. Yes. These policies which we talked about last time which were things that um that uh Oh my gosh. annual review. Annual review that we had done just to look at things and things that were kind of non-controversial and we can always change them if we need to later on. But we wanted to bring them up to speed and make sure that they were good and we had put eyes on. Okay. It is recommended that the school
056board approve the consent agenda with the following business and personnel items for the April 22nd, 2025 school board meeting as presented. Do we have a motion? So moved. Moved by Director Casey. Do I have a second? Second. Second by director Williams. All those in favor say I. I. Any oppos? Passes 70. Great. All right. Can I just quick say I know we don't really do discussion on this, but this again goes back to the listening session is that the donations, right? I just want to flag that we've got donations from some foundations from the St. Louis Park American Legion, the Vikings. Um, and we got a donation from an individual named Frank Johnson who donated $500 for Michelle Bryant, a social worker, to buy supplies for the groups that she runs. And so there there
057are opportunities out there for folks to donate. Yeah, draw attention to that. And I will call out that if we ever as a board want to consider moving something out of the consent agenda permanently so that it's more recognizable, we can do that, there's some options for that. I think we should try to streamline things to keep things moving along, but understand that that can also have its negatives where things like that get missed. So, but I I think that a couple people missed that the Minnesota Vikings donated money to our girls black flag football team and director Anderson, how many girls came out for flag football? 75. I believe 75. My daughter being one. That's amazing. All right. Any other Sorry to interrupt. I just I appreciate that thing to do. Yeah. And like
058I said, if we want to talk more about some of these things, I think we should too and whether we want to do some things or follow up whether there's some other ways we should recognize that it's built into this business meeting, but there's other ways we could be acknowledging that too as a board or as a district, I think. Right. All right. That does bring us up to 7E um which is 8 oh 8. Sorry I skipped over that. Okay. 8 to A which is approval of the midyear budget um school nutrition and community education. Um it is recommended that the school board approve the midyear budget for school nutrition and community education as presented. Do I have a motion on that? So moved. Moved uh by director Casey. I'll second that. And then
059that brings us up to discussion. Director Magnus, is there anything else that you need? Do we have any other questions for Director Magnus about this? Um, this is stuff that we've seen now twice. Um, pretty straightforward. If there's no other comments, then all those in favor say I. I. Any opposed? Passes 70. Okay, that brings us up to 8B. And it is recommended that the school board approve the acceptance of the health insurance provider and the associated rates as presented. Um and then there's a resolution that I need that I need to read related to this too. Yes. Okay. Okay. So that is resolved that the school board of independent school district number 283 approves the self-funded rates for the district group health and dental assurance with the United Healthcare UMR and Delta Dental for
060the 12-month period from July 1st, 2025 to June 30, 2026. So I'm going to do motion second and then we'll have discussion. Okay. So is there a motion on this? Can you call that? Can you call? Well, can I get a motion to bring this to the table? Okay. Moved uh by Director Ibrahim. Do you have a second on this? Second. Second by uh director Anderson. Okay. Now discussion and director if you would like to if there's some more context you want to provide here maybe maybe to introduce it or Yes. So um good evening members of the board. Yeah. Um so each year um we every two years our insurance goes out to bid to the market and um what ends up happening is we have an insurance committee that comes together. They meet
061once a month. It's made up of different members from throughout the uh employees throughout the district who represent um their employee groups and we come together and we monitor monthly the progress and what's happening on the self-insured plan. Um and then every year every two years when it goes out to bid, the insurance committee comes together, they review the bids that come back. We had two different companies that were that um offered competitive bids this year. um Blue Cross and Blue Shield in UMR. Um and after reviewing the bids and um consulting with One Digital, Chase Ambro, who is our consultant that we work very closely with, it was recommended um that we stay with UMR for a number of different reasons. And we're looking at about an 8% increase in rates. Um which may
062seem high, but it actually is pretty low when you compare us to other school districts, surrounding districts. Um, a lot of school districts are seeing double digit increases and technically we should have probably taken a little bit more of a increase but because we've been managing the self-insured plan and the reserves um we have built up they they're recommending that our reserves be about 40 45% of our annual spend and we are up we're we're a little bit higher than 45%. So, we did do we did made an intentional decision to take the 8% increase and we'll monitor that closely over the course of the next year to ensure them the plan maintains and we'll reevaluate next year to see where we're at. Thank you. Yeah. All right. Did you have any other questions? Director.
063Okay. Other questions, comments? This has been I think we I don't know if director Casey remembers like I think remembers the cost things and how challenging this. Well, we saw double digit before we went selfunded. So, this is just great news. Um I mean it does seem like high compared to what we've had in the past several years, but not compared to what we had before that. We had a lot of ups and downs. Um so, the the percent that we've been able to hold has really helped us be much more um even I guess on the on the increases. So, and you probably said this, but the the the group that makes the decision is made up of folks from all of our bargaining units and Okay. Yep. And we're very intentional and actually
064tapped a couple on the shoulder just to make sure that we have continued representation across because I think getting that uh perspective of each employee. So, you know, they're not surprised when these things happen or we're not rolling these things out and people are asking what's going on. So, um yeah, we've been getting good intendance. Great. can appreciate all that. So, we've had a motion and a second. Any further discussion? And all those in favor say I. I. Any opposed? Pass the second zero. All right. This brings us up to um approval of high school restroom renovation bids. And um this would be I'm going to ask for a motion and second. We can have discussion if we need that. It is recommended that the school board approved the high school restroom renovation project as
065presented. Do I have a motion to bring that forward? I'll move it. Do we have a second? second uh by director Anderson. Uh any questions? Do is there anything that you want to offer? This is related to what we just saw. The the the renovation bids happened. Yeah. I mean, like I said, the total number came in about 15% more than what we expected. However, with you know, this is where the tariffs may be ineffective because of supply chain and this. So, um you know, that's where we are at right now. Any other questions or comments about this discussion? All right, then hearing none. All those in favor say I. Any oppose? Passes. 70. Brings us up to board member updates. Thank you everybody for getting through all of that. Um our regular business meeting
066here and which where we take care of all these business items and and um it can seem very like boom boom boom but I think it's designed to be that way. So that brings us up to board member updates which gives us an opportunity to get outside of that to talk about anything else we want to do about our connections in to the community particularly our leaison assignments or anything else that we're going to provide updates on. So I'll open up the floor to my fellow board members. I'll um the I sit on the senior advisory committee and um several months ago somebody said hey can we do do can we do shredding? Um and so shredding shredding. Yes. And um because sometimes those big shredding events are like hard to get to. So um
067Katie from the senior um senior advisor group and they pulled it all together. So, there's going to be a free for all and it doesn't you don't have to be a senior a member of Lennox. Free for all shredding event at Lennox Friday, May 16th in the parking lot um the lower parking lot at Lennox from 10 to 12. And you can bring up to five paper grocery bags of items to be shredded per vehicle. Please remove all paper clips and staples. So, that is um super exciting because it's it was just an idea that came out of the committee and they're making it happen. So, um, but that is a super helpful service I think that they're going to be able to do. So, May 16th. Excellent. Uh, I went to the multicultural night
068at the middle school last Thursday. Um, I was able to see the jazz band perform Isn't She Lovely by Stevie Wonder. I thought it was beautiful and I said he would love it if he got to hear it. Um, I wasn't able to stay long, but um, there were two sets of brave people that did duets and they did very beautifully doing it. Uh, and also the Somali dance. And I just love the admiration from the crowd from their um their peers and how they cheered them on and how like they were even I think more excited than the people performing or just to see their peers. So that was lovely to see. Um, Central Clinic is going to be temporarily closed. It's not open during the summer months, but we are hosting a immunization
069clinic Wednesday, April 30th, 2 to 6 at the middle school. You can go to the district page for more information. Um, and Susan Lingard has their last PTO meeting of the year next week on Tuesday, April 29th, 6 um 6:15 p.m. Members, Director Abra. Yeah, I just want to add uh SWAT middle school families and the community. Uh tomorrow from 6:00 to 8 there will be a multicultural show. I don't know is it the same the one I don't know but it's going to be great performance in so it's happening tomorrow and it's open for all the community that's between uh 6 to 8. Um I have a couple. So start with um just an invitation for thank you for staying for the board updates for everybody who stayed because sometimes this is when you
070hear about how we do go out into the community and we try to connect with um folks. Aquilla's um carnival is this Sunday. Um if you've never been to Aquilla's carnival, you should experience it because it's a lot of fun. Also, Aquilla has an online auction going on right now and they have some fantastic prizes. I know because I have often participated in the Aquilla online auction. Um, and so I've gotten great facial products and hopefully my dog will get some. I'll be training um from a local thing. I also attended my first uh Bright Works um assembly meeting and boy was that really interesting. and I have a lot of learning that I need to do. Um there's a lot of learning but um I think my if I had two takeaways or possibly
071three takeaways is one it was refreshing to be in a space with other um board members from across the metro area who are um experiencing everything that we're experiencing. So they're um have some anxiety as they watch the state legislature. There's some anxiety about um the federal government, what the federal government is doing. Um so it was uh interesting to hear from them. My second takeaway is that um I think with the read act, we need to be patient in how it rolls out. Um my impression of right works and this is as a not just as a board member but also as a person who's in the classroom um they're building the support structures for readact as they roll it out. Um so Bright Works is a um I forget the word corporate collaborative
072of different areas that are trying to support schools as they roll out letters training as they roll out training for um our math programs as they they support extracurricular things through Spark Path um including the young authors conference that I will be attending in um a few weeks. So, uh, they did hit me up to be on the executive board right away. So, uh, I I look forward to learning more. Um, I think there's also some unease about how state funding is going to continue to, uh, support bright works who supports districts in giving that really important professional development and professional learning to to teachers. So yeah, it was I have a lot of learning that I got to do. By the way, um on the Breit Works topic, they are typically a co-presenter of
073the fall AMSD conference. Yep. And so if you for fellow board members, any of us can attend that fall conference. Yep. Um and so if you're interested in learning more about Bright Works and or AMSD, that's a great opportunity and to connect with other districts, too. So just want to put that on your radar. We and we're talking about an AMSD. Don't want to quote this. I'll get back to you. But about what if that what we if they have ideas about what that conference should be about. I think they're still taking ideas and still are interested if people have thoughts about what those what that could be. Okay, that's all I want to say about that. Back to you. No, I mean I guess the only other interesting thing um is that they have
074a small part of Bright Works. there's a um they they don't have every region um people in place to support every school district across the state yet. So, they're getting there. Um and then the other thing, they have a mighty but very small group of culturally relevant um trainers. It's like three people that they are they're trying to hit all of the all of the states and high needs for for that. And I thought that I was impressed with their presentation and their efforts because three people for the entire state of Minnesota seems a little under staffed. Yeah, I just had a couple quick notes. Uh Dr. Hines already alluded to a couple productions coming up and I've seen a lot of signs in my neighborhood for a Peter Hobart production coming up for Aladdin
075this coming week. So I'm excited for that. Um, and then, uh, there's also a PTO meeting for Peter Hobart coming up, uh, next week on Wednesday. Um, and I think that's everybody. My, uh, I attended the final PC meeting. I was one of four parents there that night. So, I do encourage parents to to to show up for that. And I would say that one thought that somebody expressed was I that parents are worried if they come to it they're gonna get assigned committee work and it really is like a site council or or PTO meeting where you can come just to hear about what's going on and we had a nice presentation by the um social studies department about AP human geography which came out of a coffee with the principal conversation where people
076were asking about it. I didn't see a lot of carryover to people who were asking about people that were there, but it was a really great presentation and I found it really enlightening and and just want people to be aware of that. So, um and I know that I did I think maybe you alluded to this little one that's coming up this starting this weekend and some other things going on at the high school. Um so I think that's I think that's everything. I think I can't remember between now and our last meeting if we've uh Ram Ramadan finished up right. I think we we've celebrated the end of Ramadan. Want to recognize that and some great things that we've done in our district and celebrating and recognizing um all sorts of people here. We
077I heard we I heard a lot of that tonight, too. So, also Easter over the weekend and Easter. Yes. And Easter as well. Um all right. If there's nothing else, then um I will call this meeting a journ to add