001the regular meeting of Independent School District 695, Chisholm, Minnesota. Uh first of all, I'd like to welcome two additions to our uh board. We have representatives of the student council, Serenity Friend, and Siri Thompson. Uh we thank you for joining us. Uh at this point, I would ask for >> [clears throat] >> a motion to approve the agenda. I'll make a motion. I'll support. Motion by Director Raha, supported by Director Randasoder. Any anybody wishing to address the board? Okay. We have no guests or visitors. So at this point, moving to item number five, approving the consent agenda. Uh these are the minutes of the March 23rd, 2026 regular meeting. Payroll month-end report for March 26th, in the amount of $716,622.78. Accounts payable for the month end March 2026 in the amount of $1,552,407.99. Approval of
002Mr. Bains' request for credit towards his master's degree from the University of Oregon for creating immersive platforms and terminal project. Accepting the Central Mesabi Medical Foundation grant in the amount of $5,000 for the Chisholm High School CNA program for students testing fee scholarship background studies, equipment, tools, and uniforms. Approval of the increase in ticket prices for athletic home events for the 2026-2027 school year for adults to $8, students $5, and five years and under no cost. Approval of the reorganization of operations lead, custodial, utility, and bus bus drivers due to the reorganization of the buildings effective March 1, 2026. Approval of the reorgani- reorganization of the district secretaries due to building reconfiguration effective first of 2026. These are Jim Kmetz, Joel Pavlovich, Gabby Farrell, Ryan Bennett, and Sam Berube. Approval of the sponsorship agreement with
003Jennifer Ivancich Insurance for the new scoreboard at $2,500 annually for a five-year commitment beginning in 2026. [clears throat] Approval of the sponsorship agreement with Northern Wireless for the new scoreboard at $1,000 annually for a five-year commitment beginning in 2026. Approval of the sponsorship agreement with Wittseth for the new scoreboard at $1,000 per year for a one-year commitment. Accept grant from True North Perkins Consortium of $10,000 for the CTE equipment. Policy 420, students employees with sexually transmitted infectious diseases and certain other communicable old diseases and infectious conditions. This is just a review, no changes. Policy 421, gifts to the employees and school board members, review. Also there is review and there's no changes. Policy 423, employee-student relationships, again review, no changes. Policy 427, work load limits with certain special education teachers, again review, no changes. There
004is Uh and I and if I'm going to have to jump back to the approval of the the agenda because there is one addition. Uh it's the approval of resolution of House Finance Committee Bill 4114, Minnesota State Legislature bill. Can I ask Mr. Raha, Director Raha or Director Randasoder to reconsider that addition? I will um make that motion. I'll agree. All those in favor signify by saying aye. Aye. Opposed? Motion carries. Again, moving back to the approval of the consent agenda, if any of the board members uh would like to remove any of these items for discussion at this time, this would be the time to do so. Otherwise, I will entertain a motion for approval. So moved. I'll second it. Motion by Director Lappi, supported by Director Randasoder. Any discussion? The fees then would
005just go the new fees for wouldn't be this year. Say that again. The fees wouldn't be for this year, they're next year? >> Starting next fall. Okay. Just double-checking. Any other discussion? Hearing none, all those in favor signify by saying aye. Aye. Opposed? Motion carries. Just a little uh before we get to reports here, being that we have our student representatives here, at any time you have any input, you ask for recognition from the board chair, or recognition that anything say your piece. So feel free. Uh item six under reports, we have committee reports. Um I think Mr. Raha and I and the superintendent um and Mr. Kezar, Mrs. Er uh we had a finance committee report. I think uh Mr. Kezar will give us an update on that later, is that correct? Yep. Yep.
006[clears throat] Uh any reports from our student representatives, Miss Thompson or Miss Friend? I'm not today. I think you >> Well, yes. This is the second year okay. >> [clears throat] >> You have the slide show. I think Oh. We can help you with anything you need. Did you put The slide show is mine. Oh. This one. That's your part. Oh. Maybe There's so much stuff on my phone now that I can't get it. It's not It should be It should be up there. That code should come up when you log into Zoom. I I think at this point what we'll do is is we'll continue to move on until you get set up. Yeah. Uh so at this point, activities director, Mr. Rocky. Hello. Uh just a quick little update for you. Spring sports,
007uh knock on wood, finally we can get outside. Today was the first day that anyone was able to actually be outside, so baseball did play um at Mesabi East today, and uh softball JV played at Rock Ridge. So, our fields um we're hoping they're ready by Thursday, Friday. Those are when we are supposed to have our home games um this week, Thursday softball, Friday baseball. So, um as long as we don't get a bunch of rain, we're hopeful that that those uh fields will be ready. And then, um I'll just note um for the ticket prices, for the um approval of those, those are increased because of the cost per ticket that we are getting with our online ticketing system. So, no other reason than that for those ticket prices. So, other than that, unless
008you have questions for me, that's it. I have a question for you. Yep. Are we going to be making up the JV track meet or the junior high track meet? >> Uh good question. >> Because we missed it due to the busing issues, my understanding. Uh you mean the one at Eveleth? Yes, that got canceled. Potentially. We are having a C team meet this Friday. Okay. Which is a I mean, it's a makeup of ours, um our early bird that we had to cancel. Um and so, it's just kind of weather dependent. It gets so mucky with two, three meets a week going forward that we're hopeful that we have for those kids, um but they'll still get a pretty good season in if C team one isn't made up. But, if I can fit
009it somewhere, I will. But, do we know like what was the exact reason why that meet got canceled when it was an indoor meet? Um well, it was a busing issue. It was. Okay. For us. Yep. Yeah, that day. The only thing I'm going to add, Mr. Rocky, just be prepared to feedback on the prices. Oh, for sure. Yeah, but you know, I I plan on having at least two um community meetings because I'm going to go over the whole system. Like, the registration's going to be different. So, we're going to have some educating to do on my end, >> [clears throat] >> and I fully plan on doing that before the end of the school year. Any other questions for Mr. Rocky? Thank you. Yep. That's true. Uh next up we have our high
010school principal, Mr. Molloy. If you don't mind, they're ready. Welcome back to our student representatives, Miss Thompson and Miss Brandt. Okay. So, this um Saturday through Monday we attended our student council state leadership convention, and we just made a slideshow to kind of show like what we did and um yeah. It was fun. So, day one we kicked off the first day with a meeting with the candidates that were running for the state officers. We then had a meeting with our division and attended our first general session. Our keynote speaker was Dr. Philip Campbell. He was um Yorkville Renaissance. He is very we've seen him like before. This was the fourth time he's spoke for us. Um he talked about new great ideas we could bring to our schools. We worked on our state service
011project this year which was making a tie blanket that we could bring back and donate to someone in the inner community. Then to end our night, we had activities which was glow in the dark volleyball, mini golf, and silent disco. Something we may try here. Here are some pictures from the first night. They're beautiful auditorium. Yeah, their auditorium was great. They just got a new school. >> really nice in there. Um so then day two, we kicked off with breakout sessions and round table conversations. This gave us the opportunity to connect with students from different schools and hear new ideas that they are doing. We then could pick two workshops. These varied from speakers about mental health to plans after high school. For in our second general session, we had our speaker Laurie Hayes. She
012gave a presentation on student recognition and how we can turn failure into a positive. She also then touched on students' mental health. We then attended the banquet. Student scholarships were announced. Then to end the night, we had black light bowling and laser tag. This was our favorite speaker of the week. Yeah, she was great. Very fun. Yes. Um here's some more photos. Banquet. That was Laurie Hayes speaking and acting positive, and then from bowling. Here's some more. So then, our last day today, our final day we attended one last general session. Our keynote speaker was Isaac Waking Rodney. I don't know how to pronounce his name. He was an NASO alumni. He talked about when, where, and why. Throughout the weekend, we worked on the theme of State the Spirit, which was glow, which stands
013for growth, leadership, opportunity, and willingness. Yes. And then Oh, yeah, that's all I have. I didn't get any pictures today with my phone. Well, let me let me ask you a question. Besides the gaming, which is nice because you get to interact with other students or student representatives, what what do you feel you got out of it, the two of you? Um there was a lot of learning opportunities. Like there's this one school that had um really bad participation when it came to people going to certain sports or stuff. They always this game, so they created a QR code, and they have points and they had a reward system for it. I think that'd be super fun if we could initiate that in our school. Of course you'd have to figure it out, but you
014got more ideas from it. We have a ton of new ideas that we'd like to implement. Yeah, definitely. Going and hearing from all the other schools and what they're doing to increase participation and even just like fun little ideas to bring to the schools. Good to hear. I hope that you could try and get them here. Thanks. Believe it or not, that's something Mr. Babicky and I and uh Superintendent Perkovich and others have talked about trying to get more participation, whether it's actually in the activity or coming to the activities. So, I feel like our school's been lacking participation lately. It seems like kids don't want to come to school or participate in anything in school. They also had this other idea about pop-up pizza where a randomly they'll select a random day and tell
015anyone if you're at school that day, you get put in a drawing to have a whole pizza for you at lunch. I know. See, now you have to make a list of the things you want. Yeah. You have to tell us. Got to bring a few Mhm. A whole pizza? The whole pizza for who were you up there? You had to be at school that day. Like I thought it was a surprise. They have to be here to have it. Well, yeah, I think it's actually their pop pizza you have to be there every day of the week including that day, but Also, a lot of schools, this is a lot of like the more southern schools, they do um like a mental health week. I would love to bring that to our school or
016even I mean I'm graduating this year, but like next year if we could implement like a mental health week, I feel like there's a lot of students in our school that struggle with mental health, and I feel like it'd be a good thing to like recognize what they're going through and try to help them out. Yeah, I like that. I like that. Do you want to talk about last week? Um like on tattoo the teacher? Um yeah, I think tattoo the teacher went pretty good. Um we heard a lot of good feedback from teachers and students. I know a lot of the teachers were kind of iffy about doing it, but once they did it, I think they had a good job. Like they had fun doing it, and I thought that the assembly went
017well. Students seemed excited about it, so that was And for the first assembly with both schools, I thought it was good. >> How did that work exactly? So, students, we pre-sold like tattoos. So, students would bring the money. It like varied on where you wanted it and like the size. So then like our student council went to the teachers' classrooms throughout the day and tattooed them. And then we had a seventh hour assembly where we played like music from the teachers when I started like the year that they started teaching, and then they did like a walkout with all the tattoos and showed them off. And how much did you raise? We raised four dollars, I believe. So, almost $600. And then we donated donated it to um United Way's Comforts Home program. Which is
018also we were partnering partnering with them with our state service project this year. So, it's nice to give it to them. We also won the U Rock award this year for which means for like out of our division, we raised the most money for the state service project. So, that was exciting. Nice. All right. Well, great work. Thank [clears throat] you. And such creative ideas to raise money. Yeah. Never heard of one like that, so it was good. Yeah. I I like some of these ideas. And we get mostly the ideas from the state. So, I mean not the state, but we go to state convention, other schools share how they do it. Super amazing. Great opportunity to learn. And where did you guys go this weekend? >> We It was in Ottawa. Ottawa? Yes.
019But you guys do go on other trips. >> Yeah, those are just our division meetings. So, talk about who we want to elect, um U Rock awards. Well, they also went to the fall forum this year, which was in Yeah, that was it. We did go to Creagan's. That was also very learnable. They had a idea bright idea bright I didn't say that right. But they had a bright ideas, and everyone made a slideshow and talked about it at Creagan's. Siri didn't go, but it was super fun. I would I got more ideas from there, too. Mhm. Great. Yeah. Any other questions? Anybody in our audience that's questions for the two? Thank you. kind of brought in the seventh and eighth graders really took control of the tattoo a teacher because the band was gone
020the week, so It's nice. Um sorry to interrupt you, but >> They really liked that having like a junior high student council this year. We're loving to see the younger kids be more involved. Yeah. Thank you guys. Thank you. You're welcome. >> [clears throat] >> Mr. Molloy. Yes. Um as of today, our enrollment right now 7-12 is 283. Um for comparison, my first board update of the year, we had 291. Some have left us, some have gone to online schooling. Um we're at 283 right now. Um registration um went pretty well. We have a few stragglers that Mary Jo is snagging when they come in the building, um whether they were gone or out of town. Um Most the biggest jump I've seen is a lot of interest in our new bio offerings. We have
021over 20 students registered for personal fitness, which utilize our new weight room, which is exciting. Yeah. Um we have 15 students currently registered for our new walking class. Um with our joint our agreement that we recently a few months ago signed with Infinity Online, we have about 10 kids right now helping them take some online CIS options through them. Um the current enrollments are still our main our students just take their online course CIS. Um We did not have college algebra CIS the last year or two. We brought that back, and we already have at least one full section of algebra two registered for, so that's exciting news. Um And then recently we've seen a lot of our industrial arts classes kind of just be the welding, which is great. Um we have welding registered
022for, small engines we have enough for a class, auto mechanics all have full sections right now, so kids took to that more variety that we've been offering in there. They're registered for. I'm looking forward to that. Yeah. I do, too. We have a beautiful shop for a district our size, and I think utilizing it more than we have is going to be a big positive. Um I haven't updated since the end of quarter three, I don't think, so I have some data for you. Um with a caveat at the end. 65% of our 7th through 12th grade students finished quarter three with at least a 2.0. 36% of our students finished with at least a 3.0. And 8% of those students had a 4.0 for quarter three. What was that last number you just >>
0238% ended with a 4.0. When I was looking at that 65% seemed too low to be to be a lot higher. We don't store quarter grades for PSEO students, so that is part of that reason. Um in discussions after finding this data today and looking into it, um we are considering moving forward like into next year requiring progress report forms filled out and administering quarter grades to PSEO students. So that is one thing we're considering moving forward. I think that's good. Mhm. I think so, too. Better than finding out at the end of the semester. Right. Um attendance-wise, [clears throat] 61% of our students are attending 90% or higher. Again, 90% is that mark that's set by the state that we want to meet. Um 84% of our students are attending 80%. This is just
024report three. 80% or higher. 43 of our students had perfect attendance in quarter three. Um again, I don't think that 61% is high enough right now. That certainly needs to be higher of students attending regularly as defined by the state. Um and speaking with Superintendent Perkovich, um there is a clause uh that we are exploring possibility of looking at some of our open enrollment. Um and if that's an issue of some of our attendance, um that's something we'll be looking at moving forward. With that Mr. Molani, with that attendance, that doesn't take into account also PSEO kids, right? No. So it's just the kids that are coming here. Yep. With that, let's say a PSEO student is here for first hour band and then is supposed to be PSEO all day. If they are not
025here for band, they are coded as absent that whole day. Okay. Yes. Even if they went to their college classes. Yes. Okay. That shouldn't happen. I'm the band if you're registered for band. Um some field trips that happened recently um that are exciting. Um in January or February, the freshman class field trip was postponed due to some things happening down in the Twin Cities. Um Mr. Rudolph got that rescheduled, um got transportation down there, and they did go on their field trip down to the Global Market in Minneapolis, um the Minnesota Institute of Art, and then stopped to bowl before coming back up. I thought it was a really awesome field trip for the kids to see you know, part of the state that maybe a lot of them have don't get to go to
026often. And I think I'd also mentioned a few updates ago that our friends' class is planning to go to the courthouse and see a trial. Um that trial that was planned and scheduled for settled out of court. Shocker. They are going tomorrow. >> [laughter] >> So that was updated, and they will be going tomorrow to give our update. So I can't wait to see you. I will be >> [laughter] >> Interesting. I think that would be maybe an interesting field I think it's a different perspective. Um again, that friends' class is elective science course that juniors and seniors can take. Um and kind of see that side of things instead of just learning about it in class will be interesting. Are you getting a good response for some of these field trips? Are are kids
027showing interest in Yeah, mostly. >> I I I'm a big fan of these because it it does get kids a little more interested. Even something local as going to court field or hearing or things like that. Um And being [laughter] on the right side of the bench. Right. Always a positive. Yeah, that's something that I'm really impressed with with our staff is they're really intentional in the field trips that they've scheduled this year. Um you know, that the social studies freshman class that went down, um it was part of their class of multicultural studies. They went to the uh multicultural studies at the Institute of Art. The expo is the trade show. You know, we have a lot of students that want to pursue those things, and a lot of feedback we get here is
028very positive. Any other questions for Mr. Molani? A couple more things. Oh, you do? >> [laughter] >> Just trying to move along. Uh vaping's an issue. Um I've mentioned numbers going back to the start of the year about vaping instances we have. Um in a conversation today again with Superintendent Perkovich, we're looking at updating whether it's in the handbook or whether it has to be policy, but we are considering uh moving forward to zero tolerance and just calling PD to have them come ticket every instance moving forward. So that's an ongoing discussion we're having. But it is an issue, and we want to address it. And if that's one way to help maybe curb some of that happening in our school, I would be very open to just calling PD and letting them handle it.
029Any questions on that? Have you talked to PD? We have not. Yeah, because I am sure they'll respond if they have the capability to respond at that time. Definitely. My other question is Yes. um students that vape that are sent home Mhm. it comes as a non-attendant attendance day. Is that correct? No. It does not. Well, that would be you would just have the PD come and ticket them. It's not like you're going to say, "Oh, you're going home." No. Because kids are >> Um clearly by what I'm seeing, the suspensions aren't helping. So Yeah. Yeah. So what would be the Yeah. I I get that. I So the ticketing would be like a a fine, I assume. Or you know. They would be cited. Um and They go through the They go through the
030juvenile court process. Wow. That's it. And you know, sometimes it's something the staff to truly. A lot of times if you're a first time offender, you get diversion. And then if you come back again, then you pay a fine or do community service hours. They usually give juveniles an opportunity to be like two days work crew or $100 fine or something to that effect, too. Go ahead, Savannah Libby. I feel like it also help because having that in place will scare them hopefully to just not do it. Yes. Make it very obvious like that's what's going to happen. Maybe you scare them into not doing it. Maybe you have to bring them to the hospital watching somebody who's vaped and watching them get suctioned. Maybe that would scare them. Have you guys thought about getting
031like the vape detectors for the bathrooms at all? I was wondering that that was a detection was a problem. It's been brought up. Um I don't know what that What is it? looks like here. So I see some schools that have it built in the bathroom. I mean, they can It's not like the same smoke words. I think it's vaping may have them, and I think it just >> And the South East Side, too, right? Yeah, I think a lot of schools around here have them now. It helps in the restrooms. And if if they are not smart enough to blow into someplace else cuz it's all about detecting the smoke. So it depends if they blow like this or if they blow out. But we're unfortunately seeing some issues that this is happening in
032the middle of a classroom during instruction. Oh, yeah. Really? Because the way that the vapes are now, there are sweatshirts that have them right in the ties of their sweatshirts. There's I mean, they look like both pens. They look like highlighters. Um so if you think back to Big Tobacco in 1960, that's what we're we're fighting is another version of Big Tobacco, but in 2026. They're very creative. Last thing I want to uh I have some shout-outs I want to give. Um just some staff members. Um first, Mr. Lewis. Um one of our special ed staff here, so he's obviously always working very hard, but I was fortunate enough to be able to pop into his room at the end of today. Um and he was doing a pretty awesome routine building activity uh with
033his students. They were building to see who could build build the biggest tower out of dry spaghetti and marshmallows. And when [clears throat] some of them went very poorly, he used that as an opportunity to discuss the importance of team and teammates getting upset with each other and how do we define failure. And that was the opportunity to build a second one >> [clears throat] >> based on improvement. And that when you fail, it's a learning opportunity. I thought that was a really great discussion he had with his kids and very practical to the activity they were doing. Um second, um our counselor, Mr. Prado, has been working very hard as MCA starting up in recent weeks. Um from my perspective, things are going very smoothly in terms of the rollout of MCAs. This is
034her first year being the testing coordinator, so I think that's going very well. Um she's also spent at least a portion of her day Saturday the last 2 weeks helping us with sub cover coverage, which is also huge. Um And lastly, our tech guy, Joe Phillips, it's been like a whirlwind for him like every day for the last how many weeks with the move and the new stuff going in there with the wires, registration because they got set classes. Um So shout out Joe because he works really, really hard. Yeah. Sure. Any questions? Oh, can I go back to like this like the six classes? Next year are kids going to have the opportunity to get their A degree in school then or are they still going to have to go off to the college
035and get credits from there or how is that working? >> So we're looking at what we still need. So the MN transfer credits is 40 credits required in their school year that you have to hit. Is Well, I interrupt. I know at college as a PSEO student you have to have 60 credits to get your associate's degree. So where are those other 20 coming from then? So with in the the transfer credit is 40, though, right? Right, but there's 72 credits that they could take Okay. Just at this high school. Okay. So So we offer 72 credits. The number of credits we have covered, there's one or two goal areas that we're looking to add as an online course that someone can offer, but yes, we offer 72 credits. Okay. Yes. So with those online
036CIS classes, is it the semester one or is it semester? So it'd be the same thing as PSEO, just online and you can do it like in the library. Yep. Correct. We're trying to keep you the students here instead of going over there. So answer me this, if you are a full-time PSEO student, you said, if you would have the opportunity, would you have ever left Chisholm? I 100% would have stayed here. >> have stayed here. I think that that is a I think that thing that you guys are doing Yeah. I think so too. We want to keep you the we still want you here because then >> This is where you belong, high school. I paid her to say that. >> [laughter] >> No, I think it's a really good thing that you
037guys are doing that. >> You guys have your whole life ahead of you to be going over to college and having >> Getting a job. >> All your grown-up stuff. Believe me, you don't want to be a grown-up. I just say I just hope that in the future we have more parents that attend and more students that attend because the informational class that they put on just What was that? We 2 weeks ago? I don't even remember how long ago it was. 2 weeks. It was very informative and a lot of people don't think that it was meant for like us with older kids, but it actually was because it's it was informative to know what the district actually has cuz it's not like we sit here and sign up with our kids for their
038classes. That's on you guys, so if we can even help them stay here. I wasn't even sharing the QR code on on socials cuz they were like really good comments, so it was hopeful that people are like, "Oh, well, that's great. I don't have to worry about them driving back and forth to Hibbing all winter or whatever." So I think it's crossed. We absolutely need to keep our leaders here. Oh, absolutely. Very, very important to the whole culture of the building. This one other thing that Siri didn't mention because she is graduating next year, but something they introduced this weekend for the first time, they are starting an alumni for MASL to be able to bring these guys back in to continue working with our high school student people. So it's hopefully she'll be back.
039It's like Thank you, Ms. Maloney. Thank you, Mr. Puklich. Thank you so much. I'm going to keep you here all night because I know you want to get out of here. >> [laughter] >> No, [clears throat] you don't want to. What were This is random stuff. All right. A couple of things that I just want to touch base on that were brought up already. One [clears throat] of them is really related to um kind of the idea of open enrollment and where our enrollment is. So our enrollment right now sits at about um 697. We're down about 12 from where we were last year. But one of the things that we're watching is our PSEO stats because that changes There's a ton of money that goes out of this district to PSEO. As of right
040now signed up for next year, we have 26 seniors that are still signed up and that was the junior class this year where we lost a huge percentage of them. Um and so most of them are choosing to stay PSEO. We expected that to happen. Our goal was to keep the kids from going in the first place. Um and right now we are only aware of eight juniors or eight sophomores that are going to be juniors that are signed up and that is less than a quarter of what went this year. So we're hopeful that that number um is decreasing so that we can keep them here on campus. The other good thing with numbers um is that we are watching our kindergarten numbers very, very closely. Right now we have already enrolled 49 kids
041into next year's kindergarten class. Typically um that is over what we actually have in kindergarten. Oh, I'm sorry. 30 No, 49. That's the number you gave me today. I did. Sorry. >> Yes. Okay, so 39. Okay. And then we got that. And then we will get Typically we get 10 more in the summer, so that could put us at 49. Okay? So that changes things a little bit then because 49 plus 10, I was thinking we were going to need another section. You're absolutely positive right now? >> Yeah. Okay. All right. So that changes everything cuz the last numbers that I received was 49 plus 10 and I was thinking we were going to need a third section of kindergarten. We will not need a third section of kindergarten even if we go to 49
042because that keeps us at about 24, 25. If we go much higher than that, then we may need to, but that does change it. Yep, sorry about that. Um our pre-K numbers um are something we're also watching, so I don't know um if you had any um chance to read anything in the newspaper, but our Head Start program that goes with pre-K across the region, they have decided that they will no longer provide transportation to any Head Start. So all of those EUE buses that you see will no longer exist starting next school year um due to their own funding issues. So we are anticipating that our pre-K need may increase with that because we do provide for pre-K, but we do not provide for Head Start. Um so we're kind of watching what those
043classrooms look like and what those numbers look like and I don't know that we'll have a full understanding of that [clears throat] until even right at the beginning of the school year when that transportation really hits home um for them. So we're kind of watching those numbers a little bit. We haven't seen um a huge change otherwise as far as enrollments coming in, um but we do expect to see just a little bit um especially related to the college in the schools classes that we came in. Any questions on enrollment? Okay. Um so the other thing I want to talk about just a little bit is um two things that you will see on the agenda. One of them you already looked at, so one of them is the student fees for the tickets, right?
044You saw that those went to $5 for student. One of the things that the business manager and I have been talking about that we would really like to have some board support, so we're not looking for a motion today, but I want to bring this up with you so that you can think about this a little bit is really in relation to that. So let me back that up a little bit. Compensatory education is a huge pot of money that we see. Okay? Compensatory education is based on the amount of free and reduced students that you have in your district. And right now we have about 34% of our student body is directly certified for free and reduced. That means their families are getting some type of social service benefits like SNAP or EBT or
045things like that. Okay? Statistically, our community should have almost 60% who are qualified for free and reduced. What that tells us is that there's about 30% of our student body who is not handing in those free and reduced forms. Why is that important? Because compensatory education, the funds that are associated with that are directly tied to either direct cert or those forms. So we've got about 30% of our student body that's not handing those in because of that free breakfast and free lunch, you didn't need to hand in your forms. But now the state has come back and said, "Well, you didn't hand in the forms, so we'll just cut your funding." That's not really what it was intended to do, but that is the negative of the free breakfast and the free lunch. So
046one of the things that we are um kind of contemplating right now is the idea that any student, whether you qualify for free and reduced or not, that turns in their form would automatically get free entry to activities and sports. So it would increase those forms coming in, increase the amount of students that go to our games, um and looking at our from our budget standpoint, it does not impact us even even minorly proportionately. Most of the time a student per ADM that comes in is right between $2,500 and $3,000 for one student that qualifies. Even if we gave them the the free entry, it's nowhere near what that would would compensate, but we think that that would get some help with >> thought it was I don't know. I've I've been gone too long,
047I guess. But when my kids went to school here, I had to fill out those forms or they wouldn't let me go to school. I mean, you had they had a list, and when they brought the kid, you had to bring your papers in, and those papers better been had been there. They checked every single kid off. That's the way it used to be. Yeah, but I even remember though when the girls were younger, the teachers wanted us to fill it out even if we didn't qualify just to bring >> Always. It didn't matter if you qualified or not. It's only been the last few years since the girls have been at the high school that I haven't seen that. And that is because when the free breakfast and the free lunch came came through,
048that was what that was directly tied to. >> [clears throat] >> Um and the state was charged with a plan to come up with a different way to come up with the compensatory information, and they did not solve that [clears throat] issue. So their solution for not having it is just to cut the funding. Um which is not ideal to what we want to do. Um so um we'll probably see that on a future future agenda then. So that's something that maybe we can get more kids now. We can add the QR code right to that. We can have some little ideas. Nobody can say, "Well, I couldn't afford to go because we're letting you in free." And now you can do some of those other rewards like you do. That just comes. So that
049sounds like a good plan. Um on that note, you will see a little bit later on a resolution on here um a resolution about reaching out to our legislators about a house bill on on the agenda. And this house bill is related to special education funding. And so right now um in 2025, the state of Minnesota passed some legislation that said it that [clears throat] the blue the Blue Star, I think it's called Blue Star Commission, was required to cut special education costs. And if they could not cut special education costs, the bill specifically said that in the 2026 fiscal year that they would cut $250 million from the sped budget. Either figure out how to cut it or we'll cut it for you. Well, lo and behold, it's come to the time where they
050did not figure out how to cut $250 million from the sped budget because we're always overspent in sped anyway. So now they're coming and saying there's a bill in place that says we will cut $250 million. For us, what does that mean? It works out to be about 10% for every school district. So for us, that means we get about 100,000 less. We're already overspent in in special education. Now we get $100,000 less. So the resolution that you'll see here in just a little bit is just kind of directing me to reach out to our legislators in support of the bill that repeals that language that says we would like this bill to go away. That is going through the legislation right now as a bill that maybe this will just go away. And that's
051what we're we're hoping to do. So are there any questions on kind of that compensatory piece or that special education resolution piece? They can eliminate some of the paperwork that will cut the costs for our sped teachers. I think we've had a paperwork reduction act in place for, I don't know, 18 years, and it's just each form gets, you know, smaller print, but it's the same amount of information. I think is what is what happens. I mean, when a sped teacher has to take a day off just to keep catch up on their paperwork. Yep. Mr. Rocky knows. Mr. Maloney knows. You know, that's and then we have to bring in a a sub. Yeah, the amount of time that it goes into one paperwork day is is insane. Um couple of other updates. Um
052the Von Steffens Road, so you heard us talk about it at the last board meeting. Um Noah and I had brought to the table that we may be interested in getting an appraisal of the Von Steffens Road, um and we were directed to move forward with that. In the meantime, we did not take Good Friday off. Noah and I met with the legal team um on Good Friday instead, and we started to talk about who really owns this Von Steffens Road property. And really what we've learned is that it is very very likely that we do not own Von Steffens Road property. It's very very likely that it is in school trust land. Um we do not have a deed for the property. We do not have a title for the property, and even though
053the county documents indicate that we are the private owners, it's usually that way because they need to know who to send the tax forms to, but it doesn't actually mean we own it. So they believe that the DNR owns it. Um and if that's the case, then we do not appraise it. We do not sell it. Um basically when we are done using it as a school, it goes back to the DNR, and then that goes out at public auction. We don't have that in writing at all. We don't know this 100%, but it's pretty likely that this is where it's going to head. So we're working through just a little bit of that right now, um which changes everything for us, right? So we're just kind of at we know enough to not know
054exactly what step is is coming up. Um but we're working with the lawyers and the DNR on that piece of it. Um Questions on that? >> the lease stuff? The lease the tower and all that? So So What she's referring to is um several years ago the school district entered into a contract with a cell tower um and said that they could have a perpetual lease on the land for a cell tower. There is a possibility that that lease was signed without the authority to sign that lease. So right now the DNR and the lawyers are looking into that, so it may become null and void. Um what that means for the compensation that the district received for that that lease, we're not entirely sure yet, but that is a piece that's up there. There's
055also some conversation about who owns the surface land rights and who owns the mineral land rights. So there's some conversation that maybe we own the surface, but we can't actually do anything with it because the DNR owns anything under the dirt. Um >> [clears throat] >> so right now there's just a lot of moving pieces going on with that. So right now it's kind of at a at a complete standstill. Um we're going to move forward with moving the building stuff out. We'll move forward with having an auction um for the remaining materials in there, but as far as what that sale looks like, um I was hoping to hear something back before today's meeting, but I hadn't heard anything yet. You haven't heard anything yet, either, have you? No. So Lisa, then when we
056are out of that building, we no longer pay any utilities or anything like that? If the DNR owns it, basically when we are done, we're done, and they it's all theirs. Which So you've seen some legislation this year on the permanent school trust permanent fund permanent school trust fund land. And so that's how that permanent fund balance is used in the state of Minnesota. So if it goes to auction and it gets sold, it means we don't get the money. It goes into the permanent school fund, and that permanent school fund is distributed to schools on an allocation basis. Um and so part of that permanent fund legislation that's out there right now is saying it should be used in the areas that it's happening in, but that's [clears throat] kind of at a standstill
057in legislation right now, too. So Yeah, I I >> [clears throat] >> I don't think that this is going to move forward fast. No. Cuz I'm sure the DNR doesn't realize that they own it, either. Right. It's It's been about 75 years. Yep. Yep. And the city has developed [clears throat] that piece of property fast, also. Sure. And back in 2010, when we put in the street and utilities in there, there was some issues as to if we could actually do that. However, Congressman Congressman Oberstar was still around. Um he took care of that with the Army Corps of Engineer where he was the chief. So DNR had nothing to do with it, as far as I know, at that point. The mineral rights thing, that doesn't shock me. That's the majority of all of
058us that are in the house. We don't own our mineral rights, so The only thing you own is your deer stand. >> [laughter] >> So lots of moving parts going on with that one. Um but we'll we'll be working through that. The other update kind of related to construction is just something to kind of bring to the table and make sure everybody's aware of, and that's related to kind of the asbestos findings at the Chisholm Elementary. So at the Chisholm Elementary, um they began asbestos proceedings. You have a question? No, I'm just listening here with bated breath about asbestos. Yep. So they um they proceeded with They usually bring in heat guns and and point at walls and different pipes and things like that, and then they drill the floor to find out where asbestos
059is. And so in the times that they did the testing, they found one amount of asbestos. As they've started to deconstruct the building and take care of the abatement with the asbestos, they are finding an pretty substantial increase in the amount of asbestos that they did not believe it was there. Um so we're anticipating some costs to be associated with that. We have not received our complete and final bid on that. Um but it is a pretty substantial dollar amount. It's not in the bricks. It is not in the bricks. Um so there has been some question out in the community. We've talked about selling the bricks. Asbestos does not live in bricks. Um and so we will be okay with that. Um those will be just fine to sell. It's usually in like mastic
060related to the floors or pipes that are wrapped in things like that. And obviously we will not be selling those. So we will not be selling anything to the community that is not safe, I promise. Lisa. Mhm. Who is doing searching for the asbestos? What company? That is IEA. IEA? So they continue to go through the elementary building? Yes. So is is their contract to find this stuff in the building? Yes. Nobody else is involved. Okay. That's all I needed to know. So it's part of the major project, right? So InGensa is is still the company. They've subcontracted that piece out to IEA. IEA is in charge of anything related to the asbestos location in the building. But InGensa is not in charge of removing it. No. No. They do not have the safety equipment
061to do that. Okay. And then the final thing I would have for you, um just in case you've seen it in the paper, they've talked about some graduation rates. Um and and every time I look at graduation rates, they frustrate me because the media likes to say a very tiny piece of how graduation rates are really configured. So if you look at what the media released, they released that Chisholm High School last year had a graduation rate of 83.7%, which means that eight students didn't graduate. And in theory, the average human will look at that and say, "Did eight seniors that didn't make it across the stage?" And that's not at all what this means. At all. What this means is that when those students started here in ninth grade, they are expected Any student
062that started day one of ninth grade here in this building is expected to graduate from this building in four years. So if you go to the 18 to 21 program, that's counted against you as not graduated, which is completely unfair. >> [clears throat] >> Say they go to school here for their first year, all of ninth grade, and half of 10th grade, and then they transfer to E-Rats, for example, and they go there half of 10th grade, all of 11th, and the and and they drop out before their end of their 11th grade, but they've been there for a year and a half, it's still dings on ours because we are where they started and they went to school longer for us. So if they were here for a year and a half and they
063went there for a year and a half minus one day, that dings on us. So sometimes we don't know what this data's even going to say because it's been years since this kid's even been in the building. Um again, not a ideal way to look at data. If you are a student that leaves the state of Minnesota and goes to Superior, goes to any other state in the country, they mark them as unknown, which tells you that they don't know that they graduated. That dings against you. So how the state configures graduation rates does not make any sense. So um Principal Melani and I looked at the data and really what we would be looking at if we absolutely looked at the kids that we were responsible for, we would have a graduation rate of
06497.9. But that is not what the general public hears. They hear 83.7. So it's just important for people to understand that this data is is very skewed and very convoluted. It's very similar to kind of attendance data on how they they skew some of that data as well. So we just got to pay attention and make sure that you're really digging in to what we're looking at with that. Any questions on that? All right. Back to you guys. All right. Can I ask one more question regarding data? Um obviously with the MCA, the last week or two, um I was at a volleyball tournament this weekend talking to a sixth grade parent, um sixth grader parent, and she was saying, "Apparently I signed some form that allowed my daughter not to take the MCAs." And
065I kind of You can't do that. I said because it does count against us as as, you know, negative impact on our MCA scores. She's like, "I don't even remember signing it and I don't and I wouldn't have." So when does that paperwork go out? Is that with the opt-in whatever that is? I think it was the packet. I think it was in the packet at the beginning. It shouldn't be. Do we We don't send that out willingly, do we? We make them ask for that, I hope, right? >> the packet, I think, this year because I It actually was in the packet. All right. Because a lot of parents obviously don't know. Let's not sign that. Let's not put that form um >> [clears throat] >> in the district packets. And she didn't know
066until her daughter said her daughter was told that you don't have to take it. Your your mom signed the form. She's like, I think it's right behind the one do you want photographs? Do you want the duh duh duh? Right. Right. And it was just like it was like in that like stack of them. Where parents don't read everything and we just sign it. Yes. Yeah. Exactly. Right. Yeah. >> [clears throat] >> Every person does, I find. If a parent checks that off, Right. And by the way, I was just chatting about it. I'm like, You know, and and that's even an important thing to think about, you know, Chisholm has a very high special education rate. We have over 26% of our student body qualifies for special education. That is over over a quarter
067of our students, but they have to take the same tests. And so then they they compare apples to apples. They say, "Let's go up put you up against a school that has a 3% special education rate." And all of a sudden you're supposed to hit the same parameters. And they have not configured that piece quite yet. So it's important that you dig in Any other questions? All right. Moving on to personnel. Item A, approved the request of Nick Hill to extend his leave of absence from the AST Union Local number 536, that means additional 6 months. I'll make a motion. A motion by Director Rajah. Supported by Director Broady Simon. Any discussion? Well, I truly want to say I think this is a a thing that, you know, I know we get into the leave
068of absence, but I think of uh giving Nick his leave of absence is a positive thing. The guy isn't even working and he's at the school all year. So if he needs that 6 months to um get better, I I mean he's a positive I don't even know what to say. But I think it's just a security blanket if anything was to go, you know. >> Yeah. And I mean he wants to come back to work. He wants to come back to work. He's worked hard here. He's earned it. He's earned it. He's earned that right, I think. So. And you're right. He has earned it. My concern is not the name of the person that is on there. It's the extension of leave of absence where we don't know if a person is going
069to come back or not. That's going to hinder the school district from bringing somebody else on. So it's it's not the person, it's the the procedure. And I do agree with that. And I I say I and we but we have extended leaves of absences before, but I personally think that I I can say for myself anything after another 6 months, I I would probably be against because I also worked in that whole thing. And when there isn't somebody there permanent, it's hard on everybody. You know, you're trying to cover and you know, you're working with temporary. And and I get that. But I just in this in this case, I just I'm very I feel very strongly about giving him a next 6 months till he can get himself better. Any other discussion? There's
070a motion and a second. All those in favor signify by saying I. I. Opposed? Motion carries. Item B, accept Jennifer Broaddus' letter of resignation from the position of senior advisor. It says I know it says class president. That's not it. Senior advisor effective March 24, 2026. I'll make a motion. Motion by Director Broady Simon. Supported. Supported by Director Lappy and Scott Simon. My discussion would be the way the letter is written. It's already like telling us that have somebody else take her position. What are we doing? Uh It was It would be all right. Oh, well, thanks. And when are we making that decision because graduation is coming up very very soon and the seniors May I ask the um or like as Okay. Thank you. This is not part of the collective bargaining unit
071agreement. I did nothing official. That's where I have my problem. Part of the bargaining agreement that was signed by the bargaining unit and school district. So you have a employee who is stating that they are not going to adhere to the [clears throat] agreement that was signed or agreed upon. And I've got a problem with that. Any other discussion? Hearing none, all those in favor signify by saying I. I. Opposed? No. Item C, accept Richard Baker's letter of resignation for from substitute custodian. Make motion. Motion by Director Patty Simon. Support. Vote by Director Raha. Any discussion? If you looked at Mr. Baker's letter, again, this may go back to the previous item on the agenda. Uh he's out of position. He's going to be permanent. But not Hearing no further discussion, all those in favor
072signify by saying I. I. Opposed? Motion carries. Administrative business. Item A, approve the school calendar for 2026-2027 school year. I'll motion. Motion by Director Raha. Support. Vote by Director Rafferty. Any discussion? I actually do. Why are we taking a week off in February and not near like a spring break where the rest of school districts take? Um we can actually answer that. So we had a committee and we pulled the data. That is the most requested day off or week off by our staff consistently each year over the last 3 years. Yeah, but what's our data show for most absences? Because I mean, I know other school districts have students that were gone. Yeah, we didn't we didn't pull the students. We pulled the staff cuz we can't cover our staff. >> [laughter] >> I
073just think that's a really silly time to be having a vacation. Did we But you like um talk to staff and So it it it depends how you look at that because in my opinion, the way that I look at making some decisions like this, I'm not a big believer in sending out four options and everybody votes on it and I get it. I'm a big believer in committees. And so what we did is we reached out to both the ASB and the admin um unions and asked them to send representatives to the table. We also reached out to Mr. Vaki. We reached out to our principals, let them know that we needed them there. We actually even reached out to some of our choir and band directors, things like that that we have a
074lot of stuff going on related to them and invited them to the table. So those individuals that came to the table examined four different options. Some had spring break, some didn't, some had them at a different time. Um and ultimately we needed to make sure it butted up against a four-day option because otherwise it would have made the calendar for students bounce out into June. So we were trying to make sure students were done before Memorial Day. All right, so that was was a big factor. So then the second thing that we looked at was right now the ASB contract requires them to take the Monday after Easter off. It's a contracted holiday off. And when you have that contracted holiday off, it means then we could have either taken the week before Easter or
075the week after Easter, but now you're taking that plus one day. And so it was conflicting some of that issue there and part of that's just how that ASB contract is written. And so then the third piece we looked at was really looking at kind of our absentee rate. And our absentee rate is through the roof in the month of February. So we kind of looked where it would fit in February and that was the four day. That's where the decision was made. I did send it back out to feedback. I had about nine people respond um out of all of the staff. Um and we had uh two people say that they'd really like to see Christmas break be two weeks. But that's what they wanted. Um we had two people mention that they
076would prefer that week to be during Easter. Um and then we had four people say we absolutely love um the calendar as it's and that was the only feedback that we received. Um And so I know there's been conversations, but they have to communicate. I I can't read my And we did communicate that other schools do have that week off. So Herbert Hoover where everybody appears gone to the four-day week, pretty much has eliminated a spring break. So we do have several staff members that that is when their kids have break that don't live within the district. So it's an availability for them to take family trips as well. The only concern that I have is that we're meeting requirements that we all are here. And if we have an undue snowstorm, obviously they will
077probably be e-learning days. Correct. Okay. Yeah, right now in the calendar there's about a 2 and 1/2 hour window of flexibility um based on what the state minimums for teaching are and that is including us changing the bell [clears throat] schedule. So the bell schedule goes from 48 minutes to 52 minutes next year per class period and that is because the state minimums in hours must be met. Um and those minutes could not be met um in 48-minute periods and so that's where that leads out from. Similar school day be longer? Your school day will be from 8:10 till 3:00. So it's about 8 minutes longer a day. Yeah. So are those What about the um So when we eliminated early outs, and they were supposed to have like the random Monday to do PLCs,
078do we have those? There's no way we can. We do not have enough days. Wouldn't that make more sense than the spring break? >> You would have to pay your teachers four more days. So every day that you add back, for our staff, it's I don't know what is an average teacher day. $30,000. We ended up with three on the calendar and that was part of the contract moving the teacher work day to 3:30 and so to be able to get some time to be able to get those PDs in. So no, we couldn't get it in. Because the state minimums, the only way we can get more PD in for teachers would be expand the day to longer like 8:10 to 3:15, we could get a couple more days. Um I don't know that
079the students would love that option, but I feel like it's not extended. As long as it's not till 4:00, I don't think the students would get care that much. So 3:59. No, I'm just kidding. It just affects sports. It it will affect the ones who decide to roll in at 8:30. School starts at 8:20. 8:10. I mean, I I was going to add a little bit there. I feel like that's just like a dead week. If you have any anybody's in any winter sports, you're done. You're not going anywhere. We did look at that. We looked at every single week and the um the boys basketball tournament goes all the way like into March. You don't you don't have these two weeks. You would only yeah. You'd have to do it on that Easter time.
080Yeah. And so any way you look at it, you were going to run into tournament season. sports were either ending or sports were starting. Any way you looked at it, we weren't able to work with sports. I think I heard that that Rock Ridge I think is doing like the last week of March maybe. I don't know which year or something like that, but either way, we never had a spring break. So I it's not something that I'm I can't jazzed up about anyway. Yeah. We've never not had one, so I don't really care. I'm just saying that this is like high high time for boys basketball, girls basketball, hockey, swimming. I mean, there's just no way it's going to be like for kids anyway. They're not going to be getting away. >> So then
081are kids going to forfeit any games that are scheduled that week or parents got to bring them in and teachers got to still come in to co- or coaches still have to come in to coach? This is not a student thing. This is not a student thing. This is really about staff mental health. That's what this is about. Some school districts were able to go to four-day weeks and give that extra time. That is not something that we are entertaining at this point. This is about giving our staff a break. Instead of having to try to find substitutes uh which is a problem on a regular day. Yeah, and and it is a problem. And then students and Miss Thomason and Miss Friend probably can attend to this. Were you going to have your classes
082and you've got a sub? And they're disenchanted by that. Well, and really, you have a week two weeks off at Christmas, you got to bring your kids in for sports that time too and you know, so it's you know, really I I don't really I I don't really care when it is. I I just think it's just a Yeah. Not a great time of year to take a week off. I'd like to go to Mexico or Hawaii. Anywhere, anytime. That is actually the direct feedback we got from our staff is that's the perfect time. That's when they want to go. That's >> [laughter] >> That's when we're going to go for a whole week. February is that But again, we only heard from nine people. So it's hard to say. And and we have all
083got sitting in the room today. So, they're going to be busy with sports at that time. You're not going to take vacation to miss sports. >> I never But you usually are not going to have games scheduled over Easter breaks and because most schools are off. It is but Yeah. Everybody else can adjust. And if you really want to take your kids on vacation, you're going to take them anyway. Parents, they don't really care if their school or not. If they're going on a vacation, they take their kids on vacation. But also, I would be really curious to know what if during when we didn't do the Easter break, I would be curious to know how many kids were gone and on vacations and and what that looks like. >> doesn't matter cuz it's about
084the teachers. It's not about the kids. We can look Maybe we can look at that next makes more sense. You know, kids get mental health things when when they have teacher workshop days when teachers have to be there and kids down there. So, Never had a spring I've been going Which is like I said, we've never had one so if we want to try it, get get some numbers on you know, like I said, student absences in the end of March and see what makes more sense. Any other discussion? >> [clears throat] >> Hearing none, all those in favor signify I. I. Opposed? No. >> [clears throat] >> Item B, approving resolution 26-4-13-1, accepting donations. And I'll just I'll briefly run through the donations cuz we we appreciate anything that's donated. Uh donation of a
085clarinet and bass clarinet from Christy Castaneda Castaneda to support the band. Uh donation of $2,500 family charitable foundation to support Chisholm school softball. Next, donation [clears throat] of $500 from the Evelyn Elks to support Chisholm school prom. Donation of $650 from the Evelyn Elks Lodge to support Chisholm school athletics. I'll make a motion. Support. Motion by Director Randy Soder, support by Director Friday Simon. Ann, can you do a roll call, please? Director Friday Simon? Yes. Director Lappi? Yes. Director Raha? Yes. Director Randy Soder? Yes. Director Rice? >> Yes. Chair Casey? Yes. Item C, approving the resolution to clear and sell surplus properties. This is resolution 26-4-13-2. Uh you see the items on One is the 2012 GMC 1500 truck. Uh speaking with Don and the staff, that truck is not needed. So, hopefully we'll get
086something for that. Yeah. And And a motion? I'll make a motion. Motion by Director Raha. I'll support. Support by Director Friday Simon. Roll call, please. Director Friday Simon? Yes. Director Lappi? Yes. Director Raha? Yes. Director Randy Soder? Yes. Director Rice? Yes. Chair Casey? Yes. Next charities, item D, approval of memorandum of understanding between Chisholm schools ISD 695 and American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees Council 65, AFL-CIO Local Union number 536 regarding and including specific employees in the union contract. I'll make a motion. Motion by Director Friday Simon. Support. Support by Director Rice. Any discussion? Hearing none, all those in favor signify by saying I. I. Opposed? Motion carries. Item E, approve the fiscal year 20 26 revised budget as presented. Mr. Kezar. Yeah. Thank you. So, this was one of our main topics
087that we had at our finance meeting last week. Uh but overall, we are looking at a budget deficit for FY26 this school year. But not not unexpected. Um we actually did improve on our original adopted budget for FY26 by about $60,000. >> [clears throat] >> And so, I'll just run through a few of the funds that have a deficit right now. So, fund two, food service. I You're probably thinking uh this doesn't usually have a deficit and you're right. Uh the reason it does this year is because we did spend about 135,000 on new kitchen equipment related to the new school building. Um and we have a healthy fund balance in the food service that is supporting that purchase and the state actually requires us to spend that money down on food service equipment. Uh
088transportation, that's another area that we have a larger deficit. Um and that's something we've talked about a lot lately, too, uh in terms of our fleet. Um for example, that the 2012 GMC that's selling, we're just looking at what we need as we consolidate it to the one location. Uh we are trading out one of our buses and >> [clears throat] >> we anticipate our lease payments being reduced by about 50,000 for next year, which should help that budget. Um and capital was our our other area and right now we're we're analyzing um what all our costs will be, you know, being at one location and what that means for utilities and supplies, um not having not having that at bond at the elementary school. And you know, other ways that we can look to
089save money in that that area. So, and then the the last one is the OPEB trust account and that, you know, we anticipate that we always have a a deficit supporting our retiree health insurance plans. Paid paid out of our OPEB trust fund. Any other questions on it or I'm only stopping to have a phone call or go into more detail. Yeah, I I would. I got a page now. I'm tired of asking this question but I'm going to do it anyways. [clears throat] We have a huge balance in this irrevocable trust, correct? Yep. And we take out money every year to fund retiree health insurance benefits. So, I don't understand, I guess, for me why we have a deficit. Do we have you know, a lot of money in that fund. Yeah, you Can
090you explain that? Yeah. Yep, so even though we have the money set aside, uh between four and five million, you know, for that purpose that can only be spent for that, our revenue, it just looks at our annual revenue and expense and the only revenue we get in is the interest on that account. Okay. All right. And then the expenses is what we actually pay out for our retirees. Mhm. So, that's going to be more than the interest earnings. Correct. Okay. Thank you again. >> [laughter] >> That's just like a 401K 401 thing. So, you've got a balance, you withdraw the interest from it. Okay. But you've got additional expenses. The balance may be drawn down in the long run. >> [clears throat] >> It can still help And again, this doesn't take into account
091money we received in 2025 and were supposed to be spent for 2026. So, about 150. Yep. Yep, that's right. Which So, there's the uh timing things that can impact one-time timing things that can impact the numbers, too. Any questions for Mr. Kezar? Not that you know. Uh item F, this is the resolution 26-4-13-3, uh approving the House Finance Bill 4114. Uh Superintendent Perkovich went over that with you if you'd like to go over it. Can't you see We have to approve that budget. Yeah. Yeah. Oh, I'm sorry. I didn't know. This information All right, keep it moving along as I said earlier. I'll make a motion. Motion by Director Friday Simon. I'll support. Support by Director Rice. No further discussion, all those in favor signify by saying I. I. Opposed? Motion carries. Thank you. Now,
092item F, House Finance Bill 4113, resolution 26-4-13-3. And I entertain a motion. I'll Anything out of the ordinary that brought that up? Support. Director Randa Slaughter, Director Lappi. And can you call the roll call again? Director Randa Simon. Yes. Director Lappi. >> Yes. Director Raha. Yes. Director Randa Slaughter. Yes. Director Rice. Yes. Chairperson. Yes. Thank you. I don't know right. Discussion. We have one item on Mary Kay's events, and the bell schedule. I just wanted to make sure that you were aware one of the things that we're going to try differently this year is when we put out the school calendar on the back of it we're going to have a schedule of events. We're hearing from families that sometimes it's hard to figure out when prom's coming and when Sadie Hawkins is coming and
093all these different things and so most of those dates have already been configured. So we'll publish that information at the same time, and then of course we already just talked briefly about the bell schedule. I was wondering if the bell schedule you could send that out too. I can send that out. I know I think that's nice people would know. The only thing that I want to add out of the discussion is social media. Please don't believe >> [laughter] >> we Unless it's true. Somebody put out on social media that our new building was full of asbestos. And then then it spreads like wildfire, but nobody comes back to check with us. >> Correct. I see no other business before that. I need a motion. I will make the motion to adjourn. I support. Motion
094by Director Raha, seconded by Director Randa Slaughter. All those in favor signify by saying I. I. Opposed? Motion carries. I can Thank you guys for coming.