001Pan ready. No. >> Call for order the regular meeting of Independent School District 695, which is in Minnesota. Roll call, please. >> Director Karate Simon >> here. >> Director Lappy. Director Raha >> here. >> Director Randis >> here. >> Director Rice >> here. Chair Casey >> here. Thank you. Uh any the audience wishing to address the board at this point? Mr. Boo. Okay, moving on. Uh motion to approve the agenda. >> I'll make the motion. >> Motion by support by director Raha. Any discussions, additions, deletions? >> Do do we want to add a um posting for the coaches or is that just being done automatically? >> That can be done. >> Okay. Good. Estation. >> Any other discussion? Hearing none. All those in favor signify by saying I. >> I. >> Opposed. Motion carries. U
002item number five, reports. Superintendent. >> Thank you, Chair Casey. So, tonight I just thought I'd go over a couple of things that we've been working on um some things that are coming up. So, the first one that I know is important to everybody is now that our preschoolers are back this week, our numbers have gone up a little bit, we're at 687, which is 22 less than we ended the year with. So, we're getting closer to having that even number. One of the things to point out this year is that last year at this time, we had 18 students that were taking five or more courses, PSO. This year we do have 35 students taking five or more courses PSO. So that is something that's telling us that our families understand that there is value
003in the PSO. I'm not sure that they understand what that means entirely for the school district. But it's up to us to really start looking at some opportunities to bring those college in the schools classes back here so that the families can realize those same benefits without the kids leaving the campuses. So, I know that that's going to be a big push and something that we need to be looking at um along the way. So, with that, we have also done a little bit more digging. I said we're going to be digging for a while to try to find out as much as we can about data. And the first thing that I want to report on is really related to attendance. Um attendance at the state level was reported at 64.3. And while it's
004not that much higher, we did find a couple little errors in the way things were being reported, our actual calculation that is going through the state through an appeal is 68.8. While that is not significantly higher, it is 4% higher. So, we wanted to make sure our baseline data was accurate so that we knew exactly where we needed to go. Um, primarily we are still seeing that that's at the high school level and there's some things that we need to do at the high school level to bring those numbers up. Our numbers at the elementary level with the programs that have been in place with check and connect or with the attendance um pilot program, they are working. We did not bring them in at the high school level last year. So, it's brand new
005this year to the high school. So, we're hoping to realize some of those same things. The other thing um is really we're gearing up to start looking at some of our systems as we're going a little bit further. And so our first inservice with all of our teachers is next Monday, the 29th. So there's no school for students on the 29th, but all of our staff is here. That includes all of our teachers and all of our paraprofessionals, which is something a little bit unique. Um but we have redact dollars and NTSS dollars specifically designed to train the paraprofessionals. So, we're going to take this opportunity to really talk about some brain science and what the brain of a Gen Xer looks like versus a Gen Zer versus a Gen Alpha and how that different
006brain development guides and determines what instructional practices may or may not work within a classroom. Because the way that I was taught, that world doesn't exist anymore. We need to now teach for a completely different type of world. and we need to prepare our teachers to start being ready for that. We're going to take some time also that day to start looking at training our paras and our teachers in intervention groups. So, our elementary teachers do a bangup job, right, of interventions and and um like centers that you might see. That's another word that people use. Teachers at the K6 level do that all the time. And then something happens in seventh grade where they say, "Well, that's we're not going to do that anymore. Now we're going to lecture and and hope that you
007can regurgitate that information back to us. And we know that the brain science is saying that that model doesn't work anymore. So, how do we use some of our fast bridge data to help our teachers have some small groups in their classrooms at the high school level? What does that look like?" So, we'll be spending some time looking through that data um and those practices on Monday. Other just kind of announcements. Um I reported last time that I had applied for a $50,000 grant. Noah and I worked together um for a cyber security grant. You'll see that on the agenda today. We've already received approval for that. So that is some money that will be coming back into the district that will help with things like the ballistic glass or um secure entries or key
008fobs, things that were already going in the building. But this helps offset some of that cost and allows us to use $50,000 in a different place um throughout the facility. So that'll be coming in. Um you'll see that we also have a boiler operator on the agenda tonight. Um there was a typo in it, not in the one that you're seeing. There was a typo in one that the union saw. So I've worked with the union. The typo was related to an hour. So, it was supposed to say what it says in your contract, 5 to 6:30 a.m. When it went to the union, it said 6:00 to 7:30. They don't anticipate that this is an issue, but it does need to go back through their channels. They anticipate meeting Wednesday to go back through
009there. So, if that is approved at this level tonight, then we would be able to move forward um on a boiler operator position. Um let's see. The only other kind of big things to note, it's homecoming kickoff starts next Friday. So, it goes the week after that. Um, next Friday afternoon is the kickoff pep assembly. So, if you want to get that on your calendar, that's around 2:15 2:20 Friday afternoon. Um, so that tends to be a pretty fun week. I'm out Monday and Tuesday at the superintendence conference. So, I will be there pending any emergencies here on campus. And um before we leave, if you want to make sure that you grab your certificate of appreciation from MSBA as it is schoolboard appreciation. >> Any questions for me? >> Any questions for the superintendent?
010>> Yeah, I bothered her today. She came into a co-op meeting which she should have been at. And we've got a great great program with all of these specialists that the co-op has hired to work with math special ed paras blah blah blah and as the superintendent just indicated par training. When will we ever have par training? Now they have people dedicated to parat training. That's excitement. that to me that shows that they want to try and get something going with Paris. Paras are very important in our school and I I think it's just worthwhile that we have people that are hired by the co-op who is a topshelf organization. They're run very well. They have great people and they're going to be in here from time to time doing training and I applauded them
011for that. I thought that was just great. Boom. >> And then I told Lisa to get back to work. >> So I did. >> Thank you. >> Any other questions for the superintendent? Moving on. Uh motion to approve the consent agenda. These consist of the minutes of the September 8th, 2025 regular meeting. >> I'll make the motion. Motion by director and s >> Support by director Rice. Any discussion? Hearing none. All those in favor signify by saying I. >> I. >> Opposed. Motion carries. Then seven under personnel item number eight. Motion to approve a seven-month leave of absence for Nick Hill from the custodian/bus driver position of the ASME union 536. A motion >> motion by director Raha >> support >> by director Rice. Any discussion? >> Just wish Nick is speeding up and he
012just was so sad. He loves his job. So yeah, I felt bad for him. He's struggling to lose it. >> Hearing no other discussion. All those in favor signify by saying I. I opposed. Motion carries. Item B, transfer of Tim Kersh into long-term substitute custodian/bus driver for dayshift. >> A motion. >> Motion by director Cy Simon. >> Support by director Ice. And in discussion, >> is this replacing Mr. Hill? >> That is replacing Mr. Hill. And then a long-term sub for Tim has also been posted. So if you know anybody looking for that, we're looking for applicants. >> Great. Okay. Somebody that might be interested, we can talk about that after. >> And that's after me. That would be after. >> Oh, never mind. That's why I said it because >> hearing no no other
013discussion. All those in favor signify by saying I. >> I. >> Opposed. Motion carries. Item C, the resignation of Tony Mattach as a paraprofessional. >> Motion by director Randa Solder. Court support by director Raha. Any discussion? As you saw that Miss Manage was um brought back from her job that she was laid off from. So we wish her the best. We thank her and uh any other discussion hearing none. All those in favor signify by saying I. >> I. I >> oppose. Motion carries. Item D. Motion to approve the resignation of Chelsea Schmidt from assistant girls basketball coach effective September 8th, 2025. >> So make a motion by motion by director Kari Simon supported by director Randa Solder. Any discussion? >> I say thank you. I would like to thank uh Miss Schmidz for all
014the time that she's dedicated. Everybody had a chance to read her letter. She's done a nice job. Any other discussion? Hearing none. All those in favor signify by saying I. >> I opposed. Nay. Item E. Motion to approve the resignation of Pampioski from D girls basketball coach effective September 18th, 2025. A motion. Motion by director Raha. >> I support by director Ra Snder. Any discussion? Again, we'd like to thank Pam for her many years of service into the girls basketball program and uh wish her the best in her additional time off. >> Either one of you don't look at us because you're going to >> Yeah. >> Any other discussion? And do these get posted then just automatically then we don't have to approve a posting. Okay. Hearing no further discussion. All those in favor
015signify by saying I. >> I. >> Opposed. Name. >> Motion carries. Item F. Motion to approve the hire of Katie Frider as a pair of professional. A >> motion. Motion by director Randa Solder, supported by Director Crowdy Simon. Any discussion? Hearing none. All those in favor signify by saying I. >> I. >> Opposed. Motion carries. Item G. Motion to approve the hire of Abby Pope as a fair proportional. Excuse me. >> A motion. Motion by director ra by director rice. Any discussion? Hearing none. All those in favor signify by saying I. >> I. >> Opposed. Motion carries. Item H. Motion to approve Tom Pascuzzi, John Wagner, Jen Fleming, and Derek Schmidz as volunteer cross country coaches. Make a motion. >> Motion by director Ronnie Simon >> Sport by director Raha. Any discussion? I do I
016do have a question and mine that you're in the audience. Why do we need four volunteers? >> So, um I think last year you were under the assumption that I did have four or multiple regular um assistants. But however, I have zero daily assistant coaches. And this is just for an as needed basis. Like if I'm at an IEP meeting which runs over, I can call Mrs. Fleming and say, "Hey, could you please get practice started for me?" So it's it's just to have backup for me being that I am the only coach for the program. >> Okay, makes sense. Any other discussion? Hearing none. All those in favor signify by saying I. I >> opposed. Motion carries. Item I, motion to approve theou between the board of education, independent school district 695 and ASW
017local number 536 regarding the terms of employment for a chief engineer and boiler oper operator. >> Motion motion by director Cy Simon support by director Raha. Any discussion? He's been he's been doing that right along, right? I mean, >> on a contract on a contractor basis. So, this actually saved the district by moving to the house. >> And we welcome George back officially. >> I knew you'd come back someday. I just knew it. >> Thank you, George. Uh any other discussion hearing? None. All those in favor signify by saying I. I. >> Opposed. Motion carries. Item eight. Under administrative business, the approval of a resolution to accept donations. And find it here. Thank you. This is resolution 25-09-22. Resolution accepting donations of $270 from Chisum Lunch Punch to support the Chisum Public School students. Resolution
018accepting a donation of $400 from the hug extravaganza board to the elementary art program students. And resolution accepting donation of school supplies from Faith Lutheran Church to Scorchism Elementary students. I'll make a motion. >> Motion by director Karate Simon. Port by director Raja. Pam, can you take roll call? >> Director Crowy Simon. >> Yes. >> Director Alappy. >> Director Raha. >> Yeah. >> Director Raiser. >> Yes. >> Director Rice. >> Yes. >> Chair Casey. >> Yes. And we thank those organizations for continually supporting us in their effort to make things easier. Item B, motion to approve the managed service contract with tech from 912025 to 8312026. I'll make the motion. Motion by director Raha. I'll >> support >> by director Simon. Any discussion? >> This is something that Joel >> Yeah, Joel requested. I don't
019recall them being with us before. However, >> this is this replaces CW. >> Oh, okay. Contract. And this is about $350 cheap on this. >> Any other discussion? Hearing none. All those in favor signify by saying I. >> I. >> Opposed. Motion carries. I thought you motion to approve the 2026 group Medicare rates with Blue Cross Blue Shield from January 1, 2026 through December 31, 2026 as presented. >> I'll make a motion. >> Motion by director Bry Simon. >> Support by director Rice. Any discussion? Yeah, these this Medicare rate renewal as of uh January 1st, it's about a 4% increase on the plan that majority of our retirees are on and a 6% increase on the other two, but resulting in about $7 per individual increase monthly and $7 for the district. >> Strictly retirees.
020>> Yep. Well, Medicare age retirees. >> Yeah. Y5 and older. >> Okay. So, I I guess this would be an appropriate time to give a pat on the back to Noah. Um, some of our retirees have asked for AC direct payments for their for their insuranceances and Noah set that up. Uh, they are ecstatic about it. So, thank you Noah for getting that done. there one retiree in particular that's no at length she get she gives us credit so we appreciate it appreciate her happiness and Noah's due diligence >> any other discussion hearing none all those in favor signify by saying I >> approve opposed Motion carries. Item D, motion to approve the 2025 payable 2026 proposed levy with the maximum authority as presented. >> I'll make a motion. >> Motion by director Cotty Simon.
021>> Support by director Rice. Any discussion? As always in these situations, um we set the levy high until a final budget has been uh established. Therefore, we can reduce the levy. However, if we set the levy very low, we can't increase it from that point. So it always sets the public in a panic at first until you explain it to them. But uh each year you have to explain and that's fine. Levies can be a very complicated issue especially within this county. >> I can expand too. We we cannot just uh put in any amount dollar amounts that we want. There's set limits on the levy, >> you know, based on a lot of factors, our enrollment, market values. So, there's not a a lot that the district can control independently to change the numbers
022up. Okay, with that said, all those in favor signify by saying I. >> I opposed. Motion carries. Item E. Uh, motion to approve the cyber security grant in the amount of $50,000. >> I'll make the motion. >> Motion by director Randa or Kapor by director Roa. Any discussion? >> That's great. Nice job by the superintendent. That gives us $50,000 somewhere else that as she stated that we can allocate somewhere else. >> Any other discussion? Well, yeah, I'd like I'd like to add on to that. Uh we have received that already. >> Um I think we're expected to receive the money midocctober. October 12th, 13th, something like that is when it's expected to hit, but we have to approve that we're willing to accept it. >> So, if if we've already spent the money, alls we
023have to do is show them where we spent it and going to reimburse ourselves >> as long as it was after July 1st of 2025. So, anything from July 1st, 2025 to June 30th, 2026 is eligible. Any other discussion? Well, >> just for argument sake, does this go back into the bond referendum or does it come into our general fund? >> It probably could go either. >> Okay. I have a suggestion. Okay. I I because I don't know. I I've never seen a grant like this for doing something with uh security and stuff like that. We've just spent the money for cameras and this and that, but I've never seen a grant come back like this. So, it's your choice, right? >> My recommendation would be that we use it to submit invoices that have
024already been paid. Yeah. >> And that we we use that money to recoup that. So, if there's other FFN expenses that we incur because we know that our FFN budget >> may not give us every pie in the sky dream idea that this allows that opportunity. >> Okay. Great. Thank you. >> Any other discussion? Hearing none. All those in favor signify by saying I. >> I. >> Opposed. Motion carries. Item F. A motion to restart our collaboration discussions with the giving school board. >> I'll make the motion. >> I'll support. >> Motion by director Raiser. Support by director Raha. Any discussion? Yeah, we could we could uh I guess we had mentioned at the last meeting that we were going to kind of have a list of some of the things that we were going
025to that was on our agenda to work with them. >> Um, and I'm I'm not I haven't been advised of of any additions. I got an email as you did last night. um from Superintendent Albridge um wanting to know if if we have voted on this yet, but some of the things that uh superintendent and I have discussed are collaborative classroom ideas. Um you know, I think and I always go back to this because it's very simplistic and that's the way I work. um like driver's training, they have it in school over there. The same person who teaches it over there does it online for us. >> So, it'd be nice if we could set something up um through the internet where we could have a classroom at the same time as she's teaching it
026over there. So those are some of the things that that I like to discuss. Um we've all talked about as the superintendent before uh mentioned the number of students that we have doing PSO. So I think some of the discussion should uh center on how to keep our students here their students in in a not going to PSO and having those classes count as college credits. >> So those are a couple of things I'd like to discuss with them. And uh before we set up our first meeting, I I encourage all of us to think of some things um that we can work on. Obviously, we have some of the things that we already do, you know, collaborate on sports and and things of that nature, but uh we talked about it with the previous
027superintendent also. Um, I know two buses are heading out to the side lake area or French Township area. Um, you know, things like that. >> Well, and I'd like to just say I I appreciate the committee that is going to do this and I am not against I want everybody to hear me. I am not against collaboration. I just want people to understand that my feeling is that I trust the people that are on that committee to bring back to us the suggestions and that and we still discuss it but I am in no way against it. I am 100% for it. Our students need it and there's I am 100% for it and I just know that some people think they get the two words mixed up. No, I am not against collaboration in
028any way. So, >> we just need to work on making sure that collaboration is working for both districts and that it's going correctly. And if it's not, then we need to look at other avenues. >> Absolutely. >> Yes. So, >> any other discussion? The superintendent has suggested that uh a roll call vote be taken and I would like to um institute that. So Pam, >> director Karate Simon, >> yes. >> Director Raha, >> yes. >> Director Randa Solder, >> yes. >> Director Rice, >> yes. Chair Casey, >> yes. Motion carries. Um, I guess we'll leave it up to you, Lieutenant Witch, to gather some dates that may work for that we can >> um just to make it clear, collaboration committee is myself, you and Bob still. Is that what the board still wants? >>
029Shel was the alternative. >> Okay. Just want to make sure board is still wanting that as the committee >> and anybody is invited to these meetings. Um we'll certainly post it or announce it um when we can and uh invite the general public to attend and listen. Item G through O are the policies. This is the final reading on these policies. >> G's the first >> Oh, G is the first reading. Thank you. >> No, >> I didn't catch it before I said it. >> My glasses. So item G, first reading of policy 210, conflict of interest for school board members. Hence why no one is passing out the conflict of interest papers. That is the first reading. Final reading for H through O. Policy number 155, outside agencies supporting schools. Policy 2011, legal status
030of the school board. Policy 202, school board officers. Policy 203, operation of the school board governing rules. Policy 203.2, order of the regular schoolboard meeting. Policy 203.5, school board meeting agenda. Policy 203.6 consent agenda. And policy 506, student discipline. I get a motion to approve those policies or to pull a policy if >> I'll make the motion. >> Motion by director Randa Solder. >> Support by director Raha. Any discussion? And again, as you remember, we did pull a policy on the crisis um management. Still looking at that. Any other discussion? Hearing none. All those in favor signify by saying I. >> I. >> Opposed. Motion carries. Nine. Any discussion for school board members? and just give us a few a few dates I can work and take into account please your time also. >> Do
031you prefer evenings or during the day? >> I prefer during the day but >> Mr. I know Mr. RAHA as >> this does not work for you. >> Line it up >> and then I'll make it work for that. >> Then again, director Laffy is all available. And uh I'd actually like director Laffy to attend the meetings but maybe not sit at the table if the three of us that she would be informed by >> any other discussion. Item 10 information um our activities director uh Mr. Rocky has advised me that our baseball coach, Mr. Provinino, is being inducted into the Minnesota Baseball Hall of Fame. >> Oh, yeah. >> Congratulations to Mr. Provenino. He has been >> I don't know how many years. >> 100 years. No, I was just Yeah, that's not interest.
032>> Any other discussion? Again, I'd like to thank both Pam and Chelsea. >> Yes, absolutely. Guys, thank you so much. We should bring it up. >> I know. >> We have volleyball tomorrow night, girls swimming tomorrow, soccer. >> There's a way tomorrow. So, Volleyball is here is here. >> With that, I'll entertain a motion to adjourn. So may a motion by director Raha. >> So support by director Stodd. Any discussion? All those in favor signify by saying I. I. >> Opposion carries. Time is 5:35. >> Thank you.