001Stand for the pledge. >> I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. >> Okay. Um 3.0 is the approval of the meeting agenda, and it's just the three of us tonight. So, >> all right. I'll make a motion to approve the meeting agenda. >> I'll second. >> Okay. Any discussion? All those in favor? >> I oppose. All right. Agenda is approved. All right. 4.0 is our acknowledgements and recognitions. Um nothing official except for um I'd just like to send a shout out to the class of 2026 who's graduating >> here soon. Um, congratulations to them and we wish you all the best and we'll see you this weekend for commencement. Um, all
002right. 5.0 is our recognition of visitors and community comments. Um, welcome visitors. Thanks for being here with us for our May 2026 meeting. Um, and our community comments section is an opportunity for the public to address the board on an item included in the agenda in accordance with the guidelines printed at the end of the agenda. Uh we don't have any community comments scheduled for this evening. So we will go ahead and move to our reports and 6.1 is our principal report. Mr. Blanchi, hello. >> Hello. Good evening. >> Good evening. >> So yeah, just a few days uh left, but a lot going on and there's been a lot going on the last couple of weeks as well. Um on Monday, our saw two students had their uh field day, so they spent the
003afternoon kind of all over the place. There was a disco light volleyball dance party. That's all one thing um in the Saut gym. That was one of the many stations that they got to uh kind of roll through. So um a big shout out to Miss Schultz uh and Miss Anstrom. They kind of led the planning and organizing of it and then had a bunch of parent volunteers um staff out there and the kids just had a blast. Obstacle courses, face painting. Um it was just a really good time. Our fourth graders right now are at North House this week uh learning about the history of logging in this area um while they're building their miniature batau boats um down at North House. So, we're getting that in before the end of the year. Um
004last week we had a great evening on Wednesday. Uh we had our senior awards night. uh where a total of 35 people and organizations handed out financial gifts to 29 of our seniors totaling $383,445. Just truly remarkable and amazing. Um and it was just a great night to recognize all those kids and all the hard work they put in and see the generosity from our community to support kids here. It's great. Uh on Friday last week, our sixth graders um participated in their firearms safety field day experience. That's their culminating experience from the sixth grade safety class. So over the course of the year, they've all through the class, they've they're now eligible to get their ATV, snowmobile, watercraft, and firearms safety certificate um all through the DNR if the family chooses to to get
005that. So um they're wrapping that up. uh high school students had a great time at prom I think last weekend. It was a great it was a good night. People were having a lot of fun. Um and that was Saturday night at a yonder uh tonight. Uh so I invite you all after the board meeting. Won't be able to get out of it because it's happening right there in the lobby. Our eighth grade autobiography event is happening tonight officially starting at 7 o'clock. Um but they're already getting started um setting up. And tomorrow is the last day for our seniors. So, we're going to have them in. Um, our culinary arts students are putting on a nice, uh, buffet breakfast for them in the cafeteria at 8:30. Um, they'll spend they'll clean out their lockers,
006last minute things. We're going to rehearse for commencement on Saturday. Um, and then have a little uh, event with the Sautu students in the ACA here before we let them get out and get ready uh, for commencement. Um, seniors will get out at 11 o'clock tomorrow. And then next week, our eighth graders are ending their school year in the Boundary Waters. So, they're going to take some school buses Tuesday morning, do a overnight, and be back by the end of the day on Wednesday next week. And um also want to recognize a great evening last night up at Graham Portage for the awards banquet. We recognized 91 um K12 students from uh Satb Mountain Bond Elementary, Cook County Middle School, and Cook County High School. So, another great event. And obviously, Saturday commencement at 1:00
007in the gym. Everybody's invited. Uh, graduate parade is at 2:30 right after the commencement ceremony. They'll kind of snake through town and end at Artist Point. Um, we've got that parade route posted on our website and Facebook page. And then all of our students get to start summer at 3:15 on Wednesday, May 27th. Why are you smiling? So, >> that's it. So, I noticed you still have a full >> I do. How close? >> I don't I don't know. I didn't get an official number. What? Did you? >> I haven't. >> They said they didn't get there. So, >> yep. It's not shaving this year. So, maybe next year. >> We're working for next year. >> They're working. They're already starting this summer, I guess, >> to raise it up for next year. So, >>
008I've got a question for you. You'll have to forgive me. My intention isn't to put you on the spot, but I've heard a little bit of a conversation swirling around the topic of yearbooks and how apparently it's sort of spotty whether we end up having a yearbook or not for like the high school and maybe we have a high school yearbook this year. >> This Well, there's a there was a senior yearbook this year. >> Yeah. And so there's sort of and I'm just trying to understand kind of like what that looks like, you know, in terms of like decision- making process and like if what are the roadblocks to like ensuring that it happens and those kinds of things and is there anything that we as a board can do to support that or
009like planning that should start taking place now just to cuz it's like you know parents are like well I want to have a yearbook for my kids you know those sorts of things. So, I'm just kind of curious about like what does that look like? >> So, typically it's happened in the communications class um at in high school and um we've never had a other many high schools have a whole separate yearbook program >> um and students are in it year round. Um we we haven't well maybe we did at one point here have that but it hasn't been that way in a while. It's just happened in communications class. Um, and we actually won't have that class next year. And so we are in conversation of where where a yearbook is going to be
010placed and how we are going to make that work next year. We don't have an answer yet, but we are um talking about that and planning for that. >> How how do other small schools do it? >> I don't know. It's really happens one of two ways. It's either a class >> Yeah. >> or it's a coaching stipen paid for all the hours it takes. My wife was a yearbook coordinator and I can tell you it is it can be hundreds of hours after school. >> Sure. >> Um putting it all together and and training the kids on how to do it and platform and all that. So it's not in our schedule C or D. I was just quick checking. So that tells me it's probably not been that way in Cook County in
011the past. Otherwise, we would see it there, >> right? >> Um so it's probably just been a class here for as long as >> and and not even a class, but within a class, >> a piece of a class. Well, right and of course the challenge is like you know how there's only so many resources to go around, right? So many human hours, right, to do to put into things. So it's like is there a way I don't know if there's a creative solution, if there's a community collaboration or somehow that we can sort of >> we're we're working on it >> have a place to for that to be owned, right? Because ultimately it's gonna got to be owned by somebody to make it happen. >> Yep. Um, okay. Well, cool. I know that
012it's from what I've been kind of hurt hearing is that um despite students may or may not see the value in it immediately, like families are like interested in that happening, you know, and sort of commemorate. So, >> yeah. >> All right. Cool. >> That's my question. Well, congratulations also on rounding out another school year. Nice job. >> Thank you. All right. >> Keeping all your hair. >> Thank you. Yes. Thank you. >> Okay. Um 6.2. We have our student schoolboard rep with us this evening, Tamoy Gray. Hello, Tamoy. Welcome. Good to see you. >> We'll go ahead and um and hand it over to you for what you've got for this month. >> Okay. So, hello everyone. I hope you guys are all having a good month. With the school year wrapping up, there
013have been a few things going on. So, let's get into it. With the seniors high school life coming to a close, they've been having a few activities to keep them occupied. They had their senior awards night, which Mr. Bahanji spoke about where students were awarded students who were awarded scholarships were recognized and then all the seniors were celebrated for the amazing work they put in this year. They also have their senior skip day and they have senior breakfast and lunch at North Point after graduation practice on Friday. And then this Saturday at 100 p.m. or class of 2026 will be having a commencement ceremony which most seniors are sad about but are excited for this next chapter of their lives. So, please come out and show us C some support as they embark on this
014new journey. The sports teams and different activities at Cook County are also having their seasons come to an end. The track team has its subsection meet today at M in Msabi East. We're hoping that we'll have a few qualifying members for sections and hopefully state. Some athletes have decided to shift their focus from track, but it has been a fun and exciting track season and they're hopeful for next year. The baseball team also has its last game today and it has been a challenging season for them, but they have persevered. The softball team had their last game last Thursday and despite the ups and downs of the season because of having a young team, they finished with two wins. The Ojiway ball team also had a competition in International Falls on May 8th. They ended
015their competition placing fifth, competing against 9 to 17 other schools. The high school band also went to Valley Fair, which usually is an exciting experience for students, but it ended with some sicknesses. Most students on the trip caught Noravirus due to the food they ate, but they're slowly recovering from their illnesses. Our Environ team went to state where they placed fourth. So good job to our marathon team and or or ojiway bowl team who worked tirelessly despite their various commitments coming to an end. The national honor society joined with unified club and the PTA tried to make teachers feel appreciated and let them know that the students at Cook County are grateful for them. So they went around with treats and placed smiles on the faces of teachers and administrators. In high school, there have
016been a few things. Last week was our spirit week, which we had our theme days and the pepfest on Tuesday. The prom court along with a few seniors played some games. And to end our spirit week, we had prom on Saturday, May 15th. And the coordination had an amazing show of support from the community members. and we got to meet our prom king and queen for this year, Maya Rodriguez and Guushi Dei Trobe, who are both honored to have this position. Prom was a fun experience. The junior class did an amazing job despite the minor setbacks they had with setup. And Friday before prom, however, AP testing began, and the reviews on the timing were unanimous, where most students felt like it was bad timing with prom. the wrapping up of sports season and would
017have preferred if it had been the original date. So yeah, that's all I have for you guys. >> That's a lot. >> That was a lot. Yeah, that's the end. What's that? May in a nutshell. >> Yeah. >> Um well, thank you. Um and as they uh move their tassels this weekend, then you're going to become a senior. Yes. >> And are you what are you looking forward to going into your senior year next year? >> Um well next year I feel like I'm doing a lot more exciting classes like not just the required classes because I have more space for electives and stuff. So that's what I'm most excited about just like doing different classes. Yeah. >> All right. Awesome. Well, um, congrats on finishing up the year and thank you so much. Okay.
018Uh, 6.3 is the superintendent report. Thank you, Mr. Chair. I have like a good news bad news part uh to this report. The good news I'll lead off with is a thank you to Senator uh Grant Housechild for championing the seasonal recreational aid bill that finally got across the finish line after three um attempts uh in the legislature. This bill uh accomplishes something that I personally have been advocating for since I started in um my previous district in 2013. uh the the the bill to t take um cabins, seasonal recreational properties, and move them off of the local uh tax base for operating levies. That decision was made in 2003 at the end of Governor Ventura's uh tenure as governor in Minnesota. And what it did is it put them on the commercial tax base
019um roles and took that funding and the funding that they would pay into an operating levy and sent it to St. Paul. And it's been that way since 2003. This bill um I want to make clear and I want school board members to be very clear in case you get questions. This does not provide more money to Cook County Schools. Uh it simply takes the money that was that was taxed on those seasonal recreational properties and sent to St. Paul and it basically sends the aid back to the school districts. Now um reducing um our local people's share of the operating levy. Our operating levy is 800 bucks a kid. the amount of money we collect hasn't changed. It won't change as a result of this bill, but your share of the pie to pay
020in will be reduced uh by the amount that's being reclaimed back to Cook County Schools. So, um >> so in the at the end of the day, it helps us pass future operations in the same way past capital where we say we're sharing it with all these other people. >> Correct. and and if we do that and we we do more in the future, everyone will pay into it essentially. Um which which has been true for a bond referendum, just not for an operating led. So um a very very big success uh in the legislative session. Um that is kind of dowsted by the bad news. And the bad news is our health insurance rates are going to jump about 40% again in the year ahead. Uh the premium fees after a 30% hike just
021a year and a half ago. So we're we're jumping 70% in cost uh over a couple of years. So our insurance committee met heard that news uh is kind of working through now what conversations looking at things like the IKRA plans that are a very different structure. Um anything we can come up with to try to reduce the cost at the bottom line is the the numbers are the numbers. The usage is higher than what we're collecting by significant amounts. So, um, that pattern has not changed and, um, yeah, we just continue to really struggle with that, um, as a school district and as employees that that are collectively sharing that burden. Uh, tomorrow, Friday the 22nd, 2:00, we are having our groundbreaking ceremony, so people are welcome. It'll be brief. It'll be uplifting and
022and fun. Uh there'll be some treats and some water bottles and some gold shovels that we'll take pictures of uh for the P newspaper. But um the point is just to celebrate that this is getting started. And if you went to the back side of the building at all in the last couple of days, >> you will see that it is going and the little kids think looking at big excavators u is really fun when they come out to the get in the school bus at the end of the day. So, >> do we need to bring our own hard hats or >> We will provide all the PPE for the event. ICS will supply us with hard hats and vests and >> some shovels to throw dirt and that kind of stuff. So, um
023and then last but not least, uh we will be rolling the Vikingsvision.org website into a construction updates platform. Uh now that the referendums are behind us, construction has started. We'll be taking pictures and trying to keep the community up to date on what's going on and um just celebrating the progress that's being made. >> That's all I got. >> One question. Um were they able to uh pass include that one thing in the tax bill where we don't have to pay sales tax on the construction stuff? >> The sale the slate of sales tax um requests were just not brought to the table at all. >> They were so we didn't get that in. We did not along with many many other public entities. Yep. >> But we could potentially try again next year because
024we're going to continue. >> We could we could things being spent next year too. >> We could. Yep. Yep. >> Okay. >> Yeah. Okay. Um Yeah, that was disappointing. I mean that that could have been north of $600,000 reinvested back into our our projects. So, >> so regarding the health insurance, I know there's you can do like PEEP or you can do like a co-op or you can, you know, there's like and then you have to commit to one of those routes for a year or two or something before you can change. Um, if I get if I'm recalling this right from what I learned about it, is that I mean I'm assuming you guys are kind of looking at those different like avenues as well. >> Yeah. every so if if you're in a
025employer group health insurance plan which we are uh then you have to go out for a hit of it every two years >> uh which opens the door to all of those options the co-ops the peeps the um the other co-op because there are numerous co-ops right the ones that are running Blue Cross and ones that are running Medicica and ones that are running health partners so um every two years we have to do that as a group insurance provider uh and that's to be compliant and to stay competitive um In our last hit a bill bid, uh we continued to stay with the Northeast Service Co-op, which is in their bidding process selected Medicica as the provider. Correct me if I'm wrong on any of this, Teresa. Um so, you know, they're bidding every
026so many years. We're bidding every every two years. Uh it's a continual process and a lot of things go into whether people will even bid, right? like our plan structures, our plan usage, whether we're a like a a good employer to or a good group essentially for their their math. What we're learning about right now is that and I wrote in my written report this the rest plan strategy that is brand new to us which is different than what we've experienced in the past. That is where the employer would go out with a third party vendor and provide we would determine the benefit to the employee and then the employee could go out and select amongst numerous plans kind of like being out self-insured um and what's best for them. And so few districts in
027Minnesota have moved in that direction in the last couple I think it's only been around for a few years right? >> Yeah, there was a a change >> a lot change. >> Yeah. So it's it's quite new. Um, and our our consultants are suggesting it because our renewals have been higher than every everyone else. So, >> and that could basically result in people like they're kind of maybe shopping a plan sort of almost in the marketplace. So, they would potentially have different premiums like each individual person like right now it's all the same, right? >> But now each like somebody's could be lower and somebody's could be higher potentially. That's exactly correct. Uh and so we would we would determine the employee or benefit to the employee and then um as a matter of fact
028uh they were talking about even you know making a different benefit because you it cost it costs more as you get older. >> Yeah. >> On those on the individual market. So you get into this weird scenario where if you're 60 and you're teaching you might be paying a lot more than someone who's 25 and healthy. Right. >> Right. Um, so all of that has to be added into the >> Yeah, but sometimes those 25 year olds are having kids, which that causes the their costs to go up. So >> So we don't This is brand new to us. We're all kind of like trying to learn uh learn about it. But the bottom line is is we're all suffocating over, >> you know, health costs going up. So uh and it's not one employee
029group, it's all of our employees. And the I know they they started talking at the legislature about like a potential like public employee like health plan similar to like the state employees that could like co-op this for like education. >> Yeah. What passed in the legislature is the approval of some funding to do a study and collect the data on what that would look like across the state of Minnesota. So the the study of it got approved. >> Okay. Sure. Okay. Well, big stuff there. Thank you. Yep. All right. Okay. So, moving on to 7.0 is our consent agenda. Um there's anything that needs to be pulled for further discussion. Um speak up now. Otherwise, we just need a motion to approve it. >> Motion to approve and I'll second. >> Okay. Any further discussion?
030All those in favor? I >> I I those opposed. All right. Consent to agenda is adopted. 8.0 are discussion and action items. 8.1 is to accept the expenditure and revenue report for April 2026. Um it is here in the packet and we have our business manager. This is Oberg with us. Hello. >> Hi. Um for April expenditure revenue report, we're at 83 83% of the year. Um we I believe are tracking on we're on track as far as our expenditures and our revenues. It starts to look a little um uneven when you compare one fund to the other. So, it's kind of look best to look at as a whole um as as we get our revenues in for the end of the year because of the way the state um distributes our funding. Um
031but I think that we're looking just fine for our landing pad and uh as we move into April uh May and June, I will be doing my um where we I spread the revenue. So, a lot of it is sitting in the general fund one on the bottom line. Um whereas then I'll be spreading it to the transportation and uh fund for wherever it lands for its permanence because when we get our taxes, we just throw it all into one lump spot until the end and distribute it. So that is where we're at in our year for our expense report. And I'm sorry I don't have anything additional after our conversation uh at the work session regarding the budget, but I will have more for you um in June. >> All right. >> I'll make
032a motion to accept the uh expenditure expense report for April. >> I'll second. Any further discussion? All those in favor? I I opposed. Motion carries. Thank you. Okay, 8.2. We've got a construction update from our partners at ICS and we've got Jason uh Philipek on the line, our project manager. Hello, Jason. Welcome. >> Hi. Good evening, Dan. >> All right. Well, what do we have this month? >> Sure. Um, I'm here today to present a construction update. Um we will review the budget uh the playground referendum 2 design development progress and project updates and important dates going forward regarding the budget. Um the changes over the last month include a progress payment which was pay application number that was in the amount of $123,51040. Uh we have not had any change orders over the last
033month. Uh so our our budget remains the same here. Are there any questions on the budget? Oh, you can't see it. >> nothing's changed. >> Oh, sure. >> It's fine. >> Yeah. >> Uh, that's, you know, I had a hard time reading it, too. That's why I added this little summary on the side, to be honest. Um, regarding the playground, so we've went through a couple of revisions on this playground and uh we feel like we're getting pretty close to being dialed in here. So, the playground will include a a new turf where there's currently grass. Um, we will be resurfacing the basketball court with a new asphalt and then the playground itself will have a new surface and the surface will include an ADA pathway to all of the ADA equipment. Um, so it
034will look something like this when we're done here with a pathway to each individual piece. Um, and here is the layout of your current playground. So, all of the equipment um that is currently installed will stay in its current place and the new surface will be um installed around the existing locations. Uh we do have two new pieces of equipment that will be uh procured along with everything that's already in place. Um and we'll work with the playground manufacturer and Tom to to determine where those are located. Are there any questions about the playground? >> Just a point of information. The two new pieces of equipment and the turf were all part of the Lloyd K. Johnson Foundation donation. >> Correct. >> Um an update on the referendum 2 design. So, we have received our
035design development uh drawings from the architect and engineers. And here we have our athletic field. So, I want to give you all an update as to what items have changed here. I'll zoom in a bit on the field. So, the pull vault area was previously located near the bleachers here. that was removed at the uh at a discussion with the coaches. Um that particular event required a specialized coach and also special equipment and uh it didn't seem like it fit the current program, so they elected to have that removed. Um, we did include a larger storage shed with three bays in it to house the maintenance equipment, uh, football and track equipment all separately. Uh, we did increase the size of this sidewalk pathway here. Um, I think we wanted to place uh picnic tables
036here or have it more of a social area instead of um solely for um accessing the bleachers um down in this corner here. So, we are installing a new sidewalk right here to connect to the athletics uh entrance. Um, and we have our ticket booth here and then our combined concessions and restrooms. So, all kind of centrally located here. Um, we also have a ambulance um, approach here um, separate from everything else so that uh, access is easy during an emergency. Um, we have our shot put over here by the propane tanks. And then we have our discus over here. And we have uh had further discussion on the discus and that really only one uh platform is needed for this area. um in that a larger green space would be more beneficial to the
037school. So we will be removing this second one over here. >> So there's some sort of like permanent installation there for the shot button and discus. >> Correct. That it's mostly the platform here, but I think this one actually has more of a >> gravel surface >> or shot. >> Yep. And this one here will just be the platform. >> And they'll throw into the grass, so it'll still stay a multi-purpose. Sure. >> So Jason, I I can't remember where we landed with solar panels. But weren't they out that area, too? >> They were, but they were removed in the uh the value engineering for referendum one. >> Okay. The reason I was I couldn't remember and I was thinking it would be a bad idea to have people throwing things around solar panels. So
038>> that would be a terrible idea. Yeah. >> They would have been tight. >> And since we um >> the discus would that >> All right. And since we moved away from the uh pole vault section and were able to move that storage shed into that area because I think before we had that sketched off kind of down on the like the eastern end of the field. Is that right? Kind of >> it was right over here. >> Does that pres I mean does that did that impact any that little bit of green space down there? Does that sort of help us save a little bit of that or is that not necessarily impacted? >> I mean it is impacted. brings the fence over a little or the wall over a little. Save cost. >>
039Yeah. Okay. >> Yeah. Right. >> So, so is there, you know, a significant advantage with either cost or or the shed, the storage shed to not having that pull vault that you know, do we >> we save some money? I think >> I can't because I just can't imagine it's that expensive to just continue the track service and put in a little notch for pull vault, but I don't know. Well, our coaches basically said it's never going to happen in Cook County. >> Yeah. >> It costs so much to operate and run and have specialized coaching and they just basically said we don't have that person and we're not going to find that person in Cook County. >> And the polls are like hundreds of dollars per kid, >> can be thousands as they get
040older. >> And it but it doesn't like preempt I mean it it doesn't preempt us from hosting like a regular track meet, right? Without that event. you just couldn't have like one that was in >> So what April said is uh current practice there are only a couple of facilities that have p vault facilities >> as a part of them and so when other places host a meet they just do the pull vault part a different day at a different location kind of like a separate event and then they counted in the scoring of the meet that was >> interesting put together so pole voting only happens in like a couple different schools in the entire Iron Range They do a different day too >> sometimes. >> Okay. Because that was because I feel like
041a lot of pole walters are sprinters often doing it, right? You have to do both, >> right? So yeah, she said that's what they already do in the conference. So it's current practice. And then yes, we would we wouldn't be able to hold a section meet, but she said we wouldn't anyway because we're so far off the central location that the conf they wouldn't do it. They're going to push it closer to the what's central than the in the arrowhead. >> Sure. we get old regular meets. >> I guess my only thought was and I I certainly would defer to April and everything, but my only thought was if if we weren't gaining much from it and if we were saving a very small amount of money, you know, it just seems like to to
042do this big project and lose that possibility like forever into the future. But if we are saving money and forgetting the storage shed, then makes a lot of sense. >> It does save money on fill and where that wall was slated to go. That's the big thing. But and the storage shed is a little bigger than it was in a previous drawing if I remember right. >> Yep. Um, so I am right now working through the estimate on these drawings. So I'll be able to give you a better gauge as to where where we are with the budget, you know, in the next few weeks. >> Cool. I mean, is that >> Sorry, Jason. Is that something that you guys could potentially do like roughly more or less? um come up with like an approximate
043cost difference between this configuration verse the previous one or this. >> Yep. So that's part of the process here is that you know we do uh validate the first set of drawings and the second set to really let you understand what the changes were and you know what's really driving the new cost versus the old one. >> Okay. Sure. Great. um some of the other features here. So, we will be you know retaining that hill. So, this will be a nice uh place for people to sit with a blanket maybe and you know still get that elevated view but not necessarily have to sit on the bleachers. >> So, there won't be a fence along the sidewalk there that widen sidewalk. It'll be just sort of um open to that. >> Correct. >> Yeah. Okay.
044>> The fence is kind of back here. >> Yeah. Cool. >> Mhm. >> And then down here we do have, you know, that larger flat space where Dan can let his kids run around, right, Dan? >> Thank you, Jason. Yes. But I will, >> you know, for the first game, I'll come over there and help monitor those kids. >> Sher Dan's going to volunteer to supervise it. >> Yeah. >> Maybe you guys could just put like a statue there. Scarecrow. >> Um, so that's our um athletics area. Another area that had you know some changes that I wanted to discuss with the group was the uh outdoor learning spaces. So both of these areas were a bit um more expensive than we had money for in our budget the first round. And the landscape designer
045did um I feel like they kept the vision of the space really well, but they did uh reduce some of the scope. So, previously we had uh three different learning areas in this saw to courtyard. We had um one space over here and then a second space over here with maybe a canopy. And then we have this uh this space right here around the uh mosaic. So, they simplified this quite a bit, but it I still feel like it kept the vision of the space and also really um kept with the needs of the school. Do you have any questions about the uh Sawtooth Courtyard? Should I zoom in a little bit here? Yeah, that's for ADA compliance. >> I see. >> Um, so the uh the garden boxes will essentially remain the same. Yeah,
046we will be putting in a new pathway and then we will have this amphitheater style seating here around the mosaic. here at the front entrance. One of the main um reductions in scope was changing the amphitheater seating here in the center to a flat surface. And I do believe that is going to bring this into alignment with the cost. Um, but they did add these benches along the outside to to add additional seating to the area. So, they kept the seating, but it's just not the in the same location as the previous design. >> Where are the benches? >> Um, they're on the perimeter there kind of. >> Yep. We're on the perimeter here. And then also under the canopy. >> Oh, I see. >> These will be benches as well. Um, the blue areas
047will be concrete. And then this will be a concrete pathway, not as wide as a sidewalk, but uh more of a um architectural feature. And then the green areas here in the middle will be grass. The grass surface will be level with the concrete so it will be easy to maintain. Any questions about this? >> Are the benches permanent? Um that so that was a discussion we had at the PAC meeting that you know having those be mobile benches might be beneficial. Um so we haven't gotten that far into the design but um having them mobile you know may help with maintenance but also it might provide more opportunities for different type of uh social events in this area. Um, so that's something we'll we'll look at a bit further. Um, but again, it still
048kept that same uh architectural features here. Um, so I I do really like the work that they came back with here. you know, when we when we asked them to reduce the scope but really provide something nice. Um so regarding next steps here so I am working on the estimate for uh the documents I have um the new design and that estimate will guide the final design decisions. So we are going to use that pricing to um determine hey can we afford that pole vault piece here? Would we like a different track surface or is there something else which really still needs to be refined a bit more? Um that estimate along with the completed set of design documents will be provided to the board at the June board meeting. Uh so when we meet
049in June June 18th uh we'll be asking for approval on the design development documents so we can proceed with construction documents. Are there any questions on the uh next steps here? Regarding the project update, just as Chris had mentioned, um activity is started. Um we do have our state permit and the contractors are coordinating and getting their schedules in place. So, we are um operating full speed come June 1st. We did have a preconstruction meeting last week on Tuesday, May 12th, and there was a lot of turnout. You know, everybody that was going to be here um starting in June was at that meeting. Uh currently we are um trenching in the back there for the electrical service and also the propane. Um, and some excavation is ongoing. We're doing some potholeing to uh test
050the soil and we've also um put in place a plan to relocate that uh freezer in the back there. So, the freezer is empty and we do have a plan to get that relocated in the next few days as well. uh temporary fencing. So, uh fencing to secure the construction area from um students and staff is in place. And we also do have that erosion control in place around the building uh to protect the environment from any type of uh erosion. Uh one of the main items coming up is the power outage. So on June 1st and second uh Monday and Tuesday we will be transferring the power to the new electrical utility and at that time you know the uh power to the school will be disrupted. Uh we are also um installing the
051new propane line at that same time. So there will be a small disruption to the propane service as well. We don't anticipate either of those to take more than one day, but we are asking for two days just in case there are um unforeseen conditions. Are there any questions about current activities? Okay. Um I think the last item here is the bridge. So, uh, one exciting thing that I've been working on here in Duth is, uh, a project called the Duth News Tribune. And the Duth Public Schools has purchased the old Duth News Tribune building and they're turning it into more of a um alternative education type of a facility and also a space for all their support staff. Um that project is nearly completed. We finished that uh July 1st. Uh during this renovation
052um we had to remove some timber from uh the floor structure. A very large amount of very very old wood. This wood is about a hundred years old. Wood that you just really cannot find anywhere. And I was asking the facility manager like what are you going to do with this? They didn't really know what to do with it. And then I was walking the space with Damian a couple weeks later and he said, "Wow, that wood would be perfect for that bridge we have to build." Um, I met with the school and explained like, "Hey, this wood would be perfect for this bridge." and they offered to have their students build the bridge for us. Uh so they feel like this would really be a really cool way to collaborate. It'd be a great
053news story and uh it would give everybody kind of um you know a stake in the success of this project. So, I'm working with the DUTH schools, the uh structural engineer uh to get the plans for these bridges put together. And uh it's going to be an ongoing process here, but I think it's going to be a really cool story when we're done. Any questions about the bridge? >> They're finding us free wood and free labor. Yeah. >> Yeah. That's That's awesome. Jason, >> is there anything else we can have them do? >> Yeah. Right. >> Well, they probably want you guys to build them a bridge when we're done. >> But >> and that's a bridge up um in the school forest is where that would potentially be destined. Is that what we're talking
054about? >> Correct. So, with with the location of the um athletic field, um we're disrupting one of the um connections to the school forest. >> Is that the propane that spot? >> No, not the one by the the east end of the field. We're basically blocking it with the new stadium. Okay. So, we have to cut a whole new trail with a bridge, >> right, >> to get in through the east side. >> Will it be visible from or you have to be kind of in the woods? >> All depends on what we do. >> Yeah. I mean, if we're it's such if it's kind of this like statement piece bridge, it might be kind of cool if it was sort of visible. >> Yeah. Depends on where we put it. I mean, we have
055to engineer all that and figure all that out, right? >> Yeah. Yeah. >> Well, that's super cool, Jason. Thanks for looking at that. I mean, we love that kind of thing. So, um, >> and it's really going to be a cool story for the the news because it's part of their old building, right? And then two different communities working together on this and the kids. I mean, this is going to be a great story when we're done here. >> All right. Cool. >> Well, thank you, sir. >> Yep. >> Yeah. There's no questions in the room there. Um, I'll see you see see you all tomorrow for the groundbreaking. >> Yeah, you can stop sharing and then we'll see you when you get here. >> Perfect. All right. Thank you so much, Jason, for the
056update. >> Yep. Thank you. Bye-bye. >> Okay. 8.3 is to uh approve our our resolution to designate our Iowa, which is an annual thing. So, we have a resolution in our packet um here designating Superintendent Lindholm as our Iowa. Still trying to figure out how they can turn that acronym into a Minnesota. >> I don't know. I'm not really jumping out there. I can ask our our senator to bring that legislation to the next session. >> He'll be here. >> So, yeah, this is an annual thing that we do and it it basically just boils down to who has access to the electronic like MDE website, etc. >> I'll I'll make that motion. >> I'll second. Any further discussion? All those in favor? I >> I those opposed. All right. Resolution is adopted. All right.
057So 8.4 um is to approve a resolution for membership to the Minnesota State High School League for um 2627. A resolution here in our packet. Again, this is done annually. Yep. We just update the names and it's all done electronically now. you approve it tonight and then I got to do something and that Terry Jansen has to do something uh to get it done. So through docu side motion to approve. >> I'll second. >> Any further discussion? All those in favor? >> I I those opposed. All right, resolution is adopted and 8.5 is our resolution to accept donations for May. And once again, we have significant donations coming in um here from a few entities from the Northshore Collaborative and Empty Bowls. I'll make a motion to accept the donations as presented and uh with
058gratitude to the various donating entities. >> I'll second. >> Any further discussion? >> Yes. Thank you very very much. Again, we need to like have a bell we ring for these every month or something. >> Um just for information, the the lots grant that um was typically run by the library up until two years ago. >> Yeah. Okay. >> Money flowed to them and then they ran it. Um, but last year and this year, Lacy has taken that on as part of our early childhood programming. So, Lacy accepts the grant dollars and then uses them to buy the books and staff it and get it all put together. So, >> and do you guys know what that is? The last program, it's where they they hand out books to kids for free. >> Yeah. >>
059And it's kind of like a >> a summer >> sort of a storytime component to it. Yep. >> And I know the Northshore Collaborative is really kind of a big >> big fun of it. >> The fun. Yeah. >> They are the fun. >> The fun. >> Yeah. No, that's awesome. >> All right. All those in favor? >> I those opposed and resolution is adopted. All right. 9.0 are personnel items. 9.1 is our slate for May. new hires and resignations, etc. >> A motion to accept >> and I'll second that. >> Any further discussion? All those in favor? >> I Those opposed? Motion carries. >> I'll make a motion to adjurnn. waiting