001Five. Stand 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. So 3.0 is the approval of our agenda. So, I'll make a motion to approve the agenda. >> Second. Okay. Um, any discussion? All those in favor? >> I I uh those opposed? Agenda is approved. All right. 4.0 acknowledgements and recognitions. Um, nothing specifically on there except I just wanted to mention that um this is the first meeting of 2026. So, I just wanted to wish everybody a happy new year. Believe it or not, the year just started. Um, so wishing everybody a happy new year as we dive into 2026. Um, all right. Uh, 5.0 is our recognition
002of visitors and community comments. Uh, community comments is an opportunity for the public to address the school board on an item included in the agenda in accordance with the guidelines printed at the end of the agenda. You know, if we had anyone sign up >> to sign in. No. >> Okay. >> Um, and welcome to visitors, those of you in the room tonight. Thanks for being here. Appreciate it. Good to see you. Um, and welcome to everybody out in cyerspace watching live or in the future on the recording. Appreciate you guys tuning in. Um, all right. So 6.0 are reports and 6.1 is the principal's report. We have Mr. Pali here with us. Welcome. >> Thank you. Good evening everybody. Um, and yeah, start of the new year. And the other big thing, too, is
003we just switched over uh semester. So, we're just over a week into our second semester of the school year. So, we're past the halfway point. Um, which is crazy that we're already talking about that. But, um, in Satu, uh, so far, we've recognized over 75 SATU students for demonstrating junior Vikings values at our monthly student spotlight assemblies. Um, this past month we've been focusing on the practice of wyqua duin, which is honesty. And so we talk about that with the kids that it's more than just telling the truth, but it's about making sure that your words match what's in your heart. And so we had a assembly on that a few weeks ago. Um, and that's kind of what we've been focusing on this month with our kiddos in Sawtooth. >> Sounds like the way
004you're framing it like it's like say what's on your mind kind of thing. Well, speak truth to power guys. I like it. >> Good observation. Um, we do have some fun events coming up next month. Um, our winter field day scheduled on Monday, February 9th. Winter field day is um kind of that mid year, middle of winter. Everybody does an end of the year field day. We try to celebrate our winteress here and just give kids some outside time together doing games and activities and all that type of stuff. So that's coming up February 9th and we'll have parent volunteers for that. Um scheduling all the different stations. Our fifth graders are going to be traveling to Northouse uh to participate in their textile program. So all things felting and sewing. Um they'll be going
005down there in the mornings over the course of a few days. And then we have our LON opera coming. Um, again, this is an annual thing where the LON opera troop comes and works with our third graders to put on like an opera for Sawtooth Blind Elementary that'll be happening February 10th. Um, and then also the big thing in Sawtooth, um, we we adjusted the the schedule a bit. Um specifically for our third, fourth, and fifth grade classes, um we were able to make some adjustments to the schedule to create smaller sections of the specialist classes, specifically FIED and music. So, um our third and third, fourth, and fifth grade classes are really big. Um and when they're in their core academic areas with their grade level teachers are split into two groups, but they've
006been combined into one group then when they go to these specials classes. And with 36 37 kids in a grade, that gets to be a lot of bodies and rooms and spaces. And so, um, at this semester change over, we did do some adjustments to schedules to, uh, for third and fourth, third, fourth, and fifth grade to have those FIAD and music sections be two smaller sections as well. Um, so, um, helping give more indivi individualized instruction and be able to meet the needs of the kiddos um, a little bit better. and the middle school and high school other than the semester change. Um just kind of the big thing coming up is our ASVAB career exploration test that's going to be happening on February 3rd. Um and it's open to um sophomores, juniors, and
007seniors and it's just a career inventory test. It helps students identify potential career options for their specific abilities and interests. It's the test that the US military uses. Um it's not anything that information is shared with the US military. is just using that um test to help our kids identify post-secondary um interests and areas. Um and then again really nothing else big to mention to the community other than expect report cards coming soon as grades are getting finalized and and posted with the semester change. >> Other quick question about the Luna Opera. Yeah. Um I attended that last year. It was really great. >> Um is there one thought that came to my mind during that presentation? They had they did it in the gym. Is there an opportunity to do that in the ACA?
008>> Uh I would have to ask Miss Johnson about that. I'm not I don't know if Yeah, I don't know why it's always done in the gym. It just always has been. >> Yes. But then the gyms really well. >> I don't know if there's some like load in and load out. Is it easier? I'm not sure. But yeah, >> it just seemed like oh this is like a sort of theatrical presentation and there's you know members of the community in there right for the auditorium. >> Uh well and in that case too like space because even when we put elementary for our assemblies they pretty much take up the whole auditorium just with the elementary kiddos. >> Sure. That's the capacity. Yeah. >> Yeah. Cool. A lot of bodies. >> Yeah. We should have
009made balconies in the referendum. >> Just like start stack stacking them in the gym. >> No, over here. >> Oh, up there. Yeah. >> Yeah, we could have put in a mez. >> Well, I mean, >> we can always adjust spins. >> I like it by millions. >> Go. All right. Any other questions for Mr. Bangi? No. All right. >> All right. Thanks so much. >> All right. 6.2 is a superintendent report. Yeah, just a couple of things to share with the board that um three of them that are written in the written report. One, I want to thank our fellow community leaders in Cook County and Grand Portage. We convened on January 13th as a group of leaders to talk about how we would communicate with each other in the event that there was
010ice activity in uh Cook County and how to be keep everybody in the know appropriately. And um it was very healthy and um I just want to say thank you. It's it's great to live in a place where leaders work together to make sure that we're communicating, coordinating, uh planning ahead, uh as I think Cook County has done for a long time. Secondly, in my written report, you'll see the a little blurb about elementary ELA curriculum. Uh the board will be um asked to approve some new curriculum in the near future uh for implementation starting over next fall. uh that is in response to all of the training for the Minnesota Read Act and uh the requirement to use state approved resources that are aligned to the science of reading uh if you want to
011use literacy aid uh to pay for that. So um we were up to adopt new ELA curriculum a year from now and what we did is just flip social studies and ELA and just said we'll we'll adopt ELA a year early. So we've met about three four times for all day sessions to study the resources. um the state has approved uh and they have them in basically three bo boxes. One is a comprehensive box and there's only one resource there. It's um e open up. uh the task force quickly decided that was not the resource because it it didn't align fully with the uh Minnesota expectations and the standards or areas of um insufficient or not sufficient uh in their rubric and that forces us to take a knowledge building and foundational curricula by both
012and put them together um based upon again the state's framework. So um we will be looking at uh and there's only one uh that's the knowledge building and that's the wit and wisdom one that we're we're a lot to improve on. Uh but we think it you know we'll go there. Um and then we're uh the team is wrestling between two different resources for knowledge building. Grateful that Emily Roy is part of that uh process and Kendra Osgood and uh you know and missing someone. Stephanie Lindstöm and uh Lacy Smith they're the experts in this. I'm not I just kind of help facilitate process. Um but uh more to come on that uh that'll be coming back to the board in the next several months. Uh and then um on the agenda in February, the
013board will be asked to approve their part of the joint powers agreement for the NLC's new construction building. I think all of you were on the board. Maybe I don't know if you were on the board yet, Quinn. When two years ago, we approved um using the new levy authority of $65 up to $65 per pupil to fund co-op construction. And if you'd been in that James Madison building, it needed to be condensed. It's really not a >> You had a slideshow. It was haunting. >> Yeah, you you saw it. Yeah. Yeah. And uh so we all all of the member districts approved two years ago. Going forward, construction is well underway. It'll open in August. Um, but now we just need to improve the joint power agreement, all the member districts, so that then
014they can bond for the dollars uh and fin and do the financing um for it going forward. So, you'll see that coming to you uh in February. I think that's all I got for you. Um Quinn, do you remember that? And you may not have been on the board. >> I think might have been right before you were on the board. So, it's a absolute must to do it. I think the price tag for Cook County residents is a buck for a $400,000 house >> a year or a month or something like that. It was very little. >> Question for you and maybe Mr. Bangi. Do we have a status update on a potential new student school board member >> or do we need to do something to shake someone free? Um, Jenna Berglin was
015going to tap a couple of kiddos that I think we could strongarm them into doing it. They were talking about um, they were talking about sharing a position amongst a couple of the juniors. Uh, >> wonder if I should force Luke just tell my son you have to come. >> It's a it's a commitment for a kiddo that's involved in a lot of things and >> for sure. Um, the kid the the students she's talking about are in a lot of sports, so I don't know how they would balance that, but they're great kids. >> Well, that that's always the conundrum. You know, you have kids that are super active and they do a lot of things, so they're already booked and they're typically have been the ones that are interested in doing it. It's
016like, who's the kid that's not doing as much stuff, but, you know, maybe is interested in politics or is interested in government or something like that, >> right? that we could this could be an enriching experience for him. >> He was one of them. >> I could >> he was one of them. >> I could smooth talk him. It's so fun. Aaron, you should come come to my meetings. >> Okay. All right. Well, we'll with any luck, we'll have a student in February. Okay. Any other questions on superintendent report? All right. We'll move on to 7.0, which is our consent agenda. Um there's anything that needs to be pulled for further discussion. Um say so now. Otherwise, we just need a motion to approve. >> I'll make a motion. >> I'll second. >> Uh any
017further discussion? All those in favor? >> I those opposed. The agenda is adopted. All right. 8.0 are discuss discussion and action items. Uh 8.1 is to accept the expenditure and revenue report for December of 2025, last one of the calendar year. >> Um and business manager Oberg is in the house. Hello. >> Hi there. >> How are you? >> Cold. >> This room is cold. I make a motion to turn up the heat. >> Can't do it now. >> Bottom line is says no. managing. Um I am reviewing this uh report. In review of this report um we have pretty steady movement on our expenditures and our revenues. Um there will be well yes in January. So there next month we'll see the large um debt service payment go um out and that was um
018we have two payments a year July and January. So that will kind of flop. I know that Reena you kind of track the revenues over the expenditures and so we're going to we're going to maybe flip that next month because of the debt service payment. But otherwise I don't have anything to draw your attention to unless you have questions. Um on this report, >> our fiscal hawk is putting on her glasses. So it's a little >> 50% of the year. >> Yeah. So we're under >> just waiting for that big payment next month. >> Okay. All right. Well, if there aren't any other questions, we just need a motion. I'll make a motion to approve the revenue expense report. >> I'll second. All right. Any further discussion? All those in favor? >> I. Those opposed?
019Motion carries. All right. 8.2 is a review with uh ICS construction project update. And we have uh Jason from ICS on the line here on on the video monitor. Hello. And Damian. Hey Damian. Hello. Good evening gentlemen. Thanks for being here. And I think you guys are both on mute in in case you're talking. >> Can you hear me? >> There we go. There we go. >> Not hearing Jason though. >> How about now? >> Okay. Yeah. Um, thank you everyone. I will be uh providing a construction update here uh for the additions and renovations and also the new uh referendum 2 um exterior improvements. Um so we will be going through the contracts and value engineering for referendum one. uh the budget activities that we have recently completed and activities that we plan for
020the next period. Uh regarding the referendum one contracts and value engineering, the construction contracts have been executed for the uh low bid contractors and the total of those contracts is 20 million 84,443. Um, can you all see my screen? >> Okay. Just wanted to make sure because I can't tell. Um, regarding value engineering. So, we are currently going through a value engineering exercise with the design team and the contractors. And our goal is to achieve a savings of 1,183,256. Uh we have received preliminary pricing back from the contractors uh for the items that we discussed in the PAC meeting and that uh that pricing is currently under review with the design team and ICS. The uh the price reductions uh we have received do reflect the anticipated costs we we understood going into this exercise
021and we do not anticipate other programming changes. Once the um value engineering costs have been validated, we will provide a summary and a recommendation to the board. And we do anticipate that uh being complete in the next uh couple of weeks here uh regarding the budget. So the budget for the project remains the same uh with a total budget of $26,270,000. Um recent costs uh for January include program management fees and uh the building plan review. Uh the total for January was around $235,000. Um no other changes have been made. So the uh the construction cost is still the value of the base bid contracts and we are still um going through the value engineering exercises here. Uh activities recently completed. So, regarding referendum one, the state plan review has been submitted and the invoice
022for that plan review has been paid. Uh the contracts for the referendum one contractors have been executed and we are currently um doing the value engineering exercise to reduce the uh cost of the construction. The contractor kickoff meeting for referendum one did take place earlier today. Um so we have engaged them in uh in the project uh for activities such as procurement scheduling and uh submittal review. So those activities have started. Uh regarding referendum 2, the contract amendment for program management of referendum 2 has been executed and the design kickoff meeting with the PAC group was completed on January 22nd. um activities planned for next period uh regarding referendum one. The state plan review is anticipated to take 5 to 10 weeks. Uh the value engineering will be finalized and we will provide a recommendation
023to the board for review and approval. Furniture security and uh the playground scope of work will be refined. uh the groundbreaking ceremony. So we will be planning for that groundbreaking ceremony and we will be starting the moveout planning. Uh so a specific meeting will be scheduled in March uh to coordinate the move out for elementary sped, the elementary media, the elementary gym, specifically the uh storage and locker area, the cafeteria, and then the existing locker room. uh the other areas of the building will have a limited impact um so they won't need a full move coordination. However, we will be doing um minor updates to the classrooms such as the lighting and the fire alarm. So, we will work with uh the maintenance team to um to coordinate work in those spaces. Uh regarding referendum
024two, uh the user group meetings will start for that design. Uh the first meeting will take place on February 24th and we will have meetings on March 11th and 12th and also April 22nd. Regarding construction, uh the scheduling and procurement of uh materials is ongoing and construction mobilization will start approximately May 18th with site preparation, uh utility routing and then relocating that cooler. Um that is what I have for the update. Are there any questions? Um Jason, we were planning for the um groundbreaking ceremony to basically be the groundbreaking for both referendums. Is that is that right? >> That was my understanding. Yep. >> All in one rather than two groundbreaking ceremonies. Y >> probably in May hopefully while school is still in sessions we can involve some students. >> They have a gold shovel
025or do we got to supply that? >> No, we'll have the shovels and the hard hats and >> nice on a gold one. >> We'll stage the equipment and the dirt piles. >> Change it. >> All right, you know adjustment thing. >> Our marketing team will help with invites. They'll help with uh coordinating a classy sign, you know, as far as for the groundbreaking, different things. Um, get some good photos and they do do a nice job with it. So, >> try to create some positive excitement in the in the uh in the district. >> We make sure that the ground's not frozen when we have to leave. That would be like >> Yeah. >> All right. >> Any other questions? Me and Reena have seen a lot of this in the meeting, but if
026anyone else has any other questions or who does it? You do you start? Do you do the first scoop or does Pit do the first? >> We all do it together. >> Really? >> Right. >> Isn't that the way it works? I'm advocating that we scoop into actual ground and not just a pile of gravel that they lay out there. >> Oh yeah, we got to break some sod >> in the football field. >> I'm in favor of child labor to break. >> There you go. >> I have experience in this. >> So we do we do some photo ops. So, you know, we, you know, we actually have you scope a number of times and take some pictures and try to get some really nice >> action pictures as you guys are are doing
027the scooping and whatnot. So, >> maybe we can uh new schoolboard student representative interested by letting them know they get to break the ground. >> It's exciting. >> Great. Sure. >> Get some students you want to handp pick, you know, we can have them do a photo op as well. And we should get kids if it's done though. Yeah, >> we'll probably be, you know, talking about maybe some speakers and >> breaking ground and then we have like a >> final picture. Same kid >> later. >> All right, good deal. Any other questions for Damian, Damian, and Jason? >> No. >> All right, gentlemen. Thank you for being here tonight and we'll stay tuned for the next update. >> Sounds great, guys. Thank you. >> Okay. 8.3 is to approve the agreement with Northshore Health
028for um athletic training services. Um we've got the proposed agreement here in the packet can speak to this a little bit. This is a um something that has been desired by our AD and our nurse and frankly the um director of rehabilitation at the hospital. Um he has been based he's been the trainer at our football games and and and the like for quite a while as a mostly a volunteer. We do pay him for those football games. Um but there hasn't been anything structured with clear responsibility clear delineation of um who's responsible for what, what the hours are, what the compensation is. Uh and then as concussion protocols have become more and more a important but batgigious um it's important for us to like really have our ducks in a row about how we
029document how we communicate between the hospital and the school district. And you know what? A lot of miscommunication can happen when a you know a a trainer makes a decision and then sends the student to the clinic and they see a different doctor and the different doctor doesn't know the protocol and then they clear them even though the trainer is like no the kids's not clear. So um we sat down with the hospital and our nurse and our activities director and looked at some model agreements. Uh this falls in line. The only difference between this and maybe some other school districts would be that in districts where there's a competitive there's competition between two and two or three main medical providers, it changes the environment because then you get providers that say, "Well, we'll we'll
030give that to you if if you give us access to all of your students and all of that business." >> Um, we have a not for-profit public hospital up here that has a no competition, so it's just different. Um, so we ended up agreeing to paying a fair a fair hourly wage. Essentially, if you read the fine details, what we're getting for this is um training services about two days a week right after school at 3:30 when kids need taping and evaluations, and then attendance at um football games, attendance at downhill ski meets. Those are our two most injuryprone sports uh for home events. Uh, and then as needed as as >> needed for the other sports >> as yeah, as needed for the others. So, um, yeah, I'm I'm I'm grateful to Northshore Health
031for, you know, helping us make this a little more formal and less handshake and a wink >> and then it's available to all sports. >> I'll get that free, right? >> Yep. For all athletes for taping and evaluation and those kinds of things. Cool. Great. Um, I'll make a motion. I'm agreeable tonight. >> Okay. Uh, any further discussion? All those in favor? >> I. Those opposed? Motion carries. >> All right. Uh, 8.4. Uh, we have to approve the 2026 IP. >> Yeah. And I I will uh share that Maria and I had a great meeting a week ago and and this is a this is a a first step and then there's going to be another step uh right after this. So uh this is basically a renewal of last year with the dates changed.
032Um but the LA has had some pretty robust conversations around wanting to make some changes. Uh and so we're going to sit down in the next month and work through some of that and probably bring this back to you. It's a fluid document that can change anytime. uh we just have to submit it I think by February 2nd is our deadline >> uh to submit it. So >> I made some suggestions in emails I think to Chris to Maria about maybe we could work toward I mean not a big deal because as you say it's living docking but I'd like to see like maybe a discussion at our March meeting >> up in Portage about this and then maybe act on it in March. I mean if that's not possible it's not possible but at
033least have that conversation at the at the what's it called? called the irregular meeting. The not regular meeting in March of >> the work session. >> Work session. There we go. >> Yeah, the work session in Portage. >> Not regular meeting. Maybe we should change it. >> Irregular meeting. >> So, committee of the year regulars. >> Just we're going with that temporarily because we've had a change in the LIC board. >> True. Yeah. >> Committee members. So, we're down to five from 7 to 5 and we have to come up with LIC chairperson. So, this is why it's kind of like a draft, but we do have a working draft that we're working on. We're trying to meet next week, Wednesday or Thursday, because got to deal with the weather. Got to align people's schedule
034and select a new chairperson. So, uh >> that's where we're at. So, it's kind of got a >> So, we're not meeting tomorrow. >> Me and you are going to be meeting. >> No, I mean the LIC is not meeting tomorrow. >> Oh, no. They're not meeting tomorrow. Okay. because they've got some of the members are not >> in portage and they won't have access to zoom. >> Okay. >> So, no you and I can still meet hash out some things but as far as LIC meeting but I will double check because there might be changes but I will double check tomorrow morning and let you know if there still is on for tomorrow. >> Sure. And I guess to kind of further contextualize where we're at is um we're kind of up against a
035deadline for submitting this um which is an important part of the process. But >> we don't >> which is why we're going to take action tonight. But then we're we're continuing to work on >> money from coming in if there's a federal shutdown. We want to get it submitted before then and at least right you know application submitted and then hopefully funding will come before then. I don't know. Yeah. >> Yeah. We want to get that. We want to get ahead. And Teresa and I have been talking too about signatures that need to be done. And I know our council's meeting tomorrow, so I'm going to be meeting with council after that to get signatures. >> Perfect. Perfect. >> Okay. Um, Mr. Morren, you're here tonight. >> I have nothing to >> I'm just here.
036>> You're just here. Okay. He's my He's my advisor. He's my advisor. >> He's my mentor and advisor. So, >> great. Um well, it's nice to have you. Thanks for coming. >> Um okay. Well, good good deal. Thank you for for that discussion. So, we'll we'll stay tuned on that. Okay. But um so we just need a motion um to approve this in its current form right now. >> So moved. Second. >> Uh any further discussion? Yeah, I would just like to say thank you for mitigating the risk of the federal government right now. >> Yeah, we don't want to stop. >> No, there's there's a lot of things we have to kind of like cautious of and I appreciate that. >> Yeah, because it's even though the money goes to general funds and affects
037all the students. So, we just want to make sure that the school gets the money that it needs and we get the money coming and you know we can cash out things later and when you get for the budget for the 26 27th school year then we can be part of that budget planning too. Make sure the money is in before we qual. >> Yeah. >> All right. All those in favor? I >> I. Those opposed? Motion carries. >> Okay. 8.5 is to accept donations for January of 2026. Uh we've got our resolution accepting donations here in the packet. Um there are a number of them. Again, the community continues to to show up with their generosity for for the school district, which is amazing. And well for the robotics team. >> Yeah. Big donation
038for the robotics team. >> Awesome. >> Yeah. >> I'll make the motion to accept the donations and uh gratefully to the various donors. >> I'll second. >> Further discussion. >> Yeah. Just another big thank you to everybody for for donating. We really appreciate it. Um, okay. All those in favor? >> I those opposed. Resolution is adopted. All right. 9.0 is our personnel. 9.1 is our new hire slate. Um, here in the packet, we got new hires. Just for clarity sake, uh, we have two people um, doing a six week long-term sub. they're splitting a position. Um and so because on the every other day schedule um so um Katie is teaching college and schools English because she's credentialed to do that just one hour every other day. Uh and then Ryan is covering middle school
039AVID. Um Ryan is also working as a paraprofessional when not teaching and then intends to roll into a full-time PAR position after the long-term sub position is done. So just for transparency sake, that's kind of the game plan there. Uh I motion to accept the new resation. >> I'll second it. >> Further discussion? >> Just really great group of hires. >> Good to have the subs that'll fill in like that. Yeah, >> absolutely. >> For sure. for sure. All those in favor? >> I. Those opposed? Motion carries. Okay. Um the motion first and then we'll rearrange. >> Yep. So um we're going to journ into close session. Um and then we'll after clo just so the public knows we're going to journ into close session and then when that is over we're going to end
040the regular meeting but it's effectively over just so you know. Um so we just need a motion to adjourn um and to close session uh for negotiation to >> so moved second. Any >> discussion? All those in favor? I I Okay, we're journed in a closed section.