001Algiance 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. >> Thank you, Teresa. Okay. 3.0 is to approve the meeting agenda. >> I'll make a motion to approve the agenda. >> I'll second. Uh, >> any further discussion? All those in favor? >> I I >> I said that with zest like I had a choice. I literally have to second it. >> Those opposed? Agenda is approved. We appreciate zest. >> Yes. Thank you very much. Uh, >> I bring the zest to the school board. >> You do. >> And other things. >> You do. >> And other things. That's right. >> All right. 4.0 are acknowledgements and recognitions. And this evening we have one um some additional
002zest to acknowledge tonight. We have activities director Stephen Anderson with us. >> Yep. Come on up to the front row. Welcome. >> So, we've got some exciting news this evening. Um, I just want to recognize the fall sports teams. Um, our volleyball program, um, completed their first year with brand new coach. Um, great participation numbers across the board from 7 through 12. Really exciting. Our boys and girls uh, cross country teams did amazing with our boys advancing to the state level. Um, and they worked really hard during their off seasonason, during their season. And then our boys football team um also advanced to the state level um at the state quarterfinal level. And then we also have um JV knowledge bowl just won their district section. I don't know how to phrase the knowledge bowl
003stuff, but they took home first in that today. So that's another exciting >> Regional tournament. That's a better word. >> Um and then we have also in our co-ops um our girls. Oh, we have co-op swimming and diving through two harbors. Um, so the girls um that are a part of that. There was one gal that was one of the alternates for that team to go to state as well um through that cooperative with two harbors. So, um, lots of great things, lots of good stuff happening in the school. Keep on working on participation numbers and winter sports season and activities are ahead of us. Robotics just got started up and knowledgeable is in the middle of everything and boys and girls basketball began. Downhill skiing and Nordic skiing are both starting up too. So
004just needs to know for those last congratulate all our students and the time that they put in the coaches too. So and then kind of outside of my realm but just some other people that need acknowledgement in my opinion. um Jensen Jacobson with all the support that he did for community ed stuff throughout the fall and then um Lacy Smith helping support all those other items too. So just a couple people that definitely deserve the recognition for time and energy they put into this building. So for sure. Yeah. Um Chris and I were just commenting on how much activity is just going on in the building right now with all those activities and it's it's amazing. >> Y for sure. Um, and well, congratulations for you jumping right in as the activities director. You get
005a lot of experience right out of the gate with teams going to state and figuring all that out. So, that must be fun. >> It's been a whirlwind trying to get my feet under here, but we're making it work. >> Yeah, >> Teresa and K are very great supports down in the office and so does Mr. Lol, too. So, got lots of help. So, >> good. >> Thanks for recognizing our kids. It's awesome on our program. It was a great fall. So, >> yeah. >> Great. >> Thank you everyone. >> Thank you. Thanks. >> Okay. 5.0 or recognition of 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
006agenda. Uh we don't have anyone signed up tonight. Uh but we will just welcome all of our visitors as usual to our uh regular business meeting here in November 2025. We appreciate you being here. Um and for those of you watching online, we appreciate you too. And those of you watching in the future, uh welcome back to the past and thanks for tuning in. All right, 6.0 are reports. Uh 6.1 is the principal report. It's in the packet, but Mr. Bali is not here this evening. Um, was there anything you wanted to touch on beyond that? >> Um, I'll come back to that in my superintendent report and let Greta go first. >> Okay, >> sounds good. So, we'll move on to 6.2, which is the student school board member report. We've got uh Miss
007Grana Young Doll here with us this evening. Hello, Greta. >> Hi. >> All right. Um, good afternoon or evening everyone. I hope you all had a great November. This month has kind of been like slow for me. I feel like I don't have a lot to talk about, but it's also super full because it's the end of fall and beginning of winter. So, we have fall sports wrapping up and and winter sports kicking off. So, our student athletes are very busy right now. Um, first quick note is that all the students are very excited about the referendum. So, that's fun. Um, moving on from that, as Mr. Anderson mentioned, our varsity football team um ended their season on a high note. They won their section championship which was really fun and they went to the
008state quarterfinals where they played Kitson County and even though it didn't end how we hoped it was super it was a super fun season and they should all be super proud of all they accomplished. Uh winter sports are now officially underway. So we have Alpine Nordic and basketball teams and they all started their practices I think this week and then before that they had their captain's practice. So everyone's getting super excited and hopefully we get some snow on the ground. Uh we had a Veterans Day service uh which uh we had a shortened schedule day which I think is working really well for students. Um I wasn't able to attend but I heard good things about the service so that was good to hear. Uh at the start of this month we welcomed 13 new
009members into the National Honor Society. It was a lot. Last year we had like maybe seven. Um our induction night included a guest speaker. We had a great turnout. There's a lot of people and we had cake which was really good and I'm really excited to see all these new members grow in leadership and service. And just last night six of them h volunteered at empty bowls. So we helped with chair take down and tables and cleaning and sweeping and dishes and all that. So that was good. And in all even though November wasn't jam-packed with events, it was full of proud moments and lots of good energy. And we're all excited for Thanksgiving break next week. And as we head into December, I'm really looking forward to seeing our winter sports takeoff. And hopefully
010next month I'll have some fun stories for all of you. And until then, if you have any questions, feel free to email me. And yeah, that's about all I got. >> Or did you get to go to the the football game? >> No, I didn't. >> I was going to and that was too far of a drive for me. >> Sure. >> Did some students make their way over to it? >> Yeah, there was a lot of kids. We had a fan bus, too. So, >> yeah, >> I think that was fun. I liked the idea of a fan bus, and I think a lot of the students appreciated that, too. >> Okay, cool. >> Nice. >> Yeah, there was a a moment there when we thought the game was going to be in Morehead.
011>> And I was like, "No, we're not sending a school bus to Morehead. 14 hours in a school bus sounds like torture." Um, so when they moved they flip-fpped the games and put us in Grand Rapids, then it was like, "All right, we we can do three or three and a half hours." >> Yeah. >> That's just like they've done trail kids. >> Yeah. >> Thank you. >> Yeah. Thanks, Greta. >> Okay. 6.3 is a superintendent report. >> Yeah. I'll highlight just a few things that Greta did not mention. our sixth graders to pulled out of here at 4:30 this morning on a school bus uh to go to the capitol in the morning and then uh to go to the Guthrie in the afternoon. This is like the third year now that Betsy and
012Melanie have done that. I think they're Saints for taking sixth grade the whole sixth grade class uh down and and they'll be back about 9 9:30 tonight. So that is a very long workday for them and um and for the bus driver uh and for all the folks involved in that. So kudos to those two for organizing that. Um you can see in Mr. Balanchi's report that 25 Sawtooth students were honored for demonstrating Junior Vikings values uh this past month and uh they're very intentional about um engaging our elementary students in that monthly practice. Uh and there was student council elections for uh Sawtooth and it looks like there were 13 candidates. Um and uh and it spells out, you know, a few folks, few kiddos won. Um so um we're really excited that Amanda
013Beerus continues to lead um student council for our elementary kids that opportunity. >> Um yes, we had parent conferences actually this week, last week, and the week before. Uh that was because we had to move one of them because of the football game in Grand Rapids. So it's it's stretched out over three weeks. So our faculty have been doing that over the last couple of weeks um Veterans Day program was mentioned. Uh two weeks ago uh when we had conferences and we had football and we had cross country. We also had guest authors here um speaking with our Sawtooth kids and then a baziki concert on Friday afternoon. Um, and I almost got choked up at the Baziki concert that was in the afternoon. I didn't go to the Saturday night one for the public.
014Um, but it was pretty it was pretty cool to see the entire auditorium full of the kiddos from Oshki and and um, Sawtooth all singing back to the singers in Ojibway. It was uh, it was like, wow. Uh, find me another school where the kids can can do that. uh and do it with full engagement. And I want to thank the Northshore Music Association, um Barbara Gene Meyers and her team for making that happen. It was a grant that paid for that or most of that, but talk about a really cool celebration for our kids. >> Um >> I did go Saturday night and it was pretty amazing. >> Amazing. It was sold out. They were turning people away. >> Yeah, it was cool. I think I think it helped them that they did the
015Sawtooth concert because people were chattering about it um about how cool it was on Friday afternoon and >> I was blown away uh with what they taught the kids and um >> she's interested in bringing it back next year. >> Yeah. >> For a for maybe a a more >> Yeah. >> longer period of time of engagement with community and the kids. >> Yeah. Well, with all our kiddos taking Ojiway, I mean, it just makes a lot of sense uh to apply what they're learning in a different way. So, it was just what a great great great thing. We had a couple fundraisers a lot tied to the um conferences that was um for the Spain trip and for the Washington DC trip that are coming up. I think Washington DC is next year and
016I think um Spain is this spring break coming up um this year. So, that went well. And in that same week, we decided to pass a bond referendum and open bids for the one that passed a year ago. So, it was quite a week that we had here a couple weeks ago. Uh, in my report, I show share a highlight here about the bids that came in. Um, and then just notification. It's on the agenda tonight that um we're engaging in an agreement with Northshore Health for OT and PT services. We need about eight hours a week of each. Um, and so they're kind enough to let us contract with some of their staff that allows us to not have to do virtual services for our kids for the same price. So in in person
017is always better. Um, and we are in talks about uh an agreement for athletic training services that would be more robust and um better due diligence on compliance uh with concussion protocols and recordkeeping and high school league rules. So, we're we're working on that. We'll be meeting in December on the agreement and nuts and bolts, and I've got the activities director along with the nurse um engaged in that conversation about that agreement. Other than that, uh we're looking for employees, bus drivers, pair professionals, day custodian, subs of all of those. Um and then we also have two teaching positions posted, one for a leave of absence coming up January through February. and then one for next year for art for a one-year position for the leave of absence that the board approved a couple months
018ago. >> That's all I got. >> Okay, >> thank you. >> Busy place. >> Yeah. All right. So, they'll move on to 7.0, our consent agenda. Um, there's anything that needs to be pulled for further discussion now. Otherwise, we just need a motion to approve it. >> I'll make a motion. >> I'll second. >> Okay. Any further discussion? All those in favor? >> I. Those opposed. Consent agenda is approved. All right. 8.0. Our discussion and action items. Uh 8.1 is to accept the expenditure and revenue report for October of 2025. It's here in the packet. And also here is Mesa. Hello. Post audit >> post audit Teresa. >> Yeah, >> audit. Teresa, today is the day. It's like the celebration day because we're going to stamp it at the moment. But I don't know. I
019mean, it's up to you. >> Um, so the expenditure revenue report is pretty well, I think, basic and on track. However, Chris, um, Mr. home asked me a question and I said like oh yeah I don't know um he noticed that we are significantly higher um in our revenue and I'll draw your attention to that but that is just property taxes were recognized in October versus November so that is why there's such a huge difference in uh revenue over last year for the month of October um other than that I don't think there's anything that is outstanding. Unless you have any specific questions or uh curiosities about expenditure revenue report. >> Um I'll make a motion to uh approve the expenditures report. >> I'll second. Okay. Any further discussion? All those in favor? I >>
020I I those opposed motion carries. All right. 8.2 is to approve the fiscal year 2025 audit. All right. For the public, I'd just share that we we went through a full presentation of this two weeks ago at our work session. So the the board has seen this in detail already and discussed it and asked questions of our auditors. Um, so let's see. >> Just looking at the Is there any other comments that you have on this? >> Um, no, none other than there's bound copies that you are welcome to take with you. Um, they will always be in our office. So if the public has, you know, curiosity about them, we do have copies in the office as well as they'll be posted on the website once they've been. >> Okay. >> All right. Sounds
021good. Um yeah, and it's just worth noting um that there were no abnormalities or anything in the audit. Everything came back clean and in order. >> Uh yep, that was pretty standard audit that we' had. pretty boring, per se. >> It was >> um but yeah, there's um like I said, copies and we'll be posting it. So, >> it will be posted to our website for sure. >> Yeah. >> All right. Well, thank you. >> Oh, do you need a motion to approve it? Yes, >> I'll make a motion to approve. >> Also, I got it. >> Okay. Any further discussion >> besides thank you to Miss Oberg for all of her work. >> Well done >> on that. Um All right. All those in favor? >> I those opposed. Motion carries. All right. 8.3
022is to approve the OTP agreement with Northshore Health. That here is in our packet as well. And as I um commented earlier, we're we're trying to get into this to be able to flex back and forth. We got into the discussion when I discovered that our SLP and our OT were working for the hospital over the summer and I was like, wait a minute, we can go the reverse because uh they have a lot of crunch time in the summer and we have higher needs obviously during the school year. So, I'm happy to be engaging in in this versus virtual services for our students. It's >> it's way better >> way way better for our kids. Um, and I would expect that in the future this might fluctuate. You know, it might be two days
023a week, one year, and one, you know, just depending on the needs of kids and, um, how this flows. But I'm grateful to Patrick for setting this up. And this was, uh, the agreement itself was put together by their legal council. Uh, and then I read through it and offered a little bit of feedback and we took out a couple things that were not appropriate. >> So, how does payment occur? They invoice us um I believe monthly >> and is that based on a rate that usually pays or is it a hospital? >> They matched the rate that we were paying for virtual OT services. Okay. NP services. >> Yes. >> Which was less than what they originally wanted, but I said I don't want to pay more. So they matched it. >> Good. I
024was just trying to scan through here and I >> And is there is that rate >> $109? Is that just um is there like a term for this or is that >> Yeah, the term is one year. So, we'll have to reup it. >> Okay. >> Um yeah, the the rate is in exhibit B which is way at the end. >> Yeah, it's the last page. Yeah. >> Um monthly statement. Yeah, monthly statement and the district. showing >> you have a lot of kids who will be participating this. >> Yeah, we have a full-time OT and our needs outstrip that full-time position by about a day a week. It's it's essentially like a 02 FTE. >> Well, they do a good job over there. >> They do. They do. >> I've been a frequent flyer
025of theirs, >> but we won't get into that. And just to be clear, this is a 02 PT and a2. It's so it's point4 total cost. >> Gotcha. Okay. >> I'll make a motion. >> I'll second it. >> Okay. Uh any further discussion? All those in favor? >> I. Those opposed? Motion carries. Alrighty, let's get into the fun stuff. >> Yes. >> All right. 8.4 forward a discussion on the 2025 bond referendum and we've got Lori Christensen from ICS here. Come on up. >> Thank you. Thank you. >> How are you doing? >> Good. >> Thanks for being here. >> Yes. Exciting to be here. >> Yeah. Uh Chris did >> I'm working on it. I'm trying to There we go. That's the right >> There we go. So tonight I just wanted to yeah
026talk about the recent success of the district and just kind of go through some some next steps and just kind of what to expect. Um so congratulations. >> Yes, >> November 4th was was a fun night and it was fun to see um the success of you had the one question on the ballot. It was the all mail and ballot. So that was, you know, typical for you as a district, but unique to kind of know where residents, you know, is different than a year ago. Um, so anyway, so congratulations on being successful and it was a 52 to 47 success rate. Um, and I did just have to look back for my own for my own um just knowledge and last year at this time, you remember it was just a close margin. It
027was almost like flip-flopped. Um, but we did have more voters last year. So, it's like uh 1677 to 1845, you know. So, um we did have more voters, but the ones that showed up this time, we flipped it. So, congratulations and and and good work for everybody out there communicating. Um I did hear there was a lot more just positive you know support uh between the district between um you know on their own time obviously but just having that um one step further communication outside of just what a district can do on information. So that was that was fun to see. Um, and then the really exciting part is is now the the hard work that you guys put towards um receiving the the ILRB grant. Uh, you guys get to you get that that
028$5 million. So, this is pretty unique and I I you know, I I don't want to say you'll never see that again, but it is it's not easy. So congratulations to you as a board and and administration um Chris to to go after that and then actually see it su success and be able to to receive it. So that's really exciting for you as a district. Um the other one too that it unlocks is that um the LCCMR grant um that will be part of it too. So, um, okay. So, just as a highlight, if you remember what was on the ballot, this is now going to let you as a district um invest in your your um Arowwood Center for Arts. So, that's where we're going to get the the new seating so you
029can be more flexible seating. Um, we have some new lighting and we have that catwalk. So, that's going to create a safer access to to rigging and lighting and and overall production. So, that's pretty exciting. um the culture learning spaces. We're gonna we have a couple different areas outside that were identified as improving uh the opportunities for students and and and what that looks like isn't 100%. That's what we moving into next to understand what those spaces would be and what kind of amenities they have. Um uh this also has some of those improvements to your trails. So upgrading your uh your bridges and the access into your trails and forestry. And then probably the most dramatic like that would maybe be recognized from outside is this um providing the new track. Um and that
030would be going around uh a new football field that would be turf. So you guys get that opportunity to have more practices, multi-ports on that field and um also improving just your amenities around there. So you would have um you know improved concessions. We have new bleachers that are ADA compliant. You'll have some storage areas and then along with all of your track um throwing events, you'd have a spot for those. We also included in this um yeah, you'll have the new lighting and then over at your baseball field, you'll also get the new lighting. We have some drainage improvements for safer field play and then those bleachers that are ADA compliant. Um and this is just kind of what was out as you guys were communicating it over the the fall. This is a
031visual of where highlighted where those things those >> what are those little like echo looking things in the grass. That's gonna be your discus and then your um shot foot. >> Okay. >> Yep. And keep in mind this is still conceptual so we're kind of looking um but discus it is not uncommon that that could go into a different field. Sometimes we see it in an outfield, sometimes we see it going onto a football field. Um so really you have your you have your fencing um and your base, but then to throw it into a different field is kind of common. So just because the distance that you need but it is conceptual so you know things as we get into user groups will be a little more defined on location. Um okay so as
032we kind of look at next steps um this process is probably really familiar because we were I was looking at it was you know yep a year ago. So that was really cool. Um so again beings with the the size of the projects and um you know this will go through a whole design process and and what that entails is we'll go back to the programming um to understand you know really working with your um the users to understand what they need and then um if we need any site prep um luckily we you know you guys were smart last time and did the you did the surveys and you did soil borings so some of that information is readily available and we don't have to rush it before the snowflies. Um so you might
033be a few steps ahead on that already which is fantastic. Um and then we'd move into design and design um we have the three phases. Again just keep in mind this will probably be a little bit um faster design just based on the scope. So if it's four to six months um you know and some of that has to do with just making sure we get all the user group meetings in um but it it will be faster going through that process on each one of the phases but again similar to last time the approval process that we followed last time from the board and the PC we would still have um and then finally we would move into the construction which we consider the public bidding and then um construction construction administration. >> How
034I mean it's obviously more abbreviated. You're not hearing about plumbing and HVAC and other things, but how would you see this being, you know, matched up with the with the current construction that start next fall or next year? >> The next slide. >> You brought me right to the next slide. Yeah. Yeah. Um and that's been some discussions we've been having. You know, how can we, you know, we knew that this going back right away would give you that efficiency of getting we already have um you know, getting it part of the other projects and and just this is still um tentative just based on what our design team I' I'd really like the PC and and the design team to finalize this, but the early conversations. So, here we are, you know, in December.
035um or come December, we'll have we'll have a kickoff meeting internally with our team once again to get the architects and engineers up to speed on what was included. Um we will have an amendment to the current AIA contract and that is so we you know the design team can have it's added scope so then it would be added fees on that. So looking at coming back in December uh for that approval and then um I'll get to your answer real quick here. Okay, I started at the top, but I will get to it. I promise. Um, and then our design starting right after, you know, in December, looking at probably those user group meetings, January to March, maybe, you know, maybe it goes April. Um, but I think we could capture what we need
036in that time. Uh, and again, you guys are already meeting as that project oversight committee. This would be folded into that. So, we have the same team at the table. we just fold this added scope into the to the conversations. Um Jason, you know, maybe could speak that a little more, but I'm sure, you know, we're not going to have multiple meetings. We're not going to double, right? So, let's just make it as efficient as we can. Um, and then you can see really the design we feel could be ready potentially by spring. Um, but we would want to be strategic on how and when we bid it. A lot of times you have about six months once you bid it to then start work. So you don't want to bid it in June and
037say you're going to start work in May. You know, that might be a little too long of a gap there. Um but we also want to leave in some opportunity to could we start some work in the fall of 26 and and what that might look like is maybe at least clearing trees, maybe getting your site prep a little bit more ready. So, from the spring of 27, you can jump right into um you can jump right into the the dirt work and and do a you know, construction. That being said, um I don't want to promise that, but it could be an option. And we also may want to look at if you're in if you're in contract with some of the current contractors, is there a change order to maybe one of their
038um agreements and they would be on site already and we could have some efficiencies of them doing that work. So those are things that the PC would be discussing further and looking looking at. Um, we also know, um, so all along we really had been looking at like true construction starting spring of 27 and then wrapping up the fall of 27. And I say fall, but let me just clarify that start till after the football season of 26. Let's let's get those, you know, they had a good season this year. Let's make sure that next year we they have a home turf that they can continue to play on. And then the goal would be to get them back on the surface in the fall of 27 for that season. That would be the goal.
039Um you know, we are we are um up against weather, you know, so there's things that could be >> that could be a challenge. Um and if they don't get in in August, do they get in on September? So they could have partial season on there. Um, and we >> Does the whole thing have to be completed to play football on it or is the track separate? >> You know, that's a great question. I would say we it'd have to be a safe area and then if you think of your bleachers and and um spectators attending. The original concept was is you know, you walk in, there's a ticket booth, you go around the track to get to the bleachers and concession. I think it might be a little hard if it wasn't. Now, if
040it's not painted, if the track isn't painted, you know, there could be some minor things that we could get away without having 100% done. Good question, though, Eric. Yeah. >> Um, and then the other ones too is like the baseball field. We were just running around the ideas like, well, maybe we could do it the summer of 26. you know, we it's not major work, but we also um we're also looking at the seasons like when you know which groups are going to be using that. So, we and if you were going to capture some of your contractors that you for this current project, uh we get we do have to be careful that we're not overloading them for one summer. We already committed quite a bit of work for them. we don't necessarily want
041to throw more on their plate that and then have a risk of some of your building stuff happening. And I just say this out loud because these are all the conversations we've had so far and these are the things that we'll just continue to discuss. Um performing arts that schedule too. We want to meet with um you know what is that? What are your um uh performances? when are they? And that work we could kind of play around to when do we want to schedule that kind of work. And then finally, your outdoor learning areas. Um, and this one might be the most likely to fold into the current contractors. Just beans, especially that front entrance, just beings with that, you know, canopy aircraft already being torn up. Does it make sense to them adding
042in some more? So >> um >> and that's also like a second separate grant too, right? >> Yes. Yep. Yes. Thank you, Jason. Um the the thing we have to be careful about too is the the current project you have is not mandated to have um prevailing wage or um name it again the >> Project labor agreement. It's not mandated to. But once we introduce or bid out a project with the ILRB dollars and the the L LCCMR grant, now you start having to have that. A lot of your contractors will already be there. So that's okay. Um but we just have to be careful that we can award it to someone if they're already in contract without that in place. We can't award this if we're using grant dollars. >> That's a requirement of
043IT RB and the state. >> Yeah, definitely. >> Yeah. Yeah. That's not IC, but yeah, that's Yeah, >> I did not know that. >> It's not for bond referendum money though. >> Not for a bond. >> Some districts do. >> Some Yes. Some the county projects they have to be. >> They have to be. >> Yuth is having that discussion right now. I think I heard Hibbing as a prevailing wage policy. The board is actually policy at local level. But most don't. >> So with the contractors that are currently the low bids, you know, the highle contractor does um employ union labor, but some of their subcontractors, we don't know. So that's where the details are going to have to be kind of ironed out a little bit more. >> Sure. >> Interesting. Yeah. Any
044questions? That's all I had for um but this it's more like a comment about spoke. A few weeks ago we've had uh people that represent bike, you know, kids biking trail stuff here. Okay. >> And they were all about, gee, can we use part of your school forest to put trails in there for little kids? And I was like, >> mountain biking? >> The mountain bike. And I'm like, I think that's kind of putting the cart before the horse. I I think I would like to see some sort of general plan for how we're going to use that space or what our vision is for that space before we let special interest group do their thing and then and then that that opportunity is taken away from us. So, I don't know if that's the
045scope when we're talking about outdoor learning space areas, but even if we don't develop all of it, having a bit of a plan of what we want to do with that space, what the purpose is, how we might visualize it over time being developed, if there's a space for bike users, I just think that would be a good thing to come out of this if that's in scope of what we're doing. >> Yeah. Yeah, that's a good discussion. When we say outdoor learning spaces, um it has typically been in in the first referendum and then in, you know, kind of the conceptual in the second referendum, it was about the school garden area and about a learning space out in the main front entrance and that was about classes going outside and using it as
046an outdoor learning space. The LCCMR grant was specific to the school forest and outdoor learning spaces. Um, and the there's a I have another um >> email today for another revision of that grant and >> it seems like it's monthly that I'm constantly u tweaking that. Um, but to your point, Reena, um, we've got bond dollars, we've got LCCMR dollars, uh, and then we have these outside folks wanting to be at the table for, um, that conversation. And um you know I think the outdoor learning spaces up here the garden in front that's going to be more of a user group around what are teachers going to do. >> Exactly. >> And then as budget unfolds then how much money do we have to work with forest? Um and what have we put in that
047grant already as kind of a commitment? We have to honor that. Um, and then uh the people that are coming at me about this biking question are are both the the Gregs who are here um at the board meeting and then Shane Steel from he's now working for the Northshore cycling club that that's the trail that Northshore >> like get you get you. Yeah, >> that that group he's he's paid to do some work for them. Uh, and then there's a gentleman you would know Steve then or something um with soil and water. >> Um, >> I'm blanking on his name. He uh is working with >> Yeah, that guy. He's working with Mike Tyman on trying to pursue some grant dollars and that's for cleaning up the school forest, taking care of the forest
048using the soil and water grant dollars. So there's all these conversations spinning and we need to have a effective user group that does that big picture. Yeah. >> What is our goal here? >> Yeah. And and you know when the presentation that we saw a few weeks ago, they came in with a plan for where they were going to put P paths in and cut offs and I'm like uh it's too soon. >> Way too soon. And you know because I think um you know the forest is really should be about education and yes it's also recreation and whatever else but it should be about education and how do we want to use it and if you've got iikkes and you know going around does that discourage other things if that becomes the primary >>
049part of that grant that we wrote included a reach out to Eric about in your day job about helping us um use the forest for teaching Ojiway history and culture and values and plants and you know all things and and incorporating that. So we just have to make sure we're including all of these things >> not to right. So having a I think a clear vision of what we want to use that force for >> before we start introducing ideas that map line with that vision or don't I think is a if that's in scope here I'd like to make sure we're having that conversation. >> Absolutely. >> For sure. I I do I I briefly remember there was a talk about this bike even a year ago and wasn't there um discussion like could
050it go into some land you you own west or behind the school over the road like that it wouldn't you know risk a biker a kid out in the forest doing some educational thing and a biker coming flying by you know I mean I thought that was a discussion it was mentioned >> and I don't think we went anywhere but >> no they they they weren't very interested in that but okay that might be their option >> when it comes down to it >> I think I mean this having a a school forest is a very unique thing and I I think we need to be good stewards of that and not lock into something that lifts us otherwise >> well thank So, we should expect December 11th, some amendments and some contracts and um
051then we kick off. >> Yeah, I would say I guess more of a comment as well that um to the extent that we can uh leverage the existing work and contractors. I mean I I think it's a worthy effort for us to do that to find those efficiencies. You know, whether that is conversations that we need to start having with those I we haven't awarded the bids yet, but >> I think we will be utilizing those contractors for estimating and budgeting along the way. And for some of these pieces, if we identify an efficiency schedule that benefits them in a certain way and that their budget actually aligns with, you know, our expectations, you know, then we'd be able to manage uh trying to piece those parts together to keep it uh keep things going
052efficiently on site. >> Yeah, >> for sure. I mean, it it seems like Yeah. So to whatever extent we need to kind of grease the skids on that you know sort of from from that perspective you know now just so that we can be sort of thinking about that as these other you know because really there's an intersection here between this project and the project that you know the bids just went out for just in terms of you know as we're sort of navigating you know where the bids came in at what's the cost like and we're trying to be creative about making sure that we get everything as close as we hope to do. Um, you know, I just want to make sure again that there's some potential interplay here that um maybe we
053can mitigate some of those impacts, you know, and hopefully mitigate uh higher bids, you know, for this project as well. >> Yep. >> So, but I mean, I know that's all the stuff that you guys do. So, but just just worth reiterating that to the extent that we can push on the gas a little bit to kind of make it happen here, you know, seems to make sense to me. >> So, um, okay. Well, we'll segue right into into that conversation. So, thank you Lori for teeing that up and then >> coming all the way over >> coming all the way up here. Um, so 8.5 is our discussion regarding the uh 2024 referendum and the bids. And we've got Jason here from ICS as well. >> Printed it up, but I did also include
054uh the bid tabulation. So I don't know if you guys formally got that. Chris, if you want to leave this one again on the Zoom. Um, I tried to connect and it seemed like it was a little bit jittery. agenda here. Um, so we did go over a lot of this same information in the PC meeting. But uh we will uh go through it again here in a bit more of a condensed version. Um so we're going to review the bid process, the uh low bids, the budget alternates that were included in the bid solicitation, the value engineering and then next steps. Uh so regarding the bid solicitation so we did divided the uh project into six work scopes site work pre-cast general construction fire protection mechanical and electrical. Uh we did receive 15 bids
055and each work scope uh received multiple bids. So we did have a good um bidding process here. We did receive multiple bids. The total of the bids ranged from 21 million to 25,375,000. Um again the the bid tabulation here was kind of distributed to everyone kind of outlining you know the different contractors that bid on the project and their alternates along the way here. So regarding the low bids uh the low bids for Earthworks is Northland Constructors. They're from Duth. Uh for pre-cast pre-cast concrete which is the gym construction that is Molen. For general construction it is BCI and they're out of uh St. Cloud area. For fire suppression that is escape and they're out of duth. O'Brien for mechanical. They're out of duth. And finally for work scope six, we have electrical with hunt
056electric and they're local here. So we have a base fit total of 21 million 43,000. Um we are carrying $200,000 here for security and cameras. So those uh material items for security and cameras were not included in the construction bids and we will solicit uh that as a separate work scope um in the coming weeks and months here when we uh refine our requirements for that. So, regarding the construction budget, this project had a construction budget of 17,662,71 and we were carrying a bid contingency of 1,14,85. So, that bid contingency was uncommitted funds on our previous budget. Um, so that brings the budget total here to 18,776,786. So with that, our bids are higher than our budget and uh we have a plan here to align our construction costs with our budget. Um the first
057thing we'll do is we'll review the initial budget, the alternates again that were um included in the bidding value engineering and then finally input from the school regarding preliminary the preliminary budget review. So, we did review our budget that we've been carrying for the last year. Um, and some items had been adjusted. Uh, the first one here is the bonding referendum was increased by $43,18. Um, Lori, can you comment a bit on that one? bonding increase. So, so the on bid with a lower interest than expected. Is that >> what that is >> when the sale of the bonds were lower than or the interest in favor? >> Yes. >> Okay. >> So, you have some extra funds. >> I think actually opposite. >> And then there was interest earnings that were increased. So, we
058increased the uh funding by $50,000 for the uh interest earnings. Um energy rebates were also increased by $20,000. >> Is that that doesn't include the solar pan? >> No, that is just federal. >> Okay. >> Um rebates >> like on different kind of LED lights. >> Correct. So, with uh replacement of lighting, they do a one for one. So, however many watts the current light uses, there's a rebate associated with that. Um, we have ICS project efficiencies. So, that is uh site services and general conditions that would be overlapping on this first referendum and the second referendum. Um, so work that would be completed in the year 2027. Um, that has a value of $400,000. And we also reduced the project contingency on this project by 200,000. So from 1 million down to 800,000. And
059finally, the outdoor learning space. So, we were carrying the cost for this uh outdoor learning space in the first referendum, but we didn't actually have a scope of work for it. So, that money will be shuffled with the second referendum. Um the total funding adjustments are $963,000. So here on the right on the top right um we have our initial budget. We're adding the 963,000 and getting our total available budget up to 19,739,000 regarding alternates. So these were alternates that we included in the bid solicitation. Um items such as uh changing the material type for the windows. Um utilizing air conditioning in the student services area instead of operable windows and uh utilizing some existing equipment related to mechanical and electrical gear. So, if we were to accept all of those alternates, that would reduce
060the bid value by $278,000. For Eric's sake, I want to point out that um what's not listed here is that the flex room by the cafeteria was a was a alternate ad. So, that's already off the table. because that was a big one. That was like a half a million dollar. >> We talked about that last week. >> Yeah. Yeah, we did. We did. I just want to make sure it's >> um so now after those um that's the only big chunk that's just big one. Yeah. >> Yeah. Sorry. >> No, that's okay. So, with considering those alternates, we're still um our our bid value is still high by $1,224,000 and that amount of funding is either needed for the project or we need to reduce the scope of work to align the construction with
061the cost budget. So my team ICS uh the architect DSGW and the POC working group we have identified areas of work that can be reduced while maintaining the overall goals of the project. So we did work through a list uh last week on the 13th Um so the next steps here are for uh my team to evaluate the impact of the cost reductions that we discussed and to provide a recommendation to the uh school board at the next meeting on December 11th to proceed with the contracts for the low bid contractors. So at the next meeting um we will discuss these contract contracts for the next uh I'm sorry at the next schoolboard meeting we we will discuss these contracts. So the contracts that we issue to the contractors will be based on the low
062bid value from bid day. The contractors will then have to adjust the scope of work to align with the budget after the contracts are awarded. So we cannot negotiate the price with them before the contracts. >> So approve bids and then start negotiating >> correctly budget. So I I'm having discussions with them but it's a very strict you know line that you know has has to be maintained with that. >> Sure. >> So at the December board meeting you look for approval to to ex to award the low bid with the acknowledgement that we'd be working towards that 1.2 million of reduction. Is >> that correct? Correct. Yep. And is it safe to assume that that is um somewhat of a standard practice that happens in these scenarios where you're over bid, you have to
063issue the contracts, but you're able to to get there in terms of them >> within a publicly bid project. That's that's the only option. Yeah. The only option is to accept your bid or reject it. Sure. >> Um, with that being said, you know, there will be language within the contract that no money can be spent until the budget is aligned and accepted by the school board. And generally are these contracts and fixed bids like they say cost X to do this that's and something goes south that on their end that they haven't estimated right. It's a fixed bid >> unless there's actually a change order. >> It is a fixed bid. >> Okay. >> So we so it's technically you know we accept the bid for 21 million. So, we're like technically on the
064hook for 21 million, but we're going to go back and >> but if you have language in there that says >> and say we're going to readjust the budget afterwards >> spoke basically to that >> and then construction and procurement would not proceed until that budget was aligned and accepted by the school board. >> Okay. So regarding these contractor negotiations, so those negotiations would take place after their contract was issued and there's minimal risk of any uh there there's minimal risk of aligning this budget after the contract. Um there is language within the contract where the school can terminate the contract for convenience. So if for some reason we felt like the contractor was not being fair on particular item and we could rebid this then you know that could be our position. >> Sure.
065um reviewing the costs that have come in here. You know, the low bids are generally several hundred,000 lower than the next bid up. So to be in that position, I think would be pretty, you know, it's going to be hard for the next guy to make up those that ground. Um I did include the budget summary here. Um this just shows us, you know, all of the items we just discussed and how things would come into budget here if we took those deductions and uh reduced the scope of work. And the last slide here is a a list of the value engineering items which we have reviewed through the PC. Again, none of these items have been accepted. Um that process would happen after the contracts were awarded and then um the change orders would
066be reviewed again by the school board. >> So would you see the approval of this list taking place like at the board in January? >> Um what I think would happen is we would issue these contracts. There would be language in there saying we would like to see a certain dollar value reduced in these areas of work. The contractor would then have a couple weeks >> to uh provide those suggestions back to us and then yeah early January I think they would have uh >> something back to us to review. And then POC would be working through that to tighten up the number and ultimately approve change orders. Is that what it would look like? >> Yep. >> Okay. >> The this first round of change orders will be, you know, that 1,224,000. So it
067be a pretty significant uh >> Yeah. So sometime in January or at the latest early February, >> I would think this really needs to happen, you know, with pretty good speed here to keep some of these guys on >> moving. Yep. >> Okay, that gives me a time frame >> because they'll want to be starting to submit um uh submitts to the architects and and engineers for approval. So they get their material ordered, get their stuff going. So yeah, Jason's right. would want to get make sure we just get them locked in to where things are going to be first. So then they can start working. >> Yeah. Yeah. I was just thinking about board planning. We have work session January 8th board meeting January 22nd. I'll just kind of plan that out in my
068head. >> So some of this has to go back to the architect. So to do more schematics like changes in the showers or different things that we talked about. >> Yep. Some of this will go back to the architects. Some of it will be um contractor directed. You know, if they say, "Hey, we can take $200,000 of work out of tile." We'll say, "Okay, but you need to show us how you got there." And then we can, you know, review that and say, "Yes, that's acceptable." Or Lighting is another example. Sometimes electrician will say, "Hey, this is a really good light. You know, this is what was spec, but if we could go with this light fixture, we could save x amount of dollars." Those are those are good ones, too. If if they have,
069you know, a cheaper one that is still good quality. Nothing would be approved until the engineers say, "Yeah, that is good quality." We don't we don't want something put in that would then have to be replaced, right? So there's kind of this process is sort of happening. We're going through a process of identifying items that we think are would get us there. Y we've looked at that list a couple of times already. It's here. >> But what you're saying is that we would all after the contracts are issued, we would also go back to the contractor and say, "Listen, we need to find, you know, a million bucks. What do you suggest? >> We're gonna tell them we're gonna tell them the areas we want them to look in. We're going to say >> basketball
070hoops. Okay. So, we're kind of guiding that with this list. We're not Okay. >> But there are some things we said, you know, in the group that we we were willing to cut back on. >> Y >> and those would already be taken off of that before you go back to them. like for instance solar panels where you're kind of like yeah there's no rebates for that right now. So >> well I I did follow up with um the state >> and there are still the rebates and it did seem like a a very feasible and practical thing to continue with. But >> okay, >> um >> certainly you know whatever the cost is that's kind of the bottom line. So, I'm sharing that information with Chris to uh >> kind of keep things going.
071>> Okay. >> Um so, the uh we would issue the contracts, the contractor would provide the cost for these items. there would be some design changes to hold them accountable to deliver you know a certain product that we all agreed was acceptable and then we would uh proceed. >> Now I know that there's a couple of we're not these reductions maybe touch all the work scopes to a certain degree some of them are more sort of concentrated on one work scope or another. Right. >> Yep. depending on what it is, it might percolate out into others as well. Um, but again, kind of going back to what I was saying before, Delori, you know, as we're kind of shaking these guys down, you know, let them know we've got this other project coming. So, if
072there's any efficiencies we're going to see here, guys, on being able to like kind of cut some of this cost, like let's for sure, let's kind of keep that conversation going with those guys as well. >> So, I can handle >> because I I just try to think about like what would have happened if question two would have passed last year. Um, where would we be at? What would the timeline look like? What would the capacity of what would the bidding have looked like? What would the capacity of the contractors? >> Don't do it. Not healthy. Don't do that. Well, no. I'm just saying like >> what if what if >> they would they would have bid on on this whole thing. It would all been kind of folded in together. What how are they
073resourced within their organizations in terms of capacity and that sort of thing. Presumably there would have been contractors maybe these same ones that would have said yeah we can kind of do all this within this sort of same time period. So, you know, I realize they're kind of staggered, but, you know, again, let's let's kind of keep the, you know, let's kind of keep the pressure on in terms of like, you know, that is a little bit of a carrot, you know, and working with us on this side of it as well. >> But that's my kind of wonder how much pressure any entity can exert in 2025 on any contractor. Seems like it's their world. No matter if it's us as individuals, as organizations, like they call the shots. >> Honestly though, I know.
074Well, maybe we can't as pressure, but maybe we can ask for sympathy. >> Thanks. >> Yeah. >> So, that strategy I think should be talked through, you know, probably right after this December 11th review. you know, once we're ready to move forward, we should have a really good discussion about how to leverage that opportunity. >> You know, as I'm looking at the construction schedule, the work inside the building with the new gym um ends, you know, probably probably the heavy work ends around January. >> Yeah. mid winter, >> you know, and there's not a lot going on from January until June, right? So, >> maybe >> there is a good opportunity there. >> Yeah. >> Just start hauling turf out there. Yeah. It'll be a lot. >> Well, that that you say that in just
075but >> I'm not saying we talked about moving trees, you know, at the end of the summer or the fall in 2026. >> That might elude, you know, work well with hauling dirt. through the winter. And when roads are frozen and weight restrictions are not in place, >> you know, >> those are good thoughts >> for sure. >> Good thoughts. >> Yeah, I feel like our list is a pretty solid list. It's going to get us pretty close to where we want to be with this. So, so will we will PAC hear back on December 11th about the things on this list that needed clarity from DSGW and and will that come back to us on December 11th or will that >> the things I felt like really needed a bit more clarity were related
076to the size of that Ojiway room and I think that discussion on its own would probably wait until we see how everything else kind shakes out. >> Shakes out. Yeah. >> So, for Eric's sake, um it's it comes down to using the current external wall that's >> that's there or adding square footage and building another one, which is costly. >> Um so, that's where that conversation came about and the the messiness of the roof lines, how they come together right there. >> So, that's not really a design effort they want to move forward with until >> unless they have to. >> Yep. >> Yeah. So that I pushed that way to the bottom of my list here. You know, got it. Got it. >> Pretty impossible to discuss how that would look without some, you
077know, design >> work. So those roof lines coming together, was that part of the other reason why it has that elevated thing with the windows and or unrelated elevated? Is there like a >> kind of the skylight around and the search? Those are separate. >> Okay. >> Cuz that the skylight thing is up over the um the act. >> Okay. >> And that was trying to be culturally relevant. >> Yeah. >> Um the Ojiway room, there's a wall between them. And then the Ojibway room, um originally it was the current exterior wall. And then in the user group meetings and stuff, it was like, no, let's make that a little bigger and then have a place for the eagle and have a place to display stuff. Well, that I remember the comment the comment from
078ICS. There was a guy name was Damian. He looked at the architects. He's like, "You just added a whole bunch of money because architects do that, right? That they design stuff and then the construction people actually cost it all out and go, that's added square footage. That's going to be expensive." >> Yeah. other items like the uh canopy, the front canopy and simplifying that. We really wouldn't have options on what that co, you know, what kind of cost reduction that would be until after >> I thought that was just gone. >> The canopy. >> Yeah. Oh, there's still a canopy. Okay. >> Yeah. No, we talked in PC about is there a way to do it cheaper? We still want the canopy. We still want the the seven pillars going down both sides. We, you
079know, we want that, but do we play with the roof line? Do we make it more of a facade? >> A different material. >> Different material. >> You know that it's maybe less expensive. >> Yeah. >> But no, we were pretty much you can't get rid of that. >> Plus, I mean, most of what people have looked at in all of these renderings >> is that so you you can't suddenly take that away. But we don't want to anyway. I mean, I think it's it was symbolic and um it was a hard note from us at POC as well as changing that light that raised roof and the >> in the a and the jib. >> So that's still in there. >> Yeah. We will consider you know simplifying it you know if there's a
080cost savings that we felt was >> appropriate and well and it still provided you know the final product you guys are looking for >> right well John architect John he I mean he was made the comment though that that's a complicated spot sort of regardless even if we don't if we just keep the existing wall there's issues with that that they're grappling with. So bumping that wall out kind of helps in some ways with some of those problems. So it's it's you know it might end up being a horse a piece, right? >> Depending on what the details of that are. So >> that's a tough spot. >> Yeah. Um, so when do we need to make a decision about whether we're going to allocate LTFM dollars to reduce the reduction in scope through value
081engineering? So I don't think that discussion is really necessary until we go through the contracting process and really >> align the value engineering with with the budget because then we can say no, take that off, take that off. >> Yeah. Because we have $200,000 or $300,000 in in LTFM dollars that we could invest into the process. Okay. So, you would need an answer by early January. And that's something for Eric, the board, the Quinn to consider. Um, we have a healthy, we have a decent fund balance in LTFM, but more importantly, you get that revenue every year. And in theory, we shouldn't have to do much deferred maintenance because that's what a big chunk of this project is. So, our needs for those funds should be bumped out far enough that we we can safely
082tap a couple years of those funds. Those >> again ballpark >> uh 160,000 a year in revenue that we get. >> It's about quarter million. >> So, you could if it was three years worth, you could throw $400,000 at it. Um and it's it's a reasonable bet to say we shouldn't have to spend much over the next four to five years um on LTFM. So um that's why I asked that question and um I do think my recommendation will be to allocate some of those dollars into the project to save us from having to not do a canopy or um do some of the things that are really important in this project. A fair amount of the locker room work being done could be paid for out of LTFM, you know, because it's remodeling our
083current bathrooms. Gender neutral neutral bathrooms are a legit LTFM expense for sure. So, there's lots in this project that go that direction. One thing, one big one that also went off the table in here, I don't know if it was made clear is um the gender neutral bathrooms for the elementary area is one of the value engineering things to take off the table. We were going to do one side of the two sides. Um if we want to reduce that's the easy one to reduce. So then all of the secondary bathrooms you'd be or a lot of them would be gender neutral, single use. >> All right. >> Yeah, it was a really productive uh meeting the last time meeting. >> So tonight we're not doing any action. N >> you're looking for any feedback
084from us tonight? >> No, I'm I'm in a good spot here. Yep. All right. Well, good deal. Any other questions for Jason on this topic? All right. Um, thanks for making the trip out. >> Sure. >> Thank you. >> Seeing you guys again soon. >> Um, okay. We got a couple more things here on the agenda, so we'll move on to those. 8.6 Six is to accept the donations for November of 2025. Um, we've got a resolution in our packet. >> See, thanks. Thank you. >> Table Highlands, Northship Credit Union, the Wise Women, and I don't know the first one. Travel Club. So, it's two. >> That's two. Who's it from? In memory of >> Glen. >> Irene Peterson. >> In memory of Irene Peterson. >> It was from that family. >> Got it. >>
085Nice. >> I'll make a motion with gratitude, with appreciation, all that. >> I'll second that. And I would also add my gratefulness to this. >> It's always nice when people invest in our students. >> Um, any further discussion? More gratitude. >> More gratitude. >> Thank you so much. >> All those in favor? I >> I. Those opposed? Motion carries. All right. 9.0 or personnel items. 9.1 is our slate for this month here in the packet. Um >> just I'm happy to celebrate Teresa England will applied for and is being hired as our new admin assistant in the school office starting in January. We'll have about two weeks of overlap with Cindy Everson and but they'll be doing some training and going to ARC and doing all kinds of learning fast because those are fast-paced jobs.
086And then we just have a couple coaches and a couple resignations. Thanks to our coaches that well almost volunteer their time. >> Sure. >> Don't do the math on that. I'll >> don't do the math. >> Okay. >> I'll make a motion to um accept the uh personal appointment. >> Second. Any further discussion? >> All those in favor? >> I. Those opposed? Motion carries. >> I'll make the motion to adjurnn. Who's does >> second?