001To 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. >> So 3.0 is to approve the meeting agenda. >> I'll make a motion to >> um I do actually have one addition. Um we're going to add 4.2 just to introduce Jane Wolf. Um which we'll do right after the um other recognition. >> Okay. Um so you can make a motion with the adjustment if you >> I'll make a motion with the adjustment. >> Okay. All those in favor? >> Oh, we need a second. I'll second. >> Thank you. All those in favor? I >> I Those opposed. >> Agenda is approved. Uh all right. 4.0 are acknowledgements and recognitions. um which we gratefully have some this evening.
002>> We do. So, Mr. Chair, I'd like to ask Plman and John to either stand or just come up and sit at the table here. Um and uh kind of an unconventional way, I learned that um M. Clman was being honored as the assistant uh coach of the year uh for Minnesota. And um so I had to email John and say, "Is this true?" Uh and it is. So, um, John, maybe tell us a little bit about, uh, how that came about and a little bit about your assistant coach and, um, how honoring he is of this award. >> So, the this is an award from the Minnesota State High School Coaches Association, which we belong to and a lot of coaches across. Got it. >> Yep. Minnesota State. It's not to be confused, you
003know, high school high school league which is another governing body of all sports pretty much, but this is a coaches association that we join and they they acknowledge and coaches that have done a really great job every year head coaches and assistant coaches and Palman was this year's or I guess last ski season. >> Last season. Yeah. >> Yeah. The assistant coach of the year and um >> for the state, right? >> For the whole state. Yep. Yeah. Um for I think they did what they said. Oh wow. They did it for all for see for me it was boys. For you it was boys and girls. So you know the the thing you guys about assistant and head coach those of you who have been watching the program and know who we are. It
004the assistant is only a name. I mean really it's an equal thing. And in fact a lot of how this thing goes is because of he has incredible organizational skills. I mean he has incredible technical abilities. He does all of our timing, repairing equipment, all kinds of issues that we have. Palmer takes care of it and and keeps me sort of even killed. I can be kind of little bit of a just big big thinker and he's the detail guys who happen. >> We make a good team. >> We do make a really good team. One reason we started this you guys is that we had kids who were into it. Um and when they were really young, we just had a pulse and decided to do it with the junior team. And before you
005know it, we became the high school coaches and we sort of learned as we went along. Um, it's been a lot of fun and good and we're going to keep going here for a while. These through arcades. We'll see where that goes. Um, let me see what else I have. I put on some notes for you. >> Yeah. Just [laughter] Yeah. Oh, this I mean all this stuff that he does. Like we have these team radios, you guys. This this piece of timing equipment is extremely complex. We hand it to Clown and he takes care of it. Um, team identity like you know if it was left up to me, we'd all be sort of just wearing whatever. B decided that we all needed jackets, branded jackets. Looks really cool. And I got to tell
006you, the kids when they got those things on, they kind of puff up. [laughter] So that's been good. And that's I think about it. >> And if I'm not mistaken, plowing, John won the head coach of the year award. How many years ago? >> 2022 2023 when both boys and girls team won the sections and both teams qualified for the state. I mean that that was like unheard of. >> Yep. >> For our small school for both teams to win the section and both qualify for the state championship. >> I remember that. >> And then last year guys, I think everyone knows this that the boys team won second place in state as a team and you know just to give you a sense of that like we're going against schools like Minnetonka Gina Hail
007Mary the private schools down there. It's there's no alpine skiing is kind of a unique thing in that it's like it's like hockey used to be in Minnesota, right? Or road could come down and beat everyone. There's no divisions. We're just all skiing against each other no matter what. >> So a big giant high school, >> we're playing against them. [laughter] And so it's um it's a credit to the kids mostly, but we do provide a lot of structure and grown it into a good way. Well, as a former coach, um, thank you for the oodles of hours for like no pay. Uh, it's all for the love of kids and the love of the sport and we our kids are lucky to have you both. >> Well, thank you. May I say one more
008thing, please? >> Please. >> Um, if you're if this is getting recorded or broadcasted. >> Yeah. Yeah. >> Um, if you're watching today and you're wondering why should I sign my kids for a ski team? Yes. Um we we take kids of just any level of ability and we would love to have the um everyone on the ski team. So >> yeah, we need more. >> Yeah, like to see more. >> Well, it's amazing that um we have so many skiing opportunities in Cook County, you know, whether it's alpine or cross country, you know, we sort of have an embarrassment of riches really as far as Minnesota's concerned, at least with from the alpine perspective on that. But um so it's it's amazing that we also have some champions like you guys >> that are
009making it go and really leveraging what we have here. >> Yeah. >> Um kind of enriching that opportunity for the So that's awesome. >> Yeah. >> Nice job. >> And we are up I don't know if this is the body to do it in, but we are up for more support. It's an expensive sport and we'd like to find it. We'd like to find more kids to be able to find their way to it. >> Yeah. because we do have this incredible facility in the mountains and they've been very supportive. So, we're going to keep going, >> you know, for a while here. I told uh coach John that now that we have won um we've been sectional champions. Um we've won assistant coach and coach of the year. The only thing that's left for
010us to accomplish is the state championship win. So, >> all right. >> His son, let's hear you guys. You got >> All right. as you heard first >> and thank you for all you do. >> We appreciate it. >> And you can sneak out. Don't worry. >> We'll do that. [clears throat] >> All right. Yeah. Thank you guys. >> All right. 4.2. We have uh Miss Jane Wolf. >> Yeah. This is just a quick introduction. Uh last board meeting I asked all of our new hires to uh [clears throat] if they can uh to come and introduce themselves to the board so that at least board members have a face with uh people who are working with our our kiddos here in school. Um this is Jane. Jane, why don't you tell us a little
011bit about yourself and what you're doing? >> Yeah, so um I live down in Two Harbors. I've been a speech pathologist for uh gosh, math is not my my place since 2017. and I've been practicing and I started out in Alaska and moved down to Minneapolis in 2020 and so I'm coming from a hospital setting. So I which is kind of handy because it means I can do feeding therapy with some of our kids that we see. Um and I'm really loving this this job up here. The staff is awesome. I love being a contractor because you don't have to do a lot of the extras that teachers have to do. Um, so I feel like this kind of fly on the wall and it's just like, h, this is just great. I get to
012have positive relationships with all the people I meet and I love being able to provide uh, intervention to some of these kids who aren't going to get it otherwise in person. There's a lot of pretty severe disabilities up here and you really need hands-on therapy to make progress. Um, so that's one of my goals with having a private practice is to deliver high quality uh therapy that you would normally only be able to get in a city. So it's kind of fulfilling one of my personal goals of giving back to society. And and thank goodness I talked to Chris last spring and kind of cold called and said, "Hey, you guys need an SLP?" >> Yeah. So a year ago, uh, we were 100% of our speech services was virtual. None of our kids had
013an in-person speech therapist and the need here is as Jane pointed out significant. Um I I lied there. We had Haley Looney. She was one day a week working with some of our little um and so uh we were lucky enough last month you met Mabel uh who's here full-time as our teacher as an SLP and uh now Jane Jane is with our students two two days a week for the most part. So we went from 02 to 1.6 in-person SLP staffing. uh since last year and Jane's a big part of that. I observed something a couple weeks ago, one of our students who's in a wheelchair and and has significant disabilities. I looked I walked by and I happened to see the SLP and an OT and a case manager all working with this
014kid and it was like finally we have the services that this this young person needs to have on a regular basis. Um we haven't been there for a long time so it feels really good to finally be kind of in that situation. So Jane drives up uh from Two Harbors, spends the night and then so works back toback days and then um drives back. That's kind of the arrangement we've made. And um yeah. Are you are you really riding the bus in with >> No. So I actually I drive home most nights or I stay at our cabin in Finland if the stars align. >> The stars align. Yeah. >> It's just awesome because I don't have to go home to two kids, >> right? [laughter] >> So it's like a mini vacay and then
015I get to work. Uh yeah, but no, I'm not driving the bus. But if the roads get bad enough or sorry, riding the bus, not driving it. If the roads get bad enough, I'll be hopping on at Little Marray and >> Sure. >> enjoying my noise cancelling headphones >> cuz Katherine drives in from Finland every day [laughter] back. >> It's really a lady room problem. Those those are tiny. Yeah, it's crazy. >> Um I also observed that student. I saw him over the summer in at uh his home and I observed him again today with the SL the other SLP and the OT and he's like a different kid. >> He's he's using sentences, >> but it took us six weeks to get him to repeat one phrase and today he was >> he repeated
016like five brand new phrases within a 20 minute session. I was totally mindb blown. So it's it it's it gives me goosebumps to see that kind of progress with that kid because he's he has some very severe disabilities. >> Yeah. >> So yeah, it's really huge. >> Fun to watch. Rewarding. >> Yeah, it's very rewarding work. >> Well, thank you so much for [clears throat] making that commitment. We really appreciate you >> joining our team. >> Oh, this place is awesome. I wish I lived in Grand Marray. [laughter] Truly. Yeah. Thanks for having me. I appreciate it. >> You're invited. >> I know. I know. Wait until the kids graduate. Have a good night, J. >> All right. Thanks. You, too. >> All right. >> That's true. >> Roman's good. [laughter] >> All right. Bye,
017guys. >> Okay. 5.0 are our recognition of visitors and community comments. Um, 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. Um, do you know if we have anyone signed up? >> We do not. >> Um, so no committee comments, but we have some visitors. So, welcome. Thanks for being here um for you guys here in the room and then hello everybody watching online right now and also watching the recording in the future. Uh we appreciate you being here. Um all right, 6.0 are reports. Uh 6.1 is our principal report. Mr. Bangi, good evening. >> Good evening everybody. >> Okay. Um, so we've been busy. Uh, it's been a busy year and
018especially just recently the last couple of weeks um in SUS um we had our special lunches last week. So we were able to invite um all of our K5 families in to have lunch with kids at school and it's fun. It's a fun way that we have them all in the SAT gym and it's full of people, full of kids and it's uh intentionally done at the beginning of the year so we can help families make connections um and that type of thing. And it was just really great to have the families in. We had them in on Tuesday and Wednesday last week. Um and then on Monday last week was Indigenous People's Day and we were excited to have uh Cassandra and Dakota and they are from the organization the North American Traditional Indigenous
019Food Systems Organization um which is based out of Minneapolis, but they were able to come up here and take our Sawtooth kids on foraging walks through the school forest and learn about local plant life and their medicinal uses. Um and so that was fun. And then they tied in their stolen soup celebration um as well on Monday last week with that. Um and then in our middle school and high school, Cassandra and Dakota uh were able to present to all of our middle school and high school students about food sovereignty um and issues around that. And that's interesting because we're learning about some um local work around food sovereignty in Grand Portage with the bison ranch and all that type of stuff. So it was cool to connect that. And then our middle school and
020high school students participated in some cedar tea time um at the end of the day that it was cedar tea made by our culinary arts students. Um and so that was just a fun way to recognize that and um come together in community. And then next week our sixth graders in middle school will be participating in their ATV field safety test. So, this is the safety class by um Miss Spoon where they get their ATV safety uh certification, their snowmobile certification, and their firearm safety certification over the course of the year. So, they'll be if people see four-wheelers whipping around on school grounds next week, that's okay. It's intended. Um and they're looking forward to that. And then, I don't know if I'm going to steal your thunder, Greta, if you heard the news, but
021our boys cross country team today narrowly. Did you Am I stealing it? Okay. Oh, go ahead. That's fine. >> We just found out at the end of the day they narrowly missed taking first place in the section meet today. So, they ended up taking second place, which means they'll participate in the state meet on November 1st. So, we're excited about that news. >> Did they win their conference though? >> Yeah, they were conference champions. The boys were. >> Yep. >> Um and then yeah, had a great showing at the section meet um today. Uh and then on Monday this week, we had a professional development day. We had our pair of professionals in for Redact training last year. Um our teachers spent a lot of time around read training and now we're um having that
022with the pair of professionals. Um teachers did a lot of curriculum work um on Monday aligning curriculum through grade levels. So that was some good work. And then in the afternoon we had our second session of good relations training um which is helping support our staff um facilitate and incorporate indigenous education for all in our school. And so some of the topics that um our staff learned about, Eric was able to present to us again um was parent advisory committees um and then our the staff from the ACT um were able to kind of talk to all of our staff and really give everybody a a history lesson on the act and how that's been incorporated and different roles and stuff like that. So that was really great. And then just a lot of important
023dates coming up for the community end of the quarter next week on Friday. Um November 3rd, we're going to have an early release day. So students are released at 1:15 um on November 3rd. This is to facilitate conferences in Grand Portage. Um which will be held from 3:00 to 5:00 on the 3rd. And then our conferences in the evening at school here, November 6th and 11th be from 3:30 to 6:30. >> Just a point of information on that comment, Josh, if board members get questions about why the early release, we've never done that before. Uh it's because of construction. We had we compressed our calendar and we put those conferences which were usually like a whole day off. We made them two instructional days so that we could compress our calendar. That's the why behind
024that. And so we'll see how it goes. But um it might actually be we'll find out, but it might actually be better for Portage parents because it's 3 to 5 instead of 1 to three depending on their work schedule. So we'll see. >> I'm putting that in my calendar right now. really release really. Yeah, >> we'll put out an email, but yeah, busing is still happening. It's just everything is two hours earlier than expected. >> Yeah. >> Awesome. Well, thank you so much. >> Okay. 6.2 the superintendent report. >> Oh, I thought we had credit first. Oh, I'm up. Okay, >> you're up. >> Are you talking about football at all? >> No. >> All right. Then the only thing I'll add is um uh related to the construction project that we're under. Good for
025the public to know um the request for bids for the project is is open right now. Uh and people are contractors are able to bid. So uh when we had a contractor walkthrough meeting uh I think it was just 14th uh we had 12 contractors on site. Our consultants are engaging with 19 contractors right now. And when I say 19 contractors, I don't mean there's all different pockets of construction. So, um 19 total contractors right now are being engaged in in back and forth. And next week, there'll be some site visits from some contractors. Bids will be opened on November 5th. Uh and that uh will take place in the cafeteria. Uh it's it's a big process. We already because it's a sealed bid process. So, we'll open bids. We'll document what everyone bid. Uh
026and at that point then uh a week later the POC will review uh all of the bid documents and then on at the November meeting uh which is next month uh the board will see and approve bids uh and by then we'll know a whole lot more about um how our bids are coming in against the plans and uh how we plan forward. So it's big big month for what's already been passed. Um, and then regarding the referendum that's currently underway, our voters should know that um, ballots need to be at the auditor's office by November 4th, which means if you're mailing your ballot, do so before October 30th because it takes a while in snail mail to get there. Um, and ballots can be dropped off in person at the auditor's office as late
027as election day. And I believe the closing time on that day is 8:00 p.m. by law um, for um, election days. With that, I think I'll wrap up and let uh Greta have fun with some of the other cool announcements going up. >> Okay. Any questions? >> All right. Thank you. All right. 6.3 is our student school me schoolboard member report from Miss Greta Young Doll. Hello, Greta. Welcome. >> Hi. >> Long time no see. >> I know. >> Yeah. Good to have you. >> Good to see you. Um, >> is this gonna be like, you know, like six times as long as normal? We haven't seen you since the end of last school year. >> I Yeah. No, I have actually quite a few things that I wanted to mention. First, this uh month
028has been full of exciting events and accomplishments across our school. From strong finishes to sports seasons and unforgettable homecoming memories, students have been staying busy both inside and outside the classroom. And so this is what our October looked like. Um the volleyball team just played our first and last playoff game yesterday against number one seed South Bridge. Unfortunately, they lost, but the team played their hardest little season and should be very proud of their effort. On a high note, our varsity swim team, which is a co-op with Duth Marshall and Arbor High School, um is undefeated this whole season. And tonight is our conference championships. And then their se their sections will take place November 6th and 8th. And our varsity football team is also undefeated which makes them number one in our conference. So
029they had to buy their first playoff round. So then the second playoff round is this Saturday at 2 p.m. and they'll be playing Northwoods. Um and then if they win that, they're gonna play again on Halloween. Our boys cross country team, as Mr. Bondie mentioned, um is going to go to state. They got second today and I think the girls got like sixth place which is still pretty good. Um so soon our winter sports practices will be starting up. Our basketball Nordic and Alpine teams are all looking for players. So if you know anyone interested encourage them to join. Um a major highlight for high school students this month was homecoming. Lexi Palmer and Nicholas Barber crown homecoming queen and king. We had a pet fest on Monday during school. The homecoming court for got
030to participate in games like finish the song and musical chairs. And then all grades six through 12 also got to participate in like the battlecry competition and tugof-war. And then we ended the week with a New York themed homecoming dance on Friday night. Personally, it was one of my favorite homecomings and definitely want to remember. >> And who won the tugof-war? >> Um I think the freshman and >> cry was like the sixth graders. >> Oh my gosh, so [laughter] loud. and I won musical chairs. So, they're >> not out there. [laughter] Now, a few miscellaneous updates. We have a lot of new national honor honor society members joining this year, which is super exciting. And the induction for that will be held November 3rd. Um, another exciting thing is the college in the school's
031English class got to take a field trip to the University of Minnesota Duth. We got to use the campus library there and then get a tour around the college. And we even got to eat in the dining hall, which is a really fun experience. The middle schoolers are having a Halloween party this Friday to fundra for their Washington DC trip. And also, the senior government class has been doing a congressional simulation where they create bills and pass them in like a congressional meeting. So, if you guys happen to notice a lot of creative policy change ideas floating around, that's fine. And as we wrap up the fall season, it's been super fun to see what all the students have been involved with and everything they're achieving. And with winter sports and new academic opportunities just
032around the corner, we're looking forward to keeping that momentum going into the next month. Thank you guys all for your time. And if you have any questions or anything, feel free to email me. >> I I do have one question. What time is the uh honor society induction? >> That's a good question. I actually don't know. I think it's like 7. >> Yeah, I think it's seven. Last year it was seven. >> And they have conferences in >> the night of Yeah, it's night of the early release and conferences in Grand >> probably seven. >> Yeah. >> And that'll be in the >> So, you know, it's hard to believe, Greta, but you know, this is October >> and that means that you have been serving in this this role for 10 months >> and
033you've got two more months. >> Two more >> to find a replacement. >> November, December. So, you know, it's we're counting them down. But, yeah, we will be thinking about your successor after this. So, if you have any any thoughts on that, start spreading the word, okay, >> amongst the junior class because it'll be a junior. >> So, that's good. >> I think it's the first time our football team has been undefeated since 2007. Yeah, that's what I heard. >> That's what I heard, too. It's been a long time. >> Almost 20 years. >> Really exciting. [clears throat] >> That's super exciting. And to have that happen and boys cross cross country team do that well and the girls did quite well. I thought they got second at conference if I remember right. >> Yeah,
034I think they did good at >> a fall. It's just been great. >> Yeah. >> So, thanks guys. >> Thank you. >> Have a good morning. >> Thanks for coming. >> Yeah. >> Have a good night and Mr. Balagi. Thank you. >> Okay. 7.0 is our consent agenda. Um if there's anything to be pulled for further discussion um otherwise we just need a motion. Motion >> second. >> Any further discussion? All those in favor? I I those opposed? Motion carries. All right. 8.0 discussion and action items. 8.1 is to accept the expenditure and revenue report for September of 2025. It's in the packet here. Um although Miss Oberg is not >> in the packet. in the packet or in the room. >> Yeah. [laughter] Yeah. There's nothing really that stands out to me. Um but
035yeah, just for clarity sake, Miss Ober has jury duty this week, so she's burning the candle at both ends. It's only in really month two of the fiscal reporting here. So, um not not a lot burned through yet. >> Great. >> I make a motion to accept consent agenda. I'll second any for revenue report. >> Oh, the revenue report. I'm sorry. Keep up. >> Expenditure revenue report. Okay. We we knew what you meant. >> Expenditure revenue report. >> All right. Thank you. And uh Quinn seconded that. >> All right. Uh any further discussion? >> All those in favor? >> I. Those opposed? Motion carries. All right. 8.2. Uh we got a discussion item here about mountain biking club. We got a couple of visitors. >> Yeah. >> So, welcome to the Gregs. Come on up
036to the table here. And then we haven't had a chance to talk. Do you want me to to like project this or do you want to talk through it? Board members all have it in linked in their packets. Um, so how >> we just talk through, I think. >> Okay. And if you're clear about what page you're on or whatever, they can scroll in their packets uh to that that document. But Brian, Melissa, great. Um, parents of a first or second first >> second grader. >> 11th >> and 11th grader. Yeah. Yeah. >> So, welcome. >> Y. Um, thanks for giving us time on your agenda. We're here because we want to partner with you to improve the school forest trails and increase the utilization of them. Uh, you all have the document, so I'm
037not going to read it to you, but I'll just kind of go through some of the high highlights of it. Um, who are we? We're Brian and Melissa Greg. We coach the high school mountain bike team here at town. Uh, we serve sixth grade through 12th grade on that. This is our second year doing it here. Last year we had seven kids. This year had 18 kids. And the number one question we get from parents, people around the community, whatever. When are you going to do this for elementary school? Just like ski park sparks. And we tell them, uh, uh, I don't know when we're going to do that. But the real problem is we don't have any good trails to do that on for beginners or for elementary school kids. Uh there's plenty of
038trails at Pin Cushion. There's plenty of trails at Britain Peak. They're way too difficult for for like smaller people or or total beginners. We had a few total beginners and we it's difficult. So we've been talking to Mr. Lindholm for a number of months now about is there some way that we could do something in the school forest? And why the school forest? The school forest is relatively flat, especially compared to everywhere else here, and it's kind of underutilized at this point. So, what we're what we're talking about is like we're not we're not asking for about mountain bike trails. We're asking for some multi-purpose trails. So, think like the the kind of the crushed gravel trail in the wreck park, something like that. Like a mini gravel road like this wide. mini gravel roads
039through the parking or through the through the forest is what we're talking. So there's a bunch of different users of this like we are not even the tertiary user. So, in my view, the school cross-country runners are probably the number one use case, and [clears throat] I've talked to their coach about this, April, but uh right now they practice on the city streets and sidewalks, which is not really the safest place for them, nor does it resemble what they do in competition. So, if we had some, I'm going to call them mini gravel roads again, running through the forest, they could run back there. And she thought that would be fabulous. Uh maybe there could even be one of their meets hosted there. Currently they have two meets every year that both at pin cushion.
040You could do one down at the school and maybe in the early season and then at the later season do the other one at pin cushion because pin cushion is pretty difficult. Whereas back there in the forest it's a lot flatter so they could have an easier one and a harder one. So that's a big possible use case. Third grade learn to bike class could go back there instead of riding around the parking lot or riding inside the community center. probably more fun for the kids. Uh, who else? Outdoor education classes. So, they'd have better access to the forest. You'd have less mud. Um, based on the soil type back there, we'd be talking about importing fill. So, basically bringing in gravel and putting it out there. So, and then it gets, you know, it
041gets sloped so water flows off. So, you don't end up with the mud pits. You have a lot less maintenance because you don't have to haul the wood chips around. So when the when the classes go out there, they're not going to come back in with muddy feet, track up the school, and make somebody have to clean that up. Who else? Uh beginner mountain bikers. Oh yeah, that's why we're here. So we could go back there and we could have a an elementary school learn how to mountain bike program, kind of like ski parks. What else? Winter snow activities. Al. So if you have a trail that's relatively flat and this wide, you could take a snowmobile and a groomer through that and this the high school Nordic team could go and ski back there
042or the outdoor education classes could go and ski out there. What else? Youth education. uh if there was kids interested in forestry or trails or wetlands or that type of thing, they could learn some trail building and by being involved in the trail building process. Um what else? So, we got a big thing in here for research. We both used to work in medical research for over a decade at Mayo Clinic before we moved to town here. So, we're big into the research. I'm not going to read you all the bullets, but we partnered with Dr. Jane Greenberg. She's a youth movement ambassador from Lifetime and she went and found tons of medical research supporting benefits of physical activity, benefits of biking and benefits of trail biking in youth and youth development and learning outcomes
043and that type of thing. And then I'm just going to cruise on through this. There's a few pictures in there shows a little bit of what we're talking about. So you can see it's really it's a mini gravel road. Few more pictures. Got the wetlands in there. And so what we're asking for, we're not asking for you guys to pay for it. We're not asking for you to plan anything. We're not asking you to do anything for us. What we'd like is permission to develop an actual plan. And the reason that we want to ask first is because it's kind of expensive to put a plan like that together. I don't want to go and spend thousands and thousands of dollars if you guys are all like, "No, not happening." So permission to develop an
044actual plan. We'll find partners to assist with planning, funding, building, and maintaining. And I ideally we'd return at a later date and and discuss with you and get some input as to like how can we make this work? Is that it? >> Yeah. Yeah. We wanted to make sure we were short so that there was time for discussion and >> for sure >> hear your questions and hear your thoughts. >> Yeah. Thank you. Um questions thoughts. >> My only thought is that I would like to see this done in a more comprehensive way with our other use of what we plan to do with the forest. We've been talking about um if this next referendum gets passed that there's money for outdoor education and so it seems like those two processes should go together and
045not you guys go and do one thing and then you know just to make sure that we're using the space the way we want to use it educationally as well. >> So that would be my my main comment. >> Sure. Right. Yeah. So yeah, maybe you guys know that, but as a part of the referendum that is up for vote right now is some money to help with outdoor learning spaces and that would potentially go towards some further development in school forest. We do have some of that money um already allocated. It's coming from the legislature. Um, so I think that that there's um potential work sort of coming down the pipeline and I agree with that that we wouldn't want to do we we would want everything to sync up for sure. You wouldn't
046want to build a trail right through the spot that we're [clears throat] going to put the classroom or whatever. Have these things sort of complement each other. So, I think there's like a timing piece on that, you know, just in terms of like the logistics um sort of regardless of how the conversation plays out here. You know, we're going to find out next month the status and then there's a a planning phase that's pretty robust that we will, I assume, go through if it matches how this referendum has gone that >> um >> user groups, >> you know, user groups, etc. And, you know, this could be, you know, how the however they Um, we skinned the cat on that. Um, so I don't know that we could commit to like a specific timeline right
047now in terms of like, yes, go make a plan, you know, because of that. >> Run them first. >> Yeah, we we there's a couple of balls in there that probably we should kind of see where the dust settles on that. Um I'm glad that you guys are um appreciating that it's like a multi-use space because you know that would be a concern of mine is just that uh we want to make sure that it this space is multi-use because sometimes bikes and other user groups don't always like get along well you know and which is not not like personalitywise but just like the uses conflict sometimes. So [clears throat] just being clear about that is is important too because obviously we need the space for for lots of other stuff. >> I think it's
048sorry to cut you off for you. >> Oh yeah. >> And I mean like I'm obviously connected to both sides of this so you can I [clears throat] don't want to like be the advocate for it necessarily because I mean you know where I would stand on it but I do think that it's on that multiuse side of it. It's it's good to remember um that these would be appealing to like a very beginner user group. >> Sure. >> So you're not it's not going to be like the person that tears around the pin cushion that would be moving at 20 miles an hour and would conflict with some user groups like this isn't going to be where they're going to want to go, you know, because that because that because that group is well
049served already within the county. Um, and yeah, so I think the multi-use thing would be great. I >> That does bring up an interesting point though is like if it is multiple use and you've got, you know, your cross country team training, are you know, is it then open to other people who would be riding bikes there too or something like that? That might not be, >> you know, I mean, there could be some real logistic things to think about when different groups could use this or how that would work. >> Yeah. And then I would say that I mean there is a reference in there you know if most likely it would be the dirt candy that would build these trails or I mean >> and like I think also it's [clears throat] good
050to recognize that those are very professional trail builders and they would design these things. I mean, you can't design conflict or anything completely out of something like this, but uh it would be safe trails that would have, you know, good visibility [clears throat] um and that kind of thing. So, again, I mean, I don't I think I shouldn't have even brought up people turning around on it [laughter] because I don't think that'd be happening early. But uh yeah, what I mean if you look at the pictures of the trails and if I showed the pictures of these trails here that are in this document to the kids on the mountain bike team, they would have zero interest in riding on that. It wouldn't be appealing to them. But it's something that my daughter or Quinn's
051daughter could ride on. They're both in second grade and of this tall. It would be fun for them, but they're going to go like six miles an hour. So, just I'm curious in terms of like places in Cook County that you're considering doing this. You know, this is one option. Um, the developed mountain bike trails you mentioned are appropriate. I was just wondering if you guys have explored like any of the other like myriad like logging roads or anything like that that exist in Cook County that are more akin to this, you know? Is that like a potential option for this activity? So, I've been talking to um a couple of different like national organizations that that have programming for youth for for elementary mountain biking. And um we talked through the pin cushion venue
052and that was when they told me, "No, we can't come to your town because what you have there isn't okay for people that you're talking about serving." and they sent me to first step to the Forest Service and said, "Go ask if you can use the ski trails and the Forest Service and I went back and forth a little bit and um there's some there's some turf wars and um and so really I mean it was one of those things where I just like I don't want to get in the middle of something here >> when there are other opportunities. ities and then we started talking to Mr. Lo. >> Sure. Okay. And you know that like what that's basically getting at is that like like our ski trails not technically are ski trails but
053you can obviously ride a bike on those but they are not permitted bike trails. >> Yeah. >> And they're not recognized as such. So if you were doing anything um and and Pinkushion is the same, you know, like the ski trails are not designated by the Forest Service as official bike trails, which um I mean, you know, the name of the game with Forest Service liability. So it's fine for like me or recreational users, but if you wanted to run a program or something on those trails, uh the Forest Service would have to approve that. And for that to be approved um not in like a conditional use way but in a like permanent way those you would have to work to get those trails approved as mountain bike trails and um could happen. I
054mean it's it's been since 2018 that I've been doing it with ours hasn't happened. So uh and then you know has a lot of elevation too. It's not just a technical thing. It's it's places in the county that are are flat enough >> for little kids. You mean >> for little kids? Yeah. Yeah. Exactly. Because you know that's like >> it's a lot to >> like a grassy trail and a you know whatever grade >> in I have a question on these aerial pictures of where the trails are. Um there are there are some areas like the west end that it's purple on the one picture. Um is it just me or is that trail like super overgrown and like almost unidentifiable? >> Yeah, that's that purple is not a trail. >> Okay. I was
055like >> the the red is trails and then there's a little blue and green >> green one. Yeah. And and those are there. Yeah. So would the vision be to basically have like a loop or these are like a couple of different intersections? >> Yeah. >> Would you keep it simple so that you don't have accidents or would you have what are your thinking on that? >> I think our our biggest thought was ideally you could have a loop roughly a mile something where if you if you ran it three times you'd have a 5k because once again that works really nicely for the cross country runners. So if we could get like a onem loop, you know, the the forest kind of wraps around. So you get a onem loop, but then ideally have
056some places where you can cut it off and make a smaller loop. >> Got it. >> Because if I go out there with three-year-old on a strider bike, >> Yeah. >> they don't want to go a mile. They're not going a mile, but they But if you make these cut offs now, you can have kind of whatever length you want. >> You can take my three-year-old on a mile. [laughter] Drop her off. There's >> Take my puppy with her. >> The Well, just as you're kind of wrapping your head around the plans, at least conceptually right now, um the like where the existing football field is. Um like to the east of that there's like some trail like um proposed or there is a trail there. >> There is a trail there. Yeah, >> perhaps
057that's what you're thinking as part of the loop. Um, >> if the referendum passes, you know, that area is going to get redeveloped to a certain degree and get a track. >> Um, and because of the track and the way that it's needs to fill in and the track and the field um facilities, it's going to be a bigger footprint than currently is there now. And it's also going to shift to the east a bit. So it'll cut into the those trees, I think, maybe a little bit. I don't know if we know for sure, but that's just something to be aware of. I guess that that area is will, you know, could potentially change a little bit. >> So kind of all this to say, if the referendum passes or passes, um, it will
058impact all of this. Yeah. >> That's why these are these are kind of like the maps of what's there. >> Yeah. We haven't put together a map of what we want because >> Sure. >> Would you would you put a trail in on on the north side of the baseball field where there currently isn't one? That purple area. On the next slide, you've got a yellow line. >> So, would the goal be to make it? >> Yeah. So, that the purple area, this was done by the trail builder. He went out there and GPS everything he could find. And that purple area, he labeled that as area for expansion. >> Okay. Perfect. But then the other one that's the the official county wetlands guy map >> and he claims that there's maybe trails out there
059because that's what yellow is. >> Okay. >> I think there used to be and they're just horribly overgrown. >> Okay. >> When I went out there I said I'm like this looks like it was a trail at one time. >> Some of it gets pretty wet out there too. >> Yeah. >> And they've mapped that out here. That creek that runs through there is legit. Um we all know that. >> Yeah. And at the end there's a letter from the county wetlands guy talking about how he would deal with the wetlands. >> Oh, >> but essentially that that area north of the baseball field right now is not used at all. >> Right. >> Because there's no trail going through there that's usable. So, what is um it sounds like you have some ideas for
060fundraising for this and and to accomplish the the project. Is that um you're you guys you're feeling pretty good about about that? The ability to to complete this. Um I guess I mean we're maybe not quite there yet, but you know what? if we get into something as it's not planned, are we going to be able to complete the project? Are we going to have enough money to do all that sort of stuff? Contingency thinking about that, you know, just, you know, we obviously don't want to, we would want to end up with a good result and not uh sort of torn up for us. We ran out of money to complete the project. >> It's hard to fund raise when you're at this level when it's there is no plan and there's no permission
061to build anything. But we've talked to a couple different nonprofits that were really interested in in paying for it. >> Okay. >> And then we could also potentially do things like just go to the community and try to do some fundraising there or depending on how much we had students in volunteer labor. That could bring the cost down significantly as well. So sure. >> Okay. Study hall. The worst study hall ever [laughter] labor. I I will say that, you know, when I was in high school, all summer along with the cross country team, we had summer practices, which I kind of don't know why we're allowed to do because we contact with our coach, but and we uh part of that like an hour of that was building a trail on the trail grounds on
062the school grounds that then were used for a meet. So, it's actually very similar to and that was uh I mean that this might just be my personality but like that was a really great thing like we took kids took so much pride in that you know and it was like this is I mean I I'm never there I always want to like go back and see it because I know it is still there. Um, so I I do think that that the student involvement in it could be a really great opportunity as a team building is a community building thing. Um, and I mean honestly like for me that is kind of like my like first encounter with like hard physical work and taught me a lot. So >> yeah. Do we know would
063there be need to be some sort of like um environmental like impact assessment or something to to do this sort of work on our land? >> I would have to do some homework on the um the requirements of being a certified school forest with the DNR because that area is and I don't know how they interplay the bureaucracy of the DNR and being a certified school forest in that program. Um, and so that's one question I would ask. Um, the other one as far as an environmental study, I don't know. That's a good question. >> Just Quinn made me think of it, you know, talking about the forest service. It's not national forest land, but you know, >> and it's wise to engage the wetland department up front because that's an essential component to this.
064I know in in your comments you commented a little bit about the property on the north side of the gunfront trail. Um and to be that property is more elevation. So that's a that's a negative. Um but I want to make sure it's part of the conversation here. Uh that uh yes that property is plotted as a residential plot and it looks like there's corridors and everything for streets. Um yes, but the district owns pretty much the whole thing. So that that that's irrelevant. We you can when you own the whole thing, you can do whatever you want with it. And at one point we had been talking about possibly other development for that and and then ruled it out. Um there is about h about half of it is wetland however um which would
065require some pretty significant planning to deal with. So um I want to make sure board members are not >> you [clears throat] understand that that property is sitting there. We're not using it. We're paying taxes on it. It's got no purpose for the district right now. Um, and that is a variable. >> So, does I mean the county or the the city does own the public dedication, right? I mean, they could wave it, but but they they own the public dedication, don't they? >> They do, but right now it's all ours, right? So, what are we going to do? >> If it's not developed, then they're not putting in and stuff. >> Yeah. Okay. So, I I'm not I mean, I don't own my real estate. So like it doesn't matter that that city- owned
066public dedication is there. You could >> put something right in the middle of it >> like a building even though it's it >> tying tying six lots together. >> Yeah. Okay. >> Yeah. Yeah. Just leave it right there. >> So is the the property north of the Gunlin, is that a school for us with the DNR or No. >> No. >> Oh yeah. The one that's certified is the this property we're talking >> maybe that makes things a little easier. If it's wetland, I mean, we're not talking about building. We're talking about trails. Scoot around them. >> Bridge over them or whatever. >> Yeah. I mean, >> they're trails. Like, they're low impact as by nature. >> It's It's less flat. I do want to be clear about that. I walked that. >> Those little
067shavers need the exercise. Get some energy out. [laughter] Well, it's it's I mean it was a thought that we had as as this conversation is, you know, sort of swirled a little bit and um because it's completely undeveloped and we're not using it, you know, it's a potential opportunity and it's not the type of development that it's not like building a, you know, 80,000 foot ballroom or something that it's hard to like redevelop in the future, you know, >> but you could do that. you wouldn't have to tear anything down, >> right? [laughter] But you know what I mean? Like it's not to sacrifice the trails in the future, but you know, it's a type of development that like you could change course on at some day in the future if you needed to. Just
068that's been some of the hesitation that the school board has had about developing that property, you know, for other ways is that like, well, once you kind of do that, you're sort of like the deed has been done. a trail is maybe a little less permanent. >> Oh, it's a good thing if they the building project does go forward. Oh, there's walking trails. >> Well, maybe. Yeah, maybe it's done in such a way. So, it's not it's as we continue to think about it, it's not something that we should necessarily count out as a potential option. >> Um this, you know, just because I think our interest here is, um, you know, I'm thinking about like, well, what's the downside? What are the risks? you know, what's the impact to like the existing use and
069like the intention of the space, right? Because that's what we don't like improvement sounds great. We just don't want to like create an issue, right? Or like preempt some other use that we already have, right? That that's kind of the main issue that I >> tried to in my mind >> about to I just want to make sure we don't go down a path and then go, "Oh, why' we do that?" >> Yeah. >> Because we really want to use it for this, >> right? or want to use this section of it for this, >> right? >> I got to worry about the DNR permitting process with the school forest. >> School forest. Yeah, we've I have no idea. Yeah. >> Well, that's a good little bit of homework for Chris to do in the
070meantime here, you know, maybe. And we have >> we talking natural resources or do not resuscitate >> we just sorry. [laughter] >> It's a program I'm not familiar with. Um the the school the the certified school forest used to be the 40 acres east of uh right between along Highway 14 and then at some point it transitioned to this forest here and April Walstrom used to oversee it and now we've handed that off to Lake Tyman a little bit but um that's something I can easily reach out to a conservation officer and figure out what are the hoops there if there are any >> and that's something that we will encounter regardless any of this just if we do anything I mean >> yeah we have to resubmit our plan and all that like >>
071well yeah won't making the track uh run into these same issues >> uh the track probably not um >> it doesn't go into the school some of the outdoor education based stuff >> the bridge repair work would probably for sure um you know include that and so that you know um we have this $250,000 grant grant um and how we um spend those dollars depends a lot on whether the referendum passes or not. If the referendum passes, there's money in that to pay for some of the outdoor learning spaces closer to the building. So, more of it could go towards the trails and the bridges and that kind of stuff. So, um we're kind of just waiting on that to figure out how much money we have to work with. Um but your point's well
072taken. I think we'll have to engage the DNR with the bridges for sure. And I think if it passes and we have to put a track in there, we'll have to move that east bridge further east and cut in a new trail just because the track will be in the way. >> Well, yeah. And so this, you know, the timing of all this could end up being, you know, nice and there could be some synergy between um some of the ideas that you guys have and potential funding sources and funding that we're bringing to the table and, you know, could maybe make it even better. >> For sure. The goal of tonight is obviously not to make any decisions. Uh it was really to get all the questions and facts and what abouts on the
073table. So, um, and you mentioned the Sawtooth Bluff development. I I appreciate that because that conversation's been spinning for years. Um, it it was intriguing when I learned that in that conversation [clears throat] was access point by the dog park and that flatter area there. Uh, problem is no one knows when that's going to move forward. There isn't current funding for it that I know of. >> No, there's still a lot of conversation about it. Yeah. So, >> um, well, cool. So, as far as next steps, I mean, you know, I guess we're not saying go make your plan right now just because of some of these other external factors, but, you know, let's stay tuned on what happens with that and then maybe we can circle back and see what like an appropriate timeline
074might be, you know, to invest in that. >> What about the for the north side of the Gun Flint? Could we go and pursue that at all? Would that be an option. Um, well, >> didn't we already have Didn't the H do a study on that already? So, we know where the wetlands are. >> Yeah, I have the wetland delineation study that's good for another probably two years. I think you got to do them. Is it five years? They're good. >> I think it's fine. >> Yeah. So, we did it like two years ago, so might be for three. And I can give that to you. >> Yeah, we have that. We got that. Um, so it that maps it out. I don't think there's anyone that would hold you back from walking it, you
075know, looking at it, checking it out, seeing >> Well, be you and you're not. So there you go. [laughter] >> Whether you whether you want to spend money is the next question. And um I think I would probably wait to hear from you about whether you think that would be >> um there anything. Yeah. If it's a if it's worth pursuing. Uh there's an old ski trail in there. Not even an old ski trail, you know. >> Say that again. >> Yeah, there's a snowmobile. Like >> snowmobile side. >> No, the the skiers used to cut through there to go to someone else told me that that they're used to they they did that as of like four or five years ago, but then just not enough snow. >> But if it's ski trails out
076through Marsh, >> it's not really relevant. I just thought I sound like I knew something. Stephanie was always when she was on the board was always concerned that if they did a housing thing that they would lose that snowmobile crossover place, >> right? >> Yeah. We're not stepping on a snowmobile. [laughter] >> That's important to the community. Little steer. >> I just I just bring it up because of that because that's right in there as well. >> Yeah. No, that land is sitting there and we've got [clears throat] the data. So then it's a matter of can something work. >> Yeah. I think something to think about with that is that that is if if you see like a modern mountain bike trail which is built in a very sustainable way which is good, >>
077right? >> Um but that means that like any interaction with wet wet areas will make everything so much more expensive because it's [clears throat] not like you just spike them up for a little bit anymore, you know? >> No, you culverts and bridges. >> Yeah. So, so just in terms of this general like the general idea of this project I am I mean for me it's like one of them you know but um basically like it's it's a bunch of wetlands is is not like a small thing [clears throat] you know um in terms of especially whatever the funding sources would be it's it's just we'll make something much much much more expensive to deal with that >> for Okay. 44. >> Um, yeah. Well, thank you. Maybe, you know, touch base with after the
078referendum passes hopefully, you know, but be in touch with Chris and then, you know, we'll go from there with what kind of advice on what the next best step would might be >> timeline. So, sounds good. >> Yeah. >> Cool. Thank you guys for coming in. Appreciate it. >> Um, okay. Let's see here. [snorts] >> So, 8.3 um is to approve uh Minnesota pay leave vendor and >> yeah. So um m in in your packet uh if you open that you see you have a quote document uh and then the second link is I believe to the long policy actually pon pages of policy. Um Trace and I have spent quite a bit of time trying to vet whether or not we will just take state plan and move forward or whether we will recommend
079the board to move to a private vendor to administer Minnesota paid leave which starts on January 1st. And um I learned several months ago that our county the county is going to be using a a private vendor and most counties or at least half counties in the state are doing the same. and um we've done a lot of investigative work. I learned at a MASSA conference that far more school districts are pursuing this than I thought because not that many are in the Arrowhead. Um there's only a couple of districts in the Arrowhead that are pursuing this, but a lot statewide are. Um and so as we were vetting the pros and the cons, uh we went out and got a quote from NIS, which is our current consultant with health insurance. They work with
080Madison Life and uh they quoted back a cheaper rate to both the employee and the employer for that benefit. Um the the state's cost is 8.88% which would be divided 044 to the employee and44 to the um employer. Uh Madison Life is quoting us 78. So it becomes a 39 and a 39 split. It's not a ton of money. If you're an employee, you're talking like 400 bucks a year. Um, the real kicker is that uh we feel the customer service of NIS has been nothing short of phenomenal the whole time we've worked with them on health insurance and uh life insurance. So, we feel uh the right thing to do to recommend that we go with um a vendor that we know their work. We know they have excellent customer service. There's one lady
081named Paige who we call anytime we have a question and we get our answers. Um we know that we we don't know anything about how responsive the state is going to be um as they roll this out. >> We know that Madison Life administers this in many many other states already and have been doing it for years. Um so for them it's plugand play. Just plug in the Minnesota rules and play their tape that they've been doing for a long time. Um, so we feel pretty confident uh that it's the right thing to do going into this in year one knowing that if it doesn't go well, we can bail out anytime we want. The only string attached to that is is once we move to the public state system, we have to stay with
082the state for three years before we could ever go back to a private vendor. That's they give this hook uh on that. So I we feel confident that this is probably the right thing to do knowing the quality of service we get from NIS >> given that this is a brand new program for the state. >> Brand new. >> I these things take time. Look at look at how menure was when they rolled that sucker out. It was bad. I mean they eventually got it but it was not good for for a long time. So I don't know. >> [clears throat] >> seems like the low low risk to do this >> and they're providing all the same benefits, right? Or the benefits are outlined in the law. >> It's in the law >> and
083so they're providing >> Right. >> So it's there it's basically everything is the same except for it's a little bit cheaper. >> Correct. [laughter] >> Make a motion for free enterprise. >> I mean that's kind of why the recommendation came forward. We were like well what's the downside? >> Yeah. That's I keep wondering. So that's why it's our recommendation. >> We get brownie points at the legislature if we look at the state. >> I mean they could change their pricing I suppose. Does the lock cap it at 0.88 or >> Yes. Yeah. >> Okay. >> Uh and they're they scale their costs um based upon a number of employees that they're insuring how big their you know the lives in the policy. So like the NLC U is going to go with NIS and they're
084getting a cheaper rate than we are. >> Okay. >> Um and then Cloquet said their quote was was more than the state. >> So uh it they're not going to go with the private vendor. So it comes down to >> how big you are and the economics of insuring someone. >> Gotcha. [clears throat] Okay, that makes sense. >> That was kind of news to me when I asked around. Someone was cheaper and someone was more. >> Yeah. [clears throat] modern life. I tell you, >> Christ, >> insurance [clears throat] in general. >> If you ever want to really make yourself go crazy, add all the places you pay for insurance in your life. >> Yeah. >> You don't want to know. >> True story. >> So, you'd like to get an approval on this to
085move forward. >> Yeah, we we talked about that. It doesn't necessarily require it, but we we thought about it like you approved the health insurance with the co-op. So, this is board approval to approve going with this vendor NIS uh for pay. >> Okay, >> I'll [clears throat] make I already made one, but sure. >> Okay, I'll second it. >> All right, Eric. >> Yeah, you were you motion was for free. >> That's right. >> Okay. >> All right. Further discussion? All those in favor? >> I I Those opposed? Motion carries. All right. 8.4 is to accept donations for October 2025. We've got our resolution in the packet here with the number of donations. Um I had one question actually on the donations if I can. There's a donation for cheerleading. Do we have like
086a cheerleading because we don't have an official cheerleading squad yet. So, do we how do we handle their like do we have an activity account for them or like how do we handle a donation for them? >> They have an activity account. >> They do. >> Yes. So, it's just studentowned money for their activities and >> Gotcha. >> So, when they fund raise, they um put it in >> ear to them. It's in there, but it's theirs. And all student activities the on the expense side, they have to be signed by both the advisor and at least one or two students because it's student owned money. >> So they so getting an activities account doesn't necessarily like they like any student group any group of students could create an activities account or like >> yeah
087with with my approval. um you know and part of why we created one for the cheerleading program was because it was happening and there and there was no eyes on the dollars and that scares me when those things are going on. So I said, "Well, no, not unless you're going to run it through a student activity account that we audit every year and we we sign off on and I have Teresa's eyes on." And so that happened I think two years ago when we started up. >> Gosh, that makes sense. They were buying uniforms and I didn't I didn't want a coach just going out there buying uniforms out of their own checkbook. >> Okay. Okay. Great. Great. Um Okay. We just need a motion to accept these motion to accept the donations. >> Second.
088>> Any further discussion? All those in favor? I >> I those opposed. Motion carries. Thank you to those donors. >> Yes. Thank you to the donors for sure. There's a lot of them on here. Um, lots of every month seems lots of generosity. Okay. 9.0 our personnel item [clears throat] and 9.1 is our slate for this month um for new hires res and resignations. >> You're a professional position. >> We're always hiring. I'll make a motion to accept. >> Any further discussion? All those in favor? I I those opposed? Motion carries. I'll make my traditional motion to adjurnn. Okay. return 608.