001Uh Sarah. Sarah, okay. We need somebody to sit Sarah. That's never warm when you sit here for a while, is it? >> [laughter] [laughter] >> Are you sure you don't want to sit here so that I'm not on the camera? I'll text Suzy did um Was he able to get Steve Humber in? You guys poured oxys down down across the country. Across the country? Yeah, right. Susan and what they said. Mhm. Or yeah. >> So you have it all in paper form? Good. Scared me. I was like creeping up behind me. >> [laughter] [laughter] >> Resin table, huh? Yeah. They get expensive fast. I've built quite a few of those and they get really expensive really fast. Yeah. I get >> [laughter] >> I'm a whole pallet, thank you. So, are you okay? Depending on
002the time of year. If I decide to come we don't Mr. Peppers not on. Trying to get colon. Kiss the babies at home. We had trouble before. So, I said let's do it early. Try to call me back. >> [snorts] >> Sir corners, yeah. Susan. Sir corner. Yeah. You try to keep coming back here. I think Mr. Well, Mr. King's not For me? Don't worry. I brought this in. He's got the courtesy. Thank you. Why don't you bring it back? Bring it tomorrow. >> [snorts] >> Technology is great. Yeah. Feel you can't. Yeah. We are You know, everything is bad. You know what I'm saying? Work one's non-stop though. Yeah, right. The amount of people that You need to show up tomorrow. Look at what's from that year from last year to this year. Cuz
003they thought they could make it. >> [laughter] >> To the amount of people that want new servers this year and don't care what the price is. I think they're crazy. >> [laughter] >> That's what I'm not complaining. >> [laughter] >> I'll take it. So Paul says it's he did but it's he's on the call but no one else is there. 40 horse Alex [laughter] got it. 40 ft gas or diesel gas Oh jeez. It goes through fuel fast. It's got a 20 gallon I'm so nervous if I ever have to do one virtual. >> [laughter] >> Yeah, it take all the energy. We'll fast forward. 28 miles an hour 12 more 20 more No, more like 14. >> [laughter] >> But if it's less It's good it was good at town. Actually it was when
004it was new. I got a V-ride. I don't know if they got that. Oh yeah, so you already know it's sports, huh? I just ordered the new V3 called that yesterday. I suppose at one point you were not using it. 40 You know what I mean? That's all that's all. Cool, just like sometimes you actually Yeah, well well we brought down the Yeah. carnival Yeah. That makes sense. And they're actually open. Green Valley open. Excuse me. horse town And then it's like just started. Like pony season just started. It's cool I got it. I don't have any updates. Up in the corner it says three now though like someone actually Yeah, it does say three up in the corner. Oh, now four. four I must be better. Oh, there's Steve Pumper right there. Go Steve.
005Hello. I don't see Oh, now I now I'm getting some visual. All right. Great. Awesome. Thanks, everyone. Hey, it's cold there as well. Uh Um it's cool and rainy. Lovely time of the year, right? Hopefully it will warm up and the grass will grow, right? There we go. See, we're just making sure and then I'll when we get to the point, I'll have you introduce yourself, all right? Just give us >> That sounds great. Thank you. >> [snorts] >> Susie, it's it's cold on. Can you click on that four in that button? Top right. Click on the top right button that says the four. Click on the top right button. Oh, wait, you got to go up. Yeah. I'll do it. Yeah, don't touch it. Oh. No. No. I'll send invited Cole. What are you
006doing? Jade's name is in. Is Jade's name in the same from this? I'm losing it, too, Larry. I was on, but it says I'm the only one. So, should he go on again? No. And then I'm going to call him. Have him try to log in again. He said no, I was on, but it says I'm the only one. Try again, please. Oh, yeah. [snorts] Yeah. And make sure Jeff does the moving. I mean, you can see outside. >> Yeah, no it's fine. I don't understand anything. I I I'm fine with under the radar. >> [laughter] >> Paper was the wrong size. Right? Didn't extend. Really doesn't matter. He said he just did. Okay, now he's He's checked. He wants to get checked. He's checked right here, so is Steve. That's Steve. He says still
007nothing in this email. We'll just start. We'll just call him and put it on. Yeah. Can you just push little message thing? See what happens there. Just start Just start clicking stuff. See if it works. No, don't do that. Don't do that. Allow this time. Allow? Sure. I used to turn things off and turn them on before. Oh, I just click until it's like too far gone and then just shut it down. Maybe you want to put them on speaker phone or you know. Sure. Sounds like you and me are going to break her phone. I was like I'm like click click click. You know it's not best practice but I know. Oh yeah, what do you >> [laughter] [clears throat] >> Refresh your chart. >> [snorts] >> There he is. We just got it.
008Yes. Okay. Go ahead and start. Okay. Call the meeting >> Sorry about that guys. on school board to order. Let's start with roll roll call. March. >> Here. Megan. >> Here. Jade. Here. Aaron. Here. Kawal. Here. Here. Susan. Here. Let's all rise for the Pledge of Allegiance. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible with liberty and justice for all. Okay, can I get approval of the agenda? Motion. Can I get a second, please? I'll second it. Any discussion? Any discussion? Agenda is approved. We'll move on to public comments, recognitions of visitors to the board. Lake Park Audubon Public Schools welcomes all attendees to our LPA Board of Education meeting. While this gathering is a public meeting, it
009is essential to clarify that this is a meeting for the board to conduct business. It is in our commitment to transparency and fostering goodwill that LPA Board of Education invites members of the public to share their thoughts. We kindly request that public comments be expressed in a civil, courteous, and thoughtful manner. Any disparaging remarks directed towards board members, employees, or community members of the Lake Park Audubon School District will not be tolerated. To ensure a balanced and efficient session, the public comment period is limited to 30 minutes with each speaker allotted a maximum time of 3 minutes. We kindly ask each individual speaker to state their name and address before presenting their comments. During the meeting, board members and administration will not respond to comments. We appreciate your cooperation and thank you for the support
010of the students at LPA. Okay, and tonight we have Valerie Kuchik. Sussex. And I do know that. Go ahead. [snorts] I need your help. Um, this is What's on here? I don't want those in and don't say anything, but I am here on behalf of the nurse. My son has cerebral palsy and other medical issues and I know that there's other kids at LPA that has other issues. Um, to the extent I don't know, but I know mine have seizures and and and so, you know, majority of the time they're home sick or in the hospital and so they definitely need a nurse. I don't know where you guys stand on that, but if mine's is to go to school I need a nurse. That is a must for me. Um, safety wise, he uh
011gagged, he throws up, and he needs suction. We have a lot of medical equipment and so I wouldn't feel as a parent I don't feel safe to leave him in other people's hands. But knowing that he went last year and kind of this year um to school to have a nurse there just in case he does have a seizure um he's able to get that medication that he needs. To get get better or not go to the hospital and so with that [snorts] being said, hopefully you guys can keep her on, otherwise, my little baby cannot come to Lake Park Elementary. And I don't want to have to take that from him cuz he's He's turning five. I don't have to take that from him. You could keep him home with me or to take
012him to another district cuz if he can't get the medicine that he needs, you guys or any other person can't give it to him legally. You know, and so I wouldn't feel safe. I don't even feel safe to put him on the bus or them picking him up from school to bring him home or to pick him up from my house because he does throw up and I I feel comfortable. I sat outside the school the first year and didn't even leave until I felt comfortable enough to say, "Okay, I can ease my way back home and wait for him to be done." But I just didn't feel safe cuz we had a long journey and I don't want him to be taken away from me. And so I want to make sure that any
013kid that goes to this school that um is disabled or needs medication is able to get that through the nurse. That's all I wanted to say. So, Thank you. Thank you, Valerie. Okay, moving on to student report 3.1 Sam Brandon, Riley Melvick at resin table project. Yes, Madam Chair, we have two young gentlemen here who would like to showcase what they've done in their class and we're going to walk downstairs. Would you two introduce yourselves, please? Hello, my name is Sam Brandon and as most know, I do a lot of metal and woodworking. And I'm Riley Melvick and I wanted to make a resin table along with these guys. So, Perfect. Board members, let's get up, go check it out, please. >> Wonderful. Steve will be back in just a couple minutes, okay? No problem.
014Thank you. Same thing. Janetta, are you still there? Yep, I'm still here. Okay, good. Excuse me, just give us a couple minutes, okay? Yep. Okay. All right. >> [snorts] >> Right. Right. Oh. So. >> What? Safety box How many years have you had challenges? Get out get out of work. Holy my apologies. Okay. Like just recently should I try and catch up with them or Okay. >> [snorts] [laughter] [snorts] >> I did send you a text. I could not get out of work. So I was like I'm going to be late but I was like she never checked. As soon as she gets here she doesn't check her phone anymore. So she probably hasn't seen it yet but Thank you everybody for letting us showcase what the students have done. Or let them showcase I
015should say. The resident tables were beautiful and hard work put from the students. Next we'll move on to the board report negotiations committee report. We had a negotiations committee meeting April 15th to settle teacher negotiations. We'd had prior meetings. Um Uh we we had currently we uh we had decided to go with the hard freeze for this year and with the proposal with the current new information of proposed insurance increase of 39.9% next year. So Dr. Berquist has been looking into new insurance ideas. Um our teachers are asking for our teachers are helping us during the budget cuts supporting us in lots of other areas so we didn't want to risk losing our wonderful staff with the health insurance increases. So we proposed a 500 increase for single insurance and a $1,000 for family and
016a 2% increase in salary for next year. That was the negotiations committee. Any questions on it? And then uh the union is wonderful to work with. We appreciate it very much. Anybody have any questions on that? Thank you Madam Chair. Okay then we'll move on to staff reports. PTMA presentation Steve Hummer. Hummer. Hummer. Good evening Steve. Can you hear us okay? I can. Thank you so much. Great to be with you. Um I'll do it a clearly quick um introduction of myself and then I'll start sharing a screen and go over the presentation that I I think was included with your board materials. Um so, I've been with PTMA now 18 years and prior to that, I was a school business official for 22 years um here in the metro area. So, this is my
01740th year either working directly in a school district or I you know, on behalf of school districts. So, uh I'm going to share my screen now. Um choose which. There we go. >> [snorts] >> Okay. Um So, what are we what are we talking about today? Um won't show my screen. Anyways, here we go. Sorry, I'm just having a uh little bit of problem here uh making it go forward. There we go. Okay. So, um I'll switch the screen right now and just talk about uh PTMA as a company. We're in 27 different states. What's what's I'm sure most important for school board members here um tonight at um at Lake Park Audubon our what we do here in Minnesota. Um and I personally only work here um with Minnesota school districts. We work with
018over 220 of the public school districts in Minnesota. There's roughly 330 of those now. So, over 2/3 we're working with. Um we provide municipal advisor services. We've managed over $10 billion worth of school um district bond proceeds and then what we're talking about a little bit tonight will be our cash flow service and investment service which we provide to over 110 school districts. Um so again, what we do is we have a money market fund that's actually owned by the participants. So, the 220 districts we work with actually own the fund and one of their roles is to select a company to actually manage those dollars and market those dollars as well. And since its inception back in 2006, um PTMA has always been the um the company that manages those as well. So, we
019execute investments for districts. Um we have a cash flow program, which I'll show you um very quickly here tonight. Um if you do sell bonds, um we actually manage those proceeds. The debt issuance means that we also are company that can issue bonds, and we help districts with referendum planning as well. To My understanding, tonight's focus really will be about our investment and cash flow program, so that's what I'll stick to. The next three pages that you have here just list for references purposes the 220 districts that we currently um are currently um working with. Um these are all Min Trust members. They've all passed the resolution, the exact same resolution that would be in front of the board um here tonight. Um small districts, big districts, metro area, outstate, every four corners of the
020state, you know, all over the place we work with, you know, small districts as they Some districts have only 140 140 students in the district, and then probably our biggest district we work with is St. Paul, which has, you know, 36 um thousand students. Um This is a slide that actually show when I present um at a lot of conferences. Um and this just looks at, "Hey, why is this so important?" Um and it's because uh you know, if you earn interest on the money that you have, um it goes straight to your your budget that you can use, and you're not asking your local taxpayers for additional dollars. You're not not asking the state for additional dollars. And you know, I I just put some reference points on large districts, outstate, medium-size, and smaller
021districts, and you'd be kind of in this bucket right here. Um and this is how much um interest was earned um last year in in like-size districts. So, you know, a district that had around 650 students um earned 240,000. Your district specifically, back in 2005, 661 um um students earned $224,000 of interest. So, this is why it's this is an important topic um in that um you know, somebody is paying attention to what's happening because as I just heard you and you're going through some budget cutting prop um processes and negotiations, etc. You want to make sure that you protect that $224,000 as much as possible um if not grow it um if you can. Um and when I talk about um you know, protecting it, this is actually a very good slide. So, when
022you have money in a in a money market fund, um the interest amount is going to be very reflective of whatever is happening um on what what the Federal Reserve does. And so, this goes back to July of 2023, the last time the Fed made a change to actually increase the interest rates and that brought the money market rate up over, you know, 5 and 1/2% roughly. And since then, they've made five different cuts um to the the the Federal Reserve rate. And so, that means that the money market rate now is dropping down to um today's rate is um about three just over 3 and 1/2% on that money. And so, what you're trying to do is not try just to ride that curve down um by you know, having all your money liquid.
023Um this is this is actually going back further all the way back to 1998 and you can just see the ebbs and flows, the Great Recession and recession when nobody was earning any interest rate. They got out of that and then COVID hit. No interest earnings again and then we had a steep increase and now the Federal Reserve's taking the opposite reaction, it's going down as well. Now, if you look at this chart right here and then you look at this chart chart right here, what I've done here is taken one of our districts we work with and superimposed all these red lines over the money market rate and these are what we call fixed rate investments that we've made on behalf of districts and so the the longer the line mean it's a longer
024investment and obviously the higher it is the highest higher interest rate um you know they're making right now. So right now we have districts um because they're using our cash flow program, we're still earning close to 6% on their money when if it was liquid it would only be you know that 3 and 1/2% range. And the only way we can do this is by using a a cash flow program which which looks at your dollar amount that you have at any given point in time um and then we see you know do you have an opportunity to invest any of that for you know 6 months or 7 months or 12 months or a year and a half or 2 years whatever it may be. And even districts who are in trouble normally there's
025peaks and valleys of when your taxes come in and when your state aid comes in that you can invest some of your dollars for at least a short period of time if not uh you know a greater amount of time and that's how we try to slowly grow. We don't control the market. We can't tell obviously the Federal Reserve what to do or not to do um but if interest rates are going to fall we're trying to lock in any extra any excess cash you have um for a longer period of time so you're not losing as much interest as if if you keep it all liquid. Um this is last Monday's just some rates of the type of investments that we execute for districts. This is the the top one is the interest money
026market rate so last Monday was 3.57. Actually today it was 3.58 it went up one basis point. Um and then we just have uh you know I just randomly selected some things that we could do to lock in rates. So for instance if you're locking in a 24-month CD you know you'd be earning a net these are all net rates um 3.75% is what today's market would be. And again that can change you know every any given day but it's just showing you that you know normally if you lock up money longer you're going to receive a higher a rate of money. Um if I go forward this is just one page of what our cash flow program looks like. It's an online program. And what this is saying is that in this upper top
027pipe right hand corner, this district has $12 million that's liquid cash on this particular given day. Um, we use information um, that we have and we uh, gather additional information from Jeanetta and Sherry, your staff people, to say, "Okay, here's your tax money that's coming in on every given day. Here's your state aid money that's coming in on any given day, um, or other revenues. And then when is your money leaving? How often do you do payrolls and what is your payroll total amount worth? Um, how often do you do your accounts payable? Is it, you know, every Friday or is it do you release the checks the day after your your um, board board meeting as an example? And then other expenses including debt service expenses, you know, as well would be there. And
028then it's simple algebra from there. We're just taking a starting balance, we're adding revenue, and then we're subtracting expenses. And so then we know how much liquid money would you have any given day for the next 24 months. Now what's also important, um, you know, what I've been talking about all um, so far has been um, the objective normally is to increase your interest earnings. But the other objective is to help out districts when they think they're going to run out of cash. It doesn't mean that they're going to be, um, you know, in in in deficit for their budget for the entire year, although often times it it can be that's because of the case. Um, but it can be timing of when revenues come in and when expenses leave. Um, for instance, a
029district, you know, very close to you, um, we've helped over the last four years and and that's Perm Dent and and they, um, have had some issues where they go cash negative. And so we come up with solutions of how they get out of that. We don't fix their budget for them, that's, you know, the hard work that the district does. But we cut There are certain state funding um, cash flow borrowing programs that the state allows you to do, and we assist you with that. And our cash flow programs helps the district to understand when your deficit would be, and how much, and for how long, so that we can help you, um, make sure that you're not in that situation. Um, and that's all I have today, actually. Um, I'm going to stop
030sharing my screen right now. The action I know that you have on your agenda. Trying to get my mouse to work here, so I can stop uh, sharing. Um, the action is to, uh, pass the MINTRAC resolution that's in front of you. Um, again, there's no cost to become a member. Um, you need to have a dollar in the fund to become a voting member. Um, the cost to use our cash flow program is $0. However, the catch with that is that you just have to have your state aid money go into the MINTRAC account. Um, and then from there, we'll, you know, suggest investments, and it's always up to you to decide if you want to execute investment or not. Um, we don't control that. Um, we just suggest investments, and then, um, you
031know, whether it's Superintendent Bergquist, or if it's Sherry, or Genetta, who would have the wherewithal to say, "Yes, go ahead and execute that investment," or not. Um, you know, we take direction from you. But we're using our data to to to show you that, yes, you have this much money available to invest for this period of time. And with that, I'm happy to to stop and take any questions you may have. Sounds good. Thank you very much, Steve. Anybody have any questions? So, Steve, basically, [clears throat] in a nutshell, right? We go through this with no cost to our district, and it's potential that we could get some savings, depending on the ebb and flow of the interest rate, as well as when the money he in from the state, and our expenses we can
032do short-term, long-term, whatever it looks like, correct? Yes, that's correct. All right. Um, I want to ask this question. Has Lake Park Audubon ever done this before? They have not. They have not passed this resolution. Um, so you would be a new participant. You'd be like 221 for us. Okay. And um this is something then if the board decides to pass this resolution, what is the next step, Steve? Well, the next step is I would work with you and your staff to actually set up the account. It that's just, you know, some paperwork. Um, and then it would be up to you to decide whether or not you want to use our cash flow program. And again, if you were to do that, um, you would send a form into the state just to have
033your state aid money flow into your Minterest account as opposed to wherever it's going right now. Um, and then we would gather information from, you know, Janetta so we could do this online cash flow for her and then start making recommendations, only recommendations for investments. If you say yes, of course we'd execute them. If not, you know, we discontinue. Your money would be in the Minterest account and if it was in there today, you'd be collecting, you know, 3.58% on that money right now. Sure. Janetta, I And again, that that that rate changes daily. Right. Janetta, are you still there? Yep, I'm still here. Janetta, I know you and I and Sue have been talking about this for a number of months. Is there anything you want to add um onto what Steve has said
034for our school board members? Um, I just, you know, we've Sue and I both have worked with um PTMA and they are amazing. They're great to work with and seen great results in other clients that we've had with them. Are [clears throat] we able to track any cash flow shortages now for payroll or anything? Are we able to or Janetta, did you hear that question from one of our board members? >> Yeah, we do not have a great cash flow. Um, that's kind of why Sue and I suggested PTMA to to come on because we just cash flow tracking right now is very minimal. So, we have no idea if there's a possibility that we could be short on And this would help solidify the fact that we're going to follow with the district so
035we can prepare for a shortage. Janetta, did you hear that? No, can he say that again, please? So, basically, um, this would help us with the cash flow issue and to be transparent, there was a couple times, correct, that we were possibly going to be short of cash flow this winter? Yes. Yep. Um, so what these guys will be able to do is give us some more long-range cash flow than what Sue and I can give you guys, which is essential, especially coming into the next school year. In my opinion. And they're getting paid on the back end after we cash out or take and they take their part because it isn't free. Steve, did you hear that by chance? Yeah, I did. So, the way we get paid, um, is if your money is
036in the Minterest account, um, because uh, PTMA runs that that, um, that money market fund, we get paid, you know, a portion of uh, of the money market fund. If we execute an investment for you, um, we normally take like on a CD, if we purchase a CD for you, we normally take a quarter of a percent and you get the net rate. So, like the what I was just showing you on those uh, on that one slide, if we are able to get it like a 24-month CD for 4%, you are getting that CD for 3.75%. So, that's how we get paid. So, so doing the cash flow like on the back end as as you mentioned, there's never really an invoice, there's we never get paid, we just get paid because you're putting
037some money in the Minterest account. Now, if we were if you were to be short money and we were to assist you in um cash, you know, coming up with what's called a cash flow borrowing program, um we get paid to do that as well, but um that's only if you need to come up with a solution because you're going to run out of cash. So, as we said, we have never done this. So, realistically, I mean, this is going to just help project our cash flow concerns further down the lines so we'd better prepare for that. Correct. >> And then meanwhile, if we have cash sitting there, we can invest that and create some revenue in which we haven't been doing in the past. Correct. You hear that, Stephen and Janetta? Correct. I did.
038And I I'd agree with that. I mean, I don't know what you've been doing, but but it's definitely if you if you have a cash if we provide a cash flow program, you will see a 24-month projection of what it would look like. Yes, that is true. I think it's probably probably important to find our cash flow shortages before they become an issue or we're we're scrambling up. This would be a huge benefit for that. Correct. >> Okay. Madam Chair, so previously, our money has always been in the local bank. Yep. Okay. Just static. What in the the local bank, it's sitting static. It it there's no generating no earned interest. Janetta? Um so, we have some in the local bank and then we do have some in MISLAF, which does give us some interest.
039We just don't have that nice cash flow with them. What's MISLAF? What's [snorts] MISLAF? Can you explain, Janetta, what MISLAF [clears throat] is? MDS. Please. Um it's the Minnesota School District Liquid Asset Fund. And the number >> So basically Sorry, Janetta. Go ahead. Could you say that again, Janetta, please? >> Oh, yeah. It's uh Minnesota School District Liquid Asset Fund. Um so it's very similar to where we have all of our ideas payments going in there and we're gaining a little bit of interest each month. Is there an expectation of what we could expect over the next 12 to 24 months if we were to participate? Steve, did you hear that? I did and unfortunately I just I can't tell you that because I just don't have a picture of what your cash situation is.
040I mean it's obviously a as you can understand it's a basis of how much money do you have and how much of that can be invested and how much is is liquid. Like I said, if all your money right now was was just liquid in the Minnesota Money Market Fund you'd be earning a 3.58% on that. So you can do the math on that. But you're up but you know that your balances go up and down throughout the year. If if you were just as an aside just because I've been doing this for so long and for so many districts, if you were coming very close to being short this you know winter, my guess is the time frame you would have been short would have been January which is usually the lowest point um
041for all districts in the state as far as how much cash they have on hand. It's because it's it's that's a month that they pay their debt service payments. That's usually the reason why you're you're short that month. If you made it through that, that's good because now you should be coming through some stronger months. But what we'd be able to do is help you forecast are you going to be in that same situation next winter? Um and so that we could you're not surprised and you're not worried about you know do you have enough I mean I not try to be over dramatic but do you have enough money in the bank to pay your staff? You know, that's usually what happens. Correct. Anything else, board members? Archer. Well, thank you for the presentation,
042Steve. Nobody else has >> I appreciate the time. Yes, thank you. >> We'll stay in contact. I appreciate your time. There you go. Have a good night. Thank you. Okay, then we'll move on to 4.2, business manager. Yeah, Madam Chair, we have Janetta here. Uh there is a handout. You should be able to see a one-page handout. Again, I don't know if we mentioned this at all, but BoardDocs, where we have all this information, is currently down, well, I don't know if it still is right now, but it was down throughout the United States today. So, we made copies for everybody as board members. Um Janetta, you want to maybe put that up on your screen, if you don't mind sharing, please. Yep. One second. Thank you. Can you see March? Mhm. Yeah. All right.
043Can you guys see this okay? Yes. Yes. Should we Can we move that box over? You got to touch the little X. >> Yes. Or the little number four, sorry. The four. Okay. Yeah. >> [laughter] >> That is away from the numbers. All right, Janetta. Go ahead, please. All right. [snorts] So, tonight I'm going to walk through our fiscal year 26 revised budget first, and then I'll shift into the uh fiscal year 27 preliminary budget to show where we're headed. So, for fiscal year 26, our unassigned balance is projected to end at a negative 277,567. That's this first bar here. Um our non-spendable, restricted, and our unassigned fund balances, so that's everything else kind of down below that, are projected to end at 1.147 million. Um the food service fund, let's scroll down here. The
044food service fund is performing well. It is actually projected to end with a surplus of 141,277. The community education is projected to end fiscal year 26 with a negative balance of 355,985. We are planning to cover the current year deficit with general funds and continue to look for ways to reduce that deficit going forward. Um if we don't our um community education deficit, that deficit grows to about 500,000 plus. So, we want to try and and keep that stable and and not grow for right now. Um overall, fiscal year 26 is projecting a slightly better picture than we had anticipated. Um we're actually projecting to be around a negative 1.12% fund balance, which means we're not likely to hit that statutory operating debt at the end of this year. So, yay. Um this improvement is
045due to spending down some more of those Emmy revenue to cover expenses, some staff changes related to like turnover. We saw a little bit of a savings there. Um reduction in some lease costs cuz a lease had ended, and more efficiently using some of our staff development funds in the current year. Um so, for all of our funds combined, total revenue is projected at 13.024 million, and total expenditures are at 13.992 million. So, since expenditures are higher than our revenues, we are using that fund balance to help help cover our current year. Excuse me. Then, I'm going to shift over to our fiscal year '27 preliminary. Um in the >> Janetta, real quick. Um sorry to interrupt you, Janetta. So, right now as it stands, it looks like we've narrowly escaped SOD, correct? Potentially for
046the end of this June 30th of 2026. Correct. As long as we don't have any expenditure surprises from here until the end of June, I think we'll be in a good shape. Okay. Thank [laughter] you for the update on that. Um Are there any questions on this left side? No, we're just all like completely almost sweating, so. >> [laughter] >> Are there any questions, board members, on the left side of this sheet for ending in 2026? You heard the reasons why. [clears throat] Janetta, would you mind maybe just rehashing a little bit what you said, please? Yes. So, we are taking our MA dollars, which we had a surplus or a fund balance of around 146,000. We're going to use 100,000 of that to help cover some of our um expenses for the current year.
047And let's see here. We had some staffing turnover, which related or excuse me, which gave us some savings in our staff expenditures for this year. We also had a lease that had ended, um and there was a little bit of a gap between the old lease and the new lease, so we saved a little bit of money there. Um and then we also more efficiently use our staff development funds helping to cover some of those workshop days and such, which was not previously done in the past. Okay. Board members, are there any questions or comments regarding the the left side of this document? Any questions? Sorry, man. >> Just to clarify, the left side numbers that we're talking about now was adjusted from the previous budget that was approved back in June, correct? Yes. So
048had Yeah, probably not >> [clears throat] >> Okay, Janetta, would you mind going to the right side, please? Sure. All right, so now we will talk about our fiscal year 27 preliminary budget. In this budget, we've incorporated the approved budget cuts and or expenditures. Um so for fiscal year 27, our unassigned fund balance is projected to be a negative 463,015. Um so we still have a little bit of work to do, but our non-spendable, restricted, and assigned fund balances are projected to end at a 1.107 million. And then we come down to our food service. Again, food service is projected to perform well in fiscal year 27. It still has a surplus of around 104,653. Our community education is again going to run into that deficit in fiscal year 27 of 343,647. We'll plan to
049cover those fiscal year 27 deficit with the general funds like we are going to do in fiscal year 26, and we're going to keep on looking at ways to reduce that deficit in community education. Um overall, we'll continue to spend down that fund balance in fiscal year 27. We're projecting to be at a negative 3.5 3.45% fund balance, which would put us into that statutory operating debt under the current projected expenses, ADM counts, and um revenue adjustments. So, total revenue for all funds is projected at 12.286 million, and total expenditures are projected at 12.699 million. So, we're still in a position where expenditures exceed revenues, so we're going to continue to rely on that fund balance to help cover operations. So, again, projected at the end of June 30th, 2027, at this point, obviously things
050can change. We're projected at minus 3.45%, which would potentially put which would put us into SOD. Correct, Janetta? Yes. Okay. Now, I know [clears throat] the I the one on the left was approved last spring for this school year. This was a a revised budget. Do we need to approve that tonight, Janetta? A revised budget for the one on the left? >> Yeah. Yep, cuz we've made some changes due to and kind of realigned with current year-to-date expenditures, so there has been some changes, so we will need to reapprove that. Or get the reapproved. Sorry, Janetta, the one on the right, I know has to be approved by June 30th by state statute. Are you recommending that we approve this, or is this just are we going to continue to work on this the next
051couple of months? What are your thoughts, Janetta, please? Well, I guess I would leave that up to you and the board whether you want to approve the fiscal year '27 budget now, or if you guys want to discuss some different cuts going into fiscal year '27. Um if we approve it now, we can always reapprove it again before June 30th. Um otherwise, we can What? We can approve it now and then amend it. >> Oh, yeah. Okay. Sure. >> Yeah. Board members, are there questions or comments on the right side? And we can always go back to the left and right. I'm just trying to make it simple by saying left or right. I guess currently, if we were to approve the right side, I mean, enrollment can impact these numbers. Correct. You know, is
052there any benefit to approve that right now? Or let's sit Let's see how enrollment starts to streak up as the we get closer to June. Well, I know we have to approve it by June just to pay our bills, but I don't think we're it's mandatory right now. >> By June or before end of June. By the end of June, sure. At June board meeting, we would have to approve that. >> Correct, by state statute. Janetta, I have a couple [clears throat] other questions. Can you hear me okay? Yep. I'm sorry. I feel like I'm screaming. Um the budget on the right includes the potential um um teacher negotiation settlement, correct? Yes, the preliminary budget does include the teacher negotiation costs. Yes. Thank you. Just want to throw that out there. Um is it safe
053to say, Janetta, at this point we're still going to have to continue, and I'm just being transparent, looking at potential cuts for the next school year or whatever it might be. Would you touch base on that since you and I have talked about about that a number of times, please? Uh yes. So, we will likely need to cut going into the next year. Um we do have some levy adjustments. Again, from some ADM stuff. Um that'll be coming into next year. And hopefully balance out after next year. Um we do have quite a deficit in that unassigned balance unless you get a ton of students coming in. Um you are still going to have a deficit. Jenna, the the adjustments you're talking about. Mhm. Explain that. The levy adjustments? Please. Okay. Um so when we
054do a levy certification, we have to submit our ADM projections to the state. If our If our ADM estimates are off, um if we let's say we come in lower, like LPA has done, we'll see a negative adjustment um on the following levy year to accommodate for the ADM loss. So ADM re Put Say that what's the acronym again for? Oh, yep. It's your average daily membership. So it's not your student enrollment count. It's the the average number of days and hours that a student is in session. So if they leave halfway through the year, you're not getting a full count. You're only getting a half of a count for that student. So we have another adjustment another adjustment next year to get ourselves in a line with where we should be at. Correct. Okay.
055Which we knew was coming. Correct. I have a question on that medical assistance revenue. Like what services are all included? Is that mostly like special ed and mental health like therapies or like anything with nursing where that would maybe trend downwards at all? I guess is my question. Um your MA dollars, I'm just going to say that that probably a really good question for your sped co-op. Um they primarily handle a lot of that, but yes, it is like sped, mental health, and stuff. Okay. And anybody who might be on medic- Medicaid or medic- you know, will be able to get some dollars back and that would be social workers, mental health professionals as well. Megan. Okay, thank you. Yeah. Thank you, Jan. Anything else? >> Nothing here. Oh. Yep. I was just wondering uh
056when you had the teacher negotiations included in the right side, Yep. uh was there did you negotiate with any of the staff? No. >> No, so >> So, they're all frozen, just not the teachers. >> Well, um the MSEA, which is on the agenda tonight, they only did a one-year contract. So, theirs expires in June. So, they were frozen just like the teachers were. We're going to start negotiations again the sec- you know, after July 1st. >> Right. We still have the individual contracts of individuals, so that would be like um you know, administrative assistant or payroll person, um you know, activities director, building and grounds, transportation. Yes. >> none of that is in this side yet. Correct. No, it's not. >> Okay, so that could change, too. >> Yeah, absolutely. Right, Janetta? Is that
057I just want to make sure I'm not speaking for you, Janetta. Nope, that's correct. Yep. Thanks, Mark. I have a question, Janetta. As we're looking to um looking to reduce our funds in our community education, do you have any other areas we could look at um that we're not thinking of? >> [snorts] >> Right off the top of my head, not really. Um And when we talk about reduction, should we looking at revenue increase on that side of the world? Did you hear that, Janetta? Nope. Uh potential Well, you heard what Susan Susan asked, right? Yes. Our board member Jade asked is there a should we look at increasing our revenue revenue by raising the costs rates or rates or anything like that? Or add >> Yep, well to our um um growing our wreck
058our our our programs, our after-school activities like we once had. I mean decades ago, I mean I don't I mean we talk about cutting, but is there opportunity for revenue growth I guess is what I'd be looking at and then probably provide more for the community. Mhm. Yeah, I increasing your rates would be one way, but I would just caution depending on your community and poverty level um would that hinder any of your students coming in? Can you provide any scholarships maybe for those lower income students and those are just some different things I would think about. Janetta, real quick. Uh huh. The the scholarship idea is a really great idea. >> Yep. Janetta, real quick. I know CISO has a I believe a community education um director or person. Is Is that correct? Like
059they did with uh transportation. Yep. Maybe I could uh we could set up a meeting with that individual. Mhm. With a committee that just take a look at and see if they have ideas. What do you What are your thoughts on that, Janetta? Yep, that's a good idea. Okay. That answer your question? >> Yeah. There there was a number I remember that our our wreck is running at more of a deficit than the average. What How What is that amount? I mean, how far off are How far How far off are we? Janetta, did you hear that question? Yeah, if you're thinking average statewide, I'm not 100% sure. I'd have to dig into that one. Um >> we're well way off. Way off. Yeah, we had it presented a while ago. >> was there was
060a number somewhere along the line. It's like we are not even in the ballpark of being close to being the average. In what we spend. >> Is that Is that I mean that would wholly need to to this Janetta, would you say that's probably true? It is a bigger deficit than I've seen among some of the schools that I've worked with. Um so I mean just off of that I can say it's probably true. I just don't know state-wide off the top of my head right now. What percent is that impacting us on the overall? Do we [snorts] have any idea? Janetta, did you catch that? Yeah, let me see here. I know we talked about that before, but I can't remember the percent. >> [snorts] >> Yeah. And if it's not something you can
061do right now, Janetta, we can >> get it later. You and I can touch base tomorrow, Janetta, on a couple other things, um regarding this, and we can surely figure that out, and I can send that out as an update to the to the board members. Okay, that sounds good. Okay. Any other questions? Um I have a quick question. Still on the community ed with the school readiness portion. I mean I'm assuming this is where a lot of the deficit is coming from is our revenue is at 155, but our expenditures are at 300. So, did we just completely miss that budget, or I I guess I'm not sure how that's so off. Janetta, is there anything you want to add to that? Did you hear what Sarah had to say? >> sorry, Janetta, but
062I know we had talked about at one point that certain line items were not being lined correctly and being coded correctly. So, could that be a portion of it or I mean, that just seems like a really big difference. I mean, it's twice as much than we should have been budgeting for. So, I'm just trying to figure out how or where that could have happened. Yeah. Um with that um I would say we could run an analysis of your students to staff ratio. Maybe there's not enough students to staff in there. Um we could look at your revenue, you know, or is there revenue that we're missing in there? Uh like are people not necessarily giving us the tuition or whatever that is owed? Yeah, Janetta, I just want to throw this out there. I
063mean, I've heard this a number of times over the years. Um I mean, the Minnesota Department of Education, is it safe to say they're pretty um picky about whether we could allow uh you know, people can't pay preschool, we're still expected to allow them to come to preschool, correct? Am I saying that correctly? Yeah. Okay. 100%. So, we have some of that, and I know ECFE looks and does scholarships. They reach out to local organizations, but just not enough to cover. Okay. >> [snorts] >> And that makes sense. I just It just is so far off from everything else on And it doesn't hurt to look at everything. Yeah. Is there Is there any study out there comparing district to district on the getting paid versus on those situations. Right? I mean, I've never heard
064of it. Janetta, did you hear that? Yeah, I've never heard of that myself, but I mean, we could look into it to see if there's something out there. That would be great. Do you have any suggestions? No, no. Yeah, that'd be great, Janetta. You and I can touch base tomorrow on that. Um You know, I I do know, Janetta, maybe help me out with this. The state of Minnesota did do a VPK voluntary pre-kindergarten uh grants for last year. Um I know they're going to do a second round, I believe. We We um weren't able to get into that last year, but they're talking about doing a second round. Have you heard anything on that? Um I have. I think I had just seen something about that not long ago, actually. I'll look for it,
065and I can send it to you, Randy. That'd be great, Janetta. Thank you. Any other questions? Anything? Janetta, thank you for the report. Thank you, Janetta. We'll We'll talk tomorrow. Have a good night. Thank you. Thank you. >> Thank you. Then we'll move on to the elementary principal, Ryan Johnson. So, Johnson's not able or not able to make it tonight, but he did do a board report. Do you have any questions? I know they did the carnival last week, and it was a great turnout. >> still recovering from that? Yeah. >> [laughter] >> Yeah. Are there any questions [snorts] regarding the elementary principal report? Any questions on the elementary principal No questions, just a comment that I see the anticipating kindergarteners coming in and lost it now at 47. Yes, it's That's positive. Yeah. It's
066wrapped up Yeah. Is that correct, Kurt, or I'm not sure. >> Yeah, it's It's I think. Yeah, it's gone up. Uh it's gone up a couple times, so we're we're happy that it's 47, so. And Barb and Melissa do a a good job of getting all that data and everything else for there, so. Okay, we'll move on to the middle school principal, Lori Zick. Um not much to share. Our enrollment numbers have stayed consistent all year long. Um the online program right now we have 23 full-time students. So, we have 23 of them that are taking all of their classes online. And then we have 17 other students that are doing credit recovery. So, we offer that semester. Um some events that have kind of come up, we just finished our math MCA and reading
067MCA. And our eighth graders will finish up their science Take caring as we said. We are in the last part of our studios. We did some fun things that they wanted to do. Building your own VR game. They wanted to look going outside [clears throat] and when it's nice and reading. They wanted there was a group that just wanted study hall just to kind of keep up on their academics. And then board games, so some of them are playing but some of them are creating their own board game. So, those will last for the next few weeks and then we'll take the rest of the year just one activity a Sounds good. Any questions anyone? Thank you Lori for the report. Okay, we'll move on to high school principal report. Good evening everyone. We had
068Dollars for Scholars in April. I'd like to give a quick shout out to the sponsors. Very competitive class of 30 students who were able to receive scholarships from our sponsors at that event. That was really cool. Jamie for his continuous hard work and help organizing. And we have the Dollars for Scholars uh committee. They do a lot of work behind the scenes to organize this event. Uh I'd like to say thanks to MCAS testing and NA public conversation all year. Uh we have many staff meetings. We have many leadership meetings on how can we improve our scores? Dr. Curtis and myself and Jamie met with our high school students to help them towards uh just trying uh growth on the MCAS scores. Uh incentives that we got out of students and staff on how they
069could try harder. Uh so we narrowed down to this. So based upon them giving growth and effort, uh they were given a they would be given a piece of duct tape to duct tape them to the wall very nicely. Uh they have also if they show their growth and effort, they will also and they will thrown into uh a drawing for gift cards. And also have a class versus class party. The incentive would be uh ice cream party on the winning class either 10th or 11th grade. This is what we narrowed down to. So we'll go over the results uh or probably next week. I will ask if they tape them to the the the lunchroom wall is what we do at the end of the day. So I can I'm not sure about I
070think all of the biggest incentives are stuff like that. The math our graduation requirements spoken about this uh getting rid of the careers one, two, and workplace learning. Uh we're not going to get rid of them. They'll be more of elective. So our graduation requirements will stay at 25.5. Those classes in the math section will be elective years. Our requirements And Dr. Curtis and Jamie have been working on the OC OHC S classes versus post secondary online college classes in the high school. So, we're giving the information up to these students and parents on incentive of being in our building to to taking these classes versus post secondary. Class schedules, we're going to schedule them registration here Wednesday. We get down to 2.5 core classes with math and science being combined together and English language
071and social studies being combined together. The students will be advised on that they're sure of the classes based upon registration numbers. So, we will have to adjust the schedule based upon our students' passions and wants for our schedule. We would like to mention the appearance of the launch of the Great Day of Being a Raider. We have 27 sites right now that we're going out and helping community members. So, we're looking forward to May 6th [snorts] being a nice sunny sun shiny day. And graduation will be on May 16th at 2:00. So, me and Susan are going to help with the graduation ceremony. We'd love to have all all members there. Walk to school will be on May 14th at the elementary. Tradition that we started a couple years ago. School our our seniors to
072walk the halls of the elementary and have old staff members at the head when they were were second third graders and the students passion to be there on like, wow, this is what it could be for me. And I think the school will [snorts] be home of the members of the study hall. Sounds good. Anybody have any questions? Do we know our total where we started beginning of the year versus now. Are we flat? You know something I want to I don't want to misinform anybody. So I'll get those numbers tomorrow sent out to the board members, okay? [snorts] That's a good question. I should have those. I apologize I don't. So thank you for the report and thank you for keeping MCAs so much fun. Okay, Mr. Meyer. Sorry Madam Chair. Mr. Meyer, is
073there anything on the graduation day and I don't mean to put you on the spot right now that you would like the board members to do or be part of or have you thought about that? Okay. Sure. What time is the graduation? 2:00. 2:00. Right. And I assume board members are able to come and sit down somewhere. Right? Yep. Yeah, we welcome you all to attend. Lot of districts have the full school board. Yep, they do. Did we have good engagement on the MCAs? Well, do we have good engagement on the MCAs Mrs. Zick, Mr. Meyer? I'd like to think so. I think the teachers worked very hard. Kate, well, 3 through 11 all the teachers did and no matter what they did is you know we had a meeting and whether we you know
074we talked about the importance of them so forth. What are your thoughts on the engagement by the students? From what I see for 7th and 8th grade our engagement was pretty pretty good. We did some different incentives. We did 90% if they improved their score from last year then we would find a day to do an activity. So theirs was like they get to get one in class per day. 80% that showed improvement we got half a day and then 70% we would do like an ice cream truck or something. That would probably but they were pretty we did ours through four days Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday for math and reading and none of them would finish early. They all seem to take their time. That doesn't mean they took their time in that hour
075but I think really from what I've seen they they did they tried really hard. Thank you Mrs. Zick, Mr. Meyer. I'll do the last thing and ask Jamie we had a lot less students opt out of the test. That was always a I used to want to try it cuz my parents would call in and then that score really counts against us. We had that decrease Good. That's good. online students come in this year. So I pushed for my online students to come in and I think we from what Jamie said from last year we had probably 80% more show up this year than we did last year so Mrs. Zick did a good job with getting our online students in our building to feel safe and secure. I think it's a real credit to
076the teachers, administration, the paraprofessionals and the students for you know, trying trying better than they probably have before or whatever. So we're excited to see those scores. They're usually embargoed until August. Is that correct? Embargoed means we can't share it out until the state says we can so Does that answer your question? Okay. Thank you. Thanks. Then we have 4.5 Activities Director Landon Schultz. Yeah, I just wanted to say uh last month of school year there >> Mr. Schultz, manager, if I may. Mr. Schultz, I I know it's a real struggle every spring with all the makeups and the rain and everything else. So, I do appreciate the flexibility [clears throat] of the teachers and the students and the coaches uh because you never know. I know maybe tomorrow I'll give a golf meet tomorrow.
077Who knows what will happen tomorrow? So, I do appreciate the flexibility because it goes like this every spring. Just want to throw that out there. Thank you. Madam Superintendent, Yep. Anybody have any questions? I'm sure you got some. Yep. I have something. Uh I'd like to give a kudos to Mr. Schultz last Wednesday. We had our activities for the board. So, we coordinated it and our staff did a great job of letting our students love our whole year of activities. Some of you have seen the posts last week on social media. Uh we also had a ton of student achievers. And also, we have in our room right now our teacher and activities winner this year, Mr. Waller. So, that's our board winner of the year. Congratulations. Anybody else have anything to add? Oh, wonderful
078to have the accomplishments. Uh let's move on to the consent agenda. Can I have an approval to the consent agenda? Moved. Can I get a second? So moved. Or second. Any discussion? Which passes. The consent consent agenda is approved. Um in 5.3 and resignation retirements, we have Kayla Malzahn, ESY para professional. Jenny Browning, ESY win teacher. Fay Johnson, ESY dishwasher. In contract approvals, we have Megan Klein, ESY special education teacher. Chris Lofgren, high school special education teacher. Brandon Johnson, high school social studies English. Deanne Wolfswinkel, concession stand coordinator. Andrew Ecklund, band step five. Nicholas Johnson, choir step one. Anna Moller, co-sophomore class advisor step two. Dana Savers, co-sophomore class advisor step two. Elizabeth Mindel, co senior class advisor, step two. Slade Kingas, co senior class advisor, step two. Leah Rubervich, junior class advisor, step nine.
079Andrew Eckland, co co National Honor Society, step two. Dana Sabers, co National Honor Society, step two. Connor Wessel, co PA advisor, step three. Jill Conrad, co PA advisor, step two. Kinsley Charmon, student council, step five. Elizabeth Mindel, yearbook advisor, step three. Paul Junior Peterson, weight room coach. Leah Rubervich, co prom advisor, step 10 plus. Jamie Nelson, co prom advisor, step 10. And Slade Kingas, one act, step two. And then we have recognitions recognitions and donations. Did you print that one up for me, Susan? It's Do you have it? It's It's right here. Do you have it? Yes, I'm just wondering if it's what I read out the funds. Oh, okay. Okay. Um Thank you to our generous community for donating to LPA. Um we have the Raider Booster Club track and field, $850. Hometown Blend
080Concessions activities, $110. Wagner Insurance Agency, elementary school carnival, $150. Westland Excavating, elementary school carnival, $500. Lake Park Fire Department, trap team, $5,000. Barbara Johns corporate corporate sponsorship, $500. Raider Booster Club baseball, $2,000. BTD elementary school carnival, $100. Cormant Sportsman's Club trap team, $3,500. Dirty Jeans LLC, student admission to GGB GBB playoffs, $100. Westland Excavating LLC, student admission to GBB playoffs, $100. Abbott Arnie Schwindt Incorporated municipal heavy contractor, student admission to GBB playoffs, $100. Lakes Community Co-op Cooperative, student admission to GBB playoffs $100. Dewey Septic Service LLC student admission to GBB playoffs $100. John Kohler Archery $100. LPA Baseball Association baseball twins game $1,000. Bell Bank Elementary School Carnival $100. Heather K. B. Elementary School Carnival $200. Thank you for donating to our district and we appreciate everything. Madam Chair, if I may add Suzy does
081a great job of addressing the envelopes. And we do it remember just a reminder we do send a thank you out to every single person or entity that donates. So we make sure that if hopefully it does go to the right individual or person or company. I know maybe the Lake Park Fire Department's probably received a few yep from me. So Thank you, Madam Chair. Give me 1 minute I have to read since we're not on 4 ducks. Suzy is sending it to me. I don't have didn't have that piece of paper. >> [snorts] >> It always takes it just a minute when you send it to me. There we go. >> [snorts] >> Okay, thank you for being patient with me. Our resolution [snorts] accepting donations and grants. Whereas Minnesota Statutes 123B.02 subdivision 6
082provides the board may receive for the benefit of the district bequests, donations, or gifts for any proper purpose and apply to the same the same to the purpose designated. In that behalf, the board may act as a trustee to any of any trust created to provide pupils of the district with advanced education after completion of high school in the advancement of education. And whereas Minnesota Statutes 465.03 provides any city, county, school district, or town may accept a grant or devise of real or personal property and maintain such property for the benefit of its citizens in accordance with the terms prescribed by the donor. Nothing herein shall authorize such acceptance for use for religious or sectarian purposes. Everything shall Every every such acceptance shall be by resolution of the governing body adopted by 2/3 majority of
083its members expressing such terms in full. And whereas every such acceptance shall be by resolution of the governing body adopted by 2/3 majority of its members expressing such terms in full. Therefore, be resolved that the Lake Park Audubon School District number 2289 gratefully accepts the following donations as identified before. And I don't think we did a motion to accept these. Can I get a motion to accept these? So moved. Can I get a second? >> I'll second. Any discussion? Any discussion? Any discussion? All those in favor say I. All those opposed say nay. I. I. Motion passes. Thank you, Lake Park Audubon School District. Thank you, Lake Park Audubon community for your generous generosity. And the motion passes there. Okay, [clears throat] and then we go to Hopefully we're not missing anything else. Uh old
084business 7.1, nothing in old business. New new business. Um I need Can I get a motion? 8.1 takes up the school district 2026-2027 calendar. You guys all have a printout of it. Madam chair, if I may Oh, sorry, Eric. If I may, this is put on put together by a committee of elementary and high school staff. Um you will see that uh school starts the day after Labor Day. Um and we still get done before Memorial Day. So, any questions? Any questions, anybody? Do we need a motion first before we can do this? >> I did say I did make a motion. That's okay. Can I have a second? >> Second. >> Darren? Yes. >> Yes. And Sarah seconded. Okay, any discussion? I The only question I have is I know this school calendar, every
085time we had I shouldn't say every time, the majority of times that we had early release, especially during parent-teacher conferences, there wasn't after-school care. Okay. So, I'm just curious if that is something we can look into cuz I mean, there's multiple days in a week that they have early release for this. So, I just want to make sure that our younger students and parents have somewhere for them [snorts] to go. Yes, I um Sarah, I I will do something about that because you're talking about the early release days like Yeah. uh for conference >> for conference. Okay, I will definitely look into that and make sure that we have somebody on staff because parents can go ahead and drop, you know, whatever that might be. So, does that sound Yeah, that that would be great.
086Any other discussion? Any other discussion? Okay, all those in favor say I, all those opposed say nay. I'm proposing the 2026-2027 school calendar for next year. I. I. I. I didn't even hear it. Cole's chiming in. Cole, did you have a vote there? I. >> [clears throat] >> All those opposed? Calendar passes. Um School district calendar passes. Okay, 8.2 May board meeting date. Yes, Madam Chair. Currently, we have a work session on Wednesday, May 13th. Um our traditional May board meeting falls on Memorial Day, and that's one day we cannot do that. So, we just need to have a date um sometime in May for a regular board meeting. Okay. So, whatever you what members feel I don't even know what day Memorial Day is. Monday. Monday. The 25th. The 25th. >> Bad joke, Sarah.
087It's okay. [laughter] Um >> Would the one Monday before work for any of you? There's a band concert, but Wednesday? Well, Wednesday, May 13th, right? Isn't we have the work session? We do Wednesday, May 20th, but I also want to make sure it can't um Uh I want to make sure that we it's okay with um Cole. Cole. I Yeah. I The Can you Can you say that again? >> [clears throat] >> Can you say that again, Dr. Burgess? Yeah, Cole. Um we have a reg- a work session on Wednesday, uh May 13th. We could do with the regular board meeting on Wednesday, May 20th, which would be before Memorial Day. And then what that way you don't have to do it on a Tuesday or Thursday or potential Monday with a bunch of makeups
088for extra curricular activities. >> yeah, Wednesday Wednesday May 13th is our baccalaureate for our seniors at the elementary, so. You asked on the 20th. >> Oh, how about Wednesday, May 20th? Cool. >> Yeah, that's fine. That works. Are you sure? Yep, positive. Okay, thank you. So then we have to skip our work session on the 13th and then just do one? We could surely do that. >> Do we have anything needed for the work session? No. So then we would skip our work session on Wednesday, May 13th, move our board meeting to May 20th and we would have one meeting this month. I love it. Elementary. Yes, it'll be at the elementary. Okay. Works for me. We need to vote on that. Yes, please. Can I get a motion to change our May board meeting
089date? Motion. Can I get a second? Second. Can anybody Do you like to make the proposal? Make a motion that we do our one work session board meeting all in one on the 20th. 20th of May. Okay, all those in favor say I, all those opposed say nay. I. I. Cole? I. I. [snorts] Okay, the May board meeting date is changed to May 20th at the elementary school at 5:30. Okay, 8.3 Raider Summer Day Camp. Yeah, um Madam Chair, I just getting a lot of questions if we're going to continue with the Raider Day Camp this summer. Um just want to have it as a discussion item to see if that's something that you want to continue as a board. Um >> [snorts] >> I don't have anybody here that can I believe talk about
090it. Um that's the you know, the daycare, basically. So. Thoughts? Questions, comments, suggestions? Well, correct me if I'm wrong, but I believe the applications already went out for parents to apply. >> Correct. So, parents would be counting on it. Yeah. And it wasn't on the application that Friday was available. So, this is Monday's through Thursday. >> Correct. >> They're looking at that. I just want to throw out there that there's been a lot of discussion about it. And you're right, it has gone on. >> what's the discussion? Are do we have staff to run it? I think we do. We just have to make sure that we um have somebody there that's going to monitor it. Yep. Um and I can I can be that person. Um Who monitored last year? Uh I believe Community
091Ed has probably monitored it in the past. Overseen it or monitored? >> Yeah, overseen it. Yeah. >> Yep. So. What does it mean to the district these funds? We lose money. Big one. How much do we lose? That's a really good question. Um I should have that I Well, it's $30 a day, 30 35 a kid. >> I don't know what every year's looked like or how many kids, but that's the cost of it. Right. Yep. Do we have most parents paying their kids' attendance? Uh We'd granted it out. >> think so. I mean, there's more than half. Um we do have some you know, outstanding bills from the last couple of years. Um you know, it adds up. Yep. But How How was it staffed? Do we know? I think in past wasn't it
092a younger individuals would volunteer to do it, but it would always be another grown-up. Right. There is a grown-up adult that monitors it. I just think we have to If we're going to continue, we have to make sure that we set some parameters and make sure that kids aren't running around the school um and that we actually have somebody supervising and going from there. Well, we didn't have running around the school before, did we? Yeah, we don't want that. Correct. That's I'm going to be honest, transparent. That's one of the concerns. Is it kids are, you know, kind of running around and and we don't have a very good handle on it. So. Right? Is that what you have heard, Mark? >> Mhm. Yeah. So. So, we're looking at cost cutting. Yeah. Or cost control.
093Let's say cost control. What has the past years looked like to the event or the organization? I mean, what are we looking What is the cost savings or is the cost No [clears throat] bussing, right? >> Right, we're not doing bussing. >> Okay. We cut that. That's part of that last year, correct? >> Correct, and that's a six approximately $16,000 savings. >> So, is this the same as the reading? This was No, this is different. >> camp. Yeah. If this is different, and this is 5 days a week, the entire school >> 4 days Friday through Thursday, yes. I think we need to gather some information with who It sounds like a committee meeting. Yeah, we'd have to be really quick on it, though, because it's This is This is going to be permanent. I
094already know people that are signed up for it. And I'm wondering just how much it would set it back, um set us back financially. I mean, >> [snorts] >> Well, Well, you'd have to sit down and look. >> Yeah. I know. >> And you'd have to It'd be nice to see the consistent people How many do you get consistently for this year? Because Yeah. This prior years, I know they had a a when these kids people signed up, they had Are you going to be there Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday? >> Right. And this year it was just a blank. I What are you going to be there? Last summer >> nothing to gauge it off what their attendance is going to look like. Well, and I think you you probably recall talking with Janetta, they
095have a person who's on that and it's not going to cost us to just have a meeting I don't believe with them. So, maybe we like you said a committee meeting to Yeah, on it and I know it's I mean it's we're getting towards May 1st here. We're going to have to do something quick. Yeah, cuz there are other summer programs that are already full and if Correct. I don't think that we're doing our job properly if we're waiting until May to Correct. tell parents that sorry, we're not holding a program now. Yeah. Especially since when I was I mean >> No, we could still do it and you know, well, from here, but we also also have to make sure that we're careful fiscally responsible. Well, we do need to have make sure that
096when the kids are in the school, they're uh what is it supervision within and what what how low do we go on kids that we're watching? Is it 5 years old? Uh I think it's maybe four. Okay, I think four year old. So, best practice for a kid at four should be within sight and hearing at all times. >> Correct. So, Which is different than an older student. Yes, it can be just within sight or hearing and they can do different things by themselves, but if you're following best practice on a four year old, no, those children can be right next to you. Sure. Um we need to see if we have somebody that would be res- understand the regiment of running a program. Are the materials provided? No. No, I think they bring their
097own. Okay, can you bring your own? How many do you know happen to know how many people are signed up for it right now? You can get back to me on it. I'll get back to you on that. I'll double check that. >> Okay. Can we gather those that were involved in the past or at least somebody with a little insight that help participate in that meeting so we can There's a lot of >> that participated in it before. Yeah. My only worry is that when the parents sign up for it because we've had it every year, is they're not going to think twice. They're going to think we already have it. Yeah, it's a good point. >> something, it has to be run to the best of LPA. So, we can't run something subpar.
098Well, and I can take on that responsibility to help with that program as well. Um I can do that. I can help give some structure into running a program like that. Whatever. I couldn't do it. No. But whoever is doing it, I can come give some insight in what what it takes to run it, to legislation and policies and stuff like that. >> That'd be great. I would like that. And And there there are good people that have Oh, there is fantastic >> Yes, every year. I mean But maybe just a tiny bit of Okay, this is best practice here when you're struggling with this, try this. Uh Like a little mentorship. Yeah, I like it. >> So, I mentor early childhood programs now, but yeah, any questions? Can I help you in any sort
099of way? Anything like that. And you see, I think a lot a lot of change has changed too because the swimming pool's no longer here, you know. Right. Yeah, that's right. >> them really busy. They used to love that. Just a little brainstorming. I mean, why don't we implement golf into it and have our golf coach participate in the event? I can do that. I mean I've seen I've came to pick up a kid [snorts] at school before and I've seen the kids outside playing or I've heard of activities out in the parking lot. So, I know we've had some fantastic years where this has ran wonderful. Well, like I said, if we're going to do it, let's do it 100%. >> Let's do it and do it right. Has it always been Monday through
100Thursday? Uh no, previous years it was Monday through Friday as well. And I think that I was told when I asked that Friday was cut off due to low staffing. I remember it used to be in Audubon, like with the playgrounds and stuff in That would be a good idea, especially with those young kids. >> That's what I was going to ask. I thought it's a good It's already in Audubon, yeah. Yeah, I mean It was just I thought it was switched to like I seen cuz I've seen it in Lake Park. Because they were building. Because they were built Perfect. Got it. Okay. We [clears throat] I mean I saw you out there with a hammer. Do we [snorts] have somebody already signed up to run greater summer day camp? >> Yep. Just yep,
101we do. Okay. And she has prior experience? >> Yes. Okay. And we have helper staff? Yes, I believe so. And I do believe some college young college individuals come back Yep. to help out as well. So. Okay. You So, I guess you want to continue with it and you want information first. What are you thinking, board members? I think we need I need to know funds. Yep. Okay. I mean, I I don't think we need to do away with it, but we got to at least cover our costs, right? >> Right. At minimum. We can provide the As long as we can cover costs. Yes. >> need to make money. No, we don't need to make any money to cover our costs. Especially with our projected next year, we should cover our costs. That's correct.
102So, however we do that, whether if we are paying for support to do it, then we need to cover that support costs. If we have others that want to provide volunteer elderly or grandmas that want to have the opportunity or grandpa that wants to, I mean We just have to make sure that anybody that came in would have to have a background check or anything like that because there are other people Correct. We would do that for sure. Yep. So, how do we and what is the cost and how do we cover our costs? And we can provide it 100%. So, do you all say the hindrance is if we don't vote on it tonight and then we move our next board meeting to May 20th? It's too late. >> after school. Yeah. Yeah. So,
103do we vote on it? >> we were to pending that all costs are covered and there's no cost to the district. So, that may mean a fee increase. Correct. But, is a fee increase as much of a detriment as not having it at all? I would think uh not having it at all would be a further detriment. Here's what I think. I think we should have it, continue with it, and I'll just have to make it we will have to make it work. When it comes to cost, I'll we'll do our due diligence to make sure that we're not making like thousands of dollars on it cuz we have to help these preschool students, right? I mean, you know, coming from a single mother with two brothers, it's hard to find this kind of daycare
104and different things like that. So, I don't want to put anybody out right now. So, then going doing a four-day a week doesn't help much for Friday. No. >> But, parents are willing to uh parents that I've talked to, the one "Hey, could Susan could I get in on Friday?" Nope, I don't have any openings Friday. Well, I could take a half a day. They're willing to work around stuff, but they're thankful for the service. >> Sure. You know what I mean? And would they prefer their Friday? You're guaranteed it, but then we have to make sure that we we can't overextend ourselves as well if we are struggling with staffing in it. And apparently people like the three-day weekend, maybe we're thankful for what we got, too. Right. Do we Do we have a
105number of enrollment? >> Yeah, that we're providing. >> Doesn't know offhand. I can find out for >> it's Is What is you know Do you remember what it was pri- previous years? It was >> They're they're up to like 25 kids I've seen even more, maybe thir- I think last year might have been 35, 36. So. They get good attendance, it's just Yeah. No, they don't Yeah. And that And that's hard. Yeah. It's hard, but Back in the day when it first opened up, I remember I got employed through Minnesota SEP and they paid me to be there. Mhm. So, I don't They paid the wages for the program. Um Which they do have high school kids that are signed up. >> Yeah. Um Do Do they still have SEP? Yeah. Mhm. Do you have
106a contact anybody? Yeah. Mhm. Could you Could somebody send it to me, please? I'd be great. It's a great program. That was a great program. Okay. Kelly, is that what you Yeah. >> [snorts] >> Yeah. She's great. >> You know, probably won't work in the summer, but there used to be this program and it was in DL and um for people going into the early childhood education field and they would go to local child care. Mhm. But if we had something like that and that's a volunteer base, you didn't pay them, but if we had something like that, wonder if they'd be willing to put some time in on our summer day camp. Well, I believe Detroit Lakes Tech or whatever they call it >> isn't doing early childhood [snorts] right now. No, but I
107can check I'll tell you what, I will check with North What? Moorhead Tech? I don't know what they call it. I can't remember what they call it now and see if Huh? MState. Oh, yeah, thank you. MState Moorhead cuz I believe they have early childhood. Yep, they do. And maybe somebody out in this area would be willing to do that. Thank you, Mr. Eckmann. I will check on that, too. Yeah. Okay. So, Jade, were you looking to get numbers on it or were you looking to Well, >> looking to hold off on it or you want to make a motion? I guess if if it's gone out, the cart has been released, I think we can follow through with it, but I think it's going to be also important to understand what our cost would
108be and what it was and I think again, I think as a district in the situation we're in, we got to at least cover our cost. Yeah. >> And how is that done? Whether it's a fee, an increasing fee or as Jenetta said, you know, is is there an opportunity to go out and get a a scholarship type of from local I I don't know. The only >> do that? I think what we've run into is with our early childhood education program, we get scholarships for there and you know, one of our wonderful businesses will sponsor two kids is that we're already using those to sponsor during the school year and we struggle for day camp, but it doesn't hurt. Because that's all part of the three $350,000 Yes, correct. Yeah. >> It's all part
109of it. So, I mean, we got to chip off some >> to watch our expenses especially in that area. Yes, correct. And I think there's ways to be creative with it, provide it, be creative in how we cover our costs and how we What does that look like and I mean, that's going to require some elbow grease and Mhm. and not waiting till next month board meeting to figure that out. It's going to have to I'll work on it. Yeah. Okay. What are you going to be up to? Yeah. >> [laughter] >> Well, kids are pretty great. They can have a lot of fun on a very creative budget. >> Yeah. Yep. And I'm assuming that budget is primarily labor. Correct. >> Yeah. Yeah, it is labor, all labor. >> Yeah. Plus, remember we cut
110the budget now, so Yep. that'll be a big component of That was a big component of it. So. Yep. So, what I hear you saying is that you said that because the because the forms already went out and people have already signed up for summer greater care to go out and board on it tonight and then we'll look at everything this next year. Well, I think we have >> Look this summer. Yep. But I think I mean, to me it I think we kind of need to provide it, but pending we're going to have to find out what that additional what that fee's going to look like. Correct. So, there's likely going to be a fee increase. Yeah. Got it. As long as long as we cover our costs, the district can do it. If
111If we're going to lose money and and continue to fight the $353,000 in deficit in that department, this isn't going to help us any. Correct. >> us behind on the rest of it. Do other neighboring school districts offer this service? You know, I To be honest, I don't even know if they would. Do to be. Okay. Yeah, we deal with a little bit different cuz they have the Boys and Girls Club and >> Yep. the Lincoln Center and that stuff like that. So, it's just different. It's a much bigger school district. >> Is that an opportunity that we can B&A have the program and they have the folks? Can we give them in a space to utilize their people and continue to provide it at a different location, at our location? The only thing I'll
112say is a lot of the times those ones fill up. What I'm saying if the Boys Club have extra people and staff that are willing to do it, but they don't need the help. We have a facility here where you got 35 kids for 5 days a week. Can you provide Yes. >> service that provides just donate you know what I mean? They're They're You know what I'm saying? It's providing for the kids. That's a lot of what they're about. It's all about providing for the local kids. Correct. >> We can give them a facility as long as they're Could they provide the staff without the cost to the district? So, are you saying somebody who currently runs a daycare No, he's saying somebody could potentially come in? >> [laughter] >> That with golf coach
113and combine it. I would like to state I am full for the summer. >> [laughter] >> But I can get more space Susan and you'll be just fine. Is there an opportunity there? I don't know. And I Well, we can look into that. >> Looking outside the bubble. I think at this point we I think the district is probably in need [snorts] to proceed with it knowing that we're going to have to >> we already put it out there. Yep. And then Is there any need to look further into it? Say that uh send that out to the people who have already maybe commented on it and but also add that there might be a fee increase. Yep. I don't think that hurts. No, that's a good idea. I'm going to myself think on that.
114Okay. >> Cuz it So, do you like me to motion Yes, I would love to have a motion to >> to proceed with voting on >> Raider Summer Day Camp, please. >> Raider Summer Day Camp pending understanding our financial cost? >> We can vote on it and then we can just always as long as we're going to proceed we can vote on it now and vote to proceed and then we can always form a committee and see how we're going to you know, facilitate it. Okay. Would you like to lead the committee? I mean there's a few here that it's going to have to happen. That's where we're at. We need to provide support with staff and yeah. So yeah, I mean at this point I think we need a motion to approve >> it.
115approve the greater day care for the summer but also again I want to look at our cost and understand it cuz there could be a potential increase. That's the part that I think is important that people maybe know. And I And is it is it only 4 days a week or is it important to be 5 days a week? Again, if we're just going to do it and still doesn't take care of the problem. Yep. I mean do we add a day and does that help us recover more costs? >> Yes. Because what you know, actually that's something to think of what our families because when they look at it they're oh my gosh, it's only 4 days. Are they going somewhere else? Could we be in taking increasing our revenue by 5 days? >>
116a question I was asked. >> But then we won't figure that out right away. >> Sorry Madam Chair. Go for it. There's a question I was asked is you know, can they do they have to pay if they're not there for a day? Right? I mean say they only go 3 days a week. What are your thoughts on that or they're gone and you know, they're taking a spot or a slot or whatever and they're gone for a day. Do they still pay? That was one question I was asked. So I think in previous years we didn't do that, correct? I I don't think we did, yeah. But typically in child care >> care the operational costs are Right. Because they're not going to drop in your child's your child's spot. Yeah. So in my
117in my program the kids sick or they're on vacation. It's okay. Perfect. I'll send myself. Madam Chair, I'm I'm not quite sure on this but I believe when they went to the it used to be five days a week. Yep. But I think it went to four days because the people in charge wanted a Friday off. >> Right. That's Yeah. So that's neither here nor there. I'm just saying that's probably why. I get it. Yeah. I I had heard something similar to that, too. That they liked a three-day weekend but maybe we don't have a lot of people applying to do that job. To run the summer day camp. >> a motion on the table. Uh they thought about making a motion. Can I get a motion? I don't know. It's too complicated now. I'll
118make a motion. I'm going to make a motion to pass the Raider Summer Day Camp. Can I get a second, please? Second. Okay. Any discussion? We already had it. Any [laughter] discussion? Thank you, Aaron. Any discussion? Uh all those in favor of continuing our Raider Summer Day Camp for this year with the possibility that there might be some changes made, say I. All those opposed say nay. Cole, make sure you chime in. I. I. I. Uh motion passes. Raider Summer Day Camp is passed. It will continue this year. Um 8.4 activities building grounds transportation transportation position. Yes, Madam Chair. We just remember we those positions Yes, positions have been eliminated as of June 30th. Um we just want to get some direction. Um I know that that a few board members inquire [snorts] about you
119know, what are we going to do next year so forth. So that's why that's on here. As a discussion {slash} action item, whatever you want to do. Nothing we need to vote on there? Just Well, a conversation. Could be a conversation if somebody wants to make You can make an action because you see up in the new business says discussion / action. So, >> We can we can have the conversation about summer day camp. >> Yep. This is very important that we're not that we're moving forward with how this is going to be handled because we have positions that were very busy that have been eliminated. So, how are they, who are they, and who's going to run what? Um So, I I just want to make sure we don't drop the ball as far
120as the grounds. Yep. Grass is starting to grow. How we have I mean, all those little things, which isn't the board's responsibility, but do we have to create do we have to I think we need to assign these committees to more frequently and let's get them all rolling on the on the committee side. Um Well, Matt uh Jay, if I just add, I know Aaron and I'll just throw this out. He's been asking for a building and grounds meeting for a couple weeks and I'm I'll dropped the ball on that. Um so, I I know that we have to have a building and grounds transportation meeting coming up sooner rather than later. So, sorry I interrupted you. >> No, and it's just so things don't fall behind because we got to continue to look where
121they're at and ask what is the next level on all all levels and how how does that look? Well, on the transportation position, we didn't completely cut it, did we? We're lowering them on the we're going to Yeah, but we don't have anybody in you know, interested in doing it. Well, we have somebody who has expressed interest in designing the routes. Yep, we're going to And actually, Wednesday this week, I'm meeting with all the bus drivers Wednesday morning. Susie, is that Wednesday morning that meeting? Just to get their feedback and see if they have it will just be myself and the bus drivers to see if they have any ideas or their Um just to get their input. I think that's important. Uh, so we have had one individual in the who's worked in the
122past. This person's gone a lot during the winter, but they're willing to come in, obviously get paid for uh, developing uh, transportation routes. I've also reached out to CISO, where our business manager company is. Um, they're willing to come in high- not hybrid, uh, work from the city's um, I don't want to go that route because it's at least $50,000. And I I don't I still want to do that. So. And we also have had Matt expressed interest in doing something next year for our district. I forgot, but I think you all knew that already. May I Oh, may I talk about the Yep. Uh, activities director? Yes. Yes, please. Uh, we got the activities director, but I would like to speak on behalf of uh, what an activities director does. And you'll have to
123have history here. Are you okay with that? All right, when it started, when I started, and when I was familiar with it years ago, they had football, girls basketball, wrestling, boys basketball, track, boys and girls, and elementary, which was just That was it. That was it for activities in the high school and the elementary. And the girls basketball was actually played in the fall. Move down a couple years, it was added volleyball because of Title IX, Title IX. They went uh, against the fall football. And that year girls basketball played at the same time as boys basketball. Okay? You still had track, boys and girls, speech was added. And then junior high. Now, this is a few years after I came, cuz you can [clears throat] do the math, right? And then they had wrestling.
124Now, we'll move up a few years. We still have football. We have volleyball for girls. Cross country was added about 20 years ago for boys and girls. Still girls basketball >> [snorts] >> with added junior high. Uh, I was one of the first junior high girls basketball for 7th and 8th grade. Who's laughing over there? Anyone? No, it's just a parent. Who was talking about that? Oh, I'm teasing. Okay. I've been around a long time. Uh, then wrestling was there. Archery has been added. And music has been added, more of it. Knowledge Bowl. Baseball then was added about 20 years ago and softball. And of course you had to if you had baseball, you had to go softball because of Title IX. Uh, we have golf. That was about 21 years ago for boys and
125for girls. Then you added or you still had track for boys and track for girls. The other thing that I noticed change was you had to set up all of these activities and then you had to get workers for every single one of these new ones. And you had uh, yeah, now they tear things down. Not literally, but they break things down after the activity. They've added football field, softball field, cuz we never had softball fields before. And now the activities director gets sponsorships for the activities. So, I'm saying we need to bring back the activities director in some capacity. That's a lot of work. Now, we also said that some of the principals would take that up. This is a big-time job. They They also now um you get a send out a spreadsheet
126for everything that's happening during the week. You know, now if you want to give that to you know, one of the principals but I don't know if they can no offense, but I don't know if they could do that. You know. Yeah. Both jobs, you know. So, that's what I'm saying to you. Go on. Go on. Go ahead, Carl. Oh, and and I agree. I mean, this was what I the concern I raised last at our last board meeting is we're cutting these and then we said, "Well, we'll cut them and we'll reconfigure them." I I think we need to that needs to start sooner rather than later. I mean, Dr. Burke was alluded to it earlier. It's already almost May 1st. Um and and yes, that that activities director, I mean, Marge throwing to
127their social media, promotions, um you know, all of that other stuff that's that's there. That's not something that can go away. Um but I think that it's something that could be coupled with uh you know, another vacancy or vacancies that we have. Um and that was our whole goal, right? To you know, make cuts, but yet still not have a negative impact on our students. Anybody have any thoughts? I'm sure you're proposing to bring an AD position in to into play. I would even a revised one, right? Yeah. Okay, so I just want to understand it. So, right now as we said, we're froze into next year. We were a B ad going into 27. We're going to be in and now we're doing that, it's going to even put us even more in a
128detriment of being an SOD. So, honestly, adding positions is not available. It's not an option if we want to be responsible for our district. Cole has it right. I mean, we have to get after it and start to assign who's going to be responsible and raise their hand. Is it any one person that's going to do one thing? It'll be all of them and they'll have to divvy there, but right now, I mean, it might be multiple people doing It might be requesting the coaches to do a little bit more. Um, but right now, the district cannot afford to be adding a month later positions that we eliminated. There is no way. And And I don't think Marsha's Marsha Are you proposing a full-time You're not proposing a full-time athletic director. No. No, I I
129think even just a revised one because the scope of what they had do, their job detail is so vast is what you were saying. Correct. And I think I thought that's what we talked about. I'd have to go back and look at our minutes from last month. Is it We knew that we would be cutting these, but yet we couldn't cut all of that. We couldn't cut a full-time transportation director. Um, and then finding that transportation director or directors is going to have We're we're to have to get creative like Jade said. Um, I think with multiple positions that's what we have to do right now and we have to do what's best for our students and have a seamless transition as as possible. >> [snorts] >> I think a seamless >> It scares me
130if we kick the can down the road to June and we've got summer ex stuff starting and all that. I think a seamless transition as much as we can pull it off would be essential too because we don't want the kids to feel like anything's different. Or the coaches. Or the coaches. Nope, we appreciate everything. And it's going to require the support of the coaches through this process. So when we have a committee meeting I think they all need to be part of that to who's going to handle what and how we're going to handle what, you know. You know, one you know, efficiencies. I don't know what we're using for different communication programs. Are we using the same one? Can we create efficiency with programs on how we communicate out or do we have
131multiple people multiple communities? Huh? Sports. Just sports. Okay. You know, communicating to parents. I mean, what technology is there opportunities there that we can advance on to to better communicate with parents so it isn't so volleyball's doing it one way, maybe basketball's doing it another way and football's doing it another way. Is there opportunity there? But they're all doing it on Team Reach now. I have no >> We're not quite there yet. no idea. We're not quite there. It's uh can't >> So what I mean It's what I mean. It's bad. It's what. Rooms or drill share or something that Is there a new one? I've been using that. Yeah. switch to Yeah. >> I just know that everyone's not quite there yet. >> Not on the same page. So through this process, I mean,
132can we take some edge off on [clears throat] all the what I mean to have an answer for that? Just communicate it with our coaches. Yep, and a lot of them have been doing it a long time and they're very good at it and then just make sure we're having like a consensus of how we're going to proceed. Um do we have anybody when we've looked at the configuration of stuff, anybody interest interested in of what did we say with activities director? There used to be somebody that a teacher cut back what they were doing in the class. Do we have anything potential like the others of any [clears throat] of these? I mean, as as a board that's not our responsibility. I think we got to remember that. So, we just got to hang
133our hat >> [clears throat] >> on his coat rack there and let's I think he wants some ideas, right? with you had a letter from the I think he wants some ideas, right? Yeah, I mean, you know, we have Dr. Berquist spoke. Go ahead, Cole. No, I was just going to say, you you said you have a meeting with the bus drivers on Wednesday. Correct. I think I think that's after I think that's got to take place first and I think like we did with our with our summer rec program, I think we need to have another have a committee meeting and discuss possibly combining some of these positions um, and getting at least getting someone into place or, you know, figuring out what we're going to do as soon as possible. Okay. Yeah, so
134Yeah. So, we'll have that. When you say committee, what committee are we talking about? Who's involved in this? He's making a new committee. I was going to say, I don't think it's a current one. Yeah, there isn't a committee. You can just make that. >> That's what I was kind of thinking. Well, that's fine with me. I just We still have personnel. Yeah, personnel. Yes. Sarah and Cole. There you go. Remember Suzy who that is? Personnel. >> Cole, are you on personnel? Yes. I'm on policy. I thought I used to think policy and personnel work together, but They used to be. It's Sarah and Cole. I Sorry, Archer. That's fine. Yeah. I mean, I do like Jade's idea of at least getting some of the coaches there to get their input and kind of where
135they are in the process cuz as a parent right now I have three apps that I already have for this school district on my phone. So I don't know how many apps we have if sports are different and why we can't use an app that we already currently use as a parent. Correct. That means yeah. We should just be using one. I agree. That's a big frustration amongst you. I mean I don't want to add another app to my phone for this school district. I'm just saying. It's probably just a lack of communication. But we could learn from them as well, especially the ones that have been doing it for a long time. Only intent would be is it just would streamline the workflow that a director would have that potentially less call, you know,
136that's what this is going to be all about. Take something that's not a real positive and try to find a positive. Um and and yeah, the committee meetings would I who I mean, I think the more we have involved in buying in on going and whoever was involved is interested in being involved, I think the more the merrier on that because we need insight. We need we need support and we're going to win by numbers, not by being two or three of us are going to show up. Right. And I think it's a good idea but I want to make sure that we're including the fine arts in those activities as well. Not in the music, not just athletics, right? Because the activities directly Yeah, at every committee meeting anyway, so that is a matter.
137You know what I mean? So So what what are you where are you going with this? I'm not quite sure. I think you were saying on Wednesday you're going to have the transportation meeting. Yeah, I'll let me go and check on that. >> wonderful that you're listening to all the bus drivers. [snorts] I think they'll have a lot to share. >> I would like to see some of these positions combined, Marj. Yeah. Right. I know you said on the buildings and grounds was it years ago uh there was like a head janitor and they Yeah, my understanding is Mr. Hogue had meetings, I think I don't know, once a week with the head custodian in each building. Is that correct? I don't know. That's what somebody had told me. Being in transportation industry for 18
138years, lead lead drivers. I I don't see a reason why that couldn't work. Is having a lead driver that would would communicate with whoever would be involved in the transportation thing moving forward. You know, and maybe that is on the the facility side. You know, if we have somebody that can be the lead that we can lean on and they can help us organize and manage that as we proceed. I know I remember when the building and grounds job came around, it was supposed to help get we Right, March they were having so many different things that were coming. This needed fixed at the elementary, this needed fixed there. So, a consent cohesive voice there of what's happening. So, we have to make sure that as we move forward that somebody is speaking to everything
139and all the needs of both schools are being met. And big ticketed items Mhm. facility-wise, we still have the relationship with ICS. They are kind of managing our big ticketed items. Yes. So So, here's the deal, okay? What I'm hearing is that we're going to have a committee meeting with Sarah and Cole. Because there's only two on that, we don't Can I join that though? Absolutely. >> Yeah, Megan, that'd be great. So, I'll join it, too. Okay. We can. Then we have a quorum. That's fine, but then we have to wait 3 days Wednesday, Thursday, Friday I'm in, right? We'd have to wait 3 days for we have a quorum to post it. Oh, wait, today is Monday. Wishing your life away, man. >> I know. Um So, it's Sarah Cole Marge and Megan. That's
140fine. Is that correct? Or no? I I we can. That's You can do the meeting, too. There's more The more you have to the more There's nothing wrong with the meeting. >> there, we can show up, can't we? Right, that's true. Yeah, that's the point. March, think of during negotiations, we made many of the meetings. Everybody's insight's valuable, so It's only Monday. You can post it. Yeah, you might as well. Thursday. >> I I think this is the right thing to do. I mean, getting insight from from advisors, coaches, um because we can say, you know, yeah, we'll ask coaches to pick up, but I mean the life of a coach is is already spread pretty thin, so um I'd hate to say that we can just put this on coaches and um Well, here's
141here's something to think about. I'm sorry. >> the point of hearing from them. Yeah. What is there I mean, some maybe and some may not. Here's the issue, okay? Um if we do it 3 days, Thursday's going to probably I don't even know what the schedule is, but I assume that there's going to be some coaches or advisors that are going to be busy Thursday with games or practices. We could probably do it at 5:30 on this Thursday if that works. Um I have golf. Oh, you have golf? Okay. That's why I said maybe I'd be better being done with it. Maybe I shouldn't do it. Well, it's up to you, Marge. No, I mean, I I have golf just about every night. How about Wednesday night? What about Wednesday? Cole, do you have something
142this Wednesday with um your position? Yeah, I do. Okay. And that doesn't give us enough time, right? Probably not. Uh probably the best time to do >> No, I mean I mean to post the to post it with days-wise. Yeah. >> Probably the best time to do it be next Monday if we can't do it Thursday. If that works, Monday Monday at 5:30. You might get increased attendance if it's a little further off. You might get more in attendance. And I'll send I'll work with our administrative team to send out information. I'll send it out to to coaches and advisors uh the different group and see if anybody's interested. Give feedback, right? That's what we're all about. A team here to give some feedback and say, "Hey, look, what are we going to do?" Does
143that sound okay with everybody? Absolutely. Does that work? >> Sarah and Cole, does that work Monday? Yeah. Meeting? It's It's at home. I don't know what time. Oh. >> [clears throat] >> Monday night, um May 4th. May the 4th be with you. >> [laughter] >> May 4th, yes. Monday works for me. Is that okay with Cole? So, we'll go um Megan, what time? 5:30 works for me. 5:30? Yeah. I don't know. I put it on for June 1st. So, hold on one second. The goal >> need a whole board at this, just a couple of ones, okay? No, but if we post it, any board member can come. I mean, it's open. If it's an open Yep. So, as a district, our responsibility, we cut. It doesn't mean anything if we start adding. So, we
144have to stick to our guns, and we have to figure out what we're going to absorb with the people we have. It's the hardest part you're going to go through, but this is where we're at. So, Sarah, does I'm sorry, does that work for you on Monday? Yeah. May 4th? Mhm. What I mean, the only thing that I will say is too, that we have you know, we had other positions that we had to fill, and we were able to fill some of those luckily internally from internal applicants. Um you know, we we have positions that need to be filled. Um Marge, I think you brought up a point about fundraising. You know, if if if if if whoever we get is just you know, if we go back to a you know, 1-hour AD,
145there's there's not any time for that extra. I think it was at least that was told $35,000 in fundraising that was brought in this year. Yep. You know, so that that offset That's correct. >> You know, that that now is gone in in upcoming years, so I think that's why we need to get as much feedback as possible on how we how we combine or fill these last three major positions. There's And we want to make sure these positions are covered as well. We don't want to just cut something and take something away from that's vital to the district. And I believe Susie wasn't at the when the last time and I don't know how many years ago it was, but the AD did it. A teacher did the AD position. It was like half
146their day, wasn't it? Yeah. A couple years ago it moved to half their day and even before that it was 1 hour a day. Yeah. Um but the what I argument I'm trying to make is you have to you get what you what you put into it, I guess. So um >> I think a committee sounds great. Yes. And that's why if we need an AD for 2 hours a day, we need a someone to handle part of transportation a couple hours, someone that can help out with facilities. Okay, so um it sounds like next Monday at 5:30, Susie, would you we can do [snorts] it when we get downstairs if you want. We can do that. Next Monday at 5:30, we'll have a activities, building, grounds, and transportation meeting. Yes, correct. With our personnel
147committee. >> [snorts] >> Yeah, we don't need to vote. We're not voting. Right. No. We just want to stop there. Um okay, we'll move on to teacher contract contract language update. Yeah. We did What you know, some Madam Chair, all you can talk about is the the this was a proposal that we came together with and basically it's dealing with the um uh paid family medical leave. Yeah, you don't have to read the whole thing. Okay. Perfect. So we did a proposal on January 21st, 2026 in changing the original language for for the proposed language and paid family medical leave um pursuant to Minnesota statutes 268B, family medical benefits, and So, I'm not going to go first. I mean, it's all legal stuff. >> It's all legal stuff. Yeah, these statutes clarify what we're doing.
148I'll make a motion to approve it. >> I'll second. Sounds good. Any discussion? Aaron, did you want any discussion? No, I think I used up my one line tonight. >> [laughter] >> Any discussion? All those in favor of voting on the teacher contract language update, say aye. All those opposed, say nay. Aye. Aye. Aye. Aye. Cole? All those opposed? >> Yep, aye. >> [snorts] >> Motion passes. Teacher contract language update is approved. Uh, now we're going to uh, can I get a motion to approve the MSEA contract? >> Basically, what that is, it's just goes through June 30th, but we're going to work together. Everybody's going to get one day off. All right, in the con- in wherever they are, whether they work in the summer or not, we'll make sure that we get that
149person those individuals get the day off. There will Go ahead. I'll make a motion that we approve the MSEA contract. Can I get a second? >> Second. Okay, any discussion? Any discussion? All those in favor, say aye. All those opposed, say nay of approving the MSEA contract. >> Aye. Aye. Cole? Cole? >> Aye, sorry. Aye. Did I hear you guys? Sorry. Yeah, aye. Okay. Motion passes. I In my head, I said it. >> MSEA contract is approved. Okay, 8.7, athletic director Sanford. Yeah, Madam Chair, you'll have the Sanford contract in front of you. I want to give credit to Mr. Schultz and Mr. Meyer. Uh, the three of us met with representatives from Sanford. I'm very excited about this opportunity to have a athletic trainer on site. Now, um, there is one thing that has
150to happen, um, some switching, but we did meet with a couple of uh, individuals that are one is out of Sioux Falls, I think. One was out of Fargo. And basically, if you look at this, it's going to be no cost to the district. And so, what the scope of the services will be was that it will be um And this isn't the official contract, but where you sign it and everything else, but I'm very excited about this. Um they're going to be able to have What the heck is it? Um everybody will be here on site 90% of the time. I think it's all football, all wrestling, and 90% of the home events is what it is. So, and this is the three up to a 3-year contract. We can do 1 year at
151a time, which I'm fine with. But it's absolutely no cost to the district. We were able to work out a great deal with with Sanford, and um I'm excited about this. No, this is great. >> Yeah, awesome. Any questions? Any comments? Suggestions? >> for working on that. Mhm. I'll I'll let >> landing it. I'll let Mr. Myhre and Mr. Schulz know. Mr. Myhre, too. Yep. I'll make a motion that we uh pursue this Sanford Health proposal to provide athletic training services. >> Can I get a second, please? I did. Okay. Sorry. Sorry. Okay, and this is really great, so I didn't hesitate. Well, I I'm excited about this. And this is great for our students at LPA and our coaches. I don't know how anybody else Do you have any discus- Have you already asked
152for one? >> And I first ask for one. So, any discussion? >> Sorry. Sorry, Susan. Madam Chair. That's all right. We're co-chairing, doing it. >> We we had this a few years ago, and it slowly went to the wayside. Um you know, we had a coach at every practice, at every game. Um and then it was, you know, every other day. And to have someone there every day is phenomenal. So. Okay. >> [snorts] >> Any discussion? Any discussion? All those in favor of an athletic approving a contract with an athletic director from Sanford say I. All those opposed say nay. I. I. I. Cole? I. [snorts] Uh the eyes have it. The athletic director from Sanford will be approved. Uh 8.8 superintendent report. >> Yeah, Madam Chair, I'll make this really quick. Um just a
153couple things. Uh first of all, thank you. I know this is a long meeting tonight. Um feel like we got some things going with uh PMFA or whatever it is. Also, um I reached out to Ehlers to uh Shelby McQueen as our representative. She's going to [clears throat] um I will let her know on May 20th, that'll be our next board meeting. She would like to do a presentation to talk about the possibility of a referendum and what that entails. Ehlers is one of the main players across the state that works with school districts. I think maybe you've probably worked with Ehlers before. That's the first thing. Our insurance increases, I want to give credit to Suzy and Sherry. Um our insurance was looking at going up 39.9% and it just Oh, wow. Frustrated me,
154but we did decide to opt with a different broker and we saved Sherry and Suzy saved $28,000 just in broker fees. And the this new company we met with them in Fargo and um they're going out trying to get some more um companies to bid for us. And so we're working on that and I I do believe it'll be less than 39.9%. If you've noticed, number of districts in the area are actually above 30%. Um but I just want to let you know we're working on that, trying to do the best we can for our staff. Teachers and staff. I can't think of anything else to talk about. Um Thanks to all the teachers, staff, and administration, and the students for making this a great year. It's coming down to the tail end. Thank you,
155Madam Chair. Yeah, we can get to all of them. Any questions comments for me? Did you want to vote on minutes to the Minnesota Trust? Yes, please. If we could, that'd be great. Thank you, Madam Chair. That's my bad. Do we still have to go back to the PMA? Yes, we just talked about that. Yes. Any other questions for Dr. Berquest? Can I ask a question just for clarifying my notes? You approved your 8.7 athletic director but that be athletic trainer. Yes. Yes, I put that in there. It was the the motion was made for approving the Sanford Health proposal to provide athletic training services. >> But it does say director director here. So, yes, please put trainer. Yeah, and actually it's board certified trainer as well. So, thank you, Ms. Raberge. Just everybody knows
156that. You had a chance to read through this. So What's that? No, I said Okay. said wrong. Well, they actually I've been it's boarding my sheet of paper but it's actually has that on my sheet of paper. Sounds good. Yes, an athletic trainer. Um okay, any other questions? Okay, can I get a motion to approve the Minnesota Trust? I'll motion to approve the Minnesota Trust. Okay, can I get a second? >> Second. Okay, any discussion? Is that the presentation we had? I I feel that we've never done it. I feel like it's money to be had but more importantly more importantly to understand where we might come shortfall these next 20 12 months. I think we need to have the tool available. Yep. And and I think if we utilize it properly, that maybe we
157could take care of some of our shortage on maybe our summer program. There's a massive amount of school districts in Minnesota that are utilizing it right now. >> Yeah. You would recommend that we Yes, I do. Um and I actually met with him uh at the MSBA conference in January. Um you know, it's we're in a budget shortfall. And if we can make some money in interest [clears throat] at 3.58, whatever it is, it's just going to help our district. Absolutely. I understand a local local banks, local business, so forth, but this is going to help out our district. >> Mhm. And if it can help us save one cut, that's great. Okay, any other discussion? Any other discussion? Yes, I'm going to keep going on this. Any other discussion? I'm going to do a
158roll call vote on this one, so we're approving uh working with the Minnesota Trust. Uh all those in favor say I, all those opposed say nay. Cole? I. Arch? I. Megan? >> I. Jade? >> I. Aaron? >> I. Sarah? I. Susan? I. The eyes have it. Motion passes to relating to the Minnesota Trust. You need me to read the sheet. No, that's fine. Please don't. We'll be fine. >> Okay, resolution >> resolution resolution authorizing entry into joint powers agreement to the form of a declaration of trust establish establishing the Minnesota Trust and authorizing participation therein. Whereas Minnesota governmental units may invest their monies and enter into contracts and agreements as authorized by Minnesota statute section 118A.04 and section 118A.05. And whereas Minnesota statute section 471.59 the joint powers act provides among other things, that governmental
159units, by agreement entered into through action to the governing bodies, may jointly or cooperatively exercise any power common to the contracting parties. And whereas Minnesota State Minnesota Trust the Fund was established for the purpose of joint investment to the governmental units' money so that so as to enhance the investment earnings accruing to each of the governmental units pursuant to the Joint Powers Act by adoption of the Joint Powers Agreement in the form of a declaration of trust by Independent School District number 192, Farmington, and Independent School District number 241, Albert Lea, acting as the initial part participants thereof, and further by filing the execu- executed declaration of trust with the Minnesota Secretary of State pursuant to the Minnesota chapters 318. And whereas the declaration of trust authorizes governmental units of the state of Minnesota, including
160and without limitation any city, country, town, school district, any political subdivision, agency of the state of Minnesota, and including any instrumentality of the governmental unit, as all as defined by the Joint Powers Act, to adopt and enter into the declaration of trust and become fund participants, the participants. And whereas the declaration of trust and the information statement describing and summarizing certain details with respect to the fund have been presented to the school board. And whereas the fund is governed by the Board of Trustees in accordance with the term of the declaration of trust. And whereas the board deems it advisable for the Independent School District number 2889, Lake Park Audubon, Minnesota, the district to adopt and enter into the certain declaration as of trust as amended date April 11th, 2007, the declaration of trust in
161order to become participants. And whereas the board deems it advisable for the district to make use from time to time, in the discretion of its officials, of the fund's fixed income investment program and other fund programs available to the participants. And whereas the board deems it advisable whereas the board deems it advisable for the district to make use from time to time the services provided by PMA Financial Network LLC, PMA Securities LLC, Prudent Man Advisors LLC and Associated Bank National Association and Associated Trust Company National Association and their affiliates and successors and connection with the district utilization of the fund. Now therefore be it resolved as follows. Section one, the district shall adopt and enter into the declaration of trust trust which is adopted by reference herein with the same effect as it has been
162set out verbatim in this resolution and thereby became a participant in the fund. A copy of the declaration of trust shall be filed in the minutes of the meeting at which the resolution was adopted. The chair and clerk of the board being officers charged with the responsibility for executing documents are authorized to take such action and execute any or all such documents as they may deem necessary and appropriate for effect effectuate the entry into the district district into the declaration of trust and to utilize fund programs and services through PMA Financial Network LLC, PMA [clears throat] Securities LLC, Prudent Man Advisors LLC and Associated Bank. Section two, the district and those acting on behalf are hereby authorized to invest its available monies not presently needed for the purposes or restricted for any other purposes from
163time to time and to withdraw such monies from time to time in accordance with the provisions of the declaration of trust including investment through the fund programs and other fund services office offered through PMA Financial Network LLC, PMA Securities LLC, Prudent Man Advisors LLC and Associated Bank. The following officers officers and officials of the district and the representatives successors in each office are hereby designated as authorized officials, the authorized officials with full power and authority to effectuate the investments and withdrawals of money of district from time to time in accordance with the declaration of trust pursuant to the funds fixed income investment program and other fund services available to participants. Could you repeat that? Sounds great. All right. Okay. Um succeeding meetings May 20th. May 20th, there we go. May 20th 5:30 elementary. Yes, correct,
164ma'am chair. Uh Lake uh Lake Park Audubon Elementary School Media Center. Uh meeting is adjourned. Thank you. >> [clears throat] >> Okay, so >> [snorts] >> I'll talk as you walk. I have had a couple of meetings this morning