School Board Special Meeting

001Sorry. >> I can't print on my computer. Okay, yours. >> You guys made >> Oh, thank you. Yep. [laughter] >> A lot of consistenc Did you give that stuff to >> He like smiles. >> Food is the way to his heart, too. mine size. >> John saved me as I lost my horrible. I got the family on watch out now. I said, "Hey, I lost my glasses again." >> Thank you. >> They're not surprised. >> Thank you. >> I am not good at it. There have been times I've lost it where they're on my head. [snorts] >> My >> Yeah, I saw I don't know. >> Yeah. [clears throat and snorts] >> Good afternoon. Let's call the meeting of Lake Park Ottabon School Board to order. I'd like to start with roll call, please. Megan

002>> here. >> Marge >> here. Cole >> here. >> Jane >> here. >> Aaron >> here. >> Sarah >> here. >> Susan here. Let's all rise for the pledge of allegiance. [clears throat] >> 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. Can I get an approval of the agenda, please? >> Motion. >> Can I get a second? >> I'll second it. >> Any discussion? Any discussion? >> Agenda is approved. Uh, we're going to start with old business 2.01 Farber Sound Presentation. Dave Farber. >> Yes, madam chair, if I may. Um, we uh have a contract with Farber. Um, yeah, please Dave, if you would. We have a contract with Farber and um

003it was established before my time and I've um I've asked Mr. Farber to come and uh explain the contract, maybe some of the things behind it. As I mentioned to Dave, we have newer school board members, actually, I think four maybe or so. Um and so, yes, I thank you for coming in person. I appreciate that. >> Welcome. Is that my green light to well to go? I don't know. Uh >> yes, go ahead and start with your presentation. Thank you for joining us. >> I guess um I'm open to present this and however you want. I know you had questions wanted me to present. So I provided some previous email documentation to the board. I'm not sure who has read or reviewed the documents I've provided. I have copies of those. Um, do you

004have a time window here today you would like me to kind of stay within for going I guess how do you exactly want me to presentation like from the day one when we were awarded the contract to how we got to where we are today etc etc I can I can make this as sort of thorough as you want or sort of >> you know in a nutshell I I I'm guessing the board's going to want to know from day one >> okay and I just want to get the elephant out of the room right now okay I I think what we want to know is why is that so much higher >> coming in >> than when it was actually um approved bid back in 25 whatever it was. Please address that but start

005from the beginning if you would. >> Okay, sounds good. >> Thank you. >> So, first of all, I hope we've completed the project as of a couple months ago. So, I hope the system and everything's working well with the sound and the lighting in the gym and everyone's happy with it. So, um I just wanted to um say that part of it. Um I've got here uh some documents. I I think I made like eight copies. I'll pass this. >> I can get it, Dave. Thank you. >> Um >> I'm going to keep one for myself. So, this was original um >> copy back from November 14th of 2024. Yes. >> Uh towards the top left there's a quote number of reference here 24114-1P. Um this was the audio packages and the lighting packages that

006we were um awarded to proceed generate paperwork etc etc. Um then upon that um I generated a contract agreement. This is dated March 3rd 2025. uh we weren't awarded that quote on November 14th of 2024. That's just the date of the quote. So we were awarded the contract in the first quarter of 2025. Um pass these down. This is a copy of the contract. Um also on that contract amount is approximately uh about what is it 211 about 25 $2,600 more than the quote and that is based on write it here when I submitted the contract uh to Mr. Godfrey. Do I have that pronounced correctly? >> Correct. >> At the time, which was dated um Tuesday, March 4th, below, Tim, attaches a contract agreement along with corresponding documents as well as an invoice for

007deposit to get the project underway. Since we last quoted the project, which was 3 months prior to this set date, there have been equipment cost increases from a few manufacturers. The package pricing within the contract are adjusted accordingly to current pricing. Upon your review, please print date, sign all documents, so on so forth. Um, then he signed said contract agreement, uh, which you have a copy of here. Um, on the contract agreement, it's referenced in the general scope of work. Um, if you go to like the second line down, it's pretty small print. at the end is executed per quote number 241114-1P is sort of a cross reference to what this contract correlates to as another sort of [clears throat] um you know documentation just referencing previous discussions equipment so on so forth um on

008both quote provided originally in November as well as the contract agreement and I think this is really a preface to where the extra costs are calculated over the $2,121 is it is stated in the note section um of the quote the following items are part of the package pricing and the following components services are not included at the bottom of the quote which explains travel expenses mileage hotel PDM electrical wiring high voltage low voltage roughin boom scissor lift rentals if required, recycling fees, etc., etc. As well as in the contract document under the payment terms, it is also reflected the same language uh as well. Um so that is kind of where that was to that point. I also provided in the email that I submitted um back in well let me back up a

009little bit in in November of 25 there was a total of five invoices of the project four have been fa paid the fifth one was the outstanding invoice after the fourth invoice was submitted I received a message from Randall stating he has some concerns on the costs of the project. We scheduled a teams meeting and I not positive on this but I think it was you Randall and Sherry and John I think that were present >> and actually Mike Zick was on there as well. >> Mike as well. Okay. >> Yep. >> So we kind of walked through where things were going. We talked about some of these pieces of of of the uh criteria of where some of the invoicing and what some of these extra fees are lift rentals. And the other one

010that was a big part of this also is um the tariffs that were in play and that there are tariff costs that are out of our control. So literally from the date of the signed contract to I think it's like 2 three weeks later and I have copy of that document here too as well if you'd like. Uh one of the key manufacturers that was in the installation was Shaveet Lighting Manufacturer. They had a significant tariff price increase on their products. So that came into play as one of the costs of [clears throat] this all as well. Backing up to our meeting, um I remember uh we also had the discussion Randall of you had asked is this the final invoice and I said no, there's actually going to be one more with some of

011the remaining pieces to complete on the project of parts that we have been waiting for and so on so forth. and that that final invoice is approximately around $14,000 plus applicable transportation costs and things like that as well. And the final invoice is like 17,000 in and change and something like that. So >> I have a question here if I can interrupt you for a second. >> So you got you got the go-ahad the green light here in March of 2025, right? >> Yes, that's right. >> Was there tariffs on that? Like wouldn't you have if you would have gotten half down on that day, wouldn't you have just ordered everything? >> We order equipment upon receipt of deposit. So upon receive deposit received, uh I would have to look back at that. So >>

012So at the time, so like your contract here says 50 3020, right? >> Correct. >> Okay. So on 35 you got the go-ahhead for the project. Wouldn't you have ordered them at that point? >> On that exact specific day? No, not until deposit is received and final engineering is executed of all to make sure all of the proper pieces of the exact part numbers are in play to order and execute said material list and so on so forth. And it doesn't necessarily mean the other part is uh a part of like shave is if the product isn't in stock at the time. >> Had you >> that's another >> have you been had you been to the school at this time yet? >> Yep. Oh yes. Yeah. I was at the school actually the first

013time it was in 2023 when this was originally brought up as a potential project but was tabled for a year and then reintroduced again in 1224. Um this is another document here I can send you guys. This is a sum this was in the email that I had sent to you guys. If you could pass that down. Thank you. This is uh was in the email that I had submitted on January 23rd kind of encompassing a global view of everything and kind of a breakdown. I have individual copies of invoices here as well if you would like those as well, but this is kind of a summary document that goes along the way. So, if you look towards the bottom, um the adjustments tariffs on the and then you carry that all the way over

014to the far right um has a 6230 amount. Lift rentals 29.95. Travel expenses 166, stage lighting repairs of existing equipment 723. And so those numbers are the total of the not inclusive of the 212 that carries over to the additional costs. I have a question for you on the area where it says the following components services are not included. >> Did you have additional costes costs in the electrical wiring and low voltage rough in as required or structural membranes and additional rigging support? >> Did we have a cost >> additional cost because it says that part wasn't that could incur that area could incur additional cost. >> Oh, right. There's an electrical firm that was [snorts] Yeah. contracted to do those services. >> Oh, no. I'm just wondering what was the amount on both of

015those that the electrical wiring and the structural membranes. Do you have the numbers? >> It's Ace Electric here, I think, is what he's pointing out. Was that they just invoiced the school directly for those services? It didn't go through us. >> It didn't go through you, >> right? Correct. >> For both of them. >> Uh, correct. Yep. Yep. So, at our board meeting, we approved like a 209 value. Before the contract was even signed off, it bumped to 212. >> You have an email approving that? I do. Can you provide a copy of that? >> Sure. >> Do you have a copy of this? >> No, I do not. >> I have a two two I made. There you go. >> Is it safe to assume that you received the payment from LPA before the

016end of March? >> Before the end of March. Yeah. >> Um I don't know. I can find that out. Yeah. >> The check was on March 13. [snorts] >> Um and then I do have a copy of uh the tariff announcement too which was announced on Saturday. The new pricing will go into effect on on Saturday, March 15, 2025 is when that was received. And that announcement, I would have to look back when we received that announcement from Shave. I might have that in an email thread somewhere. >> [clears throat] >> Um, I think >> Dave, I have a quick question. Most of the components and the parts probably I assume were bought from overseas, >> correct? Some of those items, is it China? Is it Taiwan? >> Yeah. I I mean so for example

017like shave lighting fixtures you know their headquarters the US headquarters I think is in West Palm Beach Florida for example it's somewhere in southern Florida but they sort of like a lot of manufacturers OEM a lot of stuff. So you might have the the engine or the circuit boards of the fixture come from China and then are assembled and then they put the final shipping housing pieces together and then they ship it out at the you know what I'm saying. You know, it's interesting because I have to admit that Aaron and Megan brought up a good point about the tariffs [clears throat] >> because I think if I recall there was a 10% increase on tariffs on April 5th, okay, of 2025. So if that is indeed the case and we paid on what' you

018say, Sherry, March 13th. >> The check was cut on March 13th. >> Were some of those items that we paid for, did you add additional tariff on top of that even though it was before the April 5th? [clears throat] I'm I'm sure you can't find it right now, but I guess I'd like to know that. I don't know. The board members are wondering that as well, too. [clears throat] >> I can provide additional language explaining the tariffs in more detail with timelines if you wish. >> I don't know me. I'm just >> Yeah, I didn't I just It seems seems weird to me. >> Is Chau the only one? >> I mean, she mentioned the checks cut on the 13th, right? we receive it the 17th. We, you know, I I don't know, you know,

019um but again, um unless the product is able to ship in stock in inventory, >> it's it's exempt from tariff scenarios if they don't have the products available to ship. So there's there's a lot of layers to that that can go into as well. >> Is shave the only one? >> That was the key one. Yeah. Yep. So one of the things too is um for example we actually provided on the stage lighting package which was 27691 we actually gave you a credit of 21.65 65 to offset because of uh whether it was I don't recall if it was a a price decrease of the product by the time it was able to ship that we honor that and reflected that um and so on so forth. Um I you know a couple other things

020I I just do want to point out is um um a couple areas that we basically covered and did not invoice you for is the equipment rack that you had ended up being too small. We put a whole brand new equipment rack which is close to $2,000. The floor pockets were completely a quagmire of identification labels, wiring backwards, mislabeled, not labeled. That was days of research and I did not charge you any more than what was on the base contract. Um, those were one of the final pieces on this final invoice. Um, and another item too is the hearing assist system, which is uh for the hearing impaired. We ended up providing all of the additional receivers that you need to make ADA compliance within your space. Um, you had walkway lights in that was

021uh not nothing we were aware of until we started firing up all of your systems and dimmer panels and giving everything program and found out that your walkway lights didn't work. We repaired those, did not charge you for it. So I've just I want to make sure that if the board is also we're trying to be very true and and you know of wanted to have you guys have a very dialed in system. You know you guys are remote obviously from where we are and wanted to make sure we got as much of this stuff taken care of. Uh we also do have and just as an FYI have a computer installed in your equipment rack too that we're remotely able to um via internet control from our office if we ever have to reboot

022or reprogram or help assist you with any troubleshooting types of things. Um I'm not saying that was an ad that was part of the contract, but I just [clears throat] want to make sure [laughter] that >> So is that is that a subscription then that we're paying for or >> No. Good. >> No, not at this time. That'll be all covered under your first year warranty and then we can move forward down the road with service contract thereafter if you want to be able to you know have other than we can do it via per project or do a service contract agreement as well for the future. >> We remind you when did the project finish? Um, I think the final uh commissioning we were here first week of January, I think something like that.

023>> Almost a year. >> Yeah. >> Board members, do you have any other questions or comments? Go ahead, Susan. >> We do. Uh, it looks like it was approved on approved on February 24th at a board meeting, but it looks like the original estimate when we were looking at it was what's there 184,000. >> 18476. >> When was that? February 24th of 25. >> Okay. And >> so >> go ahead. >> No, no, that's >> Yeah, that that I guess I'm not because there were some other quotes and different variations that were discussed over time of different packages and ultimately I was given not notification that this one was the one which therefore contract was generated which was therefore executed. So >> I have another question for you on the multitude of jobs you do.

024Is it common to have the travel expenses as high as $16,000? >> As high as I mean, that's a variable for a location to be. Um, this particular project, I mean, we had like four to five it was somewhere in the 4 to 500 hours of of on-site labor that was in our bid proposal. Um, and so as far as that being common, I would say yes, but it's it's dependent on the size of the project obviously and ours and and the size of the crew that you have here. Dave, I I I just want to throw this out there. Okay. First of all, I don't think I would have signed this contract to begin with myself, personally myself, because why would we sign something in this that says we're going to travel all the

025travel expenses, hotel travel perdm according to current standards and guidelines, right? And Susan, you asked about this. When you stay at the Hilton, the prices are going to be higher, right? when you have porter house stakes, the prices are going to be higher. I don't know why we would have signed an agreement with that in the contract, but it's said and done. Now, when was this supposed to be officially completed at LPA? You and I talked about that. >> Yeah, sure. I can share some on that, too. So, that was some communication, I think, primarily with John that we had originally talked and I think we were slated on the uh in that late July to end of August was kind of the bubble we were shooting for. Unfortunately, product availability was was not available

026to have all the products. So, um and obviously we don't want to be making multiple trips up here to do a little of what we can, but kind of come in and execute big chunks so we can minimize travel expenses, travel time. None of our guys like to be on the road traveling out of town, you know, and and that kind of thing. Everybody obviously wants to be in with their families and all that. So, um, so we ended up communicating with John. We ended up regrouping and say, "What does MEA week look like?" And so we shifted to that. We ended up getting in all of the rigging and all of the lighting and all of the components to make your fall play. So I communicated with John with the teachers and staff that

027do that are involved with that that were going to be part of the tech side of it to say what do you guys need for your fall play so we can make sure you have a functional system. We addressed that and made sure that was complete and then we came up with the final leg back up on December to finish the final installation and then ultimately in January or we were up here for the final programming and executing for which was part of the your lecture system, your touch panel system where um you can go up and do some of your day-to-day events and that was the final piece that was completed. >> Dave, I have a question. What about the current standards and guidelines? Could you elaborate on that, please? >> Sure. Yep. So,

028um, if you go to Minnesota State PDM rates, Lake Park, Minnesota, you can Google it right in. It goes right to a website and it tells you $68 per day for non that's meals and things like that. Um, the hotel was a pretty modest rate. I think we were getting rates from 97 to $105 rate at one of the hotels here in town at American Inns. Um, and then mileage is based the same thing. Mileage rate is all state guideline that we follow. And I provided one of those copies to you on a sample email back in November of where are we allocating and coming up with set expenses. >> Okay. I know you said that people don't like to stay away from their home a lot. Apparently Charles doesn't mind it because Charles was

029here a lot. >> I do [clears throat] have a question though. Um, >> and that was the the lighting was the majority of the labor. Dwayne and Noah came here on a Monday and Saturday, yet they both got mileage. Did they not drive together? I'm just curious. And I'm going to seem like I'm nitpicking, which I am. I just I don't understand. >> I I'd have to I'd have to look that up. So, it's possible one's coming from We do a lot of work in Fargo. It's possibly one of the crew guys is coming that way. And I I I don't know. I'd have to >> No, they both had 557 miles >> so in >> and some of it could be one of the gentlemen. I don't know if they're the same day. If

030they are then again what >> you know if if part of the session of work is a guy doesn't need to come up to midweek that saves a hotel cost that saves PDM and then you know we're going to do it that way. I mean we're we're always trying to work at his best to make economic sense for every for everybody. It's it's simply a reimbursement of the fact. >> Thank you. Go ahead. >> So in in in that email, I'm assuming it's that Friday, November 21st, they have crew travel from October 13th through the 20th. When you take one, two, three, four, five, six rungs here, the pdeiums add up to 31 days worth of pdeiums. And in the October 13th through the 20th, that's what >> kind of confusing me. >> It's only

031seven days. >> I mean, so you got October 13th through the 20th. Mhm. >> You take Charles's 10 days of per DM and you add up all these guys, you end up with a total of 31 days of total per DM. >> Okay. >> I I don't need an answer to that, but I I just try to wrap my mind around what how do you get how does >> Well, Charles was here 10 days and Dwayne would have been on site six days. Noah would have been on six days, Rob would have been 3 days, Cory would have been three days, etc., etc. >> But the window you got there is only >> October 13th through the 20th if you correct me if I'm wrong, but that's seven days, right? I think seven days. >>

032How do you get 10 days out of seven? >> That's what I was trying to do. >> How do we get 20 minutes? >> What's this year? >> Travel October 13th. >> Yeah. With the exception of Charles on this run was a Saturday through Monday with those dates and those dates which hasn't that's waiting to the extra days. It's like >> you don't get charged. This is a general timeline, but this is FYI on these particular two line items. There's a [clears throat] >> So on his 10 days, he also did travel from here. He traveled from here to here. >> So Susan, just to go back. Sorry. >> Yes. So, we actually approved a contract for 180,000 roughly under 190. >> Double check the minutes because we don't have access to the minutes to

033make sure that that's what it was. But that's the form and the bid that was on the agenda for that day. And our next full board meeting that we voted on wasn't until March 20ome. >> So, it potentially went from under 200 to over 200. And then plus from the 209 it went to 212. So just between the board meeting of approval to the time it actually got signed off and it increased over 20 grand for sure. >> Okay, >> that's I appreciate you coming up. I mean I for my my purpose I came in at the very front end of this or tail end of it and then I know a lot of you guys didn't have any partake in it. So I wanted you guys to at least hear what was going on

034so you can kind of wrap your mind around it. >> Fluster. Yeah, we appreciate you presenting today. Does anybody else have any questions? >> 2097. Okay, thank you. >> Anything else? Board members, any comments, questions? >> So, Dave, I know the next question you're going to ask me is when you're going to get paid that $7,000 question >> for the uh travel expenses. Um, well, as much as I'm disgruntled about this process, we will pay that. All right. And I will make sure that Sherry and I get that completed tomorrow. Sherry's behind there. She'll make sure that I sign off on it. So, >> I do have one more question on this. >> No, I'm Go ahead, Aaron. >> It shows there's only a 90-day warranty. So, are we going to have travel and pdeium

035on those warranty issues? If we have any warranty issues. >> Um, that should that's a typo. That should be one year >> and it should be after the completion. Correct. >> And I can send you I can send an email to Randall to say we will honor a one-year contract from the date of January 1. >> That'd be perfect. >> And that's that's there's no travel in >> No. Okay. No. Do you feel like everybody that needs to be trained has been trained? But I mean, or is there still some training that should be done or could be done or >> um I provided a follow-up email to John. Is John still here or >> John's not here? >> Oh, John's not here. I just sent him an email yesterday because I knew I was

036coming up. I'm like, >> hey, just following up because we never did a formal one with the lecture stuff. We did with the theater stuff. We did a lighting training. We did a separate audio training. We did all of that. So, yes, and I followed up with another email with um again with John to say, "Hey, I'm coming up tomorrow. Is [clears throat] there anything you would like us to go through?" And he said, "No, we're good." So, and I and we did provide um >> is there any virtual videos available if needed? >> Virtual videos unless unless the staff did at the time. I I don't recall if they did. >> Nothing that you would have for to how to operate the system. We did provide an operation guide that was sent to John.

037Yep. >> Okay. >> Anything else, Erin? Did that answer your question? Anything else, board members? >> Um, I do have I wasn't sure if he wanted this and and John's got this anyway, so you can get it from him, but I do have a final equipment documentation that was installed with all the serial numbers and and and stuff. That'll be nice for warranty purposes. in warranty purposes. Do we work through that with you if there's component issues or is it manufactured direct? >> Yeah. So that would be under the one-year warranty which I the 90 to1 which I'll I'll send Randle an email on that and then all anything beyond that. So for example the loudspeakers for example have a 5year warranty. So if something defective all of a sudden, hey, that one's just not

038working, and it's proven that it's not due to somebody plugged their phone in and turned it up insanely loud, which sometimes you can find those things out. Um, that that the speaker would be covered under warranty, but for us to take it down and remove it, that service labor wouldn't, which is pretty common with, you know, any sort of appliance and that kind of thing. So, yeah. Any other questions? >> Thanks for bearing with us. >> Thank you for having >> I mean right now we're in a world of training >> to say the least. So >> just to try to understand where our expenses are going and why they're going where they're going. >> Yep. >> Um it just uh we're trying to create some accountability within our our board ourselves. So >> understand.

039>> Thank you, Dave. I promise I keep my promises. I'll send that bill I'll send that uh off on [snorts] sign off on it tomorrow. Great. >> Please send the email tomorrow through. >> I I will do that. Okay. >> All right. Thanks everyone. Appreciate it. >> Thank you. >> Okay. 3.0. Moving on to new business. First, I'd like to say I apologize for the 2:30 afternoon meeting. We normally meet at 5:30, but we were trying to accommodate to get a full board here in attendance today for the important decisions we make. So, we had to move to a 2:30 time slot to accommodate getting everybody here. Um, new business, uh, 3.01 BPA presentation. >> Madam Chair, uh, I'm People are probably saying, why would you schedule a BPA presentation on a board meeting? That

040could be kind of tough because it's always for me about students and they just did something very fabulous. So, Mr. Hosfight, if you wouldn't mind having your students come up, I'd greatly appreciate it. Please introduce yourself. >> Yep. I have four. I'll give you this is something I wrote up the other night just more about BBA and as they raise money so you can learn more nationals on the back side are all the kids who qualify for the national competition and then there's more that these all have up in the hall but these are all the kids who are top nine finalists for BP but these are I'm just going to let the kids speak to what they did and what we're doing moving forward so >> go ahead and introduce yourself and what you

041Um, hello. I am Jade. >> I'm Madison Lind. >> I'm Violet. I'm Mara Bestie. And, uh, we're active participants in the Lake Park Autoban BPA program. So, BPA is Business Professionals of America. It's um, an activity organization type deal that um, allows us to learn and adopt like business um, techniques and different um, skills that can help us in the modern business world, you know. Um and so this past weekend on the 5th through the 7th was it? Yes. Um we went down to Minneapolis and competed in the state conference and we had we brought 12 >> 11 kids >> 11 ch 11 kids >> um [laughter] children >> 11 kids with us down there um to compete and we had eight people final. Eight people were top nine, so they were final. Yeah. >>

042And then um five of those eight people, we have five of us going to nationals in Nashville and May. And >> we already have a really small group, so having six people go to nationals is really big, especially for a school of our size. and the fact that it's our first year. We are a new chapter. So, we already got sort of like recognized as a new chapter and it's really awesome that we get to have people even going to nationals for this >> and this event really helps us bring maturity and bring the these information into our career world in the future as well. >> I'd like to add that there's like is there like over a 100 categories? There's >> there's 72 events. There was over,200 kids there. >> Yeah. So over a

043thousand new kids and we managed to have a lot of people that got up and I was really proud to be a part of the team. So especially for a small group. >> Do you want to just quickly tell them what you did and then we'll basically >> So um I placed six in database applications um which is basically like Microsoft access spreadsheets that fun stuff. >> You're going to need some help on this [laughter] when I'm here. Okay. >> [snorts] >> I had advanced desktop publishing which I placed third in. So I will be going to the nationals. Um basically I create logos and designs for fake companies using Adobe Illustrator. Uh I competed in computer modeling and I placed fourth place. So in that category my task was to design a hypothetical character

044for an RPG game. Um, so I had to 3D model and render it um by hand in Blender. >> Yeah. >> Although we didn't make it to state, me and Jade both worked on like the visual >> a visual design team project. Um, so that category did not advance to state. >> Yeah, we got ninth place >> to be fair. >> That is a presentation which only top three of regionals can go to top to state and top three for state. >> And we did get docked for something that they didn't see. [laughter] >> Sorry. Um, but I went along I didn't make a state for either of my categories, but I went along for open testing. And unfortunately, open testing is crazy. It's like all of the kids go and they take crazy tests.

045Anyways, so I didn't final for that, but I did go along as one of the chapter. >> I am sophomore rep. I am a chapter officer. I am sophomore rep. So basically I just bring awareness to the people in my grade of BPA and we try every single year to get more and more people joining which once again we've already gotten a lot of people to join this year which is crazy. So >> and on the topic of um chapter officers I would also like to add that I'm our media manager. So, like if you've seen our Facebook or our Instagram page, >> and we've only started with like about 16ish kids. So, I will say since we have the opportunity to go to nationals this year, there's no doubt that more kids will be

046joining next year. >> And we're also um in the process of we're going to start fundraising for nationals. Um and also, I would like to put a little spotlight on Mr. Crossfight for um being able to coach all of us in all these different activities. I think that's a really awesome and cool thing. >> Absolutely. >> Girls, you know something? I really appreciate coming today. You know, it's too bad we don't have somebody from the newspaper that could take your picture [laughter] and write up an article on the four of you and Mr. Hos. Oh, hi Abby. Hi [laughter] Abby. Would you mind getting a picture of them? And >> I could totally get a picture. >> That would be great. >> We're not everyone on the team. >> We're not everybody on the team.

047>> No, I know that. I think it's really somebody that >> Thank you, M. I appreciate it. >> Yeah, you guys can keep the paper. I'll take these and put these up in the hallway. >> Congratulations. Yes. Congratulations. Okay. And we're moving on to 3.02 budget cut discussion. Um, I'd like to say as a school board member, we're very sorry that I am very sorry that we were are where we were at. We made budget cuts, small minor ones, but we did not think we were going to be where we [snorts] are at today. And we're all on board to doing our best to rightsize our district and fix this. and we believe in LPA and everything it stands for and we know that we are a wonderful district. >> Madam Chair, if I may

048say a few things um before we get started, unless board members have any questions. >> I just I just have a quick comment. >> Yes, please. >> For all of you that came here today, this is been a lot of stress um on this district. You can feel it when you come into the school, when you walk down the hallways. Sincerely, from the bottom of my heart, I'm sorry. [snorts] >> Thank you, Cole. That was really well said. >> Yes. >> I would like to, if I could just give a little recap for the audience and for anybody online here. Um, I can stand up so people can tell if I'm telling the truth or not. Um, I just want to kind of say it out. Um, when I found out in November that we

049had to cut $1.5 million, needless to say, I was pretty crushed, right? And just remember, we had a meeting with the teachers and the staff. All right. Um, tried to put together a timeline that we would continue to work on this. And I'm just going to say it like this, and I absolutely don't want to sound unprofessional. This sucks. It really does. I try to stay positive when I come to school. It's [snorts] burning me up inside. Not because I worked here 20ome years ago or because I have connections to some people. I feel bad because I have actually been cut twice. No. Um, somebody was telling me, "Man, I'm just I'm not getting very much sleep at night." And I said, "I get that. I get that. But you know who I feel bad

050for? the individuals that are going to be affected by these cuts, they're the ones not getting sleep at night. Now, take me out of the equation, right? They're the ones not getting to sleep at night, probably. You know, I just want to tell you some things have been said to me in the last week, week and a half. Somebody said, "Well, I think you're involving the union too much teachers union. Maybe, maybe not." Right? But you know something? I'm a team player. And I want to credit this teacher union group here. It's not because one of them is sitting right here. Two of them are sitting right here executive committee, but because I feel like we work very well together. I'm proactive rather than reactive. That's how I like to be. Is it bad that

051I got the union involved? I don't know. I don't think so. Because guess what? I'd rather establish parameters right now than having to go in March, April, May and have everybody just just be a big quagmire. Also had a comment, well, you're getting the board involved too much. The perception when I got here is that the board needed to know more information, right? I'm trying to be transparent. Can be argued maybe I'm too transparent. Maybe I'm not transparent enough. But the board has to know because we have got to get to some sort of amount. Brandon, I said this before, ground zero. I hate the term because it brings back memories of 911, which I might recall. I was teaching at the old high school on 911. Remember where I was. I hate this just

052as much as anybody else does. Right? I mean, it can be argued I'm maybe not the brightest ball there, but nobody can ever argue that I'm not passionate about young people, right? Nobody can argue that, I don't think. Um, I also want to let you know I'm not going to lead the district astray. You know, um, I'm going to follow due process. I'm going to follow the dates that's outlined in state statute. I'm not going to knowingly do anything illegal, immoral, or wrong. Now, you know, many of you don't know me, but that's just me, right? I'm not going to lead our district astray and say, "Yep, we got to cut this and we got to cut that." Another thing, too, is I do not cave. All right? I do not cave. was asked today

053because we have been talking about these potential cuts since end of November, early December administrator. It's conveyed to me that I caved on something. I don't cave on something. I take my blinders off and I look at the big picture, right? And there's a couple decisions that the principles and myself, we we actually got together and looked at these different scenarios for quite a few months. And yesterday I relooked at it because I sent a bunch of things to the board members yesterday and I wanted to make sure I had my ducks in a row. I made I made some changes but I didn't make changes because I caved. I didn't do that. If the board of the committee doesn't feel like I'm doing my job, then you can find somebody else, right? I want

054to work very hard for this district. The community survey came back and I sent them the survey results. I maybe like to go through it. I will not give out the comments on the survey because there are some negative comments towards towards various individuals. I debate it. Should I send them or not? I don't want to have those comments released. Board members are my boss. If they say, "Yep, we got to release that." Then so be it. We got to move forward in this district. And part of this is making some very tough decisions. We have to take the emotion out of these decisions. And for me, that's hard. Maybe I'm too nice to be a superintendent. I don't know. But that's hard. That would be hard. So, I just want to say that um

055any questions, I'd be happy to answer. Uh any comments, suggestions, feedback, please. >> Thank you, Madam Chair. >> I would like to say thank you very much for everybody that did the community survey. We very much appreciated that. We did wait to make all of our final decisions until after we read all of the responses in our community survey, and there were a lot. And I know I personally read every single one. Okay. Did you want to >> Oh, the >> budget cuts. Just >> uh do you want to maybe just talk about the community survey the survey percentages real quick? >> Sounds >> or Jay, did you have something? >> I guess what I'd like just to put on the table? What is the expectation that we end up at? What is their goal

056at the end of this meeting today? Where are we? What is what has to be accomplished? Are we voting? Are we not voting? Are we are we just laying it all on the table and then we're going to have another discussion, a followup? What is the expectation? Where do we want to be? Where do we want to end up? I think that's very important because I mean right now I I don't know where we want to be at. Are we putting the rubber to the road and we're gonna make a decision on yes, we're going forward with this or are is this dialogue >> to regurgitate for a day or two and then reconvene? What what >> this is pretty fresh. So, sorry. >> Go ahead. Can I say one thing? >> Yeah. >> Just

057say one thing real quick. I forgot to mention this. last week, the end of last week, everybody that could potentially be affected by the cuts for the most part was notified. Okay, it just happens to be that the teachers that were notified happen to be non-tenured. Okay, we don't have to do non-tenure notifications until July 1. July 1. But if they're tenured or continuing contract, we have to let them know by March 15th. But I thought, I guess we thought it would be better for the teachers and the individuals to know your name potentially could be on the cutting list. You know, we could have been jerks and went to June 30th, but I didn't think that was right to do that. As I see it, board members, you have a potential list of elementary

058cuts, secondary cuts, cuts, and I need some direction on administration. Mr. Wix, go ahead, please. >> That was my question was in regard to non non-tenured staff. They don't have to be notified. So, that's not a a rush. So if we if there are things that we need to talk about or don't want to, we don't need to make a decision on those staff necessarily tonight. >> And Co, just so you know, every one of those individuals that are on this list were notified as a courtesy. >> Mhm. >> Okay. And I I don't want to I just want people to know, >> you know, >> I appreciate you doing that because honestly, that's what we need. We need to be transparent and I think just out of respect for that individual or those individuals,

059that's the best thing we could have done. So, thank you. >> Look, we got great teachers and great staff here, right? But if to be quite honest, if I knew I could potentially be on the chopping block, let's just say it, at least it gives them an opportunity to look around whether we vote yes or no. The people that work in this district are committed to Lake Park Adaban School District for the most part. >> I hope that answer your question, Co and Jade. >> Thank you. >> Did so. So, at the end, we have a spreadsheet in front of us that gets us to 1.6. six uh million dollars. Uh at the end of the day, we might not have a full we might not make it to that full amount, but we have

060time coming up. >> We have time to work within it. Yep. >> I think today is a >> Yeah. Preliminary. >> Madam Chair, Cole and I have talked about this before. The thought that we have to cut that much, is that necessary in one year or can we stretch it out? And I know we have talked as a board before. Is that a decision that we want to make too? >> Marge, we don't have to cut the 1.5. [clears throat] Okay, you can cut 500,000 a million, right? But I look I equate so everybody can hear me in TV. equate it to this. You want to take the band-aid off all at once. You want to do the band-aid just half. Right? Even with the 1.5 million, our projection enrollment is going to drop 20

061to 23 students next year. And I'm going to work hard just like everybody else in this district to retain those students, get some more students coming in online, whatever it looks like. Even with that 1.5, there's could be a potential to for 2 to 400,000 next year depending on how our enrollment comes in. So hopefully that answers your question marks. [snorts] >> And if it didn't, I can ask. >> And that's where I worry about if we cut too much, [snorts] you're not going to have kids coming in because they might be going somewhere else. Just >> that's a valid concern. >> Okay. Can you go ahead and walk through the community survey results? >> Oh yes. Yes. Thank you. I will. >> Okay. Section one about you. What best describes you? >> Go ahead.

062[laughter] >> Parent guardian. We had 69.8% of 8% of people. We had 3.2% of students. We had 18.7% of staff members, 11.5% of community members. >> Um we need to just can we stick to just the top numbers? >> Yes. And I would like to say we sent these out via email. This was on social media. We did have QR codes posted within the community. So we tried to get as many people as we could to respond to this. What school levels are you connected to? We had oh 372 responses. We had elementary prek through 6 57.3%. Secondary 7 through 12 62.4%. Community education 7% not directly connected 7%. A 4-day school week consideration overall. Would you like to would you support a transition to a 4-day school week? We have 373 responses. We had

063strongly support 23.9 support 25.5 neutral or need more information 27.9 opposed 8.3 strongly opposed 14.5. What do you see as potential benefits of a 4-day school week? Um, 368 respon responses. We have costs saving at 69%, staff recruitment and retention at 35.1%, improved staff morale at 34%, increased family time 42.4%. Student attendance improvement 30.7% and no benefit 19%. What concerns do you have about a 4-day school week? 371 responses. Child care on non-school days 49.3%. Academic impact 38.8%. Loss of instructional time 38.3%. Food access for students 30.5%. Impact on student activities 30.2%. Impact on working families 57.4%. [snorts] No concerns 17.5 and other 6.5%. If a 4-day work if a 4-day week were implemented, what should the district prioritize on the non-school day? We had 369 responses. Uh teaching, planning, professional development 16.8%. Optional student

064support and interventions 21.7% childcare programming 28.7%. No school related programming 13.8% and unsure 19%. Section three, budget priorities and reductions. If budget reductions are necessary, what areas should be prioritized for protection? 373 responses. Core academic programs, we had 73.7%. Student support services, we had 53.1%. Class size, we had 29.8%. Career and technical education, 28.2%. 2% arts, band, choir, visual arts, 26.3%. Athletics 23.1% technology 10.2%. Community education 7% extracurricular activities 17.2% transportation 26% food services 22.8%. Would you support reductions in extracurricular activities to pre preserve classroom in instruction? 373 responses we had yes at 23.9% no at 80% depends on the extent of reductions at 63.5% and unsure would you support program fees or increased activity fees to maintain programs we had 372 responses yes at 67.5% no at 8.9% maybe depends at 23.7 how important

065is it to maintain Ain small class sizes 371 responses extremely important 17.3% very important 32.9% somewhat important 41.8% not important 8.1%. District direction communication how confident are you that the district is making responsible financial decisions 370 responses very confident at 12.2% 2% somewhat confident at 29.5% neutral at 26.8% somewhat concerned at 18.4% and very concerned at 13.2%. How much do you trust lead district leadership to prioritize student learning while addressing budget challenges? We had 368 responses. A great deal at 18.2% 2% quite a bit at 35.9% some at 34% very little at 9.8% and a very small sliver at none. And out of the following below rank from the highest priority to the lowest core academics, student supports, arts, athletics, career technical programs, technology, transportation, and community education. Our top priority was core academics was

066student supports and we had career technical programs in there. A little bit of athletics and transportation. Number two was student supports being the highest with career technical programs being second. Third, transportation, athletics, arts, and transportation. >> I think I said dance transportation. arts and technology. Third, we had career technical programs, athletics, transportation, arts, student supports, technology, core academics, and community education. Fourth, we had this one's getting even closer. We had athletics, arts, career technical programs, technology, transportation, student supports, community education, and core academics. Fifth, we had technology, uh, career, technical programs, arts, transportation. Oh, athletics was in there above transportation and we have student supports, community education and core academics. Six, we have technology, athletics, arts, transportation, career technical programs, and student supports and community education. Seventh we have transportation being the highest with followed

067by arts, technology, athletics, community education, career technical programs and student supports and number eight our lowest priority was overwhelmingly community education followed by arts, athletics, technology [clears throat] and transportation and career technical programs. Thank you for everybody to take the time to do the community survey results and we I think they were very useful to read. >> Board members comments, questions, suggestions regarding the results of that. I think it's a real credit to this district that um the school board wanted to go out and do a community survey because there's number of districts right now experiencing some of the same issues that we are regarding cuts and they're just making it top down without getting feedback. You can research it in the media and you can see that. So, thank you school board for doing

068that and thank you for the people that participate in this community survey. >> Yes. Thank you. Okay. Where do you want to go on to next? >> Board members, any comments? Well, we could talk about the potential cuts. We have elementary, we have secondary. Um, we've talked about that. Um, and we do happen to have a principal here as well as any couple members from our different groups. Anybody has any questions? Also, preschool representative. Anybody has any questions, comments, you know, there's some tough decisions to be made. I'd rather have it get out out here to find out questions. Um, obviously I don't want to look at throwing anybody under the bus. So, be be careful what you say, what you don't say. I guess I'll just go from that perspective. Madam Chair, can >>

069I ask a question? >> Yes, ma'am. >> Can you just remind me what the potential savings are with the 4-day work model? Well, right now, one district similar in our size, they projected to save $300,000. I myself think that's a little high. All right. There's some pros and cons, by the way, to every single position, every single uh idea. Some of the pros for the 4 day week are, yeah, the students are probably going to love a 4-day week because it only adds about maybe 25 minutes onto the day, right? But the con is, and I just had a very um informative conversation this week with uh a parent that has some very young children in elementary school. And I don't care where you talk about four day weeks, the [snorts] one that always is

070get brought up is what am I going to do with those my kids on that fifth day? I get it. I get it. I remember when we had when I my kids were young, we had to find daycare. It's hard and we don't have enough daycare providers in this state. Um so I don't Megan want to specifically say I think it's less than 300,000. But another con to that then is you're going to make cuts to the individuals that make the least amount of money in our district. Right? And I've had some people come and talk to me, Dr. Burkquist, if we cut the hours and so forth, um, I'm going to lose some time. And it's a valid concern, right? So that's something that we have to think about. I'm going to guess it's

071between 180 to 220, Megan, but I don't want to go out there and I mean, we could delve into it more. But remember, we have a timeline that we have to get through the state of Minnesota and there's a whole bunch of requirements that we have to do if we look at going to a 4-day week. I there's surveys we have to take. We have to have community meetings. Well, we kind of did that already. And I won't sign off on anything unless we've done done all the requirements. I feel like I'm yelling. I'm sorry if I am, Megan. I'm just trying to make sure everybody can hear me in the room. >> Yeah. >> Currently not cuts does not include that. >> Correct. >> Right. >> And with what I we read from our

072surveys, I mean, everything you touched upon is a concern. [clears throat] And I I think that's definitely in my opinion as a spot we don't go to unless we absolutely have to. >> Sure. And if we were to look into a child care program for that day off looks looking at our survey looked like there was an increased need in it which would decrease the amount of money we would be saving because that presentation we had margin was remember if there's tons of people that need it then your cost decrease. By the way, I do want to mention, and obviously I'm not going to say the person's name. They did say if we go to a five four day week, this person along with another family friend said that they would try to go to

073a different school district. So, you got to weigh your pros and cons for 4 day week. I get it. As a student and a teacher myself, I would like a 4 day a week, right? But I'm also now a parent. Well, I I'm still a parent. Um I get it. It's hard to find for little ones and I would hate if something happened to a child underneath my watch whether it was dealing with a 4 day week or something else. So did that. Sorry man. I have to probably >> Yeah, absolutely. I just wanted to make sure I knew what that amount was in case >> I guess to start it off I mean swing at a high level. How do we have the least amount impact on students? That's admin. Well, oh, not not

074teachers should be our last resort, but we do have a couple that are resigning. So, we know those are not replaced. We got to figure out how to juggle that. But I think we got to stop start at the top. It's admin. >> Say m Madam Chair, if I may, then I will go to the admin portion of the potential cuts. And remember, [snorts] you don't have to make a decision tonight. today, right? Our next schoolboard meeting happens to be March 23rd, a week and a half. And I know what's going to happen, right? The these are going to get out there, right? And people are going to say, "Well, we we got to support this. We got to support that." And you as board members are going to be bombarded, right? I think superintendent

075and principles are going to be bombarded. I think it's good to know exactly what we're going to do with admin. And I'm going to throw this out there. All right. When we look at admin, all right, we have to look at the top, right? You have to look at the superintendent. Does this district need a full-time superintendent? Yes or no? Do you want to cut the superintendent down to 75% to 80%? Whatever it is, I don't know a lot of superintendents. I'm not trying to say, "Oh, good job, Mr. Burke." Who would probably put that as one of the potential cuts, right? Um, you could save 31,000 if you went to depending on what percentage it is. There's a possible principal position all said and done, $147,000 with salary and benefits. All right. You look

076at the wind configuration. I put that under the district that gets funded by access and sometimes a little bit of title, but we have to clean that up on how we code people in our district. Okay, we have to clean that up. But that's so I'm I'm not really putting that in there, but I am. And the person that would be heading that um I think is got a good plan in place. We look at community ed, $34,000. We [snorts] look at activities director, $76,298. There's a potential cut in the elementary food service area for 42,000. Potential cut for building and grounds 89,000. Remember, this is salary and benefits. I see many of you taking notes. If you have questions afterwards, I'm not afraid to share the things with you so you don't wreck your

077hands. Okay? Um, transportation. We have a person resigning at the end of June for $96,000. I have made contact with Cole. Can you hear me? Okay. Y down there with three individuals. One I just talked to yesterday who happens to be a graduate of Lake Park Ottabon. Remember, we did a transportation analysis and at this point it's probably better to keep it internal. However, when we have to buy a bus, the analysis says that we probably should look at outsourcing our transportation. Okay? Talked to a number of bus drivers. I don't know if any of them are here. Um, they love driving bus. I wouldn't last a week driving a bus. My patience level would be terrible. But the bus drivers here are pretty passionate. I've talked to a couple of them. They love their

078kids. They love our kids. So, we got to But if we look at a transportation company, which I'll I'll do the ground work, which I already have, we can set up meetings in that contract. They will continue to have our drivers as bus drivers. Just want to throw that out there. We also have a potential for a school nurse at $81,000. So, school nurse, transportation, building and grounds, elementary food service, activities director, community head, wind configuration, principal, superintendent. If you got rid of all those positions at, you know, different things, you're looking at $697,000 in savings. Again, I want to go back to what Marge said. We don't have to cut 1.5. If we cut 1.2 2 or 750. That's your prerogative. Okay. Questions on the administrative portion of this. >> I have some comments.

079Dr. Burquist. >> Yes. >> So when we look at these, it's not realistic to cut every single position position. Transportation in and of itself is a beast. So we have to be realistic about what we can cut. Can you cut a percentage of that? Certainly. you could probably look at 20%. So when you look at that transportation number, I don't think we can say tonight, okay, we're cutting our transportation department. We have to be realistic. Um a school nurse, we have there by state statute, we have to have so many hours per week. Um does not mean we have to have a full-time um nurse. And then like an activities director, someone is going to have to pick that up. So, you can't say we're gonna we're going to cut $76,000. We could say we

080could get half of that or or down to.3. Um, you know, if a if something else went along, but we cannot say that that $76,000 is going to go away and we don't need to account for that. Um, superintendent. I find that hard with being a school district that has two towns and two different schools, seven miles apart, to find a superintendent that is going to come and pick up what we have to do here in the next few years. Um, so that's my piece on the administration. I get I get down to 513 on that. Um, if you go halftime school nurse, if you go transportation, reduction of 20%, if you can get someone in here who is willing to do it, and if you get someone that's willing to do it for less,

081great. Um, but that's a 20% reduction there. activities director if you just take that down to a 0.5 um and maybe someone's picking something else up um or whatnot but not cutting the whole thing because we have to be realistic about these about these positions they can't go away um and I'll talk more about that student surve or that that community survey when we get up to the to the staffing portion um >> cool building and grounds community any thoughts on most >> and I do before you answer co I want >> so just to give you so um for those it used to be uh at least when I was here buildings and ground we had head custodians in each in each building and head of buildings and grounds was technically the the superintendent

082who took that on as their role. >> Yep. I I just learned of that a couple weeks ago that there was a superintendent that would have meetings with the building and grounds once a week. And if that superintendent from before could do it, I could do it as well. So, um there uh there's that. Um I just want to mention too, all three principles have said that they would pick up other items. >> I guess that was my biggest question. Um so I'll piggyback [clears throat] off of Cole. I would need to know who is going to be picking up that slack because he's correct. We can't just cut an entire program. Um, so if we could talk a little bit more in depth about who would be taking some areas over, that's okay. >>

083I would say, yeah, sorry, you finished. [laughter] >> Because I mean, that's really important to me. I mean, if we're looking at cutting a principle, then, you know, have we established that we can run with two? Have we established that the other two can take over responsibilities? If we're cutting building and grounds, then what are we doing to replace that? Because [snorts] >> I mean, without that kind of information, I don't feel like we're making an informed decision. >> So, I would just like a little bit more on what that means if we cut this line. >> Sir, I would say that's we as a governing board need to lean on >> Dr. be there on if he thinks we can suck that up. >> Yeah. >> Then we got to take his >> for

084sure. >> So if we just basically coming down to it, if if you say yes, you can do it and you can figure out a way, then we need to go with it. And if you think we can do more, then you got to tell us we can do more >> really. I mean, >> we can't get in the weeds on that side of it. >> Yeah. I Sarah, I don't know if I can answer that right now, unfortunately. Right. I mean, I have some suspicions, ideas. Yeah, we could do that. But I also want to meet with everybody affected on this this list here to talk about, okay, you know what, cuz [clears throat] been racking my brain. Do we put transportation, building grounds together? Do we do AD and building and grounds? AD

085and transportation. Cole's right. The biggest thing right now is a transportation piece. You do not want to have a first grader not getting picked up at home, left out in the snow, whatever it might be. And we don't want that. So, we have to make sure that we have a good plan in place for transportation. >> We did buildings and grounds and transportation five years ago together as a combined. It was a train wreck. >> Yeah. >> Okay. And then we want to make sure with transportation because when our transportation director came in, how many buses were outsourced to different places costing us $400 a day. So now we're actually saving money there. But if somebody else can do that, I would like to talk about the topic of the school nurse as have we

086had the school nurse for two years? >> Yes, I believe it's been two years. >> Yes. And prior we didn't have a school nurse. And you are required to have a school nurse with how many students in attendance? >> Thousand or over. Do we have any idea of the number of students who use her services? You know, like diabetic kids or >> um [clears throat] we in this district, I believe we hired the school nurse because of some student needs. Um and my understanding is that maybe some of those student needs aren't as prevalent as they were when we first hired the school nurse. who >> I'm not saying that the school she's doing a fantastic job and it's wonderful to have them in our district when we can afford it. >> I would like

087to say on a mother as a mother of a type 1 diabetic child >> uh Barb was my uh Barb in the office in the elementary that's who I depended on. We did not have a school nurse at the time and my daughter would go down low and Barb took care of it. She had any questions she rang up to me. So Barb has acted as her school nurse for many years. It got harder going to the ele we had a 504 plan. Okay. >> In the elementary got harder when we went to the high school and that's why I got to know a lot of the high school teachers because I was that mom that walked around with the emergency shot and showed it to every teacher that my child would be in contact

088with. But um we did operate without a school nurse and I feel that we did it successfully. Although I do like especially being the mom of the type 1 diabetic, I do like that we have one but we do need to be very fiscally responsible. I do want to mention this. Okay. Last year there was a $40,000 amount that we coded to the school nurse. Found out in the fall we were not supposed to code that $40,000 to the school nurse. So that position is getting funded out of general education general fund. maybe a little bit with special ed we could probably do, but we couldn't do that and I didn't want to do something that was against what we were required to do. So that $40,000 now next school year, if we keep the

089school nurse, we can utilize that $40,000 to offset the cost of the school nurse because at that point the school nurse this I'm saying the position. I'm not saying the person's name. that position will probably have their school nurse certificate or whatever they do have to get, which means we can use the $40,000 to offset that cost. If we don't use the $40,000 on a school nurse, we can use the $40,000 to offset the cost of our counselor or social worker. We have a counselor in the district and a social worker in the district. So, there is a potential to offset the cost with $40,000 that we get from the state. I have another question on the school nurse. If we did go to say 50%. And I know when we were looking for a

090school nurse, we did struggle to find people that were interested. >> What is the chance we'd retain a school nurse at 50%. >> Um, it's going to be, >> you know what I mean? >> Yeah. It's >> first it's going to I mean I can tell you that that is going to be a very tough position to fill. >> Yes. >> At a point five. Right. So [snorts] the alternative is no nurse and training staff to handle this, >> which I believe that's not uncommon, is it? >> No, it's not. >> Okay. >> Question for some of them with like >> I don't know. I I don't want to call out my own, but 66% of my children rely on the school nurse. um [clears throat] like would that be better than to their 504

091plan then to like just make sure like I don't know maybe it's not a question for >> No it's okay so >> probably >> if a student has a 504 plan >> Yeah >> um we have to follow that as just as strictly as an IEP Yeah >> right um if the school nurse is embedded in that then we have to figure something out if we don't have a school nurse position >> and I'm not sure you know if it's a feeding tube or whatever we would have to get like Jay just said somebody trained to do that. >> Yes. And usually in a 504 plan, the doctor submits something over and then you re you can you could probably update a 504 yearly, I would assume. >> Yeah, we do. >> Yeah. >> Yes,

092you do. You're supposed to >> kind of answer and we can talk if you'd like to. >> Anything else on >> Well, >> yeah, go ahead. >> In in in the staff side of it, I mean, the white the elephant in the room is the middle school. I mean that three principles we read in the survey time over time over time. I mean there is a concern there. Obviously we need we need to back off on that role that position. Um is it two? Are we in a spot as a district that we can we run with one principal? Can this superintendent take on role of a principal authoritarian and can we go with no principles and have a dean of students? I mean, I'm throwing it out there. We got to be aggressive. We

093got to be thinking >> statutoily. We can't have no principal. >> Correct. >> Um, we have to have one. >> Okay. >> Um, >> I believe I've seen in a district and I forget the size. I almost want to say 200 and some but it was it like a year ago I was looking and the superintendent was the principal of the whole school as well. >> Yeah. So to answer your question Jade Cole's right statutoily we have to have a principal. >> Okay. >> If that means one K through 12 principal whatever that is you can do that right. And in some schools superintendents do have that 5050 split or 75 25% split. Y >> um that that could be done as well too. I mean, just thinking sense-wise, I mean, we got two facilities.

094>> I mean, >> it's probably you would probably have to have, if that's the route you'd want to go, you'd have to have somebody that focuses on K6 and that building >> because we need somebody there. Yep. >> And then if you went to a superintendent principal combo, that person would be stationed in this building. >> Well, let me throw this at you. So, we have a principal at elementary. Do we need a principal at the high school? when throwing that out there. Dr. Burrquist is gone, which according to his contract, he works one day a week only. If he's not here, we don't have we don't have a >> disciplinary >> in the building. That puts us at a liability. >> Um >> yeah, I I I can see one, I can't see two,

095>> just from my point of view. So, um [snorts] >> Okay. >> Yeah. What? >> No. Oh, I think you're going to say something. No. >> And remember, okay, I know that you talked about three principles, right? We still have those other other positions could be argued are administrative or not administrative, right? Transportation, AD, and all that kind of stuff. You know, you have every right as a school board to make a decision tonight, right? If you want to say, "Look, I want to cut $200,000 administratively or whatever it might be. That's fine. If you want to cut one principal, if you want to cut the ad building super, you can do that tonight, right? You can also do uh you know, you can do that because people are going to say if you cut

096teachers, you better better cut Advent. Just like if you cut fine arts, you better cut athletics. Those are going to be arguments out there, right? And we've been talking all along, we have to rightsize this district because we're going to have to go out for an operating referendum and people are going to want to see this district right sized. Those comments came back pretty prevalent on those on those comments. >> Yes. Well, >> what's the budget cuts in the elementary food service? >> It's a position salary and benefits. It's a position in um one of the buildings. >> Okay. I have a question because I haven't been at any of the union meetings. >> Y >> are options for making cuts for contract employees? Is it is our only option to go by seniority? >>

097Yes. >> H okay. >> Union contracts have seniority lists, right? So, everybody that's been talked to on this list um after it was revamped yesterday are non-tenured, [clears throat] right? And really the story goes to be transparent, a principal doesn't like your shirt one day, they don't have to give you a reason why they're non-tenured. They're going to say we're going to let you go, right? So, they're on non-tenure. If we were to make more cuts, then we would have to go by seniority list. Okay? And remember, we do have a couple resignations that are in there and you saw that. So, yes. >> Are we going to be replacing those resations? >> No, we will not. So, the list that you have, >> there's less less classes. >> Yeah. So, the premise behind the

098elementary I'll just I'll just say that we have our elementary principal here, some elementary staff. We're looking at a potential $484,000. That's a potential position. FIED steam sixth grade, second grade, third grade, a resignation, fifth grade, and preK position. All those positions are based on the assumption, and I do have Mr. Johnson and some elementary staff here that we would go from three sections down to two sections. Kindergarten, first, second, third, fourth, and sixth would all be two sections. However, right now, we have approximately 39 kindergarteners that potentially are registering for next school year. And kindergarten roundup is coming up, right? It's very important to me and I think people would probably say this that I don't want to do two we don't want to do two sections of kindergarten, right? >> Not if we

099have high enrollment, right? Because you're Yeah. Maybe your parents sent the parents sent the kids to preschool. But kindergarten, man, that's that's where it happens, right? And um so this potential list right here, the 484 is with uh two sections of kindergarten, three sections of kindergarten. >> So if our enrollment increased in kindergarten, we'd be looking to hire another kindergarten teacher. >> Um no, we would >> This includes the three. >> Yeah, this includes the three. So we wouldn't have to do that. If we did this total cut right now of elementary, you're looking at 484,000. >> So, so this would be absorbed by just adjusting class sizes. >> Correct. >> So, I mean, >> question on the prek though, like if parents pay a stipen, I I also understand that it's hard to cut

100even with preschool care. So, is that like is that accurate like with the tuition that's paid? Well, I I [laughter] I happen to have somebody in here, and I don't want to throw that person under the bus. Here's the problem. Our community ed fund is approximately $500,000 deficit. And under community ed, if you take the umbrella, you have preschool, you have summer wreck, and different things. Now, I'm not by any means throwing preschool under the bus. I just want to make that very clear because I think we have a great preschool program and yeah, the person standing right there, I work very closely with her. Um, unfortunately, sometimes we don't get paid from families. >> Mrs. Brassth, I know you're here. Is there anything that you would like to add that I may be >>

101No, that's that's accurate. We the state tells us we have to have a sliding fee scale and we can't turn kids away. So all the kids come, some pay, some don't. We try and get scholarships for as many kids as we can to cover our expenses, but the reality is there's we haven't covered all of it, obviously. >> And unfortunately, what happened is they have what's called a BPK program, voluntary pre kindergarten program. our district um did not send in the um application last spring to try to get some of those things down. Right. We have pathways grant where we get two or three money from the pathways. Unfortunately, we did not send it in last spring and what has happened and I'm worked very closely with Mrs. Brassa. I and we have reached out

102to the state. Ironically, after this spring, they changed it. Instead of re uh applying every year, instead of now it's every four years. And unfortunately, I've talked to the quite a few people at the state trying to get them to say, "Look, we didn't for whatever reason get the application in. Could you please help us out?" And unfortunately, the answer is no. However, what they do is my understanding is they put all this money in the bucket and when you apply they give you the money. If you don't take the money, then there's some extra money and that round is coming up in the near future right now. But we are stuck for at least at this point for four years because we did not apply. Is that correct, Mrs. Am I saying that correct?

103Okay. >> So, we will still have the prek program. we just won't have that particular funding. What does that mean for our district? >> Well, no, we have never received that funding. We have we applied for it every two years since it started until anyway, but we have never received it. So, that was we have tried to get it every time we've been had the grant available to us. >> Okay. in the other districts. Um I'm not that I've been part of we've applied and we we the last district I think we got 34 free kids and um but it you have to work hard. You fill out the form. There's it's a big form and you got to you got to call and say look come on. Can you help us out? So we

104we are we're not able to do that right now. Sarah for this position right here. Um this preschool position would be Mr. Would you mind just talking about the program a little bit? Three, four, five. >> Well, so what we we have three teachers right now. We have two sections preschool that are for kids going into kindergarten. So it's 20 student max in each classroom. And then we have a third section for three year olds. That's three mornings a day. So our third teacher teaches the three-year-olds. She teaches ECF and she is in a four-year-old classroom as well every day in the afternoon because I am a teacher in the morning and then I'm the coordinator in the afternoon doing the office. Um so the and also as part of the state you have to

105have ECF classes to be able to run a preschool. We can't connected. So you have to have those classes going on to be able to run a preschool program at school also. So got in this position just so you know what kind of stove to one preschool class of 20 kids >> because that sorry >> but for me to be able to be in the classroom and to be a coordinator I would just have to be able to do both >> sorry >> are there any other questions regarding in the elementary. Remember to, and I've said this a number of times, June, July, and August is an opportunity where you could gain a bunch of students or you could lose students. So, that's something to >> I have a comment then. So, just kind of

106like it what I did with the administrator. I look what can we possibly do like um that survey that I looked at the last couple of days 75% say that small classes is the most important thing to them. Core academics is a top priority over anything else. We have to find a happy medium because bare bones is not going to cut it. Um when I look at the numbers I we would we would increase we would every class would be over um excuse me not every class three classes would then be over 20 students at the elementary uh and a fed and going down to one FIAD teacher is is going to put a a lot of work onto one FIAD teacher. Um could could that FIAD possession position be brought down slightly? I could

107see one of them. My suggestion is we going forward we we have no money right now to offer teachers. So what can we offer them? If we can offer them more time in their classroom, more prep time. And if you have a FIA, if you have two FIA teachers now that can actually increase the amount of FIA that they have with kids instead of how many what is our minutes in the FIA? uh per class roughly >> 25 minutes from FID. So if they have more of a in high school they have a 40m minute class. If that's now increased in in FID where these classes are longer that's giving teachers more prep time in their own classrooms. Um well and and just so you know um Mr. Johnson has created schedule as well as

108Mrs. Zick and Mr. admired based on these type of scenarios, right, with one FIA teacher or, you know, two social studies teachers in the high school, right? So, I just want to throw that out there. So, >> so, so with what you have here, if I'm understanding this correctly, we would absorb and create a class size that would be a little bit bigger than it currently is. Although, one position here would actually just eliminate a class altogether to which would reduce the opportunity for additional new kindergart preschoolers coming in. Is that the way I understood that? >> With the preschool. So basically every class except for kindergarten and fifth grade next year will be two sections. >> Yep. >> Yes. But you're asking about preschool. >> Yeah, that's what Ann was talking about. >> Mrs.

109Brass, I have a question. And you and I kind of touched base about this, but I can't remember. Do you recall how many of the preschool students traditionally we've had in our district that actually stay and go to LPA as opposed to neighboring schools? So we it is it is a bigger number like right now I know the other classroom has nine of their 20 kids are out of district and only one of them will not be coming to school here next year and a lot of them are families that have come in and so I don't I was talking to one mom at the community meeting we had here who when their youngest went to preschool she said we didn't we didn't know anywhere to go and it happened their daycare was in our

110district so they brought them here and they lived by Ulin and they loved it so now their third child is in our class this year and the fourth one will come in a couple years. So that's four kids from Ulum that have stayed here because they came to our program like the school of the district and just see have been here since then and that's we have multiple families like that that we know of that the district knows of. So it's it happens >> and Anna said if we cut this position you would be able to host one class size. >> We well one full-time all day every day section so we could have one half time like mornings, >> but not two full. Most parents can't do that. Come and pick their kids up

111every day. >> So, that would be the reality. We would be able to have one full-time section and we I don't know if we could offer a morning class 5 days a week and see what we could get, but transportation is an issue for most families if it was dropping them off or picking them up. Um, and that's like our three-year-old class is low this year because it is all in transportation. It's not We don't do any busing for our three-year-old class right now. What is our attendance in the three-year-old classroom right now? >> Right now, they have six or seven kids in the class. >> The Dre from last year, though, she did have higher >> last year was a higher number. We had a significant number of kids with special needs in that

112class. The reason our three-year-old class started is to get the kids who are on IEPs into the school district so that they can get their services in the district and the special ed program to the otherwise they need to go out to homes and daycarees to provide services to those children. Um so that's kind of how it started. We got out the kids who needed those services in the building and then we opened it up to any families that wanted to kids [clears throat] to join in the class. Um, this year happens to be a lower year where there's just a couple students in there that are that are getting services. Um, and then not as many parents came with kids that they could transport day. We actually have a new one starting next week.

113But >> it's fantastic. It's also a way to catch kids and get them services earlier before they start kindergarten. >> Thank you. >> I just one thing, >> Mr. Johnson. I just made one copy of this today just because I didn't know if you wanted me to speak on it, but kind of was what Cole's talking about if you guys want to pass it around. I figured out uh going next year, if we go with that section model, I just rolled the students forward. Whatever we have today, I put them into next year >> with the assumption that they'd stay. Uh it breaks down the class average size, what that would look like. And then there's also like 11 schools listed on the bottom of this document that we did get information from. So the

114average on the far right is what those class size averages are this year from neighboring districts. So we'd still be under in all those categories what the neighboring schools are, albeit very different from what they are this year. But if you want to just throw that around just so you have the information. >> Thank you, Mr. >> Appreciate you putting that together. So even though our class size would increase, we are still not increasing to what our neighbors are today is the way it's appearing. >> Correct. [clears throat] >> Yes. >> And I guess I think that's important for families to understand too. It's we're still going to be small class sizes. >> We're increasing from what it is, but it isn't. >> Okay. >> Right. >> I have a question in the steam category.

115Y >> um is that still keeping steam implemented in schools? just >> well class. >> Um I size >> I I think we can implement No, it's not. We're going to implement that into um some sort of class, right? Um >> into the teachers. The teach >> Well, I happen to We have a Are you talking about the elementary or high school right now? Elementary. >> Elementary. >> Yeah, we'll just have to figure something else out, Mr. Johnson. So, they won't have steam uh in the high school. Um >> my understanding from the steam teacher is that um you know we I kind of put a kibash on some of the money's being spent and I do feel bad that I haven't you know given much to that to that class but uh Cole you

116and I talked about this before wasn't the the purpose of this steam room before >> it was for at least at the high school level um or 712 level it was teachers would embed that in their curriculum and then that Then the room here intentionally would be for teachers to come down and whatever they're working on to do that. Um, so >> that's not a bad idea. >> Yeah. And it's [clears throat] it's a way of thinking, but it's not it's not increasingly hard to embed steam into your classroom. >> Madam Chair, we happen to have a steam teacher that just raised your hand. >> So yeah, I am the steam teacher at the high school and that is my firm belief [clears throat] related to steam is that steam needs to be incorporated in

117every single class. I've never believed that it should be a singular class because I am taking away projects from other classes whether it be Miss Huners whether it be math whether it be science right that is the point of steam is to broaden students understanding of those core things science technology engineering art and math and that should be done in every single class and so I would absolutely love to open up the steam room to every single teacher within this building >> sabers I appreciate you saying that I didn't want to speak for you, but that's what I wanted to say. So, thank you. >> So, so I understand this. So, right now, we have a steamed class and that's the only students that get to use it and the only >> at the high

118school. Great. >> Really? >> In the elementary, I believe all students that all students, but in the high school, it's the ones that sign up for Miss Saber's class. So, we increase our outreach to the high school students. >> So, there's courses that we could have that could implement some hands-on to better interact and better understand what they're learning. And we don't have that opportunity at this moment. >> No. And remember, I will take full responsibility. I'm sure people are going to be upset about this. Um, I'm going to recommend to the board that we get rid of the two required career classes as well as a required workbased learning class as a grad as as a requirement for LPA students, right? You know, you're probably hear a lot of people I I think that

119takes away from some electives that we could potentially offer students. Um, so I'll take responsibility for that. If anybody's upset, that's that's my call. Um, but remember, we uh want to pass it. >> Um, so that'll be one of the things >> option still there. Yeah, >> it's just not required to graduate. >> Correct. I would like to utilize one of our teachers to with a work-based learning to um potentially still offer that. I think it's a good class to have, but I think it needs to be a little bit more structured. >> Sure. you know. So, >> uh, Madam Chair, this is here nor there probably, but I was just looking at if you go down to one FIAD teacher, you're going to have 16 classes in a day and now they get 20.

120Is it 25 minutes for it? >> Yes. >> Okay. You're not going to fit in 16 >> 16 classes. >> No. No way. And if you you know like just through on a 4 day week it's going to be longer day maybe you could but if you go to five day week like we have now if you start at 8:30 to three you're not going to get 16 in there you're going to have to give her give the person uh uh lunch right but there's no way unless you have fed for like 10 minutes 15 minutes so I'm just saying >> you should look at that too >> and as a board that's not our concern. We got to take Ryan's and Ry's ex what you guys think we need to do. >> No, I'm

121not saying >> get the recommendation. >> I'm just saying I'm looking at that too >> as they're going to cut another financial year. But I'm saying >> maybe that's something that we have to look at. >> Probably not a viable option. >> Anything else regarding the elementary? Do you want me to move on to secondary for the time being? Is that okay, board members? cuz I know we have to um be done pretty soon here. >> Mr. Johnson, in regard to Miss Ben's question here, you said you can fit all classes preschool through sixth grade into one day. So that's all day every day. >> Yeah, you're you're not getting 25 minutes. So March's point for sure. >> Okay. So you're not getting 25 minutes. >> You're going to get 20 or you can double

122it up and you can run a 40minut class on alternating. So you're double on alternating days though. >> So now you're not going to buy it every day, >> right? Correct. >> Yeah. Currently it's 25 minutes right now. Obviously we're not going to get >> I have Yeah. I have an issue with that. Kids kids need their activity. >> They need a little blow steam off, don't they? >> They Hey, and and like I said, this is is if that gives more teach more classroom time for teachers, we can't offer money, but we can offer time in a scenario like this. um that's where I'm coming from on 25 or 1.75 or 1.7 whatever that ends up being doesn't necessarily have to be 2.0 but I don't think 1.0 0 is an option in my

123opinion as an educator and I wouldn't be able to do kindergarten through you know third grade anyway I couldn't imagine them not having fed in a day or having 10 minutes of fet >> well although kids even need to blow off steam if we're looking at an individual child if we have the very active ones the kastic learners and if we're looking applying to their learning styles if some kids if they're missing fed for the day and they don't have that output outsourced to move their energy. They're not going to learn as well in their desk. >> And I think I think there's just got to be concessions made. I would love to see class sizes under 18, but if if we're still if we're at 19 or 20 or 21 and the district looking

124at those schools around us, if they're 22, 23, I can't argue with that. >> No. >> So, I'm willing to make the concession. I have notes on here where, you know, I would love to keep at least two elementary teachers because I'd love to keep those numbers under 20, but the FID the FID thing for me is >> Well, Cole, I'll tell you what, I I get it. I mean, I'm a perfect poster child for a guy that didn't get fired every day when I was a kid. All right, I'm sorry. Trying to lighten the load a little bit here. Let's go to secondary quick. Um because there's other things other things as well, too. Um so again um let's let's go through this. Um the positions remember we have a fax position that we

125have a resignation at the end of this year. Okay again to be transparent we've had four applicants. We've advertised it. Three are not licensed. The fourth one is licensed. I did a little research. found out that um because of budget cuts that person would lose their job at the end of this year in in a district that's quite a ways away now. We have not reached out to that person. All right. Um honestly, I didn't think we would get anybody licensed in in family and consumer science. So, I just want to talk about that. Then I'll come back to that. Um we've talked about the media center position. We currently have a media center position in the secondary and elementary. We've talked about maybe doing something different. We happen to have a position in the

126social studies department as a resignation, but I'm not supposed to let that out. I apologize, but it's on the list here um at the end of the year. We also put down a middle school science position. All right, that's a brand new teacher. We've also put down the workbased learning uh teacher at $24,000. Right. We've also talked about high school special ed and one um English language position. Now, with those potential cuts, we're looking at 354,000. And I know what people are going to say, right? They're going to say, "Why are we cutting so much in the elementary compared to the high school?" Well, you can argue comparing apples to oranges, blah blah blah. One of the things when I looked at this, we've talked about this for months. One of the things that I

127believe is there was a potential you can look at going a halftime choir, halftime faded, halftime egg, halftime art, but my personal opinion kind of like what Cole says, I think we need other classes so students can expand their horizons to find out what they really like. Right? I don't like it that we funnel every kid into a four-year degree or this or that. I don't think we should do that. Actually, I'm a proponent of CTE. I think we need to expand our CTE um things. So, initially, there was a position on there that there was a couple positions on there, you might recall, um that was on there, but I'll take responsibility for it. I looked at it and I said,"Well, wouldn't it be great if we could have say halftime egg, maybe halftime

128CTE, Fax, whatever it might be, and include work-based learning because I think we need those options for our students." There's also talk about our numbers a little higher per grade level in the seventh, 8th, 9th, and 10th grade. Our 11th grade kids are very low numbers. We actually had another position or two on there. I know that we get tested in reading, math, and science. Right? So there was this POS this right here would give two social studies, two English, two and a half math, and two and a half science um with this potential thing. And remember, we can fill out if we need to have a math teacher teach the math classes, help out with science, we can do that, right? Obviously, we have to get that approved from the state. I'm not going

129to sign off on anything unless it is the right thing to do. So, Mr. Meyer, Mrs. Zinc, is there anything I left out on that particular case that I just talked about with secondary >> questions regarding Yes, Aaron. So if I mean it would be in my opinion it would be really silly to go half on the egg. Look where we are. We're surrounded by fields. I mean that would be that'd be the last thing I would want to see happen. >> I get that. >> Um >> well I I want to tell you that right I think we could couple that like I said obviously want to talk to the teacher want to encourage a teacher be able to you know can we do some egg classes? Can we do a workbased learning built

130into that hour? Can we offer a a fax class, maybe a international foods, whatever it might be, right? So, yes, I but I thought I would put down the electives, >> okay, >> in there. I'm not saying that we should do that. I'm just trying to say, look, if the board wants to do that, this is where we'd look at. I happen to agree with you, Erin. I >> mean, we're we're literally surrounded by fields, even this building right here. >> Yep. Correct. >> To cut egg would be kind of a silly silly decision. and it wouldn't be us doing our due diligence. >> So I have a question on the staffing in the secondary the the high school media center. Would we be cutting that position alto together? >> The high school media center

131position. >> High school media center. >> Well, we would be cutting that position as it exists now. >> However, we would do some shuffling with some administrative assistance potentially um to be stationed up here. that person doesn't [clears throat] really know that. But they could also help with our our online college classes because remember I'm trying to get some more online college classes in here because many of the juniors there's 34 36 of the sophomores a large number of those students want to take college classes whether it's PSO full-time where they go somewhere or they take it here or whatever it might be. So >> we would have somebody in the media center. Correct. >> That are going on. >> Yes. Correct. >> Perfect. >> So, if you look at it right now, um um

132if we went with this at 354,000 for the secondary and you look at $484,000 for the elementary, you know what you could do is you could say, "Yep, let's do that." or we can come back on March 23rd or we can schedule a meeting. It's only a week and a half away, right? I know that I I know that some board members might be disgruntled with me for sending so much stuff yesterday. I made a promise. I know there was a lot. I made a promise. I made a promise to the groups and the individuals that were affected that I wasn't going to send that information out to Tuesday. Okay. Um, I made that promise and I'm going to keep my promise and that's what happened. Should we have, you know, I sent you a

133whole bunch of stuff. I had a board member on a call with Moody's, right? Our rating system for our school district is not looking very good. All right. And so if we have to go out and borrow money, our interest rate because our rating system because a red flag popped up in the fall. One of the board members asked me how did we get to we had a call with Moody's. A red flag popped up in the fall based after our audit and they we were on a call for an hour and a half probably >> and because of that red flag is because of discrepancies. Something looked odd. >> Something looked odd. Something looked odd. Yeah. >> Just going to leave it at that. So, we were interviewed out of by movies [clears throat]

134out of Chicago. You can look it up. They rate the schools and different things like that. It's kind of I equate it to a the Better Business Bureau. You know, when you hey, go to Ry's Pizza. Oh, you know, that's got a business better business bureau rating of B+ or whatever it is. So, we did have that call. We have to borrow money at some point, for example. Maybe we we wouldn't get as a favorable rating. So they're going to get together with their people and say, "Okay, we interviewed Lake Park Ottabon School District. It's potential that they're going into SOD June. This is what we learn about it." So, but um yeah, getting back to the elementary and secondary cut now. If you want to cut administration right now and say, "Look, I make

135a mot. It's up to you." You can make a motion. You can make a motion and say, "I want to cut, I don't know, these three administrative positions. I want to cut the total of elementary. I would like to table this discussion and get more feedback. Maybe talk to different individuals, get more time to review the community survey results, whatever you want to do. Board members, >> I would just say at the high school level too, you know, you said brought up the idea of or me someone says, "Well, why are you cutting more at the elementary than the high school?" When you look at classroom teachers um there and teacher to student ratio there are simply more there. When we look at when we look at science it says cutting a science position I

136don't I don't think we can do I'll ask Mr. Meer and Zick, I don't think we can do with two teachers with the requirements by the state of Minnesota. Unless you're going to put 30 plus kids in a chemistry class, it's not going to work. Um, social studies and I I've met with them when they were doing their their scheduling technically could be done um just because the requirements some of those um state requirements can be shifted into business. Um and they they actually have less years of requirements 7 through 12. So that this year with our numbers could be done with two. It's not going to be easy. Um but math, English, and science, I don't know how I don't know how we cut a full position, a half a position. Yes. Then you

137come to the point of well now we have to hire a.5 teacher. >> Mr. Meyer, is there anything you want or Mr. Zick on the schedule? Is there anything you want to address with >> Cole? Johnson numbers enment numbers that 20 to 25 schools are two class. >> [snorts] >> So it could physically be done in science and math to be two sections and or with two teachers. Yeah, >> I was gonna say my classroom has room for 25 minutes. >> Cool. this scenario right here. Remember, we have contracts and I know you know this Cole, we have contracts that we have to follow, >> right? So seniority is a big part of this these potential position cuts in this synopsis right here is we would technically have two English, two social, three math and

138two science. But that third math teacher could potentially be half math and half science. Mr. Meyer, Mr. Zick, am I saying that correctly? If we want to do that, You just have to get permission for the science. >> If you want to keep a third English teacher or whatever, we we could do that as well. >> In the proposal, how many English teachers are there too? >> Two. two social, two English, three math, and two science with the with the proposal that a math might be able to submit for.5 private science >> possibly. Yes, >> did that answer your question there or not? Yeah, I mean I think that you just reiterated like if we're looking at one of our or a math teacher fulfilling a part-time science that just goes to show we need

139a.5 position for math and science for sure. >> Correct. Cole, that was >> ELA. Do we need a.5 or can you do it with two? >> A smaller senior class coming up. >> How many straighteners? We got enrollment numbers are the upper level 61. >> What's the require? Is there any senior um requirements senior class requirements for ELA or is it just through junior year? four >> four years of English requirements >> and then and then that is for that is 9 through 12 >> correct. So if you have seventh and eighth grade and even at two sections then that puts us at 14 classes. Correct? >> That put us that puts us at 12 >> with no electives. That means zero English electives. >> Unless we do something different. Remember, we could combine the

140teacher position with the potential of an AD, right? We've talked about that because we had an AD here for many years that I think was a part-time teacher, part-time AD from what I understand. Right. >> So, that's that's my point is if we are going to cut, I would propose for those sections as that it be.5, not a full position at least at this point. >> Okay. So just let me let me write this down fol so I make sure I understand. So you would say then um and still have a point you would say two and a half for every uh for science math and English but not social. >> I'd love to have a half one for social but it can be done >> right. Well, I mean, we can we can go

141back to the drawing board and figure that out, right? Because the bottom line is remember when we make these cuts, we want to have the least effect on our students. >> Absolutely. >> And you know, Cole, I'm not saying this because you're on the board, but one of the things that I I I agree with you is that we don't want to cut so much that we're going to lose students, >> right? >> But my goal is to get more college classes in here. I'd love to do some CTE uh partnerships with well unfortunately DLT right now is just going to nursing whatever you call it more edtech I don't know what you call it now I would like to do some partnerships and get some more stuff out here because I believe in rural

142Minnesota and I want I think in order to sustain rural Minnesota we need electric HVAC plumbing welding I would like to see some more of that along with the egg egg business maybe um but I mean I could if you want we could take that off and go from there. >> The one thing I want to mention too is remember at least from my perspective we have teachers waiting and individuals waiting to know where they stand, right? And >> no, I'm going to let you finish and then I have something else. >> Yeah, we have individuals that want to know, right? And I get that. They want to know, are they going to be let go? Say it in a nice way. We can make a decision tonight. We can wait till the 23rd or

143you can whatever you want to do. I just want you to be cognizant that we have individuals waiting to decide what is their next step. Go ahead, Cole. Sorry >> with that. with that. Um, there aren't any I want to make sure that before I say that there aren't any tenur teachers that will be given notification tonight if we made any decision. So, what I'm saying is we actually have until July. So, they know right now here's here's what it is. They have the opportunity themselves to say, "Hey, I should I should start looking." >> Yes. And then we can close that position down as well. >> Right. Correct. We do have any all everybody that's been notified on the teacher group is non-tenure. Right. There were some other teachers maybe on the list, but

144I myself made changes not because I caved as I mentioned before, but I try to look at the big picture because we have to have offerings for our students. So yes, that is correct. >> [clears throat] >> Okay. I just I have a comment cuz >> yes, >> when we're looking at these class sizes getting bigger by taking away certain positions, the only one that can't get bigger is prek. So, we're losing potential students by taking away that position. Not making a class size bigger, but actually losing students. So, I want us to be very aware of that because in all the other grades, we're not technically losing students. We're just making bigger class sizes. >> PreK is your first introduction. That's your right. >> That's your front door. >> That is your front door.

145And I don't think we can lose that. >> Yep. We're limiting the amount of kids that can come into the >> Well, you know something I I equate to this. You're going fishing. You catch them in preschool and hopefully they stay with you kindergarten through 12th grade. Yep. >> Right. So, you're right, Sarah. Absolutely. Especially when you have such an amazing preschool program, like you hear about our preschool program and counties away from us, like it's a big deal. >> Yeah. And the preschool person makes great coffee, too. [laughter] Sorry. All right. So, board members. Yes, you're right, Cole. They can they can wait or they can go out and look for other jobs, right? And let me tell you something. There's a lot of good people on this list. They're all good people, right?

146Everybody brings pros and and and are I'll speak for myself. I've got a few pros and I got a lot of areas of improvement, right? I want to get some direction from you administratively because right now I believe that's one of our holdups. Okay? And I'm I'm just saying it like it is. Does anybody else have anything to add there? And you saw the list. There's extracurriculars on there and everything else. If you'd like me to I could and instructional supplies. I could come back um with some of the things that I think I'm hearing tonight from the board that you would you've got some concerns or whatever. I could come back and update the secondary and elementary spreadsheet to reflect some of the things that you're thinking about or that you seem to have

147ideas you would like to keep. Okay, I can do that. But I do really need some direction on administration. I'll uh I'll think what we need to do as a school nurse. It sounds to me that we added it probably for a likely reason, but right now we probably didn't flex like we should have flexed and adjusted. I think we need to work through that. I think that's a place that we maybe need to take a look at. And it sounds to me it isn't again leaning on your expertise. I feel like you have in mind a way to address that concern. Secondly, transportation building and grounds. um the activities director. Uh those need to be looked at. How do we combine them? How? And I I'm not saying all them together, but I'm saying

148we got these half roles that need to be filled. I I think we need to look at that. And those those are not full-time positions here in the size of a district. Correct me if I'm wrong, Cole, but I think those are way over >> way we're way too comfortable there. And then my other part is the principal. And I'm not certain what that number I I we don't need three. We know two. I question the fact we need two. I I I think that's got to be out there. We have a superintendent at one facility. We have two facilities we had to cover. I think our role of superintendent probably is going to end up stepping up a little bit more than he anticipated. I think that's something we need to look at. Um,

149and I don't know what that looks like or how that looks, but I that that at this point I I feel like just the least impactful on our students right now. I I think as we if we're to leave here right now at this meeting, I think that's where we got to start. Anyone have anything on that? >> I just have one question for the superintendent, the 31,000. Is that because we're cutting your your FTE? Well, I I put that down because >> because I don't want to do that. I'm just going to say that right now. >> Too much going on. >> Yeah, I mean, we need you and we need a 1.0. So, >> thank you. I >> We're looking to have you take us into >> bring all the kids in. So,

150it's >> We're sure he is that he isn't. >> I mean, I people may not always agree with me, but I >> I care about the communities and the staff and the students. So, hopefully I'll, you know, >> so we're nervous to cut you down any percent. Yeah. >> What I would say is that that amount is if you would be available to absorb some of that additional responsibility, >> you know, that that would be the way to look at it. >> Sure. >> I mean, it's not being cut, but it's being absorbed, >> right, >> with >> Yeah. I tell you what, um, >> like I said, not only myself, but the principles, everybody's willing to step up and take something. I see what you're saying, Jade, regarding [clears throat] administration, right? I get

151that, Cole. I I see what you're saying with the with the sections of, you know, those four core areas, right? Um I could potentially go back we could potentially go back to the drawing board and look at what it would look like with those halftime teacher positions in conjunction with AD, whatever it would be. If you want me to, I will do that. I won't have that ready probably this week, tomorrow. Well, I was thinking Friday, but no, not tomorrow. But I can surely do that. >> I I didn't put activities director on there. I just feel like we have an opportunity. It's a I I feel like our our uh community ad is an opportunity to market our district. I mean, we have a person in place. Obviously, we have two schools that can

152accommodate and we just haven't done nothing for years. At one point [snorts] there used to be shop classes that went on for adults. What a perfect way to get a grandparent or I think it's our it's our marketing opportunity. So let's [clears throat] not look at cutting a community position. Let's create a robust community education position and let's get after it. Let's build it. Let's bring in families because of what we have to offer outside of the school hours. I'd like to say I think that's a great idea, but when we reflect back on the survey results, it's very low on the scale. >> It is >> right now. >> Yeah, >> but it's not something it's something we could always come back and build later when we have the funds. >> Unfortunately, in the

153past years, we did a great job of running people out of here. Let's run them in here. >> And I I think you know, you think about the 30 I mean, that's gain three students, four students. We're covered. We have such an opportunity there >> to have kids come into our district. Absolutely. It's we should be able to tie it in with the prek side of it. >> It should all tie together. >> Well, you know, one thing I know being we're talking community, Mr. Johnson, you know, everybody stepped. I'll tell you, Mr. Johnson said, you know, he would love to if if it means picking up something else, he'll pick up community ed, right? Because it makes sense because it's in the it's in the elementary. Makes sense. I said, "Well, if you do

154that, then I can help with summer wreck >> or whatever it looks like." Every one of us is willing to pick up more. And you know something, so are the teachers and the other staff. I mean, look at how many teachers we had here this afternoon that are that are passionate about this place. So So am I hearing that I I know Sir Wix has to go pretty soon. All right. Um >> I want to I want to say something and Oh, go ahead. But I'm going to talk directly because this affects you in the back. >> I I apologize. Our A district our size should not have three principles. Um if we had if we had the numbers that we've had, you know, in years past and we were growing and we had a

155school that could legitimately house a middle school, I could see it. It hurts me to have to tell you that, but when I hear from the public and from students that tell me that we we don't necessarily need three students or three three super sorry that's how much I heard the three principles and I >> you Cole, I think this one's you. >> I'm I'm okay. I'm just sometimes like sorry gets ahead of my my but I want them to know this is not easy for me to say and it's nobody else here wants to say it. But if we do not do this, I seriously fear that in the fall if we go to the taxpayers and we ask for a referendum, >> they will say no. >> [clears throat] >> 100%. Um, you

156know something, this is affecting everybody, right? I've been through so many different emotions and I'm probably been weak here. The board members, just as a reminder, they don't get paid, right? and not being paid for this position for their position, right? I have probably a lot of meetings. Each one of them has stepped up whether email, text, stopping in, calling, whatever. So, I'm getting goosebumps. This is hard for everybody. I get it. I absolutely hate being in this situation. You know something? I had him as a student way back when. >> God, he's a lot better now than he was as a student. >> I think we have had him as a student. >> I've known her for a long time. I had her as a probably a basketball player, right? Way back when. I'm

157sorry. I don't know about a four. [laughter] But you know something? Everybody's passionate. There's pride in this district. You know, we got great office staff workers, right? Sherry and Susie, they do a great job. I text them at 9:00 and say, "Hey, I don't see that. They're probably getting sick and tired. Text email. I hate this position that we're in. We have some very [snorts] passionate people here in this district. Very passionate. We have a lady who comes in and subs in the food service area and you know give people if I you know if I win the power I got to buy tickets first I would just give the 1.5 and then >> swear on everything I was thinking this meeting >> doesn't really >> so this is hard for everybody and I I

158just really appreciate everybody coming tonight I'm not sure what is going to happen in the future But I'll tell you what I'm going to I along with everybody else in this district is going to work hard. >> Okay. Anything else board members? >> Yeah. I just want to I can't finish this up without I just want to show Mr. Johnson how amazing it was. the [snorts] staff that came in and talked and spoke about you and what you mean to them meant a lot to me as a board member and to a parent who has a child in your school. So kudos to you for everything that you are doing because that was pretty amazing to witness. >> I'd like to say on Mr. Johnson as well. I've heard nothing as somebody that sends children

159into our district and send families in for and you personally take them through the district and you show them around and they're you are starting interest in our district welcoming these students and parents are actually they're open enrolling the ones that I'm sending in. So, we appreciate that. >> And this is a position. This is not the person. This is not a person. This is a position. Um, you want to do transportation transportation director? [snorts] >> I have one question on the building and grounds. I know that I remember when we voted on that we [snorts] needed that one, but prior we did not have a building and grounds director, did we? >> No. As we talked earlier, my understanding is we ah we had a superintendent. Sorry, >> Karma. We had the superintendent um

160who met my understanding is met with the building the head custodian in each school once a week or once every couple weeks and and did that um >> and that was pretty effective >> from what I understand. Yes, it was very effective right Cole. [clears throat] >> Yeah, >> it was effective. >> Sorry, Mark. >> I'm sorry. I thought you were with the superintendent who did building the grounds once a week once. >> I felt it was effective. Yeah. Um, you have to have [clears throat] competent people in the in the leadership roles that are attending to your daily needs. But yeah. >> Yep. Absolutely. So, yes, Susan, that answers your question. >> And we used to have our activities director used to be the shop teacher. >> Um, yeah, my understanding it was a

161couple [clears throat] hours of AD. >> Right. >> When I got hired, I was the ad assistant and he had Yeah. I had one hour of prep, one hour of ad and then taught the rest and then um the same when he retired the same happened with the next one and then the next one I believe it was one or two later it was became more of like a half time then kind of turned into like a it's never really been a full-time position. I mean the AD has taken on other responsibilities but when I when I initially came to this district the AD was a teacher who had one hour prep and one hour >> and then it moved to half to halftime position. >> Yes. >> And it was a teacher that stepped

162up to take the responsibility. >> It was at that time. >> Yeah. And um when I [clears throat] understand the concerns and the different things I'll take all this into account. I'll make sure I'll do my due diligence to research what we've done in the past and so forth. I want to move this district forward, right? And um yes, and if you have not offended by if you have any questions, comments, suggestions, please let me know right now or in an email, whatever. >> I I have a question. So, I have a prior commitment at 5:00. I have to be at >> Yep. I'm sorry. >> Can we one of two options here? Can I know we can't close a meeting? Correct. >> Can we remain open and recess for an hour and a half

163or do we want to >> Is that Is that even a possibility? First of all, >> Cole, I'll tell you what. Here's the deal. I don't really want to do that because I don't want it be perceived cuz remember, perception may or may not always be a reality that somebody's out. We could do this. >> I know [snorts] one of our board members is gone till next Wednesday, right? We could schedule a special board meeting next Thursday or Friday, Saturday, Sunday, Monday. We have a regular school board meeting which would give you a week and a couple days to kind of digest this, think it through. Um, talk to >> Aren't you going to refigure some of these? >> Yeah. And actually, yeah. And I'm going to >> I'm going to make a motion. >>

164Okay. >> I would like to make a motion to table this until the next meeting >> because I need some time. >> Yeah. I need some time to process this and >> and be absolutely sure [clears throat] >> you didn't make a motion to even approve this in the beginning. >> Oh, okay. So, yeah. So, that's >> virtually a discussion right now. >> Correct. Sir, I agree with you 100%. I'm glad you made that motion because it'll give us some time. I just want everybody to know board members, you know that I'm transparent. You want to come in ask questions. Please don't have come in with a quorum cuz I don't want to be perceived that we're breaking open meeting laws. Just want everybody to know that. >> You want me to >> I would

165I would also use this time as teachers, administrators, you've been racking your brains, I'm sure. But if there's anything else that you can think of, please bring forward in this time. >> We would appreciate it. >> Do do we want to >> Okay, I have a motion. You have a motion on here in a second by Aaron. >> Any discussion? >> I guess the only discussion I would have with that is do we want to take some of Cole's recommendations on the halftime? >> Yep. I'm going to work on that. >> Yeah. So Jade, just just to reiterate, I I'm I'm pretty smart. I wrote down things that you're concerned about or they have concerns about. I'm going to go back to the drawing board and and look at that. I'll have something in the

166near future then. Okay. So, >> we appreciate your work on that. In reality, we take this number. >> Can we get 80% of this number that we have as a total >> 80% of the 1.6 million? >> Yeah. Or what is what do you think is really attainable? Get 75% of that. >> So, >> you just have to see I would assume. >> Yeah. I mean, I think it's a guess at the >> reality is it's be really not attainable to get the five. >> Well, what right here? We have ones 1672. >> Yeah, but I'll tell you what, with the things I'm hearing, we're not going to get to 1.5, >> right? So, >> I I get to I get to 1.3 with the changes or with the changes that I talked about, not

167just at the high school level, but administratively knowing that we can't get rid of transportation, knowing that activities needs to go down to at least halfime. Um, >> there is a there, sorry to interrupt, there is a bus company, couple bus companies that reached out Would you like me to set up a meeting with a member of the transportation committee? What would you like me to do on that part? >> It doesn't hurt for you to meet with them. >> Sure. >> I'm an advocate for keeping it in house right now. We have the we have the assets. Um >> Yep. That's fine. I just want to throw that out there. >> But it doesn't hurt to meet with it and hear everything. Well, what was your proposal on transportation full or initially? Did did

168you >> Well, I mean down to like I said, that's going to be negotiated with whoever you meet. You might find someone in the community who wants to step in and says, "Hey, this doesn't have to be a 40-hour week job. It might be 30 hours a week and looking at, you know, I mean, >> I have received from somebody some some names. I have made contact with those individuals. One person we've been playing phone tag with, a local me community member, I don't want to say the name. Um, so there is a possibility out there. So, I think I will take this information back. There's a motion on the floor right now >> to do that and I agree with that. I'm glad Sarah, thank you for doing that >> and we'll go I'll

169get this information together. The one thing I want to be cognizant of and I made this promise that right now the preschool individuals have to know for sure what we're looking at. Right, Mr. Brass? March 15th. >> Yes, we need to open our registration for next year to get kids registered. We just need to know what what class is. Can they open the registration and not fill them yet? >> I guess I would propose that we open the registration for what we currently have right now for teachers and to get a baseline, right? Because that is one of the things that I was going to re-evaluate that. So, okay. >> I think if I if our front door like only having one one door to the building, we got to have you have to have

170that. That's not something you can really cut. >> And do we normally do our preschool registration on first come first serve? I know we always focus on making sure we get the kids in district that need services. >> We do first come first serve for kids that are eligible for kindergarten next year. Um we we've been full the last two years, but if we have openings in the two four year old classes and we have threey olds registered, we can fill it with those. >> Okay. >> So if we opened it at this point, Cole, have a nice night. If we opened it at this point, we'd have first come, first serve other than the spots we're saving to make sure the kids get the services. So, we could still open it >> because we'd

171be generating a list. >> Okay. >> Thank you, everybody. >> Okay, we have a motion from the table. We have a second. Any other discussion? Any other discussion? Motion to table the budget cut decisions. I That's what I told him. We didn't vote. We have to vote on the motion. >> Yes, that's motion. >> Sorry, it's a lot going on. >> It actually is. [laughter] Okay. Uh, all those in favor say, do you want to do a roll call? >> Yeah. >> We'll do a roll call vote on this. Um, me. Uh, if you're in favor, say I. If you're opposed, say nay. Megan. >> Hi, >> Marge. >> Hi, >> Jade. >> Hi, >> uh, Aaron. >> Hi, >> Sarah. >> Hi, >> Susan. I The eyes have it. Uh, motion passes. Budget cut

172discussion is postponed. >> Thank you everyone. Thank you everyone for attending this evening. If you have any you want to come up and ask her.