001You can see I do the monitor on the remote. >> Oh, [laughter] cool. >> Yeah. Make sure not to miss that part. >> All right, roll me. Mike Barrett, chair >> here. >> Chris Jordan, vice chair. >> Nicole Desari, clerk. >> Robert Mlan, treasure >> here. >> Tina Stley, director >> here. >> Douglas Jack Djari, director. Thomas Barrett, director >> here. >> Tim, what's superintendent? >> Okay. Summary overview of agenda. Superintendent. >> Thank you, Chairman Barrett. After our a lot of time for comments and delegations, we will review the latest report, including a look at the proposed 2627 master calendar for next year and the finance report, followed by enrollment. After that, we will move into the consent agenda, which includes approving the minutes from the November 19th regular meeting. Then we will amend the
0022526 school calendar to reflect using January 19th, 2026 as a snow day makeup day for our November 26th snow day. We will then hear 10 motions for new hires. The board will then hear a motion for a resignation followed by the retirement of Francis Lawrence Cubby with appreciation for many years of service. Also in the consent agenda, I say that is a the end of the consent agenda. There's no need for a closed session. The board will then move into the only uh three action items on the agenda. First one is approving the list of bills and wires in the amount of 2,989,444 which hopefully will make our treasur relieve since we've dropped down quite a bit from the last two months of monthly bills and checks. Then we'll go on to a motion to
003approve resolution 25-2 to amend Red Lake School's cafeteria plan, followed by a motion to certify the 2025 pay 2026 property tax levy $7,13355. With that, we will adjourn our meeting. Thank you. Okay, we need a motion to approve the agenda. >> Okay, there's a motion by Jack, second by Tom approve the agenda for December 17th, 2025. Further discussion. >> All those in favor say I. >> I [clears throat] public comments, delegation, none. None. >> Okay. Nolan, is Nolan going to make it? >> Actually, Nolan was not able to make it today. >> Um, I should have mentioned that he had a personal matter with uh okay to share Nicole. His brother >> Oh, yep. His brother >> had been hospitalized. So, he's helping with care for that. >> Okay. and reforms. Then >> I would
004refer you to uh page five in your board book and uh and actually be you should back up because the first reading of the 26 27 school calendar is something that could be coming up first and wanted to point out what's on that calendar. Um, but let's for now while I set that up, let's go on to the finance report and uh [clears throat] you can take a look at that. Again, I refer you to page five. main points to take a look at. Of course, as we usually do, part of the beginning balance, starting balance if you will, which is 27,297,000 and change and then our ending balance 25,441,000. So about 2.8 million this past month, but that is down from I believe it was over 4 million last month and the month before.
005So things are slowing down in terms of our costs, but we still have a very solid ending balance of 25 million, almost 25 and a half and a lot of that those swings take place as money comes in from the state or the feds and then money moves out. But everything else is in order. So I I submit that to you. Now, we can back up here. And what I'm going to do is put adjust this agenda item here. Maybe what I'll do instead, we got the calendar called up, but it's sideways. So, I'm going to call it up on another source here and show it to you. Since this is the first reading, we won't take any action on this, I'm going to uh pull this off. But our viewers should still be able
006to see the calendar in the background, but at the same time, if they can't see everything, I can highlight points on here that are salient. One of the most important differences for this next school year is that it starts rather late because Labor Day is not until Monday the 7th of September. So our first day is not until the 8th. But regardless, we're we should still be able to wrap up the year at the end of May. Our workshop days will actually be August 31st, the last day of August, and then Tuesday and Wednesday. Wednesday will be our open house day, September 2nd. Then we go straight through into October. And Octo October 2nd, we have Old Crossing Treaty Day. October 15th and 16th is NEA break. Then we have moving into November, we have
007November 9th is observed Veterans Day. Then we have Thanksgiving break and we're doing something slightly new this year. Instead of just Thanksgiving and Thanksgiving Friday, we're adding Thanksgiving Wednesday. And if you think about it, that's one of the biggest days holidays in the in the calendar year. I like to call it Friendsgiving, not Thanksgiving because of the cultural significance to our Native American populations in this country. But it's challenging for many people to prepare for that day to have to work all the way up to that day. So, we're taking the day before off as well. People have an opportunity to get together or travel if need be. Then we come back and we go straight through to Christmas break, which looks just like this year's Christmas break coming up. And then we come back
008on Monday, January 4th for our first day of school into the 27 year. Martin Luther King holiday is the 18th. Then we go to February 15th, which is President's Day. go straight through when you get spring break >> a little bit earlier this year. >> It's Chief's Day this year. >> Oh, you're right. Yep, you're right. >> Yeah, very good. >> Day and then there is a long stretch in April and what we're looking at probably doing for the second reading. Well, let me I'll back up to that in just a second. We go all the way through the end of May. The last student day is May 26th. The last staff day is the 27th. And that's also for the third year in a row now. It'll be our graduation. People have been expressing
009that they've appreciated that it's not on the weekend competing with other graduations or with the Paulo circuit that starts which allows us to get our drum circle more easily and our um princesses and and and the regalia. Um, and it's it's an opportunity for people are still around, not on Memorial Day, the more of our staff can be there for graduation supporting our students. What we're looking at doing now is because we have that long stretch in April through May, maybe taking a look at April 16th in our second reading next month, turning that into another snow day, which means if we don't have more than you know, right now we have three snow days built into it into our calendar. January 18th, Martin Luther King Day, February 15th, and March 29th. This would be
010a fourth snow day because our winters are getting more challenging. But if we don't need it, it would be a day off. April 16 is kind of a break so that we can all come back recharged for the last six weeks of school. So, we'll probably make that change for the second meeting. But this pretty much sums up the first reading. And it's a calendar year that very much reflects or imitates this past year that we're in right now, this current year with the one difference being having Thanksgiving Wednesday off, which I think will be a good thing. families. I also want to mention that when we come back next month and do a second reading of this calendar, we will at that time be giving you a first reading of the calendar year. Um,
011a couple of you have suggested, I think you did once, maybe not. I can't remember who it was. Why don't we take a look at two years so we can really plan plan out what we do with our our work. So in January we'll have the second reading of the 2627 calendar year, first reading of our 2728 calendar and we'll have the second reading of the 2728 in February and we'll be all set. So that's the report for the calendar and uh go ahead Chris. >> Don't see Super Bowl Monday one day on here, man. Next year's the year, man. >> You think? I'm hoping that Murphy's Law makes it so. One year we don't have it. We have the Vikings in. And at that time, it looks like the Vikings are going to be
012there. I think we'll be meeting in November or December, adjusting our calendar. It does. So, speaking of which, you will have to do that later here for the snow day. But you like now I can move into the things here. Do the move on to the enrollment report. And uh we didn't have a an enrollment report last month. So, this kind of reflects changes since middle of October, they're down a bit, down about 25 students. That kind of reflects what happened last year right about now. Winter start to set in November, December. We tend to see a drop. I anticipate that we'll probably start seeing it climb up again around February or March like it did last year, but we're still uh just on the edge of 1500 preK12 or K12. And then when you
013throw in the third, three and four year old programs were actually closer to 1600 1573. So, still a pretty solid showing school year at this time of the year. That wraps up the reports. Um, and I should also mention while we're still kind of talking calendar, the second item in our consent agenda, very routine, just to make sure you are mindful of the fact that we are, we do adjust our calendars from time to time. So, now that we've had our first snow day, we will be officially bringing back Martin Luther King Day, January 19th, as a makeup day. I think it's going to be one of those winters being between 2 and 2:30 today. I'll be logging on to the Santor Weather Service to find out what's coming our way tonight and tomorrow. Could
014be a late start. Could be a cancelled today. All depends upon the timing and the direction. The potential of rain and freezing rain and snow and wind. All right, ready to move on to the consent. Thank you. >> Okay, we'll have a motion on the consent agenda. >> Second that >> motion by second by Chris. >> How many years on Toby? You told me, Courtney, >> I believe he's the top of our seniority list, but I don't have the exact number. >> Yeah, he has been here way before me. >> He was like right out of high school. 75 >> close to 50 years. 49 maybe. >> A year younger than him, I think. So, he was graduated in 74. >> 75. He graduated. >> What? Yes. Would you guys >> I thought he was
015you're younger than us or a year older. >> I heard right after that, didn't he? I mean, >> yeah, I heard that high school. >> Further discussion on consent. >> It's going to be sad. We going to have Bill his shoes, >> right? >> I told him that, too. So, >> I appreciate it. Like last night I walked into the boys's bathroom by the gym and was kind of a mess probably from who knows you know the all the kids coming in and out but it was [clears throat] kind of embarrassing. It was about 6:00 and I thought well we got a lot of people still coming and they're going to use the bathroom. I said Tubby can you take a look in the bathroom tidy it up for me and he went right in
016and cleaned it up real nicely. It was presentable again. He does good work. Thank you to Tubby. So, are you going to get him a blanket for being the longest employee here? >> I think that's the tradition. Yeah, maybe. So, I'll talk to Willie about that. >> I think they usually do something that at the end of the year for all the retirees. >> Oh, yeah. >> We had another one um a few months ago, the secretary. >> Yep. >> She was also long. >> Yep. She received her life. >> Oh, she did. Okay. >> Yep. But I think Yeah, because we often sometimes we do give them when they retire in the middle of the year. >> Yeah, that's right. >> Yeah. >> We'll have to till the end of February still a hard
017time still. >> All those in favor say I. I >> I opposed. >> And we close the active approved bills and wires for the month of November 2025. >> Thank you, Chair. Yep. And that's for 2,989,444.19,000 >> 449 have a motion. >> Y >> I'll second that motion motion by ML by Mr. So 2.9 almost 3 million further discussion. Lord what? >> Yeah. >> But I think it'll go down again hopefully. >> You see any savings from the solar yet? Cuz it look like 5,000 less, right? >> Yeah. Five. Yep. Compared to four. Yeah, I remember. >> I know there's a lot of old bills from last year. Why it was so high, wasn't it? Wasn't that >> construction work? >> Yep. >> But all in favor say I. I >> approve resolution 2025-2 to
018amend Red Lake school rules 39 uh district 38 cafeteria plan to implement provision to section 70404 of HR1 >> that is referring to language [laughter] >> the beautiful bill increased the limit MS for FSAs and you know uh HSA kind of thing and in order to be able to access those we have to amend our cafeteria plan that we have. >> Simple as that. So it's a good thing to do that. >> A motion motion by John. >> A second by Dina to approve landing. Further discussion. >> I just had a question for Lily. What where is our impact data again? Could you explain to us? It's in the >> Let's finish. >> Well, we just go ahead. >> All those in favor say I. >> I approve a seven. >> Now, what was your
019question? uh impact a day. You said it was in a reserve. >> So what we have any impact that we don't spend in a given year, we have to put it onto the reserve in on our books. So like on June 30th of uh 2025, there's I want to say about $5.5 million at the impact that's reserved that we can use in future years. Okay. So, how much are we at now? The Well, we haven't received any yet this year. Let's see when I just said that they haven't gotten off yet. We get emails when they go out. >> So, ours is we can have ours for like a year. It can you could run for a year with with our reserve or >> Yes. >> Okay. Because part of our reserve, if you look
020at the reserve in total on June 30th, we had about 32 to 34 million in savings. >> Not just so, you know, like when we talked about if they cut the impact a program, we could probably get by for two years. So like when I was at Nissa though and talked with the people from Navus, they said that our antipay got approved and we were at 16 million. >> That's the application. Yeah, >> the application was approved, but they haven't issued payments yet. >> They said that they were supposed to be issuing payments because they opened up the new application. I was Yeah, I was in there yesterday because I'm applying for this FY27 application and it says no payments every process >> and you know it could be cut because they're trying to cut
021department A. So I >> consider I don't think there's going to be much of an issue with that primarily because if they cut in Medicaid they're cutting military >> and they're trying to keep military cuts. So that's what we found on >> and and typically what's happened in the past is when one program is giving we're like they were after Indiana schools >> 10 years ago the military stepped up and said no >> okay that's >> and then and we've had to back the military before too when when they were going to do all of those base closures and kind of thing >> Indian Rand actually was there with the military saying no we don't want to do this >> because they have Yeah, they have joint Nissa. Anyways, >> yeah, some of them have.
022>> Yeah, >> they've been coming to the meetings lately. I was talking with >> Brent Brent is about it. So, things are working out. But when I talked with Ryan Gallop and other guys that were over there, they said that that they got approved their waiting cost of that January 30th is when everything else. Yeah. >> So all all they have approved they they didn't get a full year of funding. So they they have from October 1st through January 31st worth funding. It's one day at a time. So they don't get the full dollar amount once Congress passes a bill then they give the department of edge or whoever is going to now we were talking about >> department of labor >> labor labor we were thinking it was interior sounds then they'll give it
023to the department of labor and then department of labor will distribute it >> which that's what the Trump >> get back on agenda for >> the next one you'll see all the reserve auditors bring people >> appreciate that Lily should have [clears throat] stopped in and asked you but I just something to share for all of us I didn't want to get political [laughter] >> yes means for all your help [clears throat] >> okay 325 page 226 property tax levy at $7,13355. >> I'll move second. >> Okay. A motion by MLAN and second by Jack to certify as presented. Further discussion. None. All those in favor say I. I >> nobody that is there. Yeah. There's no miscellaneous on here, but anybody might have any miscellaneous to add? >> Yeah. So, Nissa conference was actually
024really good. Um, I think the common theme there this year and it's always the theme is um the kids come first. Um when we got to witness that there especially like with the performances of some of the uh perhaps that brought some of their students down for the weekend. It was really enjoyable. Um we did learn a lot. Well, I ain't going to say we I'm say I learned a lot because it's been a while. Uh I attended NHS because they were there on the seventh and then on the 8th I was there and that was really good. and I got to meet and talk with a lot of uh other people that are going through the same struggles that we are. Um, one thing I did notice is some of like the programs that
025they are implementing and have some of that stuff we've had in place and I just don't know what happened with it like the gardens and you know bringing in traditional foods and teaching the kids how to garden and stuff of that nature. Um, but I thought it was really interesting. But, uh, yeah, I was going to write something up and put it in the board packet so everybody could have it just, uh, from what I experienced there. Met some really good people. Another thing though too is I think and I just found this out kind of eye opening from since I've been on the board. I always just thought it was us that were us and the other tribal nations around us that were you know affected by impact aid but then when I went
026through the list I didn't know Bagley receives impact aid uh clearbrook biji so I don't know if those districts are interested in going to Nafas and you know talking with these people that represent us over in DC [clears throat] but I we probably need to reach out and let them know, hey, this stuff is important to all of us. But the only school that I didn't see on there was Kailure. I would assume that they would benefit from what we get as far as impact a go as much money as we pay out. Uh but like I know Bley, Biji, um I want to say Clear Brook might have been on there, but I'm not totally for sure. But >> I believe with the pipeline, they would be part of that too. Yeah. >> Um,
027a lot of the districts they budgets are so tight. I was in Biji, we couldn't afford to go even with the we didn't get that much impact. That's our budget was hurting so much. Kelly could probably afford to go. Fairbrook, I don't know. Their budget looks good or badly. >> How would they qualify? >> Which one? >> Anyone? >> Kellier gets a lot of impact a just by virtue of the fact that half of their students are We're have to tell you >> what I would say on that is we need to get those students back here and get that impact a money here. We're not supporting them other districts. We need to support this district. >> Yeah, we're working on that. It was my fault they all went over there because when I was
028there nobody >> so we don't need to be helping getting those kids back here in our school where they should be. >> The uh see their money comes here first and then it follows. I was talking with Willie about it because it confused me too. But when they they start their school at at Red Lake Elementary, so their money comes here and then their money comes here. But then once we get that money, whatever district they go to, cuz I kept asking, why are we sending money to Pervo? Why are we sending money to Kelly? Why are we sending this money to Bumiji and all these surrounding district is just because that we receiving it for those students that now attend those districts. So yeah. They did pick up some Kellier last year and I
029think >> so that's why we're working hard on getting those students to come back here and go to school >> and we've had a couple already transferred in regards to sports. >> A couple from Clear Book. >> So that's my question is how do we want those kids to come back? you know, because I I don't think we're >> we're this just my personal opinion that we're not totally putting our our students first in some aspects just walking around the secondary complex there. There's a lot of I don't I don't want to say negative stuff, but it's stuff that affects these kids and you can see walks or just visit work on. And that's just my opinion and I I can't I can't say for sure what what what the issues are because I'm not
030here daily, but just when I come in and I see smiles and some are happy, but then you got that group that's just like rather not be here. I'd rather be at home and it's just like, man, we got to figure out what what can we do to motivate them to >> Well, we've already >> Are you referring to staff or students? It's I think it's a mixture of both, but I can't It's hard to say. It's really hard to say what what to deal with. I'm not totally for sure. >> Well, I can tell you that our staff really love our kids and like being here. You know, everybody has a good day and a bad day, but making doing a lot of initiative, a lot of programs to remind kids love them here.
031welcome to be here and things that we're doing with PBIS and the peer leadership group and with other programs check and connect are engaging students and helping them to enjoy being here cutting back on the fights getting cell phone put away. But our culture across this whole country consumes negativity, politics, violence, and mental health concern. And then they all come into school with all of our kids and all of our adults. And we all struggle at times, but we're all working on trying to deal through all those things. So when a student comes to school with some struggles, try to provide them with all the support they need, comp health and counseling and social work. But there's there's a lot going on in our communities and that's true for every community in the new kind
032of >> right. And what we do is try real hard to make kids know we're glad they're here. And if they come late, rather than saying why weren't you here? Why are you late? it more. We're glad you made it. Make a difference. And uh I enjoy walking around and seeing the kids and connecting with them. What I see is positive, you know. And if I do see someone down, I often walk up to them and say, "How's your day going? You look like you're kind of uh struggling. Anything I can do to help you?" Usually kids don't want to get, you know, famous. They just say, "I'm doing good." But I think the fact that an adult reached out makes it, >> you know, I I like our peer um support we have going
033on and we should have that going on with our certified staff. >> You know, I I praise our teachers. They're certified. they're doing great, you know, but non-certified. We we kind of have like, you know, some lack of preion, you know, that's instilled with us with our generational trauma. You know, maybe they need that extra um support on how to be a good leader. >> So, I I think that would be something beneficial for our nonert. >> Yep. >> And and bashing off what he sees, you know, cuz I I see that too. I actually met with our non-certified um co-chairs [clears throat] and had a meeting and confer ways that we can be more supportive. So, we're going to work on that too. Whatever we need to do to make sure because it trickled
034down everybody, you know, if you're if I'm having a bad day, I might that might influence my students if I'm a teacher or a car or secretary custodian. And I like to remind them through PBIS, we're all the gatekeepers. We all can make a difference. Bus drivers big time. First and the last representative of the school district to have contact with the kids. So, let's make it a good day for the kids. All right, I better I'll stop. I got my soap box here. >> Okay, for that >> and we're going to gear up for a weather related report here. [laughter] But also one more thing, Chairman Barrett um brought brought up on our NISA and I also went and I I shared before the board meeting that we we also should be talking about
035with our community members of sex education. It it stems it's it's a reality and it stems to our upbringing and how we run our families. And so if we know more about that and and instill that within our youth, I think it will help with the upbringing of the our inab people. And so [clears throat] at the conference I visited this lady and she went and did this tool. It's called we are here now and we can um form it into a nishab because it's in their language out in Montana. and she went around and made this goodness really beneficial. I went through it and and it's like a kind of like a toolkit on how to talk about sex education. So, it was one one of the main things that I got from NISA
036my trip last week and I I want to share this with so I'll email you and I also leave a copy. >> Thank you. That was good. >> Yeah, >> that was actually >> Yeah. So that was one of my main I really like that >> because it was more of a open conversation with the student versus them >> teaching the old way. Yeah. Instead of teaching it the old way. >> Okay. Anybody else? >> What? Hold on. Was there something somebody brought up backpacks? something came up with backpacks after the break. They're not going to allow the kids to have backpacks. >> We talked about this a couple months ago at the board meeting to curb bed bugs and other problems. >> So that we're finally initiating it now when we come back. There
037will be acceptance for those students who need to bring a bag to school for medicine or feminine needs sports the next couple of months. This is flu season. It's also bed bug and lice season. And the best way to get lice and bed bugs to spread from my house to your house if I'm bringing it into school on my backpack is to put my backpack next to yours on the hallway for 20 minutes while the guards are going to backpacks and then my bed bugs get into your backpack and go to your home. So, this will curb that. And students will be able to use their uh use lockers now. And if [clears throat] they do bring a bag, they just put them in their locker. And then we will spray those lockers every couple
038of weeks with a residual u chemical that takes care of critters like bed bugs and lice and so on and so forth. So, we'll work with the kids, but we want to make sure that uh we avoid this problem. That was something that was brought to our attention by our school nurse and a couple other people in the building. And a couple times guards have pulled me aside and said, "See that? That is a bed bug." Sure enough, was thanks for bringing that up. So, so um it's going on two week break. Is there some way that you can get get in there and u fumigate the place or something and be proactive about it? >> Yep, they're doing that. Yep. They're going to be in here and they're going to be covering a lot
039of things like that. Yep. Cleanup, fumigating. Yep. >> Also send resource full information home to families. You know, maybe not all families are aware on how to handle situations like that. You know what I mean? We could be helpful by giving resources. >> We they've been doing some of that already, but we can ramp that up now. Come back. But >> and then same thing happens whenever there's lice. It used to be we send kids home, but we don't do that anymore. But we send them home at the end of the day with a kit or with advice on how to handle >> Oh, >> yeah. The nurse techs are real good about that kind of thing. >> Okay. >> Then I just want to recognize the uh snow removal team. >> Remember that last
040big storm and I came in, you know, when we came in and all the sidewalks were >> It was nice. Yeah, cuz I looked in some other parts of the community and were they weren't shovel yet and went to another school and they had elders and women out there shovel. I thought our crew get here early. So anytime you don't think about this motion by Nicole >> second everybody