001But I think I mean I just haven't been there. It's just It is 6:30 on April 21st in the Rockford Area School District boardroom. I'd like to call the regular business meeting to order and we will start with pledge of allegiance. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. Thank you. Uh, Madame Clerk, would you please call the role? Uh, Beth, here we are all here. We have four. Excellent. Thank you so much. Um, there is one item that will be changed in our agenda. Item number 4H will be pulled and moved into May. So, that was one change that has been made to tonight's agenda. Dr. Ridlehoover, are any other changes
002or concerns about tonight's agenda? There are no other changes. Excellent. With that, I would ask for approval of tonight's agenda. Could I have a motion, please? I'll make a motion. Thank you, Miss Hilstrom. There's a motion. Can I have a second? I'll second. Thank you, Mr. Shadine. There's a first and a second. Any further discussion? Seeing none, all those in favor signify by I. I opposed. Tonight's agenda carries unanimously. Public comment number three, looking to see there is no public comment. So, we will close public comment at this time and move on to number four with the consent agenda. The consent agenda is presented for you. Uh again remember 4 is not part of that. Uh inside of there are a couple trips. Um and I did ask Dr. Ryder Hoover just to speak about
003timeliness of applications for overnight trips or other trips to come in a little bit more uh timely because if two day four days whatever. So um we've asked we've had that conversation. So I would appreciate a motion to approve tonight's consent agenda. I will move to approve. Thank you, Mr. Morgan. There is a first. Could I have a second, please? Second. Thank you, Miss Frasa. There's a first and a second. Any further discussion? Seeing none, all those signify by I. I oppose. And the consent agenda carries unanimously. We'll move on to number five, superintendent report. Dr. Ridle Hoover. All right. Thank you, Chair Gordy. With the way that our meeting calendars have fallen, it's been several uh weeks since we last met. While I have seen many of you in the interim, um it's nice
004to get the band back together. So, I've missed you guys. That's what I'm trying to say. Um this evening, um RE's principal, uh Miss Brandon Nus, will be here to share all the wonderful happenings at our elementary school. Um but before we get to her, I'd like to share a little bit about both our middle and high schools. At the middle school, student engagement as part of our district-wide alignment, uh the RMS is collaborating across the district to begin work towards a shared definition of student engagement. Uh we're we're developing staff friendly, studentfriendly, and parent friendly versions to build clarity and coherence across all of our sites. Uh in the coffee cart scene, Emily Bartell's has launched a trial run of the RMS coffee cart, a functional skills and social interaction opportunity for some select
005students. Staff and student response has been overwhelmingly positive, and they are in the uh process of collecting feedback and fine-tuning that process. From a building operational standpoint, they've surveyed staff on a range of topics, including scheduling, programming, intervention structures, and bell schedules. The team is now using that feedback to guide planning and improve programming in ways that maximize learning outcomes for all students. On the MCA fronts, in response to staff feedback, they're piloting a new MCA testing model this spring that shifts testing from being spread across ELA, math, and science over four days to a more focused two-day schedule uh during planned two-hour late starts. Not that the students will be here late, but they're doing the testing in the morning and modifying their bell schedule for the day. Uh this is change is designated
006and designed to minimize the disruption to instruction and maximize student focus uh during the testing. STEM showcase mark your calendars. Third annual STEM showcase will be April 24th from 4:30 to 700 p.m. This event celebrates the incredible work of the students and staff and features performances from our music program, student projects, Ash Street art gallery, Excel mini golf, interactive exhibits and make and take items. a fantastic opportunity for families and community members to experience what RMS is all about. Shifting to the high school, uh the MCA test for administering math, reading, and science to our 10th and 11th grade students. Our IB internal assessments graded by our teachers at the high school have been completed and staff are busy uploading those results. The external exams graded outside of the high school be in at the
007end of this month and last through the month of May. It's really testing season here. Um, Principal Manard met with the senior class this last week to discuss end of year preparations, right of passage events such as prom, senior awards, graduation, and the all night party. And IB career pathways continue to be strengthened and additional pathways are being explored, including culinary arts and hospitality. Second annual RHS rock paper scissors tournament is underway. And if you saw this from last year, it is quite an endeavor and quite a competition. Um this year the student um winner of that bracket will face off with the staff on the 22nd. Um I guess that would be tomorrow. Um and winner will not be I'm sorry it's not determined by the time of this publication and event tonight. Um
008big day tomorrow. I hope it's going to be live streamed. Um we look forward to hosting um a sec event at the fieldhouse on May 1st. And similar to last spring, our teachers are tasked with identifying key standards students may have missed during first or second semester. They're developing custom plans to help provide opportunities for those students to make up those uh for those deficiencies at the time and a conscious effort to minimize unnecessary rework and focus on exactly what they need to demonstrate proficiency. Um our sophomores did an incredible job creating meaningful meaningful personal projects. Uh these range from cookbooks to survival cabins and their creativity was on display at spring conferences. Our spring sports and activities are of course in full swing and it's been great seeing our athletes and participants train and
009see some early gains this season. shifting to a district-wide focus here. Operationally, even with the uncertainty at the capital, I am pleased to share that our preliminary budget for the 2526 school year is um currently close to a final draft. This said, our uh CFO Bridget Peterson will be here. Um and we are using caution as adjustments are currently being made at the legislature um by the day. Um we don't want any curve balls to affect our budget as we approach next school year. From a staffing and HR perspective, early work on the budget has allowed us to post and hire needed positions much earlier than in the past. In fact, our principles have done a large majority of their hiring already and are getting out early did allow us to find the best and
010the brightest teachers available. This was a conscious effort this year and I'm very thankful to um our HR staff, Mike and Cindy, as well as Bridget with the budget and our principles for their hiring practices. From an enrollment standpoint, we have continued to see new enrollment for this school year and next at almost all grade levels. One area we are watching, however, is kindergarten. Kindergarten enrollment statewide is down significantly for the 2526 school year with many districts traditionally being closed to open enrollment, opening up kindergarten open enrollment as their numbers are also down. We are no different. Uh we're down about 20 students from the same time last year, but we're hopeful to see an increase between now and August. and we're holding off on hiring some staff in that area to ensure that we
011have fiscal responsibility there. Um, a lot of this um in conversation with other districts and some demographers. Uh, this trend can be attributed to the pandemic and the combination of low birth rates um in 2019 and 2020. That's that's what we're seeing across the board in terms of birth rates um and also parents holding their children additional year. Um, regardless, we're going to continue to watch those things so that we're in the best position to serve kids when they arrive in the fall. From an instructional perspective, we have been very busy. I'm highlighted by our selection of a new elementary literacy curriculum which we presented this evening and we also asking tonight uh for board approval. Um, in addition to the exciting news and the potential literacy curriculum adoption, we've submitted our final achievement integration
012budget MD. We've shared some clarifying information with MD related to our ads application. continue with planning and staffing for summer programming and we've met with our access team instructional cabinet coordinating council and the career and teched um a ed advisory committee at the legislator legislature. I like to share some optimistic news but to date we remain in a holding pattern. The Senate did release their budget bill on April 8th and to almost everyone's surprise, their budget temporar temporarily removes the 2023 state statute that is set to provide the inflationary index to the formula that would be for the 2829 bianium. While I I've actually had conversations with several members of the House and they say they will not agree to that, but it is alarming that something this vital to school funding would be proposed.
013In addition to the Senate bill, the governor continues to advocate for the elimination of QC comp and cuts to special ed services. In the end, all sides are coming to the conclusion that costs are escalating faster than anticipated and they must either find cuts or raise revenue. All of this will make for interesting theater before the session ends on May 19th. Also, as I do every month, I attended meetings with our educational partners at MSO, Northwest Suburban, AMSD, and SAP. In addition, I attended the MASA spring conference, met with my MASA colleagues who also serve along with me on the legislative and executive development committees. I attended the AMSD day at the capital, presented to our colleagues at the AMSD board of direction directors meeting and testified in front of the LCPR, the legislative commission
014on pensions at the legislature. And as all of you know, uh we have met in board subcommittee meetings. I'm sure you will all share that later tonight. Um we've met as business uh Since our last business meeting, we met facilities, finance, and communication. And in closing, it's been a tremendous spring already, and we're excited to finish the year strong. And that concludes the superintendent report for April. Excellent. Any questions for Dr. Ryder Hoover? Dr. Ryder Hoover, I appreciate all of your time and efforts. And if time permits later tonight, you you downplayed it, but your presentation to AMSD as well as the fin or the committees that um just ask you to touch on that briefly later. Sure. Downplayed it, but uh very significant uh in your contribution to our state as well as our
015profession. So, thank you so much. Um, moving on then we will move on to student achievement and we will call Principal Nihus to the table. Come on up. I'm not going to sit long because I've got some wonderful students to highlight. So, um, we have three out of our four soloists here tonight from our all school song. Um, this was a vision that started three, four years ago. Um, Megan Larson, Darren Elias and I were sitting in my office at about quarter to 9ine after a conference night talking about this and how we really wanted to do this and finally I was like okay guys we have to go home. Um, but we were super excited about this and it just wasn't the right time. So we waited a year and thought our 20 year
016celebration is the year to do it. And so that was our first all school song. Um, we are we've just completed our second one. It was recorded right before spring break. Um I'm sure most of you have seen it. We're going to show it again tonight because we have three of our out of our four soloists here tonight and they're going to talk a little bit about the process of um everything from auditioning to how did we get interested in singing. Um some of us sing all around the house in the shower. all those kind of things to the point to also that not every person who is a soloist and who can stand out there and be on the stage and things like that is an outgoing person. I always tell people I'm pretty
017shy. Not really. Um that was always my jam and that was that was my thing. You know I I was a born performer. Not every child is an outgoing person but they can stand and do the performance. Um, I was telling the girls and when we were standing out in the hall, I said, "I used to watch a soap opera and I remember the villainess in the soap opera talked about how she was such an introvert and so shy, but she said, "I loved doing this part because it was I got to be somebody I'm not." And that was really fun. And there are people So, so we've got all walks of life, just even in these three, we've got some that are much more outgoing and and able and some that are super shy.
018And that's okay. Um they did a fantastic job. We're gonna play this and then we're going to give you a chance to chat with our our three out of the four students. Um so again, Charlotte Thornton is not here tonight. But then we have Mila Bidney. Mila, will you stand please? And we have Aranda Kazowski. Will you also stand? And we have Raina Defant. So if you will stand also. So these are three out of our four solos. We're going to share our school song. Then we're going to give you an opportunity to talk with our kids a little bit. Thanks girls. Hold on. Sorry. It's all good. Being finicky, isn't it? Do you want to rewind it? We are here and all we know on a past we do not know but the future's
019near and so we dare and we know we are young but we are strong we are Oh, we have a We have a to have a voice. We will be heard. We will be heard. And we will build and we will build a better world. A better world. We are here. We will make our clear. We'll find a way to season for we are here and we go future. There is a future. We are here. So, can I ask you to come here? And the one thing I want you to do is will you tell the board I guess how you got interested in singing or what makes singing bring joy to your heart and any one of you can answer. That's up to you. You want to start? Sure. Um I like singing because
020um sometimes I mess up and then I mess up a lot of times. I keep on trying. I end up getting it like in Wicked. It's a movie. They have this high note part and I've been practicing. I can probably do it. Y awesome. How about you? I kind of sing everywhere in the shower, everywhere in the car. Um, I kind of got inspired by singing is because I think it's really beautiful and fun to do and my great grandpa was a really good singer. It's awesome. Good. Thank you. What about you, Anina? I didn't like this one. Can I ask you to share what you do? What what you do outside of of school? Where do you take some guitar lessons? School of rock. At School of Rock. So, she spends a little time
021at School of Rock and that has helped her um just musically as well. Right. Um Awesome. Good. So, can we talk a little bit about the audition process? When you came and auditioned, um, kids got to sign up if they wanted to audition, right? And can I can I share a little story about you? I called all of your parents. I called all all four of the Soulless parents after we recorded and I said, "They did so good." And parents said to me, "I was so nervous for him this morning. I knew we talked about it." And and Raina's mom when I called her said Raina's got a twin sister and both of them auditioned and both of them are much more introverts than extroverts. And Raina's mom said to me, "Who are you two?
022Are you seriously did you know you have to sing in front of everyone?" And they're like, "Yeah, we know, right?" And yet you did it, right? You stepped up and did it and there was zero problem with it. And so um when you auditioned, we were there. I think there maybe 20 25 kids who came into the gym and Mr. Elias and I were in there um and tell can one of one of all of you talk about what you had to do. So we passed the microphone above the circle and each one of us had to sing a line of the full song and MS was taking notes and Mr. was directing us and then we got to sing. Yep. And then we came and found you probably a half hour later, right? Yeah.
023And and we did that a lot. We passed the microphone around and they just sang ac cappella. So if you can sing an ac capella, you can probably sing it with the music is kind of was kind of our thinking. So um yeah, we we had everybody stepped up. It was a hard decision. Hard decision before did very very well. Talk to us a little bit about uh the the day of recording with Captivate Media. We had two people there. We had um Alyssa who came last year and she recorded us and then she brought a different sound person this year and Alyssa um said the the most they've ever recorded was a 60 voice choir. Um there's almost 600 of us and they were like there's elementary kids and then we're going to be
024there for like two or three hours. Last year we were done in 50 minutes. This year we were done in 40. Um and probably six or seven takes that we do. And um Alyssa said as she was doing all of the work last year um you know merging everything and and pulling things, everybody kept stopping by her desk going um that's seriously cool. She goes Rockford's mine every year. Rockford's mine. And so it was fun for the kids because Alyssa got to come back this year. So we got to see her for a second time. So as a soloist and just working with the sound guys and stuff, talk to us a little bit about what that felt like. Easy. Hard. On practice day, I was like really nervous because like everyone could like fully
025hear me. But then the next day, which was recording day, I got like a little more confident and I was able to do it. But it was kind of hard for me. Not like the singing part, but like when they say to look at the other camera that's above the risers when they're almost like right in your face. Totally. And they say, "Don't look at the camera. Just look here." And sing. And Rachel was like, I felt like I was looking all over the place. It's hard. It's hard, isn't it? Yeah. And we prepared them because last year our our solos weren't ready for this. They had microphones that you couldn't hear yourself um sing. It only went into the microphone. And so our first soloist started and stopped and went uh and they're like,
026"Oh, sorry. We forgot." So we prepared them for that. But that wasn't the case this year. So just all the things that they have to be ready for as a soloist and that we adjust on the fly and all those kind of things, they handle it with style and grace. And as you can see, we got a great product. So this is something we plan to do every year. Our Ed Foundation has generously um supported the payment uh to captivate media and we are we are going to highlight our kids every single year and do this. So um I'm super super proud especially of these three four soloists. um not easy to stand in front of your entire student body and do that. And um they're going places. And I think Raina, you did us
027the duet the very next day at Fab Friday. So yeah, just you know, here I am. Here I am again. Right. Good. And I love that. I love the confidence. Those two I've been way more confident singing in front of the people and I think I can I love it. I love it. Good for you. Yep. So thank you ladies. Appreciate it. Do you have any questions of them? Does the board have any questions of them? I just want to say great job you guys. You did an awesome job. Absolutely. Okay. Yes. So, we're gonna let Miss go take a picture of you. All right. Excellent. Thank you, ladies. Thank you. I'm going to go get them off and then I will be Excellent. Mhm. They're free to go after. Thank you so much. Thank
028you. Thank you for coming. All right, Miss Nahus. After that, now you have to give us some more of the the dirty, right? It's all good. There you go. For your uh presentation, I guess she's just trying if you go to the right. So, first and foremost, I'm just going to do the the general updates. Um, I do have kind of my whole presentation here that I gave to you last time. Although there's some things that I will um probably kind of skate over a little bit. We just don't have the data yet. You know, some of that is based on fast data for spring which we haven't taken yet. MCA we just took. Um, but there are some things I would like to to spend a little more time on and highlight. So, just
029so you're aware, I went pretty in-depth last time. Not quite as indepth this time. So, um, gen general updates. I'm just going to give you kind of four big highlights. Um, we had a reflection and review on April 3rd with Northwest Suburban. Um, we had a team of folks that came in and, um, they they, you know, they scour us from from stem to stern and really look at everything from, um, just curriculum maps, arts mapping, everything that we're doing to what are we doing in the classroom? How are we um infusing um arts into the the core curriculum? How are we doing that in our lessons? The one thing that they do ask is during the parent interview and during the teacher interview that the principal will not be there. Um I said I'm
030fine with that. You know, I got big shoulders. It's fine. You know, um because they think that that you know, folks will be more honest if if I'm not in there. That's totally fine. Um we did it a little different this year. instead of ask three or four teachers and try and pull them out of class and try and get coverage for them and everything. Um it was a Thursday morning so we took our PLC time and we take every single teacher and they met in the theater room um and and then we put them in their PLC groups and then they got to meet and and discuss with um the Northwest Suburban folks individually as well as together collectively. Um my understanding based on what Mr. Elias told me is um he said people
031shared so many cool things that are going on in our building. He said I sat in the back and just grinned from ear to ear and uh he said our teachers are doing such wonderful things um with that integration in the arts. And so um that's how they started their day. Um they worked with Kathy Mson. They they met with Rachel. They met with um um a group of parents. They met with students. They were in classrooms. um they spend um a good portion of their day, like I said, just really, um spending time in our our facility and in in our classrooms and then they um go back and they pour through our paperwork and things like that for the afternoon. And so they're there a full day. Um I did ask them the
032lunch had arrived and I said, "Can I steal you for two and a half minutes?" And they said, "Do we have to leave this room?" I said, "You do." Um and I took them across the hall in the theater room and we ended with the all school song. I think had just gotten it from Captivate Media. So, it wasn't quite finished yet uh with all the the finesses, but they got to see this year's old school songs. They were pretty excited about that. Um so, we had a great day with them. We are awaiting their um feedback and then we will pull together with the staff and and anybody who wants to hear that, we usually pull an after school meeting and we go through all of that and and just what we can do
033better. Um so, that was a big day on April 3rd. Um, I did share with you last time all of the artisan residence experiences that our kids are having. Um, spring is a really busy time for that. And kindergarten, first grade, second grade, and fourth grade have theirs. Third grade did theirs in the fall. Um, and so we've had artisan residents um, just filtering through our our building um, pretty pretty frequently. So, kindergarten is finished. Uh, first grade is finished. Um, fourth grade and second grade will be happening soon. second grade does their um uh work with Julie Bulada and then that pairs with grandparents day. So they do a little performance um in grandparents day which is our next event happens on May 2nd and that is only for second graders. Um we usually
034have about 250 grandparents there that day. It is packed and it is a lot of fun. Um and so we're we're excited about that day and looking forward to that day. And then we have our arts and academics um which is our our big event like the showcase at the middle school on May 13th. So, that's coming up. Um, we do a lot of performing and a lot of um academic work that is is up in the hallways, too. So, um those are big four big events that are coming up yet in our um elementary school and I think we're on something like I don't know 31 days or something left of school. It's it's coming down rapidly. So, lots to do in those that last month. Um, this is kind of one of those
035that I'm going to gloss over just a little bit. We We are still working on our standing standards, learning targets, and our assessment standards. We talked about that um last time that teachers are working on that. I think the the neat thing that has happened with this is with the standards and with our um our work on that. Um we've done our curriculum maps. We've also updated our arts maps in the last couple years. And that was something we could share with Northwest Suburban when they came to visit us. And um that was that was something that we were kind of at the top of our game with and then the pandemic hit and we it was time to revisit all those again. And so um the fact that we've done that and and teachers
036can pull out whether it's a unit or whether it's a lesson or something. I always tell folks, you know, we're not whirling and twirling all day long and we're not doing um arts infusion in every single lesson, but it's enough that you really see a difference at the at the elementary level. And so they got to to see all that and all our work there and um share that that so that's a lot of some of this work too. Um so these are our we did all three of those. Um our student connectedness um that was our my my sabers that the kids were given in the fall. They've also been given that again in the spring. Um I when I get to my professional goals I I'll follow up a little bit on that.
037Um several of you asked me about that last time about what are we doing with kid that isn't connected. And I have follow-up information that I'll share with you on that. Um I I was able to share a lot with you, but I did go back and really uh pick the brains of my counselors a little bit and said, "Talk to me a little bit more about this because I said I want to bring that feedback back back to the board when I go in the spring." And so I'll share that with you as well. Um and then our individual QC count goals, again, we don't have this data yet. It's that fall to spring um on the A-reading tests um and increasing that. we've been watching that data and really looking at our students
038and saying how do we help you know improve that um and find those deficits and work on that. Um so hopefully those scores will increase in the spring and so um we'll be taking those in the in the coming weeks in early May. Um so professional goals here um the reading has be has been a big big big baby for us this year. It's it's it's everything. It's everything for us. It has to be um we have um and I'm not I'm not going to step on the toes of of Kathy and my team that's here tonight because they've got a lot to share with you. Um but there has been a decision that has been made um of what we are going to use for curriculum and then training and implementation of our reading
039program will be coming up. Um, the one thing I would like to say about this is I'm super proud, um, even though it feels really uncomfortable right now, I'm super proud of of my staff who are really trying to think outside the box in terms of our schedule. Um, and we're really looking at different things in our schedule. How do we approach win time? How do we approach um, making sure our teachers have that that common planning time so they can do this and implement with fidelity? um all those things and it's it's rocking some people's worlds because we're moving some cheese and and it's hard and yet people are are keeping a really really big open mind. Um we're going to start meeting with teams individually. Uh there's just been a lot of feedback
040about the schedule. So I feel like everybody's pretty invested in that this year and um it may look a little different and that's going to feel a little uncomfortable. Um, but I think, you know, the the thing that'll happen is we'll we'll look a year down from now and we'll say this worked or this didn't and here's how we're going to shift and monitor and adjust. But like I said, I'm super proud of staff who are just trying to keep an open mind saying, "Yep, we're going to really try and look at things differently and and and implement our new reading part with fidelity." So, um, uh, here's here's our, uh, healthy and supportive environment. This is our newly formed Builtin Bolt teams. Um, we talked a little bit about that. Man, we've loved those
041in our building. Um, and it's it's just been super positive. Our built team, we've got quite a few of our built folks here tonight, um, who are going to share just kind of the process of of picking out that reading curriculum and what that's all entailed. It's been a big big lift this year and I'm really proud of that team. Um and our bolts folks are our operational um people and um the one thing we had talked about uh last time was that we were going to share out agendas andre increase the communication with all staff which we've done it's being done on a regular basis. Um, Bolt has also created a form for staff if they have a question or they want something addressed that they can just rather than find a person to
042say, "Hey, can you talk about this at your Bolt meeting?" They just fill it out online and and so we we actually had a vote meeting this morning and we went through all of those and we like, "Okay, we've got seven things to talk about and these are what you know people have asked about and we're able to to really address those and do some follow-up meetings and if necessary." So, it's been really really positive I think in our building both those teams. Um going on to the school and family partnerships. Um again um this is the the I love you guys training that we've done. We've continued to meet on that. We are not complete with that yet. This will um be work that may continue through the summer, but it will be put
043together and ready to go um for implementation for staff and students in the fall. And that's a commitment from our the three of us as principles to just say um you know what are our next steps? And we've continue to I think expand that group a little bit and we've included some police officers and you know really talked about that what is that going to entail if we ran into a crisis and so um it's it's a heavy lift but it's an important lift. So um like I said that'll be ready to go in the fall for staff and students. You'll see a little shift there and we'll be in super strong communication with our parents about that. Um this is a one I told you I follow up on with you. Um making that
044the students um all feel have a connectedness to their school. Um so like I said, I followed up with the counselors and I just said, let's say a child selfidentifies in my sabers or let's say a teacher, you know, I'm a little concerned about this child um both of the counselors said students who are identified by a teacher um not connected, feeling like they're not connected, meet with a counselor. Um they are paired with a rocky buddy. So, we have uh staff in our building who have said, "I will be a rocky buddy." And we have kids that we pair up with them. It is not a time to do work. It is not a time to catch up on homework. It is a time to just connect and do something fun. They play a
045game. They do um you know, we try and pair them with something that they there there's an interest in. Um I've had Rocky Buddies, we do crafts, we make jewelry, we do you know, all the things I'm good at. Um some some folks go play basketball with their kids. Um when was a secretary there. She was a she had a Rocky buddy. Um, anybody who is a staff member um is able to do that and we have a lot of people who who do that. So, that's another way to connect kids. Um, and we obviously talk with parents if we're concerned and then if it takes to to that next level, we we really um connect them to a potential nstrom referral which is our mental health therapist in in the school. Um, it was
046interesting when I talked to the counselors, they said if a selfidentifies or if there is a concern, they almost always have a lot of these supports already because we just know our kids. We know our kids and people have seen this. And so that was kind of cool to hear that they just said so many supports are already in place for a child if if they selfidentify because we already know that. So um again, just wanted to follow up with you on that because um you asked me some questions about that last time. Um this has been obviously a big a big working you know Jeff talked about that in his report a little bit. Um just as we have moved into our springtime and looking at enrollment um working with Bridget, working with um
047you know our team, our administrative team to just make some really sound decisions on staffing um and and also really trying to support teachers and trying to support kids. Um, and so there's lots and lots of discussion around that. And like Jeff said, we've gotten out there and and um done some hiring early and if not hired yet, we have advertisements out there and we're ready to interview. So that feels good. Um, we've gotten some rock stars already. So I'm pretty excited about some of the people that we got. Um, and so like I said, that's our stewardship of resources. Um, here again is all our artists and residents um that we talked about last time. all of the different things that the kids will be doing. And again, um all of these people that
048are coming in, Roxanne and Carla, um and Julie, and Roxan and Ka both come twice, uh for two different grade levels, have been in our building for 12 plus years. Um like I said, they have this down to a science and they come and they tweak and they add and it's so good for our kids. And so, um all these artists are at the top of their game and it's really really fun to have them in our building. Um, and then you got to see our old school song recorded on March 19th. So, it's been a great year and and a lot going on and a lot, you know, we're pushing up our sleeves and and really doing a lot of work around literacy and and still a lot coming. Yes. Um, but the work
049has been good and um it's never I I look back to these build folks. It's not an easy lift. Um, uh, but people are super passionate about it and I'm really really proud of of those folks. Um, do want to give a little shout out to Rachel Yakish. Uh, one of those, um, goals really was about, you know, working with our our literacy coach. Um, we we ran into a issue in our, um, maternity leave with kindergarten and I couldn't fill that position. I tried and tried and tried and had people in. So, Rachel moved back to kindergarten, bless her heart. And so, our coaching piece has has become a little bit less, but she still does our leading with literacy on Tuesday mornings. um with our staff and she's still, you know, pushing things
050out and I give her a lot of credit. So, I just want to give her a shout out because um um I appreciate the work that she's done and stepping back into kindergarten. So, thanks Rachel. Um that's my report. So, thank you. Appreciate it so much. Any questions? No. Yes, sir. J, I don't have a question. I just want to say thank you because you know obviously you're following through the process of of um our strategic directions and all those different you know pillars if you will. Um obviously we take care of our financial piece and we're working a lot with staff in HR and bridg with with the financials but um there's an instructional component that's ringing loud and true this year at the elementary school. There's also the component of taking care of
051kids and and I I think that that's really important and it's a it's being done with the whole staff and you know I know not everyone's here tonight but we have a few people here tonight and I just want to say thank you because um you know it's like juggling right there's I'm trying to catch this one trying to catch that one. Um, but it's different now I think because our our staff is really um doing this together and sometimes I'll hear things and I'll even have the staff and I've shared this with a few board members. I I actually love when I go to meetings and I think it's going to go this way and the staff talks to me and I understand what they're saying and then we go this way and it's
052better than what I thought we should do. And that doesn't happen in environments where people are afraid to talk or they're not wanting to speak up and things like that. So, um I'm really proud of what's happening in the in in your building, your collective building. Um again, we take care of kids and we teach them up. So, um thank you for your leadership in that regard. And I always say, you know, my most important job is hire is uh keeping kids safe. My second most important job is hiring. And um all eight people in our building I've hired in the 19 years I've been here. And um I tell them all the time if I left today, I take them home with me. Um I have incredible people building. They care deeply about kids
053and they care deeply about each other and it shows in the work they do every day and I couldn't be more proud. So, thank you all. Thank you. Appreciate it. Thank you very much. All right. So, then we will move on to number seven, healthy and supportive environment 7A. Miss Matson, you are up with some guests it looks like. And we do have an action item associated to yours. So, we'll go forward on that. exciting. That would have been cruel. All right. Yes. I'm proud to be here today to share about the process we went through to decide what literacy curriculum we would adopt. I'm really grateful that I have three teachers here with me who are also built members. have Alex Kro who's a first grade teacher and Mackenzie Gregory who's a third grade
054teacher and Kate Goldber who's a first grade teacher. Awesome. Thank you. So these features are part of the build and I can tell you that the built has lived up to the description that I was sharing with you this time last year. It was exciting to be towards the end of our first year doing this work, especially with a task like figuring out what literacy curriculum to adopt. Throughout the process and throughout all our work as a built, we have stayed true to what I am now calling the three Ps, purpose, process, and product. And by focusing on those three Ps, we are always driven by student achievement and staff achievement and growth. And so as as Jeff and I collaborated with the builts to look at how to create a process for adopting curriculum,
055those three Ps gave us our foundation. We wanted the purpose to be to adopt curriculum that's high quality and grade appropriate. And the process was evidence-based, student centered, teacher centered, and financially responsible. So now we come to you with the product which is our curriculum recommendation and our plan for implementation. Once we got the three Ps clear, we set it to a timeline. And now the teacher team will take you through the behind the scenes to each one of these steps. So we started in our PLC's with this kind of landing page right here which was uh access to the CKLA um and then also the wit and wisdom um information when it comes to the scope and sequence the standards uh and the website access as well. Uh we were able to look at
056not only our individual grade but also the grades before us the grades after us to see how everything flows. Uh this is uh where again during our PLC's we were able to take notes um as a grade level but I kind of liked it because I called it kind of like a virtual collaboration in the sense that all grade levels took notes on this page. So even though we weren't in the same room together we were still able to collaborate with them. you know, in almost like live time, we're like, "Oh, second grade said this." And just seeing things that we didn't see or different viewpoints that we could have missed um with both of the curriculums and then taking it a little bit further. Um, so Kathy had set up a very nice process
057for us and a great place for us to uh collaborate during PLC's, but sometimes it's still hard to understand a curriculum when you're looking at it online. So, um she set up an opportunity for us to meet virtually with um a school district who has been using Wit and Wisdom. Um and it was a variety of literacy coaches that we were able to talk to and they spanned the grade levels. So, um it was a good chance for us to get a feel for the curriculum um kind of at a deeper level than just looking at it online and getting some real feedback from people. been in the trenches and used it. The school that was using Wisdom was Cambridge. So, I would say they were a tad bigger than we are. Um, and just
058talking with their coaches, I appreciated their honesty with us. They told us the things that they thought going into it when they first adopted the curriculum and how they possibly changed once they were actually doing it. Um, for example, the amount of time it took them for planning. They weren't just planning week by week with one skill. they were doing multi-week units with multiple skills and just didn't really warn us but just gave us that heads up that here's what you can expect. So I think that gave us a good feel for what it would look like here in Rockford. Um made sure the amount of time that it would take for each instructional period per day per grade level. So kindergarten was 30 minutes for example whereas third through fifth grade was 75 minutes.
059Um they talked about the positive being a rich literature exposure which would be very different from what we're used to right now with the curriculum we have. um they touched on the professional development offered through it and wisdom. Um I just appreciated the time that they took to talk with us out of their day. It's very different sitting in our PLC's in the room paging through books trying to figure out would this be a good fit for us versus hearing from teachers who are really using it. So then we we kind of got to take it even then a step forward where a step more with the CKLA site visit. Um we went to three different um schools in Sartell, a prime uh primary yeah kinder through kindergarten and then we were able to see
060a first and second grade center and then um upper grades as well. Uh I was able to see the first and second grade which makes the most sense for me. Um and what's interesting and uh nice about CKLA is it is almost like a dual curriculum. They have one portion for knowledge building which would be writing, grammar, vocabulary, and then another portion which is skills and content. So that's where your phonics comes in a bit more. Also includes writing. Um and that was really hard to see on paper. We you we couldn't like distinguish the two. So being able to not only go to Sartell and see how their day is laid out, but also being able to see their schedule, their full school schedule was very important. Um the difference in instruction and the
061way that they use technology when teaching the curriculum, uh the resources provided by the curriculum versus some resources they use that they created on their own. Um it was nice to see it in real life and then in real time as well. So once we did the meeting and the site visits, we wanted to get feedback from the curriculum and instruction committee and so we asked for their perspectives on which elements to prioritize as we were gathering gathering feedback from teachers and And then this was a form that after we had had um ample amount of time to discuss during PLC's uh with our colleagues, this was a form that was filled out individually by each classroom teacher. Um and it was filled out, we were given time to do it during our PE day
062on in March. So, it was a nice way to kind of take everything we've been talking about and kind of really filter it down into what we felt we saw with the two curriculums. From there, I got to take the data and populate it into a larger spreadsheet by all the categories teachers rated. The yellows are the lower numbers. As it deepens in color, the the numbers are getting higher. Uh so the greens are the middle and then the blues are the blue ribbon scores, the highest that their curriculum received. And so CKLA ended up with an average of 2.55 out of three whereas you can see there's no blue in the wisdom. It was 2.06. So I met with Jeff and some literacy some people in other districts who had been through literacy adoptions
063who recommended and helped coach us through developing a rubric that would bring it to a quantitative piece. So, we're just overall very very appreciative that we we get a voice and to say what we're going to teach. We had the time and not only that, the ability for grade levels to go and talk to Whiten Wisdom to go out and see another school. That is just so neat. I can't even say um I think a lot we do we say we learn a lot from observing each other in house in in our school those are so important to us but on a bigger scale going out and visiting another school and another school district especially one with a curriculum that we are could possibly adopt was just very monumental and very very cool to see
064when we completed the evaluation that was the quantitative at the end. There was a chance for us to voice our feedback. So throughout the entire process from the beginning to the end, um what were we looking for in the beginning, where were our holes at to the very end on what we liked best about Whit Wisdom versus CKLA or vice versa. We were given a voice and feedback opportunities all throughout. So it was just nice that we were being included throughout the process and we were really being heard as the staff. And this side is just example of voices being heard and it's um a a comment that came I believe after um people were able to go to Sartell and really see CKLA in action. Um so just a little more specific to the
065CKLA curriculum. Yeah. and just the ability to collaborate with those virtual notes. Um discussions either, you know, formal or even just in the hallway like, "Oh, what did you see when you talked to the stone people?" Um being able to communicate with the different specialists in our PLC's. Um a lot of good group conversations happened on our way up to Sartell, on our way back down to Sartell. Um, and those happen across grade levels, which again, you don't always get to do. So, now that we've worked through this process, as Brenda mentioned, we're working to build a schedule that will support implementation and we are planning for summer curriculum writing time for all the teams so they can make sure they feel confident going into the year with the new curriculum. And then we're also
066scheduling training and professional development for three times throughout next year. I'll also share that I met with our middle school math team last week and I took them through the process we've just walked through and they were excited to go through it and so it's it feels so good to have gone through this process once and um I look forward to going through it again with teams. As far as cost, um in December we were at one place and um there was a misunderstanding about how many teachers we had uh which got clarified and that we were really happy about. So the April is really nice and it is a six-year contract. The consumables are included, the digital components are included for the teacher and the student and professional development is my um just so
067you guys they originally thought we had 23 sections per grade 23. Not yet. Yeah, not yet. Not yet. and Cath Kathy called me and I so I I now I've now called her our shrewd negotiator, but this was simply a misquote at the beginning and a really a really um I guess um happy outcome for us as a school district um that that this was that's what occurred there. We are questions for us. Excellent. Uh questions from the board. Yes, Miss Proster. Well, first I want to commend you on a mixed method way to study this. So, thank you for that. I appreciate the different ways to look at it. So, that's really wonderful. And I'm so you are recommending Ccla. Okay. So, I'm looking at that and just wondering a couple of the areas
068that are a little bit lower, what your thoughts are for lifting up, particularly the differentiated part. That's concerning. And then I was also thinking about the phonics, morphology, and phonics piece. How what are your thoughts about lifting those up since they are coming across as a little bit lower? I can speak to that. Is that okay? Um, so we've talked a lot about um, everyone's favorite phrase is to not throw the baby out with the bathwater. Yeah. Um, we have a lot of training in um, art in Gillingham. Uh, and that's not going anywhere. Uh, so I think it's almost transferring those skills into a different part of our day. So the way I look at it right now, I use INZ or Gillingham um as our main phonics component in the morning and that's
069how I teach phonics. That will now move to what my wind time will be which is way more able to be differentiated for those individual groups and those individual students as well. Um, and then your second part of the question was and so that and then that you've kind of answered the whole thing because the phonics and the would you say that it's kind of that structured literacy type of phonics approach from what we were able to see if it it the CKLA does follow the structured literacy approach. Um, we haven't been able to dive deep enough into it uh to really see I don't Do you know what I'm talking about? the entire scope. Yeah, the entire scope of it or um specifically like what unique ways that they introduce different sounds, the way
070that they practice different tricky words, red words, site words, all that kind of stuff. But again, we have that background knowledge of uh MZ and multi-ensory approach that I think that'll come off just naturally as we continue to teach it. So, does Orton Gillingham have their own scope in sequence or we follow the CQLA scope in sequence? We follow right now we follow in okay IMS uh which was we were trained in or in Gillingham we follow their scope and sequence but moving forward we would solely follow uh cities that would be important as students move around that you can see where they fell on that scope and sequence correct and then I heard one of you talk about the positive rich literature can you explain how this curriculum supports access to the rich literature
071when they're not able to access it on on their own. Sure, I can share that one. We actually talked about that earlier today. Um, this literature, sorry, this curriculum offers um pathways you would call it, Kathy. So, we have a choice at each grade level if you want to um for example third grade. One of the options with Charlotte's Web or is it like the Aztec and Incas? Um, and just looking at how we can make those choices to expose kids to different cultures or possibly to address new standards, for example, with Native Americans that are coming down the line. Um, I just think there's so many more opportunities to expose kids to things that aren't currently in our curriculum that CLA can offer. Well, good. And we know there's no perfect curriculum, but it
072sounds like you really did your homework. Thank you for answering my questions. Go ahead. Any other questions from the board? I might have some easy ones. You want to ask your questions? I would if you wish to go further. Thank you. Um, and this was kind of shared at the outset. This and in other areas is is an example of how built is manifesting itself exactly as it was intended to do. Um, the shared leadership, shared partnership that we are striving for within our school district was exemplified in this process. And we have incredibly teachers, very dedicated teachers who understand this stuff um way more than I do. Um who really dug in and said, "Here's what we think. Here's how this works." Um and I know you're just a sample of some of the
073folks from your building, but um I want to say thank you for all of this work. U we're going to do great things for kids with this. That was the whole idea behind it. You know, the training that we've gone through, the the work in selecting the um you know, the curriculum and so forth. And so now we're going to have the what And now we need to talk more as we go into this next summer into the fall as to the how you know that that's where the magic happens with the pedigogy and instructional techniques and I know we have the exact right people to do that. So thank you. Excellent. Thank you. So glad to see that. I know that CKL is that what it's called. CLA. All right. I see LA. Thank
074you. Language arts. I would guess there's a CK Mat also, right? Um I mean you talked about the mathematics, you know, at the middle school and they do are are we looking at expanding the offerings as well with the mathematics curriculum to incorporate? I mean because it's nice to have pedigogy and practice and styles to be consistent and congruent across all right. I don't know if there's that for mathematics as well. I want to make sure I'm understanding the question. Are are is there when we get to mathematics, will we explore the same process, product, company, whatever? Yeah, it'll be a different company, but we'll follow the same process. I don't think CLI doesn't have that. Not right now. Perfect. Thank you. Uh, one of your slides says schedule support. Miss Nahus may need to
075come up and talk to that a little bit maybe since you have to build a schedule, right? So if it's here or there um can you give me more or give us more information what you mean by schedule support? So you go been so heavily involved in this and and looking at different like I'm gonna start and I'm gonna let you finish. So we've always done the master schedule based on when kids go to specials, when is the teacher prep time, when is the and when kids go to specials. Um, from that point, teachers make their own schedule for their grade level or within their classroom. Here's when we're going to do reading. Here's when we're going to do math. Here's And we're really looking at all of it this year. And it's not to
076say that we want to take that autonomy away from the teacher, but we're really trying to schedule things in to say, when do we have minutes that they can actually work together? when do we have minutes where we know they're all reading when they're doing math. And so it's not micromanaging, but it's really about looking at all of that. And some schools do that and some schools don't. And so that's one of the things we're looking at different. We're looking at win time, that what I need time, that hour time. Is it an hour that should happen? Could we split wind time? Do we do push in? Do we do pull out? There's so many things to look at to say, how do we do this better to kids. So if CKLA or Amplify says,
077you know, you need 90 minutes between foundational skills and and knowledge building. Do we have that 90minute block on the schedule that we can all see? And I'm starting team meetings on Wednesday and we've plotted all the things that have to be fixed. And then the teams will say, "Okay, yes, here's that 90 minutes. Here's when we can come together and plan collaboratively to make sure we can do the hard work of implement implementing a new curriculum of this magnitude. So, a little bit more systematic in terms of blocking that t instructional time for implementing this program. Change can be hard. Yep. Change is change, right? You can't accept it unless you experience it. I would love to give just a little kudos also to Darren Elias who is he sees scheduling. Um when Jessica
078was in my building, she sees scheduling. Chris sees schedule. There are people who just see it. Um and and Kathy has really pulled out those minutes. Darren has really worked together with myself to say, "Okay, what about the specialists?" And then we constant the three of us constantly come together. It goes up to the teachers. The teachers are like, "This is overlapping this and this." Then we come together again. Um, we came together Thursday before we all went home, the three of us. Darren was in my office before this meeting tonight. We were plowing through stuff again and he was texting Kathy. It's just constant. And then we'll meet with teachers and we tweak and fix again. Um, I don't know if we've ever spent so much time on the schedule, but it's so important
079as we move forward to to um implement this correctly. And so, we're spending a lot of time on it. Yeah, we're moving a little cheese. Um, but I think at the end of the day, it's going to be good. So, and another piece that um they were trying to fit into the schedule which we at least as long as I've been in Rockford haven't had is um a common planning time. So, per grade level. So, for example, first grade um having at least a half an hour is that um once a week where everybody is um on prep at the same time so we can get together and especially with the new curriculum have a chance to plan out the knowledge building. Have one more question. I saw that it was three days of professional
080learning. Are you going to put that all in one time? you going to spread it out or and are you going to start this spring or start in the So after I met with the rep once we made the decision we talked about the approach of doing the first train and the springers early summer versus the fall and our teacher teams universally said they would like it earlier and especially since we're providing them curriculum writing time in the summer we don't want that time to be less efficient because they didn't get the training up front. So, we're going to be sharing with teams that were asking if they can do it on June 6th, right after. That's awesome. I think so. Then they can digest it over the summer. Right. And then one tenatively I
081have to check with the builds, but based on what our PD falls probably October and then probably February for the final one in the first year. Thank you. And thank you for sharing the scheduling, working with them. It's hard because, right, prep minutes and supervision, right? You have kids in lunch and recess and all that section, right? And we need to make sure. So, I appreciate you working that through. Thank you. Any other questions? And this is K4, right? Not K5, not going to the L. Okay. So, the middle school has a totally different target. Yes, that's right. Okay. And are they would they fall in the middle school like if they re would they ever align with the elementary? They might. I think that's another point of discussion we'll have to continue to have.
082Okay. Opportunity. Yes. Opportunity. Excellent. Thank you. Appreciate you guys. Now, there is an action item for us to approve the adoption of the CKLA curriculum and purchase of materials by the district. So, we've had a great presentation. We had some discussion. I would appreciate a motion to approve the curriculum and purchase of materials for the district. I'll make a motion to approve the curriculum that was shared with the board. Thank you, Miss Pasca. There is first and Miss Johnson, thank you for the second. Uh any further discussion? I just want to thank the team here. Uh Kathy, your instructional leadership is so appreciated and valued and uh been much needed and I am very excited to see um steps forward here. This is awesome. Excellent. Thank you. Thank you. And with that there is a
083first and a second. Uh all those in favor signify by I. I oppose. That motion carries unanimously. Thank you very much and congratulations on all your work. Uh moving forward to number eight, stewardship of resources 8A, Mr. McNelte. I know the first thing you have is just a resolution of an rule that would be um at the elementary school. So that's one you just have to make sure you do a roll call vote. It's just inaugural for nonbudget purposes. Uh Brendon says I already had discussion with that staff member and then after this goes through and I present them with a letter on Wednesday. That's just a formality of not renewing something. Very good. Thank you very much. So, we have a item up for non-renewal nonrenewal probationary teacher. This is a roll call. I'd
084appreciate a motion to approve. Eric Gordy. I will make a motion to uh approve the non-renewal probationary teacher. That is the first. Is there a second, please? I'll second. Thank you, Mr. Shadine. There is a first and a second. Any further discussion? Seeing none, madam clerk, would you please call the role? Eric, I pres. Jamie H. I thank you very much. So that object does pass unanimously. We will then move on to letter 8B, operations and facilities update. Mr. Daltton. Yeah. So um operations we're going to include this as HR and fac after tackle the shorter HR part before getting to probably a little bit different and longer facilities. Um so one of the items we have coming this summer is looking for summer work opportunities. The staff was sent out as an opportunity interest
085to work as secretarial work. We have a lot of the u trying to say digital digitalizing our our records and removing getting rid of records that no longer be kept. um in all the buildings. And so there's quite a few uh records that are going to be removed and those have to then be um written down, recorded because the historical site we have to send those in as part of the process you guys approved for us to do. I believe it was back in the late late fall, early winter. Um we got that approval. So that application is closed. Um they had to formally apply of course through the internal process and then um Cindy I and Jeff Kenis will be meeting tomorrow regarding that work and then along with that we also have some
086custodial work in the summer um whether it is to do with custodial or maintenance one of the items which I'll get to in the operational facility side is um because of the project that will be going on the elementary that we're looking for you to approve the the bond money use um we're going to need some people to move a lot of items and do some work we've had two workers in the past. One of the parts we're looking at with with the staff is the um secretarial and par staff. We have unemployment stuff going. So that's just a part of what we discussed in negotiations last year is we wanted to offer the opportunity for them to have more work here because they're 91 employees and that extends a little bit of their monies
087that go into their benefits that the district gives to them. So they're, you know, they're like a point, let's just say seven right now. So if they work many more hours in the summer, not only have to earn some more money, but then that increases the our um part of the the employer's part of their benefits. Um so they actually have to pay less of that benefit. So if they if they owe they pay let's say 500, I'm just going to use a number. So let's say paid 500 u knock it down to 400 because we're pick up more because now working more hours for the district. So, we had a pretty good turnout for both sides. I think we've had nine show interest on the secretarial side and four on the main custodial side.
088They have to do a formal application and that'll finish up tomorrow. So, we'll see how many actually formally apply. So, um that's all we take care of this week and then that would start work would start in June after the course of the school year start finishes. So, we're talking June 9th and then the only week they would work would be during the week of 4th of July. So be nine weeks of of work at 24 hours a week. So that's just a little bit there. Stop there and maybe ask if anybody has any questions regarding that setup. Any questions? No. Thank you. Um food service RFP request for proposals that is now wrapped up. We actually have our committee meeting tomorrow to go through. We had three proposals. Um they had to come to
089the required mandatory meeting, the pre-approval meeting kind of or the pre- proposal meeting. We had three companies come in that is Ter K12 earlier and Chartwells. Christa is part of that group, myself and three others including Mr. Bernard back here. Um we will review those score those that goes through basically an MD process of I had to put it together the RFP. You got to send it in. and they go through a whole bunch of whatever they do to approve it. They were very late in the results, so it's uh they didn't get it out till March was supposed to be in January. So, we've moved along pretty quick. Um then once we go through that and do the scoring which we have to enter in I have to send that and some more paperwork
090um a lot of T's paperwork some 15 20 page back to MD which then they approve again or ask questions and then once that gets done then they got to bring that to the board and basically the the the vendor with the low score um or in this case the highest score um becomes our our food service vendor. So that is what we'll be doing tomorrow afternoon. Chris was all excited. It's a new process for me. I've never had to do it because every school I've been in, we've had our own food service. Um, so this is new and looks like these these companies knew each other very well. They people knew each other. They knew the protocol and stuff. So they just kind of way to say hi and move on to school to
091school and see what happens tomorrow. There's still holes in the box, so I can't tell you anything else till tomorrow. Um, then finally, oh, stop there. Any questions on that one then? Any questions from the board? Uh Dr. Dr. Brad, is that going to be an item that's brought to the work session to discuss the the process and the proposals and things that we are receiving in this RFP or is it just going to be not necessarily unless the board requests that otherwise we'd let operations do their work and um communicate with MD and essentially they're going to tell us who our vendors um based on we have to go with low bid and and and whatever other criteria they have. So it's basically a scoring rubric and here's where you where you land and
092comparisons from current to future like what our payout is like what our contract is how much we are paying they we are receiving back if any and what they are are yeah that's all part of the proposal there it's a list of everything in terms of so and that would be requested information to know is our budgeting going up are we going to be able to acrew more back to the district in terms to purchase more materials, right? That would be good information back to the board to know how is this impacting our budget moving forward. Yeah. Once Bridget and I talked a little bit today, she had other things, but uh said once this gets done, then I'll contact her because she would need that information put into the budget. So, perfect. Yeah. And
093update to the board on that would be great. Just so we are aware that would be important. Any questions on that from board? No. Perfect. Thank you. And then uh one of the requirements legislator put in last year is every 120 calendar days to provide a you know exclusive representative provide to the exclusive representatives of each of the unions kind of a list of everybody and certain criter back in the end of January and so the next one will come at the end of May just a protocol thing and then I sent it to representatives was Scott, he's still back there and and the ladies are back here too. So, um they send to them and that way if they have any questions or things, uh they have that list and I know Sydney gets
094that out to admin pretty much every month anyways. Otherwise, most of the other protocol stuff and all the B and all them talked about all the hiring all that just moving forward with all that stuff. Any questions there? No. Thank you. Um so moving to the other side uh well other side my newspaper I guess. But um the facilities part right there. U Christrista we had to do some updates today because um some of the numbers uh changed a bit because of the fact that once Brenda I and Holly and Dwayne met with corporate Florida companies last week um because we got a couple new quotes out there. two that submitted everything they realized u there was a few rooms missing seven to be exact on this part within so the numbers I had originally
095given to Kristen that I changed she put the update on there so the numbers you have in front of you are still updated but just some changes on that um stuff that I have highlighted which was stuff pro back in January February time which was the parking lot the track resurface windscreen items they just included those right there. Still note the 900,000 on the reefs parking lot does include all the soil possible corrections. The actual quote or yeah quote in this case proposal is 817 but with some of the possibilities of that parking lot what might find underneath that's why we have it. So there's a pretty good contingency there. Nothing comes then that of course comes in way less more comes then we have to sit down and have a nice conversation. Um the
096stuff the first three lines removed the stuff below then has been a update of num numbers for um additional things at res in terms of the parking right there and also at the middle school here um because we knew we had enough funds for that in in that area. And so if you look at items four, doors four and five all the way down to the sidewalk concrete walk right there at the two buildings, those are the cause for that. Um getting it all done with Minnesota mix also the state contractor. So we're and Jeff Keen and I had a nice conversation with resource training the state and make sure that was all cleared again and that is um so that would be those numbers moving forward. that would basically be doing here at the
097middle school. And this back area here, what we're doing at BERS, except for where the dumpsters are back here, that's Scott probably has fun with that part, that's kind of just torn apart because it's not its own little base. And so we're actually going to be putting thicker concrete base for those dumpsters. So they actually don't sit there. They're going to collapse Cro Minnesota, but not as quickly as that. So that is that area right there being done. And then if you look at the last four items down and I condensed it there that is getting a good portion of the elementary school building u refor say combination pile and um carpeting it's not the whole thing because there would be another I mean just based on estimates you're talking how many more rooms like
098probably 15 20 more rooms including ACF media center there there would be way too much for what we have so this is predominantly hitting all the teaching classrooms and some of the other offset rooms right there and then some not of some of the storage which just it does not need to be because it's full of stuff and they don't want to move um and it doesn't need to be done. So, what I'm asking right there is a total of the new stuff is about $488,180 here. Um, that's rounded to u a proof from the board. Reminding you guys again out there that um this comes from the bond monies from the roofing. We got those bids sat back, you know, for a year waited. Bid were high. came and went the opposite direction went
099real low and then the money's got to to earn a lot of interest sitting and of course the stock market time as things were good at that time and so we are basically trying to spend down those bond monies by the end of the summer. Um so good job by the board on that. So this is getting some additional projects basically along the same line as what the other projects were. Um, also to note that once that gets done or gets to this point, we get all these numbers in Bridget on IC and I meet again tomorrow. We're trying to fine-tune then really about the contingency how close we are to the end of the monies. Um, I think there's still about based off what we're seeing depending on these contingency a couple hundred thousand.
100So, we're working together to see how we're going to utilize that. Um, Bridget has some things her and I went through. She's going to fine tune because and Holly and Dwayne are going to continue to look at any other smaller items that might come off this right here like could we do some additional rooms if needed or the other part we're really looking is like painting stuff I have below the electronic signage which was asked by the facilities committee security gates which was asked by the facilities committee and some continuation or finish of the security cameras that Jim started that were not completed. So um we're getting some quotes on that and then we're going to sit down and talk after that. So otherwise the schedule is kind of below. We start everything up in
101June 9th and for basically about probably four to six weeks it's going to be very busy and so he's working as best he can with Brenda's crew. We met with Brenda and then with uh Emily, Jill, and uh Cody and other programs. And it's just going to be a lot of entering and exiting certain areas. Predominately still everything's going to predominately be through the high school or the back top of the elementary because everything else is going to be closed off. Of course, if mother nature cooperates for the outside, the inside will be done either way. So, elementary will get a pretty big face lift and surface lift, you would say, this coming summer. Um yeah, so that's what I'm asking for the board to approve. Any questions or comments or things you want to
102discuss? Um I guess my only question is this I'm assuming was talked about at the facilities committee and you guys are all on board with the order or the numbers and stuff like Yeah, just some of the numbers had changed since then because we had some other rooms and then we found the exact carpets and tiles and that changed a little bit because the tiles that first they found were a little more expensive. So I jumped up a little bit of that. Um but otherwise we're going to be matching what was already uh taken care of. to go. So, just checking the ask the ask from the district is the school board to approve the facilities a item in here with the list of items for summer work. Yes. Okay. Very good. So, in front
103of you is a proposal for summer work with with uh items that have gone through the facilities committee and is now up for the board's recommendation for service. So, I would appreciate a motion to approve the facilities expenditures for summer projects. I'll make a motion to approve the facilities expenditures for summer projects. Thank you very much, Miss Johnson. There is a first. Can I have a second, please? I will second. Thank you, Mr. Morgan. There's a first and a second. Any further discussion? My only question that I have for further discussion is if there are extra monies remaining over those need to be spent by yeah without asking MD for extension we need to spend them by the end of the summer. Thank you very much. So is that July August summer's a season? We
104want to get it done. Our goal is to get everything done by early August way so that the buildings and the staff and that can go in. So see because right September 21st is when fall starts. So just saying. All right. So there's a first and a second. Uh all those in favor signify by I. I opposed. That motion carries unanimously. Moving on to 8 C student fees. And this is Dr. Ry Hoover. Yes. Thank you, Chair Gordy. If you recall last year, we had some discussions about taking a look at student fees. Um this is not me. We're going to do that later. um once we hear more from MD, but around student activities and and miscellaneous fees and the recommendation from the administration is that we keep our fees the same for school
105year 2526 as they were this year and they're outlined here in this document. Um we will be undergoing an extensive study of fees next year. That will be part of our district operational plan for school year 2526. So we may look at something different next year or we may not. Um but we do feel like it's time that we do analyze those fees and take a look to see if we're in line with like schools and like districts for those uh activities. But um the action item that we're recommending tonight is for you to approve keeping the fees the same for school year 2526 as they were this last school year. Excellent. Thank you very much. Any questions to Dr. Ryder Hoover? No. Seeing none, I would appreciate a motion. I'll make a motion to
106approve. Thank you, Mr. Shadine. There's a motion to approve the student fees for 256 school year with no change. There's a first. Can I have a second? I'll second. Thank you, Miss Hilstrom. There is a first and a second. Any further discussion? Seeing none, all those in favor signify by I. I oppos. That motion carries unanimously. Thank you so much. Moving on to nine. First read of our handbooks. Dr. Rolver. Yeah, you got a lot here. Um I'm sure you've read them. Jamie might have but word for word on all these handbooks you know I had a conversation with chair Gordy earlier um I had to sorry uh conference with chord oftentimes handbooks do not need to come before the board a lot of his administrative work um recommendation from some folks saying it can't
107hurt and I think it's good that you see them so this is a first reading of the handbooks for um the parent student handbook staff handbook kids staff handbook kids parent handbook early childhood staff handbook launching pad preschool handbook um the board handbook of which you guys have approved recently. We're going to do that annually as well, the onetoone handbook, then the volunteer handbook. So, nine handbooks. Thank you. And as alluded to, Dr. Idol Hoover and I did have conversation about the handbooks and I said that broaches into the management versus governance and we do policy. We do not do implementation of policy where handbooks are the implementation of policy but through um conversation with with um our lawyers whatever right legal counsel it is uh they recommend just fine to do right it doesn't
108hurt so this first read these will come back in a month and I have actually a question um in the past I think they've had red lines in them I I only read one, so looked through one so far. Um, I did appreciate the cover letter that said what parts change. Um, if we're going to see them, seeing the red lines would be helpful, so I don't have to read them more for you. Christa actually suggested that we discussed it. Um, going back to Eric's point on the administrative work there. Um, we can certainly do that or we cannot bring them. Um, I wanted to make it easy on our staff as we could. What changes we can make? Some some were red line, some were not. Okay. Some but we did ask them for
109all to indicate what changes were made so that you could see that. Yeah. Yeah. I just if if we're going to see them knowing what change and we're going to see them anyway. We could certainly do that. That's easy. Excellent. Thank you very much for the suggestion. So, moving Oh, Chris, Mr. Morgan, I I was just gonna say, is that a good way to handle it in the second round for approval? Is this track changes from first read. We just have to go back to the people and see if they can go back. I I would say I would appreciate not having them do that in the next month or so, but we can do that going forward in the next year. Yeah. I don't I don't need it for this year. I just for
110the future and and for all transparency, I I would anticipate that they handbooks don't necessarily have to be their own item in the agenda. they may be able to be in the consent because there really isn't substantial first change. So these will most likely be going to consent agenda. I that's a great idea. Thank you. Thank you so much. Moving into 9B fund balance policy final reading. This was presented to us previously. This talks about the increase of our fund balance from what we were to a new. So Dr. Idle Hoover. Yeah. In in discussing this with our CFO Bridget as well as many of you and the finance committee, we had a floor of our fund balance of 8 to 10% previously whereas um we would begin cost containment. Um with the uncertainty that's
111happening at the legislature right now and the fact that um we had really strong financial stewardship this year um the recommendation um both from our financial advisers and our CFO um is to increase our fund balance reserve um to between 12 and 15% and that's been indicated on both those policies. So um that is the plan of of of requested action um to do that for us as a school district. Excellent. And while this is a um regular call, I'm going to ask this to be a roll call vote just so we can show support or not because this is a substantial change to the district's policy as well as implementa imple implications on our budget and the actions that we have within our district. So with that, I would appreciate a motion to approve
112the fund balance policy. I'll make that motion. Thank you, Miss Johnson. There's a first. Can I have a second? Second. Oh, Miss Brasa beat you. Thank you, Miss Brasa. There's a first and a second. Any discussion? And I ask for a roll call vote. So, madame clerk, please. Jessica Johnson, I Chris Morgan. Hi. Jamie Hilstrom. I. Thank you. That does carry unanimously and thank you for allowing us. And I did tell um Mr. Angelson that we would get his thing right about 8:00. We're at 81, right? Just saying. So, number 10 A is the Crows Agreement. We have had conversation at two board or at two work sessions now talking about how the uh Crows amateur baseball team can utilize and come into agreement with our district to provide not only services to our district
113with um field upgrades but also talking about concessions and other beverage uh sales associated to that. Dr. Dr. Idol Hoover has shared an agreement with our legal counsel and we'll be sharing that with the Crows as well. This is an opportunity for us to direct the district to enter into negotiations and conversations with the Crows to satisfy those needs. So with that, Dr. Ida Hoover. Yeah, I just want to I want to thank the Crows and Kevin in particular for a wonderful partnership with the school district. Um we are happy to share u our um our field um and and also appreciate the the upkeep and the maintenance that the crows provides um at at minimal cost um um for for rental in exchange for that. And the Crows is asking to become more in
114align with other amateur baseball teams around the around the state where they are able to sell um 32 um alcohol um beer in particular. And the recommendation from the administration to the board is for you to approve that based on the agreement shared u tonight um you know between the crows and broad area schools. Excellent. Thank you very much. And again this follows along the presentations that we had last month as well as the conversation we had today at our board meeting. So with that I will make a motion to approve the crows agreement directing the district to go into agreement and conversations with the crows to implement. There's a first. Can I have a second? I'll second. Thank you, Miss Hilstrom. There's a first and a second. Any further discussion? Seeing none, all those
115in favor signify by I. I post. That then carries unanimously. Thank you very much to everyone involved. Number 10B, resolution, acknowledgement of contributions. Dr. Hoover. Thank you, Chair Greg. I I just I look at this list every month and I just am thankful for the generosity of our community both in time and and uh and financial resources and other items as well. So I'd like to ask the board to graciously accept the donations from our community on behalf of the school district. Thank you Dr. Idle Hoover. That's an amazing list that's presented to us and appreciate the Ed Foundation and all the families donating items and money as well. Uh with that I would appreciate a motion to accept. Make that motion. Thank you, Miss Johnson. There's a first. Can I have a second? I'll
116second. Thank you, Mr. Shadine. There's a first and a second. Any further discussion? Seeing none, this is roll call vote. Madame clerk, I Eric, Chris Morgan, I. Jamie, I thank you very much. That does pass unanimously. Moving on to 10 C. Upcoming meetings. Um, end of year award selection committee meeting Tuesday, May 16th, 2025, 2 p.m. in the district office conference room. National Honor Society induction and senior awards ceremony Wednesday, May 14, 2025, 6 p.m. Rockford High School auditorium. Board of Education work session Monday, May 29 at 5:30 in the district office boardroom. Regular meeting of the board of education Monday, May 19th, 6:30 in the district office boardroom. And we do will we be having another board meeting prior to graduation? The answer is yes, I believe. Correct. Or the 19th. Excellent. Thank you
117so much. Um so those are upcoming meetings. Are we good? Yes. Miss Johnson on the um NHS induction and senior awards. Typically they've been kind of separate like they do the NHS induction then they do a break and then they start the senior awards. Is there a start time for senior awards or are they Ask Chair Gordy to acknowledge Principal Manard who's here to speak to that. All right. Because I don't. Principal Manard, could you please help us with the timing and coordination of senior awards and National Honor Society? I think I can. I'm sorry to put you on the sounds. Sorry about that. I just know that one's on my calendar and I didn't get an invite for the other. So, I'm just Yes, sir. I apologize for putting Principal Bernard on the spot.
118They are separate. Um, Yeah. Yeah. 7 o'clock. Yeah. 6 o'clock for NHS and senior awards. Um I need to put I can't I I would like to just also share this. You probably have noticed that Courtney is not here tonight. Um Crystal Larson who has been absolute savior. She's my rocky buddy. Um she's the glue um that holds things together and she's been doing all this great work tonight at our board meeting and she indicated to me Jeff put on your calendar. Both things are on there and they're separate. Yeah. Thank you. And I and I will put on there senior awards and NHS induction are not part of the formal board work. It is just notifications that that is an item for um consideration. It's really fun to go to the senior awards one
119to see all the successes of our our district. Excellent. And with that, we are going to move to item 10D, which is closed session. So, at this time, the board will enter into close session to discuss negotiations parameters pursuant to Minnesota section 13D.03. I would appreciate a motion to move into close session. I'll make that motion. Thank you, Miss Johnson. Eric Gord will second. Any discussion? Seeing none, all those in favor by I. I opposed. And we are moving to close session at 8:07. We will take a fivem minute recess to allow the room to clear. Ready to go. All right. It is 8:46 and we are back in open session after our closed session. The next item is letter 10E, board committee updates. And Jessica, you can go first. You said all right. Y
120So I board prep meeting, facilities meeting, and then I have had numerous uh meetings in Masiko. Um we are currently um uh contracting with CISO um for our business manager business manage position in MASCO um through the end of June as we venture forward figure out what direction we're going to go if we're going to hire that position or continue with the contract position. We're going to see how things go with that position. So, I will keep you updated on that. Perfect. Thank you, Miss Johnson. Any questions? Uh, Mr. Morgan, any updates? Finance committee, especially the um Ellers. Ellers. Yep. Or ARS. Could be either. Um, especially Ellers. Um, I think just action going forward on that. I'd like to get a couple working group meetings and maybe um we should talk about as a
121board just a timeline and a plan for a decision point on the November. Should we schedule a finance committee meeting between now and then? Please doing that then. I think that'd be good. And then um yeah, because I think I would just like to see it's it's always best if we have some options to look at um instead of just saying, "Hey, here's a here's a plan." Yeah. Um, so I appreciate um, Bridget's work and bringing them in. I thought the information was really helpful, but there's there's a lot to consider there. So, looking forward to that over the next few months. Any questions for Mr. Morgan? I just want to say, hey, thanks for your expertise because a lot of this Kevin and I I lump Kevin in with me. I'm sorry. You can
122you lump me in. I'm I know asking questions and I have absolutely no idea what he's talking got nothing this whole side of the road. We're just like, "Yeah, what you see on it?" It's nice to have someone with that sort of training and expertise on our side of the fence. So, it's nice. The aggregating comment was like, "And now I'm really on my league." Yeah. Like, nope. the biggest market in the world bonds. 70 trillion dollars globally. Um I had a communications meeting right before the meetings today. Um got some updates and then also I went to a staff meeting. Um we had a couple house members, one from each side of the aisle and it got a little fireworks, a little spicy. Not necessarily between the two, just in general in the room.
123It was there for those. It was good to Excellent. Thank you so much. Uh Mr. Shadine, any updates? Uh just was in the finance and the communications. No other updates other than what Miss Brasa just and this was back in March because I wasn't here last month. they went to the northwest suburban, but then I noticed on the in the meeting that that person was here, so you all know everything that I would have shared with you anyways. Perfect. Thank you so much. Um, so inside of the month uh AMSD meeting, we had a board of directors meeting and I need to call out uh Dr. Idol Hoover for a nice presentation again that he also shared with the uh state the legislature uh uh one of the committees about how retirement uh will be
124impacting us and no one has a solution yet, but maybe there will be someday, right? Uh so I appreciate your leadership and and and and work with that. Um it's nice to have Rockford represented in in such a strong manner. So appreciate that greatly. Um there was some MSBA um chair chats that that we talked about uh the legislative sessions, the um tenative removal uh of lunch or the inflation. Um my question, one of my questions was and I forgot to ask earlier about legislation funding to help support professional development and curriculum purchases with read. Are we in danger that we're not taking one of the state approved practices, but we'll be in good shape with that? We saved a lot of money by not having to do that. And didn't you have to write
125a letter or apply for a variance or something? We we we were granted a waiver. We don't want the state a waiver on the training. And you know, you heard them say not throwing the baby out with the bathwater and we didn't. We used that training. We're still using that training. We will continue to use that training. That's awesome. But most of our folks were already trained and so um those who are getting trained now, they're they're receiving their stipen based on theou that we had. Um but we're in a good spot. The legislature is talking about 40 million more dollars statewide for literacy training. Um and we'll get our piece most likely because it'll probably be on a per pupil basis. Um so it'll be it'll be modest, but we'll take it and we'll
126use it. As long as there's flexibility, we can use it other places. Excellent. Thank you for that information. Uh then I was able to join the finance committee that was real real short from Georgia which was fun. And then um Dr. Id Hoover and I had real brief conversation about the compensation possibilities for his 25 uh 26 contract. And that's all. What's that? Oh, I missed it. Remember I was in the middle of something else, wasn't I? Yep. So I didn't make board prep this. Oh, that's right. It's all on Jessica. And that's all. So with that, it is 8:52. I am going to make a motion for adjournment. Can I have a second? A second. Thank you, Mr. Shadine. First and a second. Any discussion? All those in favor by I opposed. And at
1278:53, we are good. Is this a Would you like a magnifier? No.