001Okay, we'll now open the November regular school board meeting. Um 1.1 roll call vote. Let the record reflect everyone is here tonight. Uh 1.2 recognitions of visitors and guests. We have a large crowd. Again, welcome everybody and everybody watching us. Uh 1.3. Please stand for the pledge of allegiance. >> I pledge algiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. Okay. 1.4 correspondence and recognition. Um, we've had no public participation request tonight. 1.42 recognition of student, staff, and community. And Joel will take care of that at the end. Again, moving on. 2.0 approval of the agenda. Do I have a motion to approve the items on the consent and main agenda? So moved. >> Second.
002>> Motion by Anne, seconded by Matt. All those in favor of the motion say I. >> I. >> All those opposed, same sign. Motion passes. 3.0. Approval of minutes. That would be the October school board meeting and then the committee meeting minutes. Do I have a motion to accept minutes? >> So moved. >> Motion by Lori. >> Seconded by an. All those in favor of the approval of minutes say I. >> I. >> All those opposed, same sign. The motion passes. 4.0 consent agenda. You guys all looked at what was under there, I would imagine. Do I have a motion to approve the consent agenda items? >> So moved. >> Eric. Motion by Eric. >> Seconded by Aaron. All those in favor of the consent agenda items say I. >> I. >> All those opposed,
003same sign. Motion passes. 5.0 main agenda 51 monthly financial overview. Carmen have in front of you revenues and expenditure guideline um report for the period ending October 31st, 2025. Um we're four months into this fiscal year. Um our revenues are um running at 28% compared to last year at 28.78%. So we're very um consistent in on track with our um revenues coming in um from the various um state and um local revenues. Um our expenditures also are um on track compared to um last year. Our budgeted amount percentage is 25.32 compared to 26.24 last year. And as I've mentioned in the past, this is based on our um budget which we will be um revising after the first of the year. Once we have kind of all our expenditures and revenues um the forecast of
004those, we we will present an updated budget to >> Okay, questions for Carmen. Okay. 5.2 two presentation of the 202425 audit report by Helen Hoofer. >> Hello. Thank you to the administration and staff for allowing us to and the board for allowing us to do this presentation. I think you all have the booklet in front of you. If you turn to the fifth page inside there that has the audit opinion on it. I'm not going to read the entire opinion. Um, but we did issue an unmodified clean report. There were no exceptions or modifications that were discovered uh during the audit requiring any a modified reporting. And then also any school that spends over $750,000 in federal source grants and revenues is subject to higher scrutiny or the single audit requirements. And so our opinion
005language does cover that in this same report. The front part part of the report is a management discussion and analysis and the governmentwide or full acral presentation. We'll not spend time reviewing that tonight. We'll look at the um fund presentations as we'll discuss here. Oh, if you turn with me to page 26. Page 26 is the statement of revenues, expenditures, and changes in fund balance. And this is just for the governmental funds. And this does summarize the strong solid position of the district. We'll stay on page 26, but I will a couple times mention some other pages. That's just to give you a reference as to where to find the detail for each of these funds. So starting in the first column, the general fund revenues were just over 67,72,000, a 1.4% over the budget.
006Um the detail for this, as I mentioned, is on page 70 through 77. The expenditures for the general fund were just over 59,624,000 which is a 5% decrease or um under budget. The district had budgeted an increase in this fund balance of 3,497,000. The fund balance actually increased by slightly more than 7,545,000. increases to the budgeted revenue came from a few different areas. First off, interest rates were higher, so interest income was up. Second, the current levy was higher uh higher than the budget due to student enrollment being up. There was a slight dip in the numbers used last year. And then general education aid was also up to a variety of reasons. One of them being the state changed the calculation partway through the year. And there was also an increase in the number
007of students included in the formula. The increase from budgeted expenses was due somewhat to staffing changes and increase in rates of pay. The decreases to budgeted expenses came to fewer projects being done such as a roofing project that was carried over to 2026. Between the overall increase from projected revenue and decrease to projected expenses, the fund balance did increase overall the 7,545,000. In the second column is food service. Revenues were just over 3,300,000 and expenses were just over 3,489,000 bringing the actual fund balance down by 189,000 to just over 966,000. The budgeted decrease for the fund was actually 342,000. Excuse me. Food food service detail is found on page 78. The food service revenue was steady with the prior year and with the plan budget. Um the largest change or increase in expenditure from the
008prior year was in salaries and while salary costs were the largest increase uh the fund did remain under actual budgeted or what you expected costs. And the third column is community service. Revenues were just over 1,982,000. Expenditures were just over 2,50,000. This decreased the fund balance by 67,000. The detail again for this can be found on page 79 through 80. Both revenues and expenses were decreased from their prior year. Um the variance though from budget or expected amounts was a decrease in expenditures from both the early childhood family education area and the adult education programs. Into the fourth column, the capital projects fund revenues were just over 8,000 and there were no expenditures for the year. This increased the fund balance to just over 200,000. The detail for this fund can be found on page
00981. Revenues were from interest income and this is retainage from the learning center project that has some work to be done um to get that thing completed. debt service. The fifth column revenues were just over 4,137,000 and expenses were just over 4,754,000. This increase reflects income from uh budgeted from levies. The debt service shows a decrease to the fund balance of over 617,000 and the intent of the board had been a budget decrease of 798,000. all of this information, all of those numbers at the bottom, your fund balances. If you go back to page 24, on page 24, you'll see all of the fund balances. Overall, total government fund balances increased 6,679,000. That would be the total governmental, the far right column. This was primarily driven by an increase in the general fund, the very
010first column with an increase just over 7,545,000. Your total government funds uh again this is back to the first column. The other ones are recaps of the individual funds. So then in your general fund your total is 59,621 that's total all funds sorry and then you'll see in the general fund you've got various different areas you've got the non-spendable 331,000 you've got assigned four fund balances just over 21 million you've got unassigned of 15,79 91,000. So your total fund balance at the end of the year for fiscal year end June 30th 2025 in the general fund was 47,947,000. All of that is not just available. So when we look at the general fund, there are just over 41 weeks and there were 31 weeks of operation in there last year. Again, that's the grand total.
011as far as what you have in your unassigned that um changed went from 13 weeks of operations at the end of June 30th, 2025 and the prior year that was 12 weeks of operations in that unassigned fund balance. Overall, again, the district has a, you know, strong position going forth into the current year that you're in. Any questions from anyone? >> What What falls under the general education aid? Cuz that's a big number, Ellen. Like I was looking at page 70. It's like 40ome million dollars. What would all fall under that? Maybe Ryan knows that. >> It's uh mostly your general ed aid for the most part. um >> from the state >> and state interstate aids. >> Okay. Does anybody have any other questions? Okay. Thanks, Ellen. Okay, moving on then. 5.3. We need
012to approve the 2012425 audit report. Do I have a motion? >> So move. >> Second. >> Motion by Matt, seconded by Lori. Is there any further discussion? All those in favor of the 2425 audit report say I. >> I. I. >> All those opposed? Same sign. >> Motion passes. 5.4 Presentation of the Comprehensive Achievement and Civic Readiness Annual Report by Sarah Schuman, curriculum instruction and assessment coordinator and NCIC achievement and integration annual report by Glattus. Sorry, I'm not good with names. NCIC achievement and integration coordinator. >> Okay, good evening. Um, thanks for the introduction. I work with secondary staff um in grades six through 12 with the middle school, high school, and learning center. I'm going to become um sharing the comprehensive achievement and civic readiness annual report. If you've been around for a while,
013this was formerly known as World's Best Workforce. So, it's a similar goals. Um, there are five of them. The first one is read well or sorry, all students ready for school. Number two is to close the achievement gap um between student groups. Number three, all students ready for career in college. Number four, all students graduate. And number five, all students prepared to be lifelong learners. Again, if you've been around and remember World's Best Workforce, we've removed the Readwell by third grade and that is reported within our local literacy plan on an annual basis. So, we'll look at the results from school year 2425. Uh, first, all students ready for school. Uh, with this goal, we're looking at students who participated within the district preschool program. And we're looking to replicate the 2019 results of their
014kindergarten readiness. Um, and to get 90% of students or 90% as measured on the local kindergarten entry profile tool. That tool looks at social skills, how well they follow directions. Um, and it's a tool completed by teachers in terms of kind of assessing students to see if they're ready for kindergarten. Um, last spring, 69 of the 121 um scored 52 or higher. Keep in mind, this is not uh they have to pass this to go to kindergarten. All these students did go to kindergarten. It's more of an informational tool for kindergarten teachers. Number two is to close the achievement gap between student groups. And again, we wanted to kind of replicate that 60% achievement on the MCA for both reading and math to match some historical data within our white subgroup population. So this shows
015our achievement gap or achievement levels in the reading MCA. Um that top line shows the Minnesota state average. So you can see in 2025 uh it was 49.6% across the state and within district 518 we were at a 32.6%. And then I've broken it down by subgroups. Um the light green boxes rep uh represent an increase from last year. So you can see we had an increase in the subgroups of Asian special education and free and reduced lunches. Um I wanted to show the gap. So uh that black line at the top is the state average and proficiency level among the white subgroup category and the red line is within our district 518. And down at the bottom, that green line is the achievement gap uh within those subgroups of students of color. And then
016that purple one is within the district. So you can't see it on the chart, it got cut off, but in 2025 that gap at the state level was 23.1% and within the district that gap is 24.4% um between those groups. When we take a look at math, again, the setup is the same. Uh that first line is the state average of all um students who took the MCA and the state average was 45.2%. Um the next line shows what we have within the district and it was 27.2% which was an increase over uh 2024. And again you can see the increases uh designated in green among um multiple subgroups there. And again I wanted to show that proficiency gap. So the black line again is the state average um among the white student subgroup and
017the red is within uh the district. Green is the state average among all the subgroups of students of color and the purple is within the district. And again, you can't see it on the chart, but uh within the state, that proficiency gap last year or last spring was 26 percentage points and within uh district 518, it was 27.1%. When we take a look at goal number three, um it's all students ready for career and college. Um and the metrics we've decided to use within the district is the rate of attendance. So this is showing at both the high school and the learning center students that had attendance of at least 90% of the time. And then they all students uh complete the next two the career goals in written format and the career assessment within
018our programming at the high school and learning center within their careers class. Um when we look at graduation rates, um our graduation rate is delayed. We don't have the spring 2025 yet. That'll be released this coming year. But in 2024, you can see that our district rate increased to 76.2%. And then I've got it delineated by the high school and the learning center. And then the state also measures seven-year rates. Um I'm hoping this chart is a little better than what I've used in the past, but you can see that um the cohort for 2021 um their four-year graduation rate was 74.5%. And then if you follow diagonally in 2024, their seven rate or seven-year rate was 78.4%. So you can see an increase of students who continued their education past that four years um
019to get their uh diploma. Um and so I'll continue to track it that way. And if you followed the diagonal, that's how you read that chart. Lastly, um just some strategies to meet the the report or the annual goals that we set. Um last spring we finished our science of reading training for K5 ELE and sped teachers across the district. Um we still have a couple cohorts that are going through but um that was a two-year endeavor and so a huge kudos for them and a lot of learning that happened in terms of early literacy. Um because of that training we also started two new foundational programs. So at Prairie we started UFly and at the intermediate school we started uh functional phonics and morphology. Both of them are focused in on those early literacy
020skills that students are missing. Um it's very systematic, explicit and um I just talked to Melissa today and we're seeing some really great results. Um, next we have targeted services, both the edge and the summer school programming. And then we partner with Compass, which is an organization out of our regional center that also partners with the state. And they're working with us on school improvement efforts at the learning center, high school, and the district level. So, we've got lots of strategies in place to improve um in these areas. And then that's our advisory committee. I'll open it up to any questions if you guys have them. Sarah, what of what you've presented? What would you say are some of the things that you are most proud of for this district? And also, where are there
021areas where we'd like to see some improvements? Yeah, I think one of the things we meet as um I meet monthly with a regional team and I think one of the things that we're kind of seeing really highly for our area is our literacy. Um we started the science of reading training before the state mandated it. Um most teachers in our area are still going through it and we've completed that with 90ome% of our um K sorry, excuse me, K5 staff. um that learning in and of itself is it just taught us how to better teach reading. Um I think I'm also very proud of the shift that we're making K5 in early literacy. Um we're really tracking and using that data on a weekly basis to plan for instruction. Um, and we're partnering with
022um the co-op as well as um the University of Minnesota to walk us through how to um implement and we're we really um invested in some professional learning for staff this year to better use those programs. So, those would be the things that I'm most proud of. Um I think as we look across the district, I mean, our scores still need some improvement. um we're not going to research says you need 3 to five years of implementation before you start to see a lot of changes. Um so we just need more time and um time for staff to collaborate, time for learning um to really make these this new learning effective. >> So what are you doing for the math then Sarah? Because you're changing your reading curriculum. So what are we doing for like
023the math end of it? >> That's a great question. And so the state came out with new standards. Um and so we're currently going through uh review processes to pick a new curriculum for math. Um the math research really looks at having a high level of rigor which looks at conceptual understanding, proficiency, fluency, um as well as real world application. So, think of it as um I love the analogy of knowing math well enough as your hometown. So, in your hometown, um if there's a street blocked, I can still get from point A to point B because I know a workaround. Um and so that's how well we want kids to have a deep level of math and that conceptual understanding. Um so, we're doing some PD in within our um math teams. Um, however,
024we can't put everything out there at once. We're still working on our reading curriculum and so, um, really the timing of everything so that staff aren't overwhelmed and there's we can't do everything new at once. Um, so we're we're doing some training and more of that will come over the next couple years. Is that math curriculum then K8 or >> It'll be K12. Yep. >> Yep. Any other questions? >> I will note that um there will be a new um reading MCA this spring and so when that happens um it's kind of like a reset and so we won't compare that to the old um results because the tests are different. So when I present next year um or when we look at this data, it'll be brand new for reading um to kind of
025see where we are and then how to move forward and then the math will come in a couple more years after that. >> I mean what would our goals be to get closer to this average? I mean we get 35% 38. >> Well obviously we want it to be much much higher, right? Um and so I think really having um using the instructional practices instructional practices that we know that are best. Um using the data to drive our instruction um making sure that all kids have access um to um high quality um teachers. Um research would show that the best indicator of student success is the teacher in that classroom. um the knowledge that they have and the belief that they can make a difference. Um so that's you know investing in teachers is um
026and their professional learning is a really great um strategy. I didn't put it up here but I could have. Um we've invested a lot of time and money into professional learning and so continuing that. So when the math comes around for that curriculum, will there be like letters? Will there be a math curriculum training that all the teachers would be able to then do that professional development and get that piece? >> There's not a science of math. Um but there would be um time from those curriculum vendors uh to come and show us um how the curriculum is laid out and work on best practices. And so we'll work with building teams in terms of what's the best implementation um what's needed in each setting uh for teacher success. Um and it'll be throughout a
027couple of years so they they really understand how to use that program. >> Anyone else? Okay. Um, I'll invite Glattis Aldana up to talk about the um, achievement and integration plan. Okay, good evening everyone. My name is Glattis Aldana. I am with the Nobles County Integration Collaborative and I will be just mentioning a little bit about what we like our mission statement at NCIC. So, our mission statement is to promote student success and community acceptance of cultural differences by providing opportunities for students, families, and staff from diverse backgrounds to learn from and with one another. Um, we work with six school districts, Adrian, Ellsworth, Fula, here on Lake Okabina, Round Lake Brewster, and Warthingington. Round Lake Brewster and Warthingington are are our two racially isolated school districts. So there are are school districts that um
028are hiring diverse population. The purpose at NCIC is to pursue racial and economic integration, increase student achievement, create equitable educational opportunities, reduce academic disparities based on students diverse racial, ethnic and economic backgrounds. NCIC is also fully funded through the Minnesota Department of Education Achievement and Integration Program. Our focus areas at NCIC is to develop cultural awareness and integration, close achievement gaps, support student success, provide professional development, and provide um language support. I have also attached a bar graph of um the different enrollment programs that we had throughout the school year 2024 to 2025. So in total we had 1,643 enrollments. So this I want to add that this is also like it could be like maybe the same student that's going to like multiple programs. It's just the enrollment that we keep track for each
029program that we have. And as you can see our develop culture and awareness integration has like the highest number. And then we just move on down the graph. I also included the different programs that we offer at the Nobles County Integration Collaborative. We offer programs throughout the school year. Sometimes it might just be a one-day program, a couple weeks program, and then we also offer different types of professional development and um different programs throughout the summer for different grade levels. And then I am also including the diversity in the NCAC member districts. As you guys can see, Round Lake Brewster and Warthingington have a higher population of enrollments of racially and andor ethnically diverse students in their member districts. Um, moving on to the next slide. I just kind of comparing the diversity statewide compared
030to like maybe like Warthingington. Um it's a significant like difference like yeah um maybe like the other cities might have a higher population but just looking down at the different diversities statewide then maybe like going back to like how um our area is it's like a significant difference and then um I'll be reporting on so at the collaborative we do a three-year plan I'll be reporting on year two for the Warthingington school district um for the um school year 2024 to 2025. Uh goal number one is reducing gaps using the spring fastbridge A- reading assessment. The gap between second grade, Hispanic, and white student proficiency will be reduced by a total of 6% over three years, starting from a baseline gap of 31% in in the spring of 2022 and being reduced to a gap
031of 25% by 2026. In the results from 2024 to 2025, the gap is 35.7%. So, we are not quite yet at meeting our goal. And then um just kind of comparing from previous years. So like in 2022 the gap was 38.3%. 2023 the gap went a little higher to 40% and now we're back down to 35.7%. Moving on to goal number two. Um culture competency. All students access to effective and culturally knowledgeable staff will increase because the percent of paraprofessional educators who participate in culture competency training will increase from a baseline in 2023 of 2% to 50% by 2026. Our annual goal has been met. The results showed that 100% of PAR professionals attended cultural competency training in the school year 2024 to 2025. Our goal number three, integration out of school time. Participants will
032self-report an increase in their level of comfort with initiating and maintaining positive relationships with students different from themselves racially, ethnically, socio, and economically from an average comfort level of two out of five in 2023 to an average comfort level of four out of five on a fivepoint liker scale. Um the results showed that students reported a comfort level of 4.5 out of five. So our annual goal has been met. And then for goal number four, equity students access to effective and diverse educators will increase because the school districts will hire more staff of color from a baseline of 21% in 2023 to 24% in 2026. The total number of diverse staff is 24.1%. This was a total of 164 out of 680 for the district. It this includes maintenance, food service and office office staff
033as well. So our annual goal has been met. And then at NCIC we do offer teacher pathway scholarships. So the number of scholarships awards were 56 and there were 26 recipients of those award. the number of scholarship awards was 56 and those there were 26 recipients of those awards over the course of three semesters. So um the same applicant can apply for the fall, spring and summer. And the total amount dispersed was 38,325. And then I did want to include in the last two years there have been six graduates from teacher education programs who were NCIC teacher pathway scholarship recipients that were hired at ISD 518. Several other recipients over the course of several years have become teachers in other Southwest Minnesota districts. Um, and that is pretty much all I have. Are there any
034questions? None guys. Good. Okay. Thanks for your time. Okay, moving on. 5.5. We got to approve the comprehensive achievement and civic readiness annual report and the NCIC annual report. Do I have a motion to accept those reports? >> So moved. Second. >> Motion by an seconded by Lori. Is there any further discussion? >> All those in favor of the motion say I. I. >> All those opposed, same sign. Motion passes. 56. I can put them together. >> You want to do it? Yeah. Do me. >> I'm going to move 56 and 57 together being both tax abatements. There was really no questions. So, do I have a motion to approve tax abatement one and two? >> So, moved. >> Motion by Aaron. Have a second. >> Second. Seconded by an and this is a roll
035call vote. >> Miss Dudley I. >> Miss Agard. >> I. >> Miss Shudy I. >> Miss Mills. >> I. >> Mr. Bloom. >> I. >> Mr. Parish. >> I. >> Mr. Widboom. >> I. >> Motion passes. Okay. 5.8. The ice arena location. Discussion. >> Yeah. Thank you for the opportunity this evening. We've had this conversation at both board committees, but felt full board discussion was probably necessary um given the impact that it could have um for for long-term planning with um not only facilities but also sites. And so u there's been lots happening in the world of ice arena discussion. Just to briefly um kind of summarize one more time, the city of Warthingington did put out for a proposal uh a type of contract at risk, which basically just means that a person creating
036a proposal would um would bid the project knowing that they would have to deliver it on time and on the budget that they um that they bid it as. Throughout that process, one local uh fairly local contractor had a had submitted a proposal that included a brand new facility, not a remodel of current facility. Uh which meant that the city of Warthingington was going to entertain possibly the opportunity of moving a project like that forward. And so, um, right now all we're being asked at this moment is as a board, is there, uh, a level of interest in having the facility on property that is currently owned by the school district? At committee, we shared two possible proposals. Excuse me. They were both on the west side of town. One of them just north of
037the learning center, the other one just south of the intermediate school. And so, uh, opening that up to, um, board for greater discussion. It would be administration recommendation that we retain ownership of the land. We do a lease of that that that space um to the city. The city would then own the facility and maintain facility as well as the grounds uh while that facility was operational there. Uh we believe that there are lots of educational opportunities of having this uh facility on our site um both during the day as well as um academic opportunities after after school knowing that one of them will be ice probably year round, the other being more like a fieldhouse when it's not operational for ice. And so with that, I'll step back. Myself, Josh can answer any questions.
038Um otherwise, it's for board discussion on how you'd like to proceed. Again, a decision tonight is just that you're open to the idea or you would allow a facility possibly being on our site. It doesn't kill the project. It doesn't mean that it's going to be on our property. It's just allowing um the city of Warington to pursue it as an avenue in moving forward through this planning process. >> Mr. Chairman, a motion is necessary then, Mr. Camp, to uh to indicate that interest. I would ask for a for an action tonight saying that you would be open that there is interest and and um an opportunity for this to be on our site. Yes, that would be my my recommendation >> and not really to actually wear on our site. You know, you said
039there's a couple different >> We could we could we could narrow that down. I think for tonight it's just is there interest as a board to have it on our on our property. Mr. Chairman, if I could ask for a little more clarification uh of Mr. Hidamp on where the process is at with the city of Warthingington because they did receive proposals uh and then what has happened since that point a week ago. Yeah, I don't necessarily want to speak for Steve, but uh the meeting I was in prior to um operational and instructional committee um had taken place at that time because the the scope of the project was looking to change. Um the plan originally was to maybe pull back and have a rebid. Um it was on city council agenda for last
040week. That agenda item then got pulled. So I don't know exactly where they're at other than they're still in the factf finding. I think they really want to make sure that if they're going to go back out for proposal that the project can actually be built for the cost that's there and there may be some question even though one lo uh contractor out of Sou Falls has said they feel like they could do it. Um I the city right now is doing a little more factf finding. >> One other question Mr. chairman on the uh proposed site the city was pursuing in the bioscience park that acres were deemed not qualifying that they could use. >> Correct. That's what we were told due to a some some work that was done with deed and how
041that was um structured for economic development. Now, if it's not on district property, the city has identified other other sites um that they could possibly use. So, it's not it's not that if again, like I said, if it's not on district property, it's not a done deal. They're just looking for avenues for best location for all parties involved, including community use. Mr. Chairman, I think it's exciting. I mean, we've been we've been waiting for this ball to move off of the center square for three years since we sat as a group looking to talk about this and we continue to talk about this and it it's good to see private industry has stepped up and helped move the ball and it's rolling where it ends. I certainly hope that we're engaged as a partner with
042this and I when our original discussion seemed to make a lot of sense to me to utilize some of the hundreds of acres that we own. I I have indicated at the our committee meeting that it's so important that we find the right six acres to place the arena if we do choose to put it in our property, which I strongly encourage us to participate that way because it's uh the placement of that will shape all of those acres for development well past this board's lifetime in the district. So that that at uh I'm excited to be a a host and a partner with the arena in my opinion. >> Matt, you mentioned how private industry has stepped up. What What do you mean like that? >> Well, that was what Mr. Heamp uh alluded
043to with local contractors that came with a different idea of how to build the project >> that was originally presented to us to be a $32 million project for two sheets and they came and said we can do it for under 20 and now we're getting closer to 16. So that I to me that's why I say thank you to them for at least helping us find other doors to open to find something that could be very affordable and be a a two uh building complex or two sheet complex. >> So if it's another fieldhouse, would that be community use or would the athletic department say Minnesota West? I mean, that's another thing I'm wondering. If you're going to have a fieldhouse, would Minnesota West look at entertaining, putting some money in if they could
044use a fieldhouse for their athletics? So, would Orthingington Athletics, Minnesota West athletics potentially have the first right to use the facility instead of just letting every league from the community use it because they already have a fieldhouse. That's kind of taken. >> Yeah, I think that would be a conversation for the city, right? It'd be a city-owned facility. They would rent that space. But I I think anybody that drives by JBS Field sees that that that parking lot is full from the moment school gets out until I I drive by and I don't stay out super late. But it's getting used and and I think there's still a definite community need for indoor indoor space for different activities and knowing that we'd have the ability when Ice is not there to to turf that um
045down the line is is exciting. Well, some of the discussion we've had is youth sports. I mean, is it something that they could also entertain using to try and help our youth sports coordinate some use of it? And I guess if we're going to look at it, you know, we got this egg lab going. I I would be more of a on the south side of the intermediate school and let the egg people still use the recently purchased acres so we can continue that and grow that program. And 70 acres is more than enough for an egg lab. So if we're going to do this, that would be where I would want to go is on the south side because it's the wetter, junkier land of the property. >> Again, today's purview is just are
046we interested in hosting correct >> said facility on district property. you would still get an obvious opinion as to final location just again opening the door for for the city to um to use it as an avenue in in their planning. Do you think that um us opening that possibility to our land would increase other um interested parties or invested parties in the in the community to increase or put in to the hat? I'm thinking mostly of the county um in that process. >> Yeah, I don't know and I can't speak for the county and what their involvement would be. Um, I know Steve is really kind of the orchestrator right now of the funding mechanisms. Um, but if our commitment stays and the city's commitment stays, um, Steve is fairly confident he'd be able
047to pull some other levers to to kind of get us over knowing that the hockey association has raised a pretty considerable number as well. Um, you know, it's us it's us getting to a point where um, other entities can see us almost to that finish line. it it's really hard for an organization like the hockey association to raise $28 million to have a let's just say a million in the bank. You're a long ways away from anybody being able to write a check and confidently see a building be built. We're now getting to a point as as um Mr. Woodman said is we've got enough momentum that I think other entities may want to maybe be a partner seeing that we're so close to the finish line. >> Correct me if I'm wrong. So this
048would be an additional commitment beyond the 5 million of land >> of us. >> Yeah. >> Monetarily it would not be an additional commitment. No >> The land has value. Yes. The land does have value. And so you know we could express that as another partial donation. But we wouldn't sell the land. We wouldn't expect the the money back from the land. We would lease it knowing that we're going to benefit in other ways. But yes, there is monetary value to the land. Well, and if you look at the two properties, there's probably about 190 acres to build on. I don't foresee that we're going to use 190 acres in the next 30 years to build on, but where do they sit with the initial thought of redoing the one at the fairgrounds and adding
049on to that? Was that a higher bid that this is kind of catching their interest? No, >> I think the original interest came from the the bid that came in that was brand new. That building out at the uh at the at the hockey arena is what 30ome years old. And when they start digging in, I think there is some caution of what are they going to find? Um and so the opportunity to at least explore someone coming in saying, "Hey, we could get you maybe two new for a very similar price was just at least a an avenue that the city wanted to explore in greater depth. opinions. >> Mr. Chairman, I would move the district 518 property be a potential host site for an arena complex. >> Okay, we have a motion. >>
050I'll second that motion. >> Seconded by Lori. Is there any further discussion? >> I Oh, go ahead, Erin. I think that if our community is going to move forward with a new ice arena, I like the idea of it being in close proximity to our schools. But I I think that we should um pass this motion tonight perhaps with a couple of conditions. I think one of the conditions should be a list that our district brainstorms about how we would want to make the facility accessible to all students in our district. Examples of that could be, you know, having FIED units during, you know, one for the intermediate school and one for the middle school where every kid during the school day has the opportunity to learn how to skate. They don't have to stay
051after school. They don't have to enroll in a sport, but they'll have the opport they will learn how to skate in school. That's an example of how we're going to build a pipeline for athletics moving forward. And it also is is something cool that our kids would be able to get to do. But this is our opportunity to to put those requests in writing to make sure that they happen if we are making such a big commitment. So we I think we we need to be strategic about what how we would want our district to be able to utilize the this new resource in our community. Second of all, a $5 million commitment by our district for this facility, I believe, is a very fair and reasonable commitment for our district to make. It's a
052lot of money, and I don't think we should commit to a penny above $5 million. The lease that we would sign should have a value, and that value, I believe, should be part of the 5 million. That might mean that we're committing less than $5 million in cash, but there's going to be an inind um part of the deal that includes the value of the land. I think there's we've already made a big commitment. I think we want other stakeholders to step up and I would like to see our our commitment be at 5 million even. So, do we tonight it's just basically to get a motion that we're interested in our property. Correct. So, I get your point, Eron, and I agree with you, but do we need to include that into the motion
053tonight? We're just giving them the forward that we're okay with looking at our property. Correct. >> Correct. >> I think the conditions could come later. I was going to say, can we do that's what I'm asking. We do the condition like, you know what I mean, a condition motion down the road. But if if you guys aren't okay, we're going to have to basically Matt's going to have to add it to his motion, or we're going to have to amend the motion. >> I think because we're just looking at the potential use of district property, which was the motion that was put forward, I would be in favor of Yes. Erin, I agree with you 100%, but putting, as Adam said, putting that off until a decision is made about Yes, we are really interested
054in a piece of your property. Okay, great. But now here are the conditions >> because they have to decide if they're even going to do this. >> Correct. >> And then that's when our conditions, >> correct? >> Is that all right, Erin? >> That's to fine with me. >> Because it's going to come back to operations committee anyways, right? I don't know if I can say >> I I just want >> I don't want to our district to miss the opportunity to be very clear about how we >> we want to be able to ensure that our kids have access to this resource >> and I agree >> and we have to have our staff and coaches involved in those discussions. I mean, it's easy for us to to start listing things that we want
055to accomplish, but if they're not doable and achievable without talking to our staff that actually have to follow through on those that I'm with you, but what we have to me it has to have purpose behind the our desires. >> Yeah. Is it do we need to be respectful in saying that there would that we are thinking about conditions? I'm this is I'm not a yes or no. I'm just saying if we're if we are thinking about conditions, is that going to deter their decision-m and therefore does that need to be disclosed? >> I think that's something Joel can share with Steve that we're okay with this. We made the motion that you can look at our property. If we go further and this is what you choose, there is going to be conditions. >>
056Yeah. I just want to make sure we're not >> turning around. >> Mr. Chairman, I don't like the using the word conditions. I mean, then it sounds like we're then threatening that if you don't do it like this, we're going to go walk away. I mean, I I I want us to be a collaborative partner in this and and obviously we have to look out for the students of our district, the dollars of our district taxpayers, but it has to be with a collaborative mindset. And uh I don't like the idea of we're threatening with the word condition or we're not going to play ball. >> I can't imagine that the city is thinking anything different because who else is going to use it during the school day? the students of our district. It's right
057here within the city of Warthingington. I mean, >> well, even after school, I think, and I think of what Aaron is driving home and what's kind of I'm driving home, too, is not only during the school day, but after school, you have practices for all these sports. I would rather see that our kids get first use of that fieldhouse than another soccer league in town because they've got another fieldhouse. >> Well, and I would extend it even into the summer. What about some of our programs? >> And I'm not saying it's been rented. I just I think >> and it's it's maybe not the conditions. It's just we're gonna have some asks of what we would like to see. And I I don't know if I could if I may just to share one last
058piece. And um as the project sits right now, there's still a a funding shortfall of about a million dollars. And so if if we take any money that we take off the table for value of the land just puts that shortfall greater, I just want make make sure the board knows that that's where the project's at. >> What the district buy that for? Was it 30? So if you take six acres, it's another 180 to 200,000 we're basically donating. So we have a motion and a second. M motion by Matt, seconded by Lori to give the city an okay that we're interested in using our property. Is there any further discussion? All those in favor of the motion say I. >> I. >> All those opposed, same sign. >> Motion passes. >> Okay. 5.9. Approve
059an employese's leave of absence. Um we have an employee that um has been off on um paid leave um since the start of the school year due to a medical um condition in the family and um she has exhausted her paid leave and is requesting unpaid for the remainder of the school year. Um the recommendation um from the committee was to approve the request. >> Do I have a motion to approve a leave of absence? >> So moved. >> Motion by hand. I have a second. >> Second. Seconded by Matt. Any further discussion? All those in favor of the motion say I. >> I. >> All those opposed, same sign. Motion passes. >> Okay. 5.10. Approve the second reading of policy 722 public data and data subject requests. >> This is a policy that we
060reviewed at last month's board meeting. it's coming back even though there wasn't any um suggested changes or discussion uh because MSBA now has come with uh with an amendment. And just for awareness, MSBA is now going to do their um their updates to board policy um multiple times throughout the year rather than the one big chunk that we've normally gotten in July. Um and so to make it a little more manageable throughout the year, they're going to break those apart. And so now we're into into that cycle. And so this was one of those policies. There's one additional paragraph um if you had a chance to review um but essentially it's a protection for the school district around if a um a a specific person makes a request for data and we collect all of
061that data for them and then inform them that that data is ready and they never come review it or they never come pick it up that we are not obligated to then um fulfill um subsequent requests for that person until they come and and gather the first one. Um, and so it's a protection of the district. And so that is now new language that was not presented in the first reading. And so we're bringing it back for the second one. Other than that, the policy remains unchanged >> from our first reading. Sorry. >> Okay. Do I have a motion for policy 7? >> It'll it'll come for a third. >> It'll come for a third read. Okay. >> Yep. >> All right. 511. approve a school resource officer agreement. >> All right. As we're uh
062moving through the year, um we Mr. Noble and I met with um Officer Peele from the Warthingington Police Department and um had recognized that it had it had not come um for a while to be updated. And so just bringing it back to the forefront, but we have um updated the current school resource officer contract. I'll highlight just a few things that were there. U we updated the um we updated the dates. It was um a few years outdated since the last time it was signed. If you go to the third page, if you have it in front of you or have have read it, um we included that DARE is now at the intermediate school um updating it that that new building is there. Uh we we did some peer mediation addition from the
063middle school. And then we also included um that the school resource officers will be active members of our emergency preparation advisory committee, otherwise known as EPAC. That's a new committee that we have now started. Uh Mr. Noble chairs that group. Um but we have a large contingency of um community partners that are now collaborating with us on a monthly um making sure that our buildings are are as up to date in the safety procedures as possible. And so um that's been a a huge benefit already that we've seen. And so we wanted to make sure that uh we were both on the same page regarding um that partnership. Just for board clarity uh on the cost to the district uh we pay 60% of nine months of each officer's salary. So if that makes sense,
064we take nine months of the school year and then we pay 60% of that salary knowing that they are doing other police work at other times during during the school year. So we are recommending uh approval so that we can um update that contract and that partnership with the police department. Move to approve the school resource officer agreement. >> Motion by Matt. >> Second by Eric. Is there any further discussion? All in favor of the motion say I. >> I. >> All those opposed? Same sign. Motion passes. >> Adam, I don't think the operations committee got a copy of this agreement to review. Can >> we did not we didn't have it at at the time. So, but I can send it out if you want. >> Yes, please. I'd like to read it. Thank
065you. >> Um, Chairman Bloom >> on the motion for the policy. Um, 5.10. I don't think you guys had a motion or a second. You just approved it as all. And Lisa needs a a motion and a >> for which one? >> Um, we need a motion for the policy. Yeah, >> we do need a motion for approval. We're not going to bring it for a third read. Well, we can, but we usually do for first and second and final. >> Okay. Yeah. Sorry. Go ahead then. That's my fault. >> Dang it, Joel. >> Sorry. >> Do I have a motion for policy 722? >> So moved. >> Motion by an >> Seconded by Lori. Any further discussion? All in favor of the motion say I. I. >> All those opposed, same sign. Motion passes.
066>> Are you happy, Lisa? Okay, on to reports. >> I have a an extensive list of all the great things that have happened uh throughout the district in the last month. So, uh please sit back and enjoy. I'm going to try to do them in somewhat chronological order, but they might be uh just a little bit. But going back all the way um to just before uh our last board meeting, want to give a shout out to our robotics teams. Uh they traveled down to De Moine, participated in the Clash in the corn preseason event. Uh during the event, the team managed to be selected for an alliance with other robotics, qualified for the finals, and won the entire competition. And so that's a really big deal to that group. Um we had a family
067steam quest at the intermediate school. Uh got to enjoy that fun event. I wanted to say a shout out and thank you to the staff who coordinated that fun and educational night of science, engineering, plant science, and hands-on activities. Uh myself and a small team of folks at the district office uh completed our first ever morning Trojan morning meetup. Uh we had a a small handful of community members that engaged with us and we're looking to uh continue to look at times that best meet our community's need to continue to grow that opportunity. I want to give a shout out and congratulations to the Warthingington Middle School students who received their good news calls of the day uh and the Trojan pride awards. We also have a big renaissance event happening on Friday. Our girls
068WHS soccer team enjoyed a special experience attending the Minnesota United FC playoff game and assisting on the field by holding banners. Uh what a great and inspirational event for them. This year, the district 518 a lab produced a strong and bountiful harvest of corn and soybeans thanks to timely rains and favorable weather. Students from the middle school, the high school, Minnesota West uh continue to gain valuable hands-on agricultural experience. Uh our congratulations to Lily Brown for being named to the Big South allconerence honorable mention tennis team. Congrat Congratulations to Pay Poe for being named all Big South Conference girls soccer. Congratulations to Diego Alvarado, Danny uh Benggas and Juan Sandaval for being named to the All Big South Conference team for boys soccer. And then also congratulations to Saul Galves and Andy Guzman who earned
069honorable mention on that same team. Big shout out and congratulations to the WHS FFA egg communications team for competing at the national uh convention placing eighth out of 40 teams. They represented in Warthingington well. Our K kids at the intermediate school uh best of luck to the newly elected kids uh Shaylee Bson, Adeline Hine, Brecklin Wellers, and Katherine Standifer. Our uh the 2025 MC MCEA Community Educator Award of Excellence goes to Audrey Stafford, a member of our district 518 community education team. Special recognition to um the Trojan Volleyball team. Congratulations to Nadia Kana for being named All Big South Conference for that team. I wanted to give a a huge shout out overall for all the Veterans Day programs that happened in in the buildings. I got to see many of them. Um I got
070to see many veterans that went to multiple um events and we did such a nice job at all sites and it really meant a lot um to our community. And then lastly, uh shout out to Prairie Elementary and the Discovery Room. Uh the MEA innovative innovation program award uh went to our team here for the great work that happened there. and uh principal um Heidi Meyer and a team of folks were able to um to obtain that award just this last week. So, uh lots happening uh lots of great things happening in and throughout the entire district and community. >> I could have done that. >> You good now? I'm good. Okay. On to instructional committee. Is there anything that you guys like to add? >> No, everything's been covered on the agenda tonight. >>
071Okay. Operations >> all covered, I believe. >> Any other reports? >> U Mr. Chairman, I would like to also extend a congratulation to all of our music students. the fall choir uh concerts, the uh indoor marching band and the fall um orchestra concerts were all wonderful and greatly attended as was the uh fall play. And I think there were many families who enjoyed having a family-friendly uh performance and it was great and so thank you to all of those teachers who go above and beyond. >> Okay, anything else? Okay. Other business. How do we proceed? We're going to be going into close session. >> Yeah. >> So, we're going to convene into a separate room. >> Yep. We're going to go out and around the corner.