08/25/2025 - Board Meeting

001the the teacher transfer at this time. Um, with those 537, what we're looking for is the reason is we're we're see the seats are too much right now. So, we're trying to make sure we don't go over the number of kids that are allowed in the >> Okay. So, we're going to try to um make sure that we don't have any overcrowding on the buses. So, right now we have a couple of routes. Um, we do have two routes that are going to be over our 60 minutes that are allowed for our kids to ride the bus. The parents are being notified about that and giving them the option to either continue with over the 60 minutes. One is on for 72 minutes. Um, so like 12 minutes over is the longest right now. Um,

002if they choose to want an individual contract, we can do that. that would just alleviate, you know, eliminate them able to ride the bus. So, we're letting them know that at this time until we can get um things that are covered on there. So, we're working really hard on getting getting everybody to and from school. Um we are struggling trying to get our next thing. If we can't seem to make this work and we're getting way too over for out ones that are out of district, we'll have to stop or out of the three miles, we might have to look at maybe knocking off some of our our student riders. If if we're over numbers on buses, >> those would be students who are closer to the school within the three miles that we are

003picking up. We're not required to, but we we try to pick up those because of the way the town is. And so there's the chance that if we are over that that's where we would cut down time is pick up less of those. Now that's not the case right this second but it could be >> right because if we get if we weren't picking up some of those which we don't get they're ineligible writers so that we don't get reimbured for them but we're not going out of our way. So, we're stopping and dropping, which would el would mean that we'd have to get rid of some of those that are under the three, which just to give you an idea of where that would be hindering and and come into play. Um, on the

004east side, that would include the Alderidge trailer court. It would include um most of the um Brookway and the um Fezant Brook. And then over on our west, you would lose um the stops there in in the golf course and on L's and Duval, those ones that are over there. So, um if we can't get our numbers down um to do it, then we would have to start looking at eliminating some of those um because we're our number one goal right now in transportation is to make sure that all of our routes are filled. And then we do have our pick sheets for this this month that we're trying to make sure are covered as well because that cost us a lot of money too. So that is where we're at right now. Everything as

005of today when we got finished with our driver's meeting today, we're doing really well. Um we're all positive and they're looking forward to it. Um but if we get very many more, we have, you know, I noticed there's a few more registrations that have not been processed yet. So, as the processing continues through, which will probably be the next two weeks where we'll have more people add, we really will probably have to relook at this in two weeks at the next meeting as well to keep you posted of where we're at with how many people are registered for the bus. >> We have any uh current Sorry, Britney. We have any current uh people who will we've we've hired provisionally as bus drivers and they'll be adding to our bus driving numbers here pretty quick

006hopefully. >> We have one that's going through. It is not going to change where we are at at this time because that route is part of the Yellowstone Academy route or the Yellowstone Academy is part of that. So, we're using that same driver to do all of it. It's not going to change it. We just have a provision with with Yellowstone Academy. We're running about 20 minutes late getting the kids out to the school, but just we're not the only ones, but that's the only negative thing on there is that we're about 20 minutes late getting them out to school every day. Britney, >> so you said we have 537 total. >> 537 total registered on this six. >> Is that is that normal Zeta or are we are we exceeding what you're actually are

007we >> we are kind of a little ahead than normal this time of year because we usually will get right about about 600 by the end of the year. So we will probably I would anticipate probably another 35 or 40 before next week within two weeks. So, sure. >> Are we feeling that we're over just because we're still lacking bus drivers or like we like because of routes? Like why do we feel like now we're kind of pinching a little bit? >> Because we're three drivers short. So, we have three routes that are combined. So, that's the reason why. >> So, those buses are getting full, >> right? >> And when those buses get full, you know, anyone who's inside of that three miles, they're the first ones that that that won't be able to

008ride. Now, we're not there yet, but that's just a worry because the board could get phone calls, they could get people who are upset, and we understand that, but you know, obviously we have to get the people outside of the three mile window are the priority. So what I'll try to do if we continue to get the increase on that I think would be most beneficial for you guys is to realize how many people are registered within you know including within a mile without you know within the mile then two miles out and then three miles out. Um unfortunately that's something we looked at before when we had to shut down some of those routes is to look at that. Um a mile isn't going to be a lot you know where our majority of

009them is. um we just have a lot of students that on some of those routes to get on that are right at the two and a half miles and that's just really puts us over. So, and we do have one independent, you know, individual contract that we're using this year. So, that we haven't used before, but we just can't get the best down there. >> Britney, yeah, >> what grade level is the student that's going to be writing 62 minutes? Do we know that grade level? >> Grade levels of those students that are going to be there? that one that you said it's at exactly at about or 72. What grade level is that student at 72 minutes? Do you know? >> Oh, yeah. They're they're in the they're um they're in first and second

010grade. So, you were like right at that time. So, when we start looking at that, we look at the ages. The way to make sure because their time will be there is that every time you're loading a student, you need to add about 30 seconds for each student that you load. So as you load that, if you're having two, that's a full minute that you're at that stop. So depending where you are, because a stop is when we stop there, load, we don't move until they're all seated with their seat belts on and stuff and move forward. So that's why we're saying, well, 30 seconds isn't very long, but when you add it for each student, get it on at that stop, it could really add up. So that's our least favorite thing that we

011want to do if we can keep it the way we are. But we just really need to find some bus drivers out there. and we've done a lot of trying and stuff, but we unfortunately only ended up with one new one. >> What's the uh primary reason would you say for folks not So, in other words, did you get applications and they didn't work or were you just you just got one application out of that hiring campaign? >> We did receive two applications this summer. We hired both of the ladies to be bus drivers. one unfortunately because of a family issue had to move out and the other one is going to stay and take it but she's got to finish the rest of her training. But why we're not getting applicants there's a whole

012lot of different thing. It is really difficult and a lot of time put in for people to get their CDLs. Um it's a federal laws right now and the federal requirements are very very steep. Even if they currently have a class A CDL and they want to come in and do their their school bus, they still have to go back and start at at ground one with all of the training because they need anytime they're adding an endorsement which would be school bus and passenger or even air brakes depending on who what they have on there. They have to start all over. So you're looking in about 25 to 30 hours of them to just get it which we are really good about here. You guys have done amazing to help support getting drivers, but

013then when you start looking at it, it's split shifts. A lot of the young people that are needing it need to have benefits and we don't have benefits for them. What keeps our drivers that are here is because one, we have we're pretty lucky because instead of having four sped routes or three sped routes, we were really smart and went ahead and got bus aids on all of them. So, we don't have to have a sped route. we just have to have aids for some of those students and so we're automatically covered with them on our buses. So that really saves us some time um that's out there. But what we're looking at is um just the hours because you work you know two and a half to three hours in the morning to the

014same thing in the afternoon. So we're about five hours a bus driver right now and so they don't qualify for benefits that's in there. So, it's a little bit, you know, harder. And, you know, the pay, um, while we've done a good job of increasing our pay inhouse, I, you know, overall, um, when they look over everywhere, we still pay pretty low. So, average starting right now, I looked that up before I came over and stuff, the average in Montana for a school bus driver is right at 24. >> Where are we at again? >> We're at 1997. that come out of transportation money. >> So it's not general fund, >> right? For different fund. >> How does that budgetarily work for you to be competitive with that using transportation dollars? >> It is a

015I'll just tell you guys before you get too deep in those questions. It is a negotiated salary. >> Sure. >> So that salary is you guys that are part of that team understand that, right? Um th those are all negotiated, >> right? Just trying to understand that that you know what can we do to attract people um to that role? Okay. And then the inner how's inner inner school going to work this year then you're short. How are you going to move bus kids? No. Well, that's what I'm wondering. I understand like the teacher part like you're not going to move kids around the district for teachers, right? But what about a west kid that goes on a route that leaves from graph? You know how we always >> we're not doing that this year.

016Every every bus will go to every school. >> Just go to every school. >> Much easier >> for us to do that. We're not holding at one school. >> Okay. >> Or another bus. So much easier. We the reason we changed that was because of the going over the railroad tracks and we would get stuck over there all the time. And so it was just easier. We were asked to do that to try to keep some of the the traffic away from um West during the construction. That's the only reason we changed that one as well, too. So, >> this year we're back to going to every school. >> Just every school. So, no transfers. >> Okay. >> Which is nicer. I mean, it really truly is. >> Yeah. >> The only other thing we

017can look at um and what we're concerned about is because of our transfer students. Those are the students that live under the three miles. So, everyone on the south side, we'll use that one for an example. they get on the bus, they will be going back to south uh to the admin building now and catching the bus over. We're adding like 23 kids in that bus on that route for just one stop. And I know not everybody's registered yet. So that puts us over on, you know, that's pretty close. And then that route is a combined route. So she goes all the way out highway 212 and drops off all the way to the in almost to farewell for this for our um out there and then she also has to drive all the way

018down the road to Labrador and turn around and come back. So that's a really long trip and our last student that's on the as we're coming back into town is our last one to get dropped off. So they're on longer than what they should be. So part of those in town transfer, the same thing as the ones that go to middle school and and um intermediate school that live on the west side will get on over at the elementary school and then we transport them back. And so those are getting pretty high numbers which causes some issues as well. Granted, it's short time but some of those when that bus then goes once they do that transfer out, they're the ones that head out. 19 will have it this year which will head out through

019Highway 10 out to the Park City and back and then across on the north on the south side of the interstate. So that's a pretty long route as well. So it's just um getting set up here and getting them getting them going is where is where we're at. So >> Renee, >> so I know that the we have to account for the kids that might ride the bus, but do we know what's the percentage of kids that I mean that 537 sign up? Do we have a percentage that we know regularly rides? >> About 85% will ride on a daily basis. ones that will register that don't don't ride hardly at all would be our high school students and usually mom and dad will register them in case they get in trouble and they lose

020their privilege to drive. >> So do you do you really factor them into your census then on a daily basis? The high school do you really factor those high school students in then? >> We do. We have to. They're out of the three miles we're required to. So, but as far as like, okay, census wise though, this bus looks full every day, but there's 10 seats on it because those high schoolers are never on the bus. >> That one we we do fill in for that one because they're usually the ones that we'll do our we'll do our transfers on. >> So, you'll watch those buses if they're consistently short seats as far as or extra they have extra seats or long seats, I should say. You would uh you would place kids on that

021bus then. We're seeing some increases again. Um biggest increase I've had this year was seven kids on Moer Dome. Totally that you know we were planning on doing class C buses up there this year again and it would take at least three to get it done. So that one is a pretty hefty increase. And it was just one family moved in with three kids and another one had two. And you know it was just like it's it's really hit and we know that there might be two more coming. So, but that was that was a big hit. >> Okay. >> Is it an option to drive more of our like SUV vehicles where we don't need such high class, you know, certification? >> Class C she was talking. >> That's the class E bus I

022was talking about. And that's what we were we were looking at and stuff. We just don't right now they are so full. I mean, we don't we've gotten rid of all the small routes this year because we just don't have the ability to to do that. Maybe an option for those like that poor guy on the road, you know, that's 72 minutes on the bus or whatever. It's just >> good try though. But yeah, >> we'll let you drive as soon as you change your hair back. >> Looks good. But yeah, I mean they're they're right now we're we're getting everything set up. We're going to have the guess tomorrow we'll have everybody seat assignments to them and stuff. So, um, and then in two weeks, I I think what we'll do is I'll let

023you know where we're at. We'll be approving all the rest of the new routes because we've had to do a lot of changes. So, we'll do all those change route ones in two weeks and take another look at it then, I guess, is the best thing. >> Great. Any other board questions? Audience questions? Thank you, Zeta. I appreciate your work on that. It's not easy, I'm sure. We'll move on then to the second presentation on the agenda, which is a new hire presentation. >> Right. Well, we have some new hires here with us tonight. Now, I will say that some of the new hires are later down on the agenda tonight. So, I'm going to make an assumption that uh they will be hired. I don't think uh any of their uh negative background checks

024came in. Everyone's good to go. So, we're going to go ahead and uh uh give you some information on the on all these folks. Some of them were hired a while back, but couldn't make it last month. So, I'm going to ask you to stand up and please stand up so everyone can stare at you. So, first up is Aaron Havens. Is Aaron here? Ah, Aaron. Okay. All right. Say hello to Aaron Havens, our new eighth grade English teacher, who brings a whole lot of literary flare and a little Midwestern charm to the middle school. originally from Minnesota. You betcha. Yeah. Um Aaron earned her undergrad degree there before heading west to snag her masters at the University of Colorado. She and her husband Dan recently relocated to the Columbus area. Though, let's be honest,

025her horse Walther is probably the one running the show. If you're Yeah. picking that. When she's not teaching students how to analyze metaphors or survive Shakespeare, you'll find Aaron trail riding with Walter and yes, occasionally letting Dan tag along as well. Her passion for education began at an international girls boarding school where she got to travel through Europe, basically living the plot of every great study abroad movie ever made. Welcome, Erin. We're thrilled to have you, Walter, too, and Dan, of course. What about Miss Katherine Rose? Katherine here today. Okay, Katherine. Here you go. Meet Katherine Ro, better known as Kate, our new kindergarten teacher, who's bringing both experience and a little international flare to Laurel. Kate grew up in Colorado and earned both her undergrad and master's degrees from the University of Colorado. So,

026she's a proud alum through and through. She's also married to our very own Dylan Row, providing Laurel, proving Laurel really does keep great teachers in the family. Kate joins us with a wealth of teaching experience, most recently at the Sunshine Academy, making her transition to kindergarten. Hear about as smooth as snack time. Fun fact, she has her hair cut in four different countries. Whoa, wait, what? She's had her hair cut in four different countries. Wow. uh clearly braver than most of us and has run in six different races since moving to Montana because apparently she enjoys crossing finish lines both in and out of the classroom. Welcome Kate. Our Kinders are in for a great year even if they'll have to keep up with your world traveling race running pace. What about Mr. Tyler Foss?

027Tyler, there you go. Meet Tyler Foss, our newest sixth grade math teacher, who somehow manages to make time for teaching despite what appears to be a full-time job in every other place in town. Coming to us from another district as Broadview, uh, where he balanced teaching with being a part-time principal. Tyler grew up in Billings, earned his undergraduate degree at MSU Billings, and his masters from Rocky Mountain College. Tyler is a very busy man. When he's not in the classroom, you might find him working him in Home Depot, Target, or pretty much anywhere that will hire a starving teacher. And when he does find a rare free moment, he loves to hike. We're not entirely sure if trekking across the Target parking lot counts, but for Tyler, we'll allow it. Welcome, Tyler. Your students are

028lucky to have you. If they can catch you between shifts, Miss Jody Shriner. Jody. All right, Jod. Meet Jod Shriner, our new middle school secretary who's bringing years of clerical and financial knowhow to the front office. Jod comes to us from a solid background, including seven years at Woods Power Grip, where she mastered the art of keeping things organized and running smoothly. When she's not holding down the middle school office, Jod is happiest hanging out with her grandchildren, proudly the fourth generations of locomotives, which officially makes her family Laurel Laurel royalty. Fun fact, Jod is a lefty and two of her kids are southpaws, too, which means family game night probably comes with a whole lot of awkward elbow bumping. Welcome, Jod. We know the office is in good hands, even if we'll have to

029stock the supply closet with left-handed scissors. All right, make sure I pronounce this right. But is it Rube Mayahhar? Did I pronounce that correct? Mayhem. All right, that's good, too. Uh, meet Rube, one of our newest cafeteria assistants who's bringing good energy and hopefully some extra smiles to our lunchroom. Rubé just moved here from Grand Junction, Colorado. A lot of Colorado folks coming up here with her daughter who will be joining us at Laurel Intermediate School. Originally from Wyoming, she eventually made her way to Colorado before settling here in Laurel. Now, let's clear up the mystery right now. Her name is often mispronounced. My apologies, but it is pronounced Rube. Yes, like the new favorite like your new favorite nickname. I don't understand that, Peggy. But uh Rubé loves music of all kinds. If she's

030got a beat, she's in. And she enjoys yoga. Excellent. Which we think might come in handy after a busy lunch rush. Welcome, Ruby. We're glad you and your daughter are here and we promise to get your name right eventually. What about Tammy Summers? Okay, Tammy. Tammy Summers who recently moved back here from Washington State, but funny enough, she's actually a Laurel High School graduate. During her interview, we may or may not have pulled out the yearbooks and had a good laugh about the 80s hair. It was a look and we're glad it stayed in the 80s. Frankly, yeah. Tammy has a true love of organizing things. So much so that she and her daughter started a side gig as professional organizers. So, please don't come into my office anytime soon. Uh, basically if it has

031a closet, drawer, a garage, Tammy can turn it into a masterpiece of order. When she's not tidying up, she's enjoying spending time with her four grandchildren and getting outdoors. Her favorite hikes are in Yellowstone National Park. But truthfully, she's happy just about anywhere with a scenic view. Welcome home, Tammy. We're thrilled to have you back where you started, minus the big hair, of course. All right. What about Stephanie Reese? All right, Stephanie, just to update you, the county uh superintendent signed your stuff today, so you're you're you're well on your way. We're just waiting on OPI. Meet Stephanie Reese, one of our new kindergarten teachers who brings both a love for little learners and a knack for knocking down pins. Stephanie grew up in Cody, Wyoming, where her family owned a bowling alley. So yes,

032she's an avid bowler and probably has a strike record that would make the rest of us jealous. Stephanie comes to us from where she also taught kindergarten last year and before she was worked and before she there she worked as a substitute teacher in Wyoming. She loved the she loved the classroom so much that she decided to go back to school and earn her teaching certificate. And now here she is ready to help Laurel's tiniest students roll into success. Outside of school, Stephanie has plenty to celebrate. In just a year, she'll be marrying the love of her life. And she's already em embraced her role as a bonus mom to a daughter she adores. Someone who says someone who she says has changed her life for the absolute best. Welcome, Stephanie. We're excited to see

033all the spares and strikes you'll rack up in the kindergarten world. What about Coach Lamb? Is he here to Oh, right in the front. Yes. All right, we got Tanner Lamb. Meet Tanner Lamb, our new middle school science teacher and as you guys already know, our high school head high school boys basketball coach. A double duty role that takes both brains and buckets. Tanner grew up in Wyoming and recently graduated from Rocky Mountain College where he also played basketball. Clearly, he's no stranger to teamwork, hard work, or long hours in the gym. He's so excited to join Laurel Public Schools that when the only open teaching position was in science, he went back to school to pick up an extra endorsement just so he could be here. Now, that's commitment. Tanner Tanner's also got big

034personal news. He's getting married on November 8th. Yes, that's soon. So, you got like two months or three months. Three months. Good job. Congrats. between wedding planning, basketball practice, and science labs. We're not entirely sure where he stands, where he finds his sleep. And I Good luck with that. Uh, welcome, Tanner. We're thrilled you've joined the team. Here's to a school year full of slam dunks, successful experiments, and maybe just a little free time after November 8th. >> Thank you very much. >> What a great cruise. So, thank you and welcome to Laurel, everybody. Go locomotives. That's right. Go Locos. Thank you, Matt. Welcome to you all. Hope for a great school year and we appreciate your uh dedication to our school. So, thank you so much. We'll move to our next agenda item here,

035which is correspondence. We did have one donation, $500 to our student lunch fund from the uh Derekis uh uh who live just out here south of town. So, thank you so much for that and we appreciate that and our students do as well. We'll move next to the next agenda item, which is the consent agenda. Do I have a motion? >> Can I make a quick comment before someone makes a motion? Um, just so you guys are aware that all the personnel hiring we normally do in the consent agenda, I had moved down to the action item. And the reason I did that is some of them, these last minute hires, we don't always have all of their um background check back. So rather than just have a consent agenda item, we need to go

036ahead and go down to those folks and and make a little different motion that that involves, you know, you know, just, you know, in case we don't have a good uh background check, which I'm not worried about, but it's one of those things we need to the motion has to be a little different. So that's why those folks are not in the consent agenda, just so you guys are aware of that. >> So do we need to move the substitutes that don't have background checks? And that was my my next comment is uh at the time we did put them on the consent agenda. I don't think that's a problem. Uh if there is an issue, we just don't use them and we take them off the sublist. Great. Any other questions on that? >>

037I would entertain a motion on the consent agenda. I move to approve the consent agenda. >> I have a motion to approve the consent agenda by Jenny. Do I have a second? >> I'll second that. >> Seconded by Britney. Do we have any further board discussion? Any public discussion? Hearing none, we'll move to vote. We do have a motion to approve the consent agenda by Jenny, seconded by Britney. All in favor say I. I any opposed? Motion carries. We'll move to the next section of the agenda tonight, which is the action items. Uh number A, out of district student appeals. So, as we did last month, we did have five students who uh appealed to us to miss the deadline that would still like to come here. Uh student A is a 12th grader, student

038B is a kindergartener, student C and D are foreign exchange students who are actually why would they come here if they live in Billings and well because last month you approved all these foreign exchange our siblings who do live here are all coming here and they didn't want the kids the foreign exchange students that they're hosting to go to West and their kids to come here. They thought well we'd like them all to go to Laurel. So, those two students, we're not sure we had to get that approved, but we thought we would try it anyway. And then, uh, student E is a ninth grader. All of these students, we've checked, um, uh, make sure there's no issues with the attendance, graduation, no suspensions. U, so I we we should be fine. So, otherwise, I

039wouldn't even bring them to you guys if there was an issue uh to that. So, I did put them all in one little action item. if you have any questions. I know we have some of their folks are out here today. Uh they made it to answer any questions, but we do have room. Uh high school's not a big deal. Four of these kids are high school kids. Uh we have one kindergartener and as of uh yesterday when I checked our kindergarten numbers, we could still absorb another kid, no problem. So we were in very good shape in kindergarten. So that's all I would report on that. Do we have a motion? >> I'll also move to approve all students listed um for out of district uh attendance here at Laurel. >> You have a

040motion to approve all of the students listed under action item A out of student district student appeals. Do we have a second? Seconded by Renee. Any other board Discussion by the audience. >> Correct. All those kids, right? >> All students approve >> To approve script. >> We got you, Harold. >> Great. So, we do have a motion to approve all students listed under action item A, out of student district appeals by Jenny, seconded by Renee. All in favor say I. >> I. Any opposed? Motion carried. >> Thanks to you that showed up. You don't need to talk, but appreciate you. We look forward to having your kids in the district. >> Yes. >> You need to go and meet with Lisa Harris. She's our registar. just down the hall, right? Couple doors down. You already

041filled out some of the paperwork that you might need. Uh call her tomorrow morning, Lisa Harris, and uh let's get on top of anything else you need. Then we'll have to get into the high school ASAP get class. >> We'll have the high school counselor call. When classes start >> Tuesday the 2nd. Class will start Tuesday the 2nd. We have a calendar on Harold. There's a calendar on our website. Give me a call if you have any questions tomorrow. We'll get her figured out for you. Okay. All right. Thanks. Thank you so much. Welcome to the school. Great. Yeah, Tonnie, you guys don't have to stay if you don't want it. You guys are good. >> Thank you. >> All A and B money. So, we'll move to action item B, which is another out

042of student district approval, but it's a slightly different. saw that match just >> this one is a student who res when they registered as a student this spring they were in district but as our policy states whenever a student moves out of district after they've been an in district student we go ahead and bring it to this board and then we can claim to buildings hey they're in your district now and they're coming to ours and that's that new law and all the the money goes back and forth so these all have to be approved now by the board so we can collect from in this case, district two, uh that out of district money. So, they want their kid to stay here even though they've moved into buildings. >> Make sense? >> That's why

043they have a student number and they're already a student here. I would entertain a motion on action item B. >> I make a motion to approve the out of district student approval for the fifth grader residing now in Billings to still attend Laurel Post. Have a motion by Britney to approve action item B. Do I have a second? Seconded by Renee. Do we have any further board discussion? Audience discussion? Hearing none, we will move to vote on the motion by Renee to approve the out of district or excuse me by Britney to approve the out of district student listed under action item B seconded by Renee. All in favor say I. I. >> Any opposed? Motion carries. >> Action item C. MTSBA 2025 membership electronic poll. >> Do I have a motion? >> Question. >>

044What is the what is the recommendation here? I guess we don't have anything. It just is this annual meeting ballot by clicking on the link, >> right? Mo mostly it was a bring to the board a just to have a consensus discussion and vote. Um >> what are we voting on? I guess that's what I'm trying to figure out. >> If we wanted to support this or or even proceed with voting, >> Connie, yes, >> the bulleted items. >> Yeah, the bulleted items. There's five bulleted items there. So, we would just instruct the um Julie at our direction to vote per the board's decision. >> Yes, Donnie. >> Was there other documentation submitted with this? Because just to read those first two bullets tells you nothing. >> This was just the email that I got.

045That's why >> it says please also attached are two PDFs to this. That's I guess why I was confused. I was like what are we voting on? >> What what truly is this? >> I will go back and check. >> I believe we did all receive this email. >> I believe you guys did because it came through MTSBA. Look at >> Chris. >> Yes, Renee. >> So, I mean, it gives a voting instructions and I agree that we didn't get the attachments on the agenda, too, but it also says that you have to vote in July or August. So, we couldn't hold this off until the next meeting to if we want to vote on it, unless we want to have a special meeting. >> What have we done in the past? >> Has our

046district voted on these in the past? >> It was always the chair. That's the funny >> in Kurt. >> Yes. In the past, this happened at the annual meeting at MEL. And so those trustees in attendance vote or at the annual meeting, not at MLE, sorry, at the annual meeting that they didn't hold in July because of lack of participation. >> They often don't. They don't have a quorum. >> They didn't have a quorum. Yeah. So the people in attendance would have have voted the normal way, but because they didn't hold the meeting, now they have the electronic voting. >> Yes, Brandy. >> When did that email come from MTSBA? Because I haven't >> Hold on. I got it from uh >> this letter is dated June 16th. >> No. And the last one, the

047last MTSBA email I got was 66. That's why I'm confused. >> I got I got one on July 16th, one on it came it didn't come from De Deborah Silks who's at the top, but that's not the email. I put in um MTSBA ballot and it came up on mine in the top couple. Hold on. I'm opening back up. >> All right. So, I'm going to um [Laughter] find it. >> It was You actually forwarded it. >> Oh, yeah. I guess I >> But there's no attachments again. >> Yeah, that's where I didn't see it. Look at the very top, like the top of the email. Their attachments are always at the bottom, but theirs are at the top for some reason. and everyone should have. But >> all right, I just threw you guys

048an email with That's my fault. I should have questioned it earlier today and I did not. So, that is on me. You all get busy. Don't worry about it. I'm going to send a second one. That's not what this is. I guess I'm just not feeling prepared now to vote on this today and I know we have to do it by August 29th. Yeah, I mean I would agree. I think this is like a 12page document that I think we need to look at before we vote on each one of these. So I guess I would make a motion to table this item and possibly set a special meeting date to vote. >> Do we have enough time to notice that? um or at least we could have it would be um >> 48 hours.

049So you could do it >> Thursday. >> Does this typically need board action or is this something the chair can do without >> the board? In the past, I remember it coming and we would give our kind of recommendation if somebody was going and then they would vote on behalf of our board. >> I felt just to bring it because it wasn't the normal way. >> Last time we did that and then I just completed it. >> Yeah. which is what we were intending to do is discuss here and then >> and I'm sorry guys, I didn't see the the attachment on there. I just saw >> Yeah, I don't think either of us did when we talked. So, hats off. >> We brought it up and I never saw it. >> So, you have

050a motion on the table, Renee. Correct. >> But we do have a motion to table and a potential future item to um should we choose a special meeting before the 29th to complete a um voting. >> I'm going to second that motion. Seconded by Britney. Any other board discussion on that item? Audience discussion? Hearing? None. We will move to vote on the motion by Renee to table. Action item. Sorry, I'm getting back to my action item C. MTSBA 2025 membership electronic poll and uh a potential future item uh a future special meeting to be held by the board to complete its decisioning seconded by Britney. All in favor say I. >> I. >> Any opposed? Motion still carries, but Donnie uh descent is noted. We'll move to action item D, adult meal price recommendation. Do

051I have a motion? >> I make a motion to approve the new adult meal price. >> Have a motion to approve the adult meal price recommendation by Renee. Do I have a second? >> I'll second. Seconded by Jenny. Any other discussion by the board. Discussion by the audience. Hearing none, we will move to vote on the motion to approve the adult meal price recommendation by Renee, seconded by Jenny. All in favor say I. I. I..................... Any opposed. Motion carries. Action item E, ECS calendar change. Do I have a motion? >> I have a question before. >> Yes, Britney. >> Um, child fine clinics. When do we start doing that? >> Yeah, those have been around. We're required to do those. >> They're just made. Are they just listed then differently on the because I I've

052checked our other calendars and I don't remember seeing those listed the chat. >> They're not on they're not on >> Okay. So maybe I just was looking at the wrong one which could be >> it should be >> it's on that second page. I know it's on the >> it's on the first page too. Child find clinic August. >> This is Yes. This is not >> This is Yeah. Not our >> Yep. Sorry. >> Main. So when you're looking at the main >> Yes. So you don't know about it. >> So So you want to talk come up Christina and just talk briefly about why we want to make a change and start a little bit later. >> So the change is is to start a week later. >> Start a week later. um just

053because the building isn't completely finished and the most important reason is our speech pathologist does not start until that Monday and that's a bulk of the time that they're with us is for speech services. >> Will there be any problem with minutes or time or anything like that? Okay. >> How many kids does this affect? Uh we have six and then two being assessed this week. So probably eight kiddos. >> So have we like given them a heads up? >> Uh parents know. Yeah. I mean we haven't said it's official. We've been telling them that we would let them know as soon as it gets a little closer, but >> um yeah, I'll be sending an letter and also calling them. >> So it's not going to be like a total shock. >> No. No.

054Okay. Thank you. >> Make a motion to approve the um change to the ECS calendar. >> Have a motion to approve the changes to the ECS calendar by Renee. Do I have a second? >> I'll second that. >> Seconded by Britney. Do we have any board discussion? Audience discussion hearing none. We'll move to vote on the motion by Renee to approve the ECS calendar change action item E seconded by Britney. All in favor say I. I. Any opposed. Motion carries. Action item F. Cafeteria assistant 202526 R. Mayan pending background. Do I have a motion? >> Please make sure that motion is pending a successful background check. >> I move to approve the hiring of R. Mayan pending a successful background check. >> I do have a motion by Jenny. Do I have a second? >>

055Seconded by Renee. Any board discussion? Audience discussion? Hearing none, I'll move to vote on the motion by Jenny to approve action item F, seconded by Renee. All in favor say I. >> I. >> Any opposed? Motion carries. Action item G, kindergarten teacher 2526 S. Ree, pending background and emergency authorization. Do I have a motion? >> Quick question though. The emergency authorization's already been signed off by the superintendent. >> It has. And now everything is in the hands of OPI >> which is then the background >> and and well it's background check and that they we have to meet certain qualifications to have a student or have a teacher become emergency authorized. We have to send them a uh show them and send them a advertisement that we've been advertising. How many applicants did we get?

056How many did we interview? Why or why not? So, we send all that to show, hey, we hired this person because it's it's who we needed. Um, >> but her so her true emergency authorization hasn't quite >> all the paperworks in and the county signed it, but OPI has not given us a thumbs up. So, your motion will be penny a successful background check and uh OPI's, you know, authorizing her as a emergency authorization. I make a motion to approve the kindergarten teacher for 2025 2026 S. Ree pending her background and emergency authorization with OPI. >> Have a motion by Britney to approve action item G. Do I have a second? >> Seconded by Jenny. Do we have any further board discussion? Audience discussion? Hearing none, we'll move to vote on the motion to approve

057the kindergarten teacher listed under action item G by Britney, seconded by Jenny. All in favor say I. I. Any opposed? Motion carries. Action item H, MS football coach 202526 M. Addington, pending background. Do I have a motion? I move to hire M. Addington pending a successful background check. Have >> a motion by Jenny to approve action item H. Do I have a second? >> Seconded by Renee. Any board discussion? Audience discussion? Yes, Beggy. >> So Mark had a family emergency and he'll be out of the state for the next two months. So, he will not be able to coach. So, before you vote, if we can remove him so we don't have to go through the process of actually having him resign, that would be great. >> You told me that earlier and I >>

058came up on Friday. So, >> okay. Well, we have a motion we'll have to clear if that's >> what's that. >> That's what I'm saying. We have to clear that by vote. So, we do have a motion to approve action item H by Jenny, seconded by Renee. >> I have a question though. So, if we approve him, then we have to >> he'd have to resign. >> So, don't approve him. >> So, if we don't approve him, then we can go back. >> You cannot approve him because he's not going to be in the state. So, approving him would be goofy. No action would be action because we just need to vote on this motion and move on. We don't need to table it. We don't need to talk it. No. No action in >>

059Yeah. We just note in the minutes that the board decided to take no action on action item H. We'll have to vote first though, Julie. So, any other board discussion on that item? Are we missing a parliamentary thing, Donnie? >> That's what we're saying. >> It's over. Correct. We would just move on. >> Yeah, we took action. No. >> Yeah, we don't have to revisit it unless a board member decides. >> Just so that just just for clarity of the notes, I wanted her to add something that just said, you know, that the board voted this down and moved on with no further action. Just something like that so that future us remembers what we did. Does that make sense instead of just it just says no and then it goes to the next thing,

060>> right? I think that's probably the way to say to do it. Any other board discussion? That's good. This interesting, right? >> Any more audience discussion? Any more curve balls, Peggy? >> Okay. Not on this one. >> All right. >> I forgot that, Peggy. I apologize. So, we do have a motion to approve uh action item H by Jenny, seconded by Renee. All in favor say I. Any opposed? I appears to be a unan unanimous nay. Negative. Motion does not carry. Action item I MS volleyball coach 202526A. Brooks pending background. Do I have a motion? >> I make a motion to approve the middle school volleyball coach for 2025 256A Brooks. Also appending the background check. >> A motion to approve action item I by Britney. Do I have a second? >> Seconded by Jenny.

061Any other board discussion? Audience discussion hearing none. We'll move to vote on the uh motion to approve action item A I. Excuse me. Action item I to be clear by Britney, seconded by Jenny. All in favor say I. I. Any opposed? Motion carries. We'll move on now to our next uh agenda item which is the superintendence report. Resignations. Any discussion? Audience discussion? We'll move to the next action item which is a human resources annual report. Any discussion by the board? >> I have a question. >> Britney. Yes. >> Um the absenteeism asm rate. Say that a couple times. What are you uh what are you taking for our numbers seem to have gone I'm understanding >> that our numbers I'm pardon what's the question >> kind of have gone down am I understanding that >>

062yes >> in regards to so how what are we what are we taking that into effect why I guess >> um it could be a number of reasons um as an HR director we think of job satisfaction are they happier now than they were the previous three years. It just it just depends. Um, a lot of our brand new staff members tend to use up all of their time right away and then they're stuck and they have to stay there. They if something happens, they have to go through Mr. Torics to not be there. So, um, >> we don't have like a quantifiable reason. >> There's no way unless we did some sort of survey. There's no way to figure that out. >> We don't ask them why they're absent. meaning like >> I know

063it's hard to I'm just it's it's >> I mean but we've all over 2021 all the way up to this last year it's significantly like two years were kind of similar but it's s and one buffed but it's kind of trending down so it's been kind of interesting. >> Yeah, job subtra or job satisfaction tends to reflect in absenteeism. >> Okay, perfect. Thank you. >> Because we're awesome. That's what you should have said, Peggy. >> Oh, sorry. We're awesome. Any other discussion? [Music] >> Yes. >> I just wanted to thank you for the report. It's excellent information and I appreciate it. So, >> welcome. >> Thank you so much, Peggies. We'll move now to our discussion items. The Laurel Dodgers bus. So, this was brought up during one of our Laurel Dodgers uh board meetings.

064It was just simply to ask um is there any way that the bus could be parked behind the fence? Doesn't need to be covered. It could be stuffed in some corner. Um the only reason why is because Mo got hit by some vandalism. We've had vandalism by the bathrooms by the baseball field. They're just as the board concerned of potential vandalism on you know at the bus. Now I know we have cameras. I know we've been told that we have plenty of cameras. Doesn't mean that stops those people. So it was just simply a question and I know that I've asked Andrew and I know he's like there's just not a lot of room. Um so it's just kind of but I was asked to bring it so sitting on two different items bring it

065to you guys. Yes. >> Can we get Zeta's perspective or Matt's on availability of space? I guess that's probably the number one. >> I'll let Zeta jump in. I don't want to speak for her, but space is at a premium at times. We're backing up buses and parking another bus in there is just difficult. >> We had this discussion before. Unfortunately, I honestly think that we really can't do it. As much as I would like to um be able to help out and be good stewards for each other, um I would recommend moving it from where it's at right now, put it back where it was last year because we see it every single day because it was moved closer to us. It's outside. It's easily seen by the TNI um cameras, our cameras at

066transportation. We do keep a lookout on it and and make sure. I mean, if anything was happen, we'd obviously say something. We we honestly look at it. Um, but we really don't have the room in the lot to do it. Um, by the time we get moving when we get all the buses back in, we still have some out right now and stuff. >> Even be even behind the building that's closest to Maryland. >> Yeah. Um, behind the Oh, that would be we on the back side. That's where all of Wayne's personnel park >> that >> we can get rid of him, but um yeah, I won't speak for maintenance. I know that we him and I push each other back and forth quite quite often. Okay. >> Um, so no, unfortunately it would be

067really Andrew and I were talking about it here right before um his suggestion was right there next to the greenhouse and I said absolutely not. I couldn't get my buses into the bus bay at that point. But I honestly think if they move it back I think it's seen better and that way we could keep a really good lookout for it and we do do that. So >> and and the we understood the answer was probably just there was no re you know no room but >> to ask to officially ask to show that >> have they thought of there's no cameras but there's there's lock fences down behind woods >> or maybe even having someone I was there's a place out there there's a lot of people that we know that work in there

068especially like out by um oh shoot where by the way station behind there there's a um right by the veterinarian Oh, that uh storage place. >> It's budgetary as well. >> Well, I was wondering sometimes if you talk with them, they'll donate that because they can use that as a write off, as a donation for them. I would double check with them. She's really nice and her son, her grandson goes to school here in Laurel and pretty much a great part of the community, too. So, give them a holler. If you need their number, call me. I can give you that. >> Not me throwing you underneath the bus. I promise. >> Um, I can >> literally literally >> um, the only place I could think to get it inside a fenced area on our

069school pro property would be tied up against the fence where our ambulance route is, our ambulance stadium. >> Only thing with that is there's no cameras over there, but it would at least be inside a fenced area just tied up against that fence kind of where we have our our field sweep and stuff like that. There's no cameras, but it would be inside a fenced area and you would have plenty of space for the ambulance to come in for >> option, >> but you do give up the cameras. Do give up the cameras. So, >> I'll bring that to their attention. I appreciate you. Thank you. Thank you for double checking on that. Any other thoughts from the board on that? Audience thoughts? Great. Action or discussion item number B, uh, sale of the schoolowned

070land. I asked to have this put back on the agenda. Um, just to revisit it and get a pulse check for the board's feeling on this in light of the fact that our levy didn't pass. Um, it's sort of been a piggy bank, so to speak, that we've thought of locking away. Uh, it might be time to unlock that little piggy bank in service of the district potentially. Um, so I did want to bring it back up to the board um, as a discussion of what is the best highest and best use of that land for the district. >> Julie has done a really good job since I've been here of socking away some building reserve money and trying to she does a really good job with that that money. Well, in the high school,

071that money is drawing to a close. So, we don't have, you know, and and I don't I don't remember the exact number, but 90ome,000 is all we have left in the high school building reserve. And that doesn't count. I mean, what what how things come up. I mean, things are just going to come up, and that's where that money is. So, it it's not that much money when it comes to building maintenance. $94,000. Uh I don't know how much we have in the building reserve in elementary K8. It's >> right. So, we're So, we've saved money there. We're in good shape there for a few years, but we definitely have, you know, we had the uh uh parking lot that we had to do something with. We were just having all sorts of problems. And

072then we obviously had the TNI building the shop, which we had no choice. We had to do that. So that ate up about 250 $260,000 of what we had left in the high school. So it's just it's a it's an idea that money could go towards you know, those types of projects and building reserve type projects. Um, so it's it's not that money won't get used, but it would kind of be a slow drain on it over time. >> So, in our previous discussions about this, it's my understanding that we would have to go back to the voters for their approval in selling it because we haven't owned it long enough. >> I think so. >> We voted to buy it. >> Well, I know. Well, I mean, but obviously this building we can dec.

073It's like there's a So, we'd have to go back to the voter, which couldn't happen until May. >> What's the statutory time frame on >> We can do an authoriz authorizing in November. >> Isn't there another one? >> I'm not sure the county wants any school elections in the fall. >> How long? I just am curious. How do we have to hold it for >> decade? No. No. >> Two decades. How long does it does it have to be held before we can surplus it? >> Question. >> No. No. The vote the >> that might affect our decisioning. >> The board and we had to go to the community >> because it wasn't connected. >> Correct. >> Say say that again just so I can hear it. We had we went to the community to

074vote because it wasn't part of the school district's property. So to to actually go under contract and buy it, >> right? >> Yeah. >> We didn't bond. >> No. No. Uhuh. >> But I do think we might need to check into was purchased with elementary funds. Will it have to go back to elementary? >> That is a good question. >> I think we better check on that. >> Good question. >> That but that's if it does it has to because with the funds but >> but might that make a difference in our decision at this time because we're we've got money in the elementary. >> We can certainly if we find out what that statutory limit is for consent, right? before it becomes surplus property or we can move it where needed that would I

075think definitely affect the decision if it's three more years or something I think it's probably wise to sit on it for three more years but versus selling it and putting it back into the elementary district where it's completely unneeded based on what we've just finished right >> you could reason that the middle school could use that money Sure. >> The middle school has issues too, but the and it already but there we have building reserve sufficient to take care of >> building reserve. >> Potential proceeds from this building could go into high school. >> Yes. >> Could go into anything >> because it's unappropriated. >> Could be used either way. we can put it into. That's why I'm wondering if there there must be some sort of limit statutoily on this disposition of an asset

076and where it has to go the money has to go >> otherwise I don't know that sort of conjecture that >> I remember us exploring this and yes there was some sort of opinion from I don't know if we got the opinion from MTSBA or if we got that from um >> felt Martin but there was some sort of that they felt like a certain time period in which we had to go back to the voters. >> Yeah. >> Or at what point do we have the ability to just >> sort of I will I wrote down both those questions about the elementary money and then also about the time um so let me let me see what I can find out. I think there's also opportunity potentially for when the time comes to sell,

077whether that's now or we wait for the time limits to pass, uh partnering with a developer in a way that would maybe help the district long-term with some career training. >> Talked about that. >> So we could build Yep. So we could land trust the land. So we would we could create we could sell the land to a developer at a sort of discounted price potentially in return for fully developed lots that we could then put into a community land trust to provide permanently affordable housing in Laurel and those those homes would be built by our career students by our CTE. So it' be a little bit like what the career center is doing in Billings. Um >> they have a full They've got a >> they have a full department. >> They've got a

078full thing going. So, it would be a little bit different, but uh would kind of serve two missions. And making land homes permanently affordable opens up ground um areas of grant money. Um some block granting and uh other things that would allow us to maybe finance or or pay for this project. So, just an idea to put out there that if we sold the land and if we did have to take it to a vote, if we had a community benefit aspect to it, it may it may uh make it easier for the the community to accept that we bought it, did nothing, and then sold it. So, it wouldn't it wouldn't not it would still serve the district in a way and would develop that land. So, some thoughts, but I I like the

079idea of getting those an those questions answered. That would that'll shape the whole conversation, I think, quite a bit. Britney, >> Matt, and I'm sure that we looked into that because we brought this several times when I was sitting. >> We were discussing it >> and I remember even talking to Shane about it on a few things. So, I'll >> I'll get answers. >> Great. Any other discussion on that item? Audience discussion hearing. None. We'll move to our next uh discussion item which is coffee with a trustee. >> So currently this is what I have scheduled starting um in September. The first Thursday of each month will be at the front porch. These will all be between 9 and 10:00 a.m. in the morning. The second uh Thursday of the month will be at Citybrew.

080The third Thursday of the month will be at Grace Bible Church and the fourth, which I'm still waiting for a true confirmation um of each month on that Thursday, will be at the Laurel Golf Course. I think it gives a variety of different locations serving different areas of town and different potential groups of people within town. Um, I tried to help with some of our local businesses or places where it wouldn't be a burden to that area. We wouldn't be, you know, taking on too much. Maybe just a table. Um, so that is kind of where it's at. Again, starting in what I've told everybody is it's starting in September. I don't have an end date is pretty much what I told them. board decides that they don't find it value or we're not getting

081the community outreach that we thought. So, pretty much and then I did tell them if they feel that we've become a burden, please let us know so that we can find a different avenue or a different venue. >> Yeah. >> You said 9 to 10. >> 9 a.m. to 10 a.m. >> Perfect. >> Britney, I think this is great and I thank you for doing it. Can we maybe add just like anformational item on the fourth Monday agenda just to kind of catch up with what you've been talking about or what issues or or occasionally whenever you feel like just so we can kind of get a pulse on it because I'm interested >> I would really like to use that first that first Thursday in September to talk buses to be honest with you

082just because I know that it's hard for really the community to understand like all the moving pieces of the bus routes and where or you know where we have to abide by certain rules and regulations and you can't just even though they drive by my house every day why can't I pick them up you know that kind of that kind of thought that they just don't physically understand which we understand where they're coming from but they don't understand are where we have so and I'll try to bring up topics or just have an open forum like >> do we want the district page to advertise it is that kind of what you're thinking >> I would love to I would >> Oh yeah we can do that right Yeah. >> And not like a noticed

083meeting because I think we'll try to keep it from being a quorum. >> And again, this is and this truly is just like you don't have to attend. I was like if you wanted to let me know and I can at least say >> that's what I was thinking. >> Hey, Donniey's already coming, you know, if you decide that you know. >> Yeah. The most we could have is three there, right? >> Yeah. So I get So if you want to reach out then I at least know >> if you don't come that's okay. >> Yeah. >> I might reach out to you and say I can't make that Thursday. Would you like to attend? >> Yeah. So give me a call and we'll make sure I got all this stuff right and then >>

084and I have I'm waiting for that final call tomorrow from >> We can make up a little flyer or even just a just aformational thing. Put it out there. Yeah. >> Be nice to just recur it every Thursday. Gotcha. >> Just keep it every Thursday, like on Monday or Tuesday or whatever. Just advertise it a couple times on the district page so it cycles through so that people can see it. That's great. I think it's going to be great. I'll try to I think I'll try to go to that first one. We have a We have a work meeting every other Thursday at 8. So, but the other ones I can make it to. So, I'll probably be at that one on the 4th. Great. Anything else on that? Yeah, Kelly. Um, >> is that

085something where we could have it put in the Outlook? You know, they cover our board meetings. I know we don't want to have a quorum, but I wonder if it was sitting in community events if >> the community population. Yeah, that would >> we have to we just have to make sure that we are not >> attending in a full because then it does appear that we're doing as a board meeting. >> Jackie at least knew that it was taking place >> doesn't necessarily need to be in the outlook. She's easy to get a hold of Jackie. So >> Yeah. Do you Britney, do you want to be the one to do that since you've organized? >> I can reach out. Okay, that's fine. >> I have her cell phone if you need it. Yeah.

086Anything else? Audience discussion on that hearing? None. We'll move to our next discussion item, which is the open house. So, openhouse/grand opening, whatever we want to call it. I did the I crunched the numbers of everyone who responded to me. And the two dates that work for everybody are the 8th and the 9th of uh October, right? >> I assume sixish is just kind of you want everyone to be home from work. You know, I I assume that'd be six, maybe a six to seven or seven to eight or something like that, but the eighth or ninth. So, we could pick the eighth at uh intermediate and ninth in lees or vice versa, whatever we want to do. Um, >> are you going to ribbon cut during that time? Is that your >> Sure, we

087could do something. >> Ask the chamber to do that. >> It's a good idea. >> I think the chambers uh hosted those, haven't they? Yes. >> It'll still be daylight at that time, right? >> Not that late. You'll be good. It'll still be daylight, but >> dusky, right? >> We can do it. >> We'll be good either way. >> Okay. >> I think six have the chamber involved with the cutting would be great. >> Okay. So, 10th, 9th, you guys don't care which one we do first or 8th tonight, excuse me. 10 8 and 10 9. Does anyone have an issue with what we do first? >> And we'll start. I like grade order, so maybe LE and then LIS second. Okay. Great. >> Wrote on my calendar, tell me where I need to be.

088>> Um, Chamber of Commerce. Me, too. >> And if for some reason someone couldn't make it, it's not a big deal, but >> want to give you guys all an opportunity. Sent your names on the plaque. >> Yep. >> Great. Anything else that do we do? Do we want to let you want to just sort of form an agenda around the order of events for those nights? And >> yeah, I think I think that unless you guys got some ideas right now, I would think we we meet in a you know, obviously outside and then we can go inside and organize. I could have >> I don't know, three or four people ready to give some tours. We can, you know, so we don't overlap, we can go in different directions and yeah, we could

089come through on something. Jenny had a really good idea about getting the group that was pretty much part of, you know, getting everything passed. So that would be school district staff and employees community. Can we get that picture now? Because it is nice. I know it's going to be tough because the buildings might not be can like we're going to have to do it like tomorrow. I'm just saying like coming up kids so it's daylight. We can all be outside kind of and then we can get those timely for >> Yeah, great idea. printing, getting them in a >> nice frame. And yeah, >> one of the can use one of the schools drones that they let students use and I could get a cool picture of everybody. >> So, we'd have to invite everybody

090for a picture. What you're thinking >> is that is if if that's what it if that's what we wanted to do to give to >> Oh, to Shane or to architects and langu Shane and not like a top down picture. >> No, I think he's thinking like a like a three quarter. >> Go further back. Everybody in the front and then you can see the whole building. >> It would just be needing to have that invite a day to pick it. >> I'm just trying to think we it's hard. It's would be nice to get it done now so that printing timing >> everything could and then could hand it to them on >> the night on the agenda. >> That could be on the agenda. Yeah, >> that's what I was thinking. Yeah, ribbon

091cut >> appreciation for the teams. >> Maybe can do it one night after school. Invite staff, invite the building committee, invite anyone who wants to be there. >> We should try to do it on the same night, you think? Because it's not going to take long. Just do one and then hustle over to the other. >> I probably >> same night, >> I would think so. >> Yeah. Yeah, I think so. I mean, honestly, >> it's a five minute drive, so it maybe would take a total of 15 minutes. >> Half hour probably, right? 40 minutes >> tops. As long as you >> long as you know how to fly a drone, it'll be fine. >> Pictures and everything. >> A drone. >> Okay, >> I like it. So, just put an agenda together. Let's

092organize that photo. Um, all right. We'll try to set a date. >> I hear pretty quick. >> It's great. Anything else on that audience? Anything on that? >> Yeah. >> Say is make sure that we invite um make sure that the invite for the eighth and 9th goes to Shauna Fedig as well. >> Yep. And also Chris V and Chris. Great. Anything else? We'll move on then to the facilities updates. I just wanted to put this on here so Wayne and I could if you guys had any questions where we're currently at, we will be more than happy to ask. The TNI building, uh, we are done with that project. Have they turned that on yet? >> No. A substantial completion is done on that. They're programming right now. The system should have programming complete

093by Friday and we'll go through the >> Okay. The parking lot. Do we have where's our update on the parking lot? >> Um we have one section that I was not very happy with the quality or the installation of asphalt. That's going to be taken up and uh redone. It will not happen until we have a P date and uh take care of it during that section. >> No extra cost. That's on there. D >> cost. No. >> Quick question. So, you know, kind of coming down where the the peninsula used to be. It appears like you can just stop. Is that where we're stopping dropping like >> Yeah, we haven't striped that area because >> you haven't. You will be >> cuz they're redoing. That'll be part of be part of that's what we

094want to redo. >> Well, I just, you know, come flying into the high school to fill everything out. >> Try slowing. Try slowing down, Britney. >> No, I'm driving like a typical high schooler in the parking lot. >> Just signs for speed. >> That's those are those are just >> it's not a public road. It's a suggestion. >> We'll be doing some drop offs like busing on the south side. Okay. >> We just want to make sure >> he answered my question though. That little area will have stripes. That's a non-p parking. You're not just pulling through and just >> Yep. You're not parking right in front there. You'll notice that that stuff all dips down to the There's no curb there. >> Patience. >> We have more uh if you go where the old

095students or the old senior parking was, there'll be some legitimate uh handicap parking there. That that um sidewalk has been expanded. So, it's not just a little side, it's a actual handicap sidewalk. And then there'll be some uh visitor parking there that's designated for visitors. And then staff of course is where it always was. And then the first row uh we'll be adding where we were used to parallel park there will then be perpendicular parking. And that's something that our board uh student reps Michael and Chase were going to talk to uh Dr. Bington about how that's designated and what that looks like for senior parking if we want to do that. What does that look like? um >> if we want to. That's like Yeah. >> Well, like a mandatory thing for seniors. They

096look forward to that. >> Well, this will be good. There'll be a lot more senior parking if that's the case as opposed to like the 10 or 15 spots that were in that old one. There'd be quite a bit more senior parking. Um nothing else on that. >> Middle school. We've taken in uh they've gone in shorn up those uh trusses that they have made a big difference. We took what they call a smile out of it where it was sagging. We have taken uh moved that up. We put strength so I can monitor that to make sure that it doesn't sag anymore. Uh but that is all complete and taken care of. >> We had that jacked up. So they not only just they didn't come in and just put metal in. They got

097jacked up till it was level and then they put the metal in and it was a significant amount of jacking. >> Yeah, >> it looks good. I was there uh picking up a schedule for my daughter and >> Yeah, it looks even it looks >> No, it looks nice actually. The the metal looks nice. >> Yeah, it turned out good. They >> did a good job painting it and it looks very good. >> Yeah, >> turned out quite well. Uh where are we at with uh how about um uh the new buildings? Let's talk about >> new buildings. Um we are uh by the 31st of this month, we will have substantial completion on both the uh elementary as well as the intermediate schools. Uh by saying substantial completion, we move into a warranty situation.

098Move into a warranty situation. This allows for us to release some of the um pullback money that we have on every one of them. Um it's coming along quite well. There's punch list items that are going on right now. Uh very little construction if any that is going on at both schools. Um we're going to be ready to open it up. Uh >> do we have a true OC, an occupancy of it? Do we have >> we have occupancy? >> Occupancy is official on both buildings. >> Certificate of occupancy we received on both projects. >> Do we have our our elevators approved as well? >> Yes, >> they're approved and operational. Um the whole system is in in good shape. We do have programming on the HCAC system that is being done right now. Um

099and that is something that gets tweaked, you know, depending on the season and where we're at. that cool down at night more and warm days. Um, but that's something that we will take and look at over a period of time. Um, it's kind of interesting because we got part of the summer and we'll have part of the cool time, but when it gets real cold now, you have to go back in and look at those systems again. outside of the schools are still working on grass and planting and and they wanted to get everything inside done. So, and then they'll be around for another few weeks just doing the little things, making sure that the the scuff marks and and the uh things get repainted, touch-ups and all that. So, they'll be they'll be in

100for weeks still doing those little things. >> Actually, they'll have bodies here for a year. >> Yeah. Marcus with Langlas. He'll be taking care of a lot of those issues. Anything that comes up they take care of, >> including purple signs. >> Pardon me. >> I said including purple signs. >> So much better. >> Yes, >> they're not good. >> Yes, >> I was as frustrated as anyone. So, >> we're still working on that. >> They like everything to match. So, and again, it's it's not starchitects. They want things to match. So, outside should match the inside. And it doesn't need to. I mean, it just doesn't need to. So, yeah, that purple's purple. And uh we're still working on some other issues with signage and such, but we're we're getting through it. I promise.

101So, >> the normal >> uh so that's new construction. So, we'll be good to go. We'll have kids. Open house for the families and children is on the normal open house beginning of the year is on Wednesday. So they'll have families and kids going through those buildings on Wednesday. Um >> the clean is down >> graph is down which kind of makes me a little sad as you go by there but they're working on the uh they'll start they're finishing all the debris but they still have the foundations to go. Um and uh they'll continue to do that. We will be um we will be coming back to the board to talk a little bit more about graph and I'll keep you guys updated on that. Um because we we have some grass issues we

102got to work through and and uh all that. But we'll we'll we'll take care of that. I'll explain that later. But um >> South uh >> South is moving along very very well. Um they are looking at September on that. Um I walk it every day. Uh talk to them and it looks like they're going to be able to meet that schedule. Um looks quite well nice. >> I think it'll be good. >> Are you done? Wait a minute. I don't I don't want to interrupt you. >> No, no, we're just going through all the different projects. Interrupt. >> Because I have a senior. There's a lot of heartache and discussion about the painting the parking lot and the fact that the word on the street is that will not occur. >> They did start

103and I'll let Dr. Bison talk a little bit about that. They did start talking about that with I think student council last spring. Uh, one Wayne, you stay up there too. One of the things that's an issue is we got read the riot act a bit from our our uh pavers a little bit about the painting. >> They paint when we paint those um it starts breaking down some of the asphalt that is in it. And it says eventually it'll cause things to start what they call alligator starts breaking up and you'll see it to where it almost looks like an alligator's back and then it starts turning up cuz they they strongly recommend that we don't >> and that's what started the conversation. >> Correct. >> What if we did it with chalk? >>

104I'm just saying I mean >> yeah it won't last that long but >> no it wouldn't. We have and we we do support that you know we've invested a sign we have invested a significant amount into this parking lot and we want to be good stewards of that investment. So that's why we're agreeing that painting the parking lot has is is seeing its last days. Um I understand that it's been a tradition. I also understand from talking with some people at the high school it really became a significant tradition around CO and prior to that it wasn't a really big thing. So, it's not been it's not like super entrenched, but we've talked about some other things like painting a ceiling tile or or you know, some of our sidewalks, not our nice brand new

105ones, but some of our other sidewalks um came up tonight of maybe painting a sidewalk square. I'd still prefer we can chalk the walk that won't last long. We can do the ceiling tiles um and they can stay up for the whole year and then the students can take them with. we can put the right tile back up or they can leave them there. So, those are a couple of ideas we >> I just say I I'm not completely sad about that because I think it's like a lot of work like right at the end of the school year and a lot of money for some families that may not be able to do that. Um, but it's a lot of work. I mean, a lot of schools do it in the fall and then

106the kids, but they have a parking spot also, assigned parking spot. So, I'm not sad about that, but I just think we need to make sure that we have another so that the kids know we're working on something else for them to do so that it's not just a no, it's we're going to do instead. I guess that will come up right away in the fall. We have homecoming right away. So, the first thing they're going to be busy with is floats and those things. And I think we can bring that up to the seniors that we'll let them know that they're going to have another option and tackle that right after homecoming. Chase >> me and Dr. Bington had spoken just today really quickly about the uh ceiling tiles and sidewalk chalk and all

107that stuff. And I just thought I'll bring it to the seniors. We have a giant group chat. It's always going off. Um, and I can determine what the favorite option would be. Um, and then bring that back and discuss like how that would go and so we can get an opinion from everybody so that it's not just like, oh, we think this would be the best, so let's do that. So that way we can >> there wouldn't do painting the lockers. Um, we did My understanding is locker decorating went away um at some point because it was identifying certain students lockers and occasionally that that had negative repercussions. Students would graffiti the decorations or so I'm like okay that's a sad outcome and I'm not saying we won't ever revisit locker decorations. I just know

108that was the most current. >> Um we had we did um when some of our teams were going on to state they would have a sign on some of their lockers and they were but it was typically more shortlived. I think the the ceiling tiles or we have some above the locker space we could do some inexpensive canvases that they could put on um a design a school appropriate design that could also add color to a Britney. >> Let me add a couple things. Sorry. So, painting of the of the um parking lot. So, we're not allowing any painting at all. >> Also, homecoming, sad to say, we won't be painting at home coming. >> I hadn't heard anything yet about that because homecoming is so early. >> Well, it's just so if we're saying

109no painting at all, then there's no painting at all. You can't paint for homecoming and then turn around and tell the seniors that they can't paint. >> so there's Hold on. Hold that thought real quick because because if if I don't my little brain will forget. Um when I was growing up in high school, what we started in my class started is we did we did a mural. So a couple of kids were voted to do the mural for the whole student body and everybody threw their design and that mural would and then every one of those seniors signed the wall and that stays. So now when I've gone to my high school, like every class over the last I won't tell you how many years is now hung on the wall and that class

110gets to sign it. So everybody's name is there's an idea. >> How does that we we have murals if you walk through the high school hallway you've seen that we have a lot of different murals and paintings and they added a new one already. >> So every year the seniors do a mural. It's always led by the student council members. Um, but we always typically we do it to color the school. It's kind of our project name cuz there's a lot of white at the high school. Um, and we just kind of sign it student council. We've never like considered s having all the seniors sign it. Um, and that would be something cool to start, but I think it would be difficult to do with the one we've already done this year just cuz

111nobody else got a pick. We just kind of went with it. Um, so if we were to then I don't know how that would work. be something I think that we would need to discuss for tradition because Laurel is big on tradition and they really do like to maintain because once that's that freshman body sees that they do tend to get excited each year to want to do something for them as seen. So I just want to make sure that we're thinking that this would be a longevity situation as well. We have some options on the table. We have some thoughts. We're working with student council So, we'll pitch it out to senior class, see if they have some input on it or if they have ideas we haven't thought of. >> Yeah, I'll I'll

112throw it out to all the seniors and I guess whatever the most popular decision is, I'll come back and we can present the decision and see if that's even doable. And if it is, great. If not, we can go back and gra. >> And lastly, can Andrew, will you please tell all the coaches then to tell their parent group that they're not allowed? I think we had some of those conversations early on, but they >> I think we paint a bus. >> They do. They do. The nice thing is the thing the painting the parking lot was really that did it. There are really nice um placards of the fall. They could they could elect to paint a banner and we could hang some pretty cool impressive banners maybe if facilities let us off the

113side of the gym on the outside of a building. >> Facilities would let you do that. >> So there's that could be a whole new tradition >> coming together and they do a building. Well, and I don't know when we turn on our sprinkler systems in the spring, but an idea that someone had brought up when we were discussing this is um that each of the kids get if they I mean the parking lot was on the parents and the students to provide the paint and I think we should continue with the tradition of that so that the school is not on that but having some sort of they have to buy a whatever size board and then they can paint it sort of as their own mural and put those in the yard, front

114yard of the high school. So as you're coming down, >> they would all be and it's something you could walk through still because people enjoyed looking at the parking spots that you could walk through and see the kids' expression of whatever that looks like similar to the but then they can take it with them too and that's something that they can take with them. So that was an idea somebody brought up but I think you guys will come up with really great ideas. I think just communicating the why to the kids is the biggest part. So we know that we can just blame it on Wayne and say that he said no and then you can move on. Chase, >> no one will stay mad at you, Wayne. >> We're working on nice new things.

115We're going to take care of them. So nice new things. >> We do along those lines. Is the whole board aware that we do that the seniors do these great graduation boards and they stay up through graduation and they're all so that's another thing that then goes home to the graduation parties and put down but I don't disagree we could look at doing some some placards in the in the yard >> anything else on that wonderful any public discussion on that now. All right, Peggy, >> I was just going to suggest that I have some money in the care closet that's just kind of sitting there and has been sitting there for those families that can't afford to buy the whatevers or the paint that we would be happy to get that for them. Great.

116>> That's wonderful. >> Thank you. Thank you. >> Okay, great. Well, if we don't have anything else, we'll move on. Well, Matt back, he can come back. He'll be fine. Um the uh next one here is just future high school needs. I wanted to put this on um so we could generally speak about what the high school needs. think we all know pretty well what it needs, but I wanted to have this discussion in a board meeting so we could also talk about um funding those needs potentially through a bond. So, that's kind of why I wanted to put this on here is a sort of all-encompassing discussion about our high school. Now that we have these beautiful elementary schools that have been so well done and the elementary has been so well cared for,

117what do we what do we really want to focus in on as needs for the high school? And and then how do we go about doing that? tell us >> what do we need at the high school wing? >> Yeah, I think there's definitely system needs, right? The all of the systems really. >> Yeah, I'm sure >> our our systems, air handlers, boilers, they're reaching the end of their their life, and the last thing that we really want to do is go in and replace those. now if we are going to go for a bond in the future because those systems are going to need to tie or those whatever we do in the future. So we've done a great job of maintaining the system but I'm telling you there's a lot of them that

118are on their last leg. They've been in there a long time. They've served us well but they're tired. Brandy. >> So I think my theory that the reason why the elementaryaries got the bond passed instead of the high school is because we visually kept talking about what our students were in like the the falling of the floor and the condition of that. Right. But those were the needs of those students where then we failed to really push out the CTE programs for the high school which is a huge need. >> Yeah. And I think we need to make sure if we're going to talk about that, systems are important, Wayne. But what I'm finding out is our community is like, "Okay, yeah, we need systems. Can't you just use it out of your budget?" Where

119we need to hit them where they where their heart hurt hurts >> and it's our future of like the CTE programs and that those areas if we're really going to do it right, which then as we've seen once you do that, the systems are all put into the bond money and it's all built out the way it should be. But to get it passed it needs to be like why why does not not the system why why >> that's my >> and we failed on that the last ball >> case >> so what I've heard just from talking with people in the public uh is that we focused too much on the problems with elementary and then the things that we don't need at high school but want. So, we focused a lot on the

120addition with the wrestling room and the athletic part of it. Um, and I think the community sees that as not as important because it's not. We need to be prioritizing what the high school needs before what else we can get as a want. >> Um, and so I've talked to many people who are like, I just thought that they were going to do some sports stuff and I didn't think that's was important. I was like, yeah, I agree. I don't think sports stuff is that important. So I think the issue was going out and displaying what we actually need at the high school. So if we were going to go through, we should probably prioritize the other stuff before we prioritize the other things. >> It was a little omnibus, you know, it was like,

121hey, give us these if you want the CTE, you got to also build us a new gym kind of a thing, you know. And I think people went, well, I love this career center idea. To your point, Britney, I don't think that we need another gym. >> That's what people said. I think >> even though they don't understand it is a need. >> Correct. >> But to them it's they just think we just want it because >> I think particularly now when they said we built you two other brand new beautiful gyms that you can use for sports uh before and after school and that is partly what we discussed when we were selling the bond that those gyms would be available to high school students uh before and after school. So I think it

122is going to be even harder now if we go for it to pass it to Oxy Jim. So that just my feeling on it. >> But again the plans which is nice things we've already pretty much paid for though we have the idea of what the high school would look like. So it's not that we have to but that we're focused on this really. I mean, college is very important, don't get me wrong, but I really do believe that our lacking in our facility is our CTE programs and more people would be wholeheartedly probably willing to >> vote for that than >> I think people who don't even like the school like that idea. And that's where I think it's a if it's the emphasis and the focus, it will really make make inroads. >>

123Read. um building out the the CTE pathways and continuing to invest in those really does need to be our priority. Um those are discussions that Charlotte and Derek and Andrew and I have already had and we've talked about as well. Um right now we have CTE programs but they're really limited. Like for example about 20 kids a semester can take welding. Um about 20 20 kids can take welding too. We maybe 30 kids a semester can take woodworking. Um, our egg classes are equally as limited. Our business classes are maxed out and we don't they they are refitting some of the labs to help expand that. So we our kids are looking for growth in those areas. The state is just restructuring their CTE pathways. So, we know when I say we, I mean the

124administration of high school along with Charlotte's support on curriculum. We know we're looking at restructuring some of those classes and trying to grow some pieces and adding the classes. I know that Miss Fuller picked up certifications for two things this summer. Um, we're adding an egg business class and we're adding in addition to our animal science class, there's like a a veterinary animal health class, animal science class. Um, so we we we're putting the groundwork in there. I think we can tell a better story. We may need to revisit the plans that that were created and maybe reformulate the spaces so we can tell a better story about where we need to go. >> So we get away from the we're not just building. >> Well, and and I think and I >> Oh, go

125ahead, Britney. And I think the foot plan of like where how how we were building out everything and moving because we were going to have to move sped and we were going to have to move library. I like I think the the plan right there is good. It was just the execution of how we were saying our why to the community for high school reabeling some of the pieces. >> Yeah. and and what what are the primary p purposes for some of the uh we had the opportunity to attend some CTE sessions last school year and I sat in on one on some schools in Texas that built multi-use buildings and yep it's a and the the curriculum director jokingly said I lend my academic space to the football team on Friday nights but we

126use it the rest of the week and how the the the classrooms are around and so yeah there might be a space that they lend to the wrestling Like right now they use our depot but um but during the day we would use it for a lot of other purposes. >> You look into the future I mean the number of electricians and pipe fitters that we're going to need and they're they don't exist and they aren't coming up >> and we need those need those. um a solar decathlon. That's something that my son was involved in where it's an international study to where the kids had to build a netzero home and that netzero home went off to a competition of around the world. And each one of the kids, there was plumbing, there was

127electrical, there was the design, the engineering, they had to build it themselves. And when they got done, they took second place in the United States and and first uh in the world. Um something like that would make a big difference for these kids because they got the hands on it. Um that's what we need >> and we wanted to learn. Well, and this board has has given you the directive to increase that. And so I think it's our responsibility to provide accommodation for that in the facilities side. Um, and so what is everyone's thoughts on sort of dismantling some of the sports aspects of the previous bond? we don't have to decide obviously we can't decide this tonight but just some direction um for us um as we go forward because if we want I

128think other part of our success was we started pretty early um in the fall c with a campaign and a plan and so if we wanted to do that again say with Andy potentially um who did a great job for us in our previous campaign um we'd probably want to work on engaging them sooner than to have some discussions about how that would look. But I do I do believe that deemphasizing athletics and maybe I don't know if doubling the size the architect will tell us doubling the size of the CTE that we had previously discussed makes sense um and adding some um accommodations in the arts and rearranging those rooms as we had previously discussed to make the flow of the school more efficient for student population. I think those are the places that

129community members will get behind. If we're the really the only thing we're increasing in the footprint is the CTE and the rest of it sort of just fixing the current footprint. That might give us some some room um with the community. >> I like that. I think you guys hit on it, Britney. I mean, CT is going to be where the heartstrings are of the community. Our parents and our voters are looking for the future of the kids. So, I think that's a very good thing. I love sports and I think it's very important for our kids as well, but if we're gonna I think lean into an issue that the voters are caring for at this m moment that it it's going to be CTE. So, I agree with you. And by the time

130this goes to vote, we'll have hopefully a really good successful year where the community can see the new schools, you know, and then it'll we'll vote in May and be up and running again. >> We need to get those we need to get people in those buildings as much as possible, I think, through sporting events. If it's C squat games at the at the new elementary school or whatever it is, volleyball at the at over here at West, whatever it is, we just need to get events in there as much as possible so they see those as the assets that are used and that I think will help keep PE it in people's minds. One thing I did think about athletic wise, which is really kind of a benefit just in overall would be not

131an expansion of our gym, but an expansion of bleachers to the east where the old wrestling room or where the old weight room is. That would be maybe that could be grandstands to add additional seating to the to the to that space because it is anytime there's a large community event, it's basically tapped, right? Yeah. Chase. And I think it's important to maybe deemphasize the sports, but I wouldn't also go as far as to like dismantle them >> because a lot of the community also is >> we would just say in this bond we probably aren't going to run anything sports in the bond. >> Yeah. So maybe sports >> you keep the CTE in front and you say okay maybe we'll add this or not maybe but keep the CTE and the actual like

132schooling part of it just the most important. Yeah. >> Factor for this part. >> I just don't think we're going to get a gym out of this or a dedicated wrestling room. Maybe some flex space, but not a we're not going to it's not going to be on the architectural plan wrestling room. That will not go. You know, it just won't fly. If we do this, Charlotte, we're going to need extra help or I don't know what you're going to do over there because if we build the CTE out, we're going to have to have a plan up and running ready to hit the road when those kids, you know, can get in those buildings. So, >> one of the things that's very important to think about with our CT is our staffing. >> Yeah.

133>> And right now, because we talk about, you know, building houses and all that. Well, Billings is able to do some of that because they have a large, not large, but they have they have a a much larger number of shop teachers. So, they can say, "Hey, we're just going to dedicate this shop teacher towards this program." Whereas, you know, we would have to make sure that we can dedicate the staff if you build it, they will come. >> Yeah. And and and that we have the ability to to run those programs. And that's an example. Uh but but what do we need to look at if we go to expand our programs? What does that look like with additional staff if we need one? >> Which honestly for me is why I've been pushing

134that we really explore these pathways, these CTE pathways and and have a good idea of where we want it to go so that that is a part of our community dialogue as we try to pass this facility that hey, we know how to make this work. We just need the facility that we can grow into with these with these plans. So that's why I think the academic piece of it is very important as we go out and talk to them. Yeah, you guys could speak to that saying here's here's the pathways that we could open up with this flexible facility. In fact, I I kind of me I did talk with um our architect as we walked through the other day just I said how big would a CTE be? How you know just curious

135and what do they what do they look like? and they said modern CTE adapt to the skills of the teachers and the staff that you hire. So the spaces are actually designed to be very flexible. Like if you need extra wood shop this year because there's a ton of interest, it can expand into that. If you need more welding or you need mechanics or you're going to start working on electric vehicles, it can do all of those things because the space is designed to be flexible. So there's a lot of great um power in that for programming. Um, but I think Jenny is correct. U, one of the things that the board does need to think about is the staffing. The conference that Dr. Bington and I went to last year, those programs have dedicated

136directors to CTE. That's all they do. They work on those community partnerships. They work on the programs. They work on making sure that the lensures are in place. they work on the curriculum aspects, the instructional aspects. Um because curriculum and instruction in CTE programming in trades and industry is different than teaching reading and writing for math. I mean, yes, you're using those basic skills, but you're using them in a much much deeper and different way. So, um and staffing is not part of the bond. the bond gets you the building, but it doesn't get you the personnel to make sure that you can launch those types of programs. So, I think that that's it's both pieces that I would ask that the board look at and and we've we've mentioned that in many of the

137presentations that we've given around the work that we are doing in CTE, but it's a big big ask to try to do all of it. So just keep that in mind to the personnel behind supporting um these types of ventures. >> Yeah, >> I do think it though Charlotte it's like what is it the force or the park, right? But we need we need the space first which then the kids will come because then they'll hear and then staffing. So it's like we grow we grow into it but if we don't have the space >> there's nowhere to grow. >> I think you have community support. >> Yeah. there to help support. >> A friend of mine, his dad helped start the career center in Billings all those years ago. And a big catalyst of

138doing that was that the industries, the trades saw the investment and said, "Here's my new talent pool. Why don't I grab them now?" and they started investing in it because the school started or the community started investing in it. So it does sort of beget yeah you get cart and a horse you have to build the cart and then other people help us bring the horse to move it down the road because they see that development and that um investment and say here's my next generation of uh people for the refinery. Here's my next generation of plumbers. here's my ne next generation of all those trades and trades yet to be like the future is electric cars and I'm as a car person that's s you know good and bad for me but I mean

139that's where we need to be thinking about those futures too it's not just those trades like plumbing it's computer design it's electrical work like bes be besides like wiring it's like electrical almost engineering it's um all of those kind of highly skilled sort of high thought things that we need to be training them for too and that's we build the right CTE um and frame it that way as we attract trades and and industry here to help us um fulfill that vision. So >> I started Kelly hired me 2013 and we hadund and let's see close to 170 first. They're graduating. They graduated last year. We have these three like there's probably two big classes left. Then you take a nose dive. So unless you pass a levy, you're not going to have anybody to

140teach in those buildings, even if you build them, unless the school, the um state does something really great with their funding formula because it's like a major shift. We had eight full full classes. Now most of them are down to six. Like we lost um a lot of kids like they're just smaller classes, not necessarily that they all went someplace, but I worry that if you don't get a levy passed, you're not going to be able to staff in the buildings you have now because just funding wise, you can't. >> That's all I'd like to say. Well, that's a fair point. But we're also talking about >> a fair point is to that's what as we're sitting here talking about how are we going to match the space with the and I agree. If you

141don't ever do it, you're never going to force yourself to get to that point where you figure it out, right? And so I think we have to look at it that way. But would it be something that we run the levy and the bond at the same time and they support each other. Uh a technology levy at the same time as a you know or however we want to do that so that we can match. It's easy for people to see what levies are always hard, right? because we have a hard time explaining those bonds are easier to explain for us. But in running them together for a specific purpose that they know supports each other, would we have a better um opportunity to get both of them together to support this one project that

142they can see and that then we can match some talent and some uh um ongoing support of those programs. [Music] >> So pass a levy. We're going to be hiring additional CTE staff. >> Yeah. To fill to help fulfill this goal we have with the space we're trying to build. Exactly. That our kids have these skills that we know we're going to need millions of plumbers and electricians that are not >> it's not happening now. You can advertise it like this is the money for the building and this is the money for the staffing. And then you say you need both. And you just tell them like we need both of these. This is the money that we're going to use to get the facilities to teach the CTE and this is the money we're

143going to use to pay the staff that will teach CTE. >> That even something you can levy for specifically? >> No. But when you go to a levy and we say, "Well, here we're going to run a high school levy for $250,000." All right. Then what are you doing with that money every year? Why are you giving that what what's with that money? Well, we're going to levy this money because we want to increase staffing in these areas. Um because right now to increase staffing in CTE, for example, we have to decide what we're going to cut. And I think we're running at about as bare bones right now currently as we can run in the high school. >> Yeah. uh you know you guys were all part of cutting and and cutting those positions

144in the high school. We've cut in every single subject area you know with like uh you know your math, science, all that. So we have less staff than we we've had in a long time and if we want to expand those areas we're going to have to pass a levy. But if we we can tell them that I mean this is why why wouldn't they want to know what we're doing with the money? They I think that's that open and honest thing. We have to keep that transparency open. >> And I'll be done because I know that we've got other things. But the unfortunate part about what I believe is that people don't see schooling as value anymore. It's it's it's hard to say, but reading and writing, eh, yeah, math, I could do it

145online. But what they can or say is they can't teach their kids to help put that point into having those handson curriculum for a job that those parents might not have the skill set to do. So we have to sell the value and the value is CTE for the future. They will come. I know it sounds awful and it might take us a few years that we're going to be running pretty lean and mean, but if we just keep preaching the same value because Billings has been preaching that value and look what they've done. They have an entire CTE program that does have BO running those those buildings. So, they've gotten themselves to that point, but it's taken them 10 years to get there. So, we just we can't give up. We can't give up

146and say we're scared because we don't know that one is coming. But we've got to start someplace. >> Yeah. >> And and it's got to it's got to be something that's tangible. And a building is tangible. A building you can see, you can fill, you can do something with. If I say I'm just going to hire a bunch of teachers to do CTE, okay, what are we going to do with them? Where are we going to put them? >> Where's the And so that's where I'm trying to make sure that we understand that yes, it is going to be a few years where it but we're on the brink. And I think that's the scary part is we are on the brink, you guys. >> It's just got to get over the hurdle. >> And

147I don't think there'd be any expectation. It wouldn't be an expectation that this CTE's got like 17 programs the year it opens. >> We want the capacity and the bandwidth to grow into and have a tangible something to show the community that says, "Hey, we're investing in this." A and B was notwithstanding. I understand that discussion and conversation, but there's there are avenues because this isn't just a Laurel Montana focus. There are there are funding mechanisms and abilities that are granted to you by having such a facility that extend beyond A&B. If we rely on A&B to expand our programming here, we we might as well like walk away. But if we can show a community investment in an asset, that's when those other investments come in that are beyond state A&B money for these

148specific programs um that district support and provide >> you start to draw kids. >> I guarantee you and if you look at it and I know this for a fact that school district 2 is not relying on fully A and B to take care of their career center is probably one of their lowest funding mechanisms for that entire program. It's it's objectively better than what we have, >> right? It's not a reason to not pass to to for all a bond, right? Certainly. I mean, I wish we could pass. We should max our levying right now. Levy capacity. >> How many years have we been turned down on levy? So, we can keep trying to push levies all day long, but unless we have something that's a value ad to the student body, >> yeah,

149>> doesn't matter if they don't come in in kindergarten. We might have a huge flux of fourth, fifth, and sixth because they're looking at their students coming in to middle school into high school and then kindergarten might advance. Or we might have a huge flux in high school. It doesn't have to be from from K all the way to 12. We could have a middle flux that's like, and then what are we doing? we have that facility, we have that ability to to to build and then the high school and then it goes on and then it just is a cycle and that's I think what we're trying to do. I think it's showing opportunity and investment and if our school has that look and feel to it that there's opportunity. Kids who are getting

150overlooked at West, kids who want more opportunity than Park City can provide or Jolliette, those kids may end up we may end up be able to be a magnet for them if we invest in the high school. And that's sort of that's my feeling on it where they where you can maybe it's about attraction. You know, you walk into the school and you go, "Oh, well, there's what do they have? They don't have this. They don't have that. This is what is this community doing?" I feel like it's a it's a it's an attraction tool, too. It's like at the bank, we want pretty buildings. Not because that's what brings people in, right? Is a pretty building. It projects strength. It projects stability. I mean, that's just I mean, it's a marketing thing really is

151what it is that people like working. One, teachers like working in beautiful spaces as much as other other professions. So that improves teaching, improves mood, which then improves outcomes, which then reflects in the community. The that's why these um these capital investments really make a lot of sense because it imp it doesn't it's just the intangible pieces that it improves, not just the outward that you see. Chase, >> I was just going to add one of the groups that's going to be the most important to look at is the students. The people are going to like the building the most are the ones that are forced to be there seven hours a day. >> Forced have the opportunity to be there. Uh yeah, if we can build this building and say these students will have

152access to this new facility to learn CTE to have this nice new program that's going to be the biggest force attraction I think is when the students are like I want to go to this school because they have this and the community is a big aspect. Um the marketing is great but I think the students are what are really going to force the students are going to be what brings us the additional funding anyway. So, we should build something that students want to come to. >> That's the point I'm making. Yeah. Is that it acts as that magnet so that kids that are going to West might want this because they don't have to drive all the way down, you know, from Sky View to, you know, whatever. They they might want to, you know,

153to the West End and maybe not get in a program. They might be able to do that here where they they maybe don't even have a spot at the career center in Billings. to add on to what you were saying about and I have to throw this line out here because it's just begging to be said. You know, if you build it, they will come. >> Know that line. Google it, boys. You'll figure it out. If you build it, they will come. That's >> we make it a high school where kids want to be at. We can leverage industry people to help contribute to our staffing and our skill sets and and even some of our our highost equipment. Um, we can leverage state grants. They just changed some of the specs on the advanced

154opportunity grant that gives us more bandwidth there >> to bring in some support for the um career development piece to help us or orchestrate some of this. There are some grants available that we'll be looking at. So there are a lot of layers to this and we are going to work on it and we appreciate that looking at the capital layout because you're right that that I just wanted to clarify. I'm not saying don't do the bond. That's not what I was saying at all. Um I think that it is very layered. There's lots of different pieces to consider and I just want the board to not be completely one-sided on the conversation. It needs to be balanced. It needs to look aspects. I don't hear anybody saying don't do it. >> Um that's not

155what I'm hearing anyways tonight. Um I'm hearing that there's support for it. Just remember there's other pieces to consider as we move forward with moving forward with the bond. And the other piece is we have CTE programming at Laurel High School. So I also wanted to just clarify that it's not that we don't have CTE programs. We have some that are very deep and some that are just beginning. Um we've brought in new classes that were great for a year or two and then the student interest declined. And so we also have to look at being just being responsible with our FTE. Is it fiscally responsible to have a full FTE going to a full-time teacher that has two or three kids in their classroom? So, I mean those again, it's multiaceted. There's lots of

156different layers. There's lots of different pieces to consider, but I just wanted to clarify. I wasn't saying don't do it. I'm very much in support of having a new CTE program uh building to work um work with. It's just there's it's it's a big big project. So certainly behind all of the other moving pieces as well, >> which I think is why then I think why this board also emphasized the work that you guys are putting in now on that side is crucial to the messaging going out to the community so that it isn't one-sided, you know. Um, but to a lot of the point that's being made tonight, I think is that we have to we have to take the leap to make our capital investment into this program for it to be go,

157you know, good, better, best. And we're not we're maybe good now, but there's a better way. And this getting to the best would require a a real capital investment. Like the new building that we just got through with technology is was the best there was three years ago. It's not anymore. So by the time you get something built, the technology has changed so much that you need to make sure that your curriculum take and follow that. I mean, we were teaching CAD over in the welding room. CAD's been gone for for years. There's the ones that are coming out. And if we don't stay up with those with the curriculum that you've got, the rest of it isn't going to mean anything. Mhm. I >> mean, we've got we go out of our way to

158hide all the technology, lighting, uh the air conditioning, the cooling, all that stuff. We hide it. Don't even know it's there. If you do build one, you want to build that to where you can see all those parts and those pieces and they're interchangeable. So as the technology grows that your building is fitting into that and the kids can take an adapt accordingly to the curriculum is going to be a huge part of it because that technology is changing every day. So is our next steps to explore RFP for a consultant like we did on the first >> it I think that's what we did. If I go back I'll go back and check talk with Julie but I think that's what we did next. Now the one thing that was with that RFP is

159we had some money. So we'll have to dip into some other banks of money because it was I think it was 50 grandish wasn't it? If I remember right, >> that wouldn't require an RFP if we didn't want it to based on >> size. If it's under 80 grand, we could I believe we just hire who we want if it's going to guarantee to be under a certain level. So, uh, >> which we have a proven team now and who understands our district even better than they did three years ago, right? >> And they already have a lot of things. Yeah, granted we might want to change things, but a lot of that groundwork's been done, which means a lot of the the ideas are already there. Yeah, we would have to the conversations would

160be a lot simpler, a lot sooner and sooner. Right. Exactly. Right. Rather than the RFP dragging us all the way till October, November maybe or November. Well, and to that point, not even outside of who we would choose for that is we have a team of people now, a community members, that same group of people. Some of them may choose not to be a part of it again, but that they've kind of been down the road of the planning piece that was that we wouldn't have to start at ground zero on that piece either, which would be huge in moving us forward in the process sooner. and what the expectation is of that group as far as when we went to the community and we're talking to people and so I think there's a lot

161of advantage in kind of holding that group together as best we can to move forward on another um another campaign or another ask >> and hopefully there's people who have observed what we've done and want to join it that didn't before. So we could use it as an attraction tool too like hey be part of this next phase and help us shape it. Great. Any other discussion on that? I think we have a little direction on what to to do and get ready to present. So any other discussion from the crowd? Great. This has been vigorous and good. I think it's important that we approach it the right way so that um there's balance in it and the PL the district the community of our district knows that we have we're putting a measured approach

162out there so that we're responsible with with this this ask. So thanks for all the input. It's really great >> future discussion. >> So we'll move next then to the future discussion items. Are there any that we want to add Britney? Um, are we going to see Shane just kind of like for a final wrap up kind of? >> Oh, yeah. >> Yeah, he he was thinking he might have been here tonight, but he >> Yeah, I'm not sure what happened. So, I'll >> And then um so September is uh south admin move over kind of that. >> Yes. Uh probably they they're giving us between like the 16th and the 22nd as far as >> I'd like to futurally talk about what we're planning to do with this building because I know that we

163have about $122,000 worth of utilities that we sit on in this building, but I would like to know can we just shut it off? >> Yep. >> How does that look? >> Great. Yeah. So we could just add uh old admin building future future. What are we gonna how are we going to store it? >> There's somebody coming Wednesday to do a walk through. So that might you never know. >> We'll sell the dang thing before it becomes a problem. But have a plan for >> we have talk but we could articulate that to the board better while and I have talked. So that'll be there could be some ideas already thrown around there. >> I mean even just if it's like winterization to cut the water off right away, right? Because >> right show

164it. We don't need to have water. Yeah. >> I mean, I understand power and >> Yeah. >> And if we turned off the water and winterized it, do we really need to heat it? >> No. >> So, those are the future things I'd like to talk about cuz >> I mean, we can >> we can kind of dermatize this building really to a point >> basically shut it off. >> Yeah. >> So, you discuss this building. Any other discussion items? Great. We'll adjourn.