001All right, we're live. Not really, but we're live. >> Okay, thank you all for coming. Um, before we get started on the talk about consolidation, I wanted to just do a quick overview about school funding, specifically our budget, and what uh changes we're going to be facing due to House Bill 156. So, repercussions of that house bill are just starting to trickle into us. They're going to have a lot of impact on our budget and mostly our taxpayers. So, I wanted to share that with you guys right away. Um, and then we can start talking about consolidation, listen to your feedback, brainstorm together. Any questions you have that we can answer, we'll go through that. Um, so I want to start with what our budget looks like in 2026 and then I'll show you how
002it's going to change due to 156. So a budget is set through OPI and it's set two different ways. We can use our current enrollment or we can use the average of our past three years enrollment. So for the last 10 years, we've been using the average of our last three years enrollment. And then they assign a number each year and you times that by your enrollment and then they give you a little base and that number gives you this base budget right here. So for 2026 our base budget was uh $6.2 million. So then the next step of the budget is filling that up. And 44% of that base budget comes from these funds from the state. Um couple other areas. So the state itself gives us about $1.95 million and that is strictly
003based on enrollment number. For every student we have we get some money that comes into that specific fund. Then we have the quality educator fund and that is also known as the stars act. That's where that money comes in and we get money for the licensed teachers that we have on staff. So that money goes into there. Um and then we have at risk student fund that's about $17,000 that again is based on student enrollment. Uh the Indian education for all that goes to every school in the state again based on student enrollment. Um and then the American Indian achievement gap we got $50,000 last year. that's specifically um calculated based on our American Indian student enrollment. Uh the data for achievement $12,000 again student enrollment we had interest earnings of about $25,000. That's from
004our money that we have in other funds in the bank. Um other local revenue was about $4,700. That happens when people might taxes and then tuition schools we budget about $25,000 that is for any of the out of district students that come to Colri um and because of the laws that happened recently that homeschool is supposed to pay us tuition so we have build that money but we have not received any even asked the question well how do we make sure we can collect that money and we were told that we could um get our attorneys involved so it probably cost us more money to for that money. So that's there in our budget, but we don't really have it. Then the next thing we have is the coal mitigation block grant. This is almost
005$1.7 million and that is um awarded to us through MCA 20-9-638. We are the only school district in the state that receives this whole block grant. Um and then the rest of the general phase fund has to get filled in um usually with taxpayer funds. So we are in a really lucky situation here that we are able to fill that with coal gross proceeds and in 2026 it was about $1.7 million and cog proceeds is a tax that the coal mines pay when they produce and sell and I actually calculated that when I worked at the coal mines I know all about and Then every year the state gives us an inflation increase right around 3% usually a little bit less than that. So going forward to 2027 that will look like about $39,684 of
006an inflationary increase for our schools that goes into that um student enrollment number from increase that per amount by that. Okay. So then I pulled and all that um all those numbers I pulled up from OPI, they're available to all of you. Um then I went back and pulled up the last 10 years of the enrollment that we used for our budgets. Um and we've used average every single year. So you can see the steady decline. It averages out to about a 2% decline every year. It's like a 1.85 enrollment decline each year. and it was 16% over the over the 10 year period. So then if schools are um in situations like us where they have access to more funding, then you can adopt what's called an overbased budget. And in order to do
007that, you have to have taxpayer approval. So every year when you when we send out those ballots to you for the general levy and then we also send out letter saying if you pass this levy we can adopt this budget but we promise to use co proceeds first before we would use any taxpayer money. So the effect has been very very minimal to taxpayers when you guys approve those leies. So that is allowed also with a fiveyear look back. So say we have a year where we don't pass the levies, we can go back up to five years to look at our max budget and we can adopt that. But if we were to fail levies five years in a row, then we'd have to revert back down to that base. So that's another $1.6
008million from proceeds that went into our budget last year. And this is just the general fund. And so the general fund expenditures make up 85% for salaries and benefits, 2.4% for professional fees, 3.6% for repairs and utilities, 4.3% for liability insurance, and 4.2% for supplies of materials, and that's like instructional supplies of materials, and then dues and fees of 2%. So if we raise one of these areas, then we usually have to shrink another piece of that pie or try to find another fund that we might be able to use some of that money for. So our liability insurance keeps going up every year. So that's shrinking some of those other areas. And we also have uh staff raises built into our matrixes. So every year you're on staff, you get a raise built in.
009And so every time that increases, we're having to shrink something else in that pot. So then I pulled up the base budgets from 2016 to 2026. And with our drop in student enrollment plus that 3% inflation rate or 2.8% inflation rate, we are really seeing a 1% average increase in our budget every year. So that's what we can usually count on is a 1% budget. So now this House Bill 156 passed the legislative session um last session and we weren't really sure what was going to happen to us um and our funding, but the funding worksheets have come out from OPI. We've started asking a lot of questions because we're not sure what some of this is looking like. And so this is what we know right now. going to happen to us based on
010that house bill. So they are taking the green boxes on the left that represents the previous funding model. So what we just talked about but now if we look at the yellow boxes that 44% that comes from those state funds um those are going to remain basically the same. And then the next section where we had that cold mitigation block grant they pulled that out and now they're using that to fund our over base. So that has to come up to the top. So then we leave that in between area which is going to have to be a mix of taxpayer dollars and cold gross proceeds. So if that's all that the legislative bill did, we'd be okay because we would just stick our cold gross proceeds in there and call it a day and
011everything would even out. Well, the problem with this bill is that they built in this equalization clause. So, the equalization clause now takes our county instead of our district. So, now our taxpayers in our county are responsible for all of the schools in our county, not just our specific district. So what that means is that Ashlin Forsight Rose Bernie and Laneir if they have shortfalls in that second yellow box we have to help fill those. So our full gross proceeds and our property taxes when they get pulled together now those are getting dispersed between all of these schools plus us. So we are going to have a gap there and that is going to have to be filled by the taxpayers's property taxes. unfortunately. So, I don't know what we can do about that. It's
012already passed, but we're learning that's how it's going to address this. Um, we shouldn't see a change to our 2027 budget numbers as a school, but as a taxpayer, you might see those repercussions coming up on your ne next property tax bills. Um, our overbased budget now needs we don't have to get voter approval anymore to a general levy because that funding is already guaranteed through that block grant. So, we won't be sending out those general levy requests for you um with that little letter promising we're not going to use it because we we won't need it yet. Um one other thing that will happen is we will lose our five-year look back ability. Since we're not passing levies, we might not be able to um look back those five years. However, there could a
013loophole. If maybe we run a levy for like $100 or something like that and you pass it, we're like, see, we have approval. We can do the fiber look back now. Even though it was a small amount of money, I think it has to be over a dollar or something like that. Um, so right now our over base is somewhat safeguarded. Um, but like I said, we are the only school in the state that receives that block grant and we really don't like to bring a lot of attention to it because every session somebody tries to take it away from us, but I feel personally now that it's moved up there that it's easy picking to take out because it's no longer part of our base budget. So, that really makes me nervous um going
014forward because we're in a more v vulnerable position for our funding. Um so, if the whole mitigation block grant goes away, then taxpayers will also be responsible for that. over base of the 1.6 million. Or if you guys say, "No way. We're not going to pay those property taxes." Then we would revert back down to the base budget and we would have a $1.6 million shortfall. So, it's not fun. And then there's probably more things going to be coming up, but this is what we know so far. Okay. In addition to the general fund, we also have several other budgeted funds. And our other budgeted funds um are funds that also come in from other places. So you can see transportation, we get uh state and county reimbursement for running our bus routes. But in
015these funds, we're allowed to have a balanced carryover. So these are kind of like our savings accounts and we can only use them for specific purposes. So transportation can be used for transportation. Bus depreciation reserve fund that's set there for when we have to replace a bus. Um the adult education fund that pays for half of the pool expenses. Um technology fund that's all of the security cameras, the Chromebooks, you know, all of our technology. Um the flex fund is something that we're allowed to use. We've kind of saved it at this point. It's at almost $700,000. our building reserve fund, $890,000. Um the retirement fund, 1.3 million, and then we have a miscellaneous fund, and this is not a budgeted fund, but I asked Britney specifically for this number because this is where that
016wind farm abatement money has been going that we've been getting, and we haven't touched it yet. So with all of these funds, let's say our full mitigation block got taken away today, we could operate for about two years if we drained all these funds. So that would allow us to continue to go, but then we would lose all of our ability to fix our buildings up in case we have an emergency or a disaster or something like that. And then the last thing we pulled up is just the general operating expenses uh for FBMS because people have been asking that a lot. So honestly, they're right around like 200 or $325,000. It's not much and I can tell you we are in a very strong financial position right now. We could afford this. Like we
017can afford to go in and fix the boiler right now. We can do all of that. However, can we maintain that with the unknown stability that we have? So, that's why I wanted to share those finances with you guys and then just show you this. It includes any of the small maintenance we've done to the building like the carpet, paint, crack and field, parking lot. It includes the utilities um and then the liability insurance for the building. So, that doesn't cover any staff or anything like that. Okay. Any questions on the financials before we move to the other? >> Yes. >> Um, our enrollment that we're using for the 2027 is still within that 1% decline or that 2% decline. So, we're still I mean, it didn't really affect that much. We get $50,000 for
018that fund. It's like $2 something dollars per student for that. It's not a major contributor to our budget. >> 48. >> Yes. to pay for that. >> No, the bond is still our taxpayers. That was a specific thing because the bond is basically us taking out debt. >> So that's us paying back that debt over 10 a 10ear period. So that's still us. Yep. That's completely set. >> Yes. We don't know what that's going to look like yet, but as soon as we have numbers, we want to share those with you guys. number is a set number and I believe it has a small increase built in every year. >> I had a question to be here with everybody Um I didn't specifically invite him but >> and the like but was that the point
019of them moving it to where you guys had to use fun so they could kind of become whoever wanted to take it or what's the reasoning for the They actually protected us a little bit grant because it was used in the phase. >> So they would have had to share it with the countywide now >> and so they did protect us by putting it in the over. >> Oh, okay. Okay. That's what I was gettingused with. I didn't know it was already protected. Now they want you to use your dollar before it. So when I think >> it might protect us for a year or two, but I I also feel like it's now it's available to just >> and then you know right now with especially county everything that's going on um if you
020guys could start I guess kind of speaking up you know >> I'm just wondering were you guys aware of how prior to the bond being put out? I not aware of the repercussions that it would have on us. And even when that funding worksheet came out, it's still we still really didn't know how it was going to affect us. This we've learned all within the last month or so. Um because when that funding worksheet comes out, that's when we can start asking questions and say that doesn't look right or how is this affecting our school because we're the only one that has this situation. So people kind of overlook us sometimes. >> And as soon as we found this why we put this meeting out because we wanted to pass this on to you guys.
021It's a huge thing that's going to affect our school, >> right? Yeah. It actually I mean it was brought to the legisle at the very beginning of January. Then it passed in May by the governor. We didn't have the bond until October. How did NCSBA and catch your guys? >> I don't think anyone knew how it was going to affect us yet because we didn't know until that where she came out. >> It's just going to be a laying and I mean it's not necessarily safe for me but we have fixed income in this town. We don't have a young community for >> Oh, I know. I know. >> My favorite county student. >> Do you know how they're going to divide it up between the district >> per school or is it going to
022be per student? it's just whatever their budget shortfall ends up being. So that middle box um is where everybody else has mills and then they they have to kind of ask for more and then depending on what everybody's asking for is how that money is going to be split up. And unfortunately for us, we are the most we are the wealthiest district in our county by far. >> So I guess I asked that question because if we have more facilities, will we get a bigger chunk or that doesn't even matter? It's just based on your budget. They've been since I've been on the board conversations with other board members and whatnot. They've been after that block grant for a very long time since it came out, right? Um even Bob was conversation with him was
023he was his biggest concern, his biggest worry was this. Once they get that off of our page, we're going to the rest of the state looks at it and says, "Why didn't they get it and not everybody else? Why can't we divvy this up?" So, they've already done it to the county, >> right? Now, we're going to show our our our proceeds. >> So, it's just I I would be surprised. To me, this is step one, right? They've got it on our over. Step two will be next year's we'll lose it. If not next year, 28. This has a very short life in my opinion. >> And they did have another school that had like a land grant block grant that they had for a while and they were one of the only schools and
024they expired that this legislative session. So, we do have people advocating for us. Um, and I know Britney's had conversations with Gary Perry and so we do have people aware of it. Um, we have people speaking on on our behalf there. Um, but I just don't know. I don't know what we can do. I think we all just need to kind of get involved and try to reach out and see what we can then we lose the 1.6 million >> and I think the idea of the bill is not to take away this from culture but culture I think it was the big places like some of those like really rich. >> Yeah. So it was those ones are getting very rich and continue to keep getting rich and some of the other smaller places
025are not. I think it was looked at. Were you guys aware of anything legis that what you're kind of talking about and that that MCA um was was updated was it NCA 29 638. >> So when I first started on the board I'm also on the Colmp Impacts Foundation and that's part of that um group that manages that $10 million that we got the community um that legislation originally that That block grant specifically had wording in it that said if you touch any other money that is meant for coal mitigation, you have to pay back your entire block grant and probably the years before that. So this now now they took out section four and down which was the wording that said that. So I ran across our attorneys and said are you safe to
026use this now? And they said do not touch that money because we would have to pay back 1.6 for how however many years they want us to. >> I would encourage you guys to really look at that bill that just passed just because there's more of a safe net I guess for you guys with that money um because of the sunset date of the plan. We've already went over that. So just so that you guys are aware of that. >> They took all the dates out in this new revision. >> They did from what I saw. Yeah, that whole section four was all the dates and that's why I we could use that funding. >> They took all the dates out because they had all expired and they were all passed. >> So now it's
027just one. >> Yeah. >> Last spring when I was went to Helena for the and we met at with capital members, it was partially about this and a lot most of your FCS teachers throughout the state of Montana thought this and we fought it hard. We sent letters. We did all kinds of things trying to get this to not pass because ultimately this affects a lot of where the state is trying to get us to go, which didn't make sense. And Gary Perry was one of the leaders in that. While he didn't meet with all of us FCS teachers from the state of Montana, two other people did. Um and um we took all that information, but unfortunately those smaller towns did have a huge fight because in Whitefish, Boseman, but Missoula, all your outskirt
028towns and they have no money. And so while I feel for them, I worry about this because this is actually step two of their process because their original step was years ago when the state went, "Wait a minute, why is this town's the richest town in the state?" And they started making us share the money that we get from the plant in the mine statewide. Now they're after this piece. It's like they've whittleled this down to making us share not only with the whole state, but now the county is different counties in the town lose their own revenues. So we're getting fought against the towns that have losing their revenues. For instance, the railroad. Okay, they lost revenue. So, of course, they want an equal pot because now they don't know how they're going to
029gain that pot. And this is just going to be a continued struggle. And it's that because it's just like owning your own business, which Steve, you can relate with that, is it's like your neighbor that's not doing well says, "Hey, you need to split part of your budget with me." And it's not our fight can be to say, "Hey, wait a minute. We worked hard for this community and we're trying to build our community and now you're working against us." >> You're absolutely right. That's that's what it boils down to. And Sabrina showed you those other funds, you know, that we've that the district has done so well. I think for Britney and and Joan for to to keep those funds where they are, right? They're they're pretty healthy right now. That's why we got
030such a great rate and everything on the bond. That's why the bond was so easy for us to get once we got board approval to pass it because of the financial situation we're in now. If if we tried to do this I would worry if we tried to do this next year this bond it wouldn't be as as good right we wouldn't have got it would be a struggle I I believe and like I said I worry now that that block we're not far from. So back to that other funds you said with the said with the funds in these other funds in these funds we could operate for two years. So you're saying that these funds now I've been out of school for a while. So these funds now can be transferred over to
031the general fund. >> No. >> So our general fund would shrink. So we should be able to pay most of our salaries out of that. >> So you can't pay salaries out of the other fund. >> Some um technology. But they have to be obviously reserved to pay for some of your maint so the money in some of these funds can be used to subsidize Yes. >> No. No. A very minimum of that and then we would use these wherever we could supplement >> help get by. >> And then on your first again I've been out for a long time but I don't see impact. >> Impact a is that a budgeted fund? So, it's a it's a separate fund. It has different roles. And so, Britney and I talked and we're like, if we
032put that up there, it would be a whole another presentation by itself. And so, I can do that. Um, at a later time, I we could go through and share all that with you. But it's not a budgeted fund. So, it doesn't get approved through the OPI system like the rest of AR you have the split between that seems like utilities should be fairly stable but the repairs which I assume is maintenance type I'm sure >> again this is just one fund. So those are just things that the general fund that we aren't using out of those other says 3.6% utilities and maintenance or repairs and utilities. That doesn't mean that's all the repairs we've done. So use those other funds when we do some of our We take what we can out of the
033general fund, but then we can use these. But these ones we can save and carry over year to year. The general fund we have a 10% limit every year, so we can carry over to the next year. So we have some cash flow for payroll and stuff, but these we don't have to use every year. The general fund we do have to >> All right. Last question. Talk about having a bigger You don't have to have it. >> No. So since our over base is already funded, that's why we don't have to run a general le for the over base. >> So you just don't you're not going to be we're not going to have to run it in this district, but the rules haven't. >> So we do have permissive levies, >> right? >>
034Come out of these that go into these funds >> and that allow us to amount of of the permissive levy has not changed. >> Um we use the very minimum permissive levy every year because if we levy some of these then that means cover proceeds can flow into them. If we don't permissive levy them then we can't. >> I'm talking about just state law rules. >> Yeah. >> That that has not changed. >> No, not that I'm aware. I don't have the numbers yet. And then we also half of the school and we use it to pay for some curriculum for some programs for the students. Other than that, we haven't couple years ago, no, a year ago, there was a call from Department of Education that said you're not giving out any worries that
035and so we've been very careful as a district not to rely on them. That's why we And for anybody that doesn't know, impact aid is available for schools who have students that live on um like tribal or federal land and anybody works on tribal or federal land. So, um any of our students who live right now on the northern China reservation school here, we get to count that and then people like me who work in Lambir, we get to count that as well. So, um we do have money from that. Like Britney said, it is going down, but we use it to pay um the activity bus to Lameir that salary that we can use out of there. Um the pool, half of the pool um Oh yeah. And it's not specific to reservations. Um
036it's federal land. So like in Great Falls, anybody that lives on the Air Force base, they have the same thing. It's the same situation. >> And that's a per person. >> Yeah. Kids are worth more than like I am but yeah person is what I'm asking is it changed >> not the same amount Okay. So, let's open it up to maybe brainstorming concerns, questions about possible consolidation. And like I said, we can maintain right now. We can, we know we can, but I feel like we're in a fragile situation. And so, we need to prepare for our future. And I don't know what that looks like. I don't know if that looks like closing that school or if it looks like closing a different school. You know, I don't know. I'm not sure. This plan
037was put into motion in 2013 and we've just been kind of following those steps. So, phase one and two were done. We're kind of in phase three. Phase three of the project said find gym space and move the kids. So, we're still problem solving the gym space, but I think that's been one of the number one concerns I have heard from everybody. So, we want to hear from you guys now. >> We also talked about triggers here a few years ago. And those triggers were absolutes. If this happens, we are moving. Okay. Uh class size, we lost the class. We went to class E. We've moved. Uh I can't remember all of them. The block ranch was the main one. >> Yes. >> Yeah, there was four. But the big ones to me that I
038remember we had dropped down a class or we lose that block. So, right, which is we lose the block. This isn't happening next year. This is not going to happen in school year uh 26 27. Um, if we do this, it'll be uh school year 2728. And I think by then we're going to know. I think we'll we'll know for sure. And I I think 2728 or sooner unless something in legislation changes on our behalf, I really think that that grand. >> What happens if our numbers go up if we get this new? Have you talked to Talent Energy or you know what happens if all of the sudden we get an influx of 50 kids in the high school? What happens then if we do this combination and all of these other things with
039a potential boom? How is that what are we going to do if we're you know tripping over each other? >> I don't. >> Yeah. Right now there's no right now there's nowhere to live. >> I know, right? >> Three spots. There's like three houses I think available in Col that are for sale and there's no lots to build on. So right now we're not looking at that influx. They would be living elsewhere. And that nuclear just for reference that nuclear plant that they're even remotely thinking about they're putting it where they're about that's in the foresight district. That money is foresight district. >> Um, >> isn't it just right on the >> right right there? >> No. >> Way up 39. >> So, Cedar Village is kind of for our district. >> Yeah. >> So,
040that is for school district. >> It might be for school district. Can you guys quickly not quickly but I mean everybody can get rounded up for free where we're very expressive to start rounding up all the people all the different schools legislators is there open county right now for the house to try to advocate for us he is our house >> I understand >> I guess for me personally I authentic. I just feel like these middle school children deserve to have their own space where they're not shoved in with high schoolers or the same group or even with the elementary they're so excited to get out of now. >> Yeah. No, I know. I've been against >> but I remember one of the last kids before it shut down. >> I've been on the board
041for years and I've always been against closing the middle school and I am still that way. I I feel like those kids need that time to grow up. I feel like they need to earn their time, you know, their right of passage to get to high school, to play the sports, and to, you know, do all the things. But my fear is that we won't be able to sustain that. And we're trying to We're a board that has always been very transparent and proactive. >> No, I understand. things. I just don't speak because >> Right. No, but I'm just saying we're we're trying to be really proactive with it and we want you're everybody's feedback. >> But I mean if you need people to help, do you have something? You can do white papers, but
042then everybody wants >> have any board members reached out to the local economic development at all about any of the local land, >> I'm sorry, the local what >> economic development. >> Have any has anybody from the board anybody? >> I talked to Jim the other day and um you know just about like happens in a community where a school closes and like you said, you know, we've never been involved with something like that, but it's not like they couldn't because just because it's not a school anymore doesn't mean it can't be something very important to our community still, >> right? So like the surrounding are things that are happening of the land, right? You know what I mean? Those are things that are economic that are coming into our community potentially. I mean, we're
043looking at possibly 200 plus people moving into our community whether it's wherever we have people traveling outside in >> I mean even when we stop the bus we saw people transferring their kids >> yes >> so I mean we have to think about those things I mean have you guys thought about talking to the commissioners about any sort of housing study that's going to be going on to you know bring in more housing for this reason >> right >> I mean are those things that you guys have thought Housing's always talked about housing. >> Those are just some of the things that I think people are frustrated with is >> those aren't the solutions that is being brought to the table. >> You guys are asking for solutions, but we're not getting a solution. We're
044just getting nowhere. >> Well, I think that I understand it's frustrating for you guys as well, >> but as a community, it's frustrating for everyone. >> It is frustrating. And I would love to be able to manage our entire town like but we can't. We're the school board and so we manage the school district and if we can work together with other agencies to figure out what to do with some of those schools then that's great. But I don't think we could be held responsible to create housing for 200 families that might be coming in. >> Absolutely. No. No. And I I don't suggest that at all. I'm just saying like as you know Tiffany stated that there's there's three houses in full strip. you know, whatever that is looking like. >> There's other studies
045that are happening behind the scenes that you guys don't seem to be aware of as to hopefully fix that problem. You know, those are things that could be happening in your community that could bring some sort of relief to you guys, I guess, is what I'm trying to say. >> Are there What are you talking about? >> So, what >> what studies are you specifically >> a housing study? So, we do like our economic studies every single year. I ever been to one of those. Um, and we talk about housing studies. We talk about all of those kind of things. And so when those are brought up, we bring those to the commissioners. We talk to legislators about those kind of things. So that is just it's frustrating, I guess, like I said, as a
046community member when I know, you know, I know that. So I hear the concerns that you guys are bringing to the table, but >> I've had those concerns that you think we don't know something. >> Sure. >> Why wouldn't you bring it to us? Because sometimes I don't responded. >> So >> I told you to reach out to other board members because you get a little hostile. >> I I'm not with you. I said let's have a conversation like you post about this, >> right? But I I don't see what we don't see is I don't see a boom coming to culture with an influx of >> what 50 60 kids. I don't see that. I I don't even Even if this whole other project goes through, great. I would suspect that probably well over
04750% are not going to be in our district anyway, right? My concern is this >> that we also have cash right for how many kids we want in class right >> we set the cap at 75% at the state level because before we put that cap in our classrooms were getting overfilled and then we'd have to quick and hire a pair to be in there or you know try to bring another teacher in last minute. So we put that cap in at 75%. But most of our classrooms are above that because we know we have influence after. >> So that was just a planning thing that we did. >> Sure. So when we're talking about students as well when we had to stop the bus rout. So you're saying that we couldn't get 50 kids
048here, but we just lost 40 of them. So that's That's where I'm kind of coming from. And I know that I've had family members apply for that position and they've never gotten a response saying the position's been filled. Nothing. >> Right. But even if those 40 kids did come back, what we're saying is we have to >> even if those 40 kids did come, that's what she's saying. >> We I mean, as far as your applications go, we hear that all the time. so and so applied. But there's there's a process to that and it's it's not that especially when it comes to school bus drivers. >> We've followed through on as far as we can go with applications for school bus drivers, right? >> It's like if they don't follow through or you know
049there's some things that hold people up you know it's just the school bus thing was I mean that >> you didn't blame the district. We just can't get it done. We can't. There's just nobody available that wants to do it. We have some people in the community as far as bus drivers go that would help during the day, right, to shuttle kids from, you know, one school to the next for like swimming or or whatnot. Those are there's quite a few of those people are willing to help. It's the route drivers and and the activities that we we fall short on >> and that's that's just hard. That's not that's just not us. That's everyone. >> So, sorry to kind of go back to this, but with the house bill, have we amended any sort
050of budget or anything like that since it's been approved? >> We don't have to yet. >> You don't have to yet? >> No. How come? >> Because right now, our actual dollar amount isn't going to change for 2027. >> Okay. So, the fiscal year part of it. >> That's why we're here having this discussion. >> Uh just out of curiosity, uh the staff school had a meeting last week and um there were a bunch of questions that were asked and stuff. Do you have answers? You weren't I know you guys weren't there but uh Scott was there so I don't know if there are answers to some of those concerns and questions that can kind of help at least for the staff that are here because the the the money part of it. Yeah, that
051it does play a role. But I I >> yeah, as as a teacher and having taught middle school for 18 years and now teaching high school, knowing the difference in the brain development, knowing the difference in adolescent behavior. I'm all I'm all about like I love saving money. That's amazing. And and I understand the financial concerns. also know that I am not a math person. So, just laying that out there. Um, my biggest concern I don't care about the sports. I know everybody does. I don't care about the Sorry. Sorry. I I don't care about the sports. I know there's value to it. Sorry. I got a big one. My My biggest concern is the kids. Uh and and I I mentioned my years with middle schoolers and I I I worked in private schools
052and so those middle schoolers were a little more tame. Um be and because that there was a process there was a process of interview before they were allowed to go to the school and knowing that and knowing the difference knowing where the adolescent brain is not just for middle schoolers but also for high schoolers and where they are developmentally. The idea of putting those babies and I call them babies and I know that they are not and they They would hate me. They would hate me for saying it, but they are they are babies and they are precious and in that developmental stage to throw them in with high schoolers because of money and and again I understand the fin as much as a non-math person can I understand the math side of it and
053I understand the concerns and I understand the possibility of things going ary but I'm here for the kids and and for their well-being, whether they're in the middle school now, in the high school now, or down in the elementary school, and and pushing to to put those babies up here with the amazing high schoolers that we have, and I love them, but putting them together, and they would absolutely be together. There's no way to separate them truly. Is that worth the risk? is risking that that development risking that safety. >> I asked the >> I don't know a lot of other districts but I know I have some friends and stuff in in the forite district and I asked them you know when they did it back in 10 2010 they centralized. I asked him,
054I said, "What was your what was the first reaction to that?" And a lot of them were just like you. It was just like this. And it's like, okay, cuz that to me that was probably born. And then a year goes by and then another year and now it's >> okay. What kind of training did was there? What kind of ahead of time because that everything that I have looked at emphasizes very very strongly preparation ahead of time not just the staff but also the kids >> because the expectations >> I think I think as parents because I'll have one I've got one that's in middle one that's in high school >> you know I think I'm going have to have a conversation with both of my >> right going to have to have that
055there's going to be a conversation for sure at home as far as prepation like I said this This is not going to happen next school year, right? Um, we'll get to our some of these community meetings. We'll get through the survey that put out to the entire community, right? Get the whole tax base. Okay? And let's say that the tax base says yes, let's let's centralize or consolidate, whatever you want to call it. Then school year 26 27 is going to be a lot of discussion and planning on how we integrate this how we do this right what's the expectation of the staff right what's the expectation of students okay even go as far as what's expectation of the parents >> I would love that Right. It It's not going to happen over the weekend.
056I thought looking at all the stuff from 2013 to today with the plans, the phases they all put in place, I thought, this this shouldn't be that that big of a deal. And then you start peeling that onion and it's like, okay, no, you have to consider this. You have to consider this. You know, I I I have reservations, but I know the staff that we have in place right now with the teachers, first year might be a little little rocky, but then that year goes by and now we're in 27 28 or 28 29 and pretty soon it's I feel like the the people from eventually it's a non-issue. It's just what we do. >> I wasn't going to say >> it was 99 and 2000 my senior year. >> What's that? >> It
057was 99 and 2000 my senior year. I don't know meetings like this and it was a two-year process. I know you're saying you've been on the schedule since 13, but we had intense battles at meetings like this for two years. Yeah, it was it was tough. It was it was it was real. >> We lost we lost students when we did. People left the community because of it, but it it happened. It had to happen. I don't know that the finances here quite as drastic as they were at that time. One thing we did here, we kept the middle school open, the gym open. >> Yeah, you have to. >> How can you not? >> And I I guess I don't see a scenario where you're not going to have to fix that. The only
058scenario I can see is that boiler stays that goes down is if you demolish that building. I don't think they're ready to that >> as far as middle school goes. Um I know has talked to our insurance not not just the insurance district. Their recommendation was if we shut it out, we shut it down. You don't try to keep the boilers going with electricity just for that gym because you're going to eventually your maintenance is not going to be so much focused on on that. And then that's where we have another flooding in the basement or that's where we lose something electrical again or whatnot. I know gym space is the biggest concern. That's really the the token that everybody's talked to me about. What are you going to do about gym space? Gym space.
059Gym space. Gym space. I get that. I don't have an answer for that yet. That's why we need you to help us with that, right? I understand a hell of a lot cheaper >> probably to segregate the water and heat for that part of the building. >> I think it was like $1.2 million at that time is what it would cost to do that. So, I mean, >> it's something that we're Yeah, we're going to look into that for sure. Is that where all the servers are? Let's ask Evan. >> How would that work? >> The the internet and phone hub are in the old part of the building, right behind the cafeteria. So if if we in order to shut that building down completely, we have to do the internet hub and the phone
060hub over to the high. That's a project been in the works and it's not going to be a super expensive project. There was some talk of years ago, some million dollars or more to to move all that. Uh internet would have to be moved first and we have the infrastructure to do that. We just have to work with our internet service provider. And then the telephones is a bigger project because that's all running on the very old Sentry Link equipment that used to fill the town and we can't get that same type of service here at the high school because the underground wires don't exist for it. So once we get internet moved here, then we would could look at a completely new phone system that runs through the cloud and runs over internet. So
061it' be a two-phase project. something that possibly let's say we move the internet this summer and if there's enough time maybe move the phones but that's going to be a the phones will be a disruption to all the buildings because every phone would have to be replaced all the phone equipment would have to be replaced whereas the internet move could potentially happen within a week depending on if we can get our two or three vendors scheduled together to do that on the same day we'd have to do it on one day so it's just a a one day outage >> so How much would that be? >> Well, I don't I don't know. We don't So, power went to the building. The main place you have to look at is the cafeteria has we have
062to keep power on and the room right behind Michelle Peterson. So, the old like SRO office right there at the front of the building. Those two rooms are the only place where the district internet and phone service affect the rest of the business. Trey. >> So, I would be remiss and my father-in-law would be calling me because he has a six sense about this. Him being a telecommunication specialist out in Omaha. I got a question and this is the question that he asked is did you get that number from a salesman or did you get it from a technician? Because there are two separate numbers because when you're going through and you're looking at a technician, once again, love the trades. They know what it actually takes and salesman is just there to go through
063and to get you to buy the service. So, did we get the number from a technician or do we get it from a salesperson? Because those are two separate numbers. >> For that, >> the the internet's easy. >> That's easy. It's the phone that's >> that that's exactly what I mean. use telecom have to get a >> I don't think we have a code for that yet. >> Okay. Make sure you get it from the technician, not the saleserson because the saleserson will lie to you. >> I think if we look into that, bring into the father-in-law. He he go through, you pay him. >> Uh you mentioned the other schools that you talked to. Uh just out of curiosity, do you know how their buildings are set up that would make it like how
064to to kind of picture the flow of >> No, I didn't ask them how they >> they have >> transition. I just wanted to know as a sense of community how did it how did it go? >> Yeah. And I I think like I agree that's that's an important factor, but also looking up looking at how how the population of uh students between the middle school students and the high school students, how they move about the room or the building. Um and the difference between schools that have done it and that it works well for versus what we have here. Uh how that I'm just curious how that compares. Um because as you know as I've tried to picture >> I know if you go down to the superintendent's office there's a big board with
065magnets that's got the entire high school level and this has all been done since they completed the uh >> yeah yeah that something like that >> at our last yeah speaking Um Mr. Trama, if if this let's say we we do decide on um centralization, whatever you want to call it, uh I would hope that there would be a committee of teachers. I mean, all of the maintenance, the staff, not not just certified, but classified, everybody that's got some input on on how this how this works, right? So, original. >> And we're like we're we're down how many students from when that happens first? >> We're 100 now down. push >> the 520. about the tube replacement. >> Tube replacement. We're having Robert's having a time trying to get those people out on that that
066type of boiler. It's a small package low pressure boiler. They're just shipped in on skids. Um we're working on that. I know there's an elevator issue and I know that one was pushing a quarter of a million dollars on the elevator. We have to have that to keep our ADA right. >> I I thought about that too, but I got to look at you like how how can we do that? How can we have to you have to bid it out? We probably those are those are top dollar. >> Um can you remind me is it the main old high school part or does it include the cafeteria and the state that are the the foundation issue over there at the middle school? That's >> the old part is the old part is the biggest
067issue. >> Okay. But it doesn't does that include the cafeteria and the >> and the gym. >> The gym and the gym level. >> Well, it's the problem and I don't know 100%. It's how do we cut off this to keep this? We don't know how to do that. >> Okay. Or if it's >> and the foundation is absolutely not >> fix >> is that not >> I think it was sinking just like every every other building >> it's been seeking for >> you. Okay. >> There are some things on the deferred maintenance list I wish some people have gone through to get off of that. You know, if it's on there, why is it on there? If it doesn't need to be on there, get it off of there. Okay, fine. I'm not going
068to point fingers on that or anything like that. That's it's a list. At some point, somebody said this needs to be fixed. Okay. somebody else say right and things have been pushed off and pushed off. Like I said, my main focus is not so much the the school or the or the consolidation. It's it's this this is going to change a lot of things in this community. We lose that block. Listen, I was born and raised here too. Graduated K through 12 right here. We have been We've been lucky for a very long time. We've had it all. Right. The rest of the state is now saying, "You're not going to get it all anymore. You're going to be like just just like everybody else." We've been I don't know what's the word, but based
069on fear. >> No, no, no. I'm not making I'm not making this based on the fear. I'm making the decision based on >> when we lose that >> what's coming. >> I think it's coming. >> So, we do know we have to share our >> Yes. And we can >> we can take care of a lot of the fifth grade school that people >> heard from the teachers is that the standards are different K five and six and that that's why there's been a lot of discuss question too about what happens if the sixth graders do go down then those standards are different what do we expect to do so I do know that's been a big discussion >> or what if we move the six seven eight through here and we left that there
070you know there's we're still playing with all >> not right now we have not considered that >> Ming Somebody back there said, "I think he said we made a few mistakes. Bas. The other thing I' please do because Very good sir. Go ahead. just operations alone was just $3,000 just for utilities maintenance supplies and liability insurance. So that's all for for now. I mean there'd be a lot of it depends on what the staffing looks like. Do we have two principles? Do we have two secretaries? Like things like that would all need to be considered before we have a final number. whatever that we'll put all those those numbers together as best we can from, you know, from the Yeah. from the the people we have here in town like uh uh I probably ask
071Brady on the electrical side DEI right give us a that's going to take I know my last conversation with him was the last time we had a an electrical issue down there the park that's how old that is and there's some concern if we have another bad electrical outage that that just that alone were we're in the seven figures to replace a lot of that stuff just so yeah that's something we're considering but yeah we will >> that's been a year or two we talked about There was two options on that. One was filling in the pool and creating an oxygen >> and then the other one was off of the side with the vestibules >> to create another oxygen that way and that was at that time. I don't know those numbers haven't been
072quite We'll have to right >> those been talking about options too. >> I don't see how >> it would be easier with the flow. >> I said there's going to be a curve, right? >> If this happens, >> is year one going to be perfect? >> Is year one going to teach us what we need to know? or something, right? We might have to get creative. And it's something we would we will ask the community though too, right? We're not we're not going to make this decision. It's going to come down to everyone, right? And then here's option and thank you for bringing up people. >> It's always been, >> you know, how important is that pool to an Austin? Right. That's a question we're going to ask. Uh, is the pool important enough to
073spend x amount of dollars on trying to build an aux adjacent to it? Right. >> The pool is very important to our community. >> I I'm not not I'm not denying any of that. I'm going to say we're going to ask those questions, right? And those are some of the things I know crystals are probably going to get. >> I'm I'm Yes. I'm back here listening because you know the pool is something that you're talking about getting text messages already getting them. Already been getting them for the last month. phone calls approaches. So, and then today I was told that it's still on some goofy thing that was made back in 13 about filling in the pool. >> And it's like I would love to tell people that no, it's absolutely not going to happen,
074but I don't actually know 100% that that's not going to happen. >> It sounds like it's an option. Like >> the biggest board meeting I've ever been at when I was on the board when a rumor started that the pool was going to be closed >> and it was full. It was the biggest meeting I've ever attended. >> Right. So that probably will not be our solution. Can I at least >> So I mean I know I know more I I I'm fully aware of how expensive it is to run a pool. But I do know that in the last three years and now four years of swim lessons that I have been either told to, you know, make or been a part of that our kids are excelling in swimming. Like I've got parents
075approaching me about, can we have a swim team again? Can we do this? And I'm like, oh my gosh, I don't even you know, yes, I don't want to tell them that it's not a possibility, but obviously it's a long numbers for what it would take to keep that middle school gym holding, right? That we'll get numbers on what it cost to possibly build an office and we'll have numbers put together what it takes to just get the right. Go >> ahead. Well, we just hired everybody back. >> We're still begging for teachers. >> And the four day week is in it's in the calendar committee right now and I know they're bringing forward several different options, but they've been working in that since I don't know >> when you guys start >> October. So
076when they bring the options to us that's when we'll get to see them but right now it's in committee that's within committee >> that's within their committee right now. They're working on that still. We don't know what they're going to bring to us yet. >> So we're not I don't know how that's going to look. >> But I do know that they're working on it. Well, I had I was telling Serena and the board I when I was talking about the consolidation, I talked to them about their 4day calendar and foresight and they said the same thing. They loved it. The uh uh were way down, substitutes are way down. >> It just worked out great for them. Tuesday. >> I think it would save on like the buses because they would be running one
077day less a week. Um, but I don't know how it would look. It's going to If a 40 week is brought, then negotiations have to open with our classified staff. Um, and so I don't know what that looks like. I don't think we want to implement a calendar where we're going to lose money. We're have to get so >> I don't think it saves us anything. >> One day lunch, one day buses maybe. >> Yeah. Some trickle down. But as far as salaries, I like I have my hand. >> No, I didn't. >> Anyway, what I'm saying is I'm getting really confused the longer we're sitting here. What is the reason ultimately? Is it for the repairs that is, you know, the boiler this and that? It's all over. I don't really know why this
078is happening is your building there's other places you can reach out to there's organizations nonprofit people who want to help for the sake of housing I work in the housing everywhere and with all these tax they don't need those tax credit. Can you use that to fix those? Is it mainly a cost issue or is it everything issue? >> We use that to fix that. But once we drain that, >> it's gone. >> Now I have to start asking you for money to rebuild that. >> Yeah. >> I went to places where they wanted our restricted money unrestricted to do whatever they wanted. So that's what I said by the thing I started doing our state people. >> Right now we have more than enough room. >> I'm sure she would love to state a
079lot of people here. You know, we got to use our voices. Not just Sorry about that. You got to knock on knock doors. We got to adate ourselves. I just try to get my clarity because I appreciate all you teachers, all you educators, all you educators. You all help all of us. We all had that special teacher at school who helped us. So, sorry get a little I'm just like what the hell? I'm just used to like I'm just used to like reaching out knocking on doors like hey can you help us? We need your help. We want to collaborate. I said where's Joiner commissioner every day. This is opposed to me. It's open to the public. I mean, we didn't reach out specifically to some of these people. We just reached out to to
080everyone, hey, we're going to do this. So, this isn't going to be the last of it either. >> The building reserves. I just want to add that a little bit is um the taxpayers. Um so, we permissively levy for that and try to build it up for the times that we do have something bad happen. But we have to permissively levy or we can do a building reserve levy. If we do that, we can But it does have a limit on it. We can't just ask for whatever we want permissively even in the building. There is a limit. Um but we can run a building reserve levy and ask for 500,000 for the taxpayers and run a fiveyear le if if that were the case too. There's a lot of contractors around here who offer
081their services for rating. People will use their services We all at some point we're all realizing we all need to work together from each other to say hey resources >> I just wanted to clarify you said they rehired everybody was that classified or certified or was it both? >> Certified is already rehired. Uh classified is coming apart. April >> and we have a long >> there was uh there's a couple things we had to push it off. I know some of them had like probationary periods. They wanted to make sure they got through that. >> So and uh I know they talked to uh Connie Matt about that because we should have been on the march but we wanted to get like I said there was two or three on probationary and they put them
082>> off. >> We would have to leave them off to come. So, we decided we'll just wait, get through that period, and then >> I just bugged you out. >> Chris, >> u just to throw it out there because I know it was brought up at the high school staff meeting with uh Scott. Um there I and I don't I'm not familiar with the area, but I know that there are different grants out there and I know some people are good and enjoy writing grants. Um I not going to name names of the people that like doing that, but I know they exist and they love the school. But there might be that might be another option to explore. Um and I like I said I don't know what the availability of a of availability
083is. I don't know what the requirements are or whatever but if we're looking at a potential shortfall and again I did participate in sports. I do care about sports but it's not my priority. My priority is and always has been the whole reason I went into education is the kids and their well-being. And >> yeah, you know, you're right. We can we can talk to like let's just let's make it simple. Let's talk about just an ox gym for everybody. >> That's too small. >> Just a gym. Okay. We we would we would talk to we would write up a business plan for uh cohort. We would explore that. We would explore whatever grant money is out there is available to that. Um we would um we would reach out to some of the bigger
084utilities as well, right? Maybe Northwestern would be interested in helping uh West Morland. Um so yeah, you know, there's we'll we'll do all that. The the grants are are are a great idea. Um, but they're also it's this year. I'll give you the money for this year's plan. Well, okay. What does that do? Does it give us another six months? Right? You know, I'm more looking at the budget. Okay. And where are we going to save money there? Because right now I think we're, let's be honest, what are we 95% of the budget in high school and 94% in the elementary? We're there. So, >> how's the boiler at the high school? >> Right now, >> the middle school. Not when it's 80° in my classroom all last fall. Something must >> So I'm just
085wondering is that working? >> One must be working just fine. I like I said we we have to get somebody down here to explain to us what's going on with that boiler. >> That's not the easiest thing to do right now. Maybe now that the Well, I can't blame it on the weather. Okay. Do you remember when you guys you guys remember when you guys came through the rooms and found out kind of what was going on? Okay. Downstairs when that one my particular room flooded. Um they took away Bob took away the turned it into central one of my one of the classrooms that was supposed to be for FCS. Okay. Um, and then instead of improving and bringing up to par the FCS room that I'm using currently, he chose to slap some
086new countertops in and throw the old cabinetry that I can't use really any of my lower cabinets, doors. I have to tape them shut. I don't have proper ventilation. >> You name it. It didn't get done. On top of it, coming in here, not so much this year, but coming in here at 6:30 in the morning and it smells like raw sewage >> and when you're here you all smell it if you've been in here after school's out and before school starts that sewer smell the staff downstairs we have to use the kids' bathroom because we don't have a staff bathroom downstairs >> yeah and then and then when there's stuff going on we can't get into the staff bathroom in the office. Um, there's there's a lot of logisticals. There's bathroom issues, period. >>
087There's there's money that needs to be put into classrooms, not just mine, Karen, other classrooms. Um, downstairs, and I'm sorry, when it's 90° in my classroom, it makes me sick. And we shouldn't have to work in a 90° room. when we can't open a window. >> Okay. And you remember how many maintenance guys do we have? >> All right. If if if their workload gets cut by a third, a lot of these other problems can be addressed sooner, right? There's some things that >> they didn't even get put back in, right, to begin with, >> right? >> So that's we have to do internally. Okay. >> Okay. >> Because we're always on that the teeter. We all have insurance. They're always we're always on that one >> file away of being getting dropped and then
088we got to go out. Britney will tell you we're somewhere we're constantly battling too. >> But in my room it's a safety issue. >> Sure. I understand. >> Just as well as it's a safety issue in the welding booth. It's a ventilation issue. >> Sure. science room. Yeah, it's not just those. Those are things. How are we going to address those issues? Increasing the amount of students within the high school building if we combine the both. That's a serious question. You might be cutting the budget, but how much are we going to We need to know how much we're going to have to put into this building. Not just adding a gym. Nothing against sports, but the actual >> Okay. >> All right. Oh, education. >> Where you're going, where you're going, it goes right
089back to that building reserve. Okay, we start dwindling that down. Start using that up. Okay, whether it's here or at time, okay? >> Then then we have to start leveling that again. So, like I said, the positive side on that, if you take a take one school away, now you have more resources for these two. Okay? things will get done a little quicker. Will it will it be perfect? No. I don't know. Probably not. >> I mean, I don't know. But but >> yeah, I get it. Michelle, >> I now have three things to say, but um Melia was helping me raise my arm because I'm sore from lifting in our awesome weight room at middle school. And um I also was here just want to clarify that the board that I went to you
090had said that you wanted to know by the end of March if we were going to move next year and we've been sitting on pins and needles at the middle school. >> No, we also said that's not going to happen. >> Good. Okay. So, I just wanted to clarify we are safe for one more year. >> Yes. >> Okay. Very good. >> At least. >> Thank you. I appreciate that clarification. And then I also wanted to um ask have we had a professional cost analysis done by an outside company to find out exactly how much it does or would save us to shut down the middle school. You know, >> you know, how expensive is it to run? Who made that? Now, >> has made that back I don't know how many years ago it's
091been now, but >> they actually had price guarantee or cost savings guarantees built in. One was for uh the learning center and then one was for the middle school. And so they had evaluated all of that and If we want to ask them, >> when or who >> we needed from entire community that building it has to be community us. So I would hope that there >> are any right somebody else came in and say purchased it or just took it I don't know why they couldn't say >> but I mean our insurance people coming in and out background checks and things like that. >> Yeah, that is key. you're talking about probably have to have sole ownership responsibility of it >> and we would be >> we would rent >> it's technically possible >>
092I don't think with kids in the building it could be >> yeah if you have rent out more but I don't think you can bring in outside people when you have kids right >> I have one more boring question. What it looks like as far as I know We know that the number without looking extra hours going dollar. >> It could. You're still operating within the same hours of the day, >> right? I know Evans >> that could be used. There's there's like I said with all the modifications and things that were already done, it's ready if this is the way to go for those. Are we moving to BC school? >> Is it just rumor? >> What? >> That we're having to go to BC? >> No. >> Has to have under 100 enrollment
093in your high school for I think two to three years. >> Okay. >> Before they even considering the school. >> I don't remember what those numbers were. I know that's >> I don't think it's that many. 70 kids maybe total. Seventh and >> I'm trying to remember how many copies I made. I don't remember. >> Yeah. >> So, going back to a 4 day week, if you talk to the parents, sure, it's great. But if if you talk to staff and it's a true 4 day week where staff gets time off or is it a 4 day week in my city where they have to come in anyway? >> I don't know. What calendar are you bringing to the board? >> I'm not bringing the calendar. I'm just making the statement that >> I don't
094know. I think the hours last time we talked the hours fit the traditional boarding. >> Okay. So that is not having not expecting staff to come in when there are no students to teach. >> That's one of the proposed calendars. Uh calendar committee has not met since January. >> Yeah. >> Um and so but one of one of the options that has been thrown out there is to have uh I think it was called a hybrid something. >> It's a hybrid calendar. Yeah. >> Not not that that's not important, but that's really >> not why we're here. I know. >> Not why we're here. >> It was brought up. I just wanted to make sure that that if it's a true 4 day, sure. If it's not, >> we have 37th graders. >> There you
095go. Which part? >> The old part. Yes, the original part. >> I don't When was the edition put on? >> I know. >> Excuse me. >> Okay. the first edition. >> Okay. And then the latest edition. lot of stuff to discuss. Lot of stuff got to think about. We'll we'll keep having these conversations. We will um we are going to put out a uh a survey to all the uh to the tax everybody. Everybody we can enrollment if we can get it out to everybody that's school here. We'll get it out to everybody is, you know, um although this is great because there's more people here than there was for the five. >> And I know Scott has talked to staff at each building. And then he's also asked specifically the department managers. So he's
096gathering feedback and that I'm assuming will be presented to us at some point. We can work through all that too. So we are going to get all of that as well. >> All right. >> We're going to push all the information we can out. >> The survey is that going to be paper as well as like Facebook because I know like there was there was something recently that was a survey that was that was the calendar one that was sent out uh like through Facebook and stuff but not everyone on our community is on Facebook and so I'm just curious is that going to is there another option for that? You know >> you could mail them out to everybody. >> Britney just say she got >> what you can bring them to your office.
097>> Yeah. and just staff me. >> What was that again? >> Survey was just Yeah, >> that's probably how we would do it. Something Googleish that everybody can get on. Okay, >> we'll just notify the hey this well >> is equally sure official answer >> everybody that hey the survey is out it's ready to go on this date and it closes on this date. Is that basically how that works? >> Say that one more time. >> We put out that invite. You can go ahead and do the survey on let's say it opens on a Monday and it closes on like a >> Thursday. email to all the parents so that they don't have to be on Facebook in the school district >> that makes sense. I think it's easier that way. I think it's
098reaches more people. >> Yeah. >> Okay. I I want to throw this out there like I I know I have voted for at least half of our school board members and I have been given plenty of things for the pool to keep up the pool which I am trying to maintain so it doesn't cost us as much money. So in that saying there is tons of people that think you guys have secret agendas and that you have this and that and the other. So on that note, I don't personally believe that, but with other people thinking that and I know that you guys try to be as open as possible, but telling the whole community in some form of manner as soon as you like we're not going to, you know, whatever. Like I think
099it's a big thing for a lot of these people that don't have Facebook, don't have this, don't have that. and I try to advocate and I want to believe that I voted for the right people and I think that's where a lot of people are sitting. So >> give you all the information that we get. >> Okay. >> My first priority is not >> I don't think a lot of people believe that. So I don't know how to make them believe that. So >> we'll look into all those like I said all those scenarios. Like I said all the conversations I've had outside the screening the biggest one is the gym. And I get that. It's a gym and locker room. I get that. I do. We'll we'll exhaust those options. >> Wouldn't it be
100like millions to build just an basic gym? Like that budget right there looks pretty darn good to me when you think >> we want something bigger. >> I know. That's what I'm saying. Just to get the bare minimum. We're talking millions for an off gym. And you know, I don't know that right now. >> Get that information and we'll get it to you. You can tell us what you want to do >> before we go. Um, we you guys had somebody come and look at the middle school boiler, correct? To determine that >> I can't hear you. >> You guys had somebody come into the middle school. >> We're trying to get them in here >> to look at the boiler. >> So, it has not been >> has not been done. >> Okay. Okay.
101>> So, we don't we don't know. That's why I said I'm not going to give you a number on that because we don't know. We're trying to get somebody to come look at that. >> So, it's not the boiler issue as far as >> there's there's Yeah, there's it's not just >> Okay. And then and then the boiler at the high school there's issues. Is that what I was gathering when it was there's issues with the high school as well? >> The boiler itself, but I think the temperature control in each room and how to get that set properly. >> Well, we don't know for sure. >> Yeah. >> So far, the boiler has not been brought to our attention. all the electrical side of it that's getting addressed in the >> ties into that.
102Email us questions, concerns, keep that up. We're reading them. We're looking at them. I feel like this is the most transparent you guys have been. >> Um the meeting that we had with Scott was also transparent which I appreciated but after the fact that I thought that I was losing my job after the fact that I just saw on Facebook all of those which were very educational but also really frustrated me. I am now learning that I have to go to board meetings to make sure I know what is happening which is great. Um but when you're losing your boss and two weeks later you're like, "Oh yeah, your school's shutting down, too." It's just hard. And then like someone like me who's very involved in the community. Um I care about kids. I care
103about the gym obviously. Um I just I would love you to keep that in mind as you say you're transparent. Um be more transparent just because as a newer educator who is getting their degree to stay here, it's hard to want to stay here. I feel betrayed if I feel like I don't know what's happening. Like I don't understand that, but I do now. Like, and I appreciate that, but I just all of the staff that I've talked to, me, like we're just walking on eggshells at middle school, you know? So, it just looks, but I would just I appreciate the transparency. Now, before we get past that, um, No, >> that was scary. >> No, I said I wanted to know if we could. >> by by the end of the by the end
104of March. Once we started peeling that, I was like, there's no way we can. >> So, the man that came around after we did the big safety training, right? He came out. He told came to the middle school and he said, "Um, yep. You have to peel that first layer off the window, right?" He's the one that told us that our school was closing. Make that make sense. >> That counter check the boiler. >> So, I don't know. It could have been >> I know but I was also there when was saying that the gym was being closed and there's nothing that they could do. That's when I turned around and walked out. >> I did not say it was being closed. You walked into half of a conversation and I what I said was
105I would never u just keep a gym open. And I've said this from the beginning. If we're going to keep a gym open then we keep kids in that school. Why would we do that? That's what I was saying. We walked in and then walked out. Okay. >> But again, I didn't know if I was going to have a job, so I was emotional. >> No one has ever said from the beginning, we're going to make this decision at the end of March and we're going to do it >> the next weekend or as soon as possible. It was like, we have to get this ball rolling. And then then what really started happening was this, >> right? >> We didn't know about this either. And now we know about this. This is not this
106is not healthy. It's not helping at all. >> We need to have a popcorn sale. >> I still have popcorn in my >> delicious. >> All right, one more. Christie, >> I I'm hearing what's being said as far as like the middle school and I and I get it and I I think so transparency has been thrown out there a lot a lot especially on Facebook. Um I think concern is is not so much the transparency for the teachers at the middle school at least and maybe all of the teachers. It's more about uh is there a way that you can communicate more directly with us? Um maybe not and this is just like throwing it out there and I don't necessarily expect an answer. Um I'm listening to what's being said and also uh
107understanding of frustration that might be being felt by you guys. um especially as people throw that at you a lot. But more about um being partners uh just as far as communicating with us again more directly versus uh because I know like I don't coach because I did it once and that wasn't enough. Uh but for those that are teachers and coaches or you know whatever um sometimes the timing doesn't work to attend those. Uh so if there's a different way whatever you I don't have an idea for you. Um if I did I'd tell you. Um but if there's another way that uh we could be in conversation with the board members so that it's not terrifying surprise or whatever. Um, again, just listening try to interpret and understanding where you guys are. >>
108H >> I stopped looking for >> Well, yeah. >> But also like just being able to communicate because we're we're all here for the same reason. Uh, I love that you guys do that because I don't want to uh because that's a lot of numbers. >> Well, I think part of the problem is coming right after losing two of our principles. Like what else is next? What else is next? And that >> listen, I can tell you this. I'll we'll leave on this because there's a there's a lot going on. this board, this district, I think is pretty simple for us. Does it benefit the students? Does it benefit the staff? And does it benefit the district? Those are the three things we have to we have to look at. >> Does it go in
109that order? >> It should go in that order. >> Okay. But the district has to be part of that conversation as well. Okay. student, staff, and district. If it benefits all three, that's an easy decision. Okay? So, that's what we're looking at right now. How does it benefit? Who does it benefit? How do we make it benefit all? Okay. That's what we're trying to do. >> No. And I mean, I think I think what Malicia said was right where you guys think you're being transparent. I know that may be hard, but be more transparent because it's hard for all I want to do is call them. Call them, but I know you're already getting bogged down by 5 million emails and everything else. Like, it's hard to So, we know more. I guess it is
110it would make things easier. >> Well, all of the meetings are I mean, all of the board meetings are >> on video and the minutes. Yes. And I get all that stuff. question just email and you I mean you've called me >> right I have called you and that's where I'm saying like I I've talked to all of you at some point in my time >> through any of that stuff and if there are things that we cannot say for personnel or otherwise I have told you that as well >> right right when we live in a community where it feels like everybody's always waiting for the other shoe to drop cuz I just moved here 5 years ago And the first question I ask is why would I move here if the plants are
111going to close. When we always live with the sword of Danicles over our head and everybody's always on edge, it makes it really hard when it feels like we aren't getting the full picture >> and getting ahead on that would make us feel a lot better. >> I I can't control any of that. >> I know. I know. I'm just I'm not even saying I'm not even saying plant or anything like that. I'm saying the general disposition of people is we're just waiting for the next bad thing to happen. If we can be proactive, it would be nice. >> All right. I had a fun to go to athletes.