001All right, time is 7 p.m. We're going to call go ahead and call the meeting to order. And if we could start off with the roll call, please. >> Norine Friedrich, absent. Adam Himkin, >> here. >> Andrea Corey, >> here. >> Kelly Moyer, absent. >> Greg Meyer, >> here. Lisa Schumacher here. Tyson Search >> here. >> Perfect. And everybody, those that aren't already standing, please stand with me and recite the pledge of allegiance. >> Pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. >> Perfect. Thank you all so much. Welcome all the visitors. I'd like to see a good crowd here. We appreciate you taking the time to join us this evening. Um, we're
002going to get into public comments, but a couple housekeeping things first. As I said before the meeting started, make sure everybody signs in, please. Want to know you're here. Um, public comments are limited to three minutes a piece. Okay? If you have common things, you can kind of elect somebody to say the the thing just interested time. Um, we want to hear everybody out, but again, saying the same thing over and over is kind of counterproductive sometimes. uh when you come up if you would state your name and spell your name please for we have the press here so they want to make sure they give you credit for your great statements that you're about to make and then there's a piece of tape on the floor that's a great area to stand in so
003we can understand and hear you okay who's first >> I would like to start with a statement >> um as most people know there's been quite a bit of discussion regarding Columbia school districts and social media these situations are uh difficult because we do not speak about personnel or student issues and with the absence of any comment that voids often gets filled with opinions and conjecture. Um, thinking about this meeting tonight, I want to say a few things. The first is that our schools, they do a very good job of separating politics and education. We know that the freedom of speech stops at the schoolhouse doors. Our employees and our students, we're all human. That means we all have our own individual opinions and in our nation we have the freedom of speech for those
004opinions. Most importantly though when we disagree we need civil discourse. That's key. Um when our in students our employees when we violate that and a disruption in school is realized we we do address it. Tonight, the board's going to listen to the comments, thoughts, feelings of the community. That's a wonderful part of our democracy. But we do ask for the comments to be civil. We ask that you come up and you stand at that um yellow, green dot, say your name, spell your name. As the press is here, they want to make sure they have it recorded properly. Uh we want to make sure we have it in our minutes properly. Um, we have some people that have notified me that they want to speak. I will say that we also received communications from Mary
005Beth Babcock, from Matt Okonnell, from Leslie Walter or Walter, Dan Heis, and Megan Schmid, which is in a uh communications packet that the board has, and they will read um at another time, but they will read. With that said, uh I'm going to go through the list. Dana Mlan. Is she here? >> Yes, ma'am. >> You're going to start us off. I believe you're going to read a letter from Jamie Meyers. >> Correct. Yes. So, my name is Dana Mlan. D A N A. Last name MC Capital C L A N E. I'm reading a letter on behalf of Jamie Meyers, who is out of town. Her name is Jamie. J A I M E My Meyers. M I E R S. All right. Um, good evening. Um, thank you. I am writing about the
006recent suspension of our CHS English teacher. Our senior had her for AP Lit last year and was excited to have her for AP Lang this year. English is not his best subject, but he said she made it digestible. He said he would not have passed his AP exam without her individualized help and now sadly believes he will not pass his next AP exam without her. Our older son said she did not express her political beliefs in his class, even if students got on the topic. She expected her upper class students to act like adults and enforced a structure that made her class a learning environment. I know firsthand that this teacher cares deeply for her students and very much wants them to learn and be successful in her class and in life. I have read
007her scholarship recommendations to her students and what she writes exemplifies her close relationship and pride in them. This teacher has a right to express her opinion on her private personal Facebook page. Freedom of speech is a hallmark of the US Constitution and political press political speech is protected by our Constitution and it doesn't matter who agrees or disagrees with what is said. The suppression of private opinion by a public entity such as our school district is chilling to free expression and education itself. Quoting a public figure who said something with which you disagree is not a crime. People share posts that they think are just and inspiring, while others may see them as hateful and racist. It goes both ways. And we have a right to speak up when we see someone or a demographic
008slandered, albeit Charlie Kirk or transgender kids. In the last week, I've seen a rise in Facebook indoxing people with opposing viewpoints, which is publicly exposing someone's private information to shame, embarrass, harass, or harm them and their jobs. And besides the online bullying, I have heard there are students concerned, including my daughter, to speak up for this teacher because they could be ostracized or harassed. There's no room for gray areas when it comes to disciplining or suspending our children and administration. What is your policy when it comes to personal Facebook posts by teachers, administrators, and board members? Is it crystal clear and balanced? And what is your policy if someone is being doxed? This one-sidedness is trickling down and the students are watching. Please make the rules very clear for all of us. I also request
009that you take into consideration our viewpoints, showing open dialogue and work through differences. To summarize, you have allowed a select group of people with the same mindset to end a 24 career year career of a dedicated teacher. You have brought on stress and grief for many CHS students and possibly change the course of their AP classes and college exams. I can only assume this is going to stifle other teachers from expressing their private political opinions. And I cannot see how this advances the cause of education, the sole mission that this school district is charged with. Keep politics and private opinion out of it. Respect the constitutional rights of students and employees to free speech. Thank you. [Applause] >> Thank you, Molly Mlan. >> Once we get through the list, we'll ask for people that want
010to speak. Hello, my name is Molly Mlan. M O L L Y M C capital C L A N E. I'm a senior in the AP literature and composition class. I am here with the concern of the future of my education along with the education of over 100 of my peers also affected by this situation. I feel I should feel I should not feel afraid to stand up here today to speak to a board of people who should have my best interest in mind. But unfortunately, I do. Although I stand in fear, I also have faith that this ending can be altered. I believe I can speak on behalf of my peers to say that we are left with hurt hearts, essays we can no longer write, and projects we can no longer turn in,
011and most importantly, an abandoned English education due to social media. Schools preach on the fact that social media is one of the main root causes of bullying, talking specifically about their students. I personally did not believe that my teacher, a well-educated adult with the capacity to teach students to grow into their own person, could be pushed into the mess of rumors and lies, especially from people who have never met or spoken to her, let alone been her student for over a year, like me and all these other students you see here tonight. Education is a tool that no one can take away from you. Correct? Because this school district has shown me this past week that that is a lie. You are taking away my ability to grow and become the person I want to
012be. Why? Because someone has differing views from you. In turn, you are showing all your students that this is the way they should react when there is a disagreement. Miss Adams has never said anything political in her classroom. I do understand there will be a solution to this problem, but there should have never been a problem in the first place. No matter how this will be resolved, this situation will affect Miss Adams, my peers, and me for the rest of our lives when it may only affect you for a week. From this experience, I have grown my ability to empathize with others who have dealt with similar situations. There is no way to change the negative impression that this will leave. But what you can change is how you choose to support your students and
013teachers in the future. Thank you. [Applause] Emily Vnaski. >> Good evening. My name is Emily Velnowski. My first name is spelled E M I L Y and my last name is spelled V L and is in Nancy Os ky. I am here tonight speaking in support of Mary Adams. My two children have been in Mrs. Adams classes at CHS for the past four years, including this current year. In the Columbia school district, my children have learned reading, writing, and arithmetic well enough to be inducted into the National Honor Society. But our schools don't just teach academic subjects. My children were also taught what cyber bullying is, the harm it can cause, and what to do if they or someone they know is being bullied. For students, the expectations surrounding bullying and cyber bullying are very
014clear. Heartbreakingly, one now, one of the last lessons my son, who is a senior, will learn here is the consequences of cyber bullying that are very real and for him very painful. He's lost not only his trusted teacher, Miss Adams, but beyond not having a class with his favorite teacher, he will have to dramatically change his plans now for how he's going to prepare for college right in the middle of his senior year. Miss Adams has proven herself to be devoted to helping her students achieve their goals. I've seen this firsthand with my daughter and to helping them become good communicators as well as good thinkers. Beyond the work she does for class, she helps them edit the essays they write for college applications and for scholarships. She writes letters of recommendations for many students.
015Among her many classes, she teaches two that are AP level. These classes make it possible for those who do well to receive college credit and reduce the overall amount of the college cost for themselves. It's bad enough that her students will miss a year's worth of lessons with her, but the families that are relying on their child earning AP credit and having an incredible teachers support on college applications have lost that as well. Our students have lost not just college credits, but scholarship money and possibly admission even to into their dream schools. On paper, Colombia offers seven AP classes. However, over the course of the last two years, there are no longer teachers for AP US History, AP Calculus, and as of this week, now neither of the AP English classes that were once offered.
016We're down to three AP classes, two of which you cannot enroll in unless you started studying a foreign language while you were in middle school. Our collegebound students count on these classes to prepare them for life after CHS. The juniors and seniors are completely out of luck unless they're willing to teach it to themselves and sit for the test without a teacher to support them. As for the younger students, who even knows what classes are going to be available to them when it's their turn? I am personally thankful for what this school district has done for my children, but I am even more thankful that the youngest is almost graduated and nearly out of the mess that this district has become. I am shocked, saddened, and embarrassed that members of our community have treated one
017of our best and most highly qualified teachers this way. And I am absolutely stunned that you as a board would allow this. What happened to Mary Adams is wrong. And our students are paying a very high price. And the only people they have to blame are the adults around them that supposedly have their best interests at heart. [Applause] Jonavnoski. >> Hello, my name is Jonavnoski. J O N A H V E L N O S K Y. I'm a senior at Columbia High School. The loss of Miss Adams has affected many of my peers and I stand before you today representing them. 24 students have shared their thoughts with me in writing and half have wished to remain anonymous out of fear for their own safety. Every single one of those uh statements is in
018front of you in a packet. The most compelling thing that I can share with you tonight is a statement from a student that wished to remain anonymous. You will not get to know who I am, for I am scared of people knowing that this is my voice. No one should ever be scared to voice their opinion. Yet, I am nonetheless. Anonymity is my shield keeping me safe from the same community of people who convinced our beloved teacher and safe space for us that her students whom she that would give the world for would be better off without her. I don't know of any universe such an absurd statement could ever be true. Definitely not this one. I cried the night I found out. I cried again while writing this letter. I cried for the loss
019of our classroom that was once so full of learning, laughter, and love. As I walked into our class today, there was such an eerie emptiness about the room. Nothing had changed except for the fact that Miss Adams and every trace of her had vanished overnight. The severe lack of joyfulness that was once plentiful haunted the room. It hurt. It hurt a lot. The entire day was one grieving for all that knew Miss Adams. I saw firsthand all five stages of grief through uh different students. A close friend of mine had to be told the news multiple times to realize that Miss Adams really wouldn't be returning. She kept saying there was no way it was really true and that it would all must be rumors. Denial. Another close friend of mine blamed the cruelty of
020the world. He cursed the cruelty of others and their rumors for escalating things to the point where she felt the only solution was to resign. Anger. There's another brave soul who decided to fight. He told us that even if we don't have the power to get Miss Adams back, we do have the power to be heard. Bargaining. I, myself and many others are in this void of sadness knowing she's gone. No one can replace her. Depression. And last of all, there is acceptance. The only people who can afford to live in this stage are the people who aren't directly impacted daily by Miss Adam's absence. Whether this be the group of people who started these rumors or you, the school board, it doesn't matter. What matters is the drastic impact this has on everyone else
021who got overlooked in this decision. There has never been and most likely never will be a teacher who could be half of who Miss Adams was to all of us. Not only was she an incredible, supportive teacher of English, but she was also a welcoming, kind-hearted person in general. I've heard multiple students comment on how they hope no new teacher gets to read their recent projects personal connections they wrote because they only felt comfortable being so open to Miss Adams. She was a safe space and a trusted staff member for any of her students to come. We have now lost that. We have lost one of the few teachers here at CHS that students actually trust. Congratulations. We have lost one of the most qualified and dedicated teachers here at CHS who wanted nothing more
022than to see the success of her students. Congratulations. We have lost Miss Adams because of what I can only call a group of adult bullies gossiping and spreading rumors in the community. Congratulations. I am disappointed in the community of Colombia for harboring such a hostile environment. And I'm in awe of how little the school board did to protect the teachers that it claims to represent. [Applause] Gabrielle James. >> My name is Gabriel James spelled G A B R I E L J A M- S. Good evening. My name is Gabriel James. I'm currently a freshman in college, but was a student of Miss Adams for two years. I'd like to express my gratitude for the opportunity to speak and hope that my experience within her classroom will help build an understanding of the gravity of
023this loss for my siblings, friends, former school, and community. Preparing students for an AP language or AP literature exam is not an easy task. It requires fostering the ability to critically engage with arguments and analyze difficult texts. Quite often it deals not in guiding students towards identifying right or wrong answers as is more common in a STEM focused course but rather providing them with intellectual tools to tackle problems of exceptional depth. Despite the intrinsic complexities and headaches of teaching students how to digest this material, Miss Adams walked a fine line between ensuring their students were prepared for the exam and creating a curriculum that was fun and engaging. We interacted with text and concepts through a combination of projects, presentations, writings, games, and group discussions, many of which were very collaborative and humorous. She off
024she offered detailed feedback on our writing and if at any point I needed clarification, she was always available to help me analyze the flaws of my work. In general, the day-to-day day-to-day atmosphere of the class was quite quite relaxed with a few exceptions because a few days we did very heavy writing. This was not due to lack of content, but instead due to due to an efficient learning approach. Genuine apprehension of concepts was prioritized over pedantic obsession with grades, taking pressure off of students to perform and allowing us the room we needed to grow as writers. For many students, Miss Adams classrooms were a safe space. Additionally, she went to Great Lakes to ensure that her classroom was a place of utmost inclusivity and to avoid impressing her political views upon us. I believe that
025I owe a great deal of the development of my writing skills to her consistent guidance and encouragement. And I can say for certain that I've used things not specific just to AP Lang or AP Lit, but to her teaching throughout the college application process and my classes this semester. reflecting upon the current situation and the sudden and unclear exit of Miss Adams represents not only the loss of all AP English and several or the sudden and unclear exit of Miss Adams represents not only the loss of all AP English and several other English classes at Columbia High School, but the loss of a formative influence for current and future students. Miss Adams was a truly invaluable educator and her absence will be sorely felt. This is not an isolated incident and similar situations are transpiring
026all around our nation in response to recent events. I now plead to each and every one of you to be extremely mindful of the way that our emotions are being directed and utilized and to be acutely acutely aware of the convenience of censorship and division. Thank you. [Applause] should be working. >> Thank you. Um, that is the end of the list of people that have asked. So, if anybody now would like to make a statement. >> My name is Patrick J. Kelly. That's K E L L Y. I'm a resident of Columbia School District. And I think it's a shame that we're here tonight. The people that are here show you that our feelings are deep. Uh what is wrong with the teacher quoting Charles Kirk using some of his own words? uh he promoted
027so much rhetoric and responsible for terrorists that is our country is seeing more and more today. I'm sure she had enough of his division and instead of uniting the country of what uh doing what he should have done uh whatever happened to our constitutional amendment uh number one freedom of speech, she never hurt anyone, but she must have hurt somebody's feelings. This sure sounds like censorship to me. Shame on you. Uh Carrie Clayton, C A R R I E C L A Y T. 13. That's how many administrators have left our district since 2012. 34. That's around the number of teachers who have left Colombia High School alone in that same time period. Those two numbers do not include retirements. I am a parent community leader and I taught at Columbia High School from 2012
028to 2022. Tonight, I want to share one experience from my career. In 2018, after earning a poor quiz grade, a student wrote a letter saying they hoped my, and I quote, family was tortured and killed in front of me and that I would suffer for a long time. End quote. Both principles took it seriously. They removed the student from my classroom and contacted the police. But it was considered not a real threat and therefore nothing moved forward. The incident never reached the school board and for the next two and a half years I saw that student in the halls every day. I eventually worked with the assistant principal and the student to move forward and I ultimately chose not to press charges. But here's the issue. There was no clear process, no chain of command
029and no consistent policy for handling threats. Fast forward to this last week. A far less serious situation was handled immediately with harsh consequences. Why was my written death threat dismissed while this week's case escalated straight to the board? Where is the consistency? Where is the fairness? This inconsistency is creating a climate of fear. In fact, many more teachers wanted to be here tonight to support Mary Adams, but didn't feel safe coming due to intimidating Facebook posts letting them know that they were being watched and that it would be noted who showed up tonight. Teachers Teachers don't feel safe supporting one another because they're afraid they'll be the next target. They don't feel confident disciplining students that if that student has certain last names or connections. And when teachers don't feel protected or backed up, it
030erodess trust and drives them out of the profession. In 20122 alone, myself and close to 35% of the CHS staff resigned. So, I asked the school board and superintendent directly, what is the district's procedure for handling threats by students, teachers, and community members? What is the chain of command? What is the procedure and protocol for complaints made about teachers and staff? How are the board members and administrators ensuring that staff are treated equitably and consistently? Leadership starts at the top and the tone you set trickles down to every classroom. Our staff need you to support them, to apply policies fairly, and to create an environment where teachers can work together without fear of retaliation. Our students deserve a district where teachers feel safe, valued, and united, not divided or afraid. Our district has already lost
03113 district administrators and at least 34 high school teachers in just over a decade. And these numbers are not a coincidence. They are the direct result of a culture where inconsistency and fear good evil giving our schools weaker and our students less. Thank you. My name is Kelly Graves. I went to school here. All four of my kids went to school here. One of my granddaughters is going to school here. I've got eight grandkids, but seven of them are elsewhere. And I probably am the only one here who disagrees with a lot of this. Number one, I don't know exactly what happened. I read some things on Facebook. If she told if she laughed at his death, if she made fun of his death, then I agree. >> Well, maybe maybe they said that the
032post was removed, so maybe everybody didn't see it. >> But I'm sorry. >> Just a quote that was posted before. Can we just let the one person standing at the dot talk please? >> What I'm about to say is I have said all my life if I'm the only one standing I don't care. I'm going to speak my piece too. And I am not I my one son had her as a teacher. I had some dealings with her. One was negative. And when I questioned some inappropriate books I was basically I was told that, you know, by her that I had no reason to do that and she was unkind. Okay. So, I'm speaking my piece. Parents have that right to say what they feel is appropriate for their children. Yes. >> And they should
033not ever be re ridiculed. I don't know exactly what went on, but I do know that a post was removed and this is what any of us I'm a school bus monitor for Columbia and I am very strict with the kids, but they know what they can get by with and what they can't. I'm very good to them just like I am all of my eight grandkids. And I would not condone any of this and I'm not going to ever. Charlie Kirk was a great person. You can all disagree. I don't care. I know he was a great person. I followed him for years. And I've got out of four of my kids, only one probably wouldn't agree. And that's okay. That's okay. We get along fine. I'm here to say that I don't know
034if she should have to be forced fired, forced to resign. It just depends on the situation. But I know that one thing we have to start standing up for our kids, for our nation, and it has to be we we can't condone this. We cannot condone death when somebody and there's a lot of people out there ridiculing his death, ridiculing him. And I for one would never I do not like I will tell you who I don't care for. I did not support Biden, Obama. >> Okay. Okay. I did not support any of them. And I will be the first one to say it. You've all got your opinions. But I would never have wished that. I would never have have ridiculed or cond. So, I say this to say that I don't know how
035I feel about her being forced to resign or fired. It would depend on exactly what was said. She's influenced a lot of our kids and hopefully in the right way. And so, that's all I have to say. Thank you. [Applause] Good evening. My name is Kathy Harris. K A T H Y H A R R E S. Thanks for giving me giving me the opportunity to speak. Um, I graduated from CHS in 1968 and I went on to teach high school English until I retired. My three kids graduated from CHS in the 90s and they all went on to have successful careers. Five of my grandkids are currently students in the district and because of the programs offered and because of the great teachers they have, they're all thriving. The district has been good to
036my family and as the former US president used to say, we definitely have a dog in this fight. I also want to say that I know Mary Adams. I know her knew her first as a colleague as English teachers teaching in different districts. We beca then we became friends and now I also know her because until last week she was the English teacher for two of my grandsons. When I'm lucky enough to spend some one-on-one time with my grandkids, which doesn't happen a lot because they're busy, I always ask about school. I ask what they did at recess, who they played with at recess. I asked them what they talked about in science and what they talked about in social studies. I asked them what, of course, I asked them what books they're reading in
037English. Last year when my grandson Charles was a junior, I asked him, "What's the hardest class you have?" He said without a hesitation, "It's AP English." And I said, "Well, what are you doing in class?" And he said, "We're writing critical analyses. They're really hard and they really make me think." I was thrilled with that answer that they really made him think. Well, at the end of last year, he took the ACT along with every other junior in the United States. He's a pretty smart guy and he did over he did well overall, but he got a 36 on the English portion of that test. I credit the teachers of the district from Mrs. Durban in kindergarten through Miss Adams in AP English with that score that he had. I want to say here I
038know what the Facebook posts were and I also know what Miss Adams explanation around those posts were. What I don't know is when the online Facebook harassment that included false accusations and outright lies began. When the bullying that continued up until a couple of days ago when there were veiled threats against any teacher who showed up here tonight, any person who showed up here tonight that they would be watching and they would know who it was. And then when the phone calls began to all of you, what I don't know is why Mrs. Adams wasn't afforded the respect she had earned as a veteran teacher of hundreds of students in this district. Why she wasn't given the support she deserved as a dedicated 20 plus year employee. And finally, why she wasn't believed as the
039caring, compassionate, and decent human being that she is. Thank you. >> Let me interject before you start. >> Absolutely. You guys are getting a little long. Three minutes is really what you do. I really hate to head cut anybody off so we can kind of condense it. I haven't cut anybody off so far, but kind of be mindful. It's We have a lot of people want to speak. We want to be respect for everybody's time. >> Understood. I'll try to keep it short. My name is Kayn. K A L Y N. Last name O'Brien. O apostrophe capital B R I N. I graduated Columbia High School last year. I've been in the district all my life. I have a little brother in the district in this building. I was taught by several teachers in here,
040even outside of school, outside of Colombia. I went on to do the Running Start program because I no longer felt supported in Columbia High School. And I'm sorry to say that because I know you all don't want that to be true. Some of you supported me when I thought I'd take my own life. I'm looking at one teacher in particular. I was really young. You probably didn't know that. Miss Adams was one of those teachers. And I don't think that I will convince you any more than anyone else. But Miss Adams deserved to be here. She was so qualified and so educated and she taught me so much. And I hope that you all understand. Thank you. I hope you all understand that this was an incredible mistake and I hope you all regret it.
041[Applause] My name is Lman R E N A Lman. L A N M an I am here in support of Miss Adams, one of the school's best teachers. Although I didn't know her personally, I spoke to a number of parents and one that I spoke with said they've never known Mary to be anything but inclusive, kind, and generous. I wish I could say the same about all CSH teachers. I believe she was suspended unjustly for sharing a quote from Charlie Kirk on her personal Facebook page, not in a classroom. His quote, I can't stand the word empathy. Actually, I think the word is a madeup new age term and it does a lot of damage. So, what does that even mean? You can have some discussion on it. Whether you agree or not makes no
042difference. It's not hate speech. Miss Adams made no other comments about it. It was not even an issue when she originally posted it before his death. So why is it an issue now? Because he's dead. Because JD Vance said to fire people who celebrated his death. Who is celebrating his death? I don't know anyone who is. He was alive when Miss Adams shared his harmless quote. The action by the school district and board is absurd and totally without merit. You are complicit in destroying democracy. [Music] [Applause] Think about what you're teaching our students. That they don't have a right to their own opinion or to share that opinion because if your employer doesn't like it, they can fire you. >> That they now live in a country where suppression and censorship is the norm. And
043what about the impact on those young people that were taking Miss Adams AP classes and other classes? Those students need that class to graduate and get credit for college. I talked to a number of parents and they all support Miss Adams, but they were afraid to speak up for fear of retaliation against their students. This is the school atmosphere you have created, and it's wrong. [Applause] Yeah, sure. Absolutely. >> Hello, my name is Runa Flom. Runa is two syllables. It is spelled R U N E. My last name is spelled F as in Frank. L A U M as in Mary. Um when I was a kid, I was a student at Waterlue High School. I've never been to a Colombia school until today. Um and a few years ago, we had uh controversy rip
044through our community and through our school board meetings. And at them things devolved into fullthroated shouting and screaming. people interrupt the the entire crowd interrupting the speakers. It was absolutely awful. It was univilized. Um I want to praise everyone in the room for having done a lot better this time around. There was there was a little bit of interruption and that wasn't okay. Um I think that the person the one person who spoke up in disagreement showed probably the most bravery of anybody in the room so far. I'm not I'm not committed to that. I just want to say when you are surrounded by a lot of people with frowns on their faces, it's scary. And it is good and American to speak up your when you when you have something to say even if
045you're facing everyone around you. Um, that said, from what I've read about this teacher, from what I've learned about her, from people who know her, including the people who spoke tonight, I think that you have made a mistake. And I hope that you'll you'll reconsider your opinion because it sounds to me like you've lost an asset uh by making the decision that you have. Thank you very much. Um, I got a couple of remarks I'm going to read that I prepared in advance here. Um, but before that, I I hear a lot of you guys saying about afraid to speak up. This board welcomes opinions from every walk of life. We don't care if we agree with you, if we disagree with you. I said that from the minute I got on the school board
046is we want to hear from all sides. I want to hear opposing opinions. Um we are here, you know, the pay on this job is incredible. As you all know, we're all here for the kids. And if you have an opinion, we're welcome to hear it. Every time we have a schoolboard meeting, we have public comments. Anybody is welcome to speak. We'll give you three minutes. You come, you have the floor, you say what you want to say, and we will listen to you. That much I can promise you. Um, so I want to take a moment to speak directly about the emotions many of you are feeling. The name Charlie Kirk as it like many figures in today's political climate brings with it strong opinions both for and against. Those emotions are real. They
047run deep because politics in our country has become increasingly divisive. But as your schoolboard president, I want to be clear. I firmly believe politics has no place in our classrooms. Our responsibility is to provide a safe, supportive, and respectful learning environment for every student, no matter what their background, beliefs, or viewpoints may be. We must remain focused on what unites us. Preparing our students to think critically, to be kind to one another, and become responsible citizens. That's our mission and is far too important to be overshadowed by partisan politics. I ask all of us, staff, parents, community members, to lead by example. show our students how to disagree respectfully and how to treat each other with dignity even when we don't see eye to eye. You know, to address the comments tonight, please understand that
048uh federal and state laws strictly limit the board and the administration what we can share about any individual personnel matter. While this can be understandably frustrating, the confidentially rules are in place to protect the privacy and rights of every employee. What we can say is that this was not a decision made or directed by the board of education. The resignation was submitted prior to any board meeting and was not result of board action. The board's role is limited to formally accepting or acknowledging resignations once they are submitted. We do not make or compel those decisions. In fact, the board has no legal authority to force a resignation or fire without due process. Please keep in mind our role is to govern the district and support our administration and not to manage individual personnel matters. We
049simply can't share private employment details even to correct misinformation because doing so would in violate the employees rights. We remain committed to support all staff, ensuring respectful dialogue, focusing on the best interest of our students and our school community. And on top of that, I admire all of you guys for coming out and speaking your mind. Again, we want to hear from the public. This is, you know, Facebook, you know, one thing I've said, I've never regretted arguing on Facebook more. I I just don't do it. I don't like to argue with people on Facebook. But the problem is it's out there. People draw conclusions that aren't necessarily true. I I got a lot I could tell you guys. I can't. It's confidential. It's respect. is privacy and we just got to leave it at
050that for now. [Applause] >> No, ma'am. >> Oh, I'm sorry. All personnel matters. It's again privacy for >> but it wasn't the school board is what you're saying. >> Correct. Correct. >> So, um, >> is Mr. Reeves here? >> I don't believe so. >> Okay. And again, we we would I I personally love transparency. I wish I could tell you guys every little bit that that goes on, but I can't. It's it's frustrating for me and you both. And I just ask for your patience and understanding and that. And I can tell you what, I work closely with every member of this board and administrators. They have the kids' best interest in mind. All kids and equally. And I I promise you that. >> Excuse me. We're gonna start. Public comments are over. Sir, >>
051I'd just like to go over this public record. All I want to know. >> This is not a question. >> Everything you just said public record. >> I said it on the cameras. So, yes. >> Okay. Good. Absolutely. All right. We're going to move on. Uh, next item is our correspondence, which there is many, and we will read those. Um, we'll be emailing them to you tomorrow. Okay. Thank you. Thank you. Sure. >> So sorry the mic turn on. Sorry. >> Oh, >> nobody does. >> Okay. by my name. I was scared. I just wanted to say whatever I said and I made All right, we're going to go ahead and continue the meeting. I think everybody now has a chance to have a seat, so that's good. Want you guys all be comfortable and
052we're going to move on to our consent agenda. Dr. Gro, if you'd be so kind to just walk us through that, please. >> You have your minutes and finances. You also have the resignation of Mary Adams, high school English teacher that was sent to us. We've got uh support personnel we'd like to hire. Um Casey Bowen is our new administrative assistant. She's sitting at the table there next to Dr. Gainy. >> Welcome, Casey. >> Everybody, if y'all are going to talk, can you head out? It just sound absolutely. >> Thank you very much. Thank you, Mr. >> We also have a a a >> It's an open door meeting. You got to keep it open. >> Auto. Uh again, we've got the uh resignation of Mary Adams High School English teacher. We've got employment of
053educational support personnel. Casey Bowman is our Bowen is our new district administrative assistant. We welcome her aboard. Taylor Beerman is going to be a new custodian that's going to be starting as we've opened up more of the high school. We are in need of more custodians and so we are putting her on. Uh we've got leaves. Madison Stro, Khloe Stoofl will both be taking maternity leaves and Dave Kemp is going to be taking an FMLA leave. Uh we've got two extracurricular assignments. Tara Keys is going to be a volunteer CHS cross country coach. Our current cross country coach is um having some intermittent family issues and so she's going to step in to assist with that. And Madison Noak is an Eagle Zone student worker. Um have her working with our Eagle Zone kids. Uh
054we have two vacancies to declare. As I said, as our high school keeps expanding, we are in need of more custodians. So we still are looking for custodians. And we are also um regretfully looking for a high school English teacher. Given all of that, the administration recommends that you approve the consent agenda as presented. Thank any comments, concerns, questions hearing. None. Would anybody like to make a motion to approve the consent agenda as presented? >> I'll make the motion. >> Thank you, Tyson. Second. >> Second. >> Thank you, Adam. Roll call, please. >> Greg Meyer. >> Yes. >> Lisa Schumacher. >> Yes. Tyson Search, >> yes. >> Kelly Moyer, absent. Andrea Corey, >> yes. >> Adam Himin, >> yes. >> Norin Friedrich, absent. >> Perfect. Carries unanimously. Move on to item seven is our communication
055report and presentations. Enrollment report is in your packet. >> Actually, we'll be including enrollment reports now that we're back in. They are not in the packet. >> Oh, they weren't. I missed that. >> In the next in the next >> They will will be in your packet. >> Yeah. All right. and we'll go on to our administrative report, our building report. >> Mr. Dugan, welcome. >> Hi. Uh, we have our slides in the back. I'm going to talk about some of the pictures back there. >> So, our chocolate bar fundraiser that we do every year, uh, ends tomorrow. I'm just curious, those of you that live in Colia, how many of you had a child ring your doorbell asking to for you to buy a chocolate bar? >> Nobody. I'm going to need your address.
056We should we should have brought some. >> We should have brought some tonight. >> So, um it's a two-eek fundraiser. It's very successful. Um the kids are amazing. The the parents do a fantastic job. Um we have a lot of incentives, but um we have our lowest enrollment, 399 students this year, but yet we're going to break our record on most chocolate sold this year. So, we have uh 976 boxes of chocolate will have gone out the door in two weeks. That's 58,560 chocolate bars. So, pretty amazing. Um, we use that money that we get from the fundraiser for our PBIS school store, um, field trips, assemblies, uh, special events like like Kona Ice Truck, and just fun projects around the school. So, speaking of PBIS school, uh, our students earn Eagle Bucks whether digitally
057or on paper, and then they can turn in those paper ones and their digital money to purchase things from the PBIS store. Um, they can write, buy things from food to toys to experiences, which kind of are the hot topic. They want to be lunch DJ or they want to play chess with Mr. Dugan, uh, or have hot chocolate for Miss Web or play Rubik's Cube against Mrs. Meyers. So there's a lot of fun experiences that we then use our chocolate money to fund for them to purchase things at the PBIS store. >> Next slide. So the uh picture on the left there, that's uh me on at sorting day. Um at the beginning of the year in the lunchroom, we sort into houses. I'm a Harry Potter fan. Uh when I taught I did
058sorting into houses as a teacher and as an administrator I was trying to figure out how I can do that as well and we figured out we can do it in the lunchroom. So, um, we sort into houses with the talking sorting hat. And what we basically do is the kids earn points, house points based off of behavior and showing character traits in the lunchroom and they earn rewards. And then the house cup is a certain number of points. They get a pizza party and uh they they really get excited about sorting day. I play the the Harry Potter music and uh it's a good time >> as a proud Hufflepuff class. Um they really do like that. We also have started a park uh park walk Wednesdays every day where the teachers um our
059Parkview culture committee has started uh this where on Wednesday after school the staff walks just around the park. I mean it's right in our backyard. So around the park do a lap just to kind of it promotes healthy habits, togetherness. It gives us a chance to actually talk with grown-ups and people outside of our own team and so forth. So that that's a lot of fun. Um, also I'm going to give a a little bit of CA news, which is our Columbia Education Association news. Um, we have participated in the Columbia Days parade. We gave out pencils and candy in that, so we had a nice participation in that. We're also going to have a twofold presence in the homecoming parade. We are going to have the CA members walking, handing out the remainder of
060the pencils and some candy, but also uh to celebrate our retiring teachers uh float and we will also hand out candy and pencils too. Uh we are also going to start participating in the wear red for ed every Wednesday. So you'll see a lot of red teachers wearing red on Wednesdays. Um and as we begin the new school year, all of our new members received a nice little swag bag of Columbia Ed Association stuff. So, um, so that was good. Uh, 25 days in, I think CA's done a lot, um, so far. >> Um, so, as was just shared, amazing things are happening um, in our district. I wanted to touch base on our first half day, which happened on August 29th. Um we had at every building a full purposeful agenda um which consisted
061of a multitude of items, curriculum collaboration. Um we do have some new programs that we're implementing this year. Um CHS assessment support. We did adopt the program horizons and the high school teachers are really enjoying having those conversations about how they can support the ACT state assessment for the high school students. I did get to meet with our high school vocational um department and we're working on pathways. We set some goals together at that um meeting so they know what they are going to be working on throughout the year to continue those pathways for our students. Um I have to shout out the um Colombia EMS and PD. Um they helped with our other trainings. We are doing 4E training. I look at officer McCorder, he's one of the leaders in this at every building
062this year, which means there's multiple 4E trainings throughout the year because we wanted to have specific scenarios at the building for our staff members to run through. Whereas next year, we'll go back to one district 4E training, which would be once a year um and we would do broader um situations. Um all of our new hires receive CPR and AED training as well. Um as I said, at the Columbia EMS, good things happened. off to a good start. Um, new curricular programs that I stated, uh, we are working on continually. The ELA program that the board approved last year is off and running to a great start. We started our collaborative meetings. Um, and I, those meetings are are the days that really make my job so worthwhile because I get to meet with my
063instructors and really get to talk about what's going on in the classrooms with the students. Social studies curriculum, we were off to a late start. However, the positive is they have the most up-to-date copyright for the book. Um, but we all now have our materials for social studies and that is off and running. And I cannot um forget to mention our STEM program which um is new at the middle school. I was able to go to the Rotary meeting um this past this month and I spoke specifically on the STEM program that Mrs. Haven has taken off and running. Um kids are loving it, she is loving it, the Rotary was loving it. I just kind of wish I would have brought um an experiment for them to do as well. I think they would
064have enjoyed that. Um and I also have to mention Mrs. Haven did um invite me over this past weekend to a conference that she spoke out. She did amazing doing that presentation and I know she's utilizing everything she shar shared in the classroom for our STEM program for our students. And the last thing I wanted to mention is ISBY finally released the new state assessment cut scores. I wanted to mention this this month because next month we will get our new school report card. Um so Isby came together and they decided um along with a multitude of educators uh over 250 educators that we need to do something with how our cut scores are. And you can look um just with that graphic, they didn't even have the same language. And that's what we talk
065about with curriculum mapping, right? We have to have a a consistent language. So what they did over the past few months is they worked together to get new cut scores which are more unified and that is the second graphic that you will see up on the board. Um all three of our state assessments I AR ISA which is our science assessment along with the ACT now have similar cut scores which are going to make interpreting the scores much more beneficial to not only the educators but the families and the students that do want to be successful throughout their um educational time in district and then postsecary. A lot of great things are happening. That's all I have. >> Awesome. Thank you very much. And last but not least, our superintendent report. Dr. Brody. >> Yeah,
066mine's going to be a lot shorter. >> A lot of good things happening in the curriculum though. Um, the office opened. So now if you go and visit the high school, you would go to where the diagonal parking is at the front and you can get into the office through those main doors. In December, they will be finishing up and in January, we will be able to start going into the auditorium through those doors. um they have started tear tearing up the back of the parking lot and you can start seeing what the footprint of the new gym will be. Um those are going to be popping up in in October and so um that was really the key thing that has been happening here. I do need to apologize to the board. I was
067remiss in adding the agenda item of a budget hearing before this meeting. We were supposed to have a budget hearing that has been posted for the last 30 days and listened to any comments about the budget and then we were going to approve the budget. Um I literally posted this agenda three different times with changes each time not including the budget hearing. So Monday or Tuesday next week we need to have a budget hearing and approve action item A which is going to be tabled and I will post that meeting tomorrow. My apologies. Um, I'm in my year of my lasts and I've I've said if we have any special meetings, I'm not going to be happy. This one's completely my fault. Um, and I apologize. So, Monday or Tuesday, can I get four people
068to or more to come to a budget hearing on Does Monday work for the group? Yes. Monday? Yes. Yes. >> Yes. Six o'clock, five o'clock, four o'clock, seven o'clock, >> four or five works for me. >> Four or five works for you. What time? >> I work from home. So you I can come. >> Wow. >> So Monday at 5:00. >> I will post that tomorrow. Monday at 5:00 we will have a budget hearing that we were supposed to have today. And action item one, which is to approve the budget for FY26, will also be an action item at that meeting. Um, thank you. And I apologize. After this meeting, we will have executive section uh an executive session, a close session. We will have no action afterwards. So, we'll just be coming back from
069close session and closing out. Um, that's it for the superintendent report. Perfect. >> Thank you very much. All right. move on to our items for action. As Dr. Cody said, we're going to table item A, which is the approval for the budget. And we're going to write into B, which is approval of resolution providing for issue and sale of approximately million of the district to pay for those. [Laughter] Good for you guys. >> Stifel is our bond council that has been helping us with the funding of the bonds for the high school edition. >> So, this is our final step in the funding for the high school. So, I'm glad to have so many people here to witness this. Very exciting for our district that uh >> lots of exciting things going on. So, it's
070hard to top that chocolate bar fundraiser. That's for sure. >> I'll try my best. It's not so much the chocolate bars, but these cooks that the kids are trying to earn. >> Thank you, sir. >> Oh, you did. Do you want to leave two for Nor and Kelly? >> Do you want to leave two? >> Yeah. Could we have two more? I've got two board members that are absent. >> Absolutely. >> What would I do without the detailed people around me? >> My wife's been asking that for a while. >> I guess I'm your board wife. >> I accept. >> Thank you, sir. >> Thank you. Do we have one more of these? >> Um, >> if not, we can share. >> Yeah, you guys only will need one physical copy, but >> and then
071I can also send you that digital one. >> This is the one where they need to sign. >> That's correct. >> Okay. >> Yeah. >> All right. So, I'll keep this brief. I know this meeting has been going on long enough and uh lots of exciting other things to talk about after this. So, you know, Chris, you mentioned this is your year year of last. So, it's only fitting that, you know, this bond sale went out with a bang as it is the last part of this uh plan of finance here on page two. You know, this has been in the works for a couple years. So, um we're we're at the finish line essentially within a month, this will all be closed and you guys can put this all behind us and focus on
072actually, you know, finishing construction and and finishing the building. So, with that being said, I mentioned it went really well. Um, as much as I would like to take credit for all that, um, you'll see on page three that, uh, interest rates have just been going down and down, down, um, over the last, you know, six or seven months or so. Um, so what you'll see here on the first page is the AAA MMD benchmark curve. That's essentially um, a benchmark for interest rates that we use and a good way to measure, you know, how interest rates are doing. And as you'll see on the bottom, um, ever since Liberation Day, which was early April, interest rates shot up. And then since then, they've been going down. So, it's been really nice to see on
073our end at least, and certainly for you guys as well, that interest rates have just been falling since then. And we priced on on a good day, we believe. So, I mentioned pricing. Um, this morning, we went out to market and sold your bonds. Um, and investor demand was really good. Um, so long story short, you know, there was much more demand for your bonds than we could than bonds were available. And you'll see on these bars here that the height of those bars represents the investor demand. And that little black line on each individual maturity represents how many bonds were available. Um, as you'll see, those bars are higher than those black bars, which is always a good thing. And when it's higher, when there's more demand than there is supply, you can kind
074of move those interest rates back and lower those interest rates and allow you guys to get a better deal essentially. And you'll see um those green numbers above those bars. That's just the those interest rate adjustments we've made on each of those individual maturities. So because of able to lower interest rates by about two to four basis points, three five basis points. um that's one 100th of a percent um across pretty much every single maturity. Um all in all, that allowed you guys to blow your interest rates by about two uh basis points or about two two 100ths of a percent. Um which definitely saves um I would say estimate about $40,000 in debt service across across the life of the bonds. And it's also worth mentioning that your top investors from the sale today
075are Pinco, Northern Trust, New um RNC Capital Management, lots of investors or jockeying over your bonds. Um and we can certainly send a full list of those investors, but um lots of Illinois based accounts as well. So on the next page that kind of summarizes it on page five, um this last plan of finance, we're trying to get 29 million out of it. Um, and you guys got that full 29 million out of it. Um, as I mentioned, the closing date, you guys will actually officially lock in this money in October. Um, and then the final maturity, you know, we've been sending around a few um, scenarios for you guys, or at least certainly you, Chris. Um, and I'll have this comparison in the back, I believe. But now the final maturity is 2840. So
076now you'll only be paying these off uh, for 15 years. And on the in the middle there, you'll see that optional call date. Even though you'll be paying it off uh until 20 240, you guys have the option to refinance it um in 2034. You know, we believe that interest rates right now are pretty good. Uh but say interest rates, you know, eight years from now drop, you guys have the opportunity to refinance again. You know, I'm not sure if you guys will be here, but certainly the district will will benefit from it. >> So, I'm sorry to interrupt. We have to wait till 2034 before we can refinance. Well, so technically, yes, on a tax exempt basis, um you will have to wait until 2034 to refinance it. But say interest rates come way,
077way, way down, you technically could do what's called an advanced refunding and refund them on a taxable basis. Okay? But that really assumes that interest rates have gone way down, which is is unlikely to say the least. >> What was that? there be a fee excluded. >> Uh so part of this borrowing process it uh includes that cost of issuance as we call it. Um so we would we would obviously run that calculation and make sure we're incorporating that um because ultimately you can finance those fees associated with the with the bond transaction. So that's all calculated and typically you're looking for something like 2 or 3% savings when you're refinancing this. And then here in that middle line, you'll see your interest rate just for, you know, not not necessarily important, but your interest
078rate is 3.94%. Um, so we I'll have on the back comparing it to the other scenarios we ran, but in a vacuum, 3.94% is very good. So we we've seen other transactions in the four plusish range over the last few months. So it's nice to see that that come down. >> Although we did refinance our bonds originally at 1%. >> Yeah, that that was probably during or something like that. Noble would comment that that was a fluke numerous times. >> Yes, >> we like flukes. We'd like we'd like another one, too. So, >> if that ever happens, we'll you guys will be the first to know. That's for sure. >> Um, but also part of another thing I'd like to mention, part of why um this scenario is so much better than it was before
079is because we're now baking in EAV growth. In the old models, again, I'll show you in the back. Um, we weren't baking in as much EAV growth. So the fact that we you know estimated about 7% EAV growth in levby year 25 and then 5% in 26 through 27 and etc in that second to last column that has definitely helped uh the financing um just shortening up the deal and making sure you guys are you know capitalizing on the AV growth that is you know likely going to happen. And then all things considered, that gets you guys to a 75% uh 75 cent uh bond and interest tax rate, which uh page six will help illustrate a little bit. So here in that first 75% that that those blue columns, um you'll see that that's
080those are your prior bonds outstanding. And what we did is we just melded those two together, those prior bonds as well as those 2025 bonds to allow you guys to have a level tax rate including that EAV growth. And you'll see in that those far right green columns, that's the total debt service you guys are going to be playing paying. So those old bonds plus those new bonds, uh, which factors in given that EAV growth to that 75 cent rate we're talking about here. And then here on page seven, you know, Chris, we've been sending you lots of options. Um, it's always nice to see, you know, just how much better this has gotten really over the last year, two years, um, and specifically over the last six months. So, uh, when we first were
081running this, we were looking at a 2045 final maturity, so paying this back over 20 years. Um, and again, that EAV growth, those interest rates allowed you guys to pay this back only over 15 years. Um, and then also that translates to about $10 million in debt service. So, that's principal plus interest that you guys are now not paying because of that EAV growth and because you guys were able to get um, some really exceptional interest rates. And just to put a number on it, we were running this at a 4.84% interest rate before. Now you guys lock in that 3.94%. So that's some, you know, 90 basis points in difference. Um, but also you guys were running it with a 81% tax rate. So all those things coupled together, lower tax rate, too. Um,
082so that's always welcome. >> What's our current tax rate on our existing bonds? Is it >> on your bond interest rate? >> Yeah. Is that the point? >> Uh, it's 69 cents. >> It is 69. >> Yeah. And then the year before that it was about 73 cents. >> Okay. >> That's just cuz the other bonds fell off. So we >> Yeah, I think what it was is we weren't estimating as much growth as we thought. You guys got far more growth than we thought. So just because that EAV went up so much, we weren't able to capture all that. Um so that's why we went had more realistic grow uh growth assumptions this time around. >> And then uh that's all I got for you guys, but if you guys have any questions, I'm
083happy to answer. Any questions from the board? >> That's good news. Thank you very much. We'd love the extra $10 million at Sure about it. So, >> thank you. [Music] >> All right. Any discussion regarding >> discussion? Oh, sorry. >> Anybody want to talk about it? >> No question. Okay. Okay. Would anybody like to make a motion to approve a resolution providing the issue of sale of approximately $33 million of funding bonds for the district and levy taxes to pay for the funding bonds? >> That motion, but I'm sure that there's in exact verbiage. I need to >> It's in the >> I don't want you >> just read the from the agenda the approved resolution providing. >> I make a motion. We approved the resolution providing for the issue and sale of approximately $33
084million of funding bonds of the district and for the levy of taxes to pay the funding bonds. >> Well said. All right, we have a motion. >> Are happy. >> Do we have a second? >> I'll second. >> Thank you, Andrea. Roll call, please. >> Himkin, >> yes. >> Corey, >> yes. >> Moyer, um, absent. Friedrich absent. Meyer. >> Yes. >> Schemacher. >> Yes. >> Search. >> Yes. >> Perfect. Congratulations. We have a new high school. >> We have the funding for the new high school. >> Funding for new. Exactly. >> High school. >> Little bit of work involved in the time, but at least we can pay for it. That's important. >> All right. Next item is approve a purchase of a used skid steer and trailer. The next two items are um purchases
085that I have factored into the budget that we were going to approve tonight. Um understanding that you are needing to approve that budget next week at Monday. Um I I we can't pay people if we can approve the budgets. I would say that we can move forward with these action items at this point. The first one is a skid steer with trailer. Buying a used skid steer, you do not need to go out to bid a used equipment. you can just go out and you can find the best deal that you get. I'm asking permission for the maintenance department to get a skid steer with a trailer which will assist immensely in getting underneath the ice so that you can break up the ice and then plow the equipment. Kurt Steve um and his men
086understand that there is also the need to get out there before some of those while the storm is coming. But uh uh the skid steer will help us immensely with being able to break up the ice and get the the um parking lots cleared. So uh administration recommends that you approve a purchase for the use skid steer with a trailer for them to bring it to the park. >> Are we going to have a dollar limit for that? Yeah, I I I Googled it and I was looking and I would not it would not go over 30, but I think we could get it in the 20s or low to use good steer. >> I suggest we table this and we do a little bit of homework before what you're wanting to get. >> Okay.
087>> I don't think that's enough for >> because we also need >> the snow plow and attachments >> and all the stuff to make it productive. >> Exactly. We will table this and I'll have it on Monday. All right. And this the skid steer for the general public that's listening. We um as a lot of parents and students realize that we had a little problem last year's winter with snow clearing, that sort of thing. So, we formed a committee. We looked into it. We got an action plan how we're going to address that in the future. But the skid steer is is one big part of it. But we still have the equipment that we need and we made arrangements to have salt uh even if we have overtime we're going to get the parking
088lot salted before the rain the snow comes in. That sort of thing. So we're trying. It's a it's always a opportunity to improve. So all right, next one is approval to go out to bid for a new driver's education vehicle. Yeah, we have a driver's education vehicle that was purchased back in I believe um 1920 school year. So, it's 5 years old. It's got uh quite the miles on it. We do have that that currently that driver's ed car is running every period. It's also running before and after school to get the kids the hours that they need to drive. Having two of them would be ideal. I would suggest that we go out to bid for a um a second driver's ed car and then what would happen is is in our rotations next
089year we'd go get a bus. We got a truck last year. We're going to get our fleets in that rotation and in five years you would get another driver's ed car and if the first one that's still there is still alive, we can trade that one in. But I would um drive it till it's wheels fall off. Not with the student sitting it but >> figuratively speaking. >> Yeah. Any questions, comments, concern regarding the >> So I know that whenever in the material that I was reading the current if we bought one like a similar vehicle to what we have now a four-door sedan um >> 30,000 >> yeah be under $30,000 is is the estimated 27 and change but you depends on bids. >> Um so just >> what kind of car do we
090currently have? We have a Chevrolet. >> Oh, yeah. Malibu. >> Malibu LS. >> Gota. Any other comments, questions, concerns? Hearing none, maybe we'd like to make a motion to go out for bid for a new driver's ed car. >> I'll make the motion. >> Thank you, Lisa. Second. >> I'll second. >> Andrea, roll call, please. >> Adam Henin, >> yes. >> Andrea Corey, >> yes. Kelly Moyer absent. Norin Friedrich absent. Greg Meyer, >> yes. >> Lisa Schumacher, >> yes. >> Tyson Search, >> yes. >> All right, that concludes our items for action. Our next one is our discussion items. We'll start off with our facility study. >> Yeah, that kind of covers that in the in the superintendent report. I mean, it's it's it's coming along. Adam uh took a tour of it today when
091we did the OAC meeting. Um, we're still doing the punch list on the office area that we've come into into into possession of. I will tell you from a person that has gone through construction before, I really in hindsight like moving into the uh one phase of it while the construction people are still there because we're able to um daily monitor the HVAC and the other little tiny tweaks that they need to make to make it work. And um that seems to be going well as we go through those punch lists. Oh, >> so I'll add that I just again just want to reiterate my thanks to the staff and students and family that the construction is is a distraction. It is a disruption. Um it's all in the name of progress. Um but we
092do appreciate everyone's patience and um willingness to be flexible with us. Uh we had to move our move in date in the front door. um you know the traffic patterns change as a result all along with a new school year starting. Um so we we are very appreciative of that. We know that there are there's noise outside of the classrooms. Uh you know the teachers and students especially on that that front parking lot side um are probably most affected but everyone is to it to a certain degree. So I want to thank everyone involved uh for your patience and flexibility with that. We uh I think everyone understands we're going to have a beautiful school with a lot more capability when we're finished. So, um it's it's for the right reasons, but it doesn't take
093away from the fact that when you're in a in an environment trying to work or study or read or whatever and there's loud noises and banging and construction workers right outside your window, that's uh that's that's not optimal. So, thank you for that. Um but as you can see, there are a lot of things changing quickly at this point. You'll see a lot more visually. Um there's been a lot of work been going on for many many months, but now you're starting to see all the siding going on. The your side the sidewalks are all poured. Um handrails will go up. All the face of the building will be done soon. Uh within the next couple weeks, it'll be truly dried in, which is the date I'm looking forward to. Um when all the roofs
094are completely sealed and uh we can just focus on internal work inside. But um I I hope you guys are starting to see and you know the the increase with the uh performing arts stage or performance stage I think we're supposed to call it but um is is something we don't have now. So that will be very exciting to have as well as uh being next to it. So anyway, thank you to everybody that's working and working on around or dealing with the construction. Um but the crew is doing a great job. So we're looking forward to the end of the calendar year when the front parts finished. Yeah, we actually had a good discussion today about getting in because we did get not into the office area when we thought so and getting it
095in the dry will no longer have the rain dates. We had 33 rain days which is why we got pushed off on the office area. But in January, we were told by Petker we will have our students on the stage doing their um practices because our next play is in February at and it will be in the auditorium. So that's going to be exciting to see. Awesome. Thank you so much. Next item is our individual board member comments. Anyone have anything they'd like to say this evening? Right. Next item is president's prerogative. I kind of did that at the beginning of the meeting, so I'm not going to bore you again with any of that kind of stuff. Uh, as Dr. Gudy alluded to earlier. We do have an executive session tonight and C >>
096for the purposes or the appointment employment compensation discipline performance or dismissal of a specific employee of the public body or legal counsel for the public body including hearing testimony on a complaint lodged against the an employee of the public body or legal counsel for the public body to determine its validity pursuant to fivecs 120/2C1 and also student disciplinary cases pursuant to 5CS 120/ 2C1. Oops, saying nine. I got to I was trying to do without the glasses and it just didn't happen tonight. So, and also C the placement of individual students in special education programs or other matters relating to individual students pursuant to 5 LCS 120C10. Would anybody like to make a motion to adjurnn into executive session? >> I'll make a motion. >> Thank you, Tyson. Second. >> Adam seconds. Roll call, please.
097>> Andrea Corey. >> Yes. Adam Himkin, >> yes. >> Norin Friedrich, absent. Kelly Moyer, absent. Greg Meyer, >> yes. >> Lisa Schumacher, >> yes. >> Tyson Search, >> yes. >> All right. At this point, we have to ask all you guys to depart our lovely. >> There is no action after this. So, tomorrow, >> you are more than welcome. Come back and watch us adjourn if you like. >> Thank you. >> Thanks for having me. Do you gentlemen have your signature? >> Yeah. >> Autographs. Exactly. >> Great sign. executive session. >> All right, we're back on 9:01 p.m. back in regular session. We have no action items as a result of our executive session. Only item left is a motion to adjurnn. >> I'll make the motion. >> Thank you. It second. >> I'll second
098it. >> All in favor? I >> motion approves. uh concludes our meeting 9:01 p.m. Thank you all for joining us.