001All right. At this time, good afternoon, I should say to everyone that's here. At this time, we will call to order the Rio Rancho public school board meeting. We will have uh board member Jessica Tyler will lead us in the pledge of allegiance. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. >> All right. Thank you. >> All right, JC, you want to take role, please? >> President, >> Vice President, >> present. Secretary Tyler >> present. >> Board member Trip >> present. >> Board member Miller >> present. >> All right. Again, welcome to the Rio Rancho School Board meeting on Monday, July 14th, 2025. At this time, we'll have introductory comments by superintendent.
002>> Okay. Good evening and thank you for being here with us. it apparent that the middle of July is not the uh uh largest attendance for a schoolboard meeting, but we're glad that everyone is here. Thank you for being here this evening. [Music] Uh just a couple of things up front. I'd like to remind everybody um the um that the new Riot uh CTE Center will be open for the community to see. And if you've not been able to get over and see it recently, uh it's really worth uh a visit. Uh most everything is now in and uh the equipment is in and it's a pretty impressive facility and it will be open anyone who would like to see it on the 30th of this month from 6:00 to 8. And um we are
003doing really well with the staffing. We have uh Dr. Johnson tells me has all of the teachers selected for the campus except for one science teacher. So if anyone is aware of a science teacher who might be looking for something that's very different and new, uh this would be a wonderful opportunity. There is also um there's a lot of construction going on the site which is going to make it a little more problematic I think uh maybe for parking but there's enough room and because it's late all the businesses across will uh not be there and so there we think there'll be plenty of room for people to park. Uh the construction that's going on is um pretty major uh and that is the uh beginning of the CNM automotive center and it's um that
004that whole project is also underway right now. So it looks very different on the site. We have um certainly uh some some um some special things related to the calendar. I want to remind everyone that we have two different calendars this year. Uh one is elementary and one is secondary. It's not a lot of changes but there are enough. The parents who have children who are both elementary and secondary age should make arrangements to uh accommodate the required changes. These changes came about because of uh regulations uh from the public education department and uh as I said they're not major but parents should plan for that early on and both of our calendars can be found on our website. We are literally on the countdown to the start of the new school year. It's just
005it's hard to imagine. Here we are in the middle of July and in two weeks a little over two weeks we'll be starting a new school year. Um Patrick has shared that as of right now things look good for the facilities. Um and so they're watching u but you never know with this all the heat we've had and a lot of things. Uh you know air conditioning is always a little bit of of a challenge this this time of year. But so right now there are no facility delays across the district and they are watching some things uh very carefully. We have uh one of the best ever new staff uh induction programs for both elementary and secondary teachers. This year uh during the inservice, there will also be some professional development added for our
006educational assistants who have been asking for more training and more support. And so really glad to see that addition for a very large number of staff in our district. Uh we have AP training coming up at Independence High School and um and then our staff will report for district and service. We will have a jump start day, but it's different than anything we've had in the past. Uh the jump start uh will be optional because we could not count it anymore as a school day. We've always counted a school day in the past. Can't do that anymore. And so we will have transportation. We will have opportunities for our secondary students to do a jump start day, but it is strictly an optional u service for kids and for families. Really encourage people to take
007advantage of it whether you're moving from elementary to middle school or middle school to high school. Uh it just helps students get acclimated and it's always a really really nice day. And then everyone, all of our students show up on August the 7th and so we are really closing in on all of that. But the uh um we've got a lot now from now to the start of the school year and it's going to be it's been all summer really busy as I I've shared with you before the the move over time over many years from 3 months to two months u makes it really challenging to get things done in the summer buildings clean uh facility projects done it projects done and um but we do the very best we can with the time
008that we have allocated but it really really goes goes fast in the summer. >> So, this is kind of how we feel right now. It's just moving faster and faster, you know, and uh so uh but we're going to be ready and and we know that we've got some challenges to get some things done, but uh we we've got this. We're focusing on what we have left before we actually have to start the new year. Okay, we have some funding. Um, you know, there's we're getting asked by a lot of the media and I know some of you have also been asked or the media about uh you know what it looks like for federal funding and concerns about funds being held back and you know what where are we on it and what's our
009position. So, you know, we at the present time it looks like uh there's about 780,000 in title funding that is uh been pulled back and under review and we don't know what that you know whether that will will move forward or not. But um it's it's it's significant but it's not as much as some other districts and the reason for that is we don't get as much federal funding as a lot of other districts do in the state. We certainly are concerned about the loss of any federal funding and we monitor this situation very carefully. We um one there are a couple of areas that we we are watching really closely and we just um would would really be most impactful for our district if we were to lose funding. For example, Medicaid is um
010uh we pay for almost all of our healthc care services in this district through Medicaid. And so that's how we pay for our school nurses. That's how we pay for some of our health assistants. It's how we pay for some of the other support um the support staff that support our our our programs for our our our our students in the health areas. And so uh that for for us it's about $6 million next year that Medicaid um funds. And so that's what we would miss out of budget. We don't we're not assuming that we're going to lose that money. We have not heard that uh but we are watching it. The other two big areas that we are watching very carefully and would be very challenging if we were to lose any funding in
011and that is special education and uh and food service. And we have really benefited as as as a school district from the changes in food service over the last several years where all children can be fed. And uh we're really hoping that we can continue to do that. It's not only number one is that all children get fed, which is the the most important thing, but when you have that steady revenue source coming in and you know you're going to have it, you you have a lot better chance of developing uh quality programs and maintaining them. And when you have the old system of not knowing from uh week to week, month to month what the counts were going to look like. But it's um you know, those are just things we're watching. We certainly
012um don't have any um any kind of information that these would be uh impacted as of yet and we'll keep you informed and we'll keep the community informed. But we we really there's just so much we don't know and we're trying to be very careful, you know, what we say because we want to be sure that what we say is accurate and um and that we we share important information, but we also uh are sure that we're not sharing misinformation. So, it's um you know, we we're just watching this, but federal funds are an important issue in our state and um and so it's uh hopeful that we will um have decisions that are made that are positive in terms of impact on our children and on our families. This evening, we have a bond
013sale and finance plan update. Eric Heragan with RBC Capital Markets will be presenting to you information regarding the proposed series 2025 bond sale as well as the finance um p plan update. Uh he will discuss the history of our assessed valuation and uh we'll share some information about historic uh tax rates. I I will just say one thing. Over many years, the districts worked very hard to maintain consistent tax rate. Uh and I think that's been a factor in uh our ability to have bonds passed uh with a pretty significant um level of support. He will um Eric will also review the current debt service requirements for the district and he will present finance plans options and then a timeline for the election for proceeding with with uh with the with the sale an election
014other uh he'll also be sharing with you some other economic issues that he believes are impacting the district. He shared with one with you the other night the adjustment um in support of our veterans and what that might look like for for our our district. Every year uh in New Mexico and other states um schools school boards are required to have a resolution confirming um their uh understanding and implementation of the open meetings act. And so they must conduct um obvious they must conduct all of the business in open meetings and uh the public should be given a reasonable notice and we very carefully comply uh with those requirements. The uh board of education is also required to adopt this resolution in order to comply with the open meetings act and also with the board's
015own policy 208. The purpose of this resolution is um um is set uh to to share what the board considers to be a reasonable notice uh to the public for the upcoming um upcoming meetings. And I would just have to say that we, you know, JC does a wonderful job with that and we're very conscious of it and try very hard to be in compliance with the act. and uh Lauren Hatch will be sharing some additional information with you as our chief counsel. And then um there are two important actions the board is asked to uh act on this evening. One is to consider um establishing an estimated debt service property tax rate and the second is to authorize the issuance of u bond series 2025. And again, these presentations will be made by Eric
016Harrian uh and also Katherine McKenna with the module Sperling firm who was bond council. We have our first reading related to policy 1033 and the wireless communication devices and this will pres be presented by Michelle Hav who is our executive director of student services. Neo Rancho was already way ahead of the curve on this particular uh topic. We have um removed funds from classrooms now for quite a while and so um but there are some changes. This will be the first reading. So no action can be taken this evening but while we have made great strides there are just some things that need to be adjusted in the policy and so um Lauren will be bringing that to the board this evening. Again, these changes are a result of legislative actions that were taken during
017the last session. There seems to be a very strong level of support from the governor's office and from the legislature to get that distracting um um influence out of our classrooms and we did see significant positive changes with the move to remove uh phones uh during the instructional time in classrooms. we have um I think the biggest difference is that everyone really needs to understand that this is now statutory. It's a statutory requirement and it's required for all districts for st uh staff, parents and students and for the first time uh some consequences for non-compliance. And so we we are asking for everybody's help and support uh to make sure that we can be in compliance with this um wi with this new regulation. It is I've had several questions asked about, you know, is
018it just phones? And no, it isn't. Uh it's other devices and and one of the more challenging devices we're dealing with today, watches. But um the there just should be none of that communication during the instructional uh time period. And it's um our teachers have shared with us it made a huge difference as we took a stronger stand on putting those phones and and other media away uh during class time was amazing that they kind of heard what teachers were saying but more importantly there was um better interaction among the students themselves everyone focused you know on their phone in front of them. So I we think we made the right decision, but we will um we will do this to read this policy just to tweak it a little bit to be um more
019in compliant with the actual uh statute. And then we have um a request for proposal award this evening and the board is asked to consider the award of RFP number 202519 and this is for food and beverage vending machine services. Uh this information um will be presented by Michael Madrid who is our director of purchasing and our chief procurement officer and uh there are um there are three companies that will um be presented for um approval as vendors for um for food and beverage vending machines. Do you have any comments or any questions or any any more information on any of these items? Okay. Thank you. >> Thank you, Dr. Clay. Um, at this time, need to get approval for the uh prioritized agenda. >> This is board member Tyler. I'll make a motion to
020approve the prioritized agenda and proposed time allocations. >> Gary Trip second. >> Okay. All in favor? All right, we good, Josie. Thank you. Thank you. Now we'll move on to report section of our meeting at this time. The real public school board bond sale and finance update. >> Thank you for being here this evening. >> Yes, thank you. >> Good afternoon. Good to see you all again. Hi. Um, so I'm back again to uh last time I was here, the board was considering uh and approved sending a question to voters. Um, and what I'm here for you today uh and talking about is actually issuing bonds from um the authorization that voters uh already has given the district a couple of years ago. And so um you'll see kind of similar information. So I'll I'll
021kind of be somewhat speedy to go through the presentation, but we we have provided a history of your assessed valuation. Uh we have seen some preliminary values uh coming out suggest that the district's tax base will grow by about 5% for this upcoming tax year. Uh which is good to see. Uh and then over the last five years, you've grown on average of about uh 11 11%. Uh on page two of the presentation, we have a history of your tax rates. Uh I'll point to your attention the specifically the general obligation bond. Uh your geo bond tax rate is $8.54. Uh as mentioned by Dr. Cleveland, her comments, the district has had that tax rate in place for a long time. The issuance of these bonds will continue to maintain um that that tax rate.
022And later on in the agenda, you also have a resolution um that just will assist um with the district and us in in working with peed to set your tax rate at the same rate it was uh last year. Um on page three of the presentation, um the district pays off its debt very quickly. This allows us to layer in additional bonds and continue to maintain that tax rate. We do periodically review your debt for any potential refundings uh to be able to lower your interest rate. Um uh bad news is interest rates are high. Good news is all of your outstanding debt has relatively low interest rates. Um and so at this point in time, there's no recommendation to refinance or lower any of your outstanding bonds. Um after the issuance of of these
023upcoming series of bonds, the district will be about 48% bonded to capacity. Um, so in November of 2023, voters authorized the issuance of up to $80 million. Last year, the district sold its first series of those bonds in the amount of 20 million. For this upcoming sale, um, the district sell uh, plans to sell 28 million. Um, and then the remaining 32 million will be sold um, as needed by the district. Um, as uh as I did mention in the last meeting about the new veterans exemptions um that were approved by voters, the finance plan does take this into into account when we're looking to sell these 28 uh million in in bonds. And again, as mentioned, it continues to maintain the $854 tax rate um that the district has had uh in place for
024a long time. From a timing standpoint, um, subject to your, uh, approval, uh, later on in the agenda of the authorizing resolution, uh, we'll move forward with preparing the official statement, which we will be back before the board to present that official statement to you, and then we plan to be in the market in early September. Um, the district uh, we we recommend that the district sell these bonds through a competitive uh, sale process. And what this does is that it allows uh investment banking firms from all across the country to submit a bid on the district's bonds and then the uh the lowest uh uh the lowest bidder is is award the bonds. Um however, in the resolution that you have before you, it authorizes actually the sale of both um competitive sale and
025negotiated sale. And the reason that we have that um in a negotiated sales where the district would actually hire an underwriter to sell those bonds simply because there's just been a tremendous amount of volatility in the market. Um and sometimes, you know, week by week, day by day, um there can be announcements that can, you know, significantly change uh you know, market dynamics. And we wanted to make sure that the district had uh sufficient, you know, and the most amount of flexibility to be able to issue its general obligation bonds. But as of right now, we anticipate that the district to issue those as competitive sales, open that up for investment banking uh firms to bid on those and then the bonds would close on or around October 1st and that's when funds would be
026available for the district to expend on the projects. Um just there's a couple of slides on the market and I'll just kind of summarize it in that um you know rates kind of peaked about a couple of months ago. we have started to see rates tick down. Um, a lot of the uh sort of increase in in interest rates earlier this year was uh a lot of that had to do with the uh uncertainty of the announced tariffs and the impact on inflation. Um that really has not happened yet. Uh inflation has stayed fairly uh tame. Um but you know things can things can change. We do have uh consumer price index numbers come out um this week as well as uh PPI. So we'll get kind of a better idea of where uh inflation
027is headed after those reports. Um you know given the current market we anticipate um the interest rate to be somewhere in the 3 and a half to 3.8% uh range. And with that I'd be uh certainly happy to answer any questions. >> Any questions board members? Hello, Dr. Cleveland, any thoughts, comments? Okay, Eric, I do want to apologize. Um, your name was not at the bottom of the agenda. It goes on to the next page. I didn't when I introduced you doing the bond, I didn't see your name, so I want to say I'm sorry, man. U Okay. Although, all right. I apologize. So, thank you. But thanks for your time. We appreciate you. All right. We'll see you back up shortly then. Right. Okay then. All right. At this time, I don't think we
028have any public comments. Correct. >> That's correct. >> We didn't see any online either. So, uh I will uh announce that if if anybody has public comments, again, you could go on the uh Rio Rancho public school board page and there's a section there where you could put your public comments there. Okay. All right. With that been said, we'll move on to the approval of the a motion and approval for the consent agenda. >> Board member Tyler, I'll make a motion to approve the consent agenda. >> Second the motion. >> Uh Jason, you want to take a vote on this one? >> Sure. >> All right. >> Secretary Tyler, >> yes. Board membership, >> yes. >> Member Miller, >> yes. >> Vice President, >> yes. All right. Thank you. Thank you. Okay. Next, we'll move
029to business. Consideration approval of resolution number 25-001, open Meeting Act. Meetings Act uh by Lauren Hatch. >> Thank you, Mr. Vice President, members of the board. Dr. Cleveland. Um here on a fairly routine matter, but it is required by statute. We come to you pretty much every year in July uh for the standard open meetings act notice reasonable notice resolution and um 25-001 is that resolution for this year. Um I will tell you this is basically verbatim of the one that you passed last year. The only differences are the dates really. And um what this proposes for you to adopt is that when the board calls a regular meeting that you will give at least 10 days notice and when the board calls a special meeting, you'll give at least 72 hours, 3 days notice.
030And if there's an emergency meeting that we do the best to provide 24 hours notice for an emergency meeting. Emergency meetings are very rare. Uh in the last six years, I don't think we've had to call one. So, and then there's some requirements that you have to do with the attorney general's office if you call an emergency meeting. Um, that is essentially it. Uh, we'd recommend that you adopt this resolution and I stand here for stand for any questions. >> Any questions, board members? >> No questions. The copy in our packet was pretty blurry for some reason on like the dates, but other than that, I don't think we have any questions, but I could see that they're listed out. Looks pretty also. Um, the attorney general's office does put out guidelines on what they
031consider reasonable, >> right? Gary, any questions? >> No question. >> All right. Have a motion and approval, if you don't mind. >> Mr. Vice President, this is board member Tyler. Make a motion to approve resolution 25-001, the open meetings act. >> Gary Trip, I second. >> Okay. J, we'll take a vote. You don't mind, please. >> Secretary Tyler, >> yes. >> Trip. >> Yes. >> Member Miller. >> Yes. >> Vice President Morgan. >> Yes. >> Zero. >> Lauren. Thank you. >> All right. Next, we'll have the consider approval of the resolution. Okay. Number 25002 establish an estimated debt service property tax rate. Mr. Eric, >> thank you. And Katherine, see, I got it right that time. See? All right. >> Vice President, members of the board, Dr. Cleveland, uh, Eric Herren with RBC Capital Markets.
032Um, and Katherryn McKenna with the module law firm is also available to answer any questions. Um, thought I would just take the lead on this since this has to do with the tax rate. So, what this resolution simply states um is that it's the desire of the board um to uh have the public education department uh work with department of the finance administration to get the tax rate set at $8.54. And this is consistent with what the district's historical debt service tax rate is. And that's pretty much it. I'm happy to answer any questions. >> Okay. I don't think any questions, Dr. CL thoughts. >> No, I think he's going to win this. This is pretty much what we have done historically, so I think you're pretty familiar with it. >> Okay. I'll take a
033uh motion and approval, please. >> Member Tyler, I'll make a motion to approve resolution 25-003 authorizing the issuance. Oh, sorry. 25-002 establishing an estimated debt service property tax rate. >> I second the motion. >> Okay. All in favor, vote. I >> I >> Okay. All right. Thank you. You You'll continue to stand for the next one, right? >> I'm going to let >> Okay, that's fine. >> All right. So, uh number three is the consider approval of the resolution number 25-003 authorizing the insurance of series 2025 bonds uh by Miss Katherine McKenna. >> Thank you. Good evening, Vice President Morgan, members of the board, Dr. Cleveland. Uh I'm Katherine McKini. I'm with the Model Sperling Firm. We serve as your bond council. Uh before you tonight is a resolution authorizing 28 million of the bonds
034that were authorized by voters back in 2023. Um currently you have 60 million in authorization that is unissued after last year's issuance. These are payable from the property taxes imposed on all property tax u taxable property within the district. Uh similar to your other bond resolutions, this is a delegation resolution in which the board authorizes um both the superintendent and the executive director of finance to determine the final terms of the bonds within the parameters that are set forth in section four of the resolution. And those parameters are um indicate the maximum par amount of 28 million that the final maturity will not exceed August 1st of 2042 that the interest rate won't exceed 10% which is the maximum statutory rate as Eric indicated it it's likely to be much lower than that uh that
035the bonds will be sold via a competitive sale or a negotiated sale. And um we're sounds like we're headed towards a competitive sale, but to allow the district the maximum flexibility in in the um time of market volatility, we've provided both alternatives for the delegate to um decide in consultation with RBC. Um the maximum underwriting discount on the bonds uh will be 3% and the bonds won't be sold for less than uh par plus acred interest. So those are the main parameters established in section 4. Uh the resolution also appoints um BFF to serve as pain agent registar on your bonds. This is uh similar to your other bond issues. the form of the pain agent registar agreement is included in your packets and is approved as to form um in the resolution. Uh so
036from this point um the uh offering document will be formulated and we'll be back before the board on August 11th for that approval and um as Eric mentioned proceed towards the sale on September 9th with the proceeds available on October 1st. Happy to answer any questions on the resolution or uh the process as Eric uh through it. Any questions? I >> I got one uh you mentioned negotiated and competitive sale. What is that? Can you explain that to me, please? >> Sure. >> Thank you, Vice President Morgan, members of the board. The negotiated sale is one in which it's it would be similar to your uh 2023 sale. And in that sale, you hired an underwriter um specified an underwriter ahead of time. Uh and they purchased the bonds. Uh it was still uh sold
037in the public markets but through an underwriter. Can correct me if I'm if he has additional details on this. Uh in the competitive sale, the there are multiple biders that bid on your bonds on the sale date. bidding is open for half an hour. The best bidder in that time period is then awarded the bonds. >> So, um that's really okay. >> All right. Thank Thank you so much. I kind of had an idea what the competitor was just to negotiate one. I didn't. Okay. Any other questions? >> Okay. I'll look for a U I'll stand for a motion approval. >> Board member Tyler. I'll make a motion to approve resolution number 25-003 authorizing the issuance of series 2025 bonds. >> I second the motion. >> Okay. JC, you want to take a vote, please.
038>> Secretary Tyler, >> yes. >> Board member Trip. >> Yes. >> Board member Miller. >> Yes. >> Vice President. >> Yes. >> Yeah. Thank you. Thank you. >> Thank you. And I'd like to just add thank you both for the work that goes into this. This came out a little sooner than we originally thought we would be doing this and so uh but we appreciate all the time and effort. This is a major project and we know how much uh goes into it and we appreciate uh you're working well with the district to make this a reality to the community. This is going to allow us to be able to finish some projects that we've not been able to do. uh as as all public bodies, we have really struggled under the rising costs of
039construction, uh trying to finish projects, trying to meet the commitments we said that we were going to do for the community. The board's always tried very hard to to meet those commitments. And so, uh this is going to help us do that. And uh it's an extremely important election to the district. And again, we appreciate all of your help and support in getting ready for for this bond sale. Thank you. Thank you, Dr. Cle. Up next, we'll have uh a first reading for policy 1033, wireless communication devices, by Michelle Havl, executive director of student services. >> Good evening, Vice President Morgan, members of the board, and Dr. Cleveland. I'm Shelley Havl, the executive director for student services, and I'm bringing to you our new policy. It's a brand new policy um in response to Senate
040Bill 11 for that anti-distraction in schools. Um just to preface a bit just um we're we're fortunate that this isn't drastically different from what we've already expected from students. Um it just formalizes some of those expectations um that support um not only our admin and campus staff but districtwide um being able to expect that students do comply with this um just to have those positive outcomes. So I will read it start to finish. It's not drastically long. And then I'll stand for questions. So our policy 1033, wireless communication device policy. The board recognizes the need to create a distraction-free learning environment, promote social emotional health among students, and to support anti-bullying initiatives. It is therefore the policy of Rio Rancho public schools to restrict the use of wireless communication devices during instructional hours. Definitions. One,
041wireless communication device means portable electronic device capable of transmitting voice, text or data, including but not limited to cellular phone, smartphone or smartwatch, earbuds and headphones, tablet computer, laptop computer or gaming device. Two, instructional hours means the period at school during which students receive instruction aligned to academic content and performance standards. And three, powered down means wireless communication devices are switched completely off and not only set in silent or vibrate mode. And wireless communication device use of a wireless communication device is prohibited during instructional hours across all grade levels, preschool, elementary, middle, and high school. All wireless communication devices must be powered down and stored away. Example, in a backpack, purse, or locker during instructional hours unless permitted by licensed personnel for educational purposes. Students shall not infringe upon the privacy and confidentiality of other
042students or school employees. It is prohibited to use wireless communication devices to record, photograph, or video record others in locker rooms, health offices, restrooms, or anywhere individuals have a reasonable expectation of privacy with or without their consent or to record, photograph, or video record any students violating school policies or law. Three, use of a schoolisssued device. Example, Chromebooks will be closely monitored and limited to educational purposes. Four, students who do not comply with this policy will be subject to discipline in accordance with the applicable school's discipline matrix. Five, in emergency situations, licensed personnel may grant students the use of wireless communication devices. C. Special circumstances. Students shall be permitted to use a wireless communication device as outlined in an individualized education plan, an IEP, a section 504 plan, or a health management plan. One for
043accessibility such as text to speech, speechtoext, or other assistive technologies that aid in communication, navigation, or learning, or two that are medically necessary necessary for a disability or health impairment. and D. Digital citizenship instruction. School shall provide annual and developmentally appropriate instruction on digital citizenship for grades K through 12. Topic shall include the effects of screen time on children and risks associated with social media. And I'll stand for any questions. >> Any questions? Uh yeah, the only question I have is what is the proposed um discipline in accordance with the school's discipline matrix. >> So currently um what's nice is again these are already in our matrix. So none of these expectations have changed. They just align with the policy. Um at high school it is progressive just like it is at all levels. um
044with that cell phone um being one that would start with a warning and it can progress um into anything between in school suspension to to mild out of school one to two days. Um there is another portion in all high school, middle and elementary school that also include inappropriate use of technology which is more than our general reminder of hey put your cell phone away texting. That's when we see the reporting of know altercations or anything where students are breaking policies or rules. Um so it does allow for both of those. So there's um definitely higher levels depending on how the phone is being used. Um they do like I said the cell phone just general use start with warnings typically progressing into student picks up at the end of the day their defense parent
045picks up at the end of the day with the possibility of them not having access to that phone being on campus at all. Um with that inappropriate use of course those are a little different. They're impinged on confidentiality student rights etc. Um, and that can range anywhere from in school suspension to out of school suspension. Um, with high school being the most stringent with that first offense being up to three days based on parental discretion. Um, with the highest defense being 10 days of depending on situationally what that looks like as far as how the device is used in appropriately. >> Thank you so much, Mrs. Devil. I do think it would be beneficial for us to do good communication um with our community and the parents this year on this especially as it's been
046an initiative that was passed down from the legislature because I know that parents oftent times come back to the schools after they're can't get a hold of their children or they're like you know why is my child in trouble just kind of setting out what those guidelines and expectations are. So I think that could be helpful before this beginning of the school year. We're definitely going to work on that and uh working with our communications office, but really getting it out. You know, I think one of the biggest differences that I I think people need to understand in the past has been um you know, violating board policy or violating a school rule is now violating a state statute. And so it's a little different uh I think in terms of uh uh understanding that
047it it's of not just just students but parents and and stuff. So we need everybody to come together and and support it. I think one of the things too in particular we need to work on and and we talked about it now I'm kind of wondering if um we should go back and include it in the policy um but that is a mention of school bus and this applies on the school bus and so particularly the one uh where you're filming other kids and things that are going on on the bus uh we just I think would be good to um uh to add that spec specific thing in there because I think a lot of our parents take home the school bus school's and those rules don't apply, but they do. And uh some
048of our most um egregious situations have happened on school buses. So, uh we may want to to add that in specifically um for uh for for the policy. The other is uh it's also kind of wraps around um another growing situation that we have had and and I think all school districts have had is that when there's an incident um instead of going for help, they whip out the phones and start filming it. This is going to be a violation of this policy and it's also going to be a violation of state law. But I I think above what's the law, it it's more of what's right. And and so in a fight situation, we we need our students not to be involved in it. We need them to quickly go get help. Get help
049from a teacher, get help from an administrator, and be proactive in trying to turn this around instead of whipping out the phones and watching it. And so that's the work we've got to do with our kids. It's just the it's the time and place that we live in today. That's what everybody does. But we need to try to turn that around and um you know it's it's really disheartening to see a fight or something where someone's been seriously hurt if they had gone for help quicker might not have been as bad. So, I do agree we need to reach out uh to parents uh either, you know, and I and I'm thinking about maybe a letter to all parents via email or something really hitting the highlights of this, but making it very clear we're
050going to enforce it as a school district and um and also asking our staff to be 100% on board uh to support this uh this new regulation. Again, it it's, you know, not so much to be mean, but it really does make a difference. and uh screen time, the research is it's just growing and growing about the damage that's being done to our children with too much screen time. So, it it's putting those friends away is in their best interest. And I think we've got a lot of parents now who are saying we'd like to have less screen time. Um sometimes they're asking it of us and and and in turn we need to be asking that of them as well. But thank you for your presentation. We're just 100% behind this uh this change
051in in statute because it benefits students and uh we do plan to enforce it next year. >> Any other questions, concerns? Thank you. Appreciate your time. Mhm. >> Next, we'll have the consideration award of RF FP number 2025-9- [Music] FIN food and beverage vending machine service by the one and only Mr. Michael McCree. >> Thank you, Vice President Morgan, members of the board, Superintendent Dr. Cleveland. Uh the request requested action for this afternoon is to solicit a multiple award for RFP 2025 ex-019- FIN for food and beverage vending machine services to be issued to city vending LLC freealthy vending and KRL Enterprises LLC. I want to give a little bit of background how we got to the point of needing this RFP or this procurement. Uh we were asked how did certain vending machines get
052placed either at the schools or at district office? What contracts are in place? What's the term of those contracts? Uh what's the servicing of those uh those units out there? Why are certain products not in the machine? And the answer is we don't know for some of those machines. A lot of these contracts were signed before we uh started investigating this. The other questions is are the machines smart snap compliant? uh are we meeting all the different regulations that require when they're placing at the schools? Then I would get inquiries from the vendors. Well, how do I get my machine at the schools? How do we get an opportunity to pull our equipment out there and our products out there? Uh and then the last piece of it is there's an opportunity to generate some
053revenue from the machines off the gross sales. So because of those questions, we thought the most equitable way to address those is to initiate the RFP that you had before you. So the RFP will address um the requirements of the vendors to ensure compliance with applicable regulations and provide quality service ensuring student and staff access to healthy and compliant snack and beverage options. The vendor shall provide install maintain service vending machines at designated RRPS locations. The scope of work uh that is required but is not totally limited to this is placement of the vending machines and designated school and administrative uh locations, stocking the machines with snacks and beverages compliant with USDA smart snacks in school standards and other relevant state public health orders. Ensuring all vending machines accept digital and card payments, including but
054not limited, credit cards, debit cards, and mobile payment options. Providing regular service, maintenance, and timely restocking of the vending machines to ensure functionality and product availability, addressing service requests of any machine malfunctioning within a 24-hour response period. Um, we received a total of three responses to the solicitation. Responses were received from City Vending to LLC, free and healthy vending, KRL Enterprises Incorporated. When the committee evaluated the proposals, each proposal had a little different flavor to it, a little different functionality options. And so what we don't want to do is impact um the need at either the location of the schools or within the department. So, we feel it's in the best interest of the district is to put the options out and let the principles or the directors decide what's best for their particular facility
055use. So, the request for you this afternoon is to solicit all three vendors uh and award. And with that, I'll stand for questions. >> All right. Thank you. Any questions? >> I have two minor questions. I'm guessing they're just errors, but it says the response has received six proposals in response to the procurement. And then on the second page, it also says the matrix further identifies Gibson Consulting Group Incorporated as the highest ranked offer. Uh that's what we have in our packet online or it was sent to us. I'm guessing those are just airs. We'll stick with just the three proposed. No problem. Okay. Just want to confirm. Thank you. >> Okay. Anything else? Thank you. Uh just anything else? Right. I'll take a motion and approval, please. I'll make a motion to um award
056RFP number 2025-019-fin food and beverage vending machine services to food and um service sorry food and beverage vending machine service to city vending to LLC free healthy vending and KRL enterprise >> Lauren he he's going to make the change we could still approve this we just got to Make sure we get changes, right? Okay. Uh JC, you want to take a vote on this, please? >> Did we get a second? >> I'm sorry, Gary. Go ahead, man. >> Go ahead. >> Second. >> Yeah. >> My bad. Okay. Just don't want to forget that. Now, JC, you can go ahead and uh >> take the vote. >> Yes. >> Board membership. >> Yes. >> Miller. >> Yes. >> Thank you. Appreciate that. I would just add I just want to emphasize you still have to adhere
057to the the nutritional standards uh that are set down by by the state. So I don't want folks think we're loading up on soda and some of the other things that used to go in those those vending machines. >> All right. Thank you. Now we are the advanced plane July 21st executive session. Then we have uh July 28th adult audit I'm sorry uh committee meeting. Uh July 28th regular board meeting. August 6 jump start day. August 7th first day of school. Like you said already here. It is. >> Just thinking about it, right? >> I have to tell you, uh, Claudia, that that countdown didn't make me feel good at all. I mean, man, just think about that. Huh? And then August 11th, finance committee meeting, and then August 11, a regular board meeting or
058any other questions, concerns? >> I am going to be out of town on the 28th. I will try to join remotely, but may not be able to because I'll be on the East Coast. So, I will likely miss that meeting. I'll be on as well. >> Same day. >> Yes. >> Okay. >> I'll hang out with you guys. >> I thought you was going to say me too. I just was going to say me too. It's like uhoh. Okay, guys. Got that. Anything else? But nothing else. This meeting is ajourned. >> You can go home cook that pizza now, man. >> Yeah. Home, huh? Mike Travis. >> Mike Travis, >> since Jessica may be gone, um why don't we just hold that personnel report then until the next the first meeting in August? Is that
059Yeah, because August