001microphone, please. Sorry, >> I'm used to speaking to the class. >> All right, so we're gonna talk here about the two different sections of uh the Dubo County Contractual Library and the Jasper Public Library Board. So, there are two parts. Um, and so the Dubo County one is uh four different places. So we have Jasper, of course, we have Dubo Library, we have Ferdinand Library, and Bird's Library, and then just the Jasper one. Um, so you're going to see us talk about both of those. Now, here in the picture, we have the JHS Key Club. Um, and I'm the sponsor for that and have some pictures, so I th thought I'd throw this up there. But we partner with the Jasper Public Library often throughout the year. You may see it in announcements if you
002read the high school ones. But um for here, this was the meet Santa event, which was pretty cute. Um and we had lots of volunteers there. And then we do the Halloween um event and some others throughout the the year. So this summer, wow, did we have a lot of people come through the Jasper Library. Fabulous. What a wonderful thing for our students. Um, so overall through Jasper here, we had 50,136 checkouts and renewals. That's amazing. Like, wow. Lots of books checked out. And then across all four branches, we had 76,475 for the holds. So that means a child or an adult requested that we hold a book. So they were very interested in it. Um we had 4,549 holds uh at Jasper and 6,14 total. the door count meaning how many people came through
003um during the summer in Jasper 34,516 and throughout the four libraries 49,775 and then s summer reading completion. So the the children were able to um complete these little checklists that they were um that they could pick up and it just enthused our readers. It was fabulous. My children absolutely loved it. We're super excited to partake in that. They had so many um like prizes that they could win. So, um we had 1,155 summer reading completions at Jasper. That is phenomenal. And 2,192 total. Awesome. And then there were countless summer programs and so many people attended these. we noticed or we went to many ourselves. Um so 37 children's programs, 33 teen programs, 43 adult ones, and a total of 113 programs this summer. That's just amazing. So besides the community programming that's done by
004the amazing staff at Jasper Library, they always have a good eye on what is needed for our kids and for adults. But another huge use is the library study rooms and meeting rooms. So nonprofits can check out these meeting rooms. There's four different options. And one is flexible where you can have a divider wall for a smaller, more intimate meeting or have it be a larger setting. But my personal favorite are the eight study rooms. I always try incentivize those being used during finals months of trying to study and use a space that's different from home because sometimes the pressure gets put on and it's also quiet so you can have that deep focus that you need for big test uh prep. Uh but the numbers are pretty phenomenal of just over 1,700 um individual
005times of those being rented out and used just the study rooms alone. So it's pretty great. And then nonprofits and knitting groups and book clubs can meet in the meeting rooms, which is pretty great. It's like a true community space for all people. Um, and that kind of feeds into community outreach. The bigger initiative that I think our library does an amazing job at from hearing at the Ferdinand meetings when we hear it's four different times a year where different library branch managers will do reports to us about what programming has looked like and what the needs are and they do an amazing job of trying to build programs just for the community that they're in. So Dubo programming will look different than what's at Jasper based off of the needs that they're kind of
006assessing. And you see that firsthand with how the librarians greet everybody. That's a patron that comes in. Knows people by name over time. That's when you know the families are there often. Um but does a great job of book selections as well that are purposeful. But it goes bigger. They have field trips all the time. Um our librarians, I think, need Duncan gift cards by May. Uh teachers complain, but it's constant field trips because elementary school teachers are looking for a way out of the building and they're looking at the library first thing for that. Um and also at the beginning of the school year, they'll come and make sure that students have a library card. And one fun thing that Venita, is she the only one who really does this? >> She's the go-to
007librarian at the Jasper branch, she asks people out in the community if they have a library card, and if they do, she gives them a prize. So, it's kind of a fun game to make sure that the kids are all enrolled and have access to literacy all the time because Dr. Jenner always talks about making sure that you push the initiative of literacy before kindergarten and one of those big initiatives is our steer well the Dolly Parton Imagination Library. It's been a huge program. Um the books that have gone out over 22,000 which is incredible making sure that books are accessible for all families and in the hands of building a heritage of books. How are you parents notified of that? >> Um, I know firsthand at the Jasper Pedes office, Jasper Pediatrics office, excuse
008me. um they have um pamphlets out and I've seen it in other doctor's offices and even the Jasper OBGYn, but I think there's also county health >> department basically anywhere in those young kids and we have kids sign up sign the second they're born. >> It's pretty great. I think okay so this big project that I'm sure school board is also aware of with right trying to update Wi-Fi and all the connectivity but I think a really important aspect that maybe if we're not patrons fulltime of the library we might not realize how used the computers are let alone the Wi-Fi access points so in the summertime I go there personally for graduate school so I have quiet time from my kids and I see people out in the parking lot already connecting to the
009Wi-Fi from a distance and waiting for the library doors to open. So, that's pretty amazing to see. But we see that huge connectivity just those first six months over 6,000 unique devices. That's incredible. Um, and you can see all different ages using the computers that are actually within the library, but then also people on their handheld devices, tablets, connecting in different ways to fill out tax forms, whatever it might be. So, it's always exciting to see what kind of rates we can get on these projects. And we saved over >> Can we say that? >> $200,000 on our latest project with the rate funding available. We get a 70% discount just like you guys do. I mean, it's it makes a huge difference. I mean, that's a project that we probably can't even look at
010doing without. So, >> good. All right. Just looking ahead, ways that we can connect and grow with our community. just the same as the schools, you know, we look to meet the needs of all the people in our community. So, we're looking for other ways to kind of expand our outreach. We're always looking for ways to connect with different community groups. Um, and as our budgets get tighter and tighter, we're also, you know, looking at programs and trying to make the most the best decisions just as you guys do for the schools. Um, and we want to support our staff so that they are not overextended. Uh but we definitely I mean the big one is the last one. I mean when we want to maintain the library as a welcoming hub and it truly
011is. We have people that come and visit and they go to the library and then they go back home and they're all excited about um different things. So it's um if you don't know about our the the libraries library of things, you should check it out because that's one of the one of the things that people visitors always like to talk about and they're they're pretty amazed by that. All right. So, um, this quote, I found this quote, and it was so funny because Christine used this quote after I found it. She used, she had found it, too. Somebody had found it and used it at our last board meeting, and I was like, wait, that's our quote. So, bad libraries build collections, good libraries build services, and great libraries build communities. And we truly
012feel like we have a great library. and we it is just, you know, it's outstanding for our for our community and kudos to Christine and the entire staff at all four facilities because I mean they don't do it alone and they work together as a team amazingly. So we are very excited about that. Um the last thing that you have an infographic in front that was in your packet and it's got some of the numbers just for two months. I mean basically two months and a few days. Wow. I mean, our library has that kind of reach. And then on the back of it, you can see a little bit more information about the Dolly Parton Imagination Project and then as well the thousand books before kindergarten initiative, which we feel like I felt like
013it was important to have those and to make sure that you're aware of those because that truly does feed into the literacy. The kids that I work with, they've come to school and they've read a thousand books before kindergarten. I mean, we are, you know, going to make great headway. So, do you have any questions? >> Of course, you mentioned literacy and we're all about improving literacy. I'm just curious and the new new library has been there for I don't know how long. >> Almost up to five years. >> Five years now. Yeah. So, how how much more are you able to do about improving literacy as opposed to the old location? >> Well, I mean, it's just the opportunities that are available, the ability to have multiple programs per day to be able just
014to have the space to have those as well. you've seen. I mean, I knew I was very confident. I'm sorry. I probably I was very confident, you know, that we knew things were going to we were going to see an explosion of services. But it has absolutely just I can't believe it. Days when we don't even have programs happening. We just I mean, there are people in there all the time. And it's it's now become one of those places that I really feel passionate that it is a go-to place in town. That absolutely that if you are looking for something to do in town, you're coming to the library. And I I mean that's a that's a testament to our staff, but I know they're not going to do it, but you you guys understand
015more than anyone the importance of a strong board. This group, I mean, we've got Lisa who's on to her fourth term. She's been with me for the I mean she's been she's been here for I mean through a lot with us. Um and Abby and Anna I mean and our whole group I mean they are passionate and it makes a difference. It makes a difference and I can't say enough about what having a group that when I bring sometimes wild ideas like hey we want to try something and they get behind it. They do the research themselves. They look at ideas and look at ways that we can continue to build those goals to go with our strate strategic policy that aligns with hopefully, you know, our other community groups and that we are able
016to continue to meet those needs. >> Well, I you utilize the library very much. I use Libby as you know. I was I think I >> I think we talked the other day to renew your card. That's >> I did. It was kind of crazy. I had was returning a book and was trying to or to return a book was trying to renew and it said it wouldn't work. I sent her a message I think probably at midnight and received a message back and was like, "Okay, lette you're good to go." So I I mean it was without a beat and I appreciate that and I love the building. I have family that comes and visits and that's probably one of the between that and the museum are some things that we are very I'm
017very proud of, you know, just in the area and everyone loves it and they love that you guys also have books to give away just for free. >> Yeah. sometimes, you know, we want to get those books. I mean, um, you know, and it is it's part of what we do. You know, you have to recycle your collection sometimes to get the to get new things in there and I mean, it's just one of those. It is very appreciated. So, >> yes. So, thank you. I appreciate all that you do and I love the library. It's beautiful. >> Absolutely. Well, we appreciate all you do and um I can't say enough for you guys appointing some great some great board members for us because I like I like board members who also challenge you as
018well, right? Make sure that we're I mean, we want to be proud. um and um of our community and our libraries and these guys do a great job of making sure that that happens. Do >> you have very many students that show up every day because they don't have access to Wi-Fi? >> I I can't say that they don't have access, but they definitely are using our access as well. Um you know, I think that's I mean, you can see by the numbers the number of devices that are used. Um, we also, one of the things that we didn't get to talk about here today was also the fact that, you know, you really think about not only do we serve that purpose where where they can go to print items that we, you know,
019there's not a lot of places left. We laughed about that the other day. It's not a good thing to laugh about, but really we're about the only place left where you can print print document. Um, be able to do that research. Know that you're in a safe environment where that internet's going to be protected as well. We're not getting those kids into places they don't need to be. I've got an 11-year-old myself. I know how scary that can be. Um, but you know, just trying to make sure that we have that environment and I really Yeah, it's definitely utilized. So, >> so kids that are struggling with reading, is there something in the summer at the library to help in that? >> I mean, we we well, of course, we have our summer reading program.
020I mean, we try to offer as much as we can to be available as far as, you know, really promoting early literacy. We don't necessarily have the one-on-one opportunities. Uh we've done that in the past. We've done different dupes with the retired teachers. It's kind of it's one of those things. I'll be I'll be very honest. We're kind of stretched to our limits at times too with what we can provide. But um we're never we're never against any idea. We're always up for those ideas and we continue to look at ways that we can help our, you know, help our students succeed as well. Um and that's one of the big things. Um I will say that's probably one of the things besides getting the new library built I am most passionate about. I I
021I I don't like to say much about it, but I mean the Dolly Parton Library was one of the passionate things for me um to get that going here in Duboce County and see that happening because we know for all the kids and all the people and you see these great numbers of all the kids that can come to the library, we know there's just as many who don't have that access. They don't have the mobility to get to the library. They don't have families that bring them in. So, anything we can do to get those books in our hands. So, it's an expensive venture and we're doing some fundraising for it. Um but you know it's one of those things that we found to be very very crucial to that and continued um improvement
022of those early literacy scores. One of the really neat things that has just happened in the last two months the Dolly Parton Imagination Library is now um giving every single person who signs up new or old to get every single book in bilingual English and Spanish. Two books each year automatically come bilingual English and Spanish. Now you have the option of getting every single book that it's English and Spanish both in each book. So um and we've seen several already pick that option. So it's so exciting to see those avenues and we can see hot hotspots from addresses that were like we're not able to get those nearly as much and love it. So just great things. I mean I was so excited. They're like do you want to come? And I think they were
023expecting me to say no. I'm like I'm gonna sit in the corner and not say a word. And I knew I couldn't help myself. in your park delivery helps in the summer. >> Absolutely. I mean, we've been trying to get out to Maple Grove. Um we have uh Christine and uh Camara go out there once a month um to do a craft with our kids out there and we try to get books out. We have bilingual collections. So, just trying to, you know, I I try to actually have to hold my staff back a lot. They would go out non-stop and be doing stuff. I'm like, "But I need you in the building, too. I need you here to do stuff." But, um but they don't they don't stop. I mean, I don't I don't
024know how they keep doing it, but they're amazing. So, >> we appreciate your passion because it shows through in every time you walk in the library. There's just my kids are thrilled to go in there. We go in for a program, but then you can't leave without stopping and looking at the books, too, or vice versa. >> Well, my my favorite thing is especially I know it's it's kind of that if you build it, they will come. And we've truly have seen it. And I know you guys have a lot of tough decisions when it comes to stuff like that, too. And I know I know how that can be. But my favorite thing is to hear people say, "I brought my my family's in town and I brought them here." And that's something I
025mean, I've been with the library almost 25 years now. And to imagine even five years ago to hear people get to say that to me that this is one of the places they bring their out of town family because I had a guy stop me the other day and say, "This is the best library I've ever been to." And those are the words that I mean I think we every single one of you, every single person in this community should be proud of to get to hear those words. So >> thank you guys. Appreciate it. >> Thank you for being and thanks to our three board members that we appoint. Really appreciate all the time. We really do. >> And Abby, I appreciated seeing your article at Yes. for the U AI. Oh yeah. >>
026Was it through IU? >> So congratulations. Nice job. >> Scott, on the front there's a little flip that little thing. >> Well, you're welcome to stay, but you're welcome to leave as well. >> Okay. Thanks for your time. >> Thank you. >> Okay. Thanks. >> And you have a minute, Scott, because we have one other item before you >> the budget adoption. Dr. Laur. >> Yes, please. Thank you. Uh tonight I am seeking approval of the 2026 budget per the budget timeline that was originally adopted by our board in May I believe of this year. All of the advertising requirements have been met and the public hearing was conducted at our August 18th board meeting. We had no questions or remmonstrators at that meeting as well. There are no changes to the originally proposed budget.
027We're seeking approval of the following forms tonight. uh budget form four, the bus replacement, CPF, expenditure goals, budget hearing, education to operations transfer, rainy day transfer, and budget transfer resolutions. We have copies of all the forms and resolutions that will require a motion and signatures following adoption tonight. I'd like to also note that our education fund transfer to operations fund does not exceed the statutory 15% threshold. And so at this time I am seeking approval of the 2026 with the adoption of all of the budget forms and resolutions and that can be done in one motion. I'll make that motion. >> Motion by Arlette. >> A second. >> Second by Judy. Any questions or discussion? All in favor say I. >> I oppose. No. Motion carries. >> Okay. There are several forms here that need
028to be signed. So I'll just pass them down. Uh, Greg, I don't know if you want to continue with the meeting or well while it's we're signing or we can sign until Scott's ready or >> a bunch of options. Are you ready, Scott? >> Okay, let's sign away. >> Let me see if I can help. >> Yeah, we will. We don't need to sign that. Pass it down. Just need to bring your life easier. We ready? Yes, we're ready. >> All right. Thank you everyone. Uh tonight we have one action item for the projects and facilities update. The action item is to consider approval to move forward with publishing of the attached invitation to bid that I put in your board packets for the Jasper High School North Classroom Edition. Um, and I like to
029just give you a brief overview of the project. Um, the project consists of adding classrooms on the north side of Jasper High School. Um the new classrooms are in this oranges tan color. U we are working on refinishing some of the existing classrooms because there's the existing windows that look out into the new corridor are going to be closed up and we're doing interior finishes on the existing classrooms along the north wall here. But part of the project As you know, this existing drive has to be pushed to the north uh to create room for the north classroom edition. Um so that that's a big undertaking in itself. Um so there is quite a bit of site work to and scheduling that's going to go into this project. Once the project is awarded hopefully in
030November, um we're going to let the contractor start in February or as the weather permits to start some of the existing underground utility relocate painting of the underground utilities in preparation to move the drive. Um then next summer um the contractor this drive will be closed down. Uh the drive will be built u and the contractor will start on the foundations for the classroom addition. Then once school starts next fall, this drive will be completed and open to maintain the the circulation around the school. Um, as you can see, there's new classrooms. There's mechanical room here that will house new mechanical equipment for the classroom spaces. The early child care early learning center classrooms are over here on the east side with its own dedicated entry. There's a circle drive here with a pull pull
031off drop off pickup area here for the early uh learning center children. Um another piece of the work for for this project is because we are adding additional classrooms and in the future we're proposing to add expanded cafeteria to the west. We have to increase the sizes of our chillers that cool the spaces currently. So part of the project, we're replacing the chillers and the cooling power here in the mechanical room. Also, there's a strip of existing roof membrane over the existing classrooms. Uh that's one of the last areas of roof to be be replaced with the exception of the auxiliary gym and the pool that rest or excuse me that roof membrane will be part of this project as far as replacement as well. Um there are three alternates in the project alternate bid
032bids that we will ask the contractors to provide prices for. One alternate is right now in the base bid to help protect the budget. Um we have we have There's going to be a concrete drive is going to go up this point here on this side and stop. Uh then also the concrete drive up to this point. This will all be concrete here. But the base bid is a asphalt drive along the north here. Um there is an alternate to to uh have all of this drive concrete like we have everywhere where else but we wanted to separate that out just to see what that cost will be. Um the other alternate is to add in a connection to a fire water line over here on the west side of St. Charles Street. Currently there's
033a there's a 6 in water pipe uh we call it it's for sprinkler pipe connection. It's for protection of the the schools. It has hydrants located around the school. Um we only have one connection currently off of 15th Street that connects that loop. We're proposing an alternate to add a second connection. We had a couple of times in the past when there was a leak and some projects going on that we had to shut down the fire protection around the building. So, this alternate uh if that ever happens, we'll have another connection, an alternate connection to um to open up in the event we have to shut one of them down. It's just some added insurance. But again, that's that's uh the ultimates. Um, as far as the project schedule, as I mentioned, we're hope
034hopeful to present this to the board in November to uward the project, start the project in February, uh, then go through next summer and the summer after, and turn the project over for owner occupancy in December of 2027. Just a quick view of the front. That's what the the north view of the building will look like. It's kind of matching what you what we already have. I think this is the same one. Yeah. But this is the entry to the to the east. Any questions? >> How many additional classrooms will there be then? >> I think there's 13 right 14 counting the early learning center. Then restrooms. We have also mechanical. >> You mentioned we had to get a new chiller. How old is our current chiller? So, it's on its last legs anyway. >>
035Yeah, it's perfect timing. It works out. Actually, the one chiller went down two weeks ago, three weeks ago, and uh it's down and we're getting pricing uh to to do enough repair to keep it going. Uh just we have two chillers, two water cooled chillers. Uh, as you remember two years ago, we replaced the air cooled chiller. We used the aircooled chiller quite a bit in the in the winter and the fall. uh when the air the water cooled chillers are shut down. We use the air cooled chiller quite a bit for supplemental air. But uh we're getting prices right now to repair the one chiller just to keep it limping along until we can replace both chillers and the cooling towers. Yeah, it's it's time timing is right for it. >> What will the
036current north exterior wall look like after the addition? Will it look like all the other interior walls of the school? >> Yeah, that was it here. >> No, the inside the current >> Oh, >> north wall >> between the blue and the orange. >> Yeah, it will look like Yeah, it will be a block wall. Will we're going to remove the brick and obviously the windows will be infilled and we're going to lay a 4inch block wall. It will be painted. Uh and actually we are adding lockers along this area too. Add additional lockers. Uh because when we do the interior renovations, as you know, those those are existing lockers currently in the in the existing building and they're small. So, the proposed plan is to obviously add new lockers, part of the building addition,
037but when we do get into the interior, we're going to replace those existing lockers with new, larger lockers. >> I'll make a motion to move forward with requesting bids. >> I'll second. >> Motion by Steve, second by Arlette. Any questions or discussion? All in favor say I. >> Oppos? No. Motion carries. >> Thank you. Anybody have any questions on project? >> What's the latest on the leak above the auxiliary gym? >> Uh we Schmidt came out this morning and patched around the drain. Um there was a there was a hole in the membrane around the drains. Obviously half of the half of the roof water in the rain event sheets to those drains. So there was a lot of water that went to went in a small hole. So Schmidt came out patched it and
038as soon as we get like two dry days we're going to go ahead and repair that section of roof and those those drains on the east side. Um, and then in the meantime, hopefully put together a a bid document to replace that auxiliary roof membrane. It's it's funny because that was one of the last roofs on the project roof phasing plan to replace because there's no equipment. There's no people walking up there. Typically, the roofs wear out because of people walking, accessing roof equipment. And that was the plan to have that as one of the final areas to replace. But what has happened whenever you have high roofs like that, you have a high wind velocity as it comes over the roof. It wants to suck that rubber away from its surfaces. And that's what
039happened over time. It started to pull and pull and pull and it just sucked it up. And when it did, it pulled that roof membrane away from the drains and created some holes there which are now patched. And uh hopefully in the next few hopefully this week we can get a couple days of dry weather or whatever we can get it replaced. >> Any other questions? >> All right. Thank you for your time. >> Uhhuh. Mr. Beine update on the wait room, I believe. >> Well, you know, I saw one one >> Yeah, we removed it, but you can just give a brief statement on it if you want. >> Yeah. So I think uh good things come to those that wait and uh I think the consensus would be that the the wait room
040as it looks and as it's operating right now has exceeded expectation if you I know Greg's had a chance but I would like to at some time take a tour or have an open house and let the public and especially you guys see it and also explain sort of our vision in there and how everything functions in there. So, yeah, they came on September 10th and put all the flooring down probably in a four and a half, five hour time frame. As you know, the turf was down probably two weeks prior. And the uh the students and staff were already utilizing it. And then the very next day, 911, my birthday, they did install all the equipment in one day. And I know Sarah just asked about the BBT units, the the iPads and and
041the perch units, and they are operational as well as the 86 inch panel TV. So, we're only waiting for a little bit of additional flooring in the cardio area. Um, but it's it's not limiting anything that we would normally do. So yeah, I I have heard nothing but positive things that the kids I talked to that I I had trained in the past, they just they're just overjoyed. So and I think I think the certainly the two coaches in there that run it on a daily basis or you know like it's Christmas for them. So nothing but positive and I appreciate it. >> Good. It's awesome. Dr. Dr. Laura, I guess we move to other business. >> Yes. So, the board received proposed changes to the Jasper High School athletic code of conduct. We're asking
042the board to simply review that and any of those proposed changes for consideration for approval at our October board meeting. Um, the next item pertains to the Edna Joseph Endowment Fund. Um, the Jasper High School band has been the recipient of the Edna Joseph Trust for many years and historically the dividends of that trust were distributed annually to individual beneficiaries and then three separate organizations um which Jasper High School's ban being one of those organizations over time the only the three of those organizations remain and so the trust will sunset and the remaining assets will be divided among those three groups. groups. So, we are proposing that we use our portion of the trust to establish the Edna Joseph Endowment through Duboce County Community Foundation. And the purpose of the endowment would be just to
043create a perpetual source of funding for the Jasper High School band program, which was really the original intent of what those funds were meant for originally. Um, so the board has received the proposed agreement that was provided to us by the Duboce County Community Foundation for that establishment and I'm asking the board to consider approving that this evening. >> I'll make that motion. >> Second. >> Motion by our leg, second by Sarah. Any questions, discussion? All in favor say I. >> I. No. >> Motion carries. >> Thank you. And there is one signature page and this is uh requires your signature, Greg. >> Okay. >> And then I just have one announcement and that is that our October board meeting will be Monday, October the 27th at 700 p.m. here in the Jasper High School
044community room. And that's all that I have to bring to the board this evening. >> Any board member have any other old or new business to bring forth? >> No. Otherwise, I'll ask for a motion to adjurnn. >> I'll make that motion. >> Motion by Judy. Second by Sarah. All in favor say I. >> I. No. Motion carries. Meeting adjourned.