001the regular meeting of the Northland School Board uh board of directors district 13 December 11 2025 we have here to crew Mason [laughter] and Carol thinking about >> we're here >> and uh let's uh have a war. >> 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. >> Second item on the general approval of the agenda. We have a motion. >> I move to the agenda. Second. >> We have a motion and second. Any discussion? No. All in favor say I. I. I. Any opposed? Cos. Yeah. Item number three is a thank you to Ben Mesner who $5,000 middle school kil build a kil or should be purchase a kil for uh their
002class. Can you tell us a little bit about that? The art room um art program had a very old kiln beyond vintage. It was it was it was falling apart dand Jake you know tried to order some parts to fix it and I believe it started to fall apart a little more. So kils are very expensive and so Jake and I started talking about um you know how to how to replace that and um through a conversation with Bener who's been very generous to the district throughout the years um he said he would love to purchase a kil middle school so I know that Mr. Mr. Edgar was very happy and so were the students had a a whole year worth of projects planned out of that. So we're very excited to speak to actually
003public participation. We have anybody scheduled they're with us. >> Anybody in out there wants to make a public comment and we'll just move on to the next item which is communications. Um, first we're going to hear from Mark from North. Come on down quick. All right. >> Yeah. >> Just the ones with the cards. >> Both of them. There's two of them. >> Um, appreciate you letting me talk um for the group. Uh, hello a long long time ago. I used to know everybody in the group and a lot of things have changed and moving fast. So, I try to um try to give you a quick update. Um we've uh we've been here since 1957. Um we offer a bunch of services um to the to the area. Um we've currently gone from 15
004employees to 40 employees um after CO um we're currently provide financial help um for just about all of the teams at the school. We're doing a wrestling fundraiser next month. We have the basketball team, the football team, the choir music program this year, booster club, and then um my daughter's into volleyball. So now I've become a new volleyball person as well. Um we also have um we do um in school bowling kits. They're plastic pins and balls and um we provide those to the schools. We we paid for them. We bring them out. We'll we show them how to use them. a great little tool to help with math for the younger kids. They can keep score and uh and learn how to bowl at that time. Um we also have a bumper bowling program
005that we do to raise money for our high school team which is kind of my main reason um to talk to you today as well. We also run the special Olympics bowling program for the special needs group and has been very successful. They have a very good coordinator um running that program as well. And in the past, um, one of our big projects was we helped with the stadium project where we for 12 years we raised $3.2 million, um, for that project, um, for sports. Um, we currently employ four Northbend High School students in our training program, Gabe, Hannah, Noah, and Brighton, plus three other students. Um we also uh co-host the radio show um Hooked on Oregon and we had the Busker twins on there um for their national or their world championship. They
006were very well articulated on the radio. They did a very nice job today on that. We also run um a women's fitness facility inchby inch and um things on there. So the high school program, bowling program, um we there's been about 25 years ago, Boyd and us got together and we tried to solidify bowling and rally and equestrian into the activities. And the reason we did that at that time was we found out that if a freshman gets involved in a sport or an activity at high school in the freshman level, they were 96% more um more likely to graduate. and that number drove that decision to put that together um over the past couple years and COVID was maybe a little bit of the driver here, but there's been a little bit of an
007erosion of that of that program and it and it concerns me as a as a business person and plus when the idea when we put that all together um that that was important. Um we have an account at the high school. Um they told me they were going to close the account at the high school. um that's not going to happen now, but that but that was a little bit alarming to me because I used that account to raise money for the bowling program for the high school kids. Uh we're completely self-funded. We spend about 15 to $20,000 on the bowling team. Uh they travel all over the state just like any of your other sports. They compete. We have a hundred um 160 schools in the state that are involved in bowling right now.
008Um, it is it's a little bit different. It's governed by the Oregon State United States Bowling Congress, which is a national organization. So, the coaches have to have to pass safe sport, background check, and training levels to do that. Um, our coaches for the for the Northbend High School also pass everything that Northbend High School requires, which is very similar type programs with that as well. And and the coaches do that as well. It's a great program for kids. We have 25 kids in it. Um, 10 years ago we probably had 120 kids at Northbend High School. Um, the one thing I noticed about the sport was it's not six days a week. It's two or three. Works good with uh people in band. Um, they can do a sport, can still study. It's not
009time completely timeconuming. Um, and we've got an ability, our program is successful enough, we really can teach anybody how to bowl at at any skill level. So, it has been a great thing um for kids. The other thing that we have that's that's really cool is we have now we have $157,000 in our scholarship fund. So, every time kids bowl, they get points for scholarship money. Most the parents will get back more money if they spend $300 a year, let's say, on junior bowling league, they'll get back $390 in their scholarship fund based on the points, the games that they bowled in that because we've we've got so much money in the program that it rolls over. And if kids don't use the money when they graduate, then it rolls back into the program. It
010used to be four years, now it's eight years on that. We have um 200,000 in our statewide fund that we'll give away over the next four years. And we have 118 million in the national fund which they're giving out yearly. They were matching thousand scholarships all around the country the last couple years after CO. So a great a great program. Um we also uh the kids get through the Bull program u they can get scholarships to college. Uh the last one we had was $140,000 for four years. Uh Ariana uh Campbell got that. Um I did have two students from Northbend turned down full ride scholarships which boggled my mind but I still got them I still got it there and and got it offered. So I guess we we did our job um on
011that. Um, and then over the last three years, we've given out just direct scholarships to kids of 10,000 on those points. Um, I think two years ago it was 7,000 that year, maybe 6,000. So, we do that. That's happening all the time. Sometimes come to class night, sometimes we don't, just depending on who's there and how much money we have um to give out. The coaches are Trevor Seni who's a officer in the junior high. Uh Charlotte Senia the Bose coach and Angelina is the the girls coach. Um Hannah Worsh is a current senior bowler MVP also qualified again for national gold qualifier in Minneapolis this year and do that. So kind of what we want from the school is we just we'd like to have your support. um like to keep our account. Um
012we would if possible like to be included in the sports uh winter sports items that go on um there as far as awards and we like to keep getting letters and uh through the athletic department as well. And I I don't know how things are driven the school um work has been uh with increases has been real demanding. Um, I do have a 13-year-old that joined your school this year in the eighth grade. Um, so I'm I'm get I'm I'm more plugged in now than than I usually am since I had to do this again. So, um, and so that's kind of that's kind of that. If there's any questions on on that stuff, that's that's really kind of all I wanted to let you know is just kind of give us a a recap
013of our of our business and what we do. were more intertwined um than maybe sometimes as a school board you realize. Um my phone was ringing today for pizzas for the wrestling tournament, you know, break room and that's a kind of an ongoing message and stuff. So, but we we try to be real supportive of the high school and we've had a real good relationship and I I just want to make sure that we haven't done anything to harm that and uh uh that we can maybe continue to do our bumper bowling program to raise money for the high school team um and work with those and I think those are good programs um to do for the kids. So, >> you also hosted a booster club lunch. We hold the booster club lunch and
014we've been a big we've raised, you know, helped raise money for the booster club. They're doing a very good job. I I will add if I can say it's really been well organized and it's changed, but they're doing a good job there. I've been happy with that overall sport. So, >> Mark, do you know what happened to the account? >> We still have the account. >> Oh, okay. >> Yeah. Okay. >> So, and you know, we have a your new athletic director happens to be a bowler, so you know, you know, So, but I mean Mike still bugs me, but you know, I just like that person that won't go away, but you said he keeps coming around. So, but so I mean I think he's he understands bowling very well. I I just I
015just from your standpoint when it comes down that you know the way the way the system works, it's a little different than it used to be and I don't understand it. So, I just um I just like communication and if things change, just let me know and and uh we'll we'll try to pivot where we need to pivot and and we can do that. I just want to say the Special Olympics bullying is pretty amazing. There's a lot of North kids in it and we went to at the end of it, they were telling us how lucky you were to have a host here because it's it's few and hard to find and they're it's packed there. So, thank you. I love that. >> And that was grown and that's a that's a special program.
016If you see it, that's a special program that makes you kind of warms your heart, you know, and those kind of things. That's what you're in business for to be able to do those kind of things and and and be able to pay for them and help them and and do that. So, it's a great program. >> Do you guys have summer programs for school age kids? >> We do kids bowl free in the summer. >> Kids bowl free in the summer. They get two free games a day all summer long. Um, and so it's it's a great deal for for kids and a family can buy a pass for $39 and they get two free games a day all summer long for that $39. So it's really a good deal for families to do
017things together. Um, and especially when you pull away the cell phones which are horrid um you know that from the kids and do some things like that. I think there is you know I think activities and sports are important. I >> I only met my husband at bowling alley. So I think this is really great. I didn't know a lot of this information. Um and so I'm really excited about it and I think I think like what you have set up here is is pretty great for us with the community. >> Yep. That's what I was I was here to came to tell you how great we were is what I came here to do. And um as a as a business person that's been around a long time, we see things differently than you
018see things in this room. Um we get to look at things differently. But one of the things that we really need to do to help the sports programs and kids activity, we need to figure out our gym situation to get some more playing time for kids to be active um and and have gym time. It's it's extremely difficult to get gym time and um I hate to say the Marshfield word, but they do a lot better job with gym time. Now, they have more gyms, so I I understand that, but um that would to keep kids active and if you want to be competitive in sports, you have to be able to do to do that. Um and so if we if we want to do those type of things, then that's that's necessary. just
019just like the football field was important at the time that we got it because everybody can use the football field because of the turf. So that's why we a bunch of us got together and raised all that money for the football field because it helped the soccer team, you know, and the rally and having a having a strong football program brings the community together. Those things are synergies that sometimes in the educational field you don't feel like they're important, but I can tell you when I went to Northbend, sports kept me in school and kept me good in grades because I wanted to play sports and that and that really helped me later on. That motivation the motivation was in the wrong place, but it it made me do what I needed to do at
020an age that I didn't want to do it. So >> when you say you talking about just school hours or both in and out of school hours access to to Jen >> after hours. >> So more after hours. >> Yeah. To have to to have that. And I know that causes logistic problems and you have insurance problems. You have all sorts of things you got to talk about with that. But um but it's it's important. I mean, what one of the best programs I've ever seen is a SEMA volleyball program where there's 14,000 girls playing volleyball all over the state. And I'm driving all over the state and and we have a good group of eighth grade volleyball players that will will change the trajectory of of of the next, you know, coming years with
021with all the time that they've spent the parents have spent with them helping them. But I like I'm I'm sponsoring a young girl that can't afford to do it to go but is talented to do it. And that's where for me from a business standpoint, that's the sad point that we have kids that are able but we don't there's no access here for them to practice and hone their skills. And without doing that, you can't be competitive in volleyball if you don't have the team aspect of that because and and basketball's kind of similar. you have to have those, you know, be able to play 10 people on a court to get that aspect of it. So, um, those things >> and that's where the open gym is important. >> Yes. And and and those
022development and and I think we all can agree that um that health and exercise is extremely important in youth these days because we we fight a lot of that in our in our world at the at the gym. you know, we we have I mean, I'm just I'm just dealing with women here, but but moms bring in, you know, daughters that need to that and it's just sad because you want to help them, you know, get healthy. It's just important that they get the right information and stuff like that. So, it's a challenge, but it does there is there is a definite need in the area on that. So, I'm not sure what what you can do or if you can do anything, but that's just a thought. we can have you talk to him
023and see what can be done. >> Okay. And then um I'm going out I'm going to get in trouble here a little bit, but my my daughter came from a different school. Seventh grade, she had homework three nights a week, four nights a week. In the eighth grade, um she hasn't had homework. and to get the eighth graders prepared for high school and with the numbers that we've shown for science and reading and math at the eighth grade level. I I really think there's you got to look at that curriculum and we've got to we've got to do something about that. So that's that's a businessman talking. So again, I don't know why there's no homework, but to me it seems unusual to to be that way when it wasn't that way from what I
024was used to. So, um I I don't know where that conversation starts or goes, but I fear your the conversation here might be a good place to to have that if you wanted to get a little tougher on them. I I don't think it would be a bad thing. So, from what I'm I I've kind of seen both sides of the fence and I have a couple older kids in their 30s and and I have a young one I adopted. So, little little different view there on that. >> Well, thank you very much. I appreciate you coming down and talking. >> You betcha. >> And if you and if you have any questions, I put my card there, stuff like that. And uh we have a wrestling fundraiser next month, too. Um you register with
025coming to that. They're going to raise some money for the wrestling team. And if anybody needs any help or things like that, we're always we're always willing to help or talk to people and >> do do whatever we can. And if we have a radio show, so you want to send Tim on the radio show, I'd love to we love to get the school district people up there meet those superintendents up on the radio. But you have to make him come because I don't think he'll come. >> Thank you. >> We just appreciate you so much. I mean, ever since I came to this perspective, I just hear see all the amazing things you do for us and for our students and um if you don't know now, you do. I mean, the man's amazing.
026The programs you put together are amazing. Um and and you know, 100% support the idea of engagement and that being active in sports or other clubs and produces graduates. So, we are 100% supporting that. So, thank you so much. >> And I'm still competitive. I like to uh still, you know, beat the people across town. So, >> it's it's all there. I like to be proud of our proud of what we're doing and here. So, that's still there. So, thank you for your time. Appreciate I have to go back to work. So, I apologize. >> Thank you. >> You bet. Uh, next item is report forward. Okay, listen to student representatives to the board. High school represent Ellie Barer and Barely alone, did I? >> Yeah. >> Um, so we were wrapping up our fall
027sports a couple weeks ago. We have a congratulations to Lauren Garagus, Kinley Desosa, and Miles Picotti for making honorable mention all state soccer this year. Mila Davidson and Erica Mcccleintoch made third team all state soccer. Um the girls soccer coach Tony Picotti was co- coach of the year for the SkyM League. Our winter sports have just started a couple weeks ago here. So, boys wrestling started their first tournament, finishing second in Del Norte. Girls finished seventh. Girls basketball has started the season 2 and 0 this year with the win over 5A Dallas. Boys basketball started 2-1 with two wins over 5A teams, which was Springfield and Dallas. Swimming will have their first home meet Saturday with the Bulldog Invitational. And the Coast Classic is also this weekend with 37 boys teams and 32 girls teams.
028Um, our other winter activities, leadership has done some shopping to give out gifts to students on Friday 12:19 at our winter assembly which culminates our winter spirit week. Um, band and choir concert at the Egyptian theater on 12:18 at 700 p.m. And that's all I was given. So >> bear I met you this week wrapping gifts and I think you're really talented at that me look bad [laughter] >> right next we have the high school principal Sheena Brown 4 cath and discussion with my daughter So last night >> yes >> leadership team when I was >> I got to uh experience some of your daughter's passion yesterday during lunch engagement session. So it's fantastic. Um, so, uh, I'm just here to share out some of the information and feedback I received from not only students,
029from the staff on the issue of graduation caps and cords being well, the decoration of graduation caps and then um, expanding cords to include clubs and activities. Um, no surprise these students were overwhelmingly uh, in support of doing that. Um, uh, over 90% were in favor of both. Um there were some that and then tell you the truth the other 10% just didn't have a strong opinion either way and so um pretty overwhelming um as far as want wanting to do these things. Um we did discuss the potential pitfalls um of you know the decorating of the caps with uh the students um and got their feedback on on how we might you know try to eliminate some of those issues. um had some great conversations um as a result of that conversation and sort
030of combining with uh some resources we stole from other districts as far as their policies on graduating caps uh decorating caps, sorry. Um we have come up with a draft of what we would uh put forward if uh or what we would require if uh we were to allow cap decorations um uh during our graduation ceremony. Um, I'm happy to share a draft of that with you now if you'd like. So, what's highlighted is is the update to our graduation agreements and then calculation guidelines from the back. I will say that one of the uh recommendations I got from both students and uh staff was to add and I neglected to do that before tonight. I'm sorry. Uh to the uh decoration guidelines a height limit. So let's do that. I've got too many things
031going too high off that gap. So, beach balls, bubbles, silly spring. >> I know. We're boring. We're boring. >> I know. >> Did you attend? Because I honestly don't like it. I think that they work 12 years and it's their graduation day. And I don't know why we put so many limits on people who we molded into these great adults. >> Like I said, Easter say >> I really mean it. >> Um, so some of the feedback from the staff was a little was much more split. In fact, I'd say it's just not overwhelmingly negative. I wouldn't say it was a complete reversal, but some of the same concerns that we discussed at the work session when this was first brought up. you know, worried about the policing of those caps, worried about the potential
032conflict with families and students if a if a cap is deemed inappropriate, but the family doesn't feel like it's inappropriate. Um, you know, how far up the chain does that go before a decision is made if I say no, for example. Um, and just again some of the the logistics of policing that um was the primary reason for being hesitant to do that. There's also just those who like the tradition of this being a a more I wouldn't say solemn but sort of traditional uh ceremony and that not decorating the caps is really everybody's there. They're a unified group. Uh this isn't they're celebrating each other as a group not necessarily as individuals. That was just the some of the feedback I received from the staff on on the reasons for wanting to keep it.
033The primary reason is the policing of of the caps and potential pitfalls and and conflicts we could we could have with families who u don't agree with our decision regarding a cap design. So um that all that being said as far as the caps are concerned um if it's if it's something that uh that you as a board would like me to to to put forward and and give a try um I think we have enough feedback from the students who say they'll be willing to abide by those guidelines and abide by our decisions that I feel like it's it we could give it a shot. Um, personally, uh, I'm going to be very honest. I would really rather avoid the conflict, um, and just have that night more focused on a celebration rather than,
034you know, being in conflict with the parent or family regarding a cap design. >> So, but that's part of their celebration. >> Yes, they have. And I understand why you would, you know, no one likes conflict. Um, but just because somebody might do something that'll be fist by inappropriate tells they can't do it doesn't mean everyone else shouldn't be able to do, you know, to celebrate in a particular way. So, you know, I'm supportive of the caps and as outlined here. I think that's a good way to approach it. We've had that, but in the past, the school district's had it in the past. Um, my understanding is sort of co kind of killed that a little bit. Um, so and I think the girls and boys, men and women, uh, want want that, you
035know, we we should >> Did you discuss um, Tracy have an idea about stoalls instead of was that discussed? >> That was discussed. Um there the staff was pretty much sort of almost directly in thirds. Don't do anything. Allow the cords. Allow stolen pins. Um the students were were open to the idea of the stalls and pins but overwhelmingly wanted the cords instead. Um they thought that that was a little more visible that their participation was a little more visible doing that. I could see potentially moving to that in the future. Um when the discussion came up to the students as far as you know a number of chords sort of diminishing the importance of the academic chord uh their response which I thought was actually pretty good uh was that in future years okay
036have chords for all the clubs and activities but actually have a larger more prominent stole for academic achievement. >> I like that because like I said in our work session not all of our kids are 4.0 you know, college prep and they're not going to all get a basics, but it means just as much to >> I will say the kids absolutely sold me on the court idea. Uh some of their feedback and some of the reasons uh that they wanted to do that uh really sold me on that. Um some of the um I think one one of the more powerful um statements that or reasons that I heard for allowing the courts was how great would it be to have a seventh or eighth grader at the graduation ceremony and really be able
037to see all that you could get involved in >> and to have that as something to look forward to. Um that that was something that just sort of just had to stare at them for a second. You're a genius. And so, uh, so that was I I think the the chords, um, while while some staff, uh, and and and other adults, uh, weren't necessarily in favor of that, I I am completely in favor of of allowing those. Um, I even had an email uh, from a student this morning um, expressing her desire to to not only have clubs and other organizations, but uh, specific groups. So, for example, jazz band is not a club, not a club, but to show up at 7 o'clock every morning of the weekday and and be involved in jazz
038band and be involved in those concerts and be involved in the great music program we have would certainly be deserving of award. Yeah. >> And so I think there's some ways we can look to to involve those other those groups that aren't necessarily a club, but also as just being very involved in the school and and and that requires some commitment from the students that they should be uh recognized for. >> Since our work session, I wanted to make sure I said to you too, I really appreciate how you spoke to the student. You don't have to agree, but respect. I mean, she said that it's great. >> Yeah. So, thank you for that. >> We've got we've got a great group of students. I think it's great that you're hearing the students out and
039letting them feel like they have control and some kind of authority over their school experience and yeah, like Anna said, even if you disagree, you're just like, "But thank you for coming and and talking." I mean that sets them up for so much more success than so many things we teach them is like how to navigate different different opinions and you know when they get hired somewhere have to go to their boss and like we're that's a I think that's a really awesome thing that we're teaching them and how to do it in a civil kind respectful way and how to collaborate. So yeah, kudos for that. First speak up is great even when we don't agree. That's >> yeah, >> totally agree. Tim, I have a question. Do we have to do with bary
040or can we move this now? >> There's not really a the board has a commencement false and and some polic because it's very much a a graduation ceremony as a board um a board recognition of the graduation. So, I've seen policies with this in it. um it it doesn't sound like there's a need to change the policy if um you know overwhelming student population is is for it. I mean it it makes perfect sense to move forward with it. Um so so um if the board feels there's a need to update the policy. Um it could have of course but it sounds like we're going to move forward with that. >> We need motion. And I think the kids need to know that the board is supportive of this and that the school did the
041work and so I will motion to accept it with the addition of the height um being limited and addressed. >> I'll second that. >> Don't we have to mention the change for the act? >> I don't know if we do that different I just have a question during our discussion though just just I was curious on the guidelines whether they were reviewed at all by our legal council. I just want to be cognizant of any first visual >> and and I am in the process of doing that and and you know we modeled this off of several you know there's multiple districts that have forms almost exactly like this so we'll make sure we finalize it. I I would say um I I I love the idea of support you know making motion to support
042it. I this isn't this won't end up in the actual like OSBA policy visa. It's more of like administrative type. >> It's okay. I think we should allow tweaks to it. >> Sure. >> Amend the motion to allow tweaks as needed by >> Yeah. >> I also I also like to point out the the item about the odor producing items was was actually from the students. They're like, "You better put that in." I I would >> even Yeah. Wait a second. >> Well, I I really particularly like the idea on the wider cord. >> So that does stand out over and above. But yeah, the kids have to be able to have some fun, too. I mean, graduation, you know, it's obviously very serious, but their kids, you know, they need to have plus Nathan's
043daughters could have a cow if we all >> I'm curious if board members bring beach balls. Do we get in trouble? [laughter] >> Just kidding. Well, thank you. >> Oh, wait a minute. We had a motion. >> Oh, nice. >> All right. All in favor say I. >> I. >> Any opposed? None. >> Thank you. [laughter] >> 90 plus% of kids who are. >> All right. Our next item is the North Education Associ. >> Hello. Good evening. >> Good to see you. >> Yeah, it's good to be here. So, I wanted to start off uh expressing gratitude. uh the confederated tribes of the Kous Lower Uqua and Susla Indians and I believe in partnership with the Kochil tribes have recently gifted the elementary school classrooms with a collection of of books and I know that
044those were very well received by by students and uh uh teachers as well. Um and also uh we wanted to as an association thank Mark Madich. glad that he left. So hopefully maybe he'll watch the recording. But in addition to all the wonderful things that he's already um shared with you, he also um uh supports the association directly um when we have our monthly social events and so we really appreciate that as well. Um Hillrest is um enjoying or will enjoy a spirit week next week um whereupon the students and staff are encouraged to playfully dress up. I think um Monday is like Jingle Bell Rock and they're gonna rock their school colors. And Tuesday is Jingle Toes where they wear their jazziest um uh pair of holiday socks. And then there's a winter wonderland
045where they dress up all in white. And then Thursday tree topper day where you wear your favorite holiday headewear. And Friday is a festive uh wear your favorite holiday outfit. And I thought what fun that will be. Um, of course on everyone's mind at both elementary schools is the growing uh discussion centered around the possible reconfiguration of the the two schools. And so we know that this is not going to be an easy decision. Um, but we trust that the staff and community input will be considered as the positives and negatives are all weighed out. So we're looking forward to more discussions on that. Um at the secondary levels, the student councils are hosting um uh food drives and selling candy cane grams to raise uh funds. Uh seventh graders at the middle school are
046in the midst of a cool um collaboration with the ELA and uh social studies teachers on a disciplinary project like Egypt skips skits, excuse me. Um there's also a pretty fierce uh door decorating competition amongst the middle school staff and students underway. Um and the theme this year you had the classes had a a choice between like favorite Christmas lyrics and cozy Christmas. So it's been fun to see everyone's doors morph into the holiday season. Uh the the high school is doing something similar, but um they have different themes depending on what um what hallway you're in. So like the freshman hallway is doing an elf theme, the sophomores are Grinch, juniors are winter wonderland, and the seniors are Home Alone. So um fun to see, you know, the schools kind of change as we
047go into the the holiday week next week. um last week which would have been our normal like schoolboard meeting right on the 2nd uh was special education appreciation day and so I'd like to tonight for the um extra mile um recognition basically to recognize the extraordinary work of our special education teams across the district. So there's a large number of ed special educators in our district. In fact, I wasn't even quite aware that there were so many. So, thank you for helping me out with that. Um, so the work of our special um education professionals is, you know, in its very nature individualized, intensive, and indispensable. And our special ed teachers are the architects of access, of designing and adapting the curriculum so that every single student can engage, learn, and grow. their um advocates,
048counselors, and relentless cheerleaders for their students. They navigate this complex web of legal requirements, but not so much as paperwork necessarily, but as a blueprint for student dignity and uh potential. So, their impact stretches far beyond the pages of VIP that the regular um general content teachers re, you know, get. Um they model empathy, patience and inclusivity for all their students and for the staff. They teach us that success is not a single destination but a series of personal breakthroughs. Um and because of their dedication, our schools are not just buildings where some students succeed. Uh they are the community where students uh where every student belongs and can find their path. So they do this demanding work with uh remarkable resilience and compassion. And so tonight on behalf of the entire association I extend
049our extend our deepest appreciation to every special ed teacher and par profofessional because they are essential to our mission. Um so I'm recognizing here the certified staff that was as the certified um association president that that was my main focus. Um so we at North Bay we have um Mike Tomaso in adapted life skills and Evan Harahyama Har thank you in in the resource room. And then at um Hillrest we have William Hinoa in adaptive life skills, Michelle Combmes who's new to us this year in middle learning and Barbara Schultz um in the resource room. Some shared pictures and some did not. So, uh, Rihanna is, uh, Rihanna in Mets and Adaptive Life Skills and Middle Learning. She is represented by her her companion, Juniper. Um, and then we also have Jennifer Harrison in the
050resource room. Devon Russell also in the resource room. And then at the high school, Benaster adaptive life skills, Ron Henderson in resource room, and Berry Alvarez in the resource room. And then additionally um Nuri Kirk and adult transitions and Greg Delino in the middle learning center. And then there's a unique group of course uh two at the district office. Bill Barryian who's our school psychologist, Rosalyn Dicki who's a special education consultant and then our speech and language pathologists. Uh Cynthia Bowler um who serves both the middle school and high school. uh Jake uh Mock who works at Hillrest and Megan McInness at North Bay. Um Megan also nominated Erica Pit um for extra mile nomination and so I giving she's she's a educational assistant but in the words from Megan uh she says EEA plays
051an essential role in carrying out our case loads and assisting with therapy and her contribution makes a significant impact on our students and the overall program. So our success is very much a team effort. And although I recognize mostly all certified staff, it goes without saying that we can't do, you know, even as a classroom teacher, we we can't do our work without their educational profession. And so I would love to recognize all of them, but I was imagining all your hands writing thank you notes and I thought this group in itself was maybe too large, but it special education appreciation. Thank you so very much. foundation superintendent report a lot of sort of just information to share some updates. U please be aware of the holiday music program at the theater on December 18th
052that was done. Um we have a wayfinder family engagement opportunity coming up and if you haven't had a chance to participate in one of those I would encourage you to. That's on January 10th. Um we've had incredible um presenters and they've provided us with um very positive feedback on working with our staff and our families and students and and we would say the same about them. Um it is a comprehensive K12 future ready skills curriculum that is designed to help students um succeed in school and beyond and it aligns completely to our strategic plan goals. that wayfinder program came to us through a grant that the ESD acquired and so we we've been able to partner with them and get that program to be part of our school system. But in addition to that, through
053the stronger connections grant, we also have them help us plan these family engagement opportunities really to provide a chance for the students and families and our staff to interact in a positive and positive way for needs um to nurture the high schools, but just so that the families can also see that our staff members are really caring to people that it's not all academic. They they also want to be part of of the positive growth and progression through their lives, too. So, we've invited all staff members to attend. Um, we do have some grant funds to even pay staff members to attend. So, it's also a learning opportunity at the camp because they're going to learn from the Wayfinder staff elements of the curriculum. So, we we encourage our staff to attend. We encourage the
054board to attend and of course our families to attend. and lunch is provided. We do a elementary session and a secondary session. >> Lunch was as good as the event. >> Lunch was amazing. Um the first session we had lunch was provided by our our own um staff and the second one was actually through Mark Mache. >> The first one it was me. It was it was it was and again that was a competitive grant that we sought out and and was a big part of that too and we're acquiring that grant and so it's been it's been great and that helped us on board our second SRO and it's brought a lot of positive programs to the district. So it's been a fantastic grant a highly competitive grant and it was very hard to
055get it. So a lot of work went into that. We're doing some great doing some great things with it. A group of administrators attended the GOSA law conference in early December. I started off on day one and it was I was there early to attend a new superintendent academy as part of my own professional development path and it it connects me with KOSA leaders who have many many years experience as superintendents and also some of the highly successful superintendent around the state. So I have an opportunity to learn from them, connect with them, make some professional connections and also learn about some successes that they've had and and some roadblocks they've had and how they've navigated those with their staff, with their community. The wonderful opportunity to learn to build a strong support network. This
056the law conference itself. It's it's really critical that we send administrators to these conferences. I think the last legislative session had well over 150 bills that were passed that effect of education directly and so trying to keep up to date on these is critical for us as a district of course. So um obviously so we don't get sued but but more importantly that we're we're doing everything we can to support students and families which is what a lot of these laws are intended to do. So we focused on um there are many breakout sessions focused on compliance around special education. The SB 141 governor's accountability bill is a huge huge topic right now. Um we've been working with um as a on the state level, administrative groups, union groups, um you know, the OSBA, the
057the Oregon School Personnels Association. We've all found alignment around this this accountability measure in terms of some of the restrictions that would be coming our way need to really be kind of wound down a little bit and maybe um realigned to what matters the most. in our schools and not really lock us down and eventually they take away from our ability to control our own finances if we don't meet the goal set by state. So we we've been making some good strides in that area but that was a big big topic of discussion. Parental rights, students and staff speech rights and strategic budgeting were other topics of the conference. There is an out of state wrestling opportunity coming up I wanted to make you aware of. Um if there's state travel going on and we
058always want to make sure the board is aware of that and knows about it. So there is a wrestling opportunity our coaches found for our students up in Ridgefield, Washington and they really felt it was important they have the opportunity to participate in this and so they will be attending that December 28th through the 31st. It's just another way we can increase you know opportunities and experiences for our students. So, so we're very supportive of them. We started an athletic study hall at the high school and it's an opportunity for our athletes to essentially get support or have some time to complete work. It's mandatory if they're receiving taxes to attend as well so that they can remain eligible. our student athletes in many ways are are looked up to in leadership roles in our
059schools and so it's important that we also hold them accountable. We're also implementing some more accountability around attendance for the athletes specifically and of course if there's anything medical related to that we actually talked about adding some some coding standards so that there are medical and doctor's appointment they're not being held back from that but it's something we're excited to offer. We want to expand that at some point, but right now we're starting with the student athletes. The legislative meet and greet, it was originally planned for December and the legislators got backed out. It's now January 6. So that'll be coming up at our ESD from 4 to 6 on January 6. that you can make it. This is a chance for all of us to advocate for our students, our staff, and our communities
060and let our legislators know what's important to our staff and to our teachers and what matters most to our students so that they can try to take that into consideration as they're creating all these laws for us and readjusting some of them. And we will have all four of Representative Boomeray Port and Senators Anderson and David Brock Smith will be attending a Viking lane update. Um we had submitted them of of our counter offer and 10.10 acres and they're essentially working through some technical issues. Um the attorneys are just uh you know trying to get language right according to what they need to see that the finance piece of it they still haven't even blocked it that in fact I took a call from them the other day and they they said the finances were
061fine. It was just some of the language in the contract. they were trying to square away and they were trying to figure out how to ensure that some of the protections we asked for can be put in place in the contract um so that things like you talk about buffer zones and things like that are all all still being happy that offer so that's going well we extended it though till January 28th so that they had some time to you know pick the proposals back and forth we are um you you know, continuing to investigate the the possibility of purchasing the board theater in order to build a comprehensive performing arts program and provide those students with a place that they essentially identify with and feel proud of. Um, we had wanted to submit an
062offer to sort of lock in something, but of course contingent upon other things and contingent upon ultimately board approval. inspections and the final sale of Viking Lane as that was a trade for land for a theater that we could use. And so um a counter came back and I think we need to make some decisions um internally regarding how to respond to that in a financially prudent way um to make the act the acquisition fiscally justifiable. Um, in other words, there is a point where it's, you know, it just doesn't make sense. And so, um, we received a counter offer. We will think about that a bit and and anything that is sent back to them, I will review in terms of the budget and it would still have those same parameters in place that
063ultimately will constitute for a final decision. So, that's kind of on hold right now. Um, Reconfiguration has, as Eva was stated, has been a hot topic and we're seeing it become a hot topic around the community and social media. It is a highly emotional topic for some and and we expect that anytime there's change, it is highly emotional as it has been every time the boundaries of our schools have been redrawn. And this has happened throughout the years. There's been several variations of how the elementary schools have been set up throughout the years. As as you're all aware from previous presentations, this is a a way of addressing the need to redraw boundaries on a regular basis and not have to do that. find a way to keep the schools both running and keep us
064in a position to where we can address declining enrollment yet still provide focused services to our students, good opportunities to our students as well as um not have to redraw our boundaries every few years. as as there are some things happening right now in the community that will cause us to have to redraw the boundaries very soon because of the new complex coming in that will all be in Hillrest zone. Hillrest has already much much higher in population than North Bay is. And so that will change the dynamics of in terms of economic status and the student population anyways and it will make it hard to address our budget challenges and provide the services all of our students need at all schools this model. So it's it's something that again we are saying we are
065exploring this. No decisions have been made. Obviously we've met with our teacher groups at both elementary schools. We provide an opportunity to meet with all classified both elementary schools. They each received follow-up surveys for the elementary schools. If there'll be a community forum on Monday night, the hall of champions will go through a presentation. Um have some some time at tables to work through some questions so that that people can have some discussion and ask some questions and then that information will be gathered. Ultimately, some documents will be created that push out to the community question answer type documents and then a survey will go out communitywide as well. So, we can make sure we're gathering feedback in multiple ways, providing opportunities for feedback to come into us to make sure we're addressing all of
066these things and truly thinking about them before any decisions are made. And as we move forward, we're anticipating a board work session um followed by another board meeting where eventually we've made it. rating that decision. So I'm prepared to then uh either pivot that direction or towards redrawing of boundaries if that's the the decision to make as well which will also affect many in both schools where we stand with that. Um, we did meet with the bus company as well, talk about routing and and what that would look like um because we want to make sure that that we can actually do that um with their sort of current system. They anticipate you need to add some drivers, but at this point we also feel like we we can do some work with them to
067to kind of reduce the number of routes they they recommended. Um because one of our focuses has been to reduce the time on the buses and they have also had tremendous staffing issues over the past um three four five years and it's just really made it hard for them to even get the number of drivers that were really supposed to have or they did I would like to have. So, they're working on some proposals for us to consider in the future as we as we decide and as you decide how things move forward as their contract is ending this school year. We do have an opportunity to extend it if the board would like um we would need to have that decision made prior to the end of January. Otherwise, we would then go out
068send out an RFP can see the proposals. So those are some options that we'll be talking about next month. Operational levy. We had a meeting with our union. The union were invited to the hall of champions November 19th. Certified and classified members um that chose to attend were present. We did a levy presentation. You know what is a levy? What can it provide to our school district? What does it mean for taxpayers? And then we broke out into table groups and by level of the school, elementary, middle or high. The staff members um kind of identified the high priority needs for their schools. And so we gathered that information. They shared that out severely were present and we appreciate you being there. We also talked to the building administrators to see if we missed any
069key positions. Um so there were a couple positions added to the list. We then sent that out as a survey to staff members so they all had input in prioritizing that list at each level. Now that that has been prioritized, a certified group um will work on some potential levy language for a ballot measure and we will put together something for you um to be able to vote on hopefully by February. See if it goes on on the May ballot. And at that point, the union takes over and will rally the public's support. the tech building. We're working on updating the technology building, which was the Bridges building, to be a dedicated space for professional development, schoolboard meetings, and we're expecting furniture to arrive um to sort of update some of the stuff that's already
070there, but last week of December technology, we could have some of our larger group professional development there in those spaces and could also move our board meetings to that space. So, We're excited about that as well. So, that's where we stand with that. We were hoping to have that ready by January, but it will most likely be in February because the furniture doesn't arrive, has to be assembled, delivered. So, that that doesn't arrive till the end of December. I didn't include students name on the next one just because I I didn't have an opportunity to ask if it was okay. But a Northman High School student was awarded a Quest Quest Bridge National College scholarship. And that is an award valued at over more than $325,000 over four years. Only 2,550 students nationwide receive this.
071So the the student essentially will receive a scholarship that covers all expenses including tuition, housing, meals, travel supplies, and other costs. It is an amazing amazing achievement. Something we'll take great pride in. And I want to give a big special shout out to Rob Patrick, one of the high school counselors who helped make this happen for this community. Truly, truly life-changing. Very very thank um we heard about kiln earlier. um Advanced Health from Ben Master also runs Advanced Health and Sam Bow from Advanced Health King and actually presented our principles with donations of 5,000 for our need student funds again this year. So this is the fourth year in a row. They've given $5,000 from each of our members to support these students. It's just truly amazing and very much appreciated those donations that allow
072the schools to support families during times of tragedy or grading in ways that we typically aren't allowed to because because of the way usually our financial systems are in school. So a donation board needs to specifically can be used in those ways. very very nice and very helpful. And they also helped support the previous year's donations. The the food box program this year that was organized by their principles. Greatly appreciate those partnerships. Hard to pick up but so many great things happening and our staff is doing such an amazing job at all levels. Thank you very much. >> On to the next item which is the consent count agenda items. We have a motion to the consent item. And just so you know on that um that the annual business that you you probably don't
073remember but you did it in J in July. Um there this happens every year. Um but there there's some changes happening you know for some of the some of the positions that changed the chief administrative officer district budget officer um deputy court. So some of those meetings have just been flipped around based on the changes that are happen to accept the second. >> Any discussion? >> All in favor say I. Any opposed? Passes. All right. Next, we're going to hear the report. They're online presenting um if they're ready. >> Hello. Are you all able to hear me? >> Perfect. Well, um as most of you know, my name is Savannah. I am communications manager for um Quali. Um I just want to first of all tell all of you um board members, admin staff um
074how amazing it is to work with you guys throughout the audit season. Uh you guys do make it very enjoyable, quick, easy. Um as much as I can say easy for an audit report. Um but it is just a joy to work with you guys. Um Laorray has been amazing for us. Um, and so we just want to extend our appreciation to you guys. I would like to let you guys know that there were no audit findings, um, no discrepancies, nothing that we noticed throughout the year, which is amazing. Um, your staff there is very, very, very good at what they do. So, um, I would like to, you know, say thank you to Laorray. Thank you for being great with us, working with us. I do think that, uh, your team appreciates you as
075well. Um Tim, I also want to say thank you for your kind words as far as um being thankful to work with us. That does mean a lot coming from um a client. So we do appreciate that. Um I will turn it over to Ash, our CPA, who will go through a quick slideshow just to show you guys, you know, the portions of the audit that we worked on. um things that you know we noticed or um as far as anything good this district again has really done a great job um at setting themselves up for a good audit. So I will pass this along to her. >> Hi. Thank you Savannah. Um um and thank you for the board for having us here tonight. Um I just want to make sure I'm sharing the
076screen and you're able to see the correct screen. I have six screens here. So I just want to make sure. >> All right, perfect. So like Savannah said, um I am going to try to make this very uh simple and not get into too much detail. Um so um I just want to say that the audit for 2025 went really well and thanks to LA and the team for uh be able to provide us all the documents have that knowledge to make sure that they know what we're talking about providing us everything that we need um understanding the Gatsby pronouncement the standards that we currently have going. So I really appreciate that. It's a great support uh for us as well because it's it's an understanding and it makes our life a little better and
077a little easier to work on the audit. So thank you Larry and the team. Um in terms of the audit, the audit is clean in the other words that the uh financial statements uh that are presented fairly uh in all material aspects. There's no material variances, no findings just like Savannah said and everything is looking great. Um the the district also had single audit and also um over there clear audit report. There were no findings prior. There's no finding this year. And the major program that we tested was the child nutrition program. So overall great job. Um going on um I'll not dive into too much detail here. Um I just want to let you all know that net position is looking great. Um the net position this year went up 20 uh it was
07820 it went 23 uh million and last year it was 21. So the total net change was a little over $2.7 million. So everything is looking great for the district right here. Um and just to let you know that statement of net position um it's on page 11 of the audit report. It includes a lot of it's a full acral report. So it includes a lot of capital assets, the bond payable and all of that fund pension liabilities, net liabilities and all that fun stuff. Um this is why the report is too long. Um next we have statement of activities which is basically basically profit and loss. Although uh there was a positive net change uh net positive uh change positive change in net position of 2.6 6 million. Uh for the primary governmental activities,
079the expenses did exceeded program revenues. Again, this is on the full acral basis. Um the program revenues were about $9.4 million and the general revenue, which technically consists of property taxes, state um the state school fund revenues and investment earnings, they were about $39.7 million. So the difference between revenues and expenses were $2.6 million. That is technically the change in net position. Um looking at the um audit the budget versus actual for general fund which is on page 60 the revenues were uh $727,000 more that that was budgeted. So that's a good thing. And the expenses were $8.5 million less than there was budgeted. So in the end the fund balance is is 10.5 million more than that was budgeted and it's on a positive it's and it's a positive fund balance. Um does anybody
080have any questions here so far? Hope this is making all sense. >> Perfect. >> Okay. Um I do want to I do want to um uh go over a couple of things that were changed this year and the upcoming Gatsby changes. Yes, there are u some new changes coming along from Gatsby. Uh one of the change uh that we did have was a Gatsby 102 which is a certain risk disclosure. In other words, that the district is relies on the state funding for its operational and instructional expenditures. So for the uh fiscal year ended June 30th 2025 approximately 84% of the district total government fund um revenues were derived from the state aortments and grants. In other words the there is a lack of diversity in district's revenue sources and that makes district vulnerable to
081the uh substantial impact if there were any changes to the state funding. So what is currently district is doing to mitigate this uh potential impact? Well, districts currently monitors uh the state funding and also evaluates potential u mitigation strategies um including uh expenditure review and identifying uh potential areas for the budget reductions. So these are some of the uh the what district monitors to ensure there's potential mitigation if there were any changes to the state funding and this is on page 57 of of the audit report. Uh moving on um the other changes are that's upcoming is Gatsby 103 which is a change to the how we report the um audit report. The effective date is June 15, 2025 but we have already made some changes this year. We just want to be proactive because
082we never know what other standards that Gatsby might pull. Uh one of the changes um that is very major this year or upcoming for next year is the management discussion analysis. Um for Gatsby they want to see more of why there are changes instead of there was an increase in revenue and decrease in expenditures. They would like to know why. So we have included in the MDNA if you look into pages 4 through 5 or 4 through 6 there are some details of why there was an increase such as there was an increase in revenue uh but it was offset by $625,000 due to er funds because there was a conclusion of uh that program of that funding. So these are some of the details that we will we have started adding to the report
083which actually make it makes it easier for the users to read and understand the changes in the district financials. Um and this is one of the examples that I was talking about for the changes in net position and what are we um adding more to it. Of course, we will be in touch and we'll be making sure to go back to the business manager just to make sure that they are able to if we do need to add anything any more of these details, we will definitely add. And finally, uh there is a Gatsby um 103 which is technically the budgetary comparison information. Uh they would like to see the variance with the original budget versus final. So in terms if there is any supplemental budget that will be noted in the final and that
084that will be the variance uh between uh the changes that's occurring. So that would be very easy to see any changes between the original and the final budget. So these are some of the changes that we have already started implementing this year. Um again the uh implement implement uh implementation date is not until for 26th year but we just want to be proactive. Um, do we have any questions? >> No question. No, we don't. >> Okay. >> Appreciate your time and the effort. I'm glad to see that we uh we passed flying dollars, which is always a good thing. >> We've added mine. I think our what we're being asked to do is to approve the That's except that reporting it. We don't have time to move. >> But um so we have a motion
085or someone want to make motion. >> Okay. A motion to accept the audit report presented for fiscal year ending June 30, 2025 by Valley Financial LLC. Any more discussion? >> Okay. All in favor say I. >> I. >> Any opposed? None opposed. So it passes. Thank you very much for your time. >> Thank you. Thank you. >> And for take a quick I just want to thank the finance. I mean, we put a lot of work into creating a finance department that can navigate all the budgetary challenges we've been facing over the last few few years and planning involvement over the last few years and do it in a way that um is fiscally responsible and transparent. It meets all the governmental accounting requirements and guidelines. So, um very proud of the finance team we
086have and thank you for leading that audit process this year. You did a fantastic job. >> Yeah. is not common to have so many years. Don't mind. So, fantastic. >> Back in session here. Uh, and next item up on the agenda is the budget committee calendar requires action on our park. So, can you share us? So let's go into the >> we have a budget committee calendar presented to you um that is >> outlines the dates for the meeting. Yes. 121 proposed meetings. It is the calendar page 120 is your action and 121 is the proposal calendar that fulfills all the requirements of budget law and provides some dates there when we adopt the calendar which is meeting and appointed to appoint budget committee members for open positions is outlined there by February 5th we
087are then publishing our notices first meeting budget committee May 12th if we're able if we can get through the budget presentation and the budget committee is comfortable with the presentation. Um we could actually move to approve the budget um that evening. Um if the second meeting is needed, we could do that on May 19th. Uh June 2nd, we saw a budget hearing and financial summary. So those the first meeting will be the budget, the the board members and community members that are on part of the budget committee. They vote to approve a budget um and then it goes to just the school board by June 8th to then have a public hearing and actually adopt the budget and set the levy the taxes and make the appropriation for the next year. So, we need a
088motion to approve the uh >> I move to adopt the 2026 27 budget calendar. >> I don't call question. All in favor say I. I. >> Any opposed? 70 passes. Next is the uh budget committee announced budget committee opening. I guess we have an openings. Yes. uh budget committee openings and selection process would be met and we have two openings um right now for positions four and five the terms expired on June 30th 2025 is currently held by Bob Bard and five is currently held by Sammy Pearson budget committee positions are for a three-year term the interested parties should submit application ations to the Northbank School District Office of the Superintendent for email. The applications be received by 400 p.m. Wednesday, January 27, January 7th, 2026. Uh the applications can be found on the district
089website under the business department web page. So if you go to the different departments, go to this department application which was an addition this year. Usually they would write some sort of essay or something paragraph the first board meeting in January. The board will review the names of the persons filing applications and these persons who have served previously and are willing to be reappointed. So in other words, the two members that terms expired can be reappointed if they have The board would then make the appointments at the regular board meeting scheduled February 5th. So January application February 5th point no action we need to take this time. No action required. >> This is the legally announcing openings. >> What information can we get from the compliments? How do we determine if you said we reviewed
090a name like they give us like their background or like what financial >> they usually do a little work don't they about what why they want to be on >> and they have you know they have to be they have to live they need the requirements they have to live and be registered to vote in the district they they can't be an officer agent or employee of the district and so >> they will receive them ahead of time correct >> yeah you'll receive them ahead of time then we'll look at them and you'll just kind of announce the names and talk about that January February federal point. Um there's no real like qualification other than being a cit other than those qualifications and being a citizen who wants to serve on we'll do budget training
091u opportunities. There's budget training available online and they become members of the budget committee. The budget committee decisions, you know, they they're they're not making actual staffing decisions. It's more about appropriation providing the appropriation authority by funded function. So sort of the higher level um areas of the budget. So that's where they oversee sort of that process. >> Yeah. Don't be the weird I'd like to background or something. I mean, >> they'll let you know. >> I mean, I don't know. >> Why are you interested? What do you have? You live in this district, you know, registered to vote and they say that the district. Is there an actual question? We'll see what we get. >> This year, it was kind of vague in the past. It was finished. >> It's Yeah, we're moving. We're
092moving ahead. We're getting less. >> Okay. >> It's It's often hard to fill vacancies. So, yes, we will be excited to get some future state parks. >> This is not a really sought after >> and it's so it's so fun. I don't lie. It's fine. We do feed people that are on the budget. >> You need to put that on. >> Next item on the agenda, the seismic recreation for North Bay. >> I wanted to let everybody know that I did serve on the committee that reviewed all the applications. So, so earlier this year um we had sent out an RFQ or seismic retrofit. So, we we receive we were awarded a competitive grant for seismic retrofit uh the gym at North Bay Elementary School. And so, after we received that grant award, we sent
093out an RFQ. So we're following public laws. Um the RFQ was a request for qualifications from the request from qual the request for qual qualifications. Um we receive proposals. The idea there is to kind of get up to four qualified um companies that can do the work, engineering, architectural firms. And so we received three proposals and they were all qualified. So from that point um that's earlier this year we received a notice um from one of the companies um that was concerned about not not essentially with the process um after reviewing the proc. So we pulled that from the agenda. We reviewed the process um with our attorneys to make sure we were doing it correctly and as outlined in the original RFQ um we then decided to send RFPs to those three companies. So
094in the original RFQ which one of the companies had actually helped us put together um they were under pressure that we would actually appoint to run that and so instead the actual proper procedure under the procurement laws is to then submit RFPs directly to the qualified proposers. So we again then sent the RFPs directly to the three companies and they then submit proposals back to us and then we had a scoring committee for those proposals and stated she was on that committee along with um several administrators and Bruce was on the on that committee. I sat in that with Mark our main instructor. Martin committee sort of classified resident and also maintenance administrative assistant. So uh page 124 has the story of those proposals and and I just want to say that they were they're
095all fantastic companies that they're all wholly capable of doing this work and they all have very very good portfolio they submitted to us. um we scored based on the qualifications that we outlined in the RFP and what was submitted to us. And at this stage, what we do is we essentially recommend to you the highest scoring proposal to award award them a contract essentially. And then we enter into contract negotiations. If we can't negotiate a contract with that company, we would then move to the next lowest on the list to see if we could negotiate with them contract. And then if that didn't work, we go to the third lowest. And if that didn't work, we would start the process over. So out of the three companies, um, and again, all amazing companies, WRK, Robert
096Sherwood, Robertson Sherwood, and HG. um all of them presented proposals that included instructoral engineers and seismic engineers and architects and HG steel guides. So our recommendation based on that scoring is to award this to HG for the initial contract negotiation. So the action requested is then to by staff is to approve the award the seismic retrof project at arex elementary or bay elementary school hd architects and authorize the district to enter contract investigations. >> So with that in mind does anyone wish to make a motion? >> I move to authorize the district to award HG architects the seismic retro project at J Elementary School. authorize the district to negotiate and execute a contract of services. >> All right. Any further discussion on on this particular topic? Let's call questions. All in favor say I. >>
097I. Any oppose? opposed. >> Thank you. Appreciate appreciate the efforts and the proposals from all three companies and uh that makes you a good job putting together. All right. Next item is the 202527 student investment account grant approvement. Uh this is another step in the grant process for the student investment account. Um student investment account has several requirements that bring it to the board. Last spring, we presented to you a full plan for the student investment account based on stakeholder input and it was built around our strategic plan and I sent that out with all board members again this summer so that you would all have access to that. And the next step in the process with the SIA is that we also once we've received the grant itself, the the actual grant document agreement
098from the state, we then have to present the grant document to the board for approval. Most of our grants, we don't have to submit the document to the board for approval. Um but in this case, this one do. So part of that requirement is uh presenting in the board meeting, providing it to you, opening it to the the floor for public comments and questions, close the public hearing, and then uh voting to hear the reading. Well, then that in mind, let's uh we'll open the public uh public meeting. Uh anybody want to come forth to discuss the uh student investment account frames come forth? So we'll close the public meeting and uh I think the request from staff is to uh make motion to approve the student success act. Go ahead. I do want a
099button. I move to approve the Student Success Act Student Investment Account Grant number 39257 as presented. >> A second. >> I'll second. >> Motion and a second. Any further discussion on this matter? No discussion. All for question. All in favor say I. >> I. >> Any oppose? No, they're opposed. and it carries that system. Next is the valuation interim superintendent. Three months ago, um the board u hired Tim Crider to be aim superintendent of school district. And part of that process was agreed that three months from being hired approximately that the the board would agree to evaluate him to determine uh how to move forward, what to move forward. uh we met earlier today, the board um and discussed uh Tim's work over frankly not just over the last few months but probably over since
100the years he's been here but that we've had experience with a couple years. Anyway, we looked at u four different standards that the schoolboard association suggests with respect to evaluating a superintendent u and one is vision standard one visionary district leadership and um I don't want to go and break this all the criteria there but basically as a whole we found that uh he was exceeding uh expectations u with respect to the visionary district. I think everyone here was very proud of how they had approached this and what we've done. Um second was inclusive uh district culture. Um it talks about developing maintaining supporting aable cultural responsive inclusive district culture you know throughout both students teachers that type of thing. We talked about the fact that much has been done but much needs to be
101done in the future and we're happy with the progress that that Tim was moving forward with and we collectively three which mean he's meeting expectations with respect to that we want him to exceed expectation but that's for uh third was effective organizational management. Uh basically how well he managed was the school district and we all rolled rated him a four because he's done an excellent job of organizing and reorganizing it since he's been uh here and frankly not just since he's been the inter superintendent but he was very much involved in organizational of the of the school district prior to that. So again, he's f all he exceeded expectations for how we are. The last one was effective financial management. This was a no-brainer. Um he's been in charge of the finances doing the finances
102district for a number of years. Um and you just heard from the auditor that um you know we're in although you know we our student enrollment is going down our resources to a certain extent our finances they're not going down but proportionally they're going down because we're having less students um but we're we're managing it well. Um, a number of us, well, all of us who went to the or OSBA conference, we hear horror stories from some of the other districts in terms of their financial situation and having to lay off a bunch of people and make huge cuts. One of them has to actually has to take out loans in order to pay off their uh to to meet their budget. We don't have to do that and that's good to hear. We all
103rated him on number four, which is outstanding. uh uh well you know outstanding board having said that uh we all felt that uh he'd been doing generally very good job I I opened the the floor anybody else who wants to make comment or has anything to say about >> yes I did not rate him >> oh you didn't on the last one That's true. >> Follow instructions. [clears throat] >> Absolutely. >> Okay. Um and with that, um under the terms of his agreement, uh he unless we took action, uh he would sort of automatically become the superintendent. But I I don't I think it's it's incumbent upon the board to kind of put our stamp approval on on guess moving Colonel Gro to super to uh the full court superintendent. So I I'd like to
104hear a motion uh to to superend to superend and authorize um the chairman to negotiate a contract. Um I move to show our support um for Tim Cryer and um to promote him from in superintendent to permanent superintendent and to um allow our board chair to negotiate from the contract. I'll second >> any discussions for the question. All in favor say I. >> I post. >> Thank you very much. Appreciate your work. All right. >> Oh, there it is. Uh, next is the uh OSBA implementation the full superintendent evaluation cycle support on you'll explain what that is. OSBA, Oregon School Board Association, Y has developed a superintendent evaluation cycle and provides support for school boards to engage in that process over the course of a school year or course of a a calendar year when
105in that process. And we had talked about this a little bit earlier this year. again um not only with new board members but I think with all board members it's nice to receive some guidance and training on how this process works and I think it provides a level of transparency for the public too that may not have always existed and we want to make sure it does exist moving forward because um things like setting goals and and and reviewing it and evaluating it throughout the year are all things that take place during public meetings as well. And so, um, my advice it's very nominal fee. Um, there is professional time involved. Um, according to the the chart and the expected hours um for this process, it would be under $2,000 to do this. If they
106were virtual, um, we set up one of very experienced directors to help guide us through that process. If the board's willing to accept that guidance and training and support along the way, I would I would I would welcome it. I think it's a great process that I would like to be very transparent about myself. >> I just want to say when I brought this forward originally, it was because of the new board member. Making superintendent goals is is an thing that's ever been in my curfew. And I think that it's going to be great to help with the OSPA figure out a plan. doesn't mean we have to do it, you know, down the road, but I'm excited to do the work. >> I mean, true. I mean, I would I would very much like
107to model it on the the the model we use for our teachers and our staff so that that that the teachers staff are saying something, you know, we're evaluating that, you know, I should be evaluated in a similar fashion using superintendent standards set goals >> and that and this survey is so important. We we don't work with you every day. We would love to hear you. We work with every day. >> Yeah. And this one this was the evaluation cycle, not the survey cycle. >> We already the survey was I think they recommend not doing it the first couple years of superintendent but yeah definitely >> and we can do our own part. >> Yes. >> Does anybody wish to make a motion? Um superintendent evaluation facility goes over [laughter] any further discussion. All right.
108Well then all in favor say I. I. >> Any opposed? None opposed. Motion carries. Okay, next item. Board comments. We have any board comments yourself down, I guess. And uh now we should have information only. So with that in mind, item number seven.