001States to the republic for one nation under indivisible liberty and justice for uh first thing I'd like to do is uh agenda I'd like to make motion to approve the agenda as it is. Any discussion? All foster carries. Moving on to more minutes. to approve the minutes of January 12th meeting second discussion names right >> oh actually no my name is not But I guess >> other than the uh desired correction of the name spelling. Any other discussion? >> All right. Uh all in favor of approving the minutes. >> Any opposed? Much carries. community input. All Laura, do we have any? >> Okay. >> All right. Moving on to agenda item three, correspondence, talking points. >> So, in your packet are the February IMED talking points, which give you some uh information about graduation rates,
002which came out last week. We'll talk a little bit more about that specific to our district later on in the agenda, but you can see uh particularly um with our numbers in Umatillaa County compared to our neighboring counties, Umatella County performed very very well. And we had um six districts in our ESD which includes Union and Moral County that have 100% graduation rates which is outstanding. So those were I am Helix, Pilot Rocky, Kaya, Emler and North. Um our graduation rate was 95.2%. So we're very proud of that as well and we'll I guess say a little bit more about that later. Then just a quick legislative update. Um the legislature is in their short session and um KOSA and school districts are just holding firm with our message that there need to be no
003cuts to public education and if they need to use reserves to do that to maintain the 11.4 billion state school fund that they pass last year. And then we have our Tiger Scott mascot card update. So quarter four uh income was $2575. Year to date $1,14865. >> Thank you for discussion. All right, we'll move on to M4 reports 4.1 the 204 to25 school year audit. So I emailed everybody and went a copy. I just handed it to some reason she doesn't want to touch them but maybe I should be sanitiz um so we conducted the audit in accordance with the governmental accounting account and accounting standards one more time. Hopefully a single audit is done for us and they've already standards and SA requirements. The single audit requirements go to a million dollars this coming
004year this year. So, we don't anticipate you'll hit that million dollar mark unless we end up with an influx of federal funding. Maybe want to throw it out there. What created it last time, but so the district ended the year with $3 million in cash districtwide, which is an increase of 329,000 from the previous year. Uh this is mainly due to an overall increase in your revenue of 300,000. So you had about 118,000 additional property taxes, 300,000 in basic school support. Then there was a reduction in uh charges for services 61,000 and a reduction in federal grants of 75,000. So overall you're going to see an increase of about 331 and an overall decrease in expenditures of 11,000. So pretty status quo to see that expenditure number only change by $11,000. Um, so the district's
005largest portion impactful improvements were a brush stripper, a suburban backflow devices at the middle school, and then the replacement of a couple compressors and room tables at the middle school. Um, the district did see an overall decrease in your debt by 485,000. At June 30th, we were sitting with debt of 515,000. That is set to be satisfied in the current year. Um, we did not issue any sort of overall control letter this year. We did have a pretty frank conversation with the high school ASB. Um, chose to not go ahead and issue a letter this year, her first year learning curve. Um, so we just kind of it was me that had the conversation with her and she knows that if she needs to contact me or if needs to contact me or if your
006new business manager will say, "Oh, me that we always do that." We try to really reiterate with her that it's a cover your own tag type of thing. That's why we ask her to do things we do. Um just to make sure nobody can ever question her. That's the whole point we have. Um so and she was very receptive to everything he had to say. So I think that'll be a well done. So we chose like I said not to issue a better place. Everything was good. Other than that Paul and I've had a conversation about moving some transfers in this year's budget. I think she's got a good handle on that. She doesn't obviously not see them. Um, and we were happy. We were good. >> Thank you. Uh some updates. Um, the Athena
007rental is now occupied after some renovations and it's still not finished. So, um, we moved our lovely Paula into the new rental in terms of gets her house fixed, but for right now, I've still got a couple doors I want to replace and we've still got just a couple small things. and they've contractually, you know, talked about the fact that we're willing to do that while they're still living in it. So, just a couple more things we got to get finished up on that, then it'll be ready to go for the next tenant when that comes about. Um, pig barn is scheduled to start the build next week with anticipation to finish by March. I've been in conversations with our grant writer and with administration and everybody and things are starting to actually finally ramp
008up. So that should be hopefully taken care of by March and then within the next month should be completely lined up. Anyway, um outside of that been working with the admin and the IT department and we have upgraded and installed some more security cameras in both the west and middle school and the high school as well um in order to rectify a few bias spots. So, the only thing left now is we're working on camera casings that have been getting some uh hard water stains, making them blurred. So, we're working on the possibility of rectifying that or replacing. But outside of that, we're still waiting on this note. So, thank you. Thanks. Moving on to transportation and IPO. Good evening everyone. Uh don't have a lot for you this year. Last month I got the
009spring my first time with the the ice that we had. That was fun and school. The new bus is in service and working excellent. Um looking forward to optioning off the two we surplus previously and getting out of the lot so we'll have a little extra room. Other than that, I've got the activity schedules for the upcoming spring season, which I'm regularly being told is the busiest time of year for me, which is because that coincides with the busiest time of year with the other part of my job when I will be tackling our lovely dand this spring. And that's on my list of things to do next. Any discussion? All right, move on. >> Well, Mrs. Kaufman is not here tonight, but I have uh her report for you. So, with preK, she says
010the program is family enrolled again. Last week, they enjoyed smoothies made with beets and other healthy ingredients. Children have a food passport where they get a beet stamp if they try it. This encourages them to try new foods and it's in partnership with OSU and our garden program. And then staff, preschool staff are participating in a conscious discipline training as a and then at the elementary K4 they had a terrific Tiger Scott assembly last week. Students were recognized for being responsible and the trait for the month of February is caring. The elementary completed their winter diagnostic during uh their science of reading professional development. Teachers looked at reading data, regroup students, and plan strategies for specific groups to increase skill deficits. Strategy success will be monitored through I Ready clothes checks. Third grade is beginning
011their state testing prep. Teachers will spend about 15 minutes a few times a week teaching students how to successfully navigate the testing platform as well as exposure to practice questions since this is the first year they will ever take a state test. And just as a reminder that's all online. They have to be able to type their essays. So we need to work on that in advance. Uh the greenhouse construction is almost complete and they're excited to learn a new process to start their own seeds. Mrs. Partida, the librarian from the Athena Public Library, came and read a story for ReadAcross America Day and all schools uh all the all school writing focus will be opinion for the next step. All right. >> So, last uh Wednesday we had our first semester academic awards assembly.
012It was really standing room only, which is exciting. The seventh and eighth grade drama class led by Mr. Gal performed a hilarious version of The Wizard of Oz in which the actors and stage manager are grossly incompetent. The play got many giggles and much applause. We then honored our honoral students aimed at citizens. And in grades six through eight, students with a 3.5 GPA or higher were treated to a bowling soda and pizza at course last Friday. And then fifth grade will have their own in-house celebration at the end of the semester to honor all of their students hard work. And that's has been involved. Our seventh and eighth grade leadership class will deliver Valentine's Day cookies to senior citizens this Friday. Our winter dance was a success. Had a lot of students attend and
013we are looking forward to our spring final in May. Girls basketball uh wraps up here shortly. Snow club had to cancel today, but hopefully we'll have uh snow in the next week and be able to go next week and then on the make up we've noticed some snow in the mountains today. So that's promising. Uh with academics, we began our new Friday electives on January 30th. Some new additions uh this term are origami, chess and checkers, building systems. That's like Legos, connects, that sort of thing. Military science and survival and time events. Our language arts students have begun our one school one book project. And this year, as a reminder, we're reading rods and water about the time west. We also completed our winter I Ready. And last Friday, our teachers um spent time during
014our early release time digging into that data and making plans to support students who are not on grade level yet. And even kind of a big push on that to the end of the year. And then just a few FYIs that really don't have anything to do with Western Middle School. I just wanted to bring it up. Um, last Thursday we did our um, February semianual building inspections and we had uh, a gentleman from SAFE join us. He's been kind of working with us this year on improving um, safety in our facilities. And then Melissa Bush from OD who is uh, Bill Bush's widow. Um, Bill that was our teacher last year. She is working in school safety for OD and just wanted to come out and she's trying to get out to all of
015her districts. So, they joined us for safety inspections last week and they were very complimentary and it was obvious to uh Michael Kahwane from SAFE that we have made improvements that he recommended and so I think we're getting into a good spot there. And then part of Melissa's job is to help schools develop an emergency operating plan. And as you may recall, we started that and then the position was eliminated at OD. But Melissa is now in that spot. And so I can send off what I've gotten done and she will, I think, bless her, finish it for us. So that will now be coming. And then we do have a professional de development day this Friday. We're going to continue with our viewing on your own identity. How we help students discover their true
016identity, their strengths, what they bring to the world. Pair of professionals are going to work on Friday to make up the cancellation day and they'll join teachers for that training. Kitchen staff and transportation staff will also work that day with uh schedules set by their supervisors. And then teachers will make up the um canceled day by documenting the hours above their contract time or working an extra day in June. Because that was a Friday and there were only four instructional hours at the high school, which is where we'd have to walk our hours the most. At this time, we're choosing not to have students make up that day in order to preserve that compensation day in April during the week of conferences. It is really hard to have teachers do two evenings of conferences and
017then have students on Friday. And we often use that as a makeup day. We still can if we were to get another weather day, but at this point I can preserve that for teachers. So we're choosing to to go that route. So I just wanted to make you aware of those. Thanks. Thank you. Discussion 4.6 le. >> Good evening. We had 88 students earn a 3.5 GPA in semester 1, which is 51% of our student body. So very uh proud to see some of them pull across the finish line. And I'm hopeful we're still gathering feedback on how the quarter system worked, but I can tell you um there were a fair amount that I even had a student today come in that was like, I know I failed English. I'm like, no, you didn't.
018You don't have to make that up. So, um, again, I think they still need to maybe understand how the math works, but, um, again, I pulled some of them more across the finish line than they realize. So, good news on that. Um, I would like to take a moment and recognize that it is CTE month and our teachers never cease to amaze me with recent projects, um, including, of course, our 3D bag pipes that continue to get press. But I will highlight that in our pipes and drums halftime show, we had a student playing that set in the solo and um at least to my untrained ear, you couldn't tell a difference which I thought was very cool. Uh our foods and floral design did the catering for the hall of fame social representing the
019A pathway and then multiple community graphic design requests have been fulfilled by our students in the fine arts pathway. We also have FFA week at the end of this month and students have planned activities at all three schools as a way to promote and raise interest in agriculture across all the levels. I also wanted to mention that we had multiple students win banners in recent FFA events including Miss Lily Walder who will be competing at sectionals in two events which I think is probably the most representation we've had at that level in a couple years. So very exciting. Other exciting things that happened this month again were the pipes and drums halftime show, the Hall of Fame induction ceremony which recognized four alumni and a team. And then if you've come to any extracurricular, I'm
020sure you've seen the myriad of fundraisers and blood drive that support our National Honor Society and Community Care groups. To highlight some recent extracurriculars, we hosted our first home wrestling meet for middle and high school, which was much more of a production than I ever realized. And I was blown away by the crowd support. And um they knew when to cheer. They were so into it. I was cringing the whole time because it looked really uncomfortable in the positions, but um I don't know. I was like, their arms were coming out of their sockets. So, but it was very cool. Um, and I'm very excited to see that program even when we said, you know, we can have a soft start, like they were ready to go and felt like we could um, successfully host
021that event. And then we are also hosting the district basketball tournament in two weeks at the Pendleton Convention Center. Please see Linda Pickard if you'd love to volunteer for that and I'll be there as well. >> Thank you. Some of the swimmer commented on these like >> I mean as soon as their faces turned red I was like what do you do to make them stop? I don't know. I again they all were safe and fine and I checked in the next day and they were like, "Miss Rash, you're overreacting." But I know >> I say thanks to everyone who put that together and for coach fun started that at the middle school, but I was a little hesitant that we could, you know, we didn't have enough students to support the program that we
022just, you know, we split the basketball players or whatever. But there were just kids there that that wouldn't have otherwise had an opportunity. And I sat with some of the high school girls and they were like, "I don't know. I didn't know she was wrestling." And they look how strong she is. I could never do that. I mean, just the level of engagement and sort of admiration um from other athletes to these. It was just it was really really cool. So, thank you. I was very somewhat in pain. for us. >> Our current current enrollment numbers are in your bracket. Uh we're currently at 487 students, which is um a little above where we've been sort of averaging out at that 484. So, we'll keep an eye on that. But so far we are holding
023uh inland 480s which is >> okay 472 local service. >> So you have um this color copy of the IMESD's local service plan. As you know, uh, every board in the IMESD is asked to approve the local service plan. Uh, that would be under action items. I'll just go over a few key features and see if you have any questions. So, when you look through, if you look at um special education and nursing, this is a big area for us. Again, this represents positions that we would really unlikely be able to afford on our own. And we do receive outstanding services in these areas. And those areas include speech language pathology, school psychology and behavioral support, nursing, special education coaching, aiology, special education consultation, and then your children's rodeo. They support that every year. down
024from there. Technology is the other huge area for us. Uh you probably saw um our tech support Daryl here working on the Owl. Um we get outstanding support there too. He he came back this evening because we were struggling with an update on the Owl and uh they do an outstanding job supporting our district. Administratively um we work with the ESD in communications. that is a big help to us. Again, we don't have our own communications department and they uh were an enormous support through the bond process. And um the crisis response team is a a really small and no cost program, but when you have a crisis, they coordinate getting support to your campus for students and staff. And when you need that, it is just one phone call away and really nice support
025to have. see our uh our contribution to the ESD. We are 2% of their budget and that's based on enrollment. State contracts. Um we take advantage of a lot of these uh particularly early childhood intervention and early childhood special education. They communicate with us as we have kindergarteners coming in from those programs and coordinate transition services for us. Regional inclusive services are some specific uh disabilities you see listed there. The Blue Mountain Early Learning Hub uh supports our preK program as well as preschool promise. And then very very important the technical assistance we get with the student success account. That's all that integrated guidance applications and reporting. um the ESD supports their small districts in getting that done and we really did struggled to do that without the ESD. And then moving along to contracted
026service programs, we do contract some additional IT support to be sure that um our district is up and running at all times. We have some students in the virtual learning academy. We also contract special education administration. So we pay for those services on top of the local service plan every year. So at this point um my recommendation later that the board approved the LSP. I think that that continues to represent the main services that that summary and the objective summary but also your perspective on how the service is Agreed and I definitely think it's worth continuing to participate. We can't get those services elsewhere. Definitely. Moving on to 4.73 bond title turn rate discussion. So, in your packet, you have a a draft here of the bond resolution, which looks very similar to what we
027had last time. The language that the board asked me to um coordinate for us tonight was looking at how a the um bond title would look with a 9-year term, which would ask our constituents to support a tax rate that mirrors the average tax rate over the last 10ear bond of about a$135 per thousand. And you can see how they worded that bonds would mature in nine years or less from issuance, may be issued in multiple series, and would not exceed 4,980,000 in principal amount. Bonds are estimated to maintain the district's recent average bond property tax rate of $135 per,000 of assessed value. A few other little wording things just to point out, but it's identical in both proposals. We put in the word trades. So, career trades technical education center. Um, we felt that
028word resonated with our community and sort of understanding what CTE is. So, we continue to use the word trades. You know, under the summary, Athena Western School District seeks bonds for facility to expand student opportunities for career trades, science, and arts education. And then we included um as part of the scope of the bond minor upgrades to repurpose the vacated classrooms at Western Mchuan High School following the creation of the new center. and that would allow us to repurpose spaces and still potentially remove the modulars from the campus. So that first one is the 9-year term wording and then the second page is wording for a 10-year term. So the main difference here, 10-year term, same amount, but bonds are estimated to maintain the district's 2526 bond property tax rate of $1.24 24 per thousand
029of assessed value and that is what the rate was when everybody got their tax statement in Nova. So the 9year is sort of no increase over the average of the last 10 years. The 10ear term is no taxes. Thank you for that summary. Exactly what we asked for. Now we have to make a decision. >> Discussion the nine here would be if people think we're trying to trick them or like get one pass. Not saying that's what we would be doing obviously, but if that's what if there's like one more nuance to reply to people. >> I don't think people understand the long range during these years. >> Explaining it is hard. I guess I guess for me um I like the idea of the nine year but I think in terms of uh our
030best chance to get it passed and make it as clear and transparent as possible it's likely to be a successful option. That's a little risk in terms of getting up here. >> It's also, you know, just remember it's possible depending on the rates we get to to pay it off earlier than the 10 years. 10 years is the maximum. So it's it's possible to pay it off soon just depending on how things go. Other thoughts? I'm hearing general consensus for we'll take actions later on. All right, moving on to 4.7.4 for superintendent evaluation. Uh so we met in type of session uh to review Ann's performance as our superintendent and just want to say that the board is incredibly pleased with Ann's performance over the past year and we're grateful for her leadership and commitment
031to the Athena Western school district students and staff. uh and we look forward to continuing to work from that. We will end the evaluation later on the agenda. Any other comments? >> All right, moving on to 75 February 17th community engagements. So, just a reminder that next Tuesday evening um at 6:30 in Weston, we'll have our second community engagement event. Um so, we have done social media posts, ROOC call, we sent the information home with our elementary students, sending report cards at the middle school, and it is mentioned in the newsletter that we'll talk about a little bit later on that's going out to the community. So hopefully we will have attendance at that event and we're keeping the agenda um the same as the November one. So we'll talk about lifelong learning um facilities
032and testing in that one. Looking forward to discussion. 4076 the March school board meeting uh location. >> Just a reminder that that will be um out at CTUIR as is our tradition. We're inviting the Attina Club to present at that meeting in particular and more information coming from Laura and Paula about the exact room and um details like that. But we'll have dinner before the board meeting like Dallas. Dinner's here at 5:30. >> Any discussion? >> 477 graduation rates. >> Well, good news. I think all around on graduation rates um the state of Oregon was up, which is good. This has been a big focus uh from the state level. Our graduation rate uh was 95.2%. 2% which is outstanding. And then as we mentioned before, our county also performed very very well which is
033just a shout out to Eastern Oregon. So pleased to see that. Just a few more uh details that all of our CTE concentrators. So those are students who earn two credits in one program of study in CTE in our region graduated at rates of 95% and above uh with the exception of Baker Webb Academy at 93.1%. Um, so that is remarkably 24% above the all student graduation rate. So what that just says is kids who participate in CTE graduate from high school. And as if the board decides to put a bond on the ballot for a CTE center, we want to be mentioning that a lot that these are the classes kids come to school for and the problem solving and technical skills and attention to detail and the alignment of curriculum with their natural
034abilities that happens in CTE really does make a difference in graduation rates. So that was exciting. ST both uh just in a summary from the ESD uh we are mentioned for having been steadily trending upward since 2021 which we have I believe last year we at 93% this year we're at 95%. And then um again our CTE concentrators had a greater uh than 95% graduation rate. So really outstanding news all along. just appreciate the work that a high school team does beginning the end of the first semester. Looking at the freshmen who are not on track, monitoring those students all the way through, shifting our focus to having credit recovery year round has been helpful. And then I think our work on attendance where we talk about every kid every month and what's happening with
035them throughout the district have really increased our graduation rate and allowed us to maintain a much higher than the state average graduation rate with this district. So very proud particularly of the high school's work. But again, seniors don't graduate without outstanding kindergarten teachers. So it's really a compliment to the the district as a whole. Absolutely. I always listen to the suite of interventions and actions that staff were taking and I'm always blown away at what it takes to raise that graduation rate and how hard everyone works. So, thank you for continuing to lead that effort and I'm so excited to see that the numbers are following the effort now. That's wonderful. Yeah, there >> we do have a rate um also of 95.2% five-year completion rate. These are students that take a fifth year to
036complete their credits and we can then offer them a diploma. The sample size on that is >> one two students. So the data is not great, but when we have the opportunities to support a student through one more year, um I think we do a good job and we really try to get students who might not quite be there by graduation to do one more year of getting those credits done. So appreciate that effort as well. >> Absolutely. We'll move on to your report 7.8 Eight. Where are intermittent assessments data? a little bit here. And so this is our winter I Ready data. And we're just looking at this at a high level view of the district. And again, we give I ready in grades K through eight. We are now required by the state
037to do that beginning next year. We're going to have to defer to the board three times again. And we already do that. So we're just saying that happen. But what we want to look at here is if you want to see which is what we see is that from fall to winter. So this is the elementary. This is the middle school. The kids that are more than one grade level below in reading is shrinking. So you want the red to get small, which means your yellow may be getting bigger, which is okay as long as your red is getting small. Red's getting bigger and getting So you can see here that however that's it. You're moving a lot of kids from more than one grade level below to one and then a lot that one.
038And you're seeing that similar trend at the middle school. These two columns are reading the same, but it's because we bumped kids up into being on the grade level and moved kids into yellow. So that's how our reading went. And then the teachers um literally go through all of their students K8 and enter the data for any kid that is not on grade level and look at the I already data. What skills are kids lacking? What going to be school to do? How are we going to support these kids into getting within one grade level and our kids that are within a grade level to becoming one grade level? And then I would just say in general um I worry more about kids who are more than a grade level behind than I worry about
039kids that are within a grade level. So when you think about are our kids competent readers, I would say anything in here would be yes because there's a point where you've sort of reached the average reading level of citizens in the United States. So once you kind of reach sixth, seventh grade reading level, you're a competent reader. You don't need to be a 12th grader reading a 12th grade level. those kids are going to go to college and major, but we want kids to be able to read an instruction manual, get their driver's license, comprehend um the news, read for pleasure, those things. And so that our target is sixth, seventh grade across the board. And so if we're within a grade level, they're going to catch up here by the time we exit the
040So anything in this territory to me means our kids are competent or within reach of being what we consider. Then when we look at math see the similar trend at the elementary you see that red shrinking and in fact you see the yellow the same at Weston math is a little trickier if there are a lot of questions about geometry and you haven't gotten to the geometry unit yet you're going to see a lot of this and maybe even some red and one thing we talked about was gosh darn it we just haven't done geometry in fifth grade and so we have a lot of that there whereas once they get through the geometry then that kind of plugs those holes so math is a little bit trickier but his trend is when they enter
041his or any questions about this messed up being stuck. >> I appreciate the story of building also easier to digest and gra. >> Yes. Thank you. Any discussion? Moving on to 47.9 school district community. >> So after your spot, we talked about this as a communication tool to have a newsletter that goes to all residences in our district boundaries twice a year. and we wanted to get this out before the thought exchange. So, um, it's being sent out by the ESD. And what we're just trying to do is highlight sort of something from every building. So you can see we um had a little message from me highlighted the pipes and drums story highlighted with science night at the elementary and the talent show at the middle school and then uh one thing I was
042really interested in doing was having just a little did you know page and that's where I'm just going to put out some facts about the district. So this time I wanted to highlight CTE especially because there was some question in some social media posts um you do we have an a teacher we have CTE programs and so I wanted to be sure we address that that we have very robust CTE programs highlight our social emotional support team just that we have that I'm not sure people would know that we have that and then look at these five common metrics that the state uses to measure school districts on that state report card with our data so that we met or exceeded um all of our targets, our growth targets and the state. So again, you
043can see our four-year graduation rate, fiveyear, ninth grade on track, regular attenders, and third grade leading that we are very much either above or on track with the rest of the state. And then on the back, just some ways people can be connected. The website, they can get on the website, subscribe to the Tiger Scott Times, which Mrs. Rous puts together for both the high school and the middle school. Um lets people know we have social media pages, Facebook for the high school and the district. And then again um another blurb about the thought exchange for people to come and join us. So and then just cute pictures of kids and blurb on our first their wrestling tournament. So um ESB did an outstanding job putting that together. it looks even nicer in color. You'll
044get a colored one and that will again go to all businesses and residents in the district. And then we will do that again now that I know what I'm doing a little bit better with it. We'll do it in the fall um before we have our fall thought exchange just to see if we can get a little more engagement. So, let me know when to get yours. Looks great. Thank you. It's great. That's excellent. All right. Schoolboard vacancy. Uh so our last meeting we talked about pushing forward. I opted uh not to so that we could have more robust conversation, a bit more transparency and we get some questions answered ahead of moving forward vacancy appointments. Um, you'll find the conversation that a initiated with Spencer at the Oregon School Boards Association about the term
045appointment. Uh, then he did confirm that any appointee would serve through June 30th, 2027 would have to run for reelection in May of 2027. So that's the the chart we would be appointing for. Um he also included a couple of um proposed updates that it sounds like OSBA is going to be making uh in future board policy updates. Uh he's got a a policy PBE that's proposed there. I'm not recommending that we adopt this or anything like that until comes around policy, but thought it was an interesting uh breakdown of how to manage this process overall. I will notice later we talk about this policy we want our process this time to be then there's also a board member vacancy application uh which includes some questions uh as well as uh some things they need
046to attest to uh in order to essentially apply for the position. Um in summary uh what I am proposing is that we go through and discuss uh our overall process when to post what our deadline will be for applications. Uh if we make you all agree, we move forward with application packet uh that's here propose that people could fill out and submit to us and then we could review at the next board meeting any application and uh make a decision on appointment or make a decision to move forward with some sort of secondary process for evaluation. potentially interview at a board meeting or otherwise for potentially if we don't pursue candidates or don't pursue qualified candidates repost and go back out from uh that's what I would propose. I would propose that we also set
047a deadline of March 4th for applications get uh Laura B can confirm that we can get posted by tomorrow. That would be well 20 or well after the 20-day deadline. So it can be posted from 20 days and accepted applications to move forward and then that review all time to take any applications that got included in the board pack. I can have the chance to review them heading the board meeting I believe is the following day out of CT. So that's my proposal. That's what I would lay out. I would you all for your thoughts. Mr. Chair, if I may really appreciative of the effort that you and Ann put into this um actually the opportunity that we spent Friday in Salem and I was very forgive. Thank you for help. because this is not
048our current policy. We would just be asking for letters. >> Uh I believe that because our policy is as vague as it is, we can ask for whatever we want. >> I don't love this. I'm going to be honest with you. I don't love it. >> Yeah. >> I don't I this is like above what is required what was required of me when I you know said that I wanted to be on the board. So I I understand like the utility of the letter because we ultimately have to make the decisions that they're introducing themselves to us, but this feels to me excessive. >> Perfect. >> How would you tailor I think >> without any sort of guidance that I mean like that's what you did. Yeah. I guess I appreciate your my thought would
049be you could ask sort of well we could ask for a letter of introduction and give them this as a guide and if they felt this was helpful um >> potentially a bullet point list of topics they can cover. >> Yeah. Yeah. So maybe that would be helpful to you. I wouldn't necessarily have to build this out specifically, but it would be like this is good. >> I guess if I Yeah. No. Um I think that's I'll just say Kristen, I appreciate that. Um in my tenure on the west of speed we're obviously we're not the we're not the same animal but uh this is very much in line with the process being there you know some significant vacancies you could get potentially three or four candidates talking for a single position and as a
050result that you know we wanted some clarity particularly on some of the questions that they ask here how do you advance the district's mission goals very much like how do you engage respectfully with individuals who view points from your So, you know, maybe that's a chance to kind of put some side things on it whereas Kristen trying to keep it simplistic and encourage people name also instead of adding a barrier that is I think we already have difficulty attracting people up. I think this is a barrier that I mean how many of advance the district's mission people have no idea until I started participating right like it does something like a standardized interview where you're getting like well it's about my time whereas a more conversational interview tends to tell you more about who the
051person is. Um, so I do think something more open-ended about giving guidelines like tell us why you'd like to serve the board, for example, how would you do this? Why would you do this? Things like that. I think we like Marie was saying some guidelines. So they're not just like, what do I put in your letter? Can I just add, I think you need to have some sort of standardization of what's in the letter, even if it's just guidelines, in order to be able to compare and contrast more than one candidate. If if there's no guideline and you have multiple candidates, I think it might be hard to evaluate the responses if they're not responding to sort of the same parameters in my opinion. Following that process, maybe the intention is that there's a letter
052you know, a letter of of interest or something in that capacity that has some sort of parties point bullet points, you know, like address X, Y, or Z and then maybe if again if there's multiple candidates and as again noting that this is not our policy, but if they could certainly operate that if we come in and it's in a public forum at the you know board meeting, maybe there's a chance to ask some questions that are more on those present Thank you because we have a site one some sort of process here we go through these questions and I'll sort of start next to the ones we want to include as bullet points for guidance uh and then I can draft some sort of with the board's approval I'll draft some sort of statement
053asking for uh a letter of introduction that addresses the following bullet points and that will be chosen here. I certainly think it why you want to serve on the board would certainly be one through that. Uh which experiences or perspectives will help you represent and serve all students and families? about I think that's a different question to ask and I think if I may I think again following Kristen it's not how you advance the district's missions and goals that you be respectful on maybe it is a bit difficult if somebody's not familiar with that so omitting that right uh I think how you engage respect important aspect of public service and I I would like to past experiences related to that. So potentially rephrasing that to um how have you in the past you intend
054to in the future engage in your own Uh moving on to time commitments and whatnot. I don't know that we need to ask about these things. I would like to make it clear in the posting though what the time commitment is just this. Yeah. >> Uh undersold out. It's just >> recording a wonderful job. >> But it's like I think we should posting but I don't think we could end with that. Uh I don't necessarily believe that past experience with public meeting law is necessary in order to yeah >> they're going to get they'll have to some classes and training on all of those things. >> Absolutely. Great. >> Uh how do we feel about asking about classes policy budget knows down the line? >> I mean can we say something about bring to the
055board that will something I think you're drawing that next one is soon instead of decision making you some extent member obviously focus on the role he anything with the city process. I think there's some validity about wonder if there's a way to kind of look you had any experience setting policy but also can you touch me that policy focus on student students student? >> We have the question which experiences or perspectives represent what health do you recommend to serve all students and families but like for example policy Oh, they don't feel like they have students, but if they have it, they'll mention it in that second. Uh I might add in parentheses other information. Uh I'm very stupid not happy. No, I don't I don't feel strong. I just listen to you guys. >> Is
056that you, Mr. Chair? >> Yeah, as long as you guys are uh fine with me pulling together these bullet points and working on the staff to get them posted. And the post will specify the district the boundaries of this zone. >> Correct. >> Big map. >> Do you mind looking back at the policy part just the number three? I'm assuming we would want that to be part of the posting that they're an elector of the district. Y >> do you want them to reside in the district period of one year immediately preceding the appointment? >> Uh I don't remember what our polic >> and then be a resident of the >> N. >> It does say that. >> Yes. Okay. Be So we would like them to represent the western zone unless we can't find
057another applicant. So for now it would say that. I see >> not be an employee of the district. So the posting and then I think you could add to that, you know, avail typically available on the second Monday of the month and additionally is needed. Yeah. >> So those could be kind of the requirements. >> Okay. And then um they would have in theory applications letters of interest in by the March 4th and then would it be the thought that those folks would then come to the meeting on the 9th and we could see there >> that's uh that I had not decided on. >> Well, if we don't do it at that in March, we have to do it in April because it has to be in >> Yeah, absolutely. So, >> and they're
058supposed to be seated immediately after >> close. >> So, yeah, I guess in the posting we also need to say that they will need to attend the March 9 board meeting at which point a decision will be made and then could be seated if selected at that meeting. participate in business. Do we care where we put this in the agenda? We could put this at the very end board meeting before we appoint them. >> Well, would be the end, right? It's an action. >> Yeah, sure. >> But it could be the last action item. >> Ideally, in my opinion, it would be the last action item so that they don't have to sit down and then immediately vote on an action item without other than what they just listened to and back with. Yes, exactly.
059So we if we get an applicant then we could let them know that they would need to come to the CTUIR meeting and then we could give them information about that because that's where you were right isn't that the meeting that you were sworn in at? >> Yeah. >> So all applicants would be invited to do that. >> Yeah. >> And then there would be a deliberation at that meeting. >> Yep. And then by my count, just to be sure we're correct, it needs to be posted no later than the 13th in order for the 4th to be the 20th day. >> Right? So my intention is to send my to you all tomorrow either tomorrow. Uh where do we intend to post this? >> In the past, we you like for the board meetings
060and things like that, we post them in each of our buildings and then at post office and on the website and on our on Facebook and on our district website. So if you would like it posted more places or have suggestions, we certainly could do that. People don't read the newspaper anymore. They the EO publishes on Wednesdays and I'm not even sure how often the UB publishes anymore. >> So, whatever you guys suggest. >> I that works for me. I'm only aware of >> Athena Weston News. That one >> we could make sure and send it to that specific coordinator. >> Okay. Would there be is there a place at the Long Branch that we could I'm trying to think of a business there that people >> could frequent like the library? >> The library
061and the long branch. Is there a place? >> Okay. I'm just trying to get patrons aware. >> There is another side of the Any other discussion on that? Absolutely. Moving on to business items. If I personnel >> in your packet is uh our list of personnel hires and resignations. So we first have for information on the classific classified resignation Nate Fuller in maintenance and that is for the purpose next line down of hiring him into a paraprofessional position. Uh this was as you can see from his letter at at his request and plays to his strengths and we are delighted to move him into that position. He comes with a lot of experience with students with um high need and deescalation strategies. And so this is a very good fit for and then we have
062another uh classified hire for information only uh Katherine Der professional. We have a retirement with a request for rehire. uh Troy Olsen, high school teacher. Uh at the end of this year, he will retire and then request a um 75 rehire for the next school year. And as a reminder, when someone retires and then uh becomes a rehire, those are one-year contracts um based on district need. And then extra duty hires, Travis Johnson, middle school wrestling. Craig Cavalto, high school assistant baseball coach. And then for information only, volunteer Bo Bergwell. >> Thank you. Motion, >> Mr. Chair, move to approve the revised 5.1 personnel report as Morgan. >> Second. Second, Kristen. Any discussion? All in favor of approval? >> I opposed. Motion carries. Moving on to action items 6.1 budget calendar. >> In your packet
063of the proposed U budget calendar for this year, with the initial budget committee meeting of April 13th at 12:30 p.m. for the regular board meeting. A motion Mr. Chair move to approve calendar >> Scott second discussion I see somewhere I need to need to reach out to additional budget members >> the next one >> that was it sorry >> you're good to >> uh I have a motion and a second to approve approve the budget uh committee calendar as presented. All in favor? >> I oppose. Motion carries. Moving on to the actual budget committee. >> So we have Go ahead. Sorry. >> Do we need to remove Rebecca Bond from zone four? I went ahead and reached out to the budget committee members that were coming up and they all agreed. So I fig it's
064easier for me. I mean I reach out with them for the budget committee anyway. So they all agreed. So the committee is set. >> Yes. A motion second. Any discussion? All in favor? Any opposed? Motion carries. On the local service plan to approve the local service planning yesterday. Scott the second. >> President any discussion. All in favor? >> I. >> Any opposed? Motion carries. >> Uh moving on to 64 superintendent evaluation. Have a motion. >> Mr. Chair, I move to approve the superintendent evaluation. >> Marty second. Second, >> Kristen. Any discussion? All in favor? >> Any opposed? Motion carries. We've got an FFA overnight trip. Thanks. >> Have a request for a sectional CTE competition in the Grand February 17th through 18th. This was unexpected and that is the reason for the short time. unexpected
065but we are delighted motion second. Any discussion? All in favor? Any opposed? Carries. Moving on to May 2026 KWSD bond resolution. Do I have a motion? Mr. Chair, I move to propose the vacant 26 bond resolution for term of 10 years at a rate of dollar4. Thanks, Scott. Do I have a second? Natalie discussion >> um before like what next steps will be towards our point. >> I agree we can talk about that >> the next steps. Yeah. Well, Paul and I run to the courthouse this week and file and then uh similar to last time, there's a period of time for people to object and if there is no objection, then we go file another piece of paper and then we are on the ballot. Um I have a meeting with Cassie Hibbert from
066um Wahal tomorrow and Michelle Madrill from the DSD. So, if the board makes the decision tonight to put a bond on the ballot, then we will reup our bond page, start our communication plan, make sure the paperwork is filed, and then I will immediately um schedule a meeting of a for a political action committee to just get them going and then I step back from that. we already pretty much have one in place. So, it's just sort of recalling everybody back to that and then um working with Cassie Hibbert and the ESD will begin the camp, you know, information campaign from the district. The pack will do their thing. Um, I do have scheduled for Friday, um, a tour of more modern CTE buildings. Uh, so I'm going to go Tim is going to join
067us. Um, we're taking Mike Robinson who represents metals, Rob Shell, who represents woods, and TK Boyd, who is our science teacher, to look at modernized spaces, particularly in those three areas so that we can talk a little bit more intelligently about what an upgraded space would do for us. Part of the reason for that is that, you know, we have heard, well, you have a wood shop, you have a metal shop. We need to be able to talk about why an improved space would be positive for our students. So this will just help us to visualize a little bit more this time around. So we will be swinging into action at 1 p.m. tomorrow. >> Thank you. >> That answer the question. Thank you. I would advocate uh the CBAC also uh a number of
068ideas for outreach different formats and and I discussed potentially doing like a Facebook video of some sort uh or multiple giving and the opportunity to be interviewed if you will and talk through you know why leave this thing what are we doing we've also talked about some of the more creative ways of getting students involved if they're willing to talk about, you know, why we need actual science classrooms like the ventilation. I think there's a lot of opportunity there to help out with that. >> Thank you. Any other staff? So, we have a motion to uh move forward with putting the bond resolution on the ballot uh with long term of 10 years at the$12 rate. Uh all in favor? Any oppose? Motion carries. Mr. >> Chair, I second adoption. Nothing taken out. Move on
069to reviewing distribution. Have a motion. Sure. Move to approve distribution assessments. >> Marty second. >> Any discussion? Are those those flashing bus? >> No, the ODA is for the fuel tax. >> An annual fuel tax that Tom got to do for the first time. >> Lucky Tom. Motion to approve the second. All favor any carries on the board of education. I want to go first. Just a couple notes. Uh first of all, I will say thank you, Mr. Chair. Again, as you noted, it is not the easiest job this year. Um, I want to be complimentary in the graduation rates. Uh, Mr. I completely agree with you. It is a total prek to 12 pay. So, just really appreciative district. Um, then finally, I also want to be complimentary of our business managers. Uh, it
070was nice to come in and get a good clean audit. So, I had a lot of respect and appreciation for the work that you uh knowing that we're a small district, small staff. It's not an easy lift. So, thank you for >> um did all those things and I just want to say um thank you to Sister Olson in his retirement plus one year. I appreciated his letter and I didn't realize be honest that he had been here um the entirety of his career. you led the um your trip that a number of our kids went on um which was extending a lot of great things. >> Yeah, I agree with all that and also I was going to appreciate this interim data and it's fun to see the progress through school year and our
071teachers are awesome and so are our administrators. We take all of them. I just want to appre uh reiterate how much we appreciate Anna's work as superintendent and how easy make our job as a value. >> Yeah, I agree you guys said but we all listen when he speaks. Uh yeah, I I completely agree with my fellow board members and I really appreciate the work do for our district making for it. Um your dedication special. Thank you. Uh and I am very appreciative Paul and Laura and transition they're going through and like Scott said the clean audit is always excellent. So thank you Paul for making that happen and I'm excited that we will be moving forward with bond resolution. I feel that is the right thing for our district at this time and I
072look forward to trying to convince community of the same and I'm looking forward to potential school board candidates and the opportunity to refill our ranks forward with that be. Thank you all. Thank you.