001to order here on July 14th at 6:30. Um, Mr. Kosher, can you please take attendance? >> Olsson >> here. >> Felen >> here. >> Skelton >> here. Osward >> here. >> Wine >> here. >> All present. >> Great. If you could join me uh for the pledge of allegiance. I pledge algiance 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. >> Thank you. At this time, uh we will begin our budget hearing. Um hopefully we'll wrap up maybe a few minutes before um 7 o'clock and then we'll continue on um with our agenda starting with our visitors to be heard. Um so I will let the finance committee and Mr. Kosher take it from here. >>
002Um feel free to stop. So uh just reviewing the budget, we'll have some slides up that'll have the budget itself, but just as a reminder, >> sorry about that. So, just as a reminder, the budget is split into six different categories, and so we'll have them on the uh the screen here and go through um each of them. Uh any questions, certainly let us know, but that'll uh explain kind of the incoming revenue for the district to that particular fund and then the money going out, which will be the expenditures for each of the different categories. uh when planning and projecting the budget um the revenues are always um more on a conservative side of um where we think stuff's going to land and the expenditures are to not exceed um is kind of how
003that looks there. So first up is the general fund which is the one that's on the screen here. Um this one is going to be um a lot of the different things that we do in the school district. Um staffing and a lot of the different things come out of this fund. So this will be the largest one to go through. So on the revenue side, uh primary driver is enrollment. Um that is found in two line items which are revenue from local services or excuse me sources um under taxes. And then um a bit down the screen uh revenue from state sources uh under the state aid um budget enrollment for last year is 1,385 uh students and so the budget is um for this year is projected to be lower um to 1,340.
004Um this also uh the amount listed factors in the uh percentage increase that the state gave the 1.25 25 increase the earnings on investments. Uh that is an increase due to shifting some special education um items uh into shifting some of those um to the general fund. Um so we have revenue and expenditures that could fall into both categories. And so we've um utilized that um and you'll see that another couple areas that we'll talk about um where we've moved some things to special education um that'll be later on in the other category there under revenue from uh federal sources grant aid. This is increased due to additional high school um TSI grant uh which pays our JAG um position. It also provides some professional development opportunities in the high school. At the bottom is
005transfer in. So um from um use of capital outlay flexibility uh we can transfer some funds um from capital outlay. So from the last several years due to temporary fund balance uh concerns with the ESSER uh we've uh done that and so this transfer is still below the maximum that's allowed um per law. So that covers kind of the revenue side of things and how we're funding the expenditures under the expenditures which is the right hand column that you see on the screen. uh instruction. That's going to be the staff teachers um the professionals that uh teach your kids and take care of them. So increase due to a 2% raise for all returning staff. also factors in the addition of a third grade teacher in the elementary and then the JAG um coordinator position
006in the high school all falls under there for guidance u under support services guidance uh social worker uh behavioralists and then um just under that would be health services the decrease is largely due to being able to shift some of those to the special education fund and so you'll see the increase um on that um particular um fund or that uh improvement of instruction increase due to um the grant that uh we talked about earlier the TSI um so that would fall under there um those will be reimbursed by that particular grant under fiscal services uh that's a decrease due to the admin office doing some restructuring to um save some costs there under operations and maintenance. Most significant cause of this increase was due to the property insurance increase. Um we've seen that increase
007over the last number of years ranging from anywhere from a 13% increase to a 30% increase depending on the year on the premium. Um we also of course have a brand new elementary school building. So that also factored into why that was such an increase under the operation in maintenance transportation. um that decrease reflects um being able to use 15% of payments uh from capital outlay. So you'll see that that on that capital outlay you reflected there co-curricular um we did have the a new contract with the bus bus rate increased slightly and then also increased travel expenses due to many of the teams going farther into the season and so we didn't want to cheer against them. we added it into the budget so that we're ready for when they go farther into the
008season. And then transfer out, this is to subsidize the preschool program um which we'll see in the enterprise fund that we'll hit last tonight. So that's the biggest one. Um that covers a lot of different areas. Um any questions or things to add? >> Yeah, thanks Jacob. Uh that covered a vast majority on the general fund. I guess the the bottom line there, if if you take a look at the funds on hand, um we are budgeting for $44,000 uh of reserves to be used there. Um we don't, you know, hopefully we don't end up using that. Uh that that would be about 3% of our budget right there, which is kind of our target number that we have. As Jacob said in the opening, we generally budget our revenues conservative and our expenditures not
009to exceed. So because of that, um, you know, when we've got a almost a $13 million budget, the $44,000 uh is not all that concerning of a number. And hopefully it it uh ends up being less than that in terms of reserves being used. >> Excellent. Next up is capital outlay. >> Sorry, Jacob. I think there is there's one slide in between here, Danielle, if you can show that. Um, as as Jacob noted here, one of the biggest drivers of the revenue on the general fund side and and really for the school district as a whole is in our enrollment numbers. Uh, you can see on this chart, we had a nice some steady increases years ago and then some nice jumps as of two and three years ago. Um, however, we've given back some
010of those gains just this past year and and our budget is is built to reflect that a little bit. Um so we'll see where that trend goes from here. But the good news is that uh with with some of that capital flexibility and with some of the reserves that we have uh we are still in good shape uh to move forward with the the current uh staffing and expenditures that we have in place. >> Excellent. Um under capital outlay um this is going to be things to maintain, upgrade, acquire and repair capital assets. And so on the revenue side, um this is going to be um the um money coming in um local sources under taxes that's going to be increased to property taxes due to continued increased taxable evaluation um for the school district.
011So, it was a 7% increase from 24 to 25. Under the um other local revenue, that's going to be um partnerships uh with Vermillion um public school foundation um specifically for the outdoor learning spaces um on the expenditure side. We'll see that um reflected there. And then the other um one to note would be the Vermillion Athletic Boosters uh for uh visual display board in the high school gym. And so we'll see that expenditure on the opposite side as well. Revenue from uh federal sources uh under the grant and aid. These are funds uh from the conclusion of the the cops uh security grant and -ate funding. And then on the right hand side are our expenses. So, um, we'll hit a few of these, but they're mainly going to be like property maintenance related
012things, parking lot, um, continued maintenance, sidewalks, roofing, landscaping, um, classroom furnishings like desks, textbooks, boards, security improvements. Uh, one large item for this year will be the house lights in the high school theater. Uh, will be one of the large items. and know was there any other large items or things that you wanted to note? >> No, we just wanted to uh you know the finance committee um always does a good job of making sure that we have the day-to-day needs met. So like Jacob mentioned um Mike and Jacob talk about the fact that we get uh out of our capital a desks and science equipment and every year we budget for music equipment. Um, we get some of our large leases with Johnson Controls and our buses out of this program. Um, but basically
013library books and almost all the necessities that go into our uh day-to-day activities that can be um attributed to general or excuse me to the capital outlay we do. And then year-to-year we're looking ahead on our three to five year plans for large one-time type items. And as mentioned this year um and last year science uh the the theater lights were the two big projects that we've done. Um the uh stage lights last year and the house lights this year once um theaters opened up again at the end of the month. But also um things like irrigation system upgrades at the middle school and at the elementary school. Uh the visual display board that we'll be partnering with the um booster clubs to update that at the high school. uh is a large one-time purchase.
014It's it'll get purchased again in a number of years down the road when technology changes or this system uh is outdated, but uh the day-to-day activities that our people go through uh and the supplies they need generally come through here. So, >> yep. And just a couple other notes there on some of the big decreases in items um for food service that went from $360,000 to zero. This isn't that we're not spending money on foods. is that we don't need to buy a new kitchen uh this year. Um and the operations and plant management that's down $2.5 million. Uh that's the end of the construction that we paid last year. So we're not suddenly abandoning some of the major spending categories. We've paid our bills. So uh for the visual display board that we talked
015about earlier, that'd be under the co-curricular on the expenditures side of things. And then the transfer out um is going to the general fund that we talked about earlier that has that flexibility and that includes the capital outlay. >> Yeah. As far as the revenues and expenditures go, the the bottom line there is that we're looking at about 400 $148,000 in reserves that we would be using this year. Again, I don't expect that it will be that that number, but when you consider that that includes a $300,000 transfer from Capital Outlay to general fund, um that just shows that we're doing pretty well in that capital outlay fund and that there are some opportunities to explore uh as we go forward. Next up will be special education. And so with this category, it's going to
016be specifically money uh received and spent in the area of special education. So under the revenue side on the left hand side uh revenue from local sources taxes that's going to be increase in property tax growth throughout the district. Uh from the uh state sources under state aid increase comes from the increased student count um a lower balance from last year then increased aid percentage from the state uh revenue under the federal sources. That's going to be a decrease due to using up some carryover from previous years. Then on the right hand side is the expenditures and so programs for special education. Uh and then also the guidance social work behavioralist that's going to be an increase due to some of those positions that could fall in either category. So rather than have them in
017the general, they're under the special education and uh amazing. Um that covers a lot of the esser um positions that we added a number of years back and we were able to retain those which is great. Um student therapy, we have increased needs for um OT and PT services. So that reflects that increase in usage under the student therapy services. special education and transportation. We added a bus route last year. And then under other services, it's a decrease due to decrease in um out of district placements. And then just as a reminder, this category has about a year lag. So u final count numbers happen in December for next year's funding. And that year lag is relevant too with the um the bottom line for the uh amount of reserves that we are budgeting to
018use for special education. Uh 475,000. Again, don't expect that we'll be using that amount, but for what we do, we are still not receiving our total uh allocation in state aid for special education because we're viewed as having uh an excess fund balance at the moment there. So as we spend that down further, then we'll be entitled to more special education state aid uh the following year. So again, there's a year lag with that. Also to mention um as we mentioned earlier that our um overall population of our district has decreased this uh last year. Um for eight consecutive years, our special education special services department has continued to grow. Um, in fact, that's why we've continued to add staff there and we're still seeking another special education teacher um that's advertised currently that we
019haven't um been able to fill to this point. So, uh our special education department is different than than the um uh just our general population in the sense that it's uh busting at the seams where some of our other classrooms have seen a decrease in enrollment there. So, we'll talk a little bit about that in in the general part of the meeting as well. Um debt service fund is up next. Um then this is uh money that's required to cover payments of interest, principal on a loan or debt. This of course is our elementary building project is what this is going to be. So primarily it's the um property tax uh from our our district and then expenditures is paying that debt service. Uh we did see a slight increase in property tax total request
020but the tax rate continues to decrease as valuation growth uh continues to outpace uh previous expectations. Uh if you remember um it's approximately about 1.3 um payable for 2026 and we originally were thinking it would be a 1.6. So, um, good to see that. Um, for the taxpayers questions or anything to add on that one, food service is up next, and this would be money spent uh, received and spent in the area of the breakfast and lunch provided by the school. And so, revenue um, and food service expenditures are driven by participation. Um, so budgeting for about 45,000 in reserves. Um, that'll need to be something that we'll have to keep an eye on. It's so it's the funds on hand at the very bottom. Um, something we'll have to keep an eye on um
021to make sure that we're not eating into that fund balance indefinitely there. So, but that's what that is there. Any questions or things to add on that one? All right, thank you for that uh brief moment of recess. It is now 7:00 and we will continue on um with our meeting. Um next up here um following our budget hearing, we have our visitors to be heard. Um are there any visitors to be heard, Dr. Ellie? >> Uh not that I'm aware of. >> Nope. Perfect. Nope. You guys want to be heard? >> Just wanted to check. Um I do want to comment um you know at this time any visitors who wish to address the board may do so. We ask that you sign in when you enter the room and please list the topic.
022Um if you have not done so, please approach the podium and do I ask that you refrain from listing any student by name or any personnel by name. Is there anyone who'd like to address the board? As a reminder, no action will be taken this evening. Seeing none, uh we'll move on to our appro approval of our agenda and our conflict of disclosures. Um are there any agenda changes? Dr. Elie, >> they are not. >> Thank you. I would take a motion to approve um the agenda. >> So moved. >> First by Mark. >> Second by Carol. All in favor say I. >> I. >> Pull same sign. Motion passes. Next up here we have our indication of conflict of interest for South Dakota codified law 3-23. Um, this is Rachel and I h have
023none. >> Carol, I have none. >> Is there a second one or is this where we would do >> there's a second? Yeah. Okay. I have none. For tonight, >> it's Mark and I have none. >> Is Mike and I have none. >> Excellent. Um, as as a reminder, we will go through this here later in the meeting again where we can um do our next year's conflict of interest. Um, so next up here we have our consent agenda. Um, this evening we have approval of our minutes, resignation, new hires, open enrollment, and bills. Our minutes are from the um June 9th 25 resignations. Morgan Fuller, drama assistant, Dan Mart, middle school track. Victoria Ragger, sped aid. Um new hires Mark Neky, summer helm. Rebecca Fe, SLP, Elizabeth Franken, librarian. Jolene Smith, fifth grade. Charlie
024Husa and Bailey Dean, middle school volleyball. Carla Henriks, custodian. Kim Berkeland, early childhood. and Sarah Ericson SLP. Would anything um would you like anything pulled from the consent agenda this evening? Seeing none, I would take a motion to approve. >> So moved. >> First by Mike. >> Second by Carol. All in favor say I. >> I. >> Pull same sign. Motion passes. Next up here we will have unfinished business. Um I see none this evening. So, we will move over um and we're going to adjourn um this 2425 schoolboard meeting and we'll pass it on after that to uh Dr. Eldie. I would take a motion to adjurnn. >> So, move >> first by Jacob. >> second by Mark at 703. Take it away, Dr. Elby. All right, it is uh time to uh organize
025for the 2526 school term. And so under our first order of business is we would take nominations for school board president. >> Do the old first. >> Oh, I'm sorry. I skipped one already. >> Okay. So then we have two that have to do the oath. I'm sorry. So it'll be Jacob and Mark. And I will read the oath to you and just respond. I do if if that sounds good. Do you solemnly swear to support the Constitution of the United States and the Constitution of the State of South Dakota to faithfully and impartially perform your duties as a member of the school board of Vermillion School District 13-1 residing in Clay and Union counties in South Dakota to the best of your ability and in accordance with the laws now in effect and hereafter
026to be enacted during your continuence in said office until your successor is elected and qualified. If so, answer. I do. >> I do. >> If you want to fill the oath out, we will get that filed. >> Congratulations, Mark and Jacob. >> If you're going to sign it, >> thank you. >> All right. While they're signing, we will go ahead and move on to the organization meeting, which is um the first order of business would be to seek nominations for president of the school board. Do we have any nominations? >> Nominate Rachel. >> Okay, we have >> I'll second that. >> Hey, we have a motion by Jacob and a second by Mark for uh Rachel. Is there any discussion? Okay, if there's no discussion, all in favor of Rachel for president, please signify by
027saying I. >> I. >> Those opposed? All in favor? All right. So, I'll welcome uh Rachel back to the gavl and we'll let her take over with the meeting. >> Thank you everyone. Uh we'll continue. You're welcome. >> Happy to be part of a great group. Um, we will take election um for vice president and I nominate Carol Ward. >> Second. >> We have a second by Mike. Any other nominations? Any discussion? >> All those in favor say I for Carol for vice president. >> I motion approves. Um, next up now we have our um conflict of interest um per health code codified law 3-23. As a reminder, this is for the upcoming 2526 school year. I believe everyone should have a form in front of you. Um, we can go and say anything that
028we need to on here. Um, so Rachel Olsen, um, I do not have a direct benefit. I am an employee of Sanford Vermillion. The, uh, school does do business with Sanford Vermillion, but I have no, um, direct benefit. >> Carol Vosard. I have no direct benefit. I am an employer of the University of South Dakota that does business with the school district, but I do not have a direct benefit. >> This is uh Jacob Skelton. Um I do have a direct benefit. Um my wife subs in the school district um and um as a substitute teacher um and that's from time to time. Um, depending on the year, sometimes it goes over the limit, but uh, the direct benefit from, uh, my wife was authorized by the the school board. I don't know if there
029was anything else I needed to say on that. Okay. Mark Wiggger. Uh, I have no interest. I'm a part-time employee of the University of South Dakota, uh, in the role of instructor. Um, the school does do business with USD, I guess, but I have nothing to do with that. Uh, part D is a consideration of benefit conferred agreed to be conferred upon each party is none. U length of service at USD is a semester. It may be renewed at the end of this semester again for just a semester. Uh the only other relevant information is uh what I'll be doing is helping people get certified as teachers. >> Uh this is Mike Failen. Um I do have a direct benefit from the contract. Um I am the owner of Outside of a Dog Books and
030Games in Vermillion. The district occasionally buys books from my bookstore. Um, I sell those uh books at or below market price to the bookstore. The total value purchased does not come close to the $5,000 um reporting level um at least anytime that I've been on the board. Y'all are welcome to to buy a whole lot more books if you'd like and we can get into that. Um but uh it's a a yearly contract with the with the district. Um but again, any books they sell are at or below market price. So >> wonderful. Thank you everyone for that. Um are there any comments, concerns for the two that have direct benefits? Seeing none, I would take um motion to approve the conflict of interest for 2526 school year. >> So moved. >> We're going to
031give I was give that to Carol, but okay. Mark first, Carol second. All those in favor say I. >> Post same sign. Motion passes. Next up, um, next up here we have, um, items A through R, which are very lengthy. Um, so we'll try to go through these at any time. Anybody has any questions, please, please stop us during that time and we can help explain. But by we, I mean Dr. Ellie. Um, so um, number A is, um, designate Kevin Kosher as a business manager and custodial of all accounts. Um B. Appoint superintendent of schools as ADA director, EEO officer, authorized school district representative for um all federal title programs not otherwise specified. C authorize superintendent to dismiss school in case of incle inclement weather, disease or emergency with secondary principal authorized to dismiss
032school in absence of superintendent. D. Appoint superintendent and business manager as purchasing agents. E. Authorize board president and business manager as check signers. F authorize Kevin Kosher, Nicole Mockler, and Jamie Mullharren usage of the facil the fact stamp and signature plate for the schoolboard president. Um G appoint Jennifer Olson as homeless and migrant student director. >> Keep going. All right. Appoint Jason Huska as title nine that nine y director. Appoint Jennifer Olson as title three which is limited English proficiency and title six and a director. Item J, appoint John Fry, Sam Jacobs, Becky Sanderson, and Stacy Peterson as co-directors of section 504 at their respective buildings. K. Appoint um school attorney for 2025 2026, which I believe is KSB >> and >> Brent Maw. Okay. Um L is appoint building principles as truent officers HIPPO
033privacy rule design for the 2526 school year. M appoint John Waler as a a Her A designate >> asbestous. >> Thank you. >> I should just write asbestous. >> Yeah, you should. But that's okay. We're official. Designate the official depository. Mr. Kosher, if >> uh we have First Bank and Trust as our primary depository. We also have South Dakota Public Funds Investment Trust, SD FIT, as our additional official uh depository. We don't currently have anything with them. That is the um fund that we used for our building project all the way through. So those funds have now been depleted, but we uh will would like to continue to uh approve them as well. >> Thank you. Um designate the official newspaper, which is the plain talk, right? Okay. And set bond for business manager and
034other employees. Yeah, we set that at $400,000 for the business office personnel and $100,000 for other district office personnel. >> Thank you. Set dates, times for regular schoolboard meetings and location city hall. Are we all in favor of the second Monday at 7:00 at city hall other than if it was a holiday moving to the next day so that way any staff can attend? just u in your board packet, it does already have October 14th for N observance of Native American Day on Monday, October 13th. So if you are so inclined, I'll just we've done that in the past. I'll just put it at Tuesday right away on the calendar. Okay. >> Y thinking about October already. Um set salary for schoolboard members for I don't even know what that answer is. currently it is
035$60 per meeting and anything that goes beyond two hours gets second >> four hours sorry four hours gets the additional I was thinking that seemed too too short >> not four though >> all right that was a lot of items A through K um any discussion on any of those >> just for the benefit of the the folks in the audience these are um obviously U annual renewals. These are the same folks that are in the same positions um from year to year to year and that's why you're able to go through them so quickly. But they're just an annual thing for both the state and for the board's benefit. >> I would take motion to approve items A through R. >> All right. We have a first by Carol, >> second by Mike. All
036in favor say I. >> Post him sign. Motions passes. Great. Next up, um, we have new business, which is also items A through M. So, the first one here is acknowledge budget hearing and approval of the earlier presented 2526 budget. I get caught up on my packet here. We uh went over the specifics of the budget uh at the budget hearing. Thank you to our finance committee for all the help um presenting that and on the decision-m as as we went through that process. Um I will read the motion here that we would be required to have to both pass the budget and to set the levies for the upcoming year to uh meet all the revenues that that we have outlined in our budget. So it states, "Be it resolved that the school board
037of the Vermillion School District 13-1, after duly considering the proposed budget and its changes thereto published in accordance with SDCL13-11-2, hereby approves and adopts its proposed budget and changes thereto be its annual for annual budget for the fiscal year July 1, 2025 through June 30th, 2026. The adopted annual budget totals are as follows. General fund 12,917,748. Capital outlay fund 3,278,175. Special education fund 3,361,630. Debt service fund 1,377,500. the food service program fund 1,54,000 and the enterprise fund $176,50 levies certified to the county auditor will be as follows general fund a 1.125 owner occupied 2.518 NA or other category 5.211 211 the capital outlay fund levy of 2,972,891 special education fund of a levy 1.462 462, the bond redemption fund, a total uh amount assessed for 1,375,000, and the opt- out levy of the maximum $880,000,
038which was renewed this past year. These are the levy requests with any additional dollars needed for discretionary tiff value and abatements granted to be over and above the listed request above as per South Dakota codified law. >> Excellent. Thank you. Any questions on that reading? I would just like to again express my appreciation to the finance committee for their work and to uh Kevin and uh Dr. Alvie for working on this budget. And I'd also like to again express my frustration at the fact that this budget uh includes almost $160,000 that had to be accommodated for because we have federal grant funds that are being held that should be at our disposal to use. Also, the Boys and Girls Club is affected and we've been their great partner for many years. >> Yes. Uh like
039we said earlier too, we're in the Boys and Girls Club. We have a meeting here at the end of the month and we'll see. But boys and girls did get a 21st century grant which was 1.25 million over five years which has run our tutor program through K through high school. So >> So that's tutoring that our students have been able to access because of those funds. >> Yep. >> That are >> free tutoring. Yep. Yep. also held up. >> Yes. >> Very much gives me a response right now. >> All right. Moving. I think we can maybe do a few of >> Normally we have had a separate. >> Okay. You can have what you want. Okay. I would take a motion to you can have your own um motion for the budget hearing.
040>> First by Jacob. >> Second by Carol. All those in favor say I. >> I. >> Post. Mot oppose. Same sign. Motion passes. Next up here we have approval of admission rates um for activities for 2526. Um >> yeah, you'll notice that we're we're advocating this year recommending that we have some slight increases for some of our fees and some of the things that uh we're doing at at the district. Uh just simply because most of these haven't been touched between 10 and 15 years. And unfortunately, um, everything is just getting more expensive, whether it's the cleaning products or the the time to pay people to do things. So, in in this particular case, we're a asking our board to um change our admission prices from $5 admission for adults to six and for our
041students from three to $4 and then seven and five for double headers. Uh, we'd recommend that our senior citizens free admission stays the same and that our season tickets remain the same. Um that way our locals get the maximum benefit and and visiting teams that bring visitors would pay most of these the bulk of these increases for admission rates. But uh we're advocating for a dollar increase. >> And just to clarify, you can get a season ticket if you live in Elk Point, right? Yep. >> It doesn't matter. That's right. So if you frequent our district frequently and have a large family, uh that family season pass may be a benefit. And the booster club has their bash coming up that you could purchase it at. Thank you for that and for looking at that.
042Um any questions? Um next up here then we have approval of our rental rates. Um if you remember in the past I asked um Mr. Kosher and the team to really take a look at the use of our buildings. Um so I'll let >> Yes. And under a similar vein there um in talking with Mr. um Huska, he says it's probably been 18 to 20 years since we've had an increase with these and some of them still reflected Jolly and Austin prices. So um what we're advocating um tonight would be that while we don't get a lot of usage of these facilities where people that are not affiliated um do use the facilities, uh we're asking for an increase for um gymnasium rentals and things like that. that would no in no way impede those
043groups that come to you and ask for the uh admissions to be or the waiver of the rental fees that would still continue as as normal into the future. So, but what we'd be looking at is the rental fee for the theater and the fine arts center from $250 to $300. Uh the rental of the commons area, whether whatever school it's in, would go from 150 to 200. Um, if we were looking for uh uh using the kitchen, it would go to $100 of use of the kitchens. Classroom spaces would go from $50 to $100. Gymnasiums would go from $150 to $200 in the district. Um, and then our track facilities outside occasionally gets asked and that would go from 150 to 200. Um, so along with this, what we would probably be working on
044with the board's approval would be some sort of set rate for those people that might need multiple of these. So you almost like a you get two, get three free type of deal. So if the PTO, for example, or another group needed multiple locations, rather than piece it out piece by piece by piece and charging, you would offer me the flexibility to say, "Hey, you know, this is a partner. we're going to instead of doing piece by piece by piece, we're going to do $500 cap and they get the whole facility type of thing. So, uh that's that's the recommendation from finance and from the administration for the use of buildings. >> Okay. Um moving on here, we approval of the open meetings um review. >> This is brand new this year. I apologize. I'm
045going to do a little reading with you here. Um, not because I want to, but because I'm been asked to. Uh, the the state law requires now that we share open meetings with our patrons. Uh, some of our patrons know to go to the attorney general's site and they can find these statutes and find what's needed there. Uh, but some don't and they have questions. So, uh, before you is basically I'm going to give you some some of the most common answer asked questions about the opens meetings, uh, uh, uh, in South Dakota state laws and basically the conducting of business in the public's presence here for you guys. Uh, so basically what are the South Dakota's open meeting laws? And it's basically it's the uh principles that embody the fact that the greatest possible
046information about public affairs should be intended to encourage public processing. Official meetings are ones where a quorum of this group are in attendance. What does it how do uh who does the open meetings uh laws apply to? They apply to all public bodies in the state, political subdivisions, cities, counties, school boards, and other public bodies. Are teleconferences considered a public meeting? Yes, they are. Um whether it's an exchange of information done auditly or through video or other electronic means, it's the same as if you were in person. How is the public notified when the public business is being discussed? And it is u basically prominently posted um with a notice and copy proposed of the agenda uh at the subdivision's office. So, for example, at our office, we post it outside our building on the
047Friday before the Monday meeting. Um, it has to have a 24-hour um notice, though. If we put it up on Sunday, it would count. Or if you have a special meeting and you said, "We want to have a special meeting on Wednesday," we could post it tomorrow and you would be in um in I guess in uh not in violation of this particular part of the law. Um, who are the local news media that are invited? And that's generally any personnel like newspaper, uh, news services, radio or television that are in your area that regularly carry news. And once again, we give this notice to all of our local um, public uh, media outlets. Is the public comment period required at meetings? Yes. According to South Dakota uh codified law 1251, each public public body
048has the discretion to limit that public time but is required to offer public time um at each of its meetings. Unless it's a meeting where only an executive session would be held, then no public time is necessary. Can public record those meetings? Yes, it is. As long as it's reasonable and not uh disruptive to the process. When can a meeting be closed to the public? Um there are f six reasons that that basically a meeting is closed to the public and it's executive session. So it's basically when you're talking personnel issues uh consideration of performance of students or student disciplinary issues. So personnel and students when you're consulting legal authorities on some matter uh employee contracts and negotiations discuss marketing and pricing. If you were going to buy land, you could go into executive session
049for that. and to discuss information related to protection and safety of staff and students. So those are the six things that we we go into executive session that you list and we tell you what the codified law is for that and then you can go into and um of course after that well the next question is what's the proper procedure for executive session? Um basically uh you have to have a motion that uh when you go into executive session and then um once you go into executive session no votes or action can take place in executive session and any action that has does take place has to come back out at the public time and then a motion could be made then. Uh what happens if the media or public is improperly excluded from a
050meeting? If they are ex uh if if you were to violate that or some group were to violate that that is a uh class 2 misdemeanor and you could be uh uh basically reprimanded by the open commission's meeting or open meetings commission. How are the issues uh referred to open um meetings commission? How are they? Basically, uh people can um write the attorney's general office and say that they were excluded improperly or felt they were excluded improperly from a meeting or that a open meetings violation has occurred and then an investigation can take place. You can also uh they can also report that to their local law law authorities. Um may an agenda item be considered if it's been added less than 24 hours? Proposed agenda items for public meetings should be posted 24 hours
051in advance. Typically, the body adopts the final agenda upon convening the meeting, which you do at the beginning of every meeting. At that time, the final agenda is adopted and the governing body may add or delete an agenda item um in order to also change the order of the business. So, while it is preferred and recommended to have all of your items on your um defined um agenda, it is possible that that at the beginning of the meeting you can change the agenda. Um are email discussions considered a meeting? They can be if there is a quorum of the public body together making a decision on some um question over email, it could be considered a public meeting. Uh so therefore um when we send out emails about scheduling or something where we're asking for
052you to respond um we're not asking questions about marketing and some of those other things. It's always uh basically individually asking board members for that but certainly you're not responding back to the entire board to make sure you're not in violation of that. what records must be available to the public in conjunction with your public meetings. And basically that is um you have to have a draft of the minutes available which you do at each of your meetings and you have to have um at the place of the business the within 10 days afterwards of the meeting that the the business um notes or the um what's it called? The >> meeting minutes have to be posted within 10 days of the meeting. Uh what requirements or task force do they uh do the working
053groups fall under this? Task force, working groups, committees uh that are not created by statute, ordinance or proclamation uh may not be subject to the open meeting laws. Are public bodies required to review the open meeting laws? Public bodies must annually review an explanation of the open meetings laws. So that is a new addition to this year. uh prior to that we didn't go through this formality with you uh but would it'll be a part of our our ongoing processes in the organization meeting in July. So uh but once again the attorney general's office on the state of South Dakota governor's website uh you can go there and go to the tabs and find any of these documents that I presented tonight. >> Mr. Kosher, would you like its own motion on that or is
054it allowed to be grouped? >> Lump that in. >> Very important though. Thank you for asking. >> Any questions on open meeting laws? Seeing none, we'll move on to item E, which is approval of the of close capital projects fund 41. >> Uh going back, this was in December of 2021 in anticipation of the elementary school project starting, we uh made a official action to open fund 41, which is for capital projects. the um bond proceeds were put into that and then it was used to pay down the project throughout the entirety. Uh we will not have any activity in that fund anymore uh starting with this fiscal year. So we would like a motion to close that fund. >> Really crazy when you look back to the 2021. >> Mhm. >> Any questions? Then
055moving on here we have um several surplus items. We can just do a little summary of that. But there's some surplus items for birth of three and speech. Um IT department had some activity, Prometheian boards, an ops box. Um the high school um science had, you know, quite some quite some things like a plastic rocket. There are 25 of them. Um some metal springs. Um soccer air puck must be a fun game they were playing maybe. Um, so items that the soccer or the high school science department is also surplusing. >> And all of those things were all at no value. >> Yeah. >> But check out the high school department. >> But yeah, if people want to get their hands on a plastic rocker or or a hook's law demonstrator, this is your time
056of chance. >> Um, next up here then is just the approval of um publishing the 2526 annual salaries and hourly wages. Um, since we have now wrapped up negotiations. So that is a quite a lengthy list there. It's a page and a half. So, um, take a look at that. Otherwise, um, it looks very, very good. Um, nice to see those increases that we proposed this past year. Any questions? All right, moving on. Here we have approval of certified personnel lane changes. Um, just want to list these staff off because that's a well done this last school year. Erica Bodson, Gretchen Burbach, Gabrielle Chance, um, Dan Mart, Caleb Wisman, and Jod Zeller. um congratulations on um your work there and thank you for your improvement and further education. That's some great um great work that's
057been done this last year. Then following that um we have our busing transfer request with Gavville item I um that is where Gayville requests to pick up um our some of our students or our people that live in Vermillion here. Really? >> Correct. Yeah, we have a handful of students that they bus over that open enroll into their district and this is an annual review that they must do. >> So, they get approval there from Walmart is where that pickup is at. So, uh then the next um thing we have here is our approval of our open enrollments. There are a few here. We have open enrollments um 26-1, 26-2, 26-3, 26-4 for open enrollments. What I would mention too along with the open enrollments there is of course this is the time of year
058we get kids coming and going naturally both directions a little bit. Uh but at this point of the meeting too we'd like to declare that our sped uh department is at capacity as you heard me talk about during the um budget hearing there. We are already short staffed uh for the amount of students that are uh projected to come into the district. So we would close like we did last year our special education open enrollment requests. We'll get calls from really now till the beginning of school. Sometimes after the beginning of school about wishing to come into the district. Um at this point I would ask that the board declare our special education um department uh at capacity and that we would will not be accepting any special education open enrollments to further burden that
059department. And just to clarify, if they were to move into our district, obviously they would be >> correct >> welcomed with open arms. Um, next up here then we have item K, which is approval of board policy readings. So that might take some lengthy time here to go through. Maybe we could um do items B through um J with the addition of declaring um our um sped department at capacity. So we're declaring that closed. So I would take a motion B through J. Is that move? >> First by Jacob, >> second by Mark. All those in favor say I. >> I. >> Oppose. Same sign. Motion passes. We don't want to forget any of that important stuff. All right. So, next up here um I might let um the policy committee and Dr. Elvie probably
060take away um quite a bit of this. This is our typical um after our law session getting everything um finalized and touched up. So, take it away. Yeah. >> Um so policy committee uh met with Dr. Alvie um on the 30th of June and went through um recommendations for policy changes um from KSB, our law firm based mostly on state law. Um I will note that there are most of these are were all in agreement and um I'll go through those first and then there are some that we are not in agreement um and we'll present those to the to the board more specifically. Um so we have these there's a lot of these and I'm just going to go through them one by one and stop if you have questions. Um I figure being
061more explicit on this versus versus less is probably the way to go. um policy 2002, organization of the board, board officers, check signing committees, adding a line um that you have to be a resident of the school district, explicitly saying that. I guess some districts had issues where that came up. So, we recommend um having our school board be members or residents of the district. Um the complaint procedure rewarded some things around preponderance preponderance of the evidence still being the standard of factual assertion during um complaints. Um so it's not like beyond reasonable doubt sort of u language. >> Um going on general purchasing and procurement. Um there was the the previous version of the policy set a specific dollar amount of $50,000. Um and that would have to change time to time um as
062state law changed. So now we just set it to the minimum or the the minimum threshold under state law. Avoid having to do that every year. Um the fiscal procurement um I believe this is just a slight update um based on what the standards are for fixing kind of regulation misquote or something to that effect there. Um minor change um the policy 3015 time away from school activities um in discussion with Dr. Alvi and kind of reflecting some things that are done statewide. Um that the recommendation is that the school facilities be closed after 6 p.m. on Wednesday and before noon on Sunday. Um that we don't typically have anything scheduled during those times anyway and just to be officially closed after 6 on on Wednesdays and before noonses on Sundays. Um uh record retention
063policy 3023. um adding in some language complying with federal standards on how long we have to keep certain records. Um 3026 um we had some discussion here. This is a policy on handbooks. Um the handbooks being essentially um having the force of board policies. There was some discussion on um administrators and principles wanting to add something to the handbook midyear. Um we had a case of that popped up last year um with regards to graduation regalia and such. Um the recommendation here um is that changes can be approved um by administration mid year but that those are appealable to the school board. um if somebody says, "Hey, that wasn't in the handbook at the beginning of the year," they can come back to us um and um ask the the board to approve that change
064or you ask for the board's approval on it. >> And just along with those lines, we'd ask the administrators that any ch anything that they were considering that they should come to me to get my uh approval prior to making that decision on their own as well. So that way there's a little checks and balances there. Uh policy 3036, purchasing or credit card program. Just some minor language change there. Seeking reimbursement for a purchase versus making a purchase. Um pretty minor there. Um Title 9 policy is a pretty substantial reduction in the wording there. Um this reflects differences in how that policy is promulgated by um the Trump administration versus the Biden administration. um essentially uh a more a a smaller more general statement versus um a very detailed definition of um the the procedure
065there um and laying out all these things. The the underlying law has not changed. It's just what the guidance is on including that the full text um there. Um >> so basically that whole policy went away minus that top part of that big. >> Yeah. >> So the the recommendation was to take all the specifics uh there and again this is reflecting changes in national department of education >> guidelines. >> So there was um some an option one or an option two. Which one? I mean, and I'm looking at the notes from KSB. Which one are we >> option >> are you suggesting? >> Option two. >> The second one. >> Yeah. Okay. >> The option two um is more friendly for the dayto-day use of Title 9. Um during the Biden administration, they added
066more um topics to the discrimination lists. and President Trump's first term had a more detailed list on what you had to do to get a Title 9 investigation completed. Um, so ours it would be uh KSB's re well they whichever one you wanted to do they could defend. Uh, but the majority of schools are going with the similar version uh that as we are just simply because it's it's handier for the dayto-day and we don't typically get into the Title N issues. um if you've done your investigations properly and we'll continue to do the investigations as we've seen in our handbooks because the you know they're they're well founded if you just do them right and communicate you generally don't get to a a full-blown investigation. So that would be our goal but the recommendation
067is for the option two which is the they called it the slimmer the skinnier of the two. I I would still ask the the district to to you know follow those procedures cons consider the same sorts of things but again the recommendation is to in terms of what's in the the policy just to have the short version. Um I'll take a minute to scroll through all that. Uh criminal background checks. There was an update in state law on this um essentially around sharing data between school districts. Um is that correct? Fill me in on that one. >> Yes. as well as basically um the DCI had audited state schools and found out none of us had policies on these. So you probably remember in May we updated a policy that we had gotten from the
068state and now KSB has made us a policy. Uh so we morphed those two together with the language that that um Carol brought to our attention in May. And so now we've just replaced our 10001 with their 40001. But >> it's basically just an audit check. >> Um substitute teachers. This is policy 4028. Um there was previously a um limitation on long-term subs. Um the language there previously was that uh long-term sub should not act for more than 6 weeks. um and it's updated to here to uh 45 days um unless the teacher record is out for FMLA um or the sub has a teaching certificate themselves. Um and that gives us a little more flexibility in filling long-term um sub positions. Um the 4033 hearing procedures for new teacher termination and non-renewals. Um this
069is essentially cottifying um what we have done in recent history um the last couple of months. Um this is where uh KSP said hey that went really well when we did things u the way Vermillion did that could be a model policy for how to handle these sorts of things going forward. Um the staff district uh staff and district social media use policy gets a couple of minor up wording updates. Um and then um people are not uh staff um and aren't using school media to make press releases and things like that. Staff aren't purposely speaking for the school district in um social media posts um unless there's direct authorization. Um and then uh under uh part B acceptable use um we acknowledge that social social media use is something that our kids need to
070learn about um and that there are all kinds of scenarios where it's a good and you know good teaching to to talk about social media to even you know see a post from social media in an educational setting. um you might have some kind of you know a supervised use for looking at um information in in social media um but that staff would not assign um unsupervised instructional social media use. Um and um then again listing out some things that that you might want to to use it for. Um and then some language around never versus not using obscene or pornog pornographic materials that are I think pretty common sense. Um >> I like there under that acceptable use one that you explained how they include the use of like AI and >> that was
071good. >> Yeah, we had some good discussion around that. >> Um the policy 4056 resignation of certified staff. Um this is the liquidated damages. Um changing from May to uh from will to uh may language in terms of um whether those are uh assigned. um and slightly changing the wording on the when the different levels of that ratchet in. Um compulsory attendance um children should go to school in general. Um the big change here is um pursuant to a state law change around 16 and 17year-old students um being able to pursue a GED sort of program. Um and um you know that that's uh um a way of of obtaining an education or showing that you have obtained an education. Um and um that 17 year olds are allowed to withdraw from the district. We
072don't recommend it. We'd like to have them graduate u but it is a possibility. Um okay. uh policy 50002 um admission of students. This is essentially updating language or adding language on what counts as being a resident of the school district um that you actually have to to live there that if you are, you know, divorced and splitting time between homes that one home counts uh as the as the district that you're being counted for attendance. um and that you could still be placed in the district by judicial administration decisions and things like that. Um and um providing two forms of uh residency documentation as you enroll. Um um open enrollment request. Um people have to actually submit their documents. Um district will not consider an application until a parent guardian submits all requested records
073from previous districts. Um rescend acceptance if we find out that you withheld records from other districts. Okay. Um policy 5011 physical examination of students. Um we had a board policy uh basically that students had to have a physical um before um participation in athletics. That's redundant because South Dakota High School Sports Association already has um more specific policies for what's required for specific sports. This is we're taking it out of the handbook here or we're recommending taking it out of the handbook. We are not recommending that people not get physicals. Um it's just covered already under the high school sports association. Okay. Um 5013 I want to come back to in a minute. That's their gender equity and access. um 516 student records. Um this again um is how we maintain those records um and
074that people have access to am I calling this correctly? People have access to their their student records. >> Correct. >> Talk about Yep. And then we also are required to uh share like uh our juniors and seniors with the South Dakota Board of Regents as well as the military. And this this updated that language, but also offers parents an out an opt out thing if they would prefer not to. So, we're just updating that record. >> If you as a parent wonder why you suddenly get that giant flood of uh college and military recruitment, we as a district are required to provide the names of our juniors and seniors uh unless parents opt out and they can opt out from that mailing list. >> 5034 on handbooks um was redundant and combined with another policy.
075Um this was a oneline student hand policies uh handbook is has the effect of um policies that's combined with the 3000 level policy we talked about previously. Uh 5035.1 uh policy on firearms and weapons u the section on threats involving firearms. Any student who indicates an intention to possess a firearm or weapon at school will be expelled for a school year from a calendar year. This applies regardless of whether the indication is made apparent on school grounds or during elsewhere during the school year. The superintendent has the authority to reduce this consequence at his or her discretion. Um so this was an updated thing. The last sentence in there of the superintendent having the ability to to reduce that mandatory year uh expulsion um I think carried a lot of weight with us. um that
076we acknowledge that we don't want people talking about or making threats with firearms at schools. Um that is a very serious matter. I think we everybody acknowledges that. Um but there may be situations where um a student went hunting over the weekend, accidentally left a firearm in a truck in the parking lot, had no intention, had no threatening language or something like that. the um superintendent then would have the ability to take that into consideration. Um you know, if it's a student who says on social media, hey, I'm worried about an invasion. We should be able to be uh you know, armed at school, if they say that on a social media policy, that's something we still are going to look into. Um and the initial statement there will be, yeah, we got to we
077got to take that seriously, but where there's some discretion there um for for different situations. So that's our recommendation there. Uh the commencement ceremony, this is policy 606, um updating based on state law that allows uh military sashes um to be worn at graduation if they've been earned. Um and then um the last two we had more disagreements about and more extensive discussion about. So this is the gender equity policy that we mentioned before and 6032 here on review of library materials. Um both of these are things that we're dealing with due to state laws uh that were passed this year. Um I'm going to start on the library one here. Um there uh was a bill HB 1239 introduced this year um that originally as as originally written would have held librarians um up
078to criminal penalties uh for getting stuff from the library that the parent deems obscene. Um that bill was substantially changed at the last minute and a hog house uh thing. So the actual text of the bill um is not does not require the level of things in the in the policy as written here. Um this is the recommendation from KSB. Um protection from obscinity is required. We need to have a policy um and a method to keep essentially our school computers from connecting to obscene materials um as required by the new state law. I think we're all in favor of that. um the remainder of it on the selection process of how teachers go about selecting materials is not something that is required by the state law as as written. Um and in particular um
079we had a lot of discussion around the principal or superintendent review of materials. So, this says when a teacher um or staff member um wants to get materials for school use. Um if that's a book, if it's, you know, some kind of resource or or medium like that. Um you got to list what it is. You got to tell us how much it costs. That's all fine and good. We want that. We want to know what you want to buy. Um and a summary of the content and how you're planning to use it. Um what awards or possible things it's used. Um the debate we had was over section seven here. Um which whether any of the content in the material represents a perspective that may not be universal such as political, religious or social
080perspective for which disagreements or differences of opinions exist. um to write have a teacher write a report of everything that somebody might consider controversial I think is uh not reasonable given the amount of things that people are finding nonuniversally agreed upon these days. So I would strongly recommend slashing section 7 from this. Um, we know people these days, not a lot of people, but some people out there object to teaching that the world is round, that slavery is bad, that homosexual people exist. Um, and I don't want a teacher to get in, you know, trouble for suggesting teaching materials that that acknowledge any of those truths. Um, the important thing that does change from the state law again is that we need to have a um we need to have some kind of safeguards on
081school computers. um for blocking porn sites and such um and obscene materials. Um and that the review of obscene materials, we had a you know pretty extensive policy already in place about how we would go about doing material review. Um that that policy has to be appeal appealable to the board and appealable to a judge. Um, so I would not recommend approving this policy as written right now, but we are having a reading of it. >> So, okay. Um, and then the one that we skipped over is 50. >> Can I ask another question? Library. >> So, is this policy as presented how KSB wanted it? >> This policy is what was presented to the policy committee as coming from KSB. >> Okay. Um >> so they did have the seven steps for the principal
082superintendent. >> Yes. Um >> yeah actually. Yeah. Um so the yellow all the yellow there that you see is is additional. That's the stuff that KSB's offered. Then on the the second part of that page where it's A through G. uh that was actually scratched out because KSB prefers that the principles and superintendent be the um be the authority that reviews the process and then it can be appealed to the board. Um Mike and Jacob and I discussed our policy which includes A B CDE E and G that creates a committee to do that. That's what's in your current policy. So, we took KSB's recommendation out and placed your policy in there that shows the review of the policy. So, um all the yellow is additional stuff that KSP suggested and then the white on
083the second page or the back of the first page there is your current review policy that you currently have. And then it extends into the last page of yellow there which basically talks about how people can re you know bring books forward and uh materials forward for review and if they don't like the the answers they receive they can eventually appeal it to the board and beyond. So that's the difference in the state law from what you guys had had in your previous policies. It stopped with me in the previous uh in the previous policies up till this year and now legislation requires that you become the last stage well and even uh beyond. So >> I'm along clear on G where you struck out the decision of the school board is final. Why is
084that? Yeah, the state law passed uh requires there to be an option for judicial review. >> Yeah. So, you might say to the parent that and say, "Hey, we support uh the the the superintendent or the principal's recommendation to leave that book in or to ban that book from from service." And then they could take it past you guys. So, you're not the final authority any longer. >> Any other questions on any of those that we've talked about? Well, the so the changes that are required is are the those address addressing the pornography. >> Um, >> but you said the selection process is not required. >> The selection process I mean is our at our discretion. the uh the state law bill uh HB 1239 um has two sections. Um that uh section one uh
085equip each public access computer with software that will limit minor's ability to gain access to a machine obscene matter of materials as defined in so- and so uh or purchase internet connectivity from an internet service provider that provides that filter already. um and develop and implement a local policy that establishes measures to restrict minors from accessing obscene materials or matters. Um the policy must allow for individual to appeal to the school board. Any determination by the school board um is subject to judal review. Um and then the second section of the law is the exact same wording for public libraries. So there's nothing in that law that uh affects selection of materials. >> Is there a definition of the word obscene? >> There is not. The reason that the selection process was added according to
086KSB was the fact that it offers some shelter for the people making that decision. So if the people that are ordering the books have gotten administrative approval, then if anything were to come forth from that, they would say, "I followed the chain of command and my my supervisor approved of this purchase or or approved of this book." and it takes the light off of the lowest link in the chain and puts it on an administrator which would be more appropriate. So that's the reason for the selection processes explained to me by KSB is to offer that and to be honest we do that now. Um I require our principles to sign off on all the books that are that are brought into the district because of the nature of the world we live in. Um
087somebody with the authority to to deal with that should be the one signing off on that is my view. I'm 100% on board with that. And again, it's that that I'm fine with all that, you know, selection process, principal and superintendent review section except for item seven there. I think is beyond >> what a teacher needs to worry about being a reasonable objection. >> Um, >> can we pull this for a second reading? Well, I think it's just what's hard about it is the way it flows and the way you're trying to say it's cutting. But I think if we're summarizing it, it goes the library protection for a CD, no rights to material, how to select a book. Then we purchase the books by the superintendent and the principal to review it. Then it
088can be minus 7. Then it could go to a board approval, >> right? Then somebody if they're concerned then they have a right to a complaint which is our old stuff that we had items A through G stricken the school board then that complaint can again go to the school board or and then the judicial review >> correct >> and then the additional rules for library. >> Yeah. So it really is just like what you said there's a selection process. If it's not followed or people aren't excited about that, they can challenge the selection of the book and then it would fall in the hands of the principal or superintendent. If they don't like what we say, they could take it to you guys and you can remove that selection from there or say don't
089buy any more of those or whatever. If it goes through the selection process, which I don't ever believe would ever be challenged to be honest, >> then you can appeal the >> Y um but it's after a book has been in place or materials have been in place that that that usually the review process starts. So they would ask for that review process to be heard and then um if they like the outcome of that then it just goes it dies right there. If they're not happy with the outcome then they appeal it to you guys and then they can appeal it past past you guys. So um it is a little wordy but it is it is really down to selection appeal uh review appeal and then that's it. I thought it was interesting
090too which on the last part too of the loss policy it's item three you know um about how you have five years once it's been >> yeah KSB had >> they give it 5 years that it cannot be reviewed again >> yeah KSB's had extensive uh probably the most um used service in the state for this the last two years uh because their clients have been had had um challenges of dozens of books at every schoolboard meeting in in neighboring schools, not recent neighbors, but other neighboring districts in the state. And it overwhelmed their system because they you can't read 30 books and get get an answer out to people about that. So, they outlined what they learned from the um the multiple schools that were going through this. They outlined it, condensed it into
091their recommendations, and that's that's why uh they've put this forward as a recommendation is from what they learned over the last two years of dealing with with book challenges. >> It it's very good. I mean that last section 1 through six. Interesting. So perhaps um so as everybody recalls we don't have to do first and second readings but maybe do we want to see a clean version of this and then do a first reading or do we want to take this as a first reading into a into a second reading? What is what's everybody's feeling here on this? I think after hearing it it's it's good to process it too. I mean, I think sometimes hearing all this now, I kind of want to sit through and read it and just put the seven steps
092together in our brain. Um, just a lot of things going on, >> a lot of pieces that have been put in. So, um, >> well, and I wonder if KSV would be able to provide some scenarios of where that seven play it out with it in there and play it out without and see >> if that number seven is a sticking point that would put us in a a bad legal spot. >> Sure. Um, I can't think of any offhand, but >> they're the experts, of course. >> Good point. >> So, is it better we to table it for next or do this as a first reading and the rest could be a final reading? >> Um, if you don't need it to have two readings, if you just need us to clarify, we can
093certainly do it. >> That's not going in the handbooks or anything. This one isn't >> No, but we would be acting on it. I mean, August 20th, it would be. So, we would want it answered at your next board meeting. So whether you do a first reading and a second reading and with clarification or or just do a final reading doesn't matter to us. Um but if you what we would need is just uh you know be really crystal crystal clear about what what is >> when you're reading it. What is it that's giving you heartburn so we can get the answers to that cuz um otherwise it's it's yeah kind of one of those things you just have to digest >> you know. Y >> and they've had the benefit of a couple weeks
094of it. I've had it for uh four weeks. So >> we can we can put together a cleaner version of that >> um and ask for advice >> and put it for the final version in August. >> Yeah. >> And worst case we need to do a second reading. We schedule we schedule a second board meeting that week so we can get it out for staff because that is a staff that is the week that staff are coming in for in service if we recall. Right. >> All right. And then circling back to policy 5013, the gender equity and access policy that uh the board put considerable effort into a couple of years ago and had a vast amount of public feedback on. Um this uh is an area where the policy committee was not
095able to come to any sort of agreement. Um you'll note in the schoolboard packet here um the entire policy is just crossed out. um every other policy that where there were recommended changes, we had uh things highlighted, we had specific wording changes, um we had rationale provided from KSV as to why certain changes were required. Um here we just got the crossed off policy with the word remove handwritten at the top. Um including in the board packet for tonight in the list of policy changes, that one's that one's handwritten. Um so noticing noting that there was no legal analysis from KSB included here. Um I do have a question of that word uh remove. Um whose handwriting was that? >> That's mine. >> Okay. Um is there legal analysis that goes along with that? Because
096I'm going to have some pretty extensive pointed questions here. >> Sure. Uh the I guess the the the legal analysis is that it's against the law to do those things. And so by recommendation of our attorney, he says that that policy would be best to be stripped from the the policy manual. >> Okay. So I'm going to I want to go through and I do want to ask questions about that. Um and I have the state law pulled up and I kind of know it by heart by this point. Um but the state law is HB 1259. um that essentially requires public schools and buildings in South Dakota to designate any multi-occupancy restroom, sleeping quarters or changing facilities as for use by uh a single sex where they defined sex as sex assigned at birth.
097Um this is this is a page and a half policy that the board spent months on and got extensive feedback from Vermillion. Um and of six sections here plus the introductory uh part um I I would like to go through this um says gender identity means gender related to identity of gender related identity of a person regardless of the person's sex assigned at birth. Vermillion School District establishes this policy has established this policy to both foster educational environment that is safe and welcoming for all students as well as to comply with state local uh local state and federal law. Um I don't think a definition of what gender identity is is against state law and it's certainly not something that's in that section uh in the law that was passed. Uh the next section on
098procedure communication with the school is key. The district will make arrangements with students regarding dress code, restroom, and participation in activities. These arrangements should be based on the students or parents wishes, be minimally burdensome, and be appropriate under the circumstances. The determination of consistently asserted gender may be determined in collaboration with any of the following: parent, guardian, counselor, building administration, and physician. As part of this process, the district may request documentation of from the students or parents. Uh that's an 80word section that you guys wrote. Um one of those words is banned by state law. uh the word restroom. Um I would recommend keeping the entire rest of it in place. Confidentiality. A student has a right to keep their status as transgender student private at school. The district shall keep this information confidential and
099staff shall not disclose this information unless legally required. There is no legal requirement to disclose transgender status. Um nothing in that paragraph is reflected in any way in the state law um and is not illegal. I think that is still very necessary and it is legal for us to continue that policy. Next section is communication and publications. Pronouns and name changes. Pronouns used should be the choice of the student. A legal name change is not required for a student to use preferred name for class lists, student activities, yearbook publications. However, a student's legal name uh must be indicated in the student's official records. The district may list the student's preferred name in the official records by listing it next to the student's legal name with an asterisk next to it uh until a legal name
100change is made. That is still necessary. that is still important for the mental health and safety of transgender students in our district. Um, nothing in that is affected by a state law passed this year. I recommend strongly that we keep that entire paragraph. The next section is restroom and locker room use. The state law does mention that. Um, I'll note that the state law also, the exact same state law, makes it illegal for the governor to share a bedroom with his wife in a state-owned building. Um, and it makes it illegal to rent a cabin in a state park to a heterosexual couple. Um, I've exhausted all my avenues for combating that. I just wanted that on the record. Um, the next section, activities. A student shall be permitted to participate in intercolastic activities for
101the gender for which that student consistently identifies. A student, assuming the student is eligible otherwise, subject to the policies of the South Dakota High School Athletic Association and any compelling safety concerns. The policy does not prohibit any facility within Vermillion School District from maintaining separate toilet facilities, locker rooms, or living facilities for the different sexes so long as comparable facilities are provided. Um, participation in activities is still important and vital for transgender students in our district and gender non-conforming students in our district. Everything there is still necessary and legal. um where participation in activities means transgender students playing on sports teams. That's already addressed other ways in state law and South Dakota High School Athletics Administration policies. We don't need to change anything there. Everything in there is still necessary and legal. Um and then
102overnight trips is also covered by that state law. That one by the state law um can no longer be enforced. Um my recommendation is uh I I have a couple of options that I would like to present to people. Um number one, as uh analogous to what the South Dakota legislature did with abortion legislation, um up until the uh rescending of Row versus Wade, um South Dakota had a state law that said abortion was illegal in the state. Um it was an obsolete law. wasn't enforceable under state law, but the minute that national policy changed, that went into effect. Um, I'd recommend, as my first recommendation, that we keep this entire policy as is with a with a line saying parts of this are not enforceable due to South Dakota state law. The minute that
103that state law gets rescended um or removed, the policy is back in effect. Um secondary recommendation um is that uh as I as I mentioned um this law applies equally well to other buildings in public spaces in the state where it's not being enforced. I would like the Vermillion Public School District to say explicitly to transgender and gender non-conforming students in our district um that the penalty that they will receive for for breaking that law for using a bathroom that aligns with their gender identity should be not higher than the penalty that the governor receives for breaking the same state law um in his bedroom. Um, and third, if we do need to make changes, I would ask that we make only the absolute minimum changes um, where uh, the restroom and locker room policy
104and the overnight trips policy and the one single word restroom in the procedure policy be removed. There, get off my soap box. just to to kind of catch up here first on I didn't catch maybe everything there, Mike. So maybe we'll we'll catch up on a little bit as we're discussing here. Um obviously this was a recommendation based on um the attorneys that do this for a living. And um so I I don't take lightly the fact that we would ever not comply with state law or uh fully intend to do that. that none of that documentation was passed on to them. If if they sent us stuff about, you know, what their legal analysis was, >> that wasn't presented to the policy committee. Um, in terms of the the the the communications and publications,
105the pronoun sections, um, KSB has told me over the course of this last year that those are no longer those are um when we built with this policy, there was uh a tendency to for courts to side with students on their pronoun choices. That has been reversed in my understanding. So, um the you know us asking our staff to to to make uh if they want to do pronoun changes, they're certainly welcome, but it says here that we will. Um that is not something that's legally standable any longer. Um the restroom and locker room stuff, of course, that's self-sufficient. Um executive order covers activities about placing yourself in an activity that is uh that's not with your biological sex. So, we would uh tend to follow executive orders and and and things from our governor
106or from our federal government. Um in terms of uh arrangements on dress codes and restrooms and things like that, uh I think those procedures are uh commensurate with regular dress code policies and and the the things that we do on an individual basis with students. I don't think we have to have a necessarily a procedure that outlines everything um just for a gender uh gender cases. These those students that come forward and share that information knowingly to staff then get the benefit of having some of these things done and those other staff that don't know anything about the situation or aren't welcome to the conversation um would just go about their date treating kids with respect and dignity as they always do. Um, so in terms of of that, um, I guess I don't have,
107um, really any other things to to to recommend other than following what what our school attorneys have asked us to do. Uh, are is there language in there that could be bolstered someplace else in our policy? Perhaps maybe there's some things in there that, um, after we discuss it and look through it, we could we could bolster some things there. But uh at this point um you know and what I I'll be honest what I've shared with the the policy committee is is um this is a this is a big topic in our state and in in several parts of our country and um what we don't want to do in my view as superintendent is invite a microscope on our district and in other words trying to uh uh not follow the intention of
108the law and the intention of the law is very clear in my view and in in our attorney's views that they want this to not be in schools uh in terms of schools making individual policies on that. They've created a state law to try to put us all in the same tunnel. Whether you agree with that or don't agree with it, that's that's not for me to debate tonight. It's it's for me to decide what's best for our district and following the intention of the law and the the exertion of our our attorneys is what I tend to recommend to the board. Uh North Dakota uh had a a school district that last year chose to ignore that state law and they came back with a more strict state law this year. Um which fines
109the school district $2,500 per incident where they don't follow the state law in North Dakota. I do not want that for our district. Uh while I um understand that this this changing of the policy would cause some heartburn and some concern for our students and for some of our staff uh in our districts. um inviting Pier to come down and microscope uh and micromanage us would not be advantageous for uh the district to have Pier coming down here um and being basically telling us what we're going to do and then finding us on top of it if they find out that NE that North Dakota is doing that. So, um while I acknowledge, you know, Mike, you had some some great points there. Um the recommendation that I bring forward is that we follow the
110recommendation of of KSB which is to strip this policy out. Go back to our normal policies of u engagement and behavior integrity and and treating kids with respect um so that all of our kids can feel welcome in our district but minus the things that are required by our current district with restrooms or or um other activities and things like that. So >> we were the only district to have this policy in the state. >> Correct. >> So am I correct in thinking that this policy isn't included in the KSB's memo because we were unique. >> Yeah. >> In having this policy. >> Yeah. We were, if you remember correctly, we were advised not to create a policy on this >> and we chose to chose >> otherwise because that was our prerogative as a
111board. >> Correct. >> Um, and that was uh that was us using our power of the board to address a situation to address our needs in our district as we saw them as that board did. So, um, and it's their KSB's recommendation isn't included in here because we were the only community in the district that had such policy. Is that >> correct? Not not in their memo. >> Did we have guidance from KSB specifically on this? >> Yeah, I had a conversation with Tyler on this policy. >> We don't have a memo. Did you? We don't have a memo or anything. No, but he can be he'd be happy to to uh set up an executive session with the board and and >> Okay. >> and have that conversation do that. >> I mean, I
112I do think that may be helpful um because the the state law does address public facilities, bathrooms. Um but yeah, as you mentioned, there are other things here, many other things. Um, so I guess I am interested in their um, yeah, in hearing from our attorney that we hire on our policy what their thoughts. I don't have any interest in having a policy that I'm not going to vote for something that goes against state law. I uh took an oath >> to not do that. >> Yep. >> But so I am interested in in in what their thoughts were. >> That was my thought. You know, Damon, there are probably things as you mentioned that maybe could be finesse into other policies, etc. But I think for the board overall, I think everybody's thought about
113this for a little while, but um sometimes we don't have our legal counsel typically sitting at the board like we used to. Um perhaps maybe at tonight or maybe there could be a special meeting very soon where we could have Tyler available um to kind of give us the legal rationale that usually seems to help us in previous incidents is when we need kind of that. >> Not that we don't trust what you're saying, don't take it that way, but um sometimes it's nice to have um have that information. it provides opportunity for those to ask pointed questions to our lawyers. Um, so I see maybe maybe we can get a hold of him yet and do it tonight. If not, um, I would request a special meeting here in the near future where we
114could potentially get that library one and um, not we don't necessarily need KSB for that library one. I'm not for sure, but maybe there's a few we had that question on seven. So um, maybe we could ask both of that. So, so perhaps um we could approve all but 5013 and what was 6037 that changed to 6032 which is our library policy. Perhaps um we could have any discussions on any of those um policies if there were any questions. Motion those and then we can come back to whether that meeting is tonight or at a later time. >> See nods. Perfect. Okay. So, I would take and I'll let you work on that, Mr. Elby. Um, I would take a Well, we're going to keep going. I think we have a couple more things we
115can do with a single motion here. Um, we have, um, item L, which is approval of student, staff, and activities handbooks. Lots of handbooks. Um, I see there same thing. They went through that very well. I know I asked a question about dress code um, since we kind of loosened up the staff dress code. Um, but that was answered by Mr. Elvie. Um, and you can also see it must be negotiated items as number one. So, were there any questions on the student, staff, and athletic handbooks? [Applause] I um did have a question um about uh an item in the staff handbook and I don't have it right in front of me now but um it seemed that there was at the end the workman's comp insurance policy edition and I can't remember I feel
116like at one place u maybe in that new edition it said that accident should re be reported in 3 days but in another spot we had within 24 hours. Um >> we have a you know in the a section for accidents. Um but then also in the workman's comp. So if there's any discrepancies there I want to make sure that we're it's a good one >> clean those up. Those are very tricky things. things we notice that during negotiation making sure all the days and times and they're listed so many different places. >> Yeah. >> Good. >> I do want to say too the this the field trip policy that we changed I think this last year um teachers have done a really good job in letting staff know or parents know too about field
117trips in advance and I know that's a a tedious task to do but I know as a parent I do appreciate knowing when my child will be leaving school. Any other ones on those three handbooks? If I recall, we do not print these out and give them to um parents and staff. They're available online, which the website is being edited. So hopefully it's available. I have one other small thing. You bet. Oh, on the in the student handbook on page 11, there was a line that said, "This should be emphasized in our communications policy." That looked like it might have been a note like somebody's note that made its way into the actual policy. >> What page was that? >> Yeah. >> Page 11. >> It is a they're beefy policy. So, >> and on
118the activities one, um, there's a rather extensive addition about being in attendance at high school by noon. I just wonder if you could talk about that that update a little bit. This is on page 15. >> Yeah. Um I'm going from memory since I didn't bring put it in the pocket, but if I remember it correctly is if you are uh planning to participate in an event that evening, you need to be in school by noon. Otherwise, uh you there's the normal exemptions like funeral or a doctor's appointment or whatever. Uh but what it is uh meant to try to um curb is the kid that that um comes till noon and then leaves uh for whatever reason and then all a sudden comes back and wants to be playing football that night or or
119singing in the concert. Um if they had some sort of a a presscheduled u excused absence, they could certainly do that. But otherwise, the expectation is that they're in in school by noon then. Just a heads up to anybody who if you're traveling that day and you get back in time just for last period. >> Yep. >> Talk to the doctor. >> Yeah. And that does happen whether it's a doctor's appointments, funerals, uh other college visits. You know, I'm gone all day for my college visit. It's an excused absence. We knew about it ahead of time. Those kids are welcome to come back and participate. But we tend sometimes to have kids that maybe don't have reasons to be gone and then they show up for the event that night. It's like, we haven't seen
120you in seven periods and now you're here. So that's what that's meant to help curb >> and only because I Oh, it did print. So the page number I think it sometimes goes weird from word document to PDF, but just make sure the page numbers are printable. It's very lengthy when you print it. All right. Um we can move on to item M, which is um approved negotiations for classified staff, pair professionals, education assistants, building administrative assistants, and school librarians. Um, do you want me to go through that, Dr. Please? Um, um, you can see here there is a summary packet and then the new agreement, which um, isn't terribly lengthy. I think what do we end at? 1920 pages maybe. Um, not for sure, but um, really good um, work there for um, both
121teams. Um, just summarizing from the summary page, there's a 50 cent per hour wage increase. Um for insurance, school district does absorb the 1% rate increase for single health insurance and we will absorb the 5% rate increase increase for single dental health insurance. Um we did some changes from the sick leave payout um resignation and retirement um changing some of the years of service and increasing the dollar per day reimbursement. Um we did um agree to two paid holidays um during that Christmas break time period. we really wanted to focus on those um particular months where there's just less days and the um team agreed to do it during that holiday break. So then that if I recall that December then will holiday pay will be paid out in their January paycheck. Um and then
122and then just the work of a whole entire established um work agreement. So really um good things in there. made sure to include some of those um feelgood things like our activity passes and making sure um those are in there, bereavement leave, military um things that we're doing, but it's just in a really good place to um be able to summarize it and see it. Um you will find towards the end there's some attachments part of that um the um a grievance packet um are wage calculating for each of the um job roles. the job descriptions we added to that and then I think there's one more yes the um evaluation form and then we do um historical form so just as we go through year to year it's really easy for everybody to reference
123that so um good work on the team appreciate everybody that was a lot of um time spent in their valuable summer so I appreciate um everybody for that are there any questions on the negotiate agreement I think we end at item in. Okay. So, remind me guys, we just approved items. >> I think it was board policy was the stoppage. >> Okay. So, which was item K. Okay. So, we can approve K, L, and M minus um the library policy and the gender um equity policy. >> Mhm. >> I would take a motion to approve. >> So, moved. >> First by Mike. Um second by Mark. All those in favor say I. >> I. >> Oops. Same side. Motion passes. >> Are you working on any work on um KSP while you're at it there?
124>> Yep. 10 minutes. >> Perfect. Okay. So, then we got to get through this in 10 minutes. Um, excellent work. Well, apologize for that delay. It has taken a little while. You guys picked a long schoolboard meetings to be at today. Remember that for next year. Um, so we will now move on to Dr. Elv's um schoolboard reports. >> You bet. Uh lots of things here again. Um first of all, thanks to the custodial staff and John Waler and his crews for all the work they're doing around the school district. Uh keeping everything clean and moving along. We're making great progress, but also just doing normal um you know, reconstruction, painting, carpet, all the things that go along with that. Uh facilities updates, some things there. we've been working with um you know a restroom
125work at the elementary school which I shared with you guys in a memo um from Friday is we've had a little bit of a glitch with our our uh uh restroom edition at the elementary school the state plumbing inspire I'm just reading my note that I sent to you guys had denied our plan review for our six unisex bathrooms in our handicapped accessible bathroom quoting that there was a UBC code indicating space allowed for the seven stalls does not open into a corridor hall similar to the unisex bathrooms that you have in the main elementary. We designed those specifically to be like the ones at the elementary school. In fact, Greg did Greg did that for us. >> Uh so we were both surprised to find that we were we were getting we were getting
126stopped by the building code inspector at Pier because of the corridor not being big enough. Apparently not being big enough. So, um, we called around and asked and we asked to meet with him and have asked him to reconsider. We said, "If these were boys and girls bathrooms, what would the the problem be?" The problem would be that they can't go through the same entrance. Boys and girls, state law or state code doesn't allow boys and girls to go through the same entrance to go to a bathroom area. I said, "Well, these are unisex bathrooms and that's how we have it in the other part of our building." He says, "But the corridor that you have in the elementary is a hallway. It's a it's a vast area and those nine bathrooms are accessible from
127from all directions. And according to his um claim that this this would violate that and the only way to make it uh I guess not be a violation is that we'd have to open up our um I guess the custodial wall. So I've given you kind of a drawing there. Um, so if you're looking at the the the unisex bathrooms that we originally were talking about, we'd have to remove that custodial wall to make it an open corridor where where the word hallway shows there. Well, we can't do that. That's a that's a support wall for the custodial department. That that wall can't come down. So he said the only thing that we can do is basically um you you re invert those bathrooms, put the restroom me the family restroom or the the one
128unisex restroom in the between. You put the boys on the south and the girls on the north and you keep save all the same receptacles or the same faucets and toilets and and handwashing stations. Um, so that's where we're at is basically we've got a plan that looks like this one that you see on, you know, the gray. Um, and John Walker and his crew will that are working on it'll we'll be meeting with them tomorrow to find out uh because now we've been sitting on hold for a week basically trying to to work through this asking for waiverss. Um, and this this plumbing inspector has has not been uh ideal to work with. He's just very very concrete, sequential, and he says, "I'm not going to sign off on your plan. You have to
129do it this way or stop stop doing your plan." So, now we're back to we we're back to a boys and girls traditional style restroom that'll look like it does in the rest of the building, but it is up um on the far east end of the building by the the gymnasium. So, we we've accomplished the restrooms. It just didn't give us our unisex restrooms that we had intended to have there. Um, in terms of other things with uh our middle school kitchen work is going on. Um, the outdoor learning spaces are in the works for our um, uh, construction there. We got quotes out on our tables, benches, and shade structures. We met with the foundation about um, getting the payments for those. We will buy them first. We'll get reimbursed from them. Um
130we did uh receive some minor hail damage last week or two week three weeks ago now I guess to uh some minor things on the buildings uh trees at the middle school and our message board at the elementary school um from the storms that came through. Uh we did complete our roof sele section at the high school um last week. So we're working on that. We've talked about theater and irrigation systems being improved at the high school and middle school there. And now our buildings are back to full speed because gym um waxing was being done over the 4th of July and we we had a moratorum with them those weeks where the kids couldn't get in the gym. But it's back to business now. Uh we talked a little bit already about the title
131one programs that were on pause from the US DOE. Um we talked a little bit or in your notes there it talks about schoolboard vacancies and how what's required for boards to fill vacancies. They are appointed positions. So, school boards are uh basically our process for filling a vacancy on a school board is that uh you get a resignation from the board member that's leaving the position. The board then advertises if they wish to advertise for candidates whether it's put it on the website, put it on the newspaper, whatever you want to do. And then you uh appoint candidates from a pool of people that apply for the position. So you you could envision it that you would take applications and we got a sample application. You would be able to then take uh those
132applications interview one or all of them and at that point you could then appoint that position person for the remainder of that particular school term and then if that is more than a multi or one more than a one-year term the next year it becomes an elected position. So, it's a one-year appointment. Then, in this case, um if there's more time to be served, then it's a they jump into the election cycle. So, from case that becomes an issue and and needed to be worked out. >> And just to clarify on that, Damon, um in case that becomes an issue, um the appointment, the board selects somebody and then the full board votes on that candidate. >> Correct. Yeah. the the the the resigning board member is still an active board member until the appointment
133is made. >> Yeah. And explicitly gets a vote in that. >> Correct. >> Should that possibly come up >> just in case. Um and then of course before you is also the calendar. It's the same calendar that you've approved already. The only tweak that we have for the calendar uh for the public's notice is our snow day makeup plan. Our snow day makeup plan was always to use the second parent teacher conference Friday as one of the dates for possible makeup days. Well, u through negotiations that Friday of the parent teacher conferences, the afternoons are going to be days off now. They're not going to be school days. So when we prepare teacher conferences get over at noon, then the the staff will be free to leave. So we no longer have February 14th as
134a day to use as a makeup day for snow rem or for a snow makeup day. So if if the board is so inclined, we would just basically condense that plan. Um first snow day would be a freebie for the kids and the sec and the staff would make it up at the end. The second um snow day then would be made up on March 11th and April 5th, I believe it was. Um those are PLT days. Those are early dismissals. we' just extend a day and teach the rest of those days, make up some of those hours that time, and the third day would be made up uh after school's out. Uh we would make it up on the 21st of May and then move our staff in service day to the day after
135that. Um hopefully we don't need snow days. Um but if we do, that would be the plan. And we'll have to evaluate if we like that in the future or do we want to do what our schools do and you put them all at the end. uh you take away vacations during the year. There's a variety of things that people can do. So, >> it only made me think of it since I was looking at it more closely on those those two days. I think Jamie needs to flip the yellow and the green around cuz the green should show that that's morning and then the afternoon should show school, right? >> Yes. >> Or or you trying to say the whole Oh, never mind. She could do it different ways. >> It just means things
136to different people, I guess. >> Yep. What it's supposed to convey is it's a half day of teacher pair teacher conferences but no school the whole day. Yep. >> It's hard to do on Excel documents. >> Great. >> And then um basically we we've also just recently had a second uh fire inspection at our school districts. Uh last spring we had some come through and we had uh a number of little items, you know, items hanging from the ceilings. We had Christmas lights up in classrooms and we had stuff that was stored too close to electrical boxes or things like that. And so we went and corrected all of those things. And then we had an opportunity. The inspectors came back again last week and we had uh a clean slate. We had to write
137up for batteries needed to be changed in a uh exit sign at the high school. So they cleaned it up and they they got after it. they got everything taken care of and again a testament to the staff for doing their work and John Waler and his crew for making sure that we're following the fire marshall's recommendations. So um we we did a good job there. >> I do have one questions on the restroom because it's with walkers. Is there like a change order fee for this or we don't know until you meet with them? >> We we won't know till there's going to be a change in the scope. So there'll be some fee but um sounds like it doesn't sound like it's going to be outrageous. So, >> yeah, just probably more walls
138than >> Yeah, we got >> Yeah, uh almost everything remains the same except the fact we got to add two walls. >> Thank you. >> Any questions for Dr. Elvie? >> All right. Um school board um committee reports. It seems like everybody had >> Yeah. Finance and policy. We kind of >> pretty expensive there. Yep. And >> I want to thank you, Mike. You did a good job going through all of that. We'll see. >> In negotiations, we wrapped that up um here in June. So, got that done. >> Good shape there. >> Um I've taken on my own to recruit 14 readers for the elementary school and looking for more. >> Now I'm waiting for people. >> Now I'm waiting for your signup genius to come out so people can select their slots. So
139when the teachers are ready to have them come in. Anything Carol for you? The booster club had a successful golf tournament on last Saturday. I think they had 22 teams and uh mark your calendars for the booster bash which will happen on August 22nd at 6:00 p.m. And thanks to the booster club for their support in uh the board in the donating some funding towards the board in the high school gym. did see my husband stepped away from a family reunion to win the tournament this weekend. So, >> on my anniversary weekend, but >> not sad about it at all. Thank you for supporting our schools. Um, I do um typically at this time we talk about committees. I would like to kind of hold things as is um um just for a little bit
140longer and then um maybe through August and then we can reconvene on what recommittes look like if that's okay. Um we can move on then to financials. Um item A which is funds. Um Mr. Gosher, anything that we haven't talked about tonight? >> Uh not really. Uh board the uh financial packet is in in the board packet again this month. I really don't have a lot to highlight. This is the uh conclusion of our fiscal year here and now we have passed the budget for the new fiscal year. um working with Department of Education on our annual report and just received approval on that and we will be having our auditors here next week. So working on concluding one fiscal year as as we start the next I would take a motion to approve the
141financials if there are no questions. >> So moved >> first by Carol, second by Mark. All those in favor say I. >> I post same sign. Motion passes. Um any future agenda items? Okay. Um if not, um we are in need of an executive session um for South Dakota Codify Law 1-25-2-3 and I believe 1-25-2- Oh, maybe just one, right? >> Yep. >> Okay. Um just a heads up for future board meetings. Um I believe there is a um school board retreat the 8th of August 5th 6th whatever that Tuesday is coming in August um followed by our regular um school meeting August 11th special meeting is August 5th right >> August 5th for board retreat and 11th for school board >> and then teachers report the >> 13th >> coming back quick >> just
142shy of a month for those that wanted the reminder um so I will u Make a motion to enter into executive session. >> So move >> at 8:44. First by Jacob. Second. >> Second by Carol. Um we are in executive session.