001Okay, it's 5:30, so I'll go ahead and call our meeting to order. At this time, we'll stand for the Lakota flag song. [Music] [Applause] We are [Applause] We are [Applause] [Music] Our [Applause] [Music] [Applause] God the Public forum and public comments. The Todd County School District encourages participation by parents, tribal education, the Rosewood tribe, and the community before the meeting of Oh, we already did that. You signed up. So, we'll have two for public forum and board comments. Jessica and Amanda. Jess is Is this need to go into exec? Are you going to name names or is it just a general just a general concern? Maybe. I don't know. Just to express some concerns. Um my name is Jessica Spans. I am an alumni from Todd County. Um I do know of some situations. Well,
002just I want to talk about the policies I guess. Um, as far as your first defense, I know there was some amendments made to your um, student handbook, but I do know of um, some unfortunate situations that have happened um, concerning some students, which I'm not going to name. Um but I just feel like [Music] um when recommendations come to the board and there are student hearings um I feel like it should be taken as a recommendation not the only solution. Um, I want to see more recommendations um on the list of things for solutions um when it comes to those student hearings. I'm concerned because I mean I get that times have changed um when I was in 8th grade uh to now. But um I just feel like the policies that are in
003place right now are failing our kids. They're very harsh. And I know that when I was in eighth grade, we had a really good guy named Bob Kitchell who ran a mediation um peer mediation um to where it never had to come to you never had to suggest them. The only solution was student hearing. Whatever they decide that's it, that's law. Like um I just feel like there's more that we can do as far as recommendations when it comes to the end part of this. Um maybe a mediation, maybe some counseling, maybe some anger management, um anything except sending these kids home for the rest of the year and the only option is online learning. Um I do know that one of them was not allowed the even the online stuff. Um and that's really
004unfortunate. I that worries me. Um, I'm worried about this kid's mental health, first of all. Um, I know that it puts a strain on the parents. Um, I'm here speaking as an aunt, as a mother. I mean, I have no kids in this school system, but I'm related to a lot of kids here. Um, I just feel like we could do better at coming up with solutions to resolve these issues when there's um, confrontation in the school. Uh maybe the principal could I don't know. We just need to do better and come up with more solutions more than a 90day long-term suspension. That to me is not a solution. That to me I feel like your mission here is not being the the goal. It's not being met. I look at this wall and these
005are some goals that you guys have. Can we go back to this wall and maybe pull some things from there so that we can have a better way of discipline for these kids because it is concerning um and it's very heartbreaking that some of these kids don't have the option to go ahead and reenter into school. I get that the behavior is not acceptable. But even then, like I said, there was solutions back then when I was in school like the mediation. There was just other ways to um come up with ways to help these troubled kids even, you know, not so troubled but just made a mistake. Um, and like I said, I don't have any children here, but I do, this is my home, and I do have a connection with a lot
006of these kids, and I'm not coming here demanding anything. I'm just expressing my concern. And I think that we can really do better as far as these policies, too. Like, they're just they're harsh. first defense, like you guys switched it up to 7-day out of school suspension, then it went to 10, and now at the end of um the description, it has the last page has a recommendation, and the only thing that I seen on there was your 90-day long-term suspension. Really, is that all you guys could come up with? So, I'm just here as a concern auntie um for these kids and I really feel like we can do better especially as educators. You guys put yourselves in these positions to help these kids. And let's go back to the mission here and make
007some changes that that are going to committed to provide students with quality preparation that will empower them to succeed academically, socially, emotionally, culturally, and spiritually in an ever ever changing world. Can we get back to that? That's all I have to say. Thank you for letting me speak. Thank you, Jess. Thank you for coming. Thank you. Mandy, do you want to speak? Hi, I'm six. Um, I was before the school board before my nephew was a freshman transferred in from a different school. Um, had mace and a baton. I don't even know where my little freshman even got either of those. Um, he came before this board. Well, it was different faces. Some of you were in that meeting. was there um and they were wanting to expel him. They came to the hearing, but
008I asked the board, "Did you think about why you have a freshman coming into the school with me and at the time?" Because I think that's really what we need to take a look at when we're having troublesome kids because it's not their fault. There's a lot going on at home that we know about. There's a lot of trauma and and um just hearing about the Todd County middle school and how there's a lot of bullying and I'm hearing there's a lot of it's the girls, it's not the boys, it's it's the girls and and I hear this for more than one parent. I'm also a parent is on with the Rose Tribal Eds building bridges. Um I've been in there less than six months, very new. Um very excited for this role. So I
009do have a lot of trust and rapport established with a lot of parents in our communities. Um, I have five of my own children and I have three nephews, teenagers that I take care of. So, my hands are very full. Um, but I have to tell people, parenting doesn't stop for me. I'm a parent 24/7. I feel like I lay and think of my kids' futures that night every single night wondering how I can be a better auntie, a better mom, better community member. But then that's why when I when we come out to these spaces, we are trying to better ourselves. It's hard to be a cycle breaker. That's what I'm realizing I am. And it's really hard. Um when when when we're asked if we have support, we do have some support, but
010it's not always healthy support. So when you thinking about healthy support for these children in our families, it's little to none. So it was very concerning that children were looked at as being expelled and there's a couple months left. in this bullying stuff. As Jess stated, back when I I I graduated from here 2008, I was a an angry kid. I I I went through anger management back when I was a teenager. And I think things like that need to be happening instead of just expelling. They're in trouble. Let's let's look at some yoga, some mindful breathing, some deep breathing. Um I don't know, maybe the ISS should have yoga mats instead of I don't know what they them anymore because everything is technology anymore. But I really think we need to pull ourselves back
011to the healing that can happen in those hard moments. Um I've gone to I I I'm putting myself through a lot of trauma informed presentations. Uh there's trauma of money. There's that people are starting to talk about trauma now because it's trickling into our workplaces. It's trickling into our schools. Um and so I just come as a parent of many and the voice of many families who are within this district who unfortunately don't have the means to come before you guys. Um I'm really really passionate about our people. I I I love my local people. Um I love these babies. I have five of my own. Um, and I think for me, my my son's 15 and and he's only a few months and between their age gap, not much has changed positively out here
012on our on our home lines. And to me, that it scares me because I have three teenage nephews now who I am legally responsible for and they are struggling. They're struggling with with consistency, stability. I In my house, we do have rules and they're coming from homestead. They can always have rules. So, it's very hard, very challenging. Um, and I've had them for almost two consistent years now. And, um, we haven't had consistent services. I'm just going to be really honest here. I've reached out to to the middle school and high school counselors here. Um, my boys don't come home and say, "Oh, auntie, I talked to my counselor today. I don't have a counselor calling me saying, "Hey, Shane, fiance, Deshan, was anything going on this week?" They seemed a little, you know, I
013don't have that consistency where I reached out for these boys and I just didn't reach out to the school district. I reached out to Southern Plains, reached out to our tribe, the 21 community. It It's really sad when our kids aren't getting consistent services. And I don't know, sorry if my five minutes is up, but I really think that we need to work towards that. And I I I want the school board to know there's parents out here willing to work with you guys. And if if there's a challenge faced, we'd love to sit with you guys. Um I did recently get on the Title Six parent advisory committee. I just went to my first meeting the other day. Um I I do believe in parent involvement. Um, one of the words up there is
014empowering all students. We do need to empower all of our students. I have a 18-year-old who's going through some stuff with his tribe with land stuff now that he has to speak on. And they asked him to get up and say something and he said, "Why should I when they don't care?" And this is coming from an 18-year-old boy. And I'm not saying he's right because he's my kid, but he's he's right. Whether that was coming from a kid I never met before or my own kid. And as Jess said, as adults, we do need to do better because they are watching us. They are. And they're they're soaking it all up. And we're really thankful. I have a three-year-old and thankful that Lakota is on the TV now because she can count to 10
015and look out. I've tried. We tried. But I think us being consistent with talking to her about it and doing it like I'm really happy about that. I don't think I was counting to at 3 years old. So, that's that's a goal we're meeting for me as a parent and um I do get a bit emotional cuz these babies, our families are really hurt and they're really hopeless. That's why you don't see them out here. That's why they're not coming to our um parent teacher conferences. And I mean, the Todd County and St. Francis games were high tension because there's hurt being carried and and not a lot of healing happening. And and I speak to that because I I'm I'm trying to find this healing. I've been hurt. My my nephews, my kids, they've
016been hurt second, third hand out here. I have to tell them and take a look back that none of us in my household, there's eight of us in our house. None of us do alcohol or drugs, but we're affected by them 100%. our household doesn't even do it, but we're affected by it 100%. And it's really hard. So, I would just love more support. And I mean, like I said, the yoga stuff, the mindful breathing that in these trauma presentations, and I mean, I've taken psychology and mental health classes. I've kind of educated myself on a lot of things that disturbed me growing up, I guess. And and there are things we can we can do. Mindful breathing, drinking our water, exercise, eating our fruits and vegetables. Um, so thank you guys for hearing me.
017I I I trust your guys' leadership and I think that's why we're here tonight. So, thank you. Thank you, Maddie. Thank you, Jess. So, we have a staff and student recognition. And I don't know if anybody's been on social media, but a big huge congratulations to Ashton Olsson, Morgan Blackbear, and Sunny Young for earning gas, metal, air welding certificate at Mitchell Tech and thankful that SGU has partnered with us and Mr. Herman comes over and is working with our kids and they get this opportunity and so they're certified now. They made it. They passed their test. So that is a view for our kids especially here you know and so I hope hope it keeps growing and growing. Um we need a motion to adopt the agenda moved by the shop. Second by Tim. All
018in favor? Yes. Yes. Superintendent report. My report time is going to be turned over to these two fabulous ladies. if you have the just a few things that I needed to share with you. Um, please make note of the hearings coming up. Um, and then before we leave tonight, can we set up some time for negotiations? Yes. All right, ladies. Thank you. Um, last week when you guys voted uh Amanda onto the title six uh committee, you had some questions about what the purposes were and such of the title six committee. So, I made this little presentation. Most of this information comes right from our bylaws. So, it's it's basically for your information. The title um can you pull it up on this one? No, I don't know how. Oh, all right. Okay, that's fine.
019Um it was on there just a second ago. Sorry. That's fine. So um title six is the Indian education act and it um ensures that indigenous students get what they need to make education appropriate and relevant for them. It is federal funds um with the purpose of cultural and language preservation, parent community involvement and student support services. Please stop me when you have questions. Then as a part of the grant, we are required to have a parent advisory committee. And um it's comprised of Native American student, the parents of Native American students, teachers of Native American students, Native American students themselves, and uh community members. And um the purpose is to provide input on to into the grant and how this money is used. So what the A stands for is advisory, parent advisory committee.
020So their main goal or their main purpose is to advise the school district on the needs of our students. They um review the programs. They review how we spend our money. They review the grant that we write every year and they advise us as to how it's going. Um they collaborate with us and um try to make sure that we keep in the forefront of our mind our Native American students and needs. So, they have to attend a meeting like five meetings a year. They review the grant app and um I can't turn in a grant app without their signatures. They advocate for their people and their students. Um they assist in planning cultural events and programs and they are the liaons between our district particularly title six but for our district and people in
021their communities and our membership is there's five parent members. There's two high school students, one teacher and two non- voting members. one of them being from tribal ed and one of them being the family and community engagement coordinator which is Lita. Um so the the parent advisory committee collect applications. We put out applications there for a teacher, parents and students and we kind of collect all the applications and then as a committee we just make suggestions to the superintendent. the superintendent gets all the applications, but we make suggestions. These are who we would love to work with kind of thing. And then um Roberta or the superintendent will make a recommendation to the school board, but it is the school board that actually appoints the members. Oh, and that's it. So, did you guys have
022any questions about title this title seven? No, I loved it. But I do have a question, Jane, and you probably aren't going to know this with the recent atmosphere of the political climate beyond what's happening here at a national level and knowing that our um President Trump has said no more DEI, no more diversity, equity, and inclusion. How is that affecting our title programs? because basically we are talking about diversity, inclusion, and equitability for Native American students versus the non-native students. Do you know how that's going to affect our title money or not? Because our kids need it. So I can only speculate and I think if when they if they start slashing things these will be on the chopping board like they've been talk has been here ever since they set up the reservation
023system you know and title six is a little bit later but um I don't know Chad says that we should be safe. Okay. And I trust Chad. Okay. But but something doesn't go that way. I mean, I don't I guess I just worry because I know that with this title money goes to really good things for our kids and then you watch the national news and you see where I mean it's taken I mean just the word equitable and equity has been removed from different parts of the federal government. So it's worrisome for me when I think about our students and our school district here. So, the way it was explained to me is that our general funds is is a cupcake model. Have I told you guys this already? No. The cake part is
024our general funds. Yeah. The frosting is like title one, title four, title two. They're it's extra, but it's it's really you need it to have a cupcake. and this kind of thing. JLM and title six um are the sprinkles and they are the fun stuff, but they are also the it's so important like they are the field trips. They are the um consultants that come in and teach our kids drum group or they are the um Ken Stanfest at Rosebud who is just a grandpa in the building who speaks lot to the children or who brings that sense of elder calm that's so important. I need a cross in my building. But, you know, it's just such important uh things. So, I it's going to be bad if we if we lose. Okay. Just just
025wondering because you've watched the news and it's kind of scary right now when you see all the things and you think about how this could trickle down into to our schools. So, thank you. I wish I could I wish I knew more, but like it is just speculation. And they just add that um Rosemary Clim when we were at the PAC, she she didn't bring that topic up. She got it on her radar and it's very nice to have someone like Rosemary because she did talk about the language. I mean, can't even say her and she Yeah. So, she's really mindful of that and I think she's a good contact for for those big questions that and that's new in our bylaws this year is that we added that triballed uh representative to the committee
026and I think that was a a great community outreach uh partnership which is one of our goals. So, that was a good addition. Jane, I got a question for you. How often does your committee meet? Five times a year. And so the bylaws say like March, May, September, November, January, something like that. Um the next time we're going to be meeting is May and that's right before the grant is due. So, we'll talk about um our goals of the grant and how the budget was, you know, and they'll they'll give me input and then I'll present it to Roberta and then that they advise we make the final decision, but they definitely advise and try to lead us into how that money is used. It's a I if Chad were here, he'd know exactly to
027the penny how much it is. But I want to say like $347,000 or something like that. Yeah. And are your meetings pretty successful? Mhm. Um in the past they have not been because we haven't had a full committee and we didn't meet very regularly because we couldn't get a quorum and and but um with the addition of Rosemary actually she headunted some people to come and and be on the the committee which we really appreciate and um so now we have a full committee so and and the discussion is respectful uh it's sometimes Sometimes it goes on bird walks, but the ideas shared are just um wonderful ideas. You know, we're we're getting some good feedback. Okay. All right. Thank you. Hopefully we get hear from you and me then. One more time. Hopefully hear
028from you and me then. Oh, good. Okay. Yeah. It would be nice to have your your committee come. I have the Latin committee. I forgot to tell them and um it would be nice if we could meet them and they could meet us. Sure. If that would be okay. Sure. I think that's a great idea just to add as a member. And I think that is really important too. I'm a big in person and with co and all the electronic stuff like I'm like the the chairperson Muffy was supposed to be here tonight. She wanted to be here but she unfortunately is sick so she left but um yeah. No, we'll I will invite them for sure. Thank you. Yes. Jay, there isn't anything that stops you from having more than five meetings you can
029have. No, that's just what the bylaws say. The the Yeah, that's as many as you want, right? And and the members come, but it's also supposed to be an open public meeting. So more people could come than just the members as well. That that that could maybe be a area of improvement for us is getting that word out there that the meeting's happening, you know, to get more people to come or maybe do something with the minutes so people know that this committee is actually out there. That that would be a area of improvement. remember that the building bridges work is is just that empowering families and parents to be to be advocates for themselves. Um and we want them obviously to come in in a respectful way and in a way that will find
030solutions and work together. So yeah, where do you guys where do you meet sorry with the building bridges or with the PAC? PAC here. Okay. Okay, cool. But is it good to maybe take out into communities for people that can't shop? Yeah, that would be a good idea. Okay. Especially your larger communities. Make for building bridges. Just so you know, that's again um I don't know if you guys have heard of building bridges, but I think that would be a good opportunity for building bridges to come to you guys and vice versa because we are I mean, they haven't been too heavy because they didn't have a parent leaison. So, that's my job. And it includes a lot of community outreach parents and so I'm I'm ready to meet. Um I have a 8 to
031five, but after I'm a little baby like this on my head, but really if you guys know parents and want to do that work from the school district, no, we're here. Thank you. Okay. Um, nothing else for June. Nothing else for Isa. Leita's next. Yes. Get away. Tag team. Okay. So, Amanda actually gave us a very good segue into our next presentation. Um, go ahead. You sorry. Well, anyway, so this is the name of this uh project I guess. But um when I came on board it was called uh [Music] Tiwahi and I questioned that because all that meant was the families are talking. So we changed it to tiwah call you happy meaning the families have a voice. So I think that really speaks to the whole of the project because for years I'm
032going to go to the next stay on script. Stay on script. But for the longest time and and I think we get tired of getting beat up with the word historical trauma. I know I do. But it did happen. And we're this is where we're at with education. Okay. But at the same time, we've never invited the families to the table to see or to have their input. And this gives us the chance to help them to uh construct their voice you know so they can have a place we can hear from them and it's teaching us how to listen to that voice because I think in the past we've never listened to. So, as part of uh Tiwi Hoyu, excuse me, um we've had family chats which led into family engagement leadership teams which
033led into student focus groups which led into community focus groups. Um the all of these things are going one through three. Four is an area of improvement. The community focused groups. We tried them out in the community centers and they haven't been well attended. So, we are super happy that building bridges is um working hard to get some community focused groups out in the communities that involve us as schools. So, that's that's a big plus for us. Um this is what Nita was talking about earlier. Did you have did you want to say it? Uh we're at the historical perspectives concerning education. So this is where we're at. But if you could put up the next one. That's mine. Go ahead. We didn't practice. Go ahead. You switched the extra slide I had. Um, so
034the reason the reason we started it is because Todd County had had a reputation of us and them. They were Todd County and they were the community and never the two would should meet, you know. So we started these family chats to as kind of I don't want to say a marketing tool, but to get it out there that Todd County wanted to be involved. We wanted people's input. We wanted to hear from families. So we started these family chats because if we always did what we've always done, what we did historically wasn't working that we always got or always get what we always got. So we started this platform for families to share their insights. Okay. What this is going to allow us to do, and it is already, is that when we all
035sit at the table, what we're doing is we're building that trust because that's where we need to begin. And then it goes into developing that partnership where I think it's it's a place where we need to be because uh we have the child in common. Again, um we want productive communication. We want um families to be able to express their thoughts and feelings and ideas in a respectful, productive way. And we want schools to be able to listen and uh take in what those families have to say so we can work together for the betterment of our students education. So with the information the the principles get a big print out of all the things that the families say and uh with when they get the data we want um actionable changes that support student
036success. So, um, another thing that we need to improve on is getting that actionable changes information out to the community because principles really do make changes based on family chat data, but they don't really tell people about it. So, you know, it might seem like it's just Todd County just going through another thing. It's just another thing Todd County, you know, started, but these are actually making changes for the betterment of our schools. Um this is a video which of some um parents that have been involved in the chats. This was made by uh South Dakota State Family Engagement Center. I love to be part of change and to make things better. that is I think is the big picture for everybody involved and I just want to be part of that process no matter
037how small it is. I really want them want us to come back in as a family, you know, as mothers and grandmothers and teachers and educators and teaching and valuing our families. You know, we're not just a person or we're not just a family, but we're more than that. our voice and how do we use that voice in our health? Not always do you feel welcome when you walk into a school. I've been working in the school district for 30 years and I also went to school in the school district. So, I mean, not always do parents feel like they're welcomed into schools, but the night that we did the chat, the administrators were sitting there and they were listening to everything that the parents put out to them and they were like, "Yeah, we
038can work on that. Yeah, we can do that." So, it just kind of made me feel good that they were actually listening to the parents and and what their opinions are. It makes me feel valued as um part of the process, part of the the learning process. I hadn't been too active at the elementary um just with my job and time constraints or whatever, but my daughter is getting older now and with co there's just some things that I feel need to be at least talked about and um decisions to be made how to move forward with that. Our kids are not just kids but they are learners. We have really good writers. We have mathematicians, you know, we have athlete, we have all this talent here, but we tend to forget it. Um, and
039we tend to forget the families who support those athletes, those writers, those mathematician, you know, all these future people we have in our school principles and our classrooms. I mean, being involved in the chat as a parent and then as admin gave me two different lenses. So, I I felt like I was valued as a parent when we were talking about issues at the high school. And then here it was nice to hear parents tell us that we're doing something right and that um there are things we need to work on, but we're doing a really good job for their children. So that's that it made me feel valued. get open to your eyes when you hear things coming from your parents like um things that you have to work on or things that your
040teachers are doing right. I mean the teachers were really excited when we told them that parents were valuing the teachers they were talking about the teachers and um that they were doing good for their their kids. So I just I just feel that that's a good start. [Music] We we answer we get all these conversations focus groups and we never see the outcome of it or we never know where our words went or where our feelings or you know what I mean our story went. So, I think it'd really be nice to have feedback from this or seeing like, hey, this is what we did in September. This is what we're going to do. You know, um just being able to keep families engaged for communication between the two entities. So, parents and school being
041able to communicate together and um coming up with solutions that will help the school to better educate their kids. I think the main thing we all want to come from these chats is making better choices and um providing better services for our children. Um because it takes a village. Okay, here we go. So, this is our part this me. This is a participation over the years. It started way back in 2020. Uh and it happened over co we did everything um online and then now we have moved into in person and hybrid kind of chats. Um this is how many families we've had involved in the fall and in the spring. What this uh graph doesn't show is that many of those uh participants are repeaters. You know, they're involved in every chat which we
042really appreciate. But an area of improvement we have to make is to get more voices. We want to hear from a wide range of families from across the district. Um, so we're trying to try different ways to to get those voices. Okay. So, what we're seeing here is if you look at the corner, it says out of 197 families And this is we do a exit survey. So this is the information that comes out of the survey. And if you can see it, the the little descriptions underneath that uh families I think to me what I'm reading is they're realizing the importance of the role that they play and that the school's admin is willing to listen. So our our uh goal is to really get the word out. These are some different things we
043tried. We just went presented to the education committee and that was uh interesting. I mean it was for me stressful for Lisa old hat but we went and and hopefully we can get them on our team so they can start spreading the word out to their communities. This is the list or the handout that we've Josh actually made with the dates and things of various family chats. We would also like to um invite you guys to be part of the chat team when you hear from families who have ideas and stuff when they call you is to encourage them to call the principles and ask to be part of the chats if if they're interested. Here's some more things families are saying. Uh Lisa wanted me to make sure that it wasn't just positive things
044because families have things to say about how we should improve. Um, write that third one down. Hopefully our conversation, and I think I heard Doc Day say this on the video, that it's doesn't fall on deaf ears, which is where that that improvement needs to come. We need to be better at communicating what changes we may do through the chats. Oh, whoops. Sorry. Here's those dates. Um, I can definitely get you guys those dates if you're interested. So, from the chats, we uh started family leadership teams, which is kind of like each school has a team at their school. Um, sorry to steal your thunder. Yep. Hello. So, here you are. The uh just quickly, the family leadership teams are just a leadership team that is is working to improve the family engagement at their
045school. They're giving input to the principles. They're reading or looking through the data, helping to plan events. That's what the family leadership team is. It it is also our goal to start facilitating these chats ourselves. There is a benefit to having an outside facilitator because there's a bit of a safety net there with with someone you don't uh have to to work with on a daily basis, but I think Lita and I can uh serve in that capacity some Oops. You got to jump in because I'm stealing all your roles. No, we have this for last. uh from the family chat data uh we found out that um transitions were an issue that students transitioning from school to school were an issue. So we're like well shouldn't we hear from those kids who are actually
046transitioning? So that started the student focus groups. So um we former high school students oh those were one of my favorite chats to see those old students who are in college now or working down the street or whatever and they get up and they talk about or they get on and they talk about what went well when they were in high school, what things they thought we could do better. They even talk about some of the opinions of their friends that not aren't necessarily on the chat, but that they saw happening to other students, you know, while they were there, which is a a perception that is important. And then the ninth graders, sixth graders, and fifth graders are involved kind of in that transition. So, they talked about transitioning. student focus groups have moved
047beyond this transitioning um to other questions, but I know the middle school made big changes to their transition. Um they they included a day before the school open for students to visit and for parents uh the family chat said that they this is a brand new school. We don't even know where our kids are going. So they, you know, made changes thanks to the chat or the information on the chat. We appreciate the responsiveness. again, you know, all this stuff. We want students to share. We want them to talk about what needs to get better. The last one. Okay. Well, the last one it says uh We need to educate our future parents. And I thought that was really important because all these young parents, they're going to be the future parents at T County
048High School. But in doing this work, I came to realize that, okay, so I'm old school. my issues are not their issues. And I think in doing working with our parents, we need to keep that in mind even with the children because they're it changes every day. And I could go into that a little bit more, but I'm just going to say that the way I think and what I think these young parents should think, it's not true. It's really um encouraging to see them get involved and I've seen a lot of young parents come in and they know they have a voice which is like I said it's encouraging. So, how we help them to use that voice throughout their child's school years? I think it really um we need to really take a
049look at that cuz I've been thinking about it at the tribal level. The um daycare, they said they're doing a family engagement. So my question is what does that look like? I really think we need to be on the same page because all of our children are one and the same. So how do we help our parents to grow so that they have a role with in their child's education? And I I would like to uh sit down and visit with them because when I look at our elementary school, the parking lot of school when we have family night. So what does that look like as far as other ways to spread it out? What does engagement look like? How do we continue to teach these young parents, you know, what their role is and
050how they could use their voices in a real constructive way. And the main thing is to build that partnership, that trust. That's the only way we're going to listen and work together. And if we start them young in these student focused groups sharing their opinions with the schools, hopefully when they become parents, they're just going to be easily step into that role of attending the chats because they're used to sharing their opinions with us. You know how we use the data. We get all the data and we again the the thing we need to do better is communicating those changes that we make thanks to the chat. some of the things students say they appreciate the opportunity. Um those former high school students are always so proud that we ask them their opinion and that
051you know we listen to them. Um even those little kids or the middle school kids or uh they just feel important when someone listens to them. Here are the upcoming chat dates and that was longer than four minutes. Sorry, but we appreciate your attention and do you have any questions for us on your chats with the information that you're getting back? How much of it is this going to be a tough question, what's viable and what is not in your guys' opinion? So, there are some things that we that tell us um how much confusion there is out there as to what schools can actually do. you know that they have these ideas and we have to be better at communicating you know that that is something that we can do or we can do
052it to this extent or these are the rules that don't allow us to do it. You know there are some um opportunities for communication to explain why things can be done that way or why things have to be different. Are you are you getting a lot of responses? Are you getting a lot of good responses? Yes, we get we get a lot of good responses. The problem is as as you saw not we can't get a lot of participation and we can't get a lot of varied participation. So, a lot of principles have um they're going to try a survey like the same questions that they ask on the chat, but as they come into parent night, you know, maybe they'll get with that anonymity of, you know, doing the survey, maybe they'll be more
053likely to share their ideas. Maybe they're just not a public person to share their ideas in front of other parents. That's kind of a risk, you know. So maybe maybe that's way we can get some more opinions, ideas, but we really do get some good ideas and the principles that ask the hardest questions that take the biggest risks get the best answers, you know, get and families are always so respectful when they I mean when they share their ideas, you can tell that they're passionate about it and that they have issues, but never have we really had any uh anger. Yeah. Yeah. And I think that has a lot to do with the facilitators, but um it also has to do with the fact that it's a public forum, so they, you know, they just
054do a good job of expressing their opinions constructively. I really like Lita's talk about teaching the parents to be parents. I think that's probably one of the most important things we have to tackle as a school district. That way, the the lady that talked earlier with our goals. If we teach the parents what we're trying to do as goals, they can be partners with the school district to bring those students to understand what has to happen here. But also, the schools can learn so much from what the parents know about their students and about what the community is going through. you know, that two-way street. It's it's just important that we listen and and provide them with constructive pathways to to express I think I think we listen and we provide them a skill set,
055but I I don't feel like as a parent when I was in a parent of children here that I necessarily wanted someone to teach me how to be a parent. I think we provide the resources and the skill sets to help them become a parent and guide them in being a parent. But but I but that would kind of I'm I'm sorry that would kind of offend me if someone said I have to teach you how to be a parent. Well, which is why we Yeah. We stayed away from um what's it called? Parent skills. parenting skills because that gave the impression that we're saying you don't know how to Yeah. I mean, I feel like somebody would be saying, "I didn't know how to be a parent." I think there's other ways to to
056help our parents, you know, and empower our parents to to be advocates for their children and in their education and and what's provided for them and the parents need to feel safe. Yep. you know because uh even the questions you know we have uh question banks that the principles they choose what questions they want to ask their parents. So this whole setting the environment in which we have these chats it's safe and the there's the admin are there but there's never they never get to speak so it forces them to listen to what the parents are saying and the parents know that um they can it's okay to say what they need to say and I think what I would have liked to seen And Jane used the word diverse. I think we need to
057see that more because then I think it'll be a wakeup call for admin to see what's really going on in the communities where our parents are really at. And this is my own personal opinion so so forgive me. But the way I see things, it's we need to be aware of what the community's value, you know, because our values, my values may not be theirs. Once we understand that, it'll get rid of, I think, the biases. We can meet them where they're at. And the parenting, they need to understand they have a role. And I think the word we try to use and putting information out, the word is support. Here are some things you can do to support your child so they can do better in school. And not saying, "Oh, you're doing this
058wrong." Because you know, the parenting works, it's with their own ti their own home and what they value. But I think we need to be aware of that because for the longest time we came from a place where what we valued instead of where and if you look out in the community it's not all la land up here I'm scared to walk down the road I don't hitchhike no more but that's what I'm saying is we need to really uh Is that the word being woke? Thank you. But anyway, that's my little spiel. Thank you. Thank you. Um board discussion. Um did you all get the email I sent everybody about executive sessions that I just wanted to ensure everybody got it? And then I sent it a while back ago about and it had
059the clipping right out from South Dakota codified law that it's a class two misdemeanor. If you take something out of exec also want to remind everybody in our own board policies if it's known that you have the board can censor you for that. So try and keep what happens in exec stays in exec. And with that being said, we need to go into executive session before we tackle any consent or any um action items. And so I would like to ask for a motion to go into executive session for personnel for Southakota Codified Law 1-25-2-1. Is there a motion? Move. Moved by De second by Amanda. All in favor? Yes. Yes, we're in exact 629. I don't know if she Okay, we're out of executive session at 6:43 p.m. and there will be an addition
060to the agenda which will be 8.13 [Music] uh donation request for Randy Marshall Grave. I'll make a motion. That'll be 8 8.13 when we get to it. All righty. So, We're at the consent agenda. Is there a motion to approve the consent agenda? Moved by Michelle. I'll second it. Second by Tim. All in favor? Yes. Yes. Okay. Approve board policy if moved by Tim. Second. Second by Deb. All in favor? Yes. Yes. Approve board policy revisions to GCDB GDDB. GCDB GDB E1. That again. This is specifically too because we're our fingerprinting. We're having we're getting audited and our policy didn't cover all the updates. So, we just pulled we went into associated schools and pulled them and pulled them. Is there a motion? Amen. Moved by Michelle. Second. Second by Amanda. All in favor? Yes.
061Okay. Um motion to approve changes to the 2526 calendar. Um a motion and second and then maybe some discussion. Is there a motion? Moved by Amanda. Second by Michelle. Okay. Explain this. um they would it was shared that um within the master agreement the words inclusive so their contract days um so to I guess satisfy that we just added one more extra PD day because under our TCA agreement it says 175 hours plus 16 and 12 16 and a half so that we have two till we go to negotiations till yeah till we get to negotiations then we can change All righty. I got one question for you. I wish Chad was here, but this has nothing to do with your motions, but um you've you've added August 1st for people to come back to
062work, right? So, are we adding an extra pay period to cover that extra two weeks? That was not brought up because ordinarily you get paid on September 15th. 15th. Well, I'm sure we can look Yeah, we can look into that. Okay. For sure. [Music] calendar. All in favor? Yes. Yes. Okay. Sorry, we 8.1 administrative contract offer Jane Shelbert. Move. Moved by Dad. Second. Second by Michelle. All in favor? Yes. Yes. Administrative contract offer Laura Lynn White out. I'll move. Moved by Michelle. Second. Second by Tim. All in favor? Yes. Yes. Administrative contract offer Mike Hammer. Moved by Amanda. Second. Second by Michelle. All in favor? Yes. Yes. Yes. Administrative contract offer Tiana Guru. Move. Moved by Deb. Second. Second by Tim. All in favor? Yes. Yes. Administrative contract offer Dana Hawas. Moved by M. Amanda.
063Second. Second by Michelle. All in favor? Yes. Yes. Administrative contract offer Jason Renders. Moved by Tim. Second by Amanda. Yep. All in favor? Yes. Yes. Administrative contract offer Bobby Cox. Moved by Michelle. Second by Amanda. All in favor? Yes. Yes. Administrative contract offer Carrie Cornali. Moved by Deb. Second. Second by Tim. All in favor? Yes. Administrative contract offer Chris Mosner. Yes. Moved by Michelle. Second by Tim. All in favor of dance today. That's why it's Yes. Administrator of contract offer Kayla May Emery. Moved by Michelle. Second by Doug. All in favor? Yes. Yes. Administrative contract offer Terrell Running Horse. Moved by Tim. Second. Second by Michelle. All in favor? Yes. Administrative contract officer Lesley Cole. Move. Moved by Tim. Second. Second by Michelle. All in favor? Yes. Yes. Yes. Okay. And just one Oh, 8.13.
064Um moved by De. Second by Amanda to provide a donation for $75 to be paid to the Southeast Technical College for Randy D. Marshall Brave so he can get his certificate. Is there um all in favor? Yes. And then just one more reminder before we [Music] adjourn. If you haven't done your school board voucher, you need to get them done and updated. I got a call about it. So if you haven't done them, you need to do them. And it's not the staffs here's job to be our secretaries and do them for us. And if we you don't you can't pre-put meetings on your voucher. If you haven't attended the meeting, don't put it on your voucher. And we get paid on the 15th of every month. No other time. The 15th of every month.
065Can we do a couple of months on the same voucher? Yep. You can you can do them all on the same voucher cuz I just and but I got that cl so I dutifully said I would remind everybody and with that I'm going to adjourn at 6:50 p.m.