001All right. I'd like to call this special meeting of the school board to in session. Uh I I appreciate the board taking the time out today to come in for this. Um, basically the the the point of this meeting is to to get everybody on the same page in terms of our roles and responsibilities of the educational and facilities planning steering committee. Um, there are a few documents that have been um put out in front of you. Yes, we have to call a role. Oh, you are so right. Thank you so much. Sorry, Miss Tanner, would you please call the role? The same here. Buffalo here. Martin, do you have to think about that for a second? It's been that kind of day. Martin present. Olson I Caligerro here. Hey Karen, I'm here too. Oh,
002Jason, I'm so sorry. I got a old coffee. Sorry. Make the whole board need a cup of coffee. I'm sorry. So, I do want to make good use of your time today. Um, A there a couple of documents that have been printed for you and included on board docs. The educational planning services contract if there's if we have any questions about what we signed with the consulting to do that is available to you. And then some presentations uh given in the past that were given to the board that uh were provided by Tanya which I thought was was relevant to our conversation. Um, so the first first question I would like us to direct to to to address is whether or not the board believes that we should follow the direction of the city council
003to have a educational and facilities pl uh plan by August 1st. And I want us to talk about the feasibility of that and um based on the timeline that we have in front of us um I'd like to give the board a chance to discuss what we believe that feasibility is. Now my understanding is that the committee's work will commence after the end of after May 14th at the end of May and we have been in we have been informed that the contract that the report will be provided in July. Now I have stated that I want it by July 1. Um how however um we don't know we don't know for that to be we don't have a set date from the consultant on when that will be turned in. So the question to
004the board is especially board members who have been through these types of proceedings before is what is the feasibility of making the date set by the by the uh city council. Yes, Mrs. C. Um well I appreciate the the opportunity for us to gather and get on the same page. Um the feasibility is really we're we rely on the superintendent and the administration who's been working internally with the consultants to tell us whether that feasibility if if that's a feasible and realistic timeline. So you know um that is something that's a question that I have I came here prepared to ask today you know to see like where we are like you know the woolarts uh timeline that they had been giving us you know all along like how different is that from um what
005the city's proclamation is um asking of us and so you know trying to see where uh the gap is and seeing really what work has been done because we haven't you know we had a review when with new board members came in February we had that it was it was really a review and not really an update of where we are now so that was two months ago so what has transpired in that time I mean that's right now I think we're all on the same page in that we don't have any of that information so Um that's that's a question I think that we need to ask uh the administration and the consultants in terms of uh you know what is the feasibility Mr. So I I agree with um with my um board
006colleague Bassine um and just um I came prepared to outline the roles and responsibilities of what the school board is for the educational plan. I have that and also to get what is the timeline the timeline before was handled by the administration by the superintendent and now it is now being handled by the school board. As a new member, I am not I don't know where the administration has stopped and where we need to pick up off and begin. Is there any reason why the administration is not here in this meeting to give us an update? You know, I I I thought they were going to be here in all honesty. Did you speak with Dr. Birdong and tell her instruct her to be here? No, I did not. Okay. That is that is my
007fault. Okay. That is absolutely my fault. But it is but the administration knew that they did need to provide an update. No. Okay. No, I really the point of this is for, you know, to go over the charge for the committee, right? To get everybody. We've never sat down and discussed this since the city made its proclamation, right? We've, you know, there's been some side conversations here and there, but we've never sat down and had like a debrief on, you know, what is the city asking of us? What are our expectations from the consultant? And that's what I wanted to use this time for. You know, it's unfortunate the administration is not here and that falls on me. That is totally my responsibility. Nobody else is but mine. But there is still some benefit for
008us to look at what the purpose of the steering committee is, what deliverables that we expect from the steering committee. Um, and you know what we and what really what we expect of those deliverables and when we expect them. I just have something to say. um at the superintendent defense. She's at a conference, superintendent conference, and I think you was made aware and timely fashion. So that's why she's not here. No. And and again, if that falls on me for not discussing with the superintendent like she is she is she has nothing to a reasonable explanation. There she is she has nothing to She needs a microphone. Yeah, this way. There we go. Okay. Thank you. Yes, there there there's still value in us talking because we have yet to talk about this. So, I
009think we focus on what we can focus on today. Absolutely. And we make good use of our time. And then if we have questions that come out of that, those questions will be put in writing and sent to uh the superintendent and to and to um starts and to the consultant. Uh Miss Mr. Paulson. Um, where have we been since the 5th of March when we took control of this board? I think that answers the question of why we don't have information. So, that's all I yield for. Miss Martin, Dr. Martin. Um, so as a board, we're supposed to reflect the community that we serve. And there was a survey that went out that we haven't gotten the results of. So I I'm having trouble reconciling that. So I don't know what I should be
010saying without seeing the results of that survey. Right. Abs. Absolutely. And what is unfortunate is that the survey results are not coming in until after the first meeting of the steering committee. Um closes on Friday. It closes on Friday in the steering comm. And also I want to add um I don't I don't want to be unnecessarily pressured to do something prematurely because this is a huge change for our district, for our city. Um it's going to be one of the most impactful decisions we've ever made and it's a very sensitive process. Um again you can I've been a proponent of we need to get this done. We need to stay you know be um we we need to keep this topic at the forefront. But at the same time we I I just feel
011like we're we're unprepared. There are a lot there are a lot more I think we're going to come out of this meeting with a lot more questions than answers and I think that's okay because we still have yet to actually sit down and formulate our questions together. Um we haven't had a a a meaningful discussion. Mr. Okay, Madam Chair, um I do agree um also with my colleague um Dr. Martin. Um, we have a committee that has been formed. Um, and they are supposed to be meeting this week and a survey has been completed and the survey will not be completed in time for them to review it, but they will be able to review it in the next time. Correct. So then what is the committee going to be reviewing at this meeting? Well,
012what what I less than 100 days to decide if we're going to adhere to the city council's August 1st deadline. So I just need to get a better understanding. I'm like Dr. Martin. I I feel that we don't even have enough tools right now to really execute on what we need to execute on. Miss Yeah. Um thank you Mr. Um so you know I I along agree with Dr. Martin as well in terms of you know the pressurized timeline that the city has given us but really having an understanding of where we've been. But just in this conversation itself, I think that we're not all on the same page. We took we took ownership of the advisory committee. The advisory committee is still the advisory committee where the administration is still carrying out the internal
013operations of this task. So since February that work has been ongoing. It had did not stop in February. It did not um you know it has been ongoing which is why we have a steering committee planned for uh Thursday and then one on the 14th and that's been convened. Walpert has already put out in as you can see in the previous presentations what they int what they intend to do with this committee which is verbatim from their presentation um is written out um in in one of these slides here but it is to uh review the recommended configurations the reasoning behind them and gather feedback from the committee and so a question that I'm coming out of is this still the committee's focus is that what's being planned for tomorrow but or Thursday but you
014know without having the administration here to answer that that's you know I guess that is a we'll see but yeah that's speculative right but that was that was what Walpert's intention was to do with the with the committee um and then the internal operations of that would be from this is supposed to have been ongoing since last April was to prepare options outlining impacts on operations diversity diversity, capacity and facilities, facilitate meetings to weigh pros and cons and compile a report communicating the process and strategies. These are all still the internal operations uh that are supposed to be uh going on. The question I think we need to ask is I I my personal belief is that we ask our consultants where we are in this timeline. How different is it from the city's timeline?
015But to Dr. Martin's point, we are changing neighborhoods. We are changing communities with school consolidations and uh closures. This is a a huge deal. Um and at the center of it should be our student outcomes. And so our students, okay, so that is our focus. That is the school board's charge is to be focused on our students and that is not what our the neighboring governing body that has put this proclamation in place. That's not their job. That's our job. And so it is up for us to determine a timeline that is in the best interest of our students and that's the timeline that I am going to support. So the question back to the administration and the consultants is where are we and the thing that we need to do is that we need
016to we've had these reports and Dr. Barton and Miss Moore Buffalo know we've had this disconnect between the next steps in that are outlined in a consultancy report and then what comes next because we have not been and that's on the board you know adhering to the timelines um and the deliverables that they say that they're going to give us and when they're going to give it to us. So that is something that we need to change and say you know we're we were expecting this report at this time you know where is it what's the status of it we need to be you know more accountable with getting the things that we say that we're going to get according to the timeline that they provide us. So those are some things that we need
017to you know that we need to be held responsible for. Absolutely. meaning and you know the school board and administration with the consultants. Correct. Madam Chair, Mr. Pson, Colonel Boston, we're this is supposed to be charging the board so they can perform. They have no clue what they're doing. We have not told them what their specific not specific task but given them a uh a general idea of what we want. We're it's like saying you're Please finish. Um it's it's we can't give them if we try to give them specific directions we'll we'll get nowhere. This is again where have we been on this? The school board, not us. What? Well, it is us now. We're the school board since 2013. The same place we and we took another reach in on in March 5th
018and we're still nowhere. We haven't asked for this information at any time before now. We're we're behind, but we we shouldn't put other people at risk. If we have to meet three times a week in order to get this done, we need to start doing our due diligence and doing what we're supposed to do. I yield the floor. Let's see. That's a I mean the scope of the work is outlined in the contract and it has been it has been presented to us and it it it is it is to um uh the charge has been there. The charge has been there, right? It's, you know, and they have a plan for clearly they have a plan for Thursday because they have already said that to committee members that they're going to be providing data
019to the committee uh um based on and and as Wilpert who is charged with who we are uh consulting with they have a charge for the committee as specified in their previous pres presentations. So that is un that is unchanged as far as anyone has shared with us. Um so so let's talk about where we are. We do know that the committee has been charged previously um and that was outlined in the contract and in what was presented to the board. Uh the question is are the deliverables still the same? because the deliverables weren't specified to have 10 schools up for consolidation and and closure. Right. Right. So I guess the question is is that at this point do we need to decide what the deliverables are that we want from this committee? We basically
020want a master, we want a master educational facilities plan. Do we also want recommendations for 10 schools to be consolidated and enclosed? I'm really concerned about overprescribing for the committee of what 33 35 people, right? Um again, they are the community and I really want to hear what they come up with instead of Yes. stifling them out the gate, right? And I don't want to stifle them, but my concern is because of this resolution by city council, what we need to make sure is has the focus of what they're going to be doing with committee changed. What if something So, here's here's I think city council that was that was um if we don't come up with 10 because 10 doesn't work for our school district, right? We'll have that discussion. Right. Right. So I
021I'm not I'm not I I think that they tried to be prescriptive because they wanted to push us along and they wanted to be a part of this discussion. Um but if it's not best for the school district, we're not doing it. And then we have that discussion with them and you know they should understand. I guess my concern is that based on what the city council prescribed um is has the focus changed for what the consultant and the administration are going to try to get out of the committee? I feel like this is backwards. I don't know. I'm just excuse address Mr. Okay. So, okay. So the city council the city council has given us a a a I won't say a mandate but has given us a charge to come up with 10
022schools by August the 1st. We have less than 100 days. The educational planning study has been going on for many many years. Right. And from the reports that I've looked at and looked at Walpert's report we the the committee should have been convened back in November. So we're about so we're six months um short short a day late and a dollar short. So I think that we should stick to what Walpert's um timeline is and the city will understand but the city is wanting to move forward because this board has been inactive and not being able to produce that. So that's why the city is saying hey give us 10 schools or we're not going to give you appropriate all the money at once. I get what they're saying. Um, but we do need to
023take action, but it cannot be fast because we do have children and families and teachers and staff that their livelihoods on the line. This will reshape how Norfolk looks moving forward for our future. So, it has to be methodical. It has to be it has to be cohesive. It needs to be collaborative and it needs to make sure that all citizens are at the table so that when we make these decisions, is it being rushed? Um, I would say no because the board has had this in their lap for quite some time and it has not moved. Although and and now is the city council saying it's being rushed? No. I think they have a right to say it, but do we have to agree to it? I would say no. Because we are we
024are the school board and we want to do what's in the best interest of our students and our schools. And if we feel that we can't meet that deadline, then we can't meet that dead deadline and we'll cross that bridge when we have it and we'll have that conversation with city council. Right. And I think I wasn't being clear in sort of the question I was post I was posing. Okay. Um if you listen to the robocalls and you look at the website, the robocalls start with city council has, you know, suggested or I'm going to use the word suggested. that Norfolk the school board come up with a plan to close and consolidate 10 schools in five years. So that is the message going to the public right now. So it sounds like from
025this table our message is we need to do what's right for the students. Absolutely. And the and our and our community. But my my fear is because of this city mandate, the focus of the committee might be on those 10 schools schools and not on what is absolutely best for our students in Norfolk. And that and that was my concern that I was trying to That's a lot clearer. Yeah. And and like I just when Jason was talking I I realized I I needed to be clearer. Yeah. Yeah. So, do we and I agree with you. I agree with you. The question is, do we want to make clear to the committee that we want them to come up with the best possible absolutely plan that includes closures and consolidations, but we don't want to
026limit them in 10 to 10 schools in five years because maybe it's 12 schools in eight years, right? Like I don't know. Mr. Colonel Pollson, thank you. Uh we're talking about worrying about the students. The students are in buildings that are in terrible condition and they shouldn't be there. That is a recognized fact. You can look at the facts that we have. But yet we're not addressing that. We're saying, well, we have to think of the students first. Well, if we're thinking of them, we're closing schools or consolidating, excuse me, at least 10. I yield the floor. M Dr. Martin, I I was just commenting that not all of our schools are in bad condition. It's our our oldest ones, which would naturally happens over time. Um that's all I just didn't want that to
027be out there that Yeah. I um um in reference to uh what Colonel um Pollson said um students at the forefront of this conversation and ultimately what you know when um superintendent gives us a recommendation on you know what the committee has um overall what they suggest we should do it would be in the best interest of children and you know as we move forward with this consolidation ation, closing schools, ultimately everyone would benefit. When we talk about human resources, financially, um, kids in, um, well-kept buildings, and like Dr. Martin said, all of our buildings are not terrible, right? But we do understand that we have a charge to, um, have the best outcome of this. And I think the most important thing for us to do is engagement. I think engagement is the key
028to this bringing our communities along through this process. And so I think that would help with you know um buy in and keeping our communities a breast of what the the timeline um the committee's work the school board's work and superintendent and administrator's work in all of this. So, um I'm hopeful that we will get there, but um like Madame Chair said, I just I don't want the committee to feel like this is what they need to get to. We we want to do the recommendation should be what's best for kids, right? Ultimately, uh I don't know who went first. Uh, Carl Foster, I wasn't trying to insinuate that all schools are bad. There are some that are worse than others. And and the the parents and and the experts that we've paid have told
029us that. But yet we've we've not moved. We have to be decisive and move uh not under threat but under the the idea that we are doing the right thing and we need to do the right thing now and not delay. Thank you. I yield yield the floor. Dr. M. So I wanted to um piggyback on what Miss Moore Buffalo was talk was saying about the process. We have a lot of um experts and uh we have very diverse group of you know on that committee. It's a large committee um that we need to trust the process. I think that we need to we need to rely on the people that are making these decisions that are in these meetings and and it means we're going to have to be patient, but we're going to,
030you know, I don't want to meddle in it. I want to see what they want. I want to trust the process and again, like I said, not stifle them out of the gate. And um I I think it's trust is really hard for this board right now. Um, but I I want us to all agree that, you know, that we will do our best to trust the process, right? And and so the reason I brought up my concern is that do we want to tell the committee do not worry so much about the city council's proclamation, but do what is in the best interest to come up with a plan which is in the best interest of our students and our community. Yeah, I think we all agree. I think we all agree with that,
031right? But do we need I think we need to say that you don't have to tell them that. Well, I I think I think Walpert who you know and our consultants who've been doing this work and working with other districts I think that is and that is also part of you know what their charge is is to look at that the fact you know those factors and keeping in mind of our goals and non-negotiables along with the strategic plan and aligning everything so that their recommendations are reflective of that. So that's what you know um I know we we we I know we wanted to have a steering committee that was reflected geographically representative of the city. That was important to us. But you know as far as stressing the process I agree that the
032steering committee is there to make you know to vet the recommendations to give their feedback work with the consultants and then provide us with the recommendations and then that our job in the end will be to adopt you know the final plan the final recommendations but we have to give them the space and the administration uh the space to work with them and execute you know the internal operations that are necessary. to get the data to the steering committee to, you know, be able to, uh, you know, digest all that information and be prepared to come back with recommendations. Right. And and I I I think we're all we're all in agreement. Yeah. And I But I'm just wondering because everything is being put into the light of 10 schools in five years. Should we
033specifically come out with a statement that says we expect this steering committee to look at the data or do whatever do their work but come up with a plan that is in the best interest of our student of our schools and community and not prescribe to a 10 school and fiveyear closure and consolidation plan. Yes. Can I respond? Um I don't think so. Um they was picked correct by the board. So like um Dr. Martin said, you have to trust the process and I think we need to leave it in their hands to trust that they will make the correct decision. I don't think we need to tell them anything. I think they are very responsible and capable of you know doing what needs to be done. Yes, we can be there like Tanya was
034saying as support but actually tell them no I don't think so. I wasn't I was actually doing the opposite of telling them. I was trying to give them to empower them to No, you was tell. That's the words you use. Yeah. Well, may I make a suggestion? Well, should I tell or make a suggestion? I mean to I really want to empower them to come up with the best plan possible. I don't want them to feel that they have to choose 10 schools in five years. Uh Miss Bine was up first. Yeah. Um, so I I completely I I hear hear what both of you are saying and I think um, Madam Chair, I I I guess you're expressing what why what my original concern was when you know the surveys went out with the
035preamble that said the city, you know, has mandated us to do this because Norfick public schools, we've been, as uh, Colonel Pollson pointed out since 2013, we've been doing this doing the work. So this has been ongoing work that really that should have been at the center of any communication that has gone out. So what I would suggest is that you know as part of the work that we've been doing can you describe what the work is because I don't think everyone knows the educational plan the educational planning yeah we've been and if you look at the presentations we've done the recommendations that they have given us except for Lynenwood I mean that was that was that was the only one that we have not yet acted on um and I don't know if that
036was still even you know u part of the plan. But my point is is that this has been ongoing work and I think that is something that the committee members I know believe and some of them have historic knowledge of having been on previous committees and you know being very involved with the school system. Uh they know that this has been ongoing but what we need to change is meeting timelines, meeting deadlines again with the best interest of students. And when you say when I say that I don't mean necessarily looking at who's in the worst, you know, worst buildings because that has all changed with a lot of the ESRE funds that we had. We've done windows, doors, roofs on HVACs on 30 schools and the FCIs of many of our buildings have all
037change. The facility condition indexes have all changed. Um, and that's something I believe the consultants will bring back to the steering committee and say, you know, this is where we are. But that's for a different discussion. But I think what we want the steering committee to um I don't think we need to tell them 10 schools or three schools because the city I think you know between the range of three and 17 that was given in a way back presentation just kind of thought that was you know in the middle somewhere. But I think we need to trust the process. let them work with the consultants, look at all the recommendations because, you know, the consultants had talked about, you know, configurations, looking at K8s, looking at, you know, different things and I think they're
038going to have some solid options for the steering committee to consider and our job in the end will be um, you know, whether to approve that or not. But I I have not heard you know but but I understand what you're saying because that communication has gone out about closing 10 schools and I know everyone is asking us which 10 schools are you going to close that 10 that number 10 has been like you know seared in their brain seared in their everyone's brain that there are some 10 schools I mean and who knows it could be more it could be less it could be you know but we have to let them come up with that recommendation and I keeping it as general as possible that we want uh to continue this work as
039authentically as possible in the best interest of students period. You know that's that's what Mr. Paul and then Mr. Thank you. Uh Miss Bassine is right the school conditions have changed the extra funds the COVID the time all that happened but that's being presented to us now what the FCI is with the facility condition indicator uh for those that don't know in the in the audience the FCI is up to date as of their examination and the one thing we haven't talked about is the population of students has decreased is decreasing and will continue to decrease. And if we don't adjust our buildings, we're not going to be able to maintain them with the money, even the money we get. We keep talking about uh $500 million in in deferred maintenance. Um this is an
040opportunity not just from one perspective only, one perspective, and that's the fiduciary responsibility that we have that we can close that gap. we can do some work and we can get and consolidate and maybe even have the teachers that are that will move because of the closings and uh consolidations to have more of the teachers available the resources available to the schools that are open. But that one po part has not is always being left out of the conversation that the population is shrinking and there's no indication that we're going to have a sudden burst of of population growth uh in in the future. So if you look at the numbers in again just numbers and not not the impacts yet but there is a need and we should I think we have not taken
041that and again I say that I say I say we as as we as a board even though the members there are not members present that that were here and made the decisions we own those decisions and we have to stand with them and we have to But we need to look at where we're at today, not where we were. I yielded four be tomorrow. So I I do um agree with um the colonel on on some parts. Um I'll say this, like yes, we have to accept responsibility. We are now the governing board for the North public schools. It is on our lap. It's at our front door. That's it. So and now we have to make those decisions. We're charged with now we've selected individuals that will in the best interest select the
042schools that should be forclosed in consolidation. We don't need to tell them that the city council gave them a date. What we should do is we need to go back to city council and tell city council that hey we will talk between us the board and city council but that date that's just an arbitrary date that has been set because of the lack of movement from the board. So that's why that was set. So if we go in good faith to the city council and say we are working and they can see it now we're on video we're working and once we get towards the goal then maybe they will take off the arbitrary date of August the 1st off the table so we don't even have to spend the last 15 minutes talking about
043August 1st and we can get down to the business and that business is charging this this um education long range facilities committee to select the 10 schools and then also do what we did and voted on on March the 5th for that the superintendent to direct all necessary things um assist the committee in the work on behalf of the school board. So we need to right now we we taking the emotions out focus on what we came here to do so that we can finish on time and that is to now go forward with what we're going to give for the planning for this committee and then what is the administration's role in this as well and that's where I think that we should be moving towards. Yeah. who sat in the school consolidation session
044at the November the VSBA annual meeting. Okay, because I took lots of notes on this and um it is and I'm and I I kind of said this before, but I want to I think I need to stress this is that this process can't be rushed. it is very personal to a lot of members of our community. Um, and so it's not just about, you know, data and drawing lines. It is it is emotional for people. And so we have to recognize that and um and in order to sell whatever the committee comes up with to our community and get this done in a timely manner. We can't rush it. We have to hold back and make sure we're addressing all of these not just practical or material needs, but also the emotional and the
045community needs because it'll it could potentially be breaking up communities. And um and so I just want to I want this said, we haven't legitimately said that yet. Um, but based on other districts that have gone through this process here in Virginia, there was a lot of extra work to even combining schools. That's two different cultures. People are really proud of their school, especially elementary schools. I mean, high schools, yes, but like the little ones, you know, they're really proud of where they are. And the parents, you know, new parents, they definitely are choosy about where their child is going to start their education. And um and of course we want, you know, we want to make sure that our parents are happy. I mean, because again, we want people to come into NOFK and
046have a one, you know, have the best experience in their education educational journey and choose NOFK. So we we have this balance here where we have to move swiftly and and intentionally while also not leaving anyone out, addressing all of the practicalities and the emotions. Um and be really caring and um I guess s you know sensitive. So it is a lot. It's it's there's too many there's a lot of nuances in this is I guess what I'm trying to say. It is. She is. I I just want to say it's it's funny you said about neighborhoods, breaking up neighborhoods, bringing neighborhoods together. As someone who was can uh uh was witness of, you know, closing Lafayette, sending those kids to Norview Middle School, which changed the whole dynamics of the school, and it was
047it it impacted the dayto-day, right? So all those little things, nuance, like you said, matter through this whole process, you know. Um, so yeah, absolutely. Dr. Martin nailed it on the head. Yeah, I think I think there's more consensus than there is. Yeah, it is. U, so the question is, we have what the committee madam chief. Oh, I Sorry. Did I just finish? Um, we have what the committee was charged to do. Do we need to reiterate the charge or do we just need to leave it alone? That's a question I'm putting out there. Um, but I will yield the floor to proto. Thank you. The the word arbitrary uh deadline is is an inflammatory word and it it it's not an arbitrary from their perspective. this council's 1st of August is a reason. There's
048a reason they picked that date. We don't know. We haven't asked either. Why first of August? Why not another date? I had a conversation with the chair and I mentioned let's let's ask for 15 days. Let's ask till middle of August. And then the response to I if if I I'm not quoting uh the chair's response, but it was basically they don't have a meeting in the month of August, right? Uh, but they do, if you look at the calendar, they do have a meeting in August at the end of August. So, I'm sorry. They do one meeting instead of two, right? One. Yeah. The 26th of August, actually, it's on their calendar. So, if we ask for the for extra time, we there it could be in there, but they have a reason and
049we we should find out why that there's things that go on in their world that we don't know about. and what happens in our world they don't know about either and we need to come together on that. Um Dr. Martin mentioned about the uh closing of the schools at at the BSBA in November and and I went to that also and and the key for them was they closed one school but they they got everybody involved. They they had and it was a small town too so it was nothing compared to what we were doing. Yeah. it nothing compared to 233,000 people or however many I can't remember the the amount of uh students we have but that that plays into it. All those things play into it. Um and and we need to sell
050it but we need to sell it sooner than later. We we have not done I won't say it again. I've already said it. Um we need to do better. We need to come to the realization that um some of of us take it as a threat. But I don't think saying the 1st of August is not going to work is is the right answer for us. Well, I I don't if we ask I guess part of the issue is we have to see what we get to make I yield for it. I'm sorry. I am sorry. Uh we have to see what we get. And so could August 1 be feasible? Absolutely. Could it not be? Absolutely. But we won't have that information till July when we are able to see the plan. Um but
051I think everybody on here is is ready and willing to act once we can determine what that plan is. I don't think anybody's going to be dragging their feet or advocating not to close schools or consolidate schools. So, we are in alignment there. Um, that goes back to my previous question. There is the committee has been ch has a charge. Do we need to modify, reiterate, or just leave it be? I say leave it the way the consultants have had had it. Yeah, leave it because they're they're the experts. they they know you know they have their charge they have their plan their meeting in two days I mean they're you know and I would uh Mr. policy. How are we going to inform the consultant that uh or the I'm sorry, the the board
052members of the steering committee that they already have a charge? Who's going to tell them that? So that they know what the what what's expected of them. I typically have a few members of of that committee in here today, but I I'm not sure that they know exactly. I don't know who who knows. Well, typically they would share that in their committee what the their charge is and why they're first session. In their first session, they would typically go over what it is that they're going to be doing and how they're going to be doing it. Yeah. Or how other So, one of the presentations that Wilpert did for us a year or two ago talked about what other districts have done and some of them I mean it it got down to not just
053consolidation, but okay. Once you pick those schools, is it is it a choice school or is it a districted school? So, there's a lot of layers that are going to be decided on. They just want to say point of um clarity um to Colonel Pollson's um saying that we don't know what the city council would do. In their resolution, they indicated why they did what they did and why they gave that date. they put in there because of the money that they're losing because we're not moving on fast enough according to their timeline fast enough. So, just wanted to point out that that is in the resolution that they did pass in rebuttal. They didn't give the specifics of what their future is that they they have to deal with. They just gave a date
054based on whatever. and um it fits their timeline. It may not fit what the board thinks, but it's their timeline and we need to ask that question because there may be a logical reason for the 1st of August that we don't know and I am meeting with the mayor next week and that is a question that I will ask. Um, thought I brought a copy of the city resolution, but I didn't. I was Madame Chair. Yes, Mine. Um, well, I'm I'm glad to hear that you're meeting with the mayor next week. And I think the most productive thing um would be if the leadership of both bodies um you know meet and you know set up a regular cadence so that you know that there is an open dialogue about you know the things that
055we perhaps should know about uh you know what what the city's needs are as it relates to this so they understand ours and so that there is this a more collaborative process in place and I think that kind of dialogue is probably going to be more productive than you know having a joint meeting at this point but having the two leadership um both bodies and these are things that I have on my mind but I also wanted to put that out there so that everyone could give some feedback about things that we should discuss in next steps moving forward just uh I'm just trying to get the ball rolling. I'm not trying to keep anything for anybody, which is why I'm being transparent about meeting with him. But, you know, there is information and there
056is information that we can provide to them. They they did not necessarily know that this committee was going to be providing us a with a report. Now, now we have a timeline for when we expect to get the report. We did not have that before. Um, uh, I'm just taking notes and I'm trying to talk and not lose my train of thought on my notes. Um, other things that need to be brought forward when I do talk with the mayor. I mean, what's the significance of the date? uh what the city needs from us to create a more productive discussion. Um is that regular meetings? Yeah. What are what are some perceived challenges and barriers? Um I think should be should be asked. And if would we like to meet with city council after we
057have the report and have had time to review and give them the report to review? Would that be a good time to meet with them? Because I don't see I think we need to have discussions and ongoing ongoing communication. But in terms of having a joint meeting, I don't see right now being a productive time to have a joint meeting. Do you see a productive meeting after we have the work done that we are reviewing? Would that be that would be after the work is done then we can Yeah. And I think once we get to that point I think we can visit that aw if we're going to say after we get the report how many days after when is it going to be? We need to set a date. We need to say
058set timelines for these decisions and the things that we're doing. We just can't it can't be ne just can't be oh we'll get to it. No. So we haven't we haven't as in our history right? I hate to go backwards. No. So apologize to the board. So one big thing is it said we we have been told July. Let me verify the exact delivery date. uh you know if it is July 1st is two weeks enough time for everyone to have read the report, digested the report um and then meet with city council also giving them the report so that we can have productive discussions. Is that is that a fair is that a enough time for us or do we need to meet first and discuss the report before we talk to city council?
059Um I I I I'm not I'm not lead trying to lead I know I'm not trying to lead us into any discussion. I'm just throwing talking points out to get us to respond. Yeah. They do the report. They get the we get the report. We discuss it and then we go to city council and we discuss it together. July 1st. Ultimately ultimately the plan will be approved by the school board. of course. So that is going to be on us. So yes, we we have a date of when we you know if we're saying we're getting a report in July depending on what the recommendations are. I mean, it's hard to say, um, you know, when we then go to city council and say, you know, they should they should get the report as well.
060Um, and that we have the collaborative dialogue around it, but setting a date for when that happens. Um, I don't know because the decision will be our decision. Right. Right. But we could keep them at and keep them part of the decision. Absolutely. We could ask the uh consultant to produce the report earlier. Someone taking minutes. It's it's a good ask. He can say yes or he can say no. But if if we're going to try to move this along with not with speed but with the information and and our process, we need to see if we can again move it up to see if what what flexibility everybody has so we we can start making the moves that we have to make and involve those that we need to involve in order to make
061this decision. But the decision of how many and when is is it needs to it should be on the forefront more than I more than we've done in the past and and we we need to uh consider what what where can we move things where where can we make it move a little speedier. Thank you. Okay, those those cover the the major points that I had. Um, does anybody have any comments or concerns that they would like to share at this time? I just had a question. Sure. Is someone taking minutes at this at these community meetings? I would assume I think Walpert usually has Yeah. Could you just verify please? I'm writing that down right now. They're leading it. Um, anything else? Who will be the administration's liaison at this? Mr. Freley. I was
062thinking I just want to make sure it was just going to be I mean, it's more than just bricks and mortar. I mean, it's going to be definitely there's probably going to be several of our chiefs there. Yeah. We get that information. Well, that's what I said. It's going to have human resources impact, financial, everyone's all that. Yeah. Anything else from the floor? Could you recap what it is you were trying to get a consensus on because we kind of um Well, I wanted to discuss what the committee's current charge was and if we had to make any modifications or leave it as it is. We decided to leave it as is. Um as is. Can you restate what as is? as that's that's good. According from his April 10th, 2024 presentation, the first at
063the first we needed to review recommendated recommended configurations, the reasoning behind them and gather feedback. That is his words from the April 10th, 2024 presentation. Right. Um beyond that I'm not sure. Uh but ultimately the product the work product is going to be a closure and consolidation plan recommendations. So um I think the committee's focus will be that will be the deliverable for the for the next meeting. Um, I'm just And then I'm looking at my notes just to make sure I'm not missing anything. Uh we've estab established some things that we want to we've talked about some things we want to establish with city council in terms of regular leadership meetings and when we would actually want to have a joint meeting which is was another question when a joint meeting would be productive
064rather than not non-productive. Uh we want it to be substantive for we want it to be substantive. Yes. Productive and substantive. Um if there we already know the timeline has changed because of we're on a different path of the timeline. Will the timeline remain July for the report? Will it be July 1st or July 30th? you know, that is another question. And perhaps getting the report earlier, as early as as as feasible. Um, and then let me look at my other page of them. I have too many pieces of paper up here. Will we have any more public like hearings or like the engagement with the community? Oh, absolutely. We're going to be having we're going to have lots of community engagement once we once we have a plan. We're going to have to engage
065take it on the road. We're going have Okay. I have like the road of stuff we're going to be doing. That is amazing. That is that's that engagement. That seems so much absolutely engagement will be at the forefront. We'll get a bus and take it on the road. Yeah. Take our take. Sounds sounds good. The stops. And um madam chair, the other thing was the timeline also just to get an understanding of how the timeline we've been on um differs from, you know, just so that we kind of have a sense of um you know, how far off are we uh from what the city's asking of us to what we've the timeline we've been on and just the feasibility of it all. for me rather than asking them to r, you know, to try
066to get an earlier report is just really the feasibility of having a strong plan in place. Are we going to set any non-negotiables? Well, then we have the non-negotiables are already set. So, right. So, we're not going to set any additional ones for the committee. No, because that includes community engagement. that includes a lots of that lots of things. So there's that. Oh, I'm sorry, Colon. One final question. Uh so what I gathering is that because of the timeline that the consultant has which is behind in is going to be pushed and we're not going to make the August 1. That's not what we're saying. We don't know. We don't know. Yeah. So the question is it's tight. It's tight. The question is we don't know. Right. So well when when you were talking about
067lots of uh engagement with with the citizens it's it's going to be ongoing that will be ongoing after so what what they are going to give us August or July I mean is a report and then whatever that plan is we will then have to get enga you know engagement around it and see you know what are some things that we're not thinking of you you know what are you know we have to get that community input and that's going to be ongoing I don't think we're going to have that solidified that to me is going to be very difficult especially during the summer months to have that level of community engagement have a rigid plan all complete by August one you know that's that is going to be very difficult God's impossible to have
068that level of engagement that's going to be necessary to do this the right way. To do it right, to do it the right way. Can we have a report? Yes. But we have to review it. We have to we have to see if there are things that we believe are missing. Public hearings about it. We have to involve the community. we have to and I I don't see that I'm kind of not sure about then just dismissing this body, you know, that this committee August 1st. So I I really it's going to be ongoing. It needs to be very involved. Um it's it's a long r. It's the long range. So it's they're they're this is kind of the first round. Yeah. like what they're doing now is the first round and then what is
069to come you know will be ongoing I think it's going to happen in there's going to be a lot of changes throughout the process too this is this is over uh you know several years right so yeah so this committee should okay one one last comment sure so because of what's going to happen. What needs to happen and you know including the uh all the citizens etc. We're not we're not going to finish it this year. We're not going to have a plan this year. I don't think that's what anybody's saying. Um well then how are we going to have we can we have a plan. We have a plan and then we have to engage the community to help us implement the plan. So, the plan will exist, but we still need to engage
070with the community, listen to what they have to say, maybe make alterations to the plan, but we will still have a have a plan. Okay. Early early early fall, you know, a not a finalized plan, but something. Well, I think I think it's a working document like it'll be I think they want to see progress. They want to see a plan that because it's going to be in both their interest and our interest to have robust community engagement around this because they're, you know, they're they're um like Dr. Martin said earlier, it impacts the whole city. So, it's um you know, it's in all of our best interests to have that engagement. So, I think they're going to be on board with that. Um and I I see it as a living document. That's what
071I say a working document. Living document document as you know as our school systems changes as our school systems needs change the long-term plan might have to be adjusted. Yeah. It's going to be massaged out as we go through this whole process. Very fluid. And and the other piece of it is, you know, is the educational planning. what's going on inside the buildings, the programmatic pieces, all there's there's just so many pieces to it and that's ultimately what it what we're here for. So, a redesign. Yeah, I did take a look and see the city madam chair. Oh, absolutely. Oh, yeah. did um pull up the resolution um and just quoting it attaches a resolution requesting the school board to prioritize a plan to consolidate schools to eliminate the loss of funds due to surplus
072capacity of school buildings. So we know why they have put the letter out there. Yeah. Yeah. Did you have a chance to see that? Yes. Oh, okay. I mean and that's I want to make sure you had a chance to read that. I know you Yeah. You corrected me earlier. Report presentations. So if if this becomes a I'm sorry, excuse me. Um if this becomes a living document then when do we it changes and I understand that there'll be things that will happen whether it's uh sea level rise or whatever that will change the the plan to let's say close Willoughby because that's rumors already out there. Oh, I Haven't heard that one either. Can they? I have. I mean, but that's the thing. Let's not let's not somebody mentioned it at at a a
073civic league meeting and and I said, "No, that's not we haven't decided." But if this is a living document, but we still have to have a goal that we are going to do something in four or five oh yeah years that we will consolidate whatever and do that within the five years. But as time goes on and the population changes, all of a sudden we got an explosion. Then we will have to rethink some of that. Well, certainly. Yeah. Right. And the the other thing I want to put a pin in there and put it on on record is that when we do close and I I mentioned this when we talked about Madison and when we turned over other buildings, we will have to have a discussion about and uh when we do turn
074over buildings, turn over property that whatever revenue is generated from whatever economic development that happens as a result of that that that comes back to our schools. And so I want that to be kind of also part of our future discussions that we have about what happens when we do turn uh buildings back over um and how that then comes back to our feeds our school system. Comment please. Absolutely. I'm sorry. Has that ever been done? Has that we ever gotten revenue from from the city for when we've turned over buildings before? Are we starting something new? For starting something new, it's going to be hard to do to ask for that's a conversation. I'm sorry. I yield. Yeah. And that's why I say it's it should be part of conversations that you have. Yeah.
075But my question was it's Have we ever done this? We have not done that. I mean we have but we have agreed to not in that sense but like a shared revenue. We have a shared revenue formula which we have come together on uh and established for the best interest you know of our school system. So there are opportunities I think down the road where there can be again discussions about um how how that might work and I think that's where you know the leadership of both entities like we did with the shared revenue formula have those discussions that how we how the school system might benefit from We also have to make sure we don't turn back over too many schools because yes, we're in a population decline now, but and the data does
076not show us coming out of that for quite a while, but at some point population numbers will shift and we need to make sure that we have capacity to grow, right? and education. I mean, we're we have to reimagine, you know, what schooling even looks like. I mean, what high school looks like, what, you know, that that may all change 10 years down the road. Um, and it should change. I mean, so we should be advancing. I mean, right now, we should be doing things very differently than we are, but you know, and how Yeah, that's a whole other, you know, anyway. Yeah, I would. We could be here all night. Colonel had his hand up first. Go ahead. Oh, thank you, sir. Um, so I I do agree with um with board member Bassine
077when it comes if we do hand over um to the school um schools to the city. Um is there a potential um a conversation you could have with the city um mayor that we could get revenue from the sale of that property? I know that's not something that's been done in the past, right? Um because we do have the school formula um revenue formula that we have. I think that's about 14 different tax revenues about 20 29 point was it 29.55%. So for every one dollar we get about 30 cents on the dollar. Um so I don't know how that would play out with the city but because I mean this city's is the city's property. They gave it to us when they built the school and we got to relinquish it when we give
078it back. So they could say no to that. Right. But you can't it never hurts to ask. Right. Which and we're offloading that school and we're going to get reinvest reinvestments anyway because we now have that. This isn't really on topic still. Yeah. Right. Ventured put a pin in it. So bring it back. I think I think our reason for meeting today I think we've discussed Yes. what we need to discuss. Right. Um uh Mr. Pollson you had a point. Yeah. Just uh if the population is estimated ex through 31 is uh is not going to change. And so uh we're looking at uh school years we're and our plan will run about the same amount of time. But in there well before that we have to take a look into the future and believe
079the the futurists or whatever they're called that do population uh and and what what schools are going to look like. There's all kinds of uh consultants that can help us because we're we're good at what we do, but we're not that good that we can predict the future and and we but we need to really look forward and see the fact that is it's we have to come down 10. We if we have to build a new one, we're going to build another new one in in let's say in 36 or 37 where there's probably on a plan somewhere to replace the a school in an existing school with something else. And but I I I caution us to stay away from the number 10 because it could be nine, it could be 12, it
080could be more than 10. It's it's what is in the best interest of our school, school system, and community. So, you know, maybe they calculated I think they I've heard like it's $23 million extra dollars a year to run a school that you don't need to run. So, maybe they're they're trying to get the same cost savings as the price of Mory High School. Um but you know we want to make sure that we are doing our due diligence and and and are consolidating and closing the right number of schools for the school system and it could be eight you know it could be 12 and again our schools are more than utilization and capacity there educational programming all of that has to be and what our ultimate goals are those are have to be
081at the center of it. So, lots of factors. One, I mentioned it to m Mr. Strutz at I can't remember which meeting it was that he bases uh lots of his uh calculations on 80% capacity. And so I asked him the question, what about at 83 or 84 whatever? And he did respond saying it probably one school at 85%. But we should look towards if we're going to continue and that going forward we may want to think about 85% capacity. You operating at 85% versus 80 because that would that would help. It doesn't mean it's overcrowded. It just means that we're using more space. I thought he said 85%. He did say 85. He said 85. Okay. Then I I added 5%. I thought it was I added 5% less do it 5% more and
082he said it wouldn't make that much difference. I was looking to see how many extra schools it uh could would not be needed under that operating procedure. But uh but we should we should look at how much would it help particularly with other factors such as you lack of staff to operate it at a higher capacity and it's beyond this and I apologize that's beyond what we're doing here. So that's a future thought. Yeah, that's well put in that there. I'm sorry. Put a pin in that. Yeah. All right. Well, um this meeting is adjourned.