001let us know at this time. Thank you. >> Thank you, Bonnie. I'll call this meeting to order tonight at 4:59 p.m. 1 minute early. Do I have to say five? >> 5:00. Thank you. It took a long time to say it. 5:00. >> Please rise for the pledge of allegiance. I pledge algiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands. One nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. >> All right. Uh our first item today is oath of office. >> So Ed is swearing in. Director Fischer, will you please come forward? >> I was going to say Director Fisher, but I was like Mrs. Fisher. Miss Phil. >> Almost. Miss Fisher. >> Almost. Director Fisher. >> Almost. Director Fisher. >> We're getting there.
002>> Would you please repeat after me? >> Do I have to do this? >> If you want to. I state your name. Uh, I, Lovey Fischer, >> do solemnly swear >> that I will support the Constitution of the United States >> that I will support the Constitution of the United States >> and the Constitution and laws >> of the state of Washington >> and all local ordinances >> and that I will faithfully and impartially >> And I will faithfully and impartially >> perform and discharge >> The duties of the office >> of Oring School District number 344. >> Director District number two. >> To the best of my ability. >> Congratulations, Director Fisher. >> Thank you. I hope I don't disappoint. >> You won't. No. >> Congratulations. >> I hope you're My hands are cold.
003You're good. You're good. >> Thank you. Thank you. Well, we waste no time in getting right down to business. So, at this time, I'm going to call an executive session. Uh, we have two of them this evening. The first one is Oh, sorry. Um, no action will be taken in the executive session. And this first one is to discuss the performance of a public employee. And then we will move into the second one. Please hold for a second which will be a review of real estate. So uh we will close for executive session and we're going to the develop room. >> Correct. >> So let's do that. >> Do you have to give the time amount of time? >> Um 30 minutes for each. Thank you. Yes. 30 minutes for each. So we'll return at
0046 o'clock. Um we are excited for another season of watching our student athletes shine um from basketball, wrestling um to bowling and our students continue to demonstrate teamwork, dedication and school pride. We will wish all our athletes and coaches safe, successful, and exciting season. >> Uh earlier this month, we welcome back students and staff from winter break, which >> that's good long two weeks that everybody needs, right? >> So, we're happy to have our classrooms filled again, and we hope everybody had a enjoyed a restful and joyful break. And we look forward to this is a good time to start the second half of the school year really strong. I love it. So, lots of great things to celebrate again around the district. It really never stops. Uh so, shout out. Yeah, definitely welcome back
005everyone from winter break. That seems a while ago already, but hopefully everybody's having productive time in their classrooms and sports are so exciting. I watched the wrestling match the other night. I love it. >> But wait, there's more. January is school board appreciation month and we would be remiss if we didn't take a moment to celebrate our board of directors. This is surprising. We're surprising you. We know how you love anything and everything student created things that have student voice. Your student board representatives came together to create a special video to honor and recognize our board directors. So I would love to draw your attention to the main screen. >> I haven't seen this yet. So, this is a surprise for me, too. >> Oh, where's my cashier? A >> Thank you, school board. Thank
006you, school board. >> Thank you, school board. >> I just wanted to say thank you for our awarding school district board. Thank you for all of the time and dedication that you give to our school and our staff. >> Thank you, school board. >> Thanks, school board. Thanks school board for all your hard work and efforts on behalf of our students and community. >> Thank you school board. We appreciate you. >> Hey school board, thank you so much for giving us the opportunity to show our student voice and others in our district. >> Thank you for all your hard work in the bond and for prioritizing your students. >> We appreciate you. >> A thank you. >> Thank you guys. >> Can we get them? Can you forward them to us? can send that to
007you. But we're not done yet. We're not done yet. Surprises continue. It takes vision, dedication, determination. As you know, changing a vision of a district takes great tenacity. Sometimes you don't pass them on to the first attempt or second or third or even fourth. Sometimes you don't see the student learning improvement results pop right away. You have to stay steadfast and believe in your team. and we're seeing some of those. And one of your fan favorites from a couple years past, Miss Sydney from Sydney Sweets, worked hard to make some cupcakes for you. So, we have some cupcakes. >> Uh, cabinet, can you do me a favor? Go back to the table here and do your best Vanna impression and deliver some cupcakes to our board. And guests, everyone in the audience gets a cupcake,
008too. You get your special treat. >> Aren't you all lucky? So, we But don't eat it just yet cuz we're going to take a photo in celebration because in addition to cupcakes, we have treats for you as well. You give them out to everybody else tonight, you get your very own chachki. So, on the cupcake side, we have salt and caramel. We have death by Oreo. We have German chocolate. >> You said not to take them yet. Take >> Oh, you can take it. Just don't eat it yet. Don't eat it. Take it. They push one or two of these death. >> If you guys don't know, Sydney is one of our students, one of our alumni. Now, >> yes. >> Look in case. >> Oh my gosh. I don't know. Thank you. >> Red
009velvet and German. >> Yep. Red velvet, German chocolate. >> Farmer. So good. >> These are the premium version from the Sydney collection. >> Thank you. Yeah, >> there's some perks here. >> And >> uh we will make sure we save one for Carly. You know, we'll have one for her, too. >> Uh my board as well. Would you please grab your chachki and head over for a photo? We're going to do two pictures. Britney's going to grab one of all of us to celebrate your >> Are we like Yep. No. Well, if you want to hold a picture of the cupcake, you can. Can I take >> You can take the mug out. >> I have been looking forward to this mug. >> So, you hold down and hold. >> You can hold the cupcake.
010>> Then we can tag her. >> So, let's do a celebration photo and then we'll do one of just five of these. Yeah, cuz we need a new picture with this. >> All right, gather in. Gather in. >> Missing a president. >> Yep. There we go. Squeeze. Get friendly. >> Perfect. You guys ready? One, two, three. Perfect. >> Now, Lord, we need one of just you. So if we can maybe set the chachkis off to the side just for every one of the five of you and then we can continue. >> So this is to replace our >> Yes. Now you have a new five. The new fab five. We got to scooch in, right? >> Yeah. >> You guys know the drill. >> We can act like we like each other. >> Okay. One,
011two, three. >> Board of distinction. I love it. All right. CONGRATULATIONS. >> I know. if I need it. >> Thank you. Thank you very much. >> You're welcome. Thank you. >> All right. That was exciting. Thank you for the video. That was that was really special seeing >> students and staff. >> It's the best. Well played. Well played. >> Yeah. >> I saw one of my former students. >> All right. So, yeah, fun recognition. Cool. Okay. >> Uh, next up is community and staff comments and I believe Mr. Winters. >> Oh, yes. >> Thank you. Good evening. Congratulations to everybody. Um, my name is John Winters. I am a uh resident of Oring and I have two uh grandchildren that are in the Oring school districts. One is in high school and one's in Wajoes.
012Um the reason I wanted to talk today really briefly is because um we have a couple of fundraisers coming up this weekend. We wanted to invite everyone on the board and the public as well to to participate. The first one is a recycling drive and we're just taking donations, whatever you want to give. The recycling drive is specifically for electronic items. Um, so it's perfectly timed after everybody gets Christmas gifts and the holiday in and holiday gifts. And if you want to get rid of all electronics, uh, computers, printers, uh, uh, you know, television sets and stuff like that that are very bulky and hard to get rid of, we're going to set up a box at the high school on Saturday to Saturday from 9:00 to 1. Just bring your item up there. If
013you want to give a donation, that's great. We'll just collect it and we'll put in the box and we'll recycle it. So, it's a good good thing. Second thing is um we have a wonderful uh pasta dinner with live entertainment. The uh the high school band is band and middle school band are going to be performing during that time and um we're inviting the public to come out there and everybody to have a good time and enjoy great dinner and have some terrific music and that's uh at the middle school this on Saturday evening. So you get tickets you can get tickets at the at the uh the door as well too. That's it. >> Thank you. believe it's at 6:00 and I did bring that I'm sorry bring did not bring your flyer but
014it's I just posted uh on various uh public forums the ordering lot you know Facebook as well as the alley >> so bring an appetite and you'll get some good music there I love it thank you >> oh by the way um I just forgot to mention that uh I'm speaking for Darla Darla had surgery yesterday so um it was planned so it's repair some damage in her shoulder. But uh if you want to give some thoughts and prayers to her, I'm sure she >> quick recovery. Yes, quick recovery. >> I like your t-shirt. I like your t-shirt. >> Oh, yes. Yes. Uh veteran. >> I love it. Thank you, sir. >> Thank you, John. >> All right. And next up is our superintendence report. >> Okay. I'd like to invite director, executive director F
015to the podium. Uh he and I are going to spend the report sharing information about our upcoming educational programs and operations levy, EPO for those of you that have been around for a while. Formerly called the M levy. Post mccclary the title changed. To make it perfectly clear, levies are for only and everything and anything not paid for by state funding. And newslash, there's a lot of things still not paid for by state funding. Uh voters might be confused about bonds, levies. We ran a bond in November. Bonds are for building. We try to remind people that the vernacular so they don't get confused. They require a supermajority 60%. Levies are for learning. Those cover day-to-day operations, programs, staffing, supports that enrich the opportunities for kids. They require a lesser uh majority to pass 50%
016plus one. Over the last 40 years, we have never run a school year without a levy in place. So we have enjoyed a long tradition of community support. However, there have been a few times over the years where we haven't passed out of the gate. Most recently 2020. In that case, we redouble the efforts. Ask again usually in April and hope we see success. What's a school levy do? It supports things like day-to-day operations and student supports. And that both comes into staffing and stuff. Enrichment opportunities like extracurricular athletics activities, performing arts, those equipment for instance are expensive. The re risers, the stands. So all those things are levy funded. Uh safety cliff and I will share some data about what is or isn't funded here over this presentation. Uh staff um they really help
017to make sure our kids have the opportunities they need to be successful. As you know, belonging includes what happens in the day, and there's a lot of things that happen outside the day that create that enriched experience, and they wouldn't quite frankly happen without local support. State funding is definitely essential and needed, but it doesn't cover the actual cost of day-to-day operations. It doesn't cover the staffing necessary to ensure students are cared for and safe. It doesn't pay for the staff or the technology, materials, supplies, curriculum that we need and it certainly doesn't cover enriched experiences. Uh this slide we've been sharing across the district. We wanted to share with you uh the 1921 legislative bienium over half 51.6 of the state budget went to public education. If you look at this current bienium that
018number has dropped all the way down to 43.2%. That over 8% drop in funding represents a $6.5 billion underfunding. So the state does spend more, but proportionally or comparatively it's much less over time. >> How does Washington compare across the union? Well, the average average state spends 3.1% of their gross state product on public education. Our state is down a little over 2.5%. So if you compare us to average, we're underfunding by $4.5 billion. If you took I didn't make a slide for this, but rank ordered all 50 states, we're well under the 25th state in terms of aggregate funding. So no matter how you compare or slice, Washington continues to underfund schools, making local levies more important now than ever. The last year we talked about the legislative priority around the big three. These
019are constitutionally required items that the state should fully fund. Maintenance, uh, excuse me, materials and supplies, MSOC, transportation, and special education. Since 2020, we have averaged a $1.4 million deficit. Last year, that grew to 1.5. So, even in areas that are supposed to be fully funded, we continue to see an ongoing deficit creating a need. Cliff's going to talk about, well, where does our local dollars go and what happens right here? >> Yeah. So, there's there's a bit of a shell game that happens when they say we fully fund basic education. There is I I do believe it's true that there is funding that goes to all categories of basic education in the school district. What that covers uh I want to talk about in just a minute. So, uh obviously athletics and activities, that's
020a no-brainer. That's one people obviously think about is not basic education. What you're doing physically after school. Um so, that that seems like something that we knew would cover a nutrition services, nursing technology, safety and security. And when we think about security staff, that we often think of a police officer, which it does cover, but that's also crossing guards, that's playground supervision. Um, those are all things that are covered by the levy. Ed shared with our elementary colleagues this morning how many students it takes in elementary school before you get one. Think playground crossing guard one. And Ed, can you share them how many kids it takes at the elementary school? Guess how many elementary students, you know, how many do you think it would take before we get one funded position? >> 700. That's
021a good guess. Wrong. It'll go higher, but good guess. >> 2500. You're getting closer. >> Oh, you're halfway there. >> I know the answer. >> 5,000 children before we get one funded position. Yet in our district, we have about 13, including the SRO. >> Oh my. that that just I just >> Bonnie, would you go one forward? >> I'd love for the community to let that number sink in. So, imagine our kids walking to school with no crossing guards, no playground monitors, like the absence of those roles and imagining what school life and student safety would be like without them is uh >> it's hard to fathom. >> One more fun one. So, you all have children or grandchildren or you know middle schoolers, correct? >> We would all argue those are the most mentally
022stable children that need the least, right? So, I was going to use that. Here's another guessing game. Last guessing game. How many middle schoolers before we get a psychologist in our building? >> Oh, a psychologist. >> It's like 18,000. >> Did you prime them? It is It is 18,000 middle school students before we fully funded it. Right. >> 18,000 middle school before we get one. So what we do is we're looking at the sentence of when we say we fully funded education. We have funded a psychologist at the state of Washington already schools have been funded for a psychologist at the rate of 1 to 18,000. So the the idea to say we're fully funding education. We are fully >> it's the fully that it is probably up for grabs. Um something I didn't know
023taking on this position. This baffled me as a taxpaying. I would have thought some of my taxpayers go to feed children at school. >> There is no state funding for uh food at school. So, it's all based on that ticket. So, that ticket is supposed to fully fund. We're always uh negative. Last year, we were over a4 million dollars negative to feed our children. Um, we know what we can do to save money there is we can drop the quality. We can start heating things in plastic bags and giving our kids uh reheated meals as how we can make up some of that deficit. Not something I know the board has an interest in doing is saving dollars at the nutrition of our children. So, um, another thing is substitutes. We get four days of
024substitute pay at $152. We know that we pay teachers between $200 and $225 a day to sub for us. They give us $152 in only 4 days. Uh we get significantly more than that. Uh for classified worker, the state funding plan is we do not hire a single sub for any classified worker. That means if five bus driver calls, five bus drivers call in, the state model of funding says put them on a different bus. Uh so we get $0. That means when you go on family medical leave, when you go on bereavement, uh when you take personal days, when you're sick, all of those are fully funded by the levy. So, just a few examples that I want to share with you. Uh right now, uh you know, this we're given this to the
025board. I'm giving this to all staff, telling them about what the board's asked to do. So, I'm reporting this to you, but we're doing a four-year renewal. Um I share with all of the staff that we've reported to the we are allowed to go up to $2.50, and we have some local neighbors that are doing that, and they've inquired here, are you guys willing to do that? doesn't look so bad for us. Uh we answer our board has zero interest in raising taxes in our community. Our community is uh up to their chin in taxes, so we are not raising that. Thank you for that. Uh I'll have you know we're set to collect $21 in this year and so we're just under that. We're going to we put it at $2. That was our
026best guess. So we will continue at $2 of collection. Um as you know, we don't voters do not approve rates. They approve amounts. Uh so this thing now we look at growth projected over time uh you can see the difference between uh this 2027 will be just short of $10 million that look what that growth does to try to help us make up the gap over time for the increased need we have for our kids all the in 2030 we know we're going to be wrong but at best guess hopefully conservative that should be up near $15 million at this le rate. Look at the average just so voters see where we've been $2.73 is our average over the last 20 years. So you're well under the average levy collection that we have put on
027the table. And part of that guessing game is what's happening with student growth. What will that do to our extracurricular programs and activities? And we need to make sure that we can adequately fund. Keep in mind both your federal and state constituencies are signaling reductions. Both the feds and the states and we don't have any money coming in. So we also if you want to maintain intervention, quality food, all the things the levy goes for, if we're going to sustain that, we have to make sure we have the funding to do it because it's likely not coming from those other sources. Right. >> Key information, ballots drop this Friday. Uh that's same time conveniently when our mailer should arrive. So we'll have that information starting to drop tomorrow. Uh election day is February 10th uh
028from our post office. They're still recommending that if you're mailing it from home, you put it in the dropbox the day before on that Monday or a secure ballot box on actual election day so they can make sure every vote counts. We have more information on our website and we have lots of videos coming online. If you haven't seen the transportation video, they do a brilliant job talking about how that creates opportunities for kids. Coming up next will be nutrition services talking about the great meals and quality that you have uh enjoyed and directed as a board. And then we have more sneak peeks coming out over the next couple weeks. >> Awesome. >> So, we're happy to answer any questions. That concludes my report, but we wanted to focus uh this meeting solely on
029the levy. >> No questions. I wish our community would hear and listen to what gets funded and what doesn't. >> We'll add anyone to the road show. >> Yeah, the road show. I think we're doing a really good job though in the last few years of getting that information out. I think the last levy >> we pushed um >> one one nurse per per thousand kids or 5,000 kids I think it was and the community was blown away by it. They were like what >> one nurse and that's for the whole district. And the other one was how many uh grounds keepers >> would is it do we even qualify for one? >> You do. Uh but without a levy in place if if you strictly tried to align what's funded, we would lose immediately
030two custodians and two grounds maintenance people. >> Right. >> And and people would try and picture taking care of all of our grounds workers. you wouldn't have used to do that job. >> Since the last levy, the state had made growth in the amount of nurse uh support. Uh we've moved from one funded to three. We're still too short. >> Wow. >> So, they have made some movements, but not enough unfortunately. >> Okay. Thank you all. I think the other missing missing piece in that is just the >> you know our technology needs have changed in the last 5 years and how little funding goes towards that and yet the expectation from our community is that we have onetoone Chromebooks and that we have >> all the services and technology supports our our schools need.
031>> Uh we share with our staff that if we tried to align to full funding, Matt Unben would have one half of one of his current team >> left. That's not enough. It's not enough. Our parents have asked for communication and email and all those things that require technology. So in order for us to continue with that, >> we need the levy to pass. >> Absolutely. >> And not just technology, but safe and secure technology. >> Yep. >> How do you do that? >> That's the key word. >> Okay. And most of the reporting to vote >> and most of the reporting you have to do for the state is via >> technology. Absolutely. >> Well, and it's it's the next steps. It's the way the world's going. So, we have to provide that, >>
032right? >> Okay. >> That looks like good. >> Yep. All right. Next item on the agenda. >> Thank you. >> Our reports. And tonight we're starting with our facility update. Liz Loy and Matt Rumba. >> Hi everybody. I'm so excited to be here. >> We're excited you're here too. >> It's like the first official. >> It's been a little bit >> nicely done. I just want to congratulate the district and the board. Nicely done. Um really a quick update. Um just wanted to give you to see you again of course and then give you an update about what we've been working on. Uh postp bond. um we just started to organize our team and so part of what you'll see before you and some resolutions is kind of that pre-planning and some contracts as well
033as the um approval for our GCCM process. We did just have a big milestone today and we had the interview process with the PRC and they had approved us to move forward the Oregon school district to move forward with that process. So that's a very exciting moment. We'll start advertising for that as well and interviewing. There's a process for about a month and a half and obviously being really transparent with the board and the community along the way. So, you'll see an update in February and you'll see some results of that interview process and the scoring and and some of um the indicators of how the district's going to make a decision in in March. So, expect that as we move forward. On kind of the consultant side, we're working with Geotech, traffic, and wetland
034to gather still continuing information for our site and restart some of those proposals as well and making sure that they align within our budgets. Um, as far as other things, the deform process is something we picked back up as well for OSBI state match funding and that goes into making sure that we're aligned within our budget as well. um we had a range that what we expect and it looks like we're still in alignment with that. Um other than that, maybe I'll pass it to Matt about some of the other things we've been working on. >> All right. Um, so, uh, I was thinking back to 2021, which is the first time I stood here in front of many of you, and I made a really kind of dorky joke or reference to, you know,
035what to expect when you're expecting, right? It's been a long journey to get us to where we are now. And um we're trying to we're kind of doing that prep work so that we can be moving fast. But as we move fast, we still want to make sure that we are uh engaging with everybody here, not just you sitting in front of me right now, but of course the district and the community who's part of that as we start thinking about how we design these two projects. So, if you remember the elementary school, we did a schematic design back in 2022. So, we're going to be picking that back up. We're going to be starting to set up um some opportunities to get feedback from staff and parents, etc. on where we were, confirm those
036decisions we made in 2022 or adjust them as makes sense, and then we'll start moving forward with the rest of the design for the elementary school. We haven't set up exactly what that looks like yet. That's what we're in the process of doing, trying to coordinate with uh Cliff and Ed and others to try to get that set up. So, we're just just just almost there. So, in February, we should start to see some uh work on that. For the high school, um it's a little bit different, of course, because we're starting more from ground zero in terms of we didn't go through that design process on the school in 2022. So, we're just starting from the beginning now. So similarly, we're going to go ahead and um have discussions with a variety of folks
037and set up kind of what does that engagement look like for the high school. And some of the first things we'll do is we'll be confirming let's confirm all the spaces that are going to be in this new building. Let's do some master planning so that we can look again. If you remember, we did some master plan of the high school. Let's make certain that our current assumption about where this building goes is the right assumption. So, we're going to revisit those those things and just make sure that whatever we do now is going to make sense for bond number two, three, etc. so that we can plan out the future of the high school and kind of as we're going through this. Um, so those are going to be the two kind of primary
038the starting things. So, we're going to work through the um through the spring on those activities. Um, and then once we have a contractor on board, as Liz was describing, which hopefully should be uh late March, then we'll be engaging with them and having them be part of the design process so we can be kind of together. So, that's going to be uh pretty exciting. >> Is there anything else you wanted to highlight here, Liz? On the >> I'm not here. I think we just wanted to also listen from the board and see if there's a certain format you want us to um go about some of the updates. We'll obviously once we transition into March and have um breaking further into budget, we have an update for budget tracking. Um that's going to be
039really important for transparency and making sure that we're aligned. Um but if there's anything specific that you want to hear from us or you know questions uh definitely we want to make sure that it's either um incorporate each each month into the board updates. >> Okay. Uh I think since we don't know what to expect yet not gone through this might just be open to hey can we get as we're going along >> right I did turn I was like okay what do I want to know every month >> um project progress I want to be able to talk with the community about kind of where we're at what we're working on now what's the next step um one thing that's unique I think about our property is that it is front and center coming
040into town and heading out of So everybody's going to be curious about what's going on and everybody has lots of opinions about the bridge for kids work that's been happening. I would love to be able to say here, you know, here's what we're doing now. Here's what you can expect to see out there. So updates like that that are maybe have maybe a little more details than some projects might be used to in some projects so that we can communicate that with our community. um and next steps, what's coming. Um and then also the fiscal accountability. That's something I'm really very interested in and making sure that we're on track and on budget and being able to share that story, too. >> Um I want to be able to speak confidently about that and uh
041assure our community that things are going well. So on a monthly basis, I'd love to have something new to talk about >> in the community every month. >> Okay. And just a reminder that if you hear questions about a pieball deer, it is a big deal. >> Okay. So, we just want to make sure she stays safe. >> We build a a classroom for her. I don't >> honorary gardens. It is funny because we visited the high school at the the architectural team last week >> and the deer did come up. So, yeah. You know. Yes. >> Yes. Yes. >> Community mascot. >> The community really pays a lot of attention to us. >> Yeah. >> Well loved. >> I'm excited about the design phases for the high school. I was very impressed with like
042we asked the elementary schools what they would like in a playground and just the the ways that we were able to collect community input and staff input and uh I thought the process felt great for the elementary school. So to overlay that for the high school I'm really interested in that as well. Anxious to see what the ideas what ideas come forward student voice. >> Yes. Absolutely. Good to know as I think their value is we're talking to contractors. How can our students be involved and learn maybe about the trades, the process, and and bring them into that as well? And I'm sure that reflects an interest that you have collectively. >> Makes sense. >> So something for us to be thinking about. I know you'll be president director Kinsler through the process, but as
043we're talking with contractors, think about what would that look like? How do we set our kids up in that regard? >> And I'm excited. I didn't realize we would get the GCM GCCM approval. so quickly. So, I'm excited. Congratulations. Thank you. >> Um, if you wouldn't mind because that's mentioned in the presentation, but I don't know if the community understands why that was the right move for us. >> So, if you could speak to that, somebody. >> Sure. >> Um, I'll go ahead. Yeah. So, GCCM is a process that is a partnership with a contractor. You bring a contractor on early. Um, it it really does produce quality project. There's going to be challenges on any project for sure, but definitely because of the challenges of a busy road that you guys are on two
044sites, uh, small lay down space, access, and then al also the improvements the city is making, it has a complicated build. Um, there's other components like the soil conditions and things like that. Anytime you bring a contractor on a little bit earlier, this is a lot earlier. some of the things that even Matt was talking about the phasing and some of the making sure mechanical um is up to date on an operated site when you have new and and imp you know old and new it's it's challenging and routing is always never in the same spot that is on the asbuilt and so that contractor can help you know troubleshoot and you know investigate early on so it's really a partnership um that's done early on and I don't know if Matt if you have
045anything to add but >> I think it's also part of the it makes sense as part of the strategy of being um being really uh responsive in terms of our fiscal responsibility for the project because now we're going to have an extra partner early on to also be on the same page of hey this is crucial that we're doing this and also on the schedule piece. Um so uh it's it just gives you more flexibility and more confidence that we can help to achieve that for the district. Um, uh, the alternative would be just bidding it out and a low kind of just selecting whoever's the low bidder. This that that's that's one pathway. This pathway, I think, just gives us a better chance of of long-term success. >> I would remind the board that
046when Matt and Liz first talked with you way back in 2021, 2022, they were suggesting you consider this methodology for the high school. You have 70 year old span of age and a variety of condition of facilities and you know you're probably going to be remodeling over the next 15 years and somehow you need what wasn't designed ever to be a singular one-site campus to fit and work and connect and talk with one another and be able to phase and grow over time in a way that makes sense. Your interest at the time was decisions that will last for the long term. >> So part of that hasn't ever changed. What is probably new is bringing the ele uh elementary under that same scope. Just we don't have the site, we don't have storage, we
047don't have the ability to really manage two separate things happening at the same time. So that is new from something that we probably talked about maybe 6 months ago. Uh the more we looked at the complexity and the pilings and the involvement, it just really made sense to put that under one partner working with this team. Good. >> Perfect. >> Thank you very much. >> Seeing more of you, I think. >> Great. >> Thank you both. >> Woohoo. It's exciting. >> I'm so excited. All right. Mr. Carlson, would you join us at the podium, please? >> How are we going to pay for this, sir? >> Marcy will attest there is no money in capital projects currently. We need your help. >> Projects, Marcy. Okay. >> No money. >> We have a way to solve
048that problem. Uh, President Tibido, members of the board, superintendent, uh, thank you very much for the opportunity to be here. Uh, number one, congratulations. Uh, this is again the first opportunity to formally be in front of you. I I ran into a few of you at the Wazda conference and we uh I think we had a a collective high five hug moment. So, uh that was that was fun, but it's nice to be here uh in person and uh conducting business based upon the strong yes vote. So, again, congratulations. Uh my job tonight is to provide you with a little overview of what uh your staff uh and I are going to achieve in the next few weeks to put capital project dollars into the account uh so that your construction folks uh in in
049partnership with the GCCM process can go forward and uh and start working on the projects. You have a remote to fast forward the slides. Choose to. >> Yes. or a body can catch you up. Yes. Thank you very much. And I always have to thank Bonnie. She is awesome. She is so helpful. She is so responsive. You all know this, but I have to say this in a public forum because I appreciate you very much. She always takes great care of me. I It's great. Um, so from a highle perspective, uh, I put some bullet points on the on the slide here. We'll we'll go through one by one. Please stop me if you have questions, right? That's why I'm here. Um, and then also, uh, we will look at, uh, and I'll just kind
050of go through some of the highlights of what this resolution accomplishes. It's relatively dense. There are legal ease involved. If you read it, it's you might have had to read it two or three times to maybe understand concepts. Um, so I'll hit some highlevel um, uh, takeaways from that also. Okay? And I guess keep me on track or if you want me to do that right after this or later, just you tell me what you want. So from a bond financing goal perspective, uh our target is to deposit 60 million60 into the capital projects fund on March 24th uh to really kickstart in earnest uh the the planning and the acquisition of you know thought leaders to move forward with the with the uh with the projects. Uh minimizing interest rate risk is very important.
051lock in a sizable piece of this transaction now is important. And think of this in terms of your mortgage, right? You sell bonds, you lock it, you're you get a interest rate for your loan, you close a couple weeks later, we close the bond a couple weeks later, but you have multi-millions of dollars of authorization, 137.2 that will be uh to be determined on the borrowing cost of those future bond sales. cuz when we sell bonds, we lock in those borrowing costs. Those future authorization will tap into at a later date to make sure your construction cash flow is always positive. You have money to pay contractors and buy materials. Um, so that's really important. So, we want to make sure we're uh we're taking as much risk off the table uh as prudently uh
052as we can from a taxpayer perspective. So, that was number two. Uh securing low borrowing cost is very very important. Uh we will go through a credit rating process uh with Moody's investor service uh and make sure that we put our best foot forward. We talk about the growth. We talk about the enrollment, your general fund, things that we know the credit rating analysts want to chat about to determine your underlying credit rating. We will also utilize the school bond guarantee program. So, we'll use the AAA rating the state has as credit enhancement that was built into the authority to utilize that program was built into your election resolution. It's also highlighted uh in uh the the resolution uh for your consideration tonight. Um, so again, belt and suspenders, credit enhancement creates more uh safety
053and security. So investors know that for any reason you're not able to make the bond payments, the state will step in. It's a very great feature and it only costs you $100 to apply. >> Oh, >> best deal in town. >> Um, obviously we have to structure the bonds in accordance with investor demand, right? This is a give and take. uh we need to make sure we're hitting all of your goals, but think of us as creating a product. We're creating a product that we need to sell. We need to sell these mini loans, these bonds to investors. I have my finger on the pulse of the marketplace. So, we will tailor the product to match their desires. Again, right, it's give and take there. Stable tax rate, $127, the magic number. Um, so that
054is our eye on the prize. I will show you the eye chart in a couple pages that we've looked at in the past, but to memorialize things, I love to put it in the packet again so we can look back and make sure we're on target. And uh last but not least, make sure we're max or uh within the term limits that was included in the election resolution, 20 years, maximum amortization for any specific bond issue. That's key. It's not for the entire authorization. If we sell bonds in three chunks, each one of those chunks can have a maximum amortization of 20 years. Questions on goals? Uh again, uh a moment to memorialize. Uh your your staff uh does great work with graphics. I love to keep this in there because it helps keep me
055on track. We will never forget that it's a$127 at the very bottom of the of the graphic. >> Trevor, I did have a question. I'm just, if I remember correctly, our the underlying rating you said is Moody's. Moody's was good. >> Moody's investor service. >> Is it an A? Like I'm I'm trying to remember what it >> Well, at this juncture, since you do not have bonds on the books, you do not have an underlying credit rating. That went away >> when your bonds were paid off. >> So, it's a reassessment. >> Okay. >> Um, and we will do this every time we sell bonds. If we sell bonds in two chunks or three, we will always need to go back because because and have them do their due diligence >> uh because they need
056to have the most up-to-date information before they put their their rating, their stamp of approval, if you will, on the bonds. >> Okay. >> So, we'll go through that process at least a couple times. >> Not right now. >> Gotcha. Okay. Um I estimate you'll be you will be a investment grade credit rating um which will facilitate uh very nicely the sale of bonds to investors. Um my guess is an A1 possibly an A2. The size of your district uh is a pretty uh important component and again you can't control that. this the stability uh the size of your general fund uh is really the big lever that you can control in that conversation. Your enrollment you can't control size and diversity of your economy you can't control uh but we we talk about all
057those credit factors >> with the with the analysts. Um just in case there are any questions on interest rates, uh interest rates have been pretty stable, especially the the the let's say Q4 of last year going into this year. Um uh we've sold uh transaction for Tacoma School District. Um a little bit smaller than what you're uh going to tackle, but warm reception. Uh the marketplace is open. It's ready for business. We are ready to move forward and interest rates have been relatively stable. It's good that people are willing to spend money. >> Yes. Yes. Uh there are, you know, uh multiple billions of dollars that come into the municipal bond marketplace on a weekly basis. Let's just say anywhere between, you know, 5 to 15 billion. It gets soaked up every single week. It's
058a it's a $4 trillion marketplace. Uh it's it's pretty well uh welloiled machine. Sorry. But again, this helps us memorialize. Uh you can hopefully zoom it up on your screen if you want to go into the details. Um but what we're targeting I would like to focus on kind of in the middle of the page in the blue shading is right now our thought process on timing and size of bonds. So 60 million 50 million uh in a year from now approximately uh and then a couple years out 27.2 for the balance. This is a living breathing document. After we sell this first sale of bonds, I'm in contact on a frequent basis with Cliff and Ed to determine construction cash flow needs. Again, our paramount goal is to make sure you have dollars in
059the bank to take care of construction, design, build, all those things. Okay. Um, so again, this this most likely will change, but this is our best guess. Now, those estimated bond payments are in the columns below the three uh below the the blue boxes. >> And what that equates to is the $1.27 on the far right hand side. right? We're making a lot of assumptions. We're trying to be uh you know uh diligent, thoughtful, uh conservative in certain aspects because promises made, promises kept is part of you heard it from the construction team. I've got the same mantra. Um so again, as Cliff mentioned so eloquently earlier, we collect dollar amounts. Tax rates are a byproduct of mathematics. Uh but again, we want to as best as possible maintain our credibility with the public. $1.27
060is kind of the magic number. We're going to do everything we can to achieve that based on market conditions right now, our assessed value assumptions, the sale structure here, thumbs up. Looks good. Okay. But again, we'll come back to you uh as things uh morph over time. lot on that page. Happy to go back. I'll push forward unless I hear otherwise. Uh high level schedule. Um Cliff uh I think was shocked when I sent the original schedule because there's a lot of things going on. My job is to hold hands and get us to the finish line. We will do that. I promise. High level. Uh we're here tonight for your consideration of the bond delegation resolution. Uh on February 9th, we'll have that uh call with Moody's investor service. Uh Ed, Cliff, and I.
061We are targeting locking in borrowing cost, selling bonds to investors on the 10th of March. closing a couple weeks later. Closing means, you know, relatively early in the morning, $60 million will be deposited into your capital projects fund. That's the big date. >> You're not on vacation that day. >> I'll be here. >> Um, and that's sort of an antilimactic event, too. Just kind of some emails go back and forth. I mean, we wire all the money, so there was a big event there, but um there's like some emails that happen and that says it's closed and it's done. Yes. Yeah. >> Uh any questions on the bond sale, the process, >> when does the repayment start? So, >> question. >> Sorry, I'm already thinking forward. >> Yeah, we'll have a first coupon payment um
062June of this year. Uh and then principal happens every December 1st uh from this year out through 20 years and we do that based upon tax collection cycle which is based on calendar year. >> So it's always one where with Marcy and the you know the the uh and Ed on and Ed and Cliff excuse me on the uh uh you know the finance and operations team. We we've got to switch our hat. We can't think about August 31st. We don't care about that. We do. >> But from a budgeting perspective, we have to make sure we don't get crossways because we're talking calendar year tax collections >> versus your budgeting process for 8 August 31st. Um, so to answer your question, uh, we will have payments starting immediately basically in June. Uh, June and
063December. Uh, every June is an interestonly payment. December is a an interest plus principal payment because we need to accumulate those tax collections throughout the calendar year and December allows us time to collect the property taxes to make those uh principal payments every calendar year. >> And are we already collecting when does the taxpayer >> I thought it was >> 27 correct? So, we are going to make sure we have enough dollars into your debt service fund to make sure you can make interest payments >> for the first portion of this. Yes. >> Thank you. >> Yes. No, that is the tricky part of >> um especially a district that has no debt on the books. Mhm. >> Um uh and an early the earliest or an election early in the calendar year basically before
064we can it wasn't that early in the calendar year but even February >> we still haven't collected taxes and we're we're >> kind of putting that big mortgage in place right >> so there's method behind the math madness um and we are making sure that the debt service fund is funded so that is uh achievable >> okay Yeah, >> good question. >> Thank you. >> Yeah, no, great question. >> I'm curious how we'll see this in the financial reporting. I might need a tour. >> Good question. >> The initial thing you'll see in the monthly is the capital uh projects fund balloons substantively. Marcy has to line item and track everything that goes in and that goes out. Cliff Marcy working with Liz will make sure that we have clear account code structure for everything
065under scope so every invoice gets paid appropriately. It gets monthly tracked and part of the monthly work is where are we budgetarily to make sure what we authorized, what we paid, what we've invoiced all accounts properly because we have to submit that regularly to OSPI so we can qualify for state match and Liz's work with OSPI well that as well through the D form process will seek clarity on what amount of that 11.1 million state match qualifies under what permissible category for which selective project. Uh, and once we go through all that, we're very clear. Trevor works with Marcy, his team this spring, starting Marchish, Aprilish, to make sure they are clear on the calculations necessary to service the debt. So, next year's budget that you see in July, we'll have clear amounts that they've
066been working on for months to make sure we have accurately calculated the amount we need to collect from taxpayers to service the debt. >> Yeah. and then you providing the budget capacity in your elected official roles to make that process happen. >> Okay. >> So hopefully that kind of helped. There's a lot going on. >> There's there is a lot and and to be honest, these are the most plain vanilla financing tools. Um but there is a lot that goes on >> behind the scenes. >> Yeah. So budget capacity is really important. And again, as Ed mentioned, we'll we'll work with with finance staff to make sure um again, like I mentioned, uh your capital projects fund, there has to be sufficient money to go build your debt service fund. We have a spreadsheet and
067that can that's a an account. That account can never be negative. We need to make sure there's positive numbers at all times there. So, that's part of uh our assistance on an ongoing basis. To remind the board, you have now the authority to sell $1 137.2 2 million worth of bonds. You don't have the interest to overt tax your taxpayers. So part of what the next 6 months will probably drive is based on schedule and fiscal need is are our assumptions correct mid 2027 and is that the right amount? And that's part of what this team will work with Trevor to make recommendations to you. When should that next sale be and approximately for how much? So you can maintain at least that stable tax rate or maybe save some money along the way. >>
068Yeah. Yeah, again, thank you. Great summary. It's a living breathing document and we can make adjustments as we get more actuals as they roll through the through the calendar year. >> We can save money. >> Oh, yeah. No, >> that keep in mind when we ran the bond, we were calculating an interest rate of about 5 12% is our assumption. We love to beat everything we say. Trevor's team, Marcy, myself, Cliff, we want to be more conservative to make sure we can deliver on those promises. So, if you're looking at, let's just say 4% interest rate on the first sale, it'll save your taxpayers 8 to9 million over the life of that 20 years. Uh each little tick down adds up in the long run. Conversely, each tick up adds to the bottom line. So
069part of what he watches the market of, he might have a recommendation for you of when to move that may or may not align to the construction schedule based on what the market's doing, right? >> Yeah. A lot of push and pull. >> Um but yes, well said. Very well said. >> I'm I'm grateful to be having this conversation with you tonight as a reality instead of a >> whole lucky number seven. Lucky try number seven. Love it. >> Oh my gosh. A lot of work. >> Put in perspect like a lot of work. Lot perseverance. I think Ed, you mentioned perseverance earlier. We don't quit. >> We don't quit. Don't quit on kids. >> No. >> Okay. >> Would you like me to give you a highlevel overview of what this document, this resolution
070>> does or accomplishes? >> Yeah. Okay. >> You're still there. So, go ahead. >> Okay. is we have multiple 20 plus 2 20 plus pages. >> So this is a um a very standard document. Think of this as a contract between you as a district and the investor, not me, the ultimate buyer of your bonds. >> Right. Right. >> Um or think of it in as instructions on how the bonds work. Okay. A simple way to think about it. One of the important attributes of this is it designates the superintendent and the executive director of business and operations as designated representatives who are allowed to bind in binding contract form the final terms of the bond sale within certain parameters, guard rails. Okay. Um those are in section 11. Uh those those guardrails are are
071detailed there. Happy to walk through them if you so desire. Another important piece would be section 8 where it describes the pledge of credit and the collection of taxes to repay the debt. You have unlimited property taxing power to collect sufficient dollars to make sure bond payments are made. That's why these are called unlimited tax general obligation bonds. Unlimited sounds scary, >> but we have >> Yes, it did. We have a debt service schedule and we're just what this communicates to the investor is that this is a very very strong credit pledge. Right? As long as there's taxable property and a tax collector, that process will happen to collect dollars to remit for interest and principal payments. That's where the unlimited comes into play. And why that's important drives down the borrowing costs substantially. Oh,
072>> right. Interest rates is a measure of time and risk. >> Higher risk, the higher interest cost, low risk, low interest cost. Unlimited tax means low interest cost. School bond guarantee where the state is a co-signer. Low risk, low interest rate. Um, and probably another important piece here would be section 14 where Cliff and his or his uh his office is required to provide annual financial and operating data to the bond market on an annual basis. I call this the gift that keeps giving for 20 years. Um these are ongoing obligations and the investors um uh require us to provide certain information audited financials and some other data to a central repository because these bonds can be traded on the open market. Just because one person or indivi or individual or corporation or insurance company
073or bank buys these bonds doesn't mean they have to hold them all the way until maturity. There's an active secondary market and the ability for investors to have visibility on your financial position is key in helping them determine the value of those bonds on the secondary market. >> So they get traded. >> They can they don't have to. >> It can happen. >> They can they can hold them. They can >> Okay. So the pe the ones that start with it does don't necessarily end with it. >> Correct. Um, but I want to highlight your borrowing cost is fixed. >> Okay? >> The same thing happens in the mortgage market, >> right? If we have a mortgage, I don't know if you've ever got the letter where all of a sudden your mortgage is sold
074and you have to write a check to someone else. >> Same conceptual process. You're if you have a fixed rate mortgage, you still pay that same dollar amount. You're just paying it to somebody else. >> That can happen in the bond market and specifically in the municipal bond market. >> Yeah, great question. But that's secondary. You you know your obligation. It's fixed. Uh that's you know >> and and it's secure. >> Yeah. >> So those are really the important pieces um that 25 plus pages um uh detail uh in really the you know the covenants of a of a loan of a bond transaction. Any questions? And this was prepared by your legal counsel who has exceptional expertise in this area. Uh and um is um yeah, super smart people. So this is uh we've
075reviewed it. I know staff has reviewed it. Uh it is ready for your consideration. >> Great. >> Cliff Ed, anything I've missed? >> Probably for school board. One item uh is that Cliff and I would see uh and approve any final agreement and you have no vendor that would profit by a higher interest rate. So people out of the sale. There are some folks that get paid like the attorneys or the sales agent. uh but there's no uh fiscal liability to the district or incentive for another party to pursue a higher than necessary interest rate. So the taxpayers do have protection. Uh so his job or anyone else has an entanglement is to go get the very best interest they can for the district and find the best deal to an investor. Cliff and I
076will see and approve uh because you'll have made that authorization tonight giving us authority to do so. Uh but nobody can gouge the district or kind of create undue burden onto the taxpayer by saying, "Well, you said 6% on this agreement, so they're going to press that limit there." Nobody can do that. So, just know that throughout this process, uh there's no ulterior motive or hidden interest that creates risk for the local taxpayer. >> Uh yeah, the transparency is key. Um I've been doing this a long time. Uh all of these interest rates are published. uh they are on the next day on a central repository that the world can see. If I do a bad job, it's out there. I don't do that again based upon you're going to tell your friends and neighbors
077uh that I didn't do a very good job. Right? So transparency is key. It keeps everyone um uh in the light. >> Okay. It made me wonder like what level of financial information would be available to our community on our website? >> I don't know. I'm just asking the question out loud for future thought. >> Yeah, we can let's think about that. >> Yeah. And I don't know what would you >> what would resonate or or be Yeah. Um >> because we will put together an offering document. Think of you know a company going public that has a prospectus. we will help uh legal counsel also help put that together um because investors want to see how the taxing structure works. They want to see your enrollment. They want to see your general fund and
078it you know it's a little bit of a you know kind of a summary of the covenants that are embedded here. Um it's a again it's a thick document um but it is again fully transparent as far as how everything works and there's a final official statement after the fact that sets the final borrowing cost uh the the the principal uh interest rate and yield. Um so yeah that information will be out there and we can provide >> or at least that cont a kind of a a summary like this. Y >> yeah, that would be great. >> It is difficult to we can think about it, but just trying to distill down, you know, what what we accomplished. We can we can put something together. >> Yep. >> We It's just that transparency with
079our >> transparency, right? We want all that out there >> without being too much that gets muddy and not not able to >> technical or right. Right. >> And you can think about it. It was just a question to consider. But yeah, no, we'll we'll put together a bond sale results packet and and that would be great for staff to share with you, you know, the day of the bond sale or that evening after we're kind of done doing all the details. >> Could also be future items you discuss with your bond oversight committee and create some minutes or documentation and bring them in the loop in that regard. I'm sure you're going to want to keep all aspects of this project in a open, transparent fashion with that group. So things for you to
080think about as you provide direction back to the district and your owner's representative and architect about how to work that. >> Yeah. >> Right. >> Great. Any other questions? Good. >> Okay. >> Thank you, sir. >> Thank you. Congratulations. Thank you for the cupcake. >> There's more back there. >> Okay. back. >> Finally, we make it to the student representative report. I know. >> Yeah, Carly's not here. She usually does a really great job letting you guys know what's happening for the month sports. >> So, I'll do my best. Um, but truthfully, on the notes, she said she doesn't know how many events happen. So, I'm sure. Um, so yeah, high stress at the high school right now. you know, semester is about to wrap up, so we've been worried about grades. We're very deep
081into winter sports, so postseason is coming. Um, so there's a lot to think about and a lot to think about. So, um, I know I've actually I've been pretty stressed. I've had to learn a lot of lessons. Um, but I think I think it's good. A lot of growth. So, um, yeah, busy January, >> but it's almost over. >> How's wrestling? >> Wrestling's good. Um, I had to take a lot of time away just cuz I was sick and skin disease. I miss a lot of time on the map, but >> things are going really good. Subs in two weeks. >> Um, >> so yeah, like >> almost done. I probably I grabbed two cupcakes. I don't I don't really know what I was thinking here. >> I'm going to I'm still going to eat
082both of them. So, >> you're almost done. >> Go for it. >> Um, yesterday Carly met with the BIPO club at the middle school. uh which stands for black indigenous people of color. I was not able to be there cuz I was wrestling. Um so I will do my best to share experience. Uh she wanted to acknowledge the fact that middle schools were having a really deep intellectual conversation at levels that she sees that some high schoolers don't even like to talk about. >> Um they were had a lot of critical thoughts about you know their school system and they talked about systemic racism. They reviewed Bernice King's MLK Day speech. Um if you don't know she is Dr. King's daughter and uh it was just an open conversation about the wants and the needs
083of the districts and improvements that they've seen. Compared to the last meeting that Carly went to last year, the amount of foul language is the same that doesn't seem as targeted as or hate driven. So even though people are using the same language, it's not as in hateful intent. they just, you know, need to start working on the fact that just because you don't have harmful tissue binding awards doesn't mean that they still don't carry the same derogatory scent or meaning. >> Um, but at least a little improvement. Um, they expressed needs for more fine care products in bathrooms, not just at the middle school, but at the high school, too. >> And they actually said they felt a little neglected with the bond not including them, and they are curious on how uh we
084can still push for a better and new place. also at the middle school. >> Um they they started talking about how people can be in conflict with each other but still have respect for each other's opinions which I think is really really awesome. Um cuz you know conflict doesn't have to be like arguing or you know something that's like negative. It could just be a space to discuss and clear up with some jokes. So I think that's a really cool topic. Um, there's some talks about the buses being overcrowded and unsafe. And apparently the activity bus comes too late in the day for students and so it can be inconsistent and cause like problems in communication or getting home late way early or just missing it in general. And um some students express some uh
085concerns about AI usage. And apparently teachers are encouraging AI usage and that's making students uncomfortable. And um teachers are starting to use AI in their lesson plans and making it feel like the lessons aren't as genuine and aren't really the uh real education they need. >> And um that's everything. Usually I would, you know, have more of my own thoughts to share, but I just I wasn't there. So, I got to go off. >> That's a heavy list. >> That was Yeah, that was a lot. >> I wish I was there. I Dr. Lee, did you make it down there yesterday >> very briefly? I got the >> Yeah. >> So, um Yeah, it seemed like it was probably a pretty good conversation. >> I mean, I'm I'm glad that they're sharing what they're sharing
086at that point because we want to hear that. >> Yeah. >> We need to hear that stuff. >> Well, and can it be shared back to them that you have a board that's listening? >> Right. That's important. >> Yeah. >> That they're they're not just they're saying their words, but somebody is hearing them, >> right? >> Yeah. I mean, and yeah, and that's the point of what me and Carly are doing. So, >> hopefully >> they know that they're listening. >> Good. >> Nice job. >> Do you mind some of the what they discussed parallels or matches some conversations you and your fellow colleagues have had at the high school? when we had that first round of the youth empowerment symposium. >> Would you mind sharing just a little bit about your work and your
087thoughts and what that was like coming together and kind of where you plan to go cuz I think there's what you unlock as a group of high school students could have some parallel benefit to the middle. >> Mhm. >> Align to what you discussed cuz I know that's right where your interests have lied. >> Um talking about from the youth empowerment symposium. >> Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Um, well, I just think the most important thing coming from there is uh just letting students know that they have the ability to make these changes. I think that um it was just a place where I don't know I I think that not a lot of students realize the impact that they can have and I saw a lot of students that I you know didn't really see put
088themselves in these positions every day take a lot of opportunities like Violet um you know Violet from there she I know her from track super outspoken um had so much to say there I think it kind of just allowed her to bloom and realize, hey, I can, you know, come out and run these projects. So, I think that it's going to lead to a lot of change and a lot of improvement on more students creating outreach and giving students opportunities to kind of just improve and get work done. Um which >> yeah that's um so I mentioned that's kind of a uh important list of things that were discussed at the middle school and I want to make sure they feel like like where do they go with that >> you know is and what
089what outcomes would they like to see >> and I know you weren't there but then when you go to the um student empowerment like is that the next step for them is to in that situation where they can lead a project or lead a movement or >> Yeah, absolutely. >> engage people in more conversation. >> Um I don't know does the middle school have their own um advisory council if you know like um like personal advisory council like that >> not like what principal Carlson set up. >> Mhm. >> Um well I think I think that I mean there's obviously a lot of insightful students shing out. I think that that'd be super super help with the middle school and if we could get more students at places like youth empowerment symposium. I thought it
090was going to be uh an instructional type of day. Um I wouldn't I wouldn't really say it was I would say it's just an empowerment thing. So letting students know how to use their voice. I think I think if you can get middle school students or students like this there too that would be really really helpful and just start priming students to start taking action and knowing they can take action early >> um for the entire school because yeah I think you'll see more of that round too and you I know they'd love to hear kind of what you worked on and what that focus is when you come back in February because I think there's things that we can unlock that we can take to other schools. Uh at least that's my hope uh
091of kind of what you learn and take away from there we can maybe replicate across the district. >> I'm curious um about the middle schoolers. Um first it makes me sad that they're sad that they weren't included in the barn. Um that kind of just broke my heart honestly. Um but um their issues with AI specifically and >> what exactly does that look like to them? So the teachers are encouraging use of AI and the teachers are using it and they're feeling less individualized maybe I think is how I was trying to interpret the notes that you were reading that they're they're not it's feeling very generic to them. Um which is um really not something I don't think that we've been trying to move towards. It's every child and everybody um you know it's
092you're not just a number. you're not basic. You're you're something special. Um, so I'm I'm curious because AI is so relevant right now and it's a good tool to have and I'm sure teachers need to use it for a lot of things, but I'm I'm curious to kind of know what that looks like to the students and and why exactly is it affecting them that way? That's um >> I know you can't answer that, but it's it's an out it's an out loud thought. It's an out loud wonder. >> Well, I think for me personally, um I I think teaching I think teaching is a very personal thing. You know, you build connection with your students and I think that that's like when it comes to like lesson plans, I use AI all the time
093to help me um just, you know, manage or keep track of things. But, um when it comes to like actually planning a lesson, it should be, you know, specific to your students. And I think that you can kind of try to use AI to help, but I think most of it has to be your own generic work, think about what the classroom needs. And I just did this experiment the other day um with my dad in the kitchen. I had a different AI thing write an essay that was like a C and then I said to Chacha to grade it. I just wanted to know how honest it would be with me. And I said it was like a B. And then my dad said, "Well, I think my ch would do something different." I
094sent him the same thing and it gave him the exact same answer. Like it was word for word. It It's not very personalized. Um, and you may think it is, but it's going to tell most people the same thing if you give the same prompt. >> So, if one teacher is using it for how they feel that their classroom might um benefit from it, and another teacher's using it, chances are they're just getting the same lesson plan. And then it just seems like the same thing, all six periods. It's not personalized. Some classes might struggle in other areas. >> And it can be used, right? It just has to be very, very, you know, detail specific. And I don't know how the teachers are using it, but it some students are feeling like they're not
095using it the right way or shouldn't be used at all. I mean, clearly that uh that worry is there. So, I just that's how I would think about how >> great insight. Thank you. >> Yeah. >> And I think you're correct being a retired teacher. I I couldn't imagine I mean I could see doing an overview but if you but a daytoday plan because I mean you they couldn't predict this situation that would come up in your room or the questions or maybe the revelation you know like some kid goes well I I just came here from someplace else and there's this pertinent information that the lesson plan's not the AI lesson plan's not going to know about you know so I can see that maybe for a big overview, but I I I couldn't
096see it being able to actually select what you need to do for that group of students, which is going to be different each class. >> And if there's any uh light uh teaching, kids are going to pick it up because they're smart. >> Yeah. >> And they're paying attention, right? and they're going to pick that up and maybe dissect it a little bit more than maybe should be done, but they catch it and and so if there's any light teaching going on, that just might be their assumption of what's happening. And it's also not going to know about the individual interest or the experience from that classroom that maybe you're going to want to bring up, you know, well, hey, I know that we can ask him about this because he's been through this, you
097know, so like there's personal experiences that come into planning. So that's a good point, Dallas. Good. Thank you. >> It's like a lot more conversation needs to happen around it. >> Yeah. Um, one thing I forgot to mention, I meant to mention at the start, but um, two students involved in leadership, Renee Martin and Emily Pra, they started this new weekly news recap. Um, every Friday on the OS spirit Instagram, they, you know, put together this whole video, uh, just talking about events that happen through the week, uh, different, um, like drives and charity opportunities at the school, sports recaps. They give opportunities for other students to recognize students. And I think that it's like a really really cool way to just keep up to what's going on in high school. So I don't know
098if any of you guys have seen it. If you get the opportunity, uh, every Friday is supposed to post two-minute video. Just give me a rundown of the week. >> And uh, it's pretty cool. So yeah, that's pretty awesome. And >> you said that was on Instagram. >> Yeah, Instagram and Tik Tok, but I think Yeah, Instagrams spirit. >> Wow. >> Oh Spirit. All right. Very, Dallas. Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Nice job. >> All right. Next up is prepared by Director Bannon. It's the financial report for October and November. Any questions? I didn't see any questions prior to the meeting. All is well. Thank you. and different this year uh because we have an experienced board and director Fischer is new but returning board member. Um so this year we're did prepared by
099for the budget 101 discussion but I want to direct the community to it. If you're interested in how school budget is shaped and how it works that presentation is embedded in our materials for your reference. >> Thank you. so good that I always print it out to keep it so that throughout the year I can go, "Oh, I forgot what that was." >> All right. And our sixth report is an annual annual report about uh theft sensitive assets in facilities, transportation, and technology. And that's a prepared by. So I went through the list. I didn't see any questions and I appreciate our team for uh keeping track of all of that. >> Yeah. >> Sparing us some loss. Takes a lot of energy to follow up on everything. >> A lot of time. >> Yeah.
100And then next up is our consent agenda >> which has no surprise wrestling field trips and interlocal agreements and then our board minutes personnel and raptures. So I would love to entertain a motion. >> I move to approve items 1 through seven on the consent agenda. >> Second. >> Thank you. All in favor? >> I. Motion passes. And then we have a number of action items tonight. So, we're just going to >> move through these. Uh and again, uh the board has an opportunity to read each of these in great detail and ask questions. And we did have some questions come forward uh prior to this meeting that have been uh nicely addressed. I just want to check in with anyone if there's anything outstanding. >> Nope. Good. >> Nope. >> Good. >> Okay. Then
101we will move through with the first resolution. I move to approve resolution number 42025-2026 unlimited tax general obligation bonds 2026. >> Second. >> Thank you. All in favor? I >> I motion passes. >> I'll take a motion for number two. >> I move to approve resolution number 2026 for the Gary Doolittle Memorial Trade Scholarship. >> Second. >> Thank you. All in favor? >> I I motion passes. >> Just a quick comment, a thank you to >> Mr. Little's family for that. >> It's thank you and appreciate it and thanks for thinking of our kids. >> Did we send a card for something like that? >> I think this high school. >> Oh, >> I'm not sure if we did or not. >> Okay. >> So, that motion passed. Excited to have that new scholarship. >>
102All right. Next resolution number three. Sorry. I move to approve resolution number alternative public works GCCM >> second. >> Thank you. All in favor? >> I I motion passes. And then uh resolution number four is designating the month as whole child month and that is one of our core goals. Uh so on behalf of the board of directors for the month of January we collectively for the month of January for every month in the year but specifically for the month of January we collectively reaffirm our commitment to the whole child. This is an intentional goal of the board which is monitored closely. So may I have a motion? I move to approve resolution number 7 2025 2026 for whole child month. >> Thank you. And a second. >> Second. >> All in favor? >> I
103motion passes. Speaking of bridge for kids, I will happily take a motion for this. >> I move to approve the Quig Brothers first amendment to temporary construction license agreement. Second. >> Thank you. All in favor? >> I. Motion passes. >> And back to bond. >> So this is the conser professional services GCCM contract with exhibit A. I will take a motion. >> I move to approve the concertus professional services GCCM contract with exhibit A. >> Thank you. Can I get a second? Second. >> All in favor? >> I motion passes. >> Also bond related project related. >> I move to approve the NAC owner architect agreement for Oring Elementary School with exhibit A, B, and C. >> Second. >> Can I get a motion? Oh, I got one. And seconded. Uh, all in favor? I
104motion passes. You only got a few more to go here. Okay. >> My brain short circuited for a second. >> Only have four more to go. >> Four more to go. Oh goodness. All right. Can I get another motion? >> I move to approve the NAC owner architect agreement for ordering high school with exhibits A, B, and C. >> Second. >> Thank you. All in favor? I. Motion passes. Okay. Number nine. This is a CTE conditional certificate request. Can I get a motion? >> I move to approve the request for issuance of a new CTE conditional certificate by OSPI for the 2025 2026 school year. >> Thank you. Second. >> Second. >> All in favor? >> I I motion passes. And then our highcap program. >> I move to approve the district's highly capable plan
105for the 2025 2026 academic year. >> Second. >> Thank you. All in favor? >> I. >> Motion passes. >> And in order for all of that to happen, uh may I get a motion for the superintendent's contract extension? I move to extend the superintendent's contract one year to 2026 2029. >> Thank you. Second. >> Second. >> All in favor? >> I I motion passes. >> Congratulations. >> Oh, thank you. More cupcakes for you guys. >> More cupcakes. >> Perfect. >> Thank you. That was a long list of business. >> Yeah, it was. Uh so last uh I would really like to again welcome Director Fiser uh baptism by fire. We jumped right in tonight and this was a long meeting with a lot of really important business for the district. So thank you for your
106service to the district. >> I started reading everything and I went I might want to rethink this. >> No no no. >> You swore it. I went like I went >> That was a lot. That was a lot. It's not normally >> quite like this. >> And I also want to thank the board for coming in early tonight and adding an extra hour to our meeting. Thank you very much. >> I was also going to um uh wonder the the other people who applied for this position. Were we um going to extend an invitation or was it extended to them to maybe join our bond oversight committee so that they could start you know learning what's going on and stuff? >> Yep. I called everyone personally and I invited them encouraged them to be a
107part of the bond committee or any any other school committee group stakeholders you know come to our open houses whatever we might have so that their voice can be a part of the conversation as well. >> Good for any other comments. >> My final comment of the evening will be to um just the general public. There was a lot of meat in tonight's board meeting. There was a lot of action items um that you heard go through. I just encourage anybody who has any questions um as as I did um to reach out and to ask the questions um and to get your questions answered. Um legal is um complicated. It's hard to understand. Um and the more you know, the more comfortable you'll be. But um I would just just to encourage that to
108the public. If there's any questions about the stuff you're seeing here and don't understand, um we have a wonderful superintendent who is more than capable of answering those questions, a finance person and um and Cliff and his his role. We just we have all the resources there. >> Yeah. >> Thank you. >> And thank you for our gifts tonight. You're welcome. >> Especially love the video. Thank you again very much. >> That was awesome. So cool.