001Tell me when to go. Okay. All right. This is Tuesday, January 13th, uh, 2026, and I'm going to call this meeting to order with the West Valley Board of Directors study session. Uh, let's please stand for the pledge of allegiance. Flag's right over there. >> Ready, begin. 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. >> Okay. On the study session, there are no changes to the agenda. There's no communications and no discussion items. We're going to be going into executive session uh until about 6:55 and there will be no action taken. The executive session is performance of a public employee. It's our superintendent's midyear evaluation. Thank you. Oh, okay. Hello. We just
002got back from executive session and we're adjourning the executive session. We're going to take about a 5m minute break and get started at 7:00. All right, welcome. This is Tuesday, January 13, 2026, and this is the West Valley uh school board, and this is our regular session. I'll call the meeting to order, and we're going to stand for the pledge of allegiance. The flag is over there. Ready? Begin. 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. >> Okay. On the agenda, there are no changes to the agenda. Um, Dr. Finch, communications. >> All right. Very good. We have a response to public comment as a placeholder. And then item B is the
003final report from DA Davidson regarding the September 2025 defeasence. So we received this report from Corey Plagger who's with DA Davidson. Corey was the uh representative who presented in June and then also presented I believe in August and gave us information about the defeasants and then helped to um process the defeasants. And so this the final report shows that the 7.5 million uh in remaining bond funds from the Apple Valley and some of your projects those 7.5 million uh was defeased which means uh there were state and local government series securities that were purchased to pay back the bond over time the debt service on the bond. And so the final report shows that uh the ult the estimated uh total amount of savings to taxpayers will be 9.33 million over the remaining life of
004the bonds through December of 2038. So it'll lower the tax rate for taxpayers from now through 2038 and it'll be an estimated total savings of 9.33 million. So just wanted to make sure that uh we shared this with the board and shared it with the community. And then also uh we do have an item later in the agenda, a discussion item because the board had previously said that they wanted to consider policy so that in the future if there were any remaining funds, it would be the policy of the West Valley School District that those funds would be defeased. And so we'll have a discussion about that later in the board meeting. >> Great. Thank you, Dr. Finch. We are excited to be at uh Mountain View and uh Clayton, take it away. >> Yeah.
005>> All right. >> I'm gonna go ahead and have the board join the audience so we can see the overhead. >> Yeah. Yeah. Great. >> I don't have a clicker, so I got to stand back here. Is that okay? Sure. I'm look at the back of your head. >> Just talk nice and loud. So the >> Oh, I'm loud. I'm loud. >> Reporting can hear you. >> So I I got to say first that I had a very I was telling Mr. W caught this at the at the signature not signature gathering but the voter look voter thing at at fire station last week. I had a really comprehensive really well planned really well laid out presentation started on December 18th. My computer my laptop was upgraded updated over the break. I had my Microsoft
006uh autosave every minute. So I don't save my stuff. So Tuesday, this was due Wednesday at 3:00. Tuesday afternoon 2:00 I realized it's gone. >> So I this is Yeah. Okay. So but the original presentation there was kind of a theme here. Things that are making a difference at Mountain View. So the first part of this is the the things that are making a difference are 100% the strategic plan. Um that's not part of this because I didn't want to dig back out through all the all the data and all that kind of stuff. So I'm just going to talk through that. Um, but without a doubt, you know, I've been at West Valley since I think 2001, a graduate of 87. Um, I've been here for a long time in education and I think
007in the last couple years with our strategic plan, things really seem like they're finally aligned in everything we do and we're seeing the results of of that alignment. Um, the first one I want to talk about is um, culture of safety and belonging. And you're all familiar with the center for effective educational effectiveness survey. Um, and but we also do every couple months all elementary principles for grades three through five, we do a just a quick three question formative survey. And that one gives us really good um really good results. Uh, do you feel safe at school? Um, are school our kids report 95% of them feel safe at school. Are most school students respectful of others at school? 83%. Now, there's a discrepancy between the CE data and the formative data because I think
008they get a little bit of survey fatigue when they have to click through 30 or 40 items whereas they're they're clicking on three and it takes them five minutes. Um I I tend to believe >> my data first. >> Okay. But then I'm >> Oh, you'll do that? Yeah. Okay. Good. Thank you. All right. The second one, goal two, strong foundations. This is this is this is pretty cool. Um, you know, we've been working on teacher clarity, learning targets and success criteria and relevance and why we do these things. And um, in 2024, my teacher tells me the reason we do each lesson was 32%. 2025 when we're just kind of the I mean, we've now been focusing on it for a little bit. Um, 64%. >> And this year, the just completed one 77%.
009So, in the threeear three-ear span, the last three surveys from 32 to 77. And that is 100% because the teachers are committed to doing what we're asking them to do in a strategic plan. My teacher expects all students to succeed no matter who they are. 94%. We have high expectations. And my teacher finds other ways for me to learn things that I find difficult. Went from 65 to 81 to 92. So you can you can d you can go and it's like a dumpster fire when you start looking at chasing the rabbit hole of all the stuff that we have available to us and it's all it's all really good. Um second item and which brings us to this right here is things that are making a difference in Mountain View 100% even even more
010so than the strategic plan is this young lady and our fine arts program. Um kids are excited. They like fine arts. They enjoy her. She's energetic. She's she and I I'll get into her a little bit more later, but um they they absolutely love it. So, um, we have a very strong arts program in West Valley as you guys are are probably aware and I was happy about a month and a half, I think it was December, not not quite, um, December Decemberish, Brandon Lamb was highlighted in that field group monthly, whatever. And I went back and read that after putting this together and comparing Brandon Lamb's quotes about fine arts and what it does for kids and then listening to what everything she's given me for this and it's just it's I mean if
011you know Brandon Lamb you know he's phenomenal. Uh you're going to hear about her for a long time too. Um okay next slide. So we had the first go ahead next slide. The change the change was our previous teacher. I came on board 2023, summer of 2023. I show up. Oh, by the way, you're getting a new portable supposed to be done by the start of school, right? We got occupancy over Christmas break. So, our music teacher was a traveling music teacher. She only taught music. Um, couple months later, she announced her retirement. I don't know if there's correlation, but teaching the library and teaching the classrooms, she said it had nothing to do with that. She needed to take care of her mom. Um but um so the challenge, next slide. The challenge is
012finding somebody. So we started, we started like, can we do this? It's always been music. It's always been, you know, Mountain View is very traditional. It's always been music. So can we do this? And if we're going to do it, we're going to do it right. So the the goal then is to make So the challenge was to find someone qualified to teach all the standards and only do it working half time. She works two and a half days a week. Um, and the goal again would be to make fine arts a place where kids enjoy it, where they're comfortable, where they gain confidence. Uh, next slide, please. So, as I was going through applicants when we have this posted, I I'm one of those guys that looks at everything and I try to have
013everything brought to the table. So, when I have an interview committee, teachers that send for certificated uh uh position, they send out emails, people get the email, the reference, you know, nobody ever does them. Ruth Vasilka did this. Ruth, I'm not sure you guys know Ruth. Ruth is Ruth is phenomenal. She's she's a legend. Um this quote right here, this is just a small snippet of her survey. And I just found this in my documents for my interviews. Um these qualities combined with her ability to help students navigate challenges and find confidence in themselves will undoubtedly contribute her success as an educator. That right there, it's like ding ding ding. We have to hire or we have to we have to interview this lady. Not hire her. We have to interview her. So um next
014slide. So, we scored and we got this lady right over. This is Mrs. Wilson, Sarah. She was the first year. She graduated 2023, I think December. >> Yep. >> Um 2024. So, um Ruth's Ruth's little quote there was in December. So, she had just finished and applying for jobs. Unfortunately, fortunately, she was still around in the summertime. She was a first year teacher last year. Keep that in mind. Um, looking at her resume, she's a me performing arts instructor, performer in many productions. She has private voice, piano, ukulele, and guitar. And the big one here, she volunteered with Ruth, I mean, at the West Valley Theater Arts Program. Um, but the last one there, the reason I put that on there, this is why we're able to keep her two and a half days because
015they're really busy. This is her husband, Mitchell, who's also staff member here. Um, but they're they're busy with their business as well. So it's just a it's just a good remember when we when I offered it to her I said where do you see yourself in five years thinking like yeah I'm going to go get no she said I'm going to be right here I'm going to be right here. So um so the change from music only to a comprehensive fine arts program allows students to explore their interest find their passion and gain confidence. And then and next is another thing is that it's a great introduction to future electives because now they're getting to see what art's about and what dance is about and what theater's about and maybe I want to pursue music
016or voice or whatever. And she does a great job of that. So, um, this is a quote from Sarah and and I don't need to read it, but it's it does a really good job of saying that this allow all of all of the arts mesh together. the standards aren't standalone because visual arts can tie into into dance and choreography. And I was really interested in when she said that she uses dance as part of her theater so they know how to move confidently on stage and how to block a scene, whatever that means, block a scene. She um but anyway, very very very good stuff. Um and the next one, student perspective. So when I was thinking about who I want to talk to, I went right to this guy. He was a second
017grader. He was new to us from a school in Oregon. Um did not want to be here. Did not did not did not want to be in our school. Um music back then was twice a week, 30 minutes each. So he got to go to music twice a week. Um and he hated it. He absolutely hated it because I asked him the other day, he said, "I always got in trouble because I'm not good at singing and I don't like singing. I like that class now because I get to do things like art and instruments." And that is what it was all about. I wanted it to be in her interview I remember you know we say any questions for us and most of them manufacture some weird question and she said what are you
018looking for and I said I want fine arts to be a place that kids enjoy I want them to love it I want to gain confidence all these things and she's nailing it um okay moving into the standards u I just I included that that quote from Superintendent Chris Ragd Doll because it really does talk about everything involved in teaching the arts. It's not just teaching them music and this kind of thing, but it's it's the the 21st century skills of creativity, collaboration, communication, critical thinking, but it also talks how how to um explore strategies for learning, interpreting, and and most of all expressing their thoughts. Some some kids express their you know, I don't want to get into the whatifs, but so the standards we have music, we have dance, visual arts, theater, and
019then media arts is also one of them. We're not currently teaching that. I say we um because of space limitations. She does teach in a portable and of course there would be budget budget restrictions as well. So in music um her goal is to to build knowledge of music theory from K to 5 um to prepare them you know possibly they want to go into into music at the at the junior high, middle school, junior high and beyond. Um she covers subjects rhythm, melody, tambber. I thought it was tamber but it's tamber. Tambber Dr. Finch. What's tamber? Tamber. Uh, it's like the senority of the sound. The like the or >> sweet and beautiful >> sority. Yeah. Tamber. I had to look it up. Yeah. Um, and expression. They they develop their instrumental and vocal
020skills. I mean, it's it's just so cool to go out there and see the little guys with their rhythm sticks and they're just I mean that's they're playing music, but they're they're they're doing it. Um she introduces musical not notation eighth notes, 16th notes and she gets them clapping and all those kind of things. And then she showcases their growth during assemblies before every parent performance. Um which she does once one for every grade. Before every parent performance they do a dress rehearsal for the school body. And the next are just pictures here. You might see some um some people you recognize. Um that's Mr. Ke. Uh some of these are from last year. Some of these the the first grade is from this year. Uh after school ukulele club. She also and she'll talk
021about next steps for what she wants to see. But she she gives of her time. Kids are in there at lunchtime playing ukulele and she's just it's just she it's it's amazing. Dance. I don't have any pictures of dance because if you take a kid picture of a kid dancing, it just looks like they're like I could take a picture right here. Yeah, you're not dancing. Um, but teaching a mood with steady beat choreography and musical different musical qualities through physical movements. She also gets into a lot of mood stuff. I noticed that like feel how the mood changes in this. She'll play a piece of music and just see how it sounds kind of mean and low and whatever else. But it's it's it's kids are really lucky. Uh visual arts um the standards
022are mostly tied to the student learning how to make creative choices, problem solve, and develop a variety of artistic skills. Kind of like the quote from Chris Ragd Doll. Um she explores different art mediums through elements of art um or uh famous artists. And I was in there I think it was in second grade this year. Van Go, we're making art like Van Go. And I think it was color, texture, and perspective. Color, texture, and perspective. I remember her target. See, she's good at it. And here's some just some pictures of this. She did a really cool thing um where the where the second graders said all all their art work was the elements of art. And she wanted to how how can we do this? She tied it. I think they had a couple
023songs or some a couple of whatever. But then she just had art posted all around the gym and the parents walked around. They got to see their kids stuff and the very last part of it it was I think they were able to like write write a positive note to a student or something that they saw. So it that was very cool too. Next slide. And these are just different grades. Um I mean you can see like the fourth grade winner up here. I I would be impressed if I could do that because that is ridiculously good. Um, but they're just, you know, like I I mentioned earlier, you know, make art fun, make makes music, fine arts fun. These kids are they love it. They're they're enjoying it. Um, theater. Now, this is probably
024probably the the most cool thing I've experienced here at Mountain View. The bicycle unit last year was pretty cool. Um, maybe that's another presentation, but the fine arts and what she does with kids is was absolutely amazing. I saw that there was there was a lot of apprehension. Well, because we don't have, you know, lapel mics or anything like that. We have a stage that just risers that fold flat. No, like probably half the size of this table up here. Tiny. Um, no props, no costumes. Um, but she made it work and they they put on a performance of Wizard of Oz um that I actually Stacy Drake I invited her to come and she came that night and it it's just it's amazing. We had a DLC student participate and you wouldn't have known
025who she was but she was there. Um but she uses the other arts as well. This is like a culminating experience where the kids are making their backdrops using their visual arts um instruments or sound effects their dance skills of remembering the choreography when blocking a scene and moving moving to confidence. So it's not just acting. They're putting all of this stuff together. And then uh next slide they gave up the recess. We didn't take it away, but they they gave up. They cuz they knew they had to build the set. I remember when they were painting the yellow brick road. It was this long and and it just it was it was a mess, but it turned out so cool and the kids absolutely loved it. And then um so this is the stage.
026This is their I guess it's a little bit bigger than this. Um practicing their lines in the stage. I included this picture down here because you see there's two Dorothy's because there's so many kids that wanted parts in this that she had one act for one class and the other act for the other class. So we had two lions, we had two Dorothies, we had two of everything. And then the stage crew and they would they'd have to clear the scene. The stage crew would run out there and change it and they'd come back and then the next one will go up. Um the this Dorothy that's on screen right now, she's supposed to step up and say, "Hi, my name is Dorothy." and she says, "Hi, my name is Harley." Cuz that's her name.
027It was it was just the the student body just absolutely loved it. But all the apprehension of of not being able to hear and not all went completely out out the window when our kinder through fifth graders were absolutely silent for what was this probably 30 35 40 minutes of of fifth graders talking and acting. It was just amazing. Um, and this year's performance, and I'm putting this up there because I want you to be there. Peter Pan, March 26, and you're all invited. She will be doing um >> Two performances because she has so many kids this year. She's already started casting. >> She she two performances this year because so many kids wanted parts. So, one class is going to do half of the student body. The other class is going to do
028the other half of the student body. And then the evening we're going to do this class parents are going to come in and this class parents are coming in. So she's young, she's energetic, she's really good at what she does and and she she came to me and she said, "What do you think?" And I said, "Let's do it. Let's do it." So I'm going to let her talk about the next slide because it's kind of what she what what's uh what she wants to see moving forward. >> Yeah. So starting with theater. I love theater. I feel like it's the biggest confidence booster. I was in every play at West Valley from sixth grade until I graduated. So, I know what it does. Um, for kids, it's great. And so, I love using it
029for fifth grade when they're, you know, they're old, they can read scripts, they can memorize lines, but I'm looking to find ways to introduce it for younger grades. So, I have some readers theater scripts. I've been talking to general ed teachers because the curriculum has some reader theater in there and looking for ways to incorporate that. And then, you mentioned Brandon Lamb. I got the idea of puppet shows from him. He does puppet shows with uh he does a unit with I think as young as kindergarten. So, just to give them the opportunity to get to theater. Um, find more ways to show off student art because we do lots of art projects, but usually it's we're done and then we just send them home. And we we've talked about parking limitations about doing a
030whole school art show. And so, we talked about potentially putting it up like during conference week. So, when parents come for conference week, let them know, hey, walk through the hallways, enjoy all the art as they come through. Um, sec Oh, yeah. So, Peter Pan, I wanted to point out last year when he mentioned in the cast about half the kids said they wanted speaking hearts and the other half was like, I just want to be on crew. I will be in the background. This year, there were only I sent out a survey like four or five kids who said they wanted to be on crew. The rest of them wanted us. So, that's why we're doing two full performances so that we have 18 speaking parts and four character parts on the side. Um,
031instrument skills. I had a funny quote from a first grader who I'll tell you about later. Um, but we're learning about instrument families in first grade right now. And he asked, "What's the point of music class if we don't get to play these instruments?" And I thought it was funny because it was just it was a boring day where we're just learning, we're not playing. And so looking for ways to get instruments into every single day we're doing music, not just on the big event days. So yeah, working on those. And then after school opportunities, this is where, you know, it comes into giving up my own time. So it's a little bit here there, but last year I loved doing ukulele club. I felt like it was a unique group of kids. There were
03210 kids, four of them were boys, six were girls, all different personalities. And they all came in and told me what type of music they like and learned how to play songs. And it was just a blast. And so I just am listening to things kids want to do. Kids love coming into my room during recess and asking to play the piano. And some of them are learning little bits here or there. So potentially if there is opportunities in the future, I'd love to offer things like piano lessons, ukulele club again, and art club just to let kids further explore those interests in less of a you're in a classroom with 20 kids that you have to deal with and more of that small group setting. So yeah, >> any questions? We'll go back up
033here. >> Okay, ask questions. Yeah. So, first of all, I'll say one thing. Um, for losing everything, you did a great job. >> Thank you. I appreciate that. I was I I had it. I think I told you it remoted into my computer and they tried everything and every time it kept coming up December 18th and defeat >> and um two love I love the variety. I mean, you have a little bit of everything, even understudies. >> That's awesome. So, I I appreciate that and uh I was just encouraged by that whole the whole presentation and the one little statement maybe wasn't a big deal, but it struck my got my attention. It's also a great in introduction to future elective choices they had off in middle school and beyond. So, I like that forward
034thinking. So, appreciate that. uh and I I'll just say so all my kids went all the way through Mountain View and last year was Macy's last year and uh so she's at the middle school now but last year when we went to the Wizard of Oz it was I mean just night and day difference between the fine arts they had before and I'm not saying anything about the previous teacher just that you were doing an incredible job. >> Thank you. Um, and then, uh, Macy was part of the the ukulele club, >> and her sisters are musical, but she's not like she's the athlete in the family, >> but, uh, she wanted to come and do it and so great job. Um, and then I will say also cool thing that >> and maybe maybe
035Mr. Finch paid you before. Uh but uh one of the things we've heard on the the admin level is um teacher clarity and we're trying to implement that. And so to hear you talk about it, you know, without you know the the the prompt or anything and to know that it's being implemented down here is I think just encouraging both ways. So great job. Thank you for your presentation. >> Oh, one question. You described what tamber was, but what is sonarity? >> Well, it's also like like whether the sound is harsh or if it's very sweet and mellow. So, >> okay, >> there you go. Okay. >> Are you doing all of this in the 30 minutes time? >> We have 45 once a week. >> Oh, wow. >> Yeah. >> So, you're not bleeding
036into GenEd time at all right now? >> Okay. I wonder if there's ways to partner, you know, with with the LA and to do both so you have more time because I think what you're doing is amazing and the kids are so engaged, right? And >> um so there's ways to incorporate it so they can spend more time. >> Genet teachers generally want more time with their students. So that would be a hard now they do things combo when they're rehearsal. They they do give up some time and have both classes come to the gym and do a run through and things like that. But yeah, thank you. >> Yeah. And um Brandon and Ruth are both good friends of mine. So I know they're amazing and I'm glad that we have more people like
037them because all kids need somebody like that. >> So I'm excited that you're here. >> Can't Sarah, I really appreciate your thoughtful approach to just making sure there's confidence and a variety of opportunities. Um I have so encouraged to hear everything you're doing. What challenges are you most excited to overcome this year? >> Most excited to It's a good way to word it. Um, I think to prepare for this one, I'm looking forward to the play again. Uh, last year the fifth grade group of kids were very with it. And this year's fifth grade group is also wonderful. But just being sure that, you know, we're showing up and putting in the work and getting things memorized so that we're ready to go when it's time to put on that performance. Especially since we are
038doing the you have a whole play that you have to memorize and getting into it. But I'm confident. I feel like the kids are motivated because they're excited about it. They got to see the kids do it last year and I love that they think it's something cool. I think he mentioned he had some kids coming in early in the year asking, "Do you know what the play's going to be this year?" So, just building up that excitement for it so that they want to put in the work for it. >> Very cool. Thank you. >> Yeah. >> Do you have any like wishes or dreams or like anything else you want to do that's going to be open for families to come see other than this one play? I mean, not that that's not
039amazing. >> I mean, I would love for people to come watch all of them. Like second grade's doing a friendship themed one on February 5th. >> Oh wow. >> Um then we're doing music around the world with fourth grade where they're doing all the instruments for there's a African song, there's a Dutch folk song they're doing. >> Um that one is on April 24th or I could look at it. >> Oh, that's awesome. So there's definitely like other things happening. >> Yeah. Yeah. And it doesn't have to be just, you know, when your kids aren't in it. I'd be open to people coming to all of them. The kids love seeing the big audience. So yeah. Great job. Thank you. >> Thank you guys. >> Thank you so much. Appreciate it. >> Appreciate it. >>
040All right. Next on the agenda is a public comment of non-discussion agenda items. And we always read this statement every time. So I will read it. Members of the public who would like to provide public comment will sign in. Speakers will be called in the order that they signed in to speak. Speakers will be given three minutes for their comments. Public comment is not the proper forum to address concerns about a specific staff member. If a person has concerns about a specific staff member, they should make an appointment with a superintendent to address their concerns. Okay. So, I have one sign up here for Amanda Nelson. And I see that the swim team people are here. So, so welcome. >> And are you the only one that's going to talk or are other other people
041are welcome to talk? >> Just just me. It's just a brief. Would you like me? Well, come on up. Yeah, there's no podium because we have these cameras like this now. So, no worries. >> Sorry. >> And I'm going to read just cuz I'm not the best. That's fine. But um we will listen. You got this. >> Yeah. Uh good evening. My name is Amanda Nelson and thanks for letting me speak tonight. I am here on behalf of the West Valley girls swim team. Some of the girls are here and some parents. You can see them in the back there. Um, I know that our AD and school districts are aware of the possible closure of Wines's pool and so that's been flying around. That's where our school practices, that's where actually all the YMO
042Valley and beyond practices. And I just want you guys to know that I am part of a small impact group that's working with the city and Lions Pool right now. We're working on ways to keep the pool open and if it's permanently closed, which we hope it's not, but if it is, we are also looking at other options for a place to practice. So, just a quick little FYI. We don't want to lose our funding for swim team. We want to keep boys and girls swim team going. um these athletes, you know, it creates opportunities for them to pursue their passions and gain confidence like you guys were speaking about earlier and also the possib possibility of scholarships. So, just that's it. Thank you. >> Thank you so much. >> Thanks. >> Are you sure
043no one else wants to talk? Cuz you're welcome to. >> I don't want to put you on the spot. >> No worries. They're just here to show that they love their team. Yeah. >> Thank you for coming. >> Thank you very much. Thank you. >> Appreciate it. >> You're welcome to stay for the rest of the meeting or you're welcome to leave. So you you won't hurt our feelings. >> All right. >> Yeah. Well, I'll do it in response. >> Okay. Oh, and just so you know the order of things, when there is a public comment made, we do respond to that at the next meeting and and if you're not here, you'll see the you'll see the report. So, >> thank you. >> Okay. Thank you so much. >> Thank you, Swim team. >>
044Okay. Okay. Um, next is uh number eight on our agenda is action items. And uh the first one is approval of our minutes. And it does say accidentally December 16th, 2026. And I don't think we've had those minutes yet. So it is 2025. So I will entertain a motion to approve the December 16th, 2025 minutes. >> I'll make a motion to approve the minutes from last board meeting. >> Okay. There's a motion. Are there any discussion or any corrections of the minutes? Okay. All in favor of uh accepting the December 16th, 2025 minutes, say I. >> I. >> Opposed by the same sign. Approved 5 to zero. Uh B is approval of travel requests. And we have 10 of them here. And I will hopefully you've read all those over. I am going to make
045a motion to approve all 10 travel requests. And um is there any discussion or questions about any of them? >> I'll make I'll second that motion. >> Okay. Any discussion? No questions. >> Okay. Hearing none. Um the motion to approve the travel requests signify by saying I. >> I. >> Opposed by the same sign. Motion approved. 5. I'll go way down the list past all the travel requests um to discussion items. Dr. Finch mentioned this a little bit ago and >> as you remember board during the discussion of defeasence of the excess funds which I'm excited to hear that higher number that we were able to defeze and save the taxpayer money. >> Um the board expressed a desire to assure the community that in the future bonds with excess funds would be returned to
046the taxpayer. Uh part of the problem is that due to the legal considerations, it could not be written into the bond language itself and that's what we originally wanted, but we found out from legal that we could not do that. Um so it was suggested that we create a policy to accomplish what we wanted. So really it's just open to the board um to discuss that. I think I forgot to bring it, but I actually did a little AI research on Washington state law and how we could write it. And I know administration has offered to write something. I'd be happy to give you what I put together just as a starter point. >> Yep. I've been working with Ryan McDaniel, our assistant superintendent on a draft. And one of the things was to identify
047what would be the percent set aside before you would look at defeasants. And in our talking to consultants uh they had suggested 10% would be the um and anything over 10% then we would um have board policy that we would defeze that amount assuming that the amount over would not be less than the cost of actually doing the defeasance. >> So yeah be actual tax savings. >> So that's the the draft that we have worked on but certainly we'd like to look at other language that you have we can incorporate that. >> Sure. Would it would it be a policy or is it going to be a resolution? >> I would suggest making it a policy. So, it's really in the record for future boards. So, we might have >> it might not be for
048quite a while that uh the next board would need to address the diffusions, but we would have it in policy and it would be the policy of the district that any excess funds would be diffused. >> Yeah. And I think I think the 10% is wise. I think when you go into any type of project, there's always going to be unforeseen follow-up things. And so, >> right, >> um, how do you >> And typically the language would be that >> before you even considered defeasance, >> you'd wait a few months to make sure everything's done and there's no call backs and things like that. So, I think you'd wait till everything is accomplished before you discuss the policy. >> And then 10%'s fine with me at this point. I want to look at it more,
049but I think you're right. You don't want to make it so small that you're paying all this money to save less money. So, yeah. >> Any other thoughts? This is the time to throw out your ideas. >> Looking back at um Apple Valley, some of you um and that construction project. So when would you say after after that was complete that we were actually done managing those projects and we didn't have any call backs on anything? I'm just thinking for the policy what is the right time to put into there. >> I would say a year >> a year. >> Yeah. Exactly. Feel free to jump in since you're working on it. >> I just that that you're speaking to what I was thinking back here is just taking a look at the time in
050which we would start looking at what funds we have left over. Um once kids get in the building, staff get in the building, sometimes you see things that need to be fixed or um something didn't get done within the scope of the project. And so having some time uh for all that to take place before we start looking at the fees and the money. So, uh, you're right on track from my standpoint. >> So, language would be along the lines of given a year after completion of the project, if there are remaining funds from this bond, the policy of the board is to defease it back to >> Yes. >> the public >> and save the taxpayers >> Yep. >> future tax. Y >> Yeah, sounds good. and we'll have a first reading and a
051second reading on on something like this. So, >> yeah, I wanted to have a discussion about the policy development at this meeting so that we could have first reading at our next meeting and then that would you know provide some additional assurance to uh voters out there that might be concern concerned about that and we would be able to have that first reading before uh ballots are due for the upcoming box. >> Good idea. Yeah, I like that. Okay. Anything else from the board? Okay. Um, I'm not going to read the comment on public comment again, but you've already heard it. But, uh, this is a time that we can have public comment on what we just discussed. So, if any of you would like to comment, you're welcome to do so now. >> You
052can comment from where you're at if you want. >> Yeah, you can comment from sitting down, too. Okay. Hearing none, I'm closing the public comment time. Uh, are there any items arising, Dr. Finch? >> No. Okay. uh superintendent report. >> I just shared in the superintendent report uh that I've been sharing information about the upcoming replacement bond and replacement levy and that just emphasizing that the replacement bond and replacement levy will keep the combined tax rate similar to the current rate. The bond is really a replacement of the high school bond that's going to be paid off this year and the levy is a replacement for the levy that was approved by voters in 2022. Also, um really appreciate this input of the board. Uh there was a board member who had suggested that we
053have videos that are informational and so those have been completed. Uh we're going to be posting those periodically from now until uh next couple weeks just to give a steady stream of information. So we posted the Autanum Valley video. Uh they all are available on our YouTube station. So if anyone's interested, they can go to the superintendent report and just click on the link and look at all three videos. We have a video that really focuses on Tannon Valley, another video that focuses on West Valley Middle School, and then a final video that really gives a district overview about both the bond and the levy. >> Thank you. If you haven't seen them, they're really good. >> Yeah, did a great job on those. >> Thank you. >> Okay. Uh any board reports or board
054development the board would like to speak about? I'll just I'll just add the uh so last Friday was the first coffee with the school board and um I really enjoyed getting to know a community member that I didn't know uh before and just to hear their background and who they are um their family that's involved in West Valley and um and then just to be able to listen to their concerns and stuff like that and um I think I yeah I think it was a win um you know and um I think it's will be profitable and yeah I think I think as you guys jump in and do that you'll enjoy it. So it was it was a really good connection. >> Cool. Thank you. >> Yep. And the purpose is to have a
055more informal time where people can get to know the board and not necessarily you know it's so formal in a regular board meeting. So nice to have that coffee with the board member. Just for the public out there we did post it on the website so you can go to the link. We would appreciate if you registered for that so we know how many people are showing up or if anyone has signed up because we, you know, have made a commitment, the board has made a commitment to be there. So, we want to make sure that people register for those sessions. Those will be on Friday in the morning. Friday at 9:00. >> Fridays at 9. >> Yeah. And then once a month on Mondays in the after school time. >> Second Monday. Yeah. >>
056Yeah. >> Great. Thank you. Anything else? Okay. I will adjourn a meeting of the school board at 7:39. All right. Very good. Thank you.