001meeting. >> Call the February 11th uh regular school board meeting to order. Um starting with roll call. >> Shrider >> here. >> Mis >> here. Wallace >> here. [clears throat] >> Isaac Wallace >> here. >> Next we have affirmation approved publication of the agenda. I, Kimberly Johnson, hereby certify that notice of the Kikapoo Area School District February regular schoolboard meeting was published in accordance with state law. >> The agenda next taken by B. All in favor? I >> opposed. All right, move on to the audience available for board members. >> I have a question this building and grounds minutes that's not on the agenda anywhere except to approve them, which I have no problem with that. It's just about content something that's in there. So, is this a place to bring that up or? >>
002Yeah, I guess or we can move the minutes off the consent agenda and it really whether it approved. >> Um, there was just a comment in there about uh coding filter system was donated to the school. Did we actually approve a donation? [clears throat] >> Go ahead. >> What was that? >> So, there's the powder coating equipment that was donated. I think the discussion was more of on the building ground was where they were going to locate that >> but has it ever been approved? If it's going to be a cost, why would we accept a donation? >> There's no cost at this point. It's an internal exercise for the shop department. There was a from what I understand they were going to throw it away the the the little room that they had and
003so Kings had asked hey we could possibly use this is this is something we could have and they said sure go ahead and have it >> okay >> so that's what it so that was then the next step >> will need to be built for it how do you do that without cost [clears throat] >> that was part of the discussion that we were having >> that's why you have to yeah that's I don't I haven't [clears throat] read our donation policy But the old policy used to one of the reasons that one of the things you consider in accepting a donation is was it going to entail future costs and what were they? So and obviously I have no idea what power coding filter system is. So um yeah >> I think that the
004cost when Kings took it was they had it there. They were going to throw it away. He took it said hey this possibly might be something that could work. Um you know I think the cost with it would be very minimal. It was some some wiring and stuff. But again, that was part of taking it to the committee was to look and see is that something that we would we would want to do. He's not I mean, we're not out anything with it. If it's >> if we don't build it or do anything with it, then he just has it and get rid of it. >> So, >> just his question. That's all right. So any other comments, questions over hearing? None. I guess we move on to the expense interest and receipts. It's a
005negative receipt. I don't remember seeing many. though there was a couple two not small they're not big numbers we're negative numbers on the receipts is they're all in that Wisconsin DPI they're both in that traffic >> so part of we get the money from our like school lunch program things like that where they have a commodity handling charge and that comes through on our cash receipt form it would be easy enough if you wanted to switch it and do it as like a check but no >> yeah That's what I was That's why I was wondering. Do we actually write we have to write a check for that or something? But no, that's why it's there. Yeah. >> Yeah, >> that makes sense. Thank you. >> No, I didn't. >> I had one back at
006the end of um the checks on page six. I think it's the very last thing on the check. Walter, inc. And it just says maintenance is a That was for um generator maintenance on it. Just kind of checking up, making sure everything looked good on it. Nice correctly as it should. Yeah, >> that's the one that's hooked up to the LP gas, right? I think >> um I will double check that because it doesn't say which one it is, but >> generate electricity. I think that's why we have the tanks. I think >> generate I'm sure we got that cold natural gas shut us down, I would guess. So they have to kick in. So >> they don't kick in, then we're big trouble. They start pretty soon real quick. That's my guess what? There's
007a pretty big uh one in here for the Palmer House which I assume is the one where they're like the past years where they paid for everybody and they get rebraced or something. >> Yes. So it's for the FFA senior trip. So that's all schools and we have gotten a couple checks in. I have to double check and make sure that they're put out to all of the FAS that go together and each FA kind of buys something for the trip and then reimbursements to everyone. But yes, we are getting payments in for that. All right. Does anybody want to Sorry, the expense. I'll make that motion. I'll second. >> All in favor? >> I >> opposed. All right. Moving on to the consent agenda. Now we have the minutes from the January 14th regular
008board meeting from the January 20th building grounds transportation committee meeting. Um field trips. Um, if we need to go into those or we just fundraisers, the biology club plant sale, um, and then donations. Um, $400 from Bob von Lunan for the digital sign, $100 from Ross Carpenter to the cake club, and $500 from Ellen Greley donated for the digital sign. Any questions or comments of the consent agenda? I'll make a motion to approve the consent agenda. >> I'll second by Ear by Janet. All in favor? [clears throat] >> I >> opposed. Right. We have no action agenda. So I guess that pushes us all the way down to theirformational agenda. We have five discussion items. I guess we'll start with the AGR assessment. All right. I guess that's me. So, if you look at it
009like it looks like last year's, I mean, it's set up the same way. Um, when I looked at it first in kindergarten and first grade, we spent a lot of time with the UFly and the training that we put into that. And last year in the spring, it looked like there wasn't a bump. So, this year when we first did it, and by a bump, I mean like our high high-risisk kids kind of spiked. So when I did it this year and I saw that, you know, reading went from 17 to 48, which is three kids to seven kids kind of is how it worked out. I was like, what's going on? So Jim, who works for CISA, who we've done a lot of the reading stuff with, he comes and meets with third grade
010and first grade as part of a assessment thing he's doing from the state with DPI. And I'm like, all right, Jim. I said, "We've done all this work and we've got these groups and we've done you fly and this isn't supposed to happen." And he goes, "No, you're right." So him and I dug into a little bit and the biggest reason in kindergarten why that little spike is there is when you when you go into fastbridge and you look at the subtest, [clears throat] one of the subtests is nonsense words. So basically nonsense words are just three letters together, consonant, vowel, consonant that don't make a real word. And we don't do a lot of that. So the first time they see it, that's showing up as they're flagging on that. Okay. Could we stick
011some nonsense words in there just to make sure that the fastbridge test comes out better? We could, but I'd rather just look at the overall data, how everybody's doing on the other stuff. So then we dug into the first grade. The subtest that they're flagging on is site words. And we spent the first year as principal we spent a whole bunch of time trying to figure out which site word list to pick. Do we pick the fastbridge there it seems simple that site word should all be the same. There's not. There's a they call it the lo list or cloch. There's a list of fat words site words that basrite words that into reading teaches and there's a set of in um youth site words that they teach. So when you look at the fastbridge
012site words, they don't match up with you flying into reading. Could we have teachers go out of their way just to teach the fast bridge word so they show up better on that one subtest and it makes it look better? We could, but then when we dug in a little farther and we start looking at the first grade, the ORF is the how fast they can read the oral reading fluency, which doesn't necessarily show up on well, it does in first, you know, in first grade and second grade and third grade. I took every single kid that is in first grade, second grade, and third grade from their or from where they read in the fall into the winter. And every kid in that grade improved and their accuracy got better. So even though there's
013a little there's a few kids that are flashing at us at progress, I think we're in a really really good place because when I look at the subtest and I see what they're reading and when I do the progress monitoring and Sherry and I did for everybody K through through third, I can tell that we're reading better. I can tell that their fluency is better. I can tell that their accuracy is better. And I think we're on the right track and I think it's going to pay off. Is there the competitive part of me that would like to see him the fast bridge score be really good? Yeah. Do I think it's worth having them stop doing the important stuff of foundations of reading to do that? No. And I think what's going to happen
014is when we do the May one is that those high-risisk numbers are going to stay the same and they're going to go down. But remember, if I showed you last year, we'd have a spike where the high risk would start, it would go up in kindergarten and first grade and then start to come back. I don't think that's going to happen this year. I think those kids that we had have at the 24 24% are going to stay the same or go lower. And when I look at the second grade, I mean, the second grade just stayed they improved on their CBMR from high risk to low risk. And I know it's hard to look at that when you they stayed even. So, we have those kids identified. They're getting extra help. [clears throat] Um,
015and when I look at the to throw another name at you, when we do the AS web testing, which is what ACT 20 asked for, last year when we did that, and I know they've changed the norms a little bit, we had a lot of kids that were at the sixth, seventh, and eighth percentile. And this year, almost all of our kids are the 10th percentile and higher. And in second grade, there's a bunch of them that I'm not going to name the kids, but we had four kids that were at the 23rd percentile, 22nd percentile, which if they would have read two words faster, that would have bumped them. I mean, it it were that close in places. So, yeah, I would like to see no kids at the high risk, but I'm feel
016good about where we are and what we're doing. So the stuff that Jim has helped us implement, the stuff that the teachers are doing with the help of Sher and with Anna taking over, I feel really, really good about what our kids are doing in reading. And the math scores are actually really good. And we're we've changed a few things, not as much. We're trying to do a lot of stuff on the fly with math more focused in on the exact standards and exactly what we're really trying to do is figure out instead of doing it a mile wide and an inch deep, I'd rather have it a foot wide and 10 ft deep so kids really understand those concepts in early math and that's we're working our way through that. But overall, I think
017it's I think we're on the right track. [clears throat] So, >> so how many times a year and when do you have to give this Ames web test that I've not heard of before? >> No, the AS web is A as web is what we have to do for act 20 that >> there's three times. >> So what we do is the Ames web is what the state has forced us to use that we never used that till last year. Okay. And the state pays for that. So, we do that in September. We do that. We can do it in December, but there's so much going on with the Christmas concert and everything else that I didn't think that's a great time to do it. So, we give them the first week back after Christmas
018to kind of get their feet back under them. And then Sherry and I do all the Ames testing and then the teachers do the fast bridge because according to act 20, we need the fast bridge to say what the diagnostic is to tell us what AMS tells us. It's just what the state makes us do. And then by state law, we have to do it 50 46 days before the last day that we have face toface kids. So then we'll do it again in kind of in the middle of April. I'll count the days back and make sure Sher and I get them done. And then we'll do the fast bridge again. This is all fast bridge data. I I have a lot of data. Um, [laughter] it's I I like that part of it
019because you can really start to kind of zero in. There's stuff I don't like about Ames, but they've a lot of the subtests are really informative. And then Youly also has [clears throat] they have some diagnostics that like Anna and Sherry will use on specific kids if we can't figure out where they're stuck. But I think I said to the staff cuz I when I do my weekly what's coming up next week, I always try to put a celebration. I think it was 36 kids last year that had reading plans for the state that no longer need reading plans. >> So, yeah, a couple kindergarters swag. Yeah, there's always going to be a couple. But I I do I'm really proud of what everybody's accomplished in the elementary of trying to move kids forward on.
020So, and I can kind of dig into some numbers if you need me to, but >> is Jim Jim Addison? >> Yeah. >> Yep. The whole >> supposedly really good. >> Jim is really good. I I refer to it as the Church of Jim. >> Yeah. >> And he just I just got an email today. He's got accepted to something he was doing to present at some big literacy conference. >> Yeah. He is what and I and I'll read this off my list of what I was going to share later. what [clears throat] Jim has compiled. I don't even know how to explain it. I for each grade we have a data wall that has each kids. So each kid is listed based on where they are of high, advanced, in the middle or at
021risk. And then in each of those is each subtest and then I put in the score for each subtest and we have that color coded to show if it's green, yellow or red. So then what we can do is is we can look at the kids who are at risk and we can say okay these kids are struggling with onset sounds or these kids are struggling with um lung bowels. So then we can and then Jim came on Friday and I I think we're stealing money from him because however he wrote this grant he's been he's like well you got five days. I'm like you're here you're here every Tuesday every two weeks and then he was here all day Friday. So then we had two subs and we were in um Anna's room and
022we just we had the so both second grade teachers, Taylor and I and Anna because Sher had an appointment and we put it up on the wall and then we just looked at where everybody was grouped and then we could look at the data and say okay we'll slide kids here and then there's another tab with the progress monitor. We can see as I progress monitor them every week if they're improving or not improving and the two or three kids that aren't improving. Well, what are what lesson are they on? Can we switch this? Can we do that? and all the feed it was a long day cuz it's a lot of sitting for me but so it was an hour with each grade and they and when they all walked out everybody I've talked
023to has said yeah that was meaningful and that was that made sense to me so I was going to share that as what we did but yeah I jokingly say the church of Jim but and they as a staff he did our UFly training they've really bought into what Jim says and thank God he really knows what he's doing. That's what when he was in my office, I'm like, "Hey." And he's like, "I know. I know they're reading better. We can figure this out." And we went through it and kind of cuz it is it's and that's what's kind of frustrating about all of this is there are kids that on FastBridge that say they they're struggling, but then Ames Web said, "Oh, no, they read fine." Just how the test is and the different,
024>> you know, and one kid has has a good day one day reads with me and doesn't. There's so much that goes into it. So, I'm looking. The nice thing about the data walls and all of it is you can see everybody there and you can kind of see where they're going. And then when Jim did pull up, he started, he did the first one because he was curious of that. How many words did they read in the fall? So, it there were kids, we had kids in first grade who read 15 words a minute and are up to 30. That doubled their reading count. And their accuracy went, you know, their accuracy was 75% there. And I have a total up on the bottom. the average amount that we improved and to me that's
025the most important part is they're and that's what all the studies say is the oral reading fluency that's the best indicator of how well kids read. So that's where we're at and as soon as we and I shared all the ORF with everybody with their each class so they could see and I want everybody to know that all the work they're doing is actually paying off and if if every single kid is reading faster and more accurately we're doing something right. >> Yeah. And that's what we're going to kind of keep doing. But >> thanks. >> Y um [clears throat] more numbers for >> that would be me. So in your packet actually are like a lot of numbers. So, I developed kind of some graphs to help tell a story and help us make
026some decisions as um we continue to look at some of the decisions we need to make as a district. So, um the intent of these graphs are to just kind of bring clarity to that overall enrollment stability and look at the trends and shift in student needs over time. And I think what we've identified and I guess I'll wait and we'll go through that. But that first graph here is really about our total enrollment in September. Um so we start here um we can see kind of um in 2017ish [clears throat] you know we kind of peak and then we come down but we're kind of leveling out here these last couple of years. um the SE on this bigger chart that was in your packet there are two um September headcount and January headcount
027and since it was just throughout the years there was just variables by a couple of numbers so um not really telling a big story and not really identifying a midyear loss. So the next um graph that we have are our open enrolled in and our open enrolled out. That top line would be the open enrolled in. You can see that open enrolled in has grown significantly over the past decade um rising from in the 40s into the 130 year um range. And open enrolled out has also increased over time but remains substantially lower than the number of students who are coming in. Moving on to the next page on the back. Um, this is the special education growth and this graph shows our from October 1st special education count over the last nine years. In
028201617, you can see there we served about 40 or 58 students in special education. And this year that number is 92. So that's uh right around almost it was almost a 59% increase. Um pretty significant when we're thinking about um staffing and meeting student needs. Um I also included that lower chart there is actually special education as a percentage. Um and so while the enrollment has stabilized as we saw in that first graph um the composition of our student population has really shifted and we are serving significantly more students with special instructional needs. So students are much more intensive than they were even just nine years ago. So kind of what all of these numbers have indicated is that our overall enrollment has declined from its peak but um the percentage of students requiring specialized
029services has increased significantly. So the percentage of students requiring specialized services has nearly doubled since six twist 17. The number of students identified for special education services has increased by nearly 59%. While the percentage of our total enrollment requiring specialized services has grown from 11 to 20%. Um so as we use this to plan our approach must be to recognize that while enrollment has actually stabilized the instructional complexity within that system has increased. Um so while enrollment from 2017 to today has decreased by roughly 70 students, special education needs have increased by more than 30 students. And then I did um decide to add I I did have another um document which kind of showed more the specific enrollment per grade level. So I broke this down and I should have printed this off in
030color. That first line up at the top is the elementary. [clears throat] Um I think it's the middle was middle school and then that lower was the high school numbers. So across the grade bands, we're kind relatively stable. The elementary enrollment shows strength and recent growth, which is going to continue to grow into our upper grades. And these fluctuations that we're identifying, um, as I took one grade and kind of moved it through the years, um, it's kind of cohort movement. They rise and they fall within the years instead of an entire systemic decline. So the graph shows enrollment by grade band over the past several years. Overall, the enrollment across the system has remained stable with normal fluctuations from year to year. Elementary enrollment continues to show strength and growth which supports long-term stability.
031The shifts we see in the middle and high school reflect the smaller or larger cohorts moving through the system rather than that broad enrollment loss. So as we plan here the this reinforces the importance of kind of being flexible with our staffing alignment based on the grade level needs instead of reacting to a single year of data. So those are all the graphs that I kind of pulled from this information. Unless you have further questions or wanted me to dig further into some area of this these numbers. Uh that's all they have for the enrollment. >> There's three kids coming from the forest school for visits in the elementary the next while one's coming Friday. Other ones are coming at something. So that helps. >> So yeah, contin are those three from the same family
032or no. >> How many grades at four school? Um they're up to >> fourth grade. >> We've had we've had one. >> What grade? >> Four. There's four kids that came from LAR just since the beginning of the year that have come. >> What grade levels? >> Uh I think I think they're going to be in third grade. They're going to Well, I know the two that called, the mom called, they would be third graders next year, which is that smaller class. So, that would be good to have them in there. And I don't know. I think it's three. I'm not sure if the other mom called in because the one mom called me and said, "Me and my friend want to bring our daughters to look at the school." I said, "That's fine. Call
033me when you want to set something up." And then a different lady called and said she want to bring her daughter. >> I'm not sure if it's one of the two or it's those two and this is a separate one. We'll find out on Friday. So, have we had that happen previous years? I mean, is that >> No. No. >> Well, interesting to see. >> I don't remember. >> Well, they're academically what they're what they test at >> the two kids. >> Sophie and Eliza. Um, oh, we've had one, two, and then two other kids that weren't in the forest school, but just from Lafarge that came and the brother upstairs, >> the three from Iowa came to that. We can't blame that on Large. >> I think we got six the week after count.
034>> Oh, jeez. The one the >> Yeah, they didn't count the day after, didn't they? They came so >> Yeah. >> Well, they track these kids. So, >> you would think that part of course they leave >> numbers or Yeah. You don't have the numbers or no open enrollment dollars or do you want that's the one I gave you to share that or just the open energetment? >> Yep. dollars, but we get in the mountain and stuff. So, [clears throat] >> you did >> I think maybe the last time we went through this, you had you did have like enrollment by grade level. >> Okay. >> So, I think it's helpful just to >> I can send that out because and I did do some graphs with that, but then I was like, do I
035overwhelm them with so many brass? But I just like the numbers on that >> when you compare them for the next year kind of >> see the >> and to your point you know it's like just long range planning like obviously we don't want to take away you know resources that we're going to need shortly there big chunks you know we just have to adjust and move around and try to save >> y that's helpful in the past >> then this sheet that just has come around is um specific to the FTE in both September and January. um the difference and then the dollar amounts and then you know for 4K we don't get a full FTE for each approach until >> we get 6. >> Yeah. So the open enroll is really >> 28%
036figured >> pretty close to 30. Yeah, thank you. Yeah, I've heard from some community members that just continue to, you know, advertise what we have going on and, you know, just especially that people come from for school can advertise the fact that we're, you know, situated with all this kind of surrounding stuff. I think anything we can do to continue to just advertise that, >> you know. >> Absolutely. And I think a lot too is really word of mouth, your parents, >> you know, having those conversations because I know when I go to PT as well, um the receptionist who checks me in is always like I was talking to my cousin and she says I have to get to pick him shirts and say hello, right? All right, we'll move on to the 2425
037audit report. >> Um, so the audit report is not included in our packet because it is like 65ish pages. Um, but it was emailed out. Um, so we had our audit on site. Um, it was July 21st in terms of sections when our auditors were here. Um, we were with Johnson and Block again this year. This was our final year on our contract with them. Um, our requests for proposals have been sent out to a few different audit companies. I'm waiting to hear back from them, but the plan is next meeting to be able to go through those and then select a an audit firm for hopefully the next three years. But I was at a CISA meeting this morning and there's a widespread problem of finding an auditor. Um, and I know some schools
038they would the auditors would only bid them for one year at a time, whereas right now we have them for three years at a time. So, it's not the end of the world. It's just a little more work on the backside to get everything lined up and make sure that we have someone. Um, it's >> it's also going to drive prices up. So, >> yes, it is uh getting [clears throat] harder and harder to find audit firms. I know a lot of schools um and we have Johnson and Block and that's who we did send a a bid out to them. Um but I know in other areas Johnson and Block has been dropping some of their school districts just because it's not as lucrative for them anymore. They don't really make a ton of
039money on it and they're having workforce issues just like everyone else. So, they're kind of they either don't even bid them back or they give them a bid, but it's an astronomical amount that they're silently firing them as a customer almost. So, I'm hoping that we get some some good news back on our proposals, but hopefully that can be for next month. Um, but anyway, so the audit report for this year, everything looked pretty good on it. Um they did mention that we could maybe improve on internal audits or um internal controls, excuse me, but part of that was because Kim was out for part of the year, so we lost that extra person, that extra set of eyes. I don't foresee that being a big issue this year because Kim's back and gets to
040see everything again. Now, um I want to say we had about 10 journal entries that could be made at the end of the year. Most of them had to do with um health insurance just to make sure everything was tied out and they kind of predict what might be your runout and and all that. There's a fun formula that the auditors and I get to work through for that. Um but yeah, a lot of it had to do with that and then tying out any grant receivables that we were getting at the end of the year. So, it was mainly that um which nothing nothing too major with selfunded. I expect to have that every year from now on. um just to make sure it's getting tried out as it should. Um yeah, other than
041that, everything went went fairly well. Um they were good to work with. Hopefully, we get to work with them again. But if anyone has any questions, I can answer them or you can always email out if you think of questions later on. >> All right, no questions. We'll move on to the quarterly budget report. >> All right. So, this quarterly budget report goes through December 31st just to kind of keep consistent with how our quarterly budgets work in the past. I know it's a month late because I was just coming off maternity leave last month. Um, but just to stay consistent, I ended it December 31st. Starting up at the top, our revenue and expenses for fund 10 and 27 look scary right now, but that is because of how our funding works. In January,
042we got a large sum of our tax settlements. February should be starting to roll in soon as well. And I know like our biggest equalization aid payment doesn't come until June. So, how are how we get our revenue is just very delayed. But I'm not overly concerned about it just because I know it's coming. Another thing is while I was on maternity leave, um we didn't do any grant claims. So I have since done those and just in grants we're getting about 120,000 in fund 10 and I think it was 58,000 in fund 27 that'll be coming in that is not reflected on this report. So that will help that. Um [clears throat] then working down through this our salary and fringes fringe benefits those look good. We don't want those to be at 50%
043this year just at this point of the year just because of how our teachers are paid. Um they get um they [clears throat] have the accelerated payment. So in June they get their June, July, and August checks just so we can keep everything in the same fiscal year. So that's why right now we want these under 50% and they're looking really good right now. Um then moving down to elementary expenses, all of these are under that 50% with the exception of that other objects. That other objects is where we pay any of our U membership dues out of. Pretty much all of those are paid at the beginning of the year. So, we really shouldn't have a ton more expenses in that um line item, but a vast majority are paid in June, July or
044July, August, September. So, that's why that's over that 50% already. Um then [clears throat] moving to middle school, high school expenses. Um all of those under 50% looking good, kind of in line with where we want it to be. Um [clears throat] and then going down to co-curricular. So co-curricular includes all of our um sports. Um oh I'm trying to think of what else it is. >> Co-curricular. >> Yeah, co-curriculars. That's that's it. Um everything's under that 50% still. That's a little closer, but I know like um all of our sports contracts come out of there. As of December, all of the fall coaches had been paid out, and all high school winter coaches had received the first half of their uh coaching payment. Middle school coaches don't get the first half of their payment
045until January. So, that's why it's a little under 50%, but that's where we want it to be. Um, computer technology expenses. So that purchase services that line item um a vast majority of that is our IT agreement with TC networks. So that one we want to see close to 50%. It's also any other um services that we would need to come in like if we needed to have someone come in and like fix a server that's something that TC couldn't do or if we were getting new cameras installed things like that that would also go in there. um non-c capital objects. That would include things like new technology if we were to need it. Like if all of our printers went kaput, that's where that would come from. Um but those are looking good. Um
046moving down the district office expenses. All of those look good except for other objects. We went over budget on that one, but we did have a new um subscription this year kind of dealing with AI to learn more about that. But on a $6,500 budget, when you go over, it doesn't take long for that percentage to look really bad. Um, so [clears throat] we're at 102 right now. That one might go up just a little bit. Um, but it shouldn't be anything astronomical unless something crazy comes up. >> But and you don't anticipate anything like you're really not in bad shape because non-c capital objects up there is obviously lower and more than we'll take care of that unless you so basically what you need to do is just sort of the whole thing. But
047>> yes. >> Yep. Exactly. As long as we don't go over in the total total then we're fine. And right now, I don't anticipate that happening unless something catastrophic happens, but we're not going to think like that. We're going to everything's just going to be normal. [clears throat] Um, then moving down to property and liability insurance expenses. This budget is pretty much all the way used up. That's because we pay all of these at the beginning of our fiscal year. So, going forward, we shouldn't have any more expenses in here. I always budget a little extra just in case something changes by the from when I get the quotes to when budgets are approved. Um, [clears throat] also in years past we've um done a bus purchase in the middle of the year so that
048um the insurance expense to ensure that bus would come out of here and I don't know that will be at the time. So I budgeted a little extra in there. Um this year we had approved to purchase a bus like last year at this time. So Jeff purchased that in July just and it was approved so early to purchase so we could lock in a rate um which worked out well for us at that point. Then moving down to our HSA expense summary. Um these budgets all look really low but that's where they should be. Um through December they've only received a third of the payments that the um school district will put into that account. They don't get their next payment or they got their next payment in January. So, we want these to
049be right around that 33%. Then going to the next page is the transportation expense budget. Um, all of these look good. The one that is over 50% is that capital objects and that was the purchase of the new bus that came in in July. So, again, unless a vehicle implodes, which I don't think we're looking at that, all of these budgets look good. We're hoping we don't have to spend a ton more out of that. um down to transportation and fuel expense. Um budgets are all coming in well, all under that 50%. Um [clears throat] we have a lot of different routes that we're running this year just with um more specialized routes for our special ed kiddos. Um but everything is still coming in really well. Then going down to the custodial expenses, again,
050all of those are coming really well. Um under other objects, right now we haven't spent anything. That's because um that [clears throat] goes for memberships. The new maintenance supervisor didn't do the memberships that the previous one had done. So that budget will be adjusted in the future. I know it's not a huge budget, but just to kind of keep in line with what we're actually spending. Um then going down to the maintenance expense, again, those are all looking really good. um coming [clears throat] in under that 50 percentile. Um these budgets could be used more for like any projects that might come up that we would need to do do in June. Um [clears throat] I know last year over the summer we did that parking lot repair if we were to need anything. That's
051what those budgets could help with. Um utility expenses going down. Um, right now this budget is low, but I know it will increase because these winter months we had to spend more on heat, things like that. So, it will increase just because we're going to be spending more to heat the building now and it's going to come out of that budget. And then the final one is food service. And on here, again, it looks very bad, but part of that is because when I was gone on maternity leave, we didn't do the food service claims. They have since been done. Um, and we're getting $61,694.31. That is not reflected in here. So, right now we're at realistically breaking even in food service. >> Last year they did not, right? >> Yes. Last year there was
052a loss in there. >> Yeah. You know, how much? >> Um, the actual loss was about $100,000. >> Over $107,000. They had a beginning fund balance. I went back to the annual packet after I saw that number. I went back to the annual uh meeting packet. They started last year 2425 with 125 2024,000 balance, which that's kind of high. They ended the year with 17,000. >> Did we Didn't we buy some equipment in there >> specifically to lower that fund balance? >> Not like that. We didn't. It's always >> I believe well she can look into it for us but I think we've got an actual operating loss in there too and I don't know >> what we do because if that happened I I'll let it go. I guess I tried this last year.
053I mean we've got a new person there. Are we doing anything to I I'm not sure why we raised on the budget. didn't catch this until looking at this now that we increased the revenue part of their budget. Where did where is that coming from? >> Um Heather [clears throat] did apply for an extra grant and we did we are receiving that grant so that's helping increase that revenue. >> Um but yes, last year we did have to spend down a little bit just because DPI only allows us to have so much in that fund balance. Um, but I know looking for next year, we may have to increase lunch prices just to make sure everything flow flows how it should and we don't have a big >> unless it improves a lot this year.
054We're going to have to we're going to have to have money there to bail them out as we used to say it. >> We haven't done that in many years. So, >> yes. And that's what it would come to is we would have to do just like fund 27. We would have to do a transfer from fund to get it to a lease and see. >> So there I don't know maybe there needs to be something looked at and if we haven't we're $61,000 behind now. We were saying we're not but I didn't hear how far we're even you think or just about break even. And we're showing that big loss just because on maternity leave I didn't do these claims. We didn't lose the money. It's just delayed getting it because I did them
055all in January and I got back. >> I do feel like our lunch funds we should talk a little bit about when we're doing our next year's budget because I I do feel like that's another touch point that you know like every kid eats lunch, right? And >> you know I just I look through the lunch menu >> not every kid eats the school lunch. That's part of >> Well, that's part of the problem. have to. >> But I guess al also when I look at this menu, I also see a lot of things on the menu that I just surprised that we have on the menu. But I feel like is this someplace that we could get a return on our investment when we start talking about trying to get kids to come to
056our school? >> Yeah. >> Um, you know, >> a large program and I I know that's a big deal. Not that we're trying to compete with specialized monastery schools, stuff like that, but that is one of their marketing points is that they have this premium kind of lunch [snorts] opportunity. And not that we're trying to hit a premium. I just feel like that's maybe some an area that we could have in return on what we spent. >> We Yeah, I'm not sure I totally get [clears throat] how that works. I mean, if you can, as long as you can bring in the funds to pay for the lunches, I mean, we can't keep funding. We can't set up a program that's going to require transferring out of fund 10 constantly. >> No. >> I mean,
057unless that's, >> you know, you decide to do that as a board, but next time you go to do a referendum, you know, that's not all these transfers. I mean, speced gets a lot of uh well, because of the dollars, it deserves it a lot more attention, but right now it's it's was it was intended to be a break even. We don't have to make a make money out and yes, that balance was too high, but to spend that all out in one year, I don't I don't know if that was the good plan. If you're saying that was the plan, but it's water into the bridge. It's gone. And we're going to see our regular fund balance doing that sometimes, too. If we're not a little bit more careful, >> any questions? >> All
058right. Thank you, Alison. >> Thank you, Alison. >> Yes. Guess that um fund 46 did not show up. >> No, it we don't use much out of that budget. >> Yeah, >> but I can kind of add that if you would like. It's just like an update of the balance is what you're kind of wondering. Yeah, I guess I guess what brought it to my forefront of my brain here was just the um that was also mentioned in the buildings and grounds minutes and fund 46. I mean that you know that was >> created originally created that funded a nice big chunk of our pool so we didn't end up having to bond. I don't remember if we had it we needed the frack if we did that's where some of it came from that
059otherwise it was just strictly griffin but um so yeah I think we want to be careful that it doesn't get used it be looked at as something that we're oh you know whatever expense that really should covered up on maintenance or whatever. >> Yep. I can send that exact number out tomorrow. >> Oh that's right. and even just add it to the next one of these. It's found really deep. >> Well, I think our discussion in building the ground was just is there other things we should be identifying that we are ongoing cost that we can >> well >> put into that. So we're >> I don't know about ongo to me that was never set up for ongoing cost. Ongoing cost we should be able to cover in our budget. >> So >> and
060we need to prioritize so that we can that's why like I say it was used for the pool. Maybe my understanding isn't the savings. >> Well, I'm saying I guess ongoing cost like large items that may come up from time to time. >> Large. Yes. >> So, like if we know, you know, >> so if we're going to get to a point where we need to replace a, you know, large piece of HBAC equipment that we can plan for that ahead and start putting money into it. So, we don't have that >> agreement. I mean, isn't it like 575,000 roughly or somewhere in there? It's 500 something thousand. >> So I think the hope with that is that the next section with the roof or things like that that that's going to cover >> some
061of we haven't been putting money into it. I guess what I think what we talked about was just do we need to identify additional things? So the roof has been there and it's been kind of on this >> taking time bomb that we're going to have to do it. But is is there other things that we should be identifying? That's >> yeah thinking about being able to add money to it. I mean, this is We didn't add a penny to the fund balance this year, this past year, and we taxed. How much more? $400,000 more. >> Can't add one cent to it. Usually, as far as I know, we didn't add defund 46 either. >> We did not. >> All right. Any other questions on the quarterly budget report? All right, we'll move on to
062the selfunded health insurance report. >> Okay, so in the packet, the first portion of that is our current um fiscal year right now. It's running a little hotter than what we would like to see it at. Um but part of that is we had some high cost claims last year and some of those costs are still lingering over into this year. Um, [clears throat] the second page of this is last year's full cost analysis, including a runout period for the self-funded health insurance. And that one also came in a little little more than what we were planning on it, but we had some anomalies last year of high cost that lingering over into this year, but we can now account for those and build that into the budget. We did meet with some data analysts
063from the insurance center a week or two ago, two weeks ago about um and they were able to dig in more to see kind of what what caused it. And you know, they identified those couple high cost claims. Um and one thing that they've brought up multiple times is for a district our size, we've had a lot of babies in the last two years and they're like it's a good thing, but it they are expensive. Um, >> two more coming. >> Yeah, we as of right now we know of two more and I think they'll both be on next year's plan. >> They're both do it within a week of each other. >> Yes. >> In July. >> Yes. So, unless something crazy happens, they'll be on next year's plan. But crazier things have happened,
064they could end up on this year. Um, I don't I don't want them to. Those babies should stay in as as long as they need to. >> Hey, wait a second. You had a bee. >> I did. [laughter] I did. and mine was that crazy one that decided to come earlier than it should have. Um, but so as I know more of those things, I'm able to tell the insurance center to kind of help build that in to what could look like next year. I know they're hoping to get at least two more months of data where they really feel like this is what we think next year could look like. This is what we think um you should be charging for premiums, things like that. What should be taken out of payroll every month?
065Um, yes, it was for the most part a very positive conversation. Um, we talked a little bit about our stoploss ratio and what that is. Um, so for every person on our plan, we have a $50,000 stop-loss policy. So once their claims get over 50,000, then we have a reinsurance that will reimburse us for that. We were able to sign a two-year deal last year. Um, so our rate was flat this year at the $50,000 and next year it's going to go up to $55,000. Um, [clears throat] both Janice and Taylor, their data analysts were like that was a really good call just because it could have gone up a lot more had you not seen at that time. So we'll see a little bit of cost savings there from what could have been. Um,
066[clears throat] but yeah, otherwise they're >> what we see cost savings because why if the stop loss goes from 50 to 55 >> because of how our claims have been. If we would have signed that two-year deal, we would have gotten a bigger one. >> But next year, we will not because if it goes from 50 to 55, we would have the liability the >> possible being liable for $5,000 per >> Yes. But looking at claims, they don't know if we would have gotten that 55,000 rate. Yeah, I get you. I get not this year, but I sounded like yours for next year. Well, don't think so. >> 267 premium is better or something. >> So, 25 26 this year it's a 50,000. 26 27 it's 55,000 because we signed that last year. If we
067would have waited to sign that stop loss this year, they don't know if we would have gotten the rate of 55,000. So luckily we were able to get that in motion last year and get it taken care of. Um just so it helped us this year and next year. Um but yeah, overall it was a fairly positive conversation with the insurance center. It's just kind of waiting on more data. Um they also made a comment that we have a lot of members per employee. >> Yes, >> I think the national average or maybe it was the state average was like 1.8 eight members per employee and we're sitting at like 3.6 3.4. Um, but they're like, you know, that and for schools it's not totally uncommon because it's a very family-friendly working place. So, they
068did say that it's a lot of family plans, not a ton of single plans. So, do we we would have this for last year? Well, somewhere along somebody insurance center somebody up above us has to come up with an a premium equivalent even though we don't charge that right now to any portion of that you know can you tell what those were I don't know we just have single and family do we have a third type of policy too or >> so we actually four tiers we have yeah single employee and children employee and spouse and then full family um yes I can send all of was quote unquote premiums of what we took out for payroll last year. >> We're where do I see and is it maybe it is on these when you
069get to the end of the year exactly what we paid for insurance and the last one would have been ending June 2025. So, do I have to add up a whole bunch of numbers on this sheet or is it this 1,55,000 in the total net selffunded cost? Yes, that is what we've paid out. So that includes all of the fixed costs of like um [clears throat] um stop-loss premiums, any admin fees, the variable weeklies, and then what we get back for any of that stop-loss um covered up for 50,000 um any pharmacy rebates, things like that. That's what we kind of used to build this year's budget from. >> Yes. So I and the insurance center they have >> they [clears throat] can go deeper into it and say like this is what we think
070it's going to look like next year. And am I right that where that would show up in the budget would be salary fringe expense then? >> Yes. Because uh we have budgeted for 3. Well, there'd be other things in this though too. So we never actually see anything in this as to what what did we budget this year? >> Not just specifically health insurance. I can pull that out. Right. It would be in there, but there's so much more there. Yeah. I would be curious. What did we budget this year? What did we budget last year? because I kind of not real familiar with us anymore at least on uh if our specific our loss ratio was 139% [clears throat] what does that mean that's where you looking for the where you see the high
071in the yellow thing for last year so [snorts] I think part of that is just that I mean We went over what our estimated budget was going to be. That's what that is. >> We went over budget on that and I'd be curious to see how far, but I have to know how much we budgeted last year and I wonder how much we b this year. >> Okay. >> That's not what the estimated budget is. >> So that's a number that comes from the insurance center. >> That's not what we budgeted. >> It's very close, but the it's probably that is that number. It's not specifically pulled out on the quarterly budget, but I can pull it out in email and it's not on the sheet because this is the numbers from them. >> Correct.
072>> Yes. >> On actual claims and I don't really don't understand the how they do that partway through a year, you know. I mean, they must have something anticipated, but yeah. Now what it shows is 13%. >> You [clears throat] know, just >> we have a team of analysts that really can get into the weeds on this. Um, and I think Janet may have said that if we wanted her to speak on this, we could always have her. >> I think we just need to we need to understand some of this a little bit better, but I mean, she can help us with some of that, but I I just want to find out the numbers and, you know, what we want to ask before we bother. ever come. But I think we're going to
073have to at some point. I think we probably need to start getting used to the idea that um and I got to look at these numbers a little bit because I think if I go back I got three years worth of the numbers now from this is our third year. Uh it it does kind of look like the number of people we're insuring has increased. I didn't figure a percent or anything but it it has definitely increased. Um do we have fewer people taking uh payment in L or is it strictly that the family size is getting bigger and we still have about the same number taking Lou is somewhat similar. I do think it has gone down since I started. Um but we we've also gotten more family plans. We don't have very many
074single plans on on that. >> Well, I think we're going to have to get used to the idea that we're going to have to join the rest of the masses and we're going to have to have employ premiums. I think I probably are going to find a loss well 139 yes 139% loss ratio last year. I'm just curious to how many dollars that translates into and I don't know how we can and we spent, you know, like I said, we spent every cent last year of the the refer the extra money, but I mean that's why we asked for it because we knew that, you know, to know to keep doing what we were doing, we needed that. But at some point, we're gonna have to find things that we're going to have to do
075differently. And that's patients. >> And I think that was part of our discussion with the health insurance experts was really digging in and they were trying to find more data to support some more decisions because that was a conversation and it has been honestly the last couple years knowing that we were going to have >> but it's been one of those things if we can maintain without doing it >> right. you know it's a >> but we're employees the very yeah >> um and then also incentivizing you know are making sure that cash and l is still attractive >> cash and loo will be I think we make cash and loo more attractive when there is a premium it will do that right right now the difference is pay you whatever we pay you say
0767,000 what is it seven maybe six or seven whatever it is 66 so we pay 65 the others, you know, so it's 65 more than somebody else. Once we start charging even, you know, even if you only end up having to pay a couple thousand for a year, you know, you just increase the value of your payment. So >> yeah, and that was all part of that discussion was talking all about those variables to try to get this to to work >> to the best of everyone's The good thing about being the bad thing about being selfinsured is that we have to be the bad guys and figure out how to do this and and impose it. But I think you have to. We got a portion of our public that doesn't even have health
077insurance for themselves. So do you ask them to pay more and more taxes just to so we could keep you know that can't become part of the but maybe the good part is we can set premiums and they don't have to keep going up every every year if we can keep and maybe that'll be the thing that can keep um people talked about how we can't get people to really participate in some of these spell costs saving things that they wanted to. We haven't had real great success with that. >> I think we've gotten better. Like the neighborhood clinic has really increased. >> Um people are calling in, you know, to to change their um >> Okay. Are we getting a little bit more talked about it? There were very very few. So >> I
078mean I think there's room for improvement. >> Oh definitely. it. But um yeah, it's happening more and I think the more the staff are actually talking about their experience, you know, than others are seizing that and >> yeah, I definitely think yeah, there's some things to be done there and we need to look maybe the insurance company can help us find some examples and some things too then of how do you incentivize, >> right? They're super they're super helpful and they have so much >> Yeah. they, you know, and they work with so many other different schools and companies that they have a lot to bring to the table that >> how we can approve. >> Yeah. [clears throat] >> So, yeah, definitely something that we're continuing to engage in. >> We can't wait very
079long though because this the insurance year starts in July just right with the fiscal year and this is February. So, and I think the intent was because what what was it a couple weeks ago and they said like another month so that it's coming up but I think we're meeting again. >> It's on the calendar. I can't remember the day though but they've already >> within the next month for sure. Yeah. So, >> is it easy to pull the historic data just as far as I mean I know Jan's got her last few years but like even just going back to when we were still um on a plan just so we can kind of look at >> Oh yeah has been over the last couple of years >> any specific like how many years
080back would you prefer to see like then? Yeah, five maybe. Just >> I can tell because once you get to the pandemic things are always seem to be screwed up or not screwed up but I mean >> screwed up on everything but maybe this >> just might give us a little bit better perspective year-over-year just kind of how if we still have a little bit of data from when we were not on a selfunded plan I think that helpful to compare it. >> That's a good idea. All right, there's no further discussion of self-funded housing transform. We'll jump into the superintendent approval. >> Great. Um so last Friday I attended the pack meeting and DPI was there visiting with us and they shared um they were there to share kind of their strategic direction which
081um their emphasis was on how they were modernizing their systems, improving their customer service to districts and trying to better align academic and operational supports. um and their intention is to really get into rural areas and listen and collaborate u more so with districts just like ours. Um a major focus of DPI is going to be that portrait of a graduate. The conversation is is um transitioning to simply um not simply asking our students proficient to asking what should graduates walk out the door with? um because these include academic skills, career readiness, um durable skills that employers are asking for and there's also more exploration into some competency based models and how assessment may evolve over time. There was also conversation about career and college readiness. Um, another hot topic that day, there's a growing
082recognition of the importance of trades, dual enrollment opportunities, and equitable access to higher education. That was a big part of the conversation because of our areas. Um, at the same time, there are ongoing conversations about what are some different funding structures and how can we navigate those systems to ensure that all of our students, no matter their background, have access. Um there was also conversation around the teacher workforce challenges. It's still a major statewide concern. Um especially in high need areas and the substitute shortages. Programs like educators rising. Um there was a speaker um speaking on the benefits of that and the grow your own models were highlighted as kind of some more long-term strategies to strengthen the pipeline and encourage students to consider careers in education. Um, mental health continues to be a statewide
083priority and identifying that schools play a significant role in supporting students beyond their academics. Um, there were some broader legislative and budget discussions at the state level including um there was conversations about property taxes and healthc care cost increases. Um so all of those conversations are happening everywhere and at our state level. Um also noting there was um surplus negotiations are heating up at the state level. The governor has proposed a package that includes additional general aid and special education aid paired with he's really trying to focus on some tax relief relief measures and legislators continue negotiations and it will it continue to remain unclear obviously um where those final agreements will land. Um also the shortfall in special education categorical aid remains a focus for everyone um really really um driving that need for
084that aid. Um more [clears throat] locally um speaking on behalf of specific to Kikapoo we continue to move forward thoughtfully in our AI space. A staff survey results kind of showed a range of familiarity with AI but also an interest in some more guidance. So I met with Lisa Arnison from CISA and gained some insight and expertise from her experience and we developed a red yellow green framework that I'll distribute um along with some more information to the staff. Um also working heavily with CISA 3 and uh I think Allison mentioned really trying to build our understanding of AI um at different levels. So there's a leadership team and there are some different teacher >> [clears throat] >> um sessions. So we are going in March um to work with Tony to continue our our
085understanding of best practice and guidance and policy um to ensure that we're moving forward carefully and strategically with trying to implement um AI here at Kiku. Our January inservice received very positive feedback particularly with the WEA presentation and um we had a CPR training. The staff um felt it was meaningful and practical. um the office staff, Allison, Becky, and I attended an HR law session at CISA um to review some different hiring practices, contracts, and book language to ensure that we are compliant and proactive and just kind of um ironing out some of those different orientation processes that we have in place. Organic Valley has again donated $10,000, bringing our funds to 29,000 from Organic Valley. Um we are as an admin team um evaluating some mission aligned uses of those funds um since they
086haven't identified specifics to what they want them to go towards. Um so looking at some different playground equipment, digital signage and facility improvements. Um, we also learned of an additional potential donor for playground equipment, which is very encouraging. From a school climate and safety perspective, things are going well. Um, Vernon County task force met today and we continue to discuss um, continuity of operations for schools um, on these meetings. It's the hospital, it's law enforcement, it's fire um and school districts to just kind of align um our operations for for safety uh threat assessments and then evaluate and align all of our emergency response plans. Um we get updated on different trainings and drills and um officer reaceler um commented that he is kind of concluding his opioid um sessions with area students and moving
087into his fifth grade counteract classes. Administrative team continues to work. Um we're we'll we will be evaluating this five-year staffing projection plan. While retirements cannot be confirmed, we are identifying some high aid, high need areas and developing some replacement strategies. So, we will remain proactive rather than reactive. And last but not least, oh, okay, I'm just going to try to just keep reading so I don't get any question at all. Um, I want to recognize the staff and the students and the board members and truly the entire Kiku community. Uh, yesterday marked the anniversary of one of the most challenging and painful days and journeys in my life. And when you are forced to start over, it doesn't stay contained in that single moment. It kind of lingers and it brings heavy doses of fear
088and worry and anxiety that shows up when you don't expect it to and physical symptoms that remind you your body remembers what your mind wishes it would forget. So even a year later the challenges are still real and there are things I cannot do that I once did. There are moments that I am reminded that I am not who I was before. And that is hard and hurtful. But here is what I am learning. Strength does not always look like going back to who you were. Sometimes strength looks like what's becoming and is deeper. Yesterday was a day that had quietly been terrorizing me and I wasn't sure I could walk into it. But Aaron wouldn't let me skip school. >> He came and picked me up and made me and fortunately didn't make me
089drive. But he brought me to school. made me come. And when I walked in, it felt like the biggest bear hug I could ever imagine. I walked into my office staff standing there with food and big hugs. I walked into [clears throat] my office with gifts and sweet heartfelt cards. Um, I received hugs with intention. The students gave me the most treasured heartfelt notes. They are so precious. The middle school choir sang, "Lean on me." And high school students sent emails. "In a world that can feel heavy and divided, this place is filled with everything the world should be." There's a story, I think it's a Christmas story, about a Grinch that his heart was two sizes too small. He was filled with anger, isolation, resentment. But what didn't change [clears throat] but what changed
090him wasn't someone demanding him to be different. It was love. It was the sound of people singing together. It was community. It was goodness that refused to disappear. And on this day, yesterday, the fear, the worry, the anger were all replaced with something much bigger. As it is said, the Grinch's heart grew three sizes that day. That is exactly what happened to me. The fear didn't wind. The anxiety did not define my day. And the physical reminders didn't control my moments. Love replaced it. Acts of support replaced it. Kindness replaced it. A whole community replaced. So the shaking stopped, the spinning stopped, the heaviness lifted. And instead of feeling defeated by that day, I felt triumphant. I may not have everything I once had, but I have a new perspective. I have gratitude that runs
091deeper than I ever possibly knew. And so [gasps] to the parents of this district, well done. To the staff, well done. To the families raising these young people, well done. You have built something here that is very rare, something that is so strong, and something that is so good. Kikapoo is unbelievably powerful, and I am simply profoundly grateful to be a Kikapoo Panther. So, I just wanted to thank you and share how amazing this place honestly is. It takes something so incredibly horrible and replaces it. And I think that that is is speaks volumes about kickoo. So, that's all I have. [laughter] >> I'm not following that. Glad you're here, too. >> Thank you. >> All right. Um, just to follow up on last month, um, there was the question just as far as classes,
092what we paid for. So, just wanted to let everybody know. Um, if it is a class through, um, a youth apprentichip program through CISA, CISA pays for that. If it's courses outside of that, um, kids can take up to 18 credits of courses that we don't specifically offer. So, if it's outside of that, then it's something that we would pay for. We get 25% reimbursement, I think, on the not the Southwest Tech, but the college ones. Um, other than that, that's part of the program that that we have as far as paid for those before they sign up for, right? >> Yes. Yes. And that's going back to it has to be a course that we do not offer. There's no comparable. Yeah. Yep. So um validictorian, saludiatoran, technical excellence scholar. Those have been announced.
093So Skyler Hansen is the validictorian of this year. Uh Braden Linder is a saludiatoran this year and Bennett Coder is the technical excellence scholar. So congrats to them. Um all have worked hard and done a great job. One of the things that I think I had brought it up earlier this fall, I know we had talked about at a policy meeting. had mentioned it just as far as graduation um and students walking if they have a different alternative pathway which we've started to see more um when we met and actually it was Mara and Kim but I had given information on it but when they met with David at the policy committee did you guys meet on Monday >> we didn't meet >> Friday we just talk >> yeah just with >> so essentially with
094the change with our Neola policy it basically is written to give that flexibility so it allows that but just talking with Kim and Marlo we've never done that so just wanted to make sure everybody's aware that that's in there unless anybody has an objection. Um the thought would be if students if they have a better futures diploma or they have an HSED um that they would be able to walk through graduation, it would just specifically denote that they had that aspect um in it. So unless anybody has any objections to that, I think we're covered in our policy with that. Um, I think just to make it be a little more specific with a couple things, we'll put it in next year student handbook. Um, but I think according to David, we're covered. I just
095wanted it's it's different than what we've had. We haven't had very many of them hardly ever. Um, but now that you know there are a few more and we've got those requests that, hey, if I graduate from Better Futures or I get my HSAD, can I still lock at graduation? Um, we've started to get more of those. So, just wanted to check on that. Does anybody have any questions or thoughts? Is that a current policy or is that a change or something? >> It's what's the NEOA policy? >> Actually, yeah. And that's one up for review, but I don't think there are any changes on it. >> Right. And I think that we just really honestly looked at our mission to provide an education [clears throat] to our students and those particular students really gained
096that engagement that >> and so we feel like we're still we they want to walk and we still feel like we've we've guided them to the education that they are required or they need in order to be successful. So we wanted to allow them to >> right >> walk >> and it and again it's it's in our policy. It's just not been our practice, so to speak. So, just, you know, we really haven't had it happen. And so, >> you're right, though. There's going to be more. >> There's going to be, we've already, I can tell you, we've already we've gotten more. You know, if you look at those numbers that we talked about earlier, just some of the increases and changes. It's, you know, the standard day for some kids, it's just not not
097like it used to be. So, anyways, just wanted to communicate on that. Um, one other aspect to just as a heads up, and I don't know that we'll get there. Um, softball numbers. We looked at them this past fall. We looked at them this past spring. We looked at them again here in the last month to see where they're at. Some things have changed. I think we're going to be okay for this spring. Um, but it does bring up the question of possibly looking at a co-op with LFARGE for the future. So, um, we're going to be in contact with them. Um, if it would be something that we would do for next year, it would have to be by March 1st of next year because of the timeline that they get. Um the tough
098part is that we would have to not for this year but for next year if we would want to do it. >> But you mean we wouldn't have to decide till next year or >> No, we'd have to sign the intent by next month. Okay. >> Um the tough part is and when we really, you know, we we did stuff and we went through baseball and softball to just really check because numbers have changed. I mean we >> we met with Lefarge, we literally did it granularly down to, okay, this is Susie, this is Johnny. you know, every single kid had a name and what grade they were in and you know, even those numbers were 10 to 12 and whatever and all a sudden now you get three or four that say they've changed
099their mind and >> it's a total different element. So anyway, just know it's not a but it's something that we're looking at >> communicating with Lafar right now to see. >> Yep. So Kent will be talking to >> So um so anyway, we'll see where it goes. Like I said, I think we're we're back up to at least hopefully we're going to have enough for this year, but just looking ahead to where things are at >> something. Do we have to do it next year or can we say oops, changed our mind? >> Uh, I don't think we have to. I think it's just a matter of trying to >> if it's possible we if we don't approve it, we can't do it. But if we do, must we? I guess >> that's a good
100question. I'm not sure. We can find that out. If we can >> I don't know for sure on that one, but I could find that out. >> What does it look like on their side? hurting too. >> What's that? >> Are they hurting too? >> Their softball numbers were >> not great in the fall, but okay. But ours were two >> and then now they're not. >> By okay, you mean 11. >> Yeah. By okay, I mean 11. Well, enough to >> get injured. Take them out, >> you know. >> Yeah. [laughter] >> So, anyway, I just want everybody to know that's kind of a an option. >> Softball. I know that sometimes there's junior high baseball, but do we have >> There is softball, too. >> I'm sorry. >> Yeah. >> But do we
101And is there a participation there? >> Um, again, we've tried to put out like four or five years and it's going to stay. I mean, if you take the kids that are in it right now, we're right in that >> 10. That was a junior high softball code. >> Oh, come on. [laughter] >> Well, we got a new one for this. Hopefully it'll be taking spring. >> Um I think part of it honestly is just we, you know, we've done so well in track and that's you know helping you know and great for that but it's that's just kind of I mean >> other sport it would be kind of >> so anyway just stay tuned but just know it's possibly um you know something we need to look at. Um the other thing just
102lots of activities coming up. Um, we've got honors band on Friday, solo ensemble next Monday, spelling bee coming up March 5th, and the C perch competition again will be March 6. >> That's right. >> Uh, this is another one that they have. So, that's the the next the next round, so to speak. So, that's what I have. Any questions? >> All right. >> At your school. >> I think they're here. Yeah. Yeah. Um, in the spirit of the Olympics, Jen Melie and I think Anna's it was Jen's behind it is we're having the Olympics, we're having reading Olympics in the elementary. So, um, each class is against each other and reading minutes and whoever wins whoever totals the to most minutes reading outside of class. Some kids are volunteer now that it's warmed up. It'll
103be interesting if they keep it. Um, some are volunteering to stay in for recess to read and we'll see what happens when it's 40 this week. Um, but Jen has they had we had an opening ceremony on Monday morning where each class had their own u banner they made and everybody's in the gym and Jen did a really nice job kicking that off and she's keeping track of everything. And then um dress up days next week for that short week, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday. Another books for breakfast we had last week. well attended. And um on also on the 17th is the invention fair. [clears throat] So we'll be in the elementary gym from I don't know how they divi that up, but we did it last year. Ashlin did it last year. Jess Nelson
104is doing it this year. So other schools in the consortium will be here for the invention fair and they these tables will be in there and then um the kids rotate around who are in there and their parents and they show what they made. So short and sweet. All right. Yes. With that, we'll move on to close session state statute 19.851 um section C, F, and G concerning employment promotion, compensation, and performance evaluation data of any public employee over which the government body has jurisdiction or exercise of responsibility. concern financial, medical, social or personal histories or disciplinary data on specific persons. Preliminary considerations of specific personnel problems investigation of charges against specific person except where uh bar and B applies which is if discussed in public would be likely to have substantial adverse effect upon
105reputation or any persons referred to in such experience or data or involved in such problems or investigations. and G confirm with legal council for the government body or be adopted by the body respective litigation on which it is or is likely to be involved which I think we can scratch that in case our legal counsel would want to join us today. So >> um yes looking for a motion to move into close session. >> I make a motion go to close session >> motion by Earl second by J. All in favor I I'll make that motion. Second, open session. >> Second. >> All right. Are we back on? Um, got some motions coming out of close session coaches. I will make a motion to approve the coaches as presented to us. I think they're readable.
106If that's okay with I'll second that. >> All right. Motion by rolling by vote. All in favor? >> I opposed. >> All right. Then motion to adjurnn. >> So moved. >> I'll second. >> Dad. Thanks.