001I'll bring this meeting of the Teton County um district number one school board back to order at 6:03 p.m. Let's start by with the pledge of allegiance, please. I aliance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for it stands one nation under God indivisible with liberty and justice for all. >> Uh next we will have someone read part of our mission vision and value statement. Um Russ D. Abrams, will you read uh the values, please? >> Be happy to. We value students, trust, kindness and respect, challenging standards, fairness and equity, resilience and perseverance, personal achievement. >> Thank you. >> Um moving on to approval of the agenda. Do I have a motion? Madam Chair, I move to approve the February 11th, 2026 regular meeting agenda as presented. >> Is
002there a second? >> Second. >> All in favor? >> I >> oppose. Motion carries. >> Moving on to the superintendence report. >> Madame Chair, trustees, good evening. Um this evening we're going to start with some celebrations. Um the first celebration I would like to um uh recognize is a program that we are initiating in TCSV to recognize more community partners in our district and how they help our schools. Uh moving forward, you will see a community partner um approximately one a month um that will be nominated and selected um that really impact our students and student learning. Um tonight we're starting off with our first recognition. Um and I'd like to formally recognize our partners in connection, the Coons Outdoors uh Foundation. If you could please come forward to the podium. >> We have some
003recognition on behalf of our board of trustees in our district. We have an award for you here. >> Thank you. >> The TCSD Community Partner Connection Award, Coons Outdoors Program. There's some gifts for you as well. >> Thank you so much. >> Um, a few things about Coons before we do a quick why. Um, I'd like for uh Prince Abraham to come up for a minute. Surprise, Dan. Come on. [laughter] I'd like Dan to describe specifically what Counis has done for his building. And I I want to make a note. Uh it's not just Munger. Um it's many schools in our district, but it's a great example what Kums does across the district. And then I think it's really important to describe who we have with us here at the center in terms of how
004it's come full circle. >> Sure. You guys introduce yourselves first though. >> Yeah, sure. >> Okay. >> Hi, I'm Penny Wolf from Holiday. and the executive director of Kuns Outdoors. >> I'm uh Ian Perez Fernandez and I'm like a part I was a participant. I'm a worker there and I also work for the district. [laughter] >> And I'm Maggie Shipley. I'm the director of programs for consumers. >> There you go. Um I won't read the paragraph that's in the box. You can if you'd like. Um since I've been for the last five years now, Kums has been a consistent partner with our students. Um, they do everything from sometimes picking students up at our building to taking them out to experience all the things that we love to do on a daily basis here living
005in Jackson, especially now that it's snowing again. Um, when I go to skiing on the weekends with my kids at snow king, um, their classmates are there. They're the same groups together. They're putting their helmets on backwards [laughter] around forwards and they're just ever present throughout uh, like my personal life like whether it's kaying, hiking, biking, skiing, anything. And then in my work life, they're there every day helping all of our students. And we have a huge number of students that like with pride every day wear their moitos shirts or their clean jackets to school. And it's just really amazing to see. Um every student has the opportunity to like fully integrate into our community and all the activities that like define us and make us special place to be. That's really amazing and you
006all make that happen. and a yes is a par professional among he's a literacy par professional working with students in English and Spanish helping them um up their fluency rate and comprehension of grade level text in small groups all day long he's very busy and he does a million uh recesses at lunch amazing was a participant in middle school and is now coaching some of those same students in Nordic skiing Thursday >> Tuesday >> yeah two days a week after school breakfast >> and also there you Yes. So, super helpful for Munger obviously and all of our students at our school. We really appreciate it and I think you >> sure what it is. >> Sure. I'll say a few words. Um, first of all, thank you so much. Is this the first first one?
007>> Yes. >> Wow. >> Number one, guys. Um, this means a lot. Um, I want to just shout out Maggie here. she's been really instrumental in um developing the partnership with the school district um as well as many staff including Dan um and you know over the past you three or four years um I think that the partnership has really gotten stronger our goal is to really complement what the school district is doing so we focus a lot on out of school time um we've expanded our capacity significantly for summer for summer programs as well as things like afterchool programs um and spring break. So when you're seeing the students, they're safe with you and when they leave school a lot of the times they're safe with us. And so um again just really trying
008to complement what the school is doing. We're super grateful for partnerships. We've been able to get really creative. I've actually been able to teach a ski fitness class at the middle school for kids. Um I know Maggie spends a lot of time there and obviously Abe does too. And um we're about 20% of Teton County School District kids are enrolled in Kum's programs. So, we have significant representation in the school and are just really um excited and proud to have been acknowledged by you all as um a resource um as you're a great resource to us. So, thank you. >> Thank you. [clears throat] >> Thank you. [laughter] [clears throat] >> Thank you. Uh, Madam Chair, the second celebration I have um is the board appreciation week, which will be February 23rd through the 27th.
009This is recognized by the Wyoming School Board Association. Um, in front of you, you'll find kind of a quick uh stat sheet that was put together. Thank you, Sarah, for your help on this work. Um, we thought we would just sort of put by the numbers. We know these are not exact and we know some are plus and minus but we think it's really important that our public understand that over 200 plus hours each trustee per year is in service of our kids over 1,400 plus hours each year for all trustees for the year. Our board has over 56 years total of service as trustees and that basically equates to about 78,000 hours of volunteer service for public schools children. So I would like to thank you for that and congratulations on WSBA [clears throat]
010appreciation week. Again, that's in two weeks. It's not this week. We just won't see you then. So >> thank you. >> And thank you all for your dedication and hard work to the board. Uh we'll move on to district leaders report. And I just wanted to say before I put it out to questions that um you know when reading the district's leaders report um all the elementary schools mentioned winter sports and I just want to thank all the people that make that happen and again that connection and the and the community partners who make it happen as well. I it was really I got thinking about it as I was reading it and it's a we're really lucky to have those opportunities for our kids across because we just assume that every child is partic
011partaking in all amazing things we offer in Teton County and that is not true and so it's nice that the schools see that they get some of that. So thank you. Are there any other questions or comments on the district leaders report? Madam Chair, >> I'd like to thank the Ala School particularly for putting Jay's up and down the road for Jaylen Cout who won a silver today. We're hoping for a gold on Friday, I guess, from her. But I know I know I know she appreciates that very deeply. It's very cool of you guys to be. >> We watched today. That's cool. It's really fun. >> Oh, that's cool. Anybody else? >> Um, Trusty Gingry, >> one just big thank you to Principal Heller. I I appreciate seeing those early numbers on his scores,
012especially on the math sixth grade. Looks like things are really going well at the middle school and so I appreciate him getting those to us early. And number two, uh really appreciate Jason Huggins. Looks like um they're really cranking at facilities. A lot of the little projects that uh need to get done are getting done. And some new equipment got bought this week. um the floor scrubber things. Um so anyway, I just think Jason's put a great >> one. Um, you mentioned winter sports and I think now that we're in the legislative season and this is an issue down in Cheyenne, the winter sports are are very possibly possible because of our school board's rec district and the and the mill that we control that funds programs just like this. and um and we need
013to make sure that we continue to be able to um do that while the legislature is thinking about making big changes to that program. >> Thank you, Madam Chair. Um I wanted to ask uh Principal Holshire on these scores, is this a um how is this versus prior years? Madam chair, trustee. Um, >> uh, good. [laughter] >> Is there a pro? [laughter] >> Um, well, for example, uh, we're at 44% in sixth grade right now. Last year at the end of the year on the summitive, we were at 39% total. So, okay. Um, that's a five point gain considering that we're only halfway through the year. So, that's that's that's good for us. Our school improvement plan is to be above 50% across all grade levels. So, we're on track for that. Um, and that
014would be a big game for us. Um, I think the other one I put in there was um, seventh grade ELA was maybe at 75%. Um, which is fantastic score at the mid mid level. Um, science was at 59. um at the you know halfway point. So it's it's on track again to we were number one in the state last year uh to do that again. >> Okay. >> Um I don't have all the scores on top of my head in terms of where we were last year at the interim versus uh this year's interim. Um but we are seeing some good gains. >> Is there anything specific you can you feel that this is attributable to that growth? Uh I do think our MTSS system is um better than it has been in years
015past. And so we have way more uh students in tier 2 interventions which is happens during their 1:00 to 1:35 time um and targeted specifically uh towards math. >> Okay. And your new math. >> Yeah. And we're year two of our math curriculum. I love it. I love it. I love it. I love it. um not so much um also for what it does for kids socially emotionally. Um you walk into a class, every kid knows each other's name. They have a new group every single day. They're up. They're doing math with the board and it's really exciting to see. >> It's wonderful. >> Yeah. >> Thank you. And then >> I don't see I don't see Ben here. I'm just wondering this honoral uh criteria uh that the high school if there's somebody that
016can explain what that is because I didn't I couldn't make it tail. >> Oh, great. >> And I'm looking at this graph that he put in our scores and I'm just wondering what that means. >> So, the three different categories are college culture, college credit, and college optimization. I'm looking at the AP website right now to make sure I get the percentages right, but um college culture is 40% or more of the graduating cohort. So, all seniors last year took at least one AP exam during high school. So, access to AP classes. Um, college credit is 25% or more of the graduating cohort scored a three or higher on at least one AP exam during high school year. And clearly, we were higher in those to get like the platinum level. That's just like the
017bottom cut off, the 25%. Um, and then college optimization is taking five or more APs during your time at high school. So, optimizing the amount of college credits you can earn through the AP program. So, we were at 74% of our students took at least one AP exam over the course of their four years at JHS. 63% for the college credit part earned a three or more on at least one AP exam. And then 20% of our student body took five or more over the course of their time from the graduating class of last year. That make sense. >> Okay. >> It's impressive. >> Yeah. >> Thank you. >> Thanks, Laura. >> Madam [clears throat] Chair. >> Yes. >> Um I I'm impressed with the graduation rate numbers and seeing improvement from previous years. I'm
018curious with the data that's available. Are we seeing a correlation from what's happening in elementary and then over to middle and then how that feeds up into high school? Um are we seeing improvements in elementary and then middle school and then therefore it's relating turning into higher graduation rates? Um, is there any connection in data points in that? Um, just curious if that's out there. >> Sure. Um, Madam Chair, Fresley Abrams, when you look at the K568 912 system, um, the the one consistent data point we have and it, uh, it's it's a variable because, as we all know, it looks different in each level is Y. Um, and so when you approach that, high school students could probably speak to this as well. Um, we know there's a little different approach to it at
0199 and 10. I'm not minimizing the in points. We do need data to show us where our kids are, but the level um, from starting in grade three to 10, that's our consistent consistent loop. Beyond that, it does get tricky to have specific data to dial into to track students over time because the systems change. For example, um yes, the middle school is a course-based system, but the courses essentially um don't have the same transcript component with the high school has. So, transcripting is different. Level of intensity starts to rise in grades nine and your educational record becomes quite frankly permanent. um and you're you're you're a coursebased system, but to compare grades 9 or 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, and 11 as you go through those systems, it's a difficult task be able to
020do that with pinpoint accuracy because the systems are that the coursebased systems are different. It's easier to do in K5 because the systems are very consistent in grade 1, 2, 3, four, and five, and they're NPSS systems that they're using to seek progress monitoring. Once you hit six and get into that course system, it does change. Wine top was one measure we can use. I would say echoing based off the graduation rate. Graduation rate's a tough one to say we did this in seventh grade. Therefore, our graduation rate is going to look like this because there's so many variables that happen between grades seven and eight and 12 with credits. Um, what kids choose to take, level of classes they choose to take. Um, Laura just spoke to AP AP courses as a culture at
021the high school. I think we all recognize that. But the big part of that how many take for some of our students we want them to put their toes in one and give it a shot. Expose yourself to rigorous curriculum. It might be out of your comfort zone. For some of our students and and they I think a lot of them are children they might take four or five in a year and sometimes we question that. Is that healthy for a kid? But we also have that dynamic in our schools of kids really loading up. So we balance that across the board. But to have one definitive measure going K12, it's a difficult task to do. I wish we had a system that was had the measurements were a little bit more aligned, but it
022is more difficult as you progress into a coursebased system 6 through 12. Could um is there some sort of data point or qualitative data that shows that AVID has had an effect on the graduation rate? >> We do see um we do see that we see kids much more engaged in those classes that they're more relevant to their life. They apply learning to life. That's one of the goals of some of the added programming um versus more abstract learning or AC higher level or academic learning. Um the one area that I failed to mention that um Trusty CL you you kind of jarred my memory and going back to um Trusty Abram's question is that at the high school I think people fail to see that that is one of the schools that actually has
023more accountability measures than any other school. At the ninth grade level, we do have a predictive measurement. And one of those predictive measurements is the number of credits a kid earns. Right now, if they earn 6.5 credits out of seven, that's a green color on the state report card, but it's not just some abstract color. We know that if a kid gets at least 6.5, their chances of graduating on time are spoton. Usually for us, we can track them. That's one metric that is used in the accountability report for high schools is a ninth grade credit earnings. Also, as they go through at the high school, there's there's a post-secary readiness, which measures how many college credits a kid earns for their work-based learning experiences. The ACT is their 11th grade measure. So, we can
024kind of see by 9 and 11 where they're going to fall, but tracking it from K to 12 is a little more difficult. Thank you. Did I answer your question? >> Thank you. >> Anybody else? >> Uh, seeing no more questions or comments, we can move on from the district leaders report to reports and items for discussion. [clears throat] First up is the student school board member report. Good evening, trustees. Um, so for our uh target and I guess throughout the rest of the year, we're really hoping to reduce waste in our community and really focus on how we can get students to start reusing things that they've lost more. And [laughter] so there is on the screen you can see the current bus barn lost and found which is obviously a ton of things
025and Louisa will say more about it but what we're trying to do is figure out how we can reunite all these items with people across our district and make it efficient and easy for everyone to get back what they don't have anymore. Um, so right now we're scheduling a time where we can go in and organize by school and item with a bunch of volunteers and sort gloves, hats, water bottles. And we've approached students for sustainability and they're super on board with helping us out to go and sort through everything. And the other thing we were kind of talking about was possibly doing during our graduation, having there be a high school club where people will go and do this again and just trying to make more of a culture. People want to volunteer to
026help sort of the bus barn. And Louis is going to talk a little bit more about what we're going to do. >> Hey, so I made a possible like flyer option that we could be sending out. It's just like a little meet up where parents and like faculty and students can come to like either schools to pick up hopefully pick up all their like water bottles, gloves, and hats. And we on the on top of this idea, we were thinking of doing like a style swap. So feel like bunch of people have like clothes they no longer use and just throw it out. So instead of throwing it out, we could also like combine a sustainability style swap and like people can bring in clothes that they no longer use and hopefully take some new
027items instead of buying And then back to our like water like our past goal of having the reusable water bottle drive. Um our next steps are to acquire bins to put them in front of every classroom and then collect all the water bottles so that we can sanitize them. Yeah. >> Um and so our next steps are >> to uh set a time and date for the bus barn sort through and then make announcements um so people can um come bring the water bottles and hopefully we can do it for every school so that every school gets water bottle. >> So to close off we have um a thank you letter to our trustees. No, I'm sorry. Well, so they could follow up. Okay. Um, dear trustees, on behalf of the student, school board members,
028we want to share our sincere thanks for the time, care, and leadership you give to our district. >> As students, we see the result of your work every day in our classrooms, activities, and opportunities that help prepare us for a life after school. We also want to thank you for the work you do to support the student school board member program, especially the time and care you put into student interviews and mentoring. You're engaged, supportive, and you make us feel like we like what we say truly matters. Since working with you more closely, we've gained a new appreciation for how much time and thought goes into your role. We notice how you check in with us at meetings, ask about our days, take a genuine interest in students, whether that's learning a student's name at
029a celebration or visiting schools to see programs like AVID firsthand. We appreciate how open-minded you are to new ideas and how you want to understand how policies and decisions actually affect students. It's clear you consider not just the item in front of you, but the guidelines, policies, and long-term impact behind every decision. As seniors preparing for our next steps, we've learned a lot from watching you lead. You've shown us how to be passionate about something while still being kind and respectful. We've also learned how much advocate advocacy happens behind the scenes, including at the state level, and how you deeply care about teachers and issues that affect them like healthcare. Thank you for your constant support, your example of service, and for always keeping students at the center of your work. It truly makes a
030difference in our lives. With appreciation, the TCSD student school board member Thank you. >> Thank you. Um I had one question about um reuniting students with their lost items and have you considered um what you're going to do if you with the leftovers and um I wonder if there's an opportunity to do some fundraising with some of these things that don't get claimed after a certain period of time. So, it was sort of a statement and a question, but a question you don't have to answer, but I just was I was thinking I looked at that picture. I thought of it the other day when I was going through my board pack and I looked at that picture and I thought, "Huh, there might be an opportunity for fundraising here." We were actually we were
031talking about it. We don't really have a set plan yet, but we were talking about how if we have people put um a little label on clothes or water bottles that we take if it's lost like for 3 weeks that we can take it and just donate it to in to our community and just give it to people. We were thinking this for free, but we could also do fundraising. Um and we were talking to Mr. Hansen about like creating a website where what we're going to do is organize all the clothes and organized by school and by item of lost item and have parents be able to go through and collect water bottles and they'll see all the photos of the water bottle and pick out which one's theirs and then know if they
032should go pick it up or not. >> Yeah, it's great. Like adding on to Georgiana, like something we talked with um here, we talked about like how we can prevent from the lost items getting lost again and how like what we can do to make ensure that those items stay with their variable owners. We're talking about like the stickers we can add labels on them or like little clips or like lunch boxes and hook them onto your backpack like little students can do so they don't get lost. >> Thank you. Anybody else? >> Super. Thank you very much. >> Uh, next up, fiscal management committee. Um, Kristen is online. Madam Chairman, Kristen's online tonight. Um, I've been so um wrapped up with legislature, I forgot when we even met last. So, uh, uh, Kristen and
033I have been spending a lot of time, uh, with the model, with the finance model and recalibration, and we give you a brief update on that a little later. So, Kristen, >> yes. Um, thank you, Madam Chair and trustees. Um, we I you know, as Bill said that, I started to look back at my calendar and I'm not sure if we met in January, [laughter] but I'm sure if we met in January, we talked about um the recalibration bill and um just where we where where we sit as a district and and what we need to happen in the session. Uh the budget update here is posted um for your viewing. There's really no big surprises there. Everything is moving forward as expected. Uh, and I stand for questions. I'm happy to answer anything about
034the session. I know Bill has been um or trustee uh Scarlet, I'm sorry, has been very involved in the session as well. And we have a couple of bills that we're watching. One being uh House Bill, I think it's 127. Um, Trusty Scarlet, correct me if I'm wrong, but that's the the recreation district bill that was introduced to the House uh a few days ago. So, that's definitely one that we're watching, and it it removes the power from local school boards to be able to levy those mills. Madam chair, am I right that it doesn't remove it removes the board's power, but it can always go through uh the voters. Correct. The way I mad chairman, the way I understand the bill, and director Mayo can correct me, um, we would have to at our
035expense file with the county commission to be put on the ballot, >> right? >> And then the community would have to vote to approve our ability to assess one mill uh for systems of recreation. Um, and that approval would last for four years. the the Tucson Conservation District has to do the same. >> And the Conservation District uh the if the county and our county doesn't have a rec district, but if they were to do it, they would have to do it the same way. All of those additional mills would have to go to the voter. >> What about the early childhood BOSEIS? >> Yeah. >> Um there was a bill um there was a bill that addressed the Boseies as well. It was really it it addressed all mill levies um by school boards
036and that bill did not pass introduction. Only the one addressing wreck districts passed. >> Okay. at at this point because I >> at this point yeah >> I thought I saw where uh Representative Neman or Nyman had brought that forward to be introduced >> there there there was another one um I I I can look it up and um send information through Superintendent Chris. Yeah, it it's House Bill 58, voter approval for mill levy in position and it will be up for introduction tomorrow if they get to it. It's the last bill. I think that's the one, isn't it, Kristen? >> I'm looking at it now and it is House Bill 58. Um, I'm looking at the schedule for tomorrow. Um, it does not look like it's on the agenda for tomorrow. There's no house
037floor session posted for tomorrow yet. >> So, they don't know yet. >> It seems like there's so much redundancy with so many of these bills that it's really hard to track. >> And so, I appreciate you tracking them because I'm having a hard time. Uh, Trusty Bosch. Um, chairman. Um, so, uh, just I know, uh, Kristen and Bill are, uh, reading statutes, which, uh, I can tell you will probably be crazy unto itself. So, we did meet on January 26th. Um, we did go over, uh, health insurance, but, given uh, current legislation and things like that, it's kind of put on hold. We still getting some going to get some ideas and proposals. Um, we also spoke a little bit about uh health insurance accounts and then I have a date of April 15th which
038was a date that I wrote down as kind of a date that we have to look at as far as making decisions depending upon what laws are passed and legislation passes. Um, we did spend a little bit of time focusing also on uh various activities and looking through what they cost and uh per student and things of that nature. Um, I don't think there were any decisions made, but it was kind of a precursor to um if and how or what the budget is [snorts and clears throat] or excuse me, what the legislation is on budget that we might have to take a closer look at some of those activities. And so there was some discussion about um what the benefits are, what the costs are, and the number of students participating in. Um and
039if I remember right, Kristen kind of reiterated a lot of the things that we have already discussed about the state health care plan and how that would um cause us some real headaches with regards to paying for premiums and stuff like that. even if uh staff or whoever opt to take insurance elsewhere, we still have to pay for it. So, um our premiums for that, I could be restate stating that. But um >> anyway, those are the other things we went over. So, >> thank you, Trusty Bosch. Yes, health insurance. Um I I I feel like that changes on the daily, but we do have a finance committee meeting on February 17th, uh where we should get quite a bit more information through the finance committee, through our consultant, as well as uh I've asked
040for all of the the information um for our bids to be received no later than the March 17th finance committee meeting. So, that's earlier than normal and we're pushing it a little bit, but it'd be great if we could have the bid information before spring break. >> Trusty Abs. Madam Chair, um Trusty Bosch, if I could clarify one of those points about the insurance, >> it was if if someone chooses one of the supplemental insuranceances but chooses not to be on the health care, we are still charged for the full Thank you. premium on that. Um they don't separate it out unfortunately. Okay. Anybody else questions, comments? >> Thank you. >> Moving on to educational service committee. >> It's so good to be up here with you. >> Oh, it's so good to be >>
041Good evening. Wow. There we go. >> Did you Did you prepare that? >> We did. We've been practicing all day long. [laughter] >> Good evening. Um, we're going to actually start with the um accreditation presentation. Sorry, we mixed it up on you, Sarah. I apologize. Um, really, this is just an opportunity for us to kind of review um what's happened since the accreditation process. So on February 2nd, our entire admin team met um with cabinet I mean with Scott and um ED services and we reviewed the accreditation results, the final report, the May 2025 staff climate survey and the December 2025 WSBA climate survey results. It was a really great opportunity for all of us as teams to really go dive deep into the recommendations, some of the highlights, some of the opportunities for improvement,
042and really start thinking about next steps as we move forward into next year. This is of course a five-year um accreditation review. Every year we also do submit assurance that we're following all of the state statutes. Um and then every five years we have an opportunity to get feedback from our peers outside of district. So, what we're going to do is start with really highlighting the strengths, but just a reminder, we're talking about the accreditation report, but when we talk about the recommendations, they will include the results from both the school board climate survey as well as our May 2025 climate survey. So, we're going to start with the strengths and I'm going to let Megan take over. >> Good evening, board of trustees. Madame Chair, Megan Fouch, director of educational services. And um just
043to orient you with the packets in front of you. One is the full accreditation report and then we also printed the slide deck so you can see kind of follow along as we're going through it. Um I'm on the slide strengths under this section which is section eight um instructional. So, as we reviewed kind of um what we noticed that the peer review team really highlighted, it was really focused on the PLC, our PLC progress over the last five years. Um and they really called out specific um alignment strategies such as evidence-based grading that we've been implementing um and then our collaborative development of the PD plan. And really this highlights the focus on in evidence-based instructional practices. Um so this was definitely one of our stronger areas and um when you read the accreditation
044full report the peerreview team does highlight some of those areas in the um narrative. So next slide please. >> Just highlight the purple. This is our big purple celebration which is exemplary which which speaks volumes about the hard work that we've all been doing um to move forward in this area. So I just wanted to acknowledge that. >> Um another area of strength that we were celebrated for is our school leadership. Um so that's section three in the peer review book. Um, and I did want to read a couple specific just some celebrations here. I think it really speaks to kind of the questions coming up on improvements of the system and our um just some metrics that we're seeing improve over time. Um, one of the peer review uh sentences was strong school leadership
045focused on instruction is evident directly correlating with improved student achievement. So, I thought that was a perfect sentence to highlight. Um, and then significant instructional shift such as the 612 transition to evidence-based grading reflects a commitment to reesctional learning communities are key to advancing instructional priorities. I think those really highlight the work we've been doing collectively. Um and something also that was very evident in the peerreview report and that we also noticed in across um the comparison between the climate survey was this really positive school culture um and principles really engaged in professional development leaders of PD strong collective efficacy um and then definitely called out multiple times our implementation of evidence-based grading MTSS AVID through strong leadership at our our school sites. The next um highlight highlighted the next slide um relationships and sense
046of belonging. So this was a an area that was a a [snorts] strength for sure, one of our strongest areas. Um strong staff and leader relationships. um strong sense of belonging in our schools amongst students, staff and family through that was really highlighted through the family engagement survey results. Um and this was also called out in our in our narrative of the peer review highlighting the family engagement work that we're doing and and social and emotional um learning alignment and the mental health um focus of our district. So, >> anything else? >> No, I can come in. Okay. >> Okay. And [clears throat] then the next slide is really highlighting the key summaries. When you look across all three of those data points, when you look across the summary of the accreditation, um you look
047across our climate survey from last year, that was that was our staff survey and our um family survey. and um our most recent Wyoming Schoolboard Association climate survey. These were the trends that emerged and these were the really key areas that our K12 admin team and ED services identified as really these areas of strength for our district. So, um, we've already spoken about some of these like strong school leadership, the PLC work, um, the like definitely called out the principles of teacher relationships, the staff leader relationships, um, and really just this culture of collaborative collaborative work and implementation of core priorities like EVG and MTSS um, and social emotional learning. And we had a lot of celebrations. they we we received a lot of um positive um positive comments in the peer review. Um I
048was really looking for maybe a little bit more of some improvement like ideas from them. So it was a it was a good um activity that we did which we were unpacked all three of these areas to look for some emerging trends for improvement. Okay. So now we're moving um towards the recommendations for improvements. And I think that as a team and as an admin team um you know this is a collective review of the last five years of documentation of evidence. And so I I don't think any of these areas are really surprising um because we were aware kind of our areas of focus moving forward. And the first one that I just want to highlight is really around um safety and and that really is about identifying facilities and systems for student and
049staff staff safety as well as an emergency operating plan. They're really highlighting what we know to be next on our list and and Mike Hansen is already on board and looking at um at really expanding what we're currently doing and making sure that everything is safe. The high school is piloting a visitor um system which has been really nice. So I think we're already making some good strides and moving in that direction. Um the next recommendation was really thinking about the governance um kind of focus on the strategic plan and it was recognized that with COVID and everything that we've been doing the last few years that the strategic plan has not been updated with stakeholder input since 1617. And so it's we're already talking about that and thinking about how we want to move
050forward with that. So that's just another highlight that they want to make sure that we are aware of. and um and give us recommendations for ensuring that there's more stakeholder in that. Any questions on those two? Okay, the next one is also something that I think we knew was next on our list to improve and I know Charlotte Ren Reynolds is already working on this and that is really improving our communications and our website alignment. I think one of the things that was given feedback and you can see it in the in the report is really about consistency around website access. I think if you're a parent of more than one student in one school, you'll know that there could be improvement around really having us be able to know where to find things. And
051so I know that Charlotte and um Scott have been working on really fine-tuning that to make sure that it becomes more accessible. The other recommendation really is around thinking around uh stakeholder improvement around decisions. And one of the recommendations that you'll see in the report is really ensuring that there's clarity that admin and central office and cabinet have some more um kind of clear decision-making recommendations and processes. And that's something that I've already seen Dr. Chris working on since he's taken on this position. And the last one is around some curriculum improvements. So I'm going to let Megan um kind of discuss that and the district assessment system. >> Great. Um we are still waiting for the feedback from the WD peer review um from our team leader on the district assessment system. So we're
052really looking forward to that give us areas to for improvement. Um curriculum was one of our areas of improvement. As you can see here in the graph, we had more adequate scores than strong scores. Um, so something that was highlighted in the report was around that we are following WDE adoption timelines for the new newly revised standards and that we have developed instructional frameworks. Um, and really what this speaks to is there's there's continuous revision work that needs to occur to align our system K12. So, I think we know this and we're actively working on um ways forward. Um, we have a curriculum committee that is convening to address some of these concerns. Um, and discuss some ways that we can implement um, some revision guidance for teams and just kind of have that clarity
053on where were all these documents live. um what will be the process for adopting the new standards and adopting um when you adopt new standards that changes really a lot of the system how we assess um how we track data. So we'll be looking at that in the committee. Um and then another area to think that we have actually one more slide. >> Okay. Yes. >> Would you like to take it over? >> Um, this really I I I would like to highlight this. This is actually a much larger kind of um area of recommendations for improvement and a lot of this came from the two um climate surveys. I think there was a lot of opportunities within that to really kind of dive deep and I think the admin teams did a great job
054of kind of trying to identify specifics including um teacher evaluation and instructional feedback. That's been a focus area for the admin team this entire year. um still identifying how we can improve um absent, you know, student absenteeism as well as um really working with the athletics department on increasing different offerings um to ensure that more students take advantage of activities um communication, staff well-being. One of the things that we've talked about a lot and showed up in both of the surveys um is really kind of staff well-being and what does that look like and how can we work with um the district to make sure that stu the staff have what they need to be supported and um the rest are kind of just things we've already discussed website and safety issues. So these are
055kind of the next steps which are hopefully will inform the strategic plan and that is protecting time for professional learning and collaboration. Continue to focus on our core priorities and stay stay the course um decision making and um building based feedback on system implementation and um working with you to update the strategic plan. >> Any questions? >> Trusty me. Madam Chair, um while we have the student schoolwork, I'd like to put you on the spot. >> What do you think we could do to improve or the school as a whole to promp improve it? >> What would make or >> you and your colleagues want to come to school every day instead of not? Any ideas? Maybe you could think about it and bring it back to us. >> Um, this might be a little
056bit of a bad answer because I haven't thought it through, but I think for some of my classes because there's such um absentee there's like half the class on Fridays, we kind of like hold off >> to like continue moving forward to wait till everyone's there. And I almost think that if we didn't do that, people like if you were gone and you kind of suffered for it a little bit, people are going to want to show up and not go like skiing today and know that a bunch of people are going to go skiing. The teacher is going to wait to teach the important things. I think that would be something >> the value thatffects. [clears throat] Oh, it's just like >> it's not relevant to you. You mean? Yeah. I I think it
057is a complex issue and I think they all have some valid points and it's something that I think we're all continuing to work on and um and actually the admin team and Dr. Chris had an opportunity to talk with the county attorney and DFS um on Friday to talk about truency and some of our concerns. So, I think it's very um upfront and present to how we can work together in partnership with the board and um families and students to make sure that we have students at school to be able to access their learning. And there's a variety of reasons as they just highlighted a few >> I feel like this might sound a little mean, but like if like students like miss like a certain amount of like hours needed for school, I feel
058like they should like recover to always motivates to make it a bigger place. >> Yeah, I think that's those are some good conversations and really finding a process that we can problem solve for students that need to be um out of school for other reasons as well as in school. So, yeah, it's a good good idea. >> Thank you so much. Great Doran chair Betsy. Um, I'm wondering if teachers uh on Fridays could go ahead as usual and use AI summary and make students who are absent responsible for the summaries because we've got this technology that >> might be workable. >> I think this sounds like a great project for the student school board to start talking [laughter] about. We got to spread the wealth of problem solving. >> Sure. They want to make make
059a lot of friends, right? [laughter] >> Um the the other thing I wanted to ask one of ask you to one of the items uh of needed improvement was working more with the board. They suggested that teachers would like to have more board input. I think is the way it it um was stated. And I wonder I started wondering if teachers really wanted one more layer of meetings. No. With board members? No. And if not, then how that could be implemented. How we could work more with teachers that we didn't add more time to their schedule. I I think that we have a few um committees that are working right now like the superintendent's advisory committee where there's representation um that is K12 that Dr. Chris facilitates. But I think that over time it's really
060kind of diving deep into some of these um these um areas that we've identified and really have the staff identify what are other ways in which they might want to have him put. I think some of it is just that consistency. There was a lot of themes around versus topic based that there's that there might be more of a two-way communication that is a is more consistent for them. That was one of the things that we found when we were reading some of the open-ended comments in the surveys which you have access to and we're happy to resend them. But um that was just one of their their identified areas of need. [snorts] Justin, when they said the strategic plan, was it just because it's nine years old? Is that what their problem was? Or
061did they just stop? Because how I'm looking at it is we worked really hard on that. I really like the strategic plan. I don't mind sitting down this fall and and looking at if we need to update it, but I don't want to redo it. I think we did a nice job. Is is that all they want us to do is take a look at it or do they want us to completely throw this out and start completely over? >> No, I think the recommendation really is about reviewing the strategic plan, updating it as needed and and ensuring that there is a larger group of people besides just kind of the folks in this room for example that have an opportunity to provide input whether that's parents or different community groups that might identify areas
062that we want to continue to focus on. So, it's more about not to your point, not throwing it away, but really updating it and ensuring that there's more feedback and understandably so, we've had a lot going on since 1617 that are reasonable reasons why we haven't done that deep dive. Any other questions? >> Thank you, Madam Chair. Um, first of all, when you guys say absenteeism, what what is that? What do you mean? Is that people that are just skipping class and not showing up and unexcused? Is this people going to sports? I mean, what can you help me understand what you mean by that? >> That's every all of the above. >> All of the above. >> Yes. And so, once again, when we think about absenteeism, it's a big broad word that really
063needs some kind of diagnostics. I I think I talk about this all the time, even with my students. You know, I have some students who struggle coming to school because they're babysitting their younger sibling because their younger siblings at home sick. Others are maybe helping their parents at work. Others um are going to sports and or andor. So, I really think that when we talk about it, it it's really important for us to kind of come up with interventions and supports as we identify those different reasons. An excused absence for sports um is very different than a truent unexcused absence. >> And is there any breakdown? So that at least I'll just speak for myself that we can understand is this because on Friday you have the ski team and the basketball team and all
064that gone versus we've got 30 kids that just don't show up and have unexcused absences. There's a huge difference in my >> correct and and both of those happen and I mean I'd be happy to work with the high school and the student school board actually if we wanted to do a more in-depth breakdown of those because I think it is important to understand some of the challenges. truency is very different than, you know, excused absences. And so I think it's important for us to really kind of tease that out, which we've been working on and we've been working with the county attorney. Um, and it's it's something that the state the nation's dealing with, the state's dealing with, and we are as well. >> Okay. Yeah, I'd be very interested to see what those
065numbers are and then the solutions for those. Um, I have a couple questions on these graphs because I'm reading through these and trying to understand what does this what what is this? What does these things actually mean? I mean, there's zero to six and this the committee vote it and then there's people said it was adequate is it's wrong. Is that what happened? >> Yep. >> They collectively agree together. So for instance, if if one peerreview member rated us exemplary and most of the group rated adequate, they want they want to come to that middle ground. We don't want to have scores that are outliers. So they do they do discuss how to rate like let's be within this range. Um >> I mean >> so there's seven members and each has a vote but
066they they collected to a slide >> a general >> okay and and I'm only asking because I didn't see any deficits but then I only saw one graph that had exemplary. >> Correct. [clears throat] >> Okay. And that's and I think that when you think of when I think about all the visits that I've done, I mean, that's that's very representative of many districts in the state. Um, you know, exemplary really is kind of like wanting people to come visit us or we can go out and really show everyone what to do. But if you look on the um on this page where it says the rating of district practices, which is the beginning of the the slideshow, it really kind of describes what efficient, adequate, strong, and exemplary are. If you if you want
067some more details. >> Yeah, I I thank you. I saw that. I was just trying to figure out what the graphs actually represent. >> Um saying, you know, the first two graphs have governance and oversight and district purpose and and one were strong and adequate and the other two were kind of adequate and a little strong. So, I'm just trying to understand those. Um how does this play into the survey specifically the panorama? Do they look at those or how did those interplay with one? We submitted our climate surveys as evidence. So in different sections um each section review you have up to 10 pieces of evidence you can submit to to um show work in that area. And so we did submit from last year the staff climate survey and also the family engagement
068survey. and the the staff climate survey was attached to the documents that we got today. And I'm just curious when you identified some of the improvement areas, are you looking at this or were they looking at this? >> Yeah. So, and talk about triangulation of data. It's really um it's really kind of a great opportunity for us to look at the Wyoming School Board Association climate survey really mirrored our climate survey from May as well as um when the peer reviewers were going out to the buildings and interviewing people. So what that says is that it it really is representative of what they saw and heard and read and that's where the evidence was also then documenting that it wasn't just us saying it. >> Does that answer [clears throat] your question? >> Yes, it
069does. Thank you. And then I think my last question on the panorama these numbers I mean obviously you have 100% or 0% but what I mean what do these actually mean when I'm looking at 67% belonging or 77% wealthy 32% feedback to coach what does that actually mean >> so um it's it's on a scale where like that 77% um were responded favorably >> which means Um for instance uh one of our strongest areas was well-being. Um and one of our areas of improvement was feedback and coaching. >> So the way people respond they have a is it a liyker scale? Is that a liker scale? Sorry I can't think of the name of it but you can respond as extremely effective effective. They lump those scores together. that would be considered a favorable response
070and so um well-being and then um for instance like the work I do is meaningful it matters it matters to me like extremely f favorable so then we looked across those scores to see what were the areas of improvement and that actually that's how we planned our um instructional focus for this year was that we would really be working on that um those instructional priorities and domain three and our teacher evaluation system and really doing more instructional walkthroughs in our buildings and giving feedback to teachers. So that's that was how we we did use the survey last spring frame to develop those goals. Um and then an unfavorable lump score is is that if it's below um that effectiveness, you know, there's like kind of that middle score and then anything below that would be
071added together for that not favorable score. That helps me understand. Thank you. >> Any other questions on this part? >> I I just want to make a comment. The these graphs all look alike, relatively speaking, and they're all sort of goldilocksy and they don't really help very much. I think they're being awfully stingy with the purple. [laughter] Yeah, >> it's a fair point for sure. >> I mean, honestly, I think this high school is a really good one. I don't I don't think they appreciated it the way they should have done. [laughter] >> Well, I I think some of the comments that we heard from the peer review team was that to really be in the exemplary range, we need to see evidence across the K12 system in every part of the system. And we
072have amazing work happening in like for instance K5 MTSS that's not quite a full system yet where evidence-based grading is 612 but it's not fully implement implemented yet. So I think there's opportunities for that systems alignment is really what exemplary >> yeah room to grow >> trusty me >> where does student surveys fit in? So >> we talk a lot about parents and stakeholders and all that stuff. We don't talk a lot about >> we we have student surveys 612 through panorama climate surveys and we've been doing that for long time as long as I can remember um and that is something that um the schools use as well as kind of different varying surveys at the K5 level. So it is also a student voice. I think one of the things Dr. Crisp did
073quite a few years ago at the high school was like having student focus groups. I think that's also an opportunity. We have these great representatives that can also bring the voice of students together. So I think it's a little bit of a different approach. Um and and I think that more of that face-toface contact from my from my perspective is more helpful with students. I think sometimes they get surveyed out um but they do a good job of filling them out. I bet you guys have all filled out those surveys for years, correct? >> Yes. >> Can we have those? >> Sure. We can get those results to you for sure. >> That'd be great. >> Anything else? All right, I'm gonna let you move on to the next topic. >> Thank you, Bear. >>
074You're welcome. >> Thank you. >> Okay, we are moving into the ED services committee review of two different meetings. The first meeting was held in January and we had two main topics of discussion. um your the notes here are broken up into that that top section is really talking about a a current bill that is um very much alive currently. And so we're we're looking at what does that mean for our system if we were to implement um if we would need to implement some of those practices that are in the bill. Um, and so we just discussed some improvements happening in K5 and how we're moving up into the middle school with MTSS and that we are starting to implement some interventions at the high school level. So we discussed um really the just
075the celebration of improvements and what it would mean to take that full fully all the way to um the high school level. Um, and please, Trusty Me and Trusty Dornan, if you have anything to add for that portion of the meeting around the language and literacy bill that we discussed, please jump in if you'd like to add anything. The second part of the meeting, we really focused our attention on the WDE Wyoming content and performance standards new adoption timeline. Um, and the reason why this is important to discuss, and we did talk about it, I think it was two board meetings um, ago when we looked at the PLC continuum results, and we talked about some of the things coming in the next five years that, um, really require us to think ahead about how
076will we continue to revise our curriculum and align to the new standards. And it's it's particularly of concern in K5 because we have um teachers in elementary who are teaching six different content areas. So as you adopt a new um content area, for instance, math. If you're in secondary, you have that one content to really have your eyes on, be working in your PLC, and really be able to put your full attention to math. Um an elementary teacher has multiple content areas. And as this timeline continues to ramp up, um [clears throat] the timeline is now on this five-year cycle. So it really is requiring an elementary teaching team to really devote a lot of time, a lot more time to curriculum and assessment development. So we discussed um just that timeline and how we
077can respond to this and be proactive. Um and then something that was really highlighted in the survey, the climate survey results, um we saw those themes of uh teachers really voicing the request for protect protecting collaborative time um and really devoting some time to curriculum and instructional alignment. Um, and then I I thought this was a really key uh area of the comment section of the survey that we were referencing. Um, one of the questions in the climate survey was what are the most important things for your district to focus on for the next um for success in the next five years and focus on core priorities, align curriculum and instruction and and protect collabor collaboration time was those were the top areas of um what staff was voicing to focus on. Um so we
078also discussed um how we can address this concern we have in K5, how to allow more time for teams to to work together. Um and so we discussed different ways to do that. Um and Trusty me and Dor Trusty Dornan if you would like to add anything about kind of our discussion and our priorities about what we want to ensure um just around making sure that we don't have students out of class and we're um we want to find a way forward with the least disruptive to the student experience and programs. >> Yeah. Um, if you don't mind, >> I'll take it. >> Uh, Principal Pedesca has suggested that um, rather than have uh, K5 kids out of school while teachers have to deal with these uh, content area standard changes that um, uh, the
079administrative works to have kind of permanent subs. uh on a particular day of the week for the various teachers. So that kids are still in school and the permanent subs can be of quality that they'll continue with uh regular school with the kids um while those teachers learn about these content standard changes because I think we can all agree that it's not acceptable to have a lot more time with kids outside of school. Uh so that suggestion has been made to have kind of permanent subs if they can be had. understand that they can't. Um, so, uh, we thought that that was probably a a solution that is definitely what we looked at. >> Was that what we talked about? >> That was great. >> Kind of. Um yeah, we just really like our priorities
080were, you know, maintain student programming, maintain high fidelity to like our our core and and not disrupt the student experience and then also be able to do this work. So, >> um Dr. Pedesca came onto the screen, so I didn't know if she had a comment or she just was listening because her name was Mitch. [laughter] >> Hi. Yes, I'm I'm paying attention. Megan's doing great. If you have any specific questions from a principal lens, happy to address any questions you may have. >> Thank you. >> Anybody else? >> Okay. >> Doing good. >> Ed services committee is still going. Um, we have one more update. [laughter] >> You all have been busy. >> Take over. I don't >> I guess Julie Nash [laughter] for student services. I'm going to go over our discussion at
081the February 2nd meeting which was a continuation from our November meeting in FINNINCOM and a discussion that we had at the board level about the financial health of Cubs and the programming and future programming for Cubs. So at our committee meeting, we reviewed um much of the information that FINCOM reviewed [clears throat] me remember and it was also paired with you at that board meeting just about um the high absenteeism, the difficulties with staffing, the number of closures we had and then we also reviewed the financials if you wouldn't mind pulling that up Sarah that Kristen put together. >> Uh not that one, the other ones. That one. So Kristen put this up in Fincom. We also reviewed this in the committee meeting and we talked about this at the board meeting and this is
082just showing that the mill levy um comes in at this 400,000 which um puts grizzlies in the black and one of the questions that did come up from trusty me and trusty Dorian is are we using this excess money to fund Cubs and I confirmed with Kristen that we are actually using the mill levy to offset the deficit of the Cubs program. I don't know if Kristen, chime in if you want to add anything that I'm missing based on our last conversation. Um, >> no, I think um, thank you, Julie. the the the reason that we presented it this way um and I talked about this at one of the board meetings last fall is just when the when the mill levy was originally passed for hot springs boseies by this board uh it was
083we were just doing this prek program at that time and the discussion was around the prek liaison and so we wanted to be really clear and transparent that what we're doing right now is we're supporting both the prek and the cubs child care programs um with that mill levy and that's why it's presented this way. If if the board is comfortable with that and we're good moving forward, then we can start presenting this in a different way where we don't show a big negative on the Cub side and the positive on the Grizzly side. But we just wanted to be really clear that that that is how we're currently using the funds and make sure that the board is aware of that. Madam Chair, Trusty Gingri. >> So I guess the chair knows this because
084she was there with me. Um Trusty Carlin and I attended the the county or guess it was the community child care working the other day. We had a long talk about all the childare across the whole county all the different deals and this sort of came up and trusty Carlin and I talked about it. I always thought of Boseis as covering both. I mean, I think it's fine that you show it to us this way, but I have no issue, unless somebody else can explain to me why I should care, but the mill levies covering both. I never intended it just to call cover grizzlies. I got the Cubs was always going to be the more expensive one because of the ratios. You know, you have to have more workers for infants and for for
085young people. So the of course that's pubs is always going to cost you more money. Preschool's, you know, much cheaper to do. So I don't have any issue with the system as as set up unless somebody can explain to me why I care that the mill levy is covering both. Did that come up in FINCOM or anything? Did you guys discuss that? Well, in the educational services uh committee meeting, uh I think there is that little bit of concern about whether you know the language of the Boseis uh milk >> allows for that vote, but you know, basically it evens out. You know, you can see we have a a positive amount from grizzlies that is not that far off from what we're spending in excess on um the little guys. Um so that's you
086know we kind of discussed whether that was okay and um I don't know through the county you might know whether that language covers both but I didn't think it was a problem either. >> Okay. I was just trying to figure out what what the issue was because I didn't the last time this got presented, I didn't quite understand even what the issue was. I I got that Cubs cost more money, but I'm just not seeing an issue here. I I'm still confused as to why we even issued the RFP. I I don't quite get that either, but >> Well, the other thing is is that as as uh uh Director Nash indicated, uh there are there's a lot of uh absenteeism in staffing, >> difficult to staff. A lot of people get sick. Um, and
087this was a shock to me. There are vacancies in uh for small children across the county at daycarees, which when we started this, there were were not uh a few years back. So whether it's something we want to continue or whether we want to expand on grizzlies uh or expand cubs into the general population of people rather than just school employees. >> Those are some some of the kind of bigger questions they're looking at. >> Okay. [clears throat] >> Is that right? >> Yeah. These are great. [laughter] Madam Chair, Trusty Gingri, the when Trusty meat says vacancy, it just sounds like, oh, somebody's not there, but if there's not enough people, then everybody has to go home. Like, it's not like you can just say, oh, somebody didn't show up for work, then I'll just
088take care. No, it's like that's the problem is it's it's that impact. Then you have all the teachers that have their kids there have to come and pick them up. So, it's it's very disruptive if you don't have adequate staffing or people to fill in. That's my understatement, right? >> That's correct. >> Thank you. >> And just one thing to add to your point is when we first opened Cubs, it was not being supplemented by the mill levy. It was being ran by a vendor. And so they were self-sufficient. And Kristen can probably give more history on that. >> I didn't think we had a vendor. We had a we hired that particular person. >> She wasn't She was a contract solely to provide. >> Yeah. So you didn't provide >> I can I can
089speak to this. Okay. Yeah. This was before I was involved in it. Yeah. So we did have a contractor as a director that was running the facilities for both Cubs and Grizzlies and we were still subsidizing Cubs. Um this mill levy since its inception or since this board passed it has always supported both programs. Well, Madam Chair, just to wrap this little part up, um it'd be nice if if if perhaps director Nash could get hold of Sarah Vanin and um um and just verify that the Bosey's language covers it. I mean, that's a legal question, >> but if Kristen was just asking, was the board aware? I was certainly aware and I was fine with it. So that if that was the question, I'm I'm fine with the Grizzlies money subsidizing the Cubs money.
090>> The language in the Hot Springs Boseies covers all early childhood. So uh we don't have a conflict within the Hot Springs Boseies. It was just being transparent to this board. Um which it sounds like we're covered. Well, for one, trusting. >> I don't know if he >> I I'm I'm fine with it. My question would be is that if we contracted the Cubs program out, what would we do with that extra quarter of a billion dollars? I mean, what would that be used for? Or we would lower the mill or >> be funding it'd be funding the contractor? >> It's my understanding contractor. It's my understanding that um there is a a desire to grow the Grizzlies program. And right now with the way that we have this set up financially with the 240,000
091offsetting the 217 with the Cubs, we don't necessarily have funds to be able to expand the Grizzlies program. For example, does our future look like having a prek program in each of the town elementary schools? right now it's being run out of Jackson Elementary. Is there a desire to have um basically a strand at Munger at Coulter? Maybe there's some logistical things that aren't realistic about all of those locations. But I I do know that that's been one of the conversations is if we wanted to expand that pre-K program because that's where the evidence on educational impact that 3 to 5 age really really shows in K12 success. >> Yeah. >> Um uh Alex go has her hand up. So I think she must Can you unmute her please? That's great. >> Well, it came
092across it and said Alex go. >> So, Alex Go is the current director of Grizzlies and she was the director with Cubs last year. So, she has a lot of firsthand experience with Cubs in case anybody's not sure what Alex's role is. >> What? >> Alex, go ahead. >> Hi, everybody. Can you hear me? All right, >> we can. >> Wonderful. Um, I heard the question about what could the money also be used for? Um, and I think another option or one that, you know, could support the community at large is thinking about supporting preschool programming across the community through, you know, educator support. um holding events to align across um you know the skills that uh incoming kindergarteners need to be ready to enter into elementary school. Um building teacher capacity. Um there are
093a a lot of ways that I think we could continue to grow supports for, you know, teachers um in our community in early childhood education that, you know, we've been able to touch on a little bit, but we've been finding money via grants and other supports to support that work. And I do think that there could be room perhaps to utilize some of the um funds from the mill levy to support early childhood education across the community, not just solely through Cubs and Grizzlies. >> Thank you, Alex. Uh, Trusty Ginger, >> not to get this going all night, but um and I trust Trusty Garland to actually tell us how well we should proceed since you know understand this better than all the rest of us. I sort of see two different things going on
094here that are unrelated in my mind. One is prek at all our schools, which is a great goal. I I like that. But for the community, what I saw this whole system for was more as an employee benefit that we were trying to hold on to our employees that when you had a child that there was a place that was um convenient and and potentially subsidized. So that was an employee benefit for working for us that we would always have, especially the Cubs. What I find, and I can, you know, I learned this when we went to that meeting the other day, the the prek is easy to find in this community. There there's lots of openings for for for four-year-olds because the ratios are high. The difficulty is the especially the infant, the birth
095through one is the real tough one. Um, and that's the part I want to make sure I I get that we're talking about we might have some extra money. I just want to make sure that that we have a place a high priority on funding Cubs um for our employees. The Grizzlies thing where you're wanting to expand it to the full community, not to just to our employees, that's a great thing, too. But I think that's a separate conversation. I just want to make sure that they're two different conversations because I don't want to suddenly we we we expand prek to the full community and every one of our elementary schools has a prek program. that's great, but I don't want to lose the Cubs program. And to me, the Cubs program is so important
096for retaining our employees. Um, I just want to make that distinction that the Cubs to me is probably the more important one to me. >> Um, >> oh, I I was going to just respond a little bit is that I, you know, I see the Cubs program that same way is that retention piece. I also think um for both Grizzlies and Cubs, if you have other programs within the community, there are real penalties. Um if you say take the summer off, there are financial penalties where this is as a and I would describe it as a service rather than a benefit. Um at least that's what the hospital always told me to say. [laughter] Um but because they're you know they're also paying and and that kind of thing but um that you know it's
097a it's a service and it is a retaining um a recruitment and retaining um avenue. Um for sure. Uh, the other thing I would say though to support what Alex said is that often when I think of the mill, I thought of it supporting grizzlies and cubs but also supporting the work of Alex to go out in the community because this is a commu a mill that the taxpayers are paying which I am all for because um and particularly you know this is not a a standalone model. There are um early childhood liaison in many communities in across Wyoming and a lot of the Hot Springs County, you know, the counties that are part of the Hot Springs Boseies use it for that position. Um and there are some communities that their early childhood programs
098really needed to be brought along um for kindergarten entrance. um you know so they were receiving kids who were ready to learn and um I don't think that's so much in Dayton County because I feel like my colleagues across this across the community do an excellent job but it is really great when Alex puts something together and we can all have conversations and come up with shared language and shared goals and that kind of stuff. So that's what I said. But I really, you know, I support that Cubs program because I know that there's been a dip and I know that there are openings. Um, it also uh correlates to um the pandemic. Um, and you know, I and I do think that the younger children are still it's hard to find high quality programming
099for for the three. >> Um, anyway, Trusty or Trusty. Madam Chair, >> I I see that Cubs program as I agree with Trusty Gingry as as a benefit for for our staff. And so if >> if there's an an overabundance of availability in the community and looking at the cost comparisons as well that I saw, >> would it work out and we're subsidizing it from the mill levy, would it work out that we help some sort of granting process with our employees to help get them into to make the what programs in the make them more affordable for them. Um, I mean, there's still a cost. They're still paying to put their child in the Cubs program. We know they can do that, but if it's more expensive at these other programs, can we subsid
100use this funding to subsidize it? Then we don't have insurance and and a lot of the other things, then we have that benefit that we're offering to our staff. And then maybe there's additional funding for the outreach program or expanding the Grizzlies as well. So I I think there's a lot of great ideas. >> I'll chime in on this one a little bit. Um so if we took the Hot Springs Boseies money and tried to subsidize our staff, so that's a property tax on property tax owners of Teton County. Um, that's the one that I would definitely check with Sarah. I don't know that we could then take that money and use it to grant or to stipen our staff >> to use a different facility. So, I would definitely say we need to check
101with Sarah on that one. >> I know it's >> Madame Chair. Director Nash, how many hubs were in were uh using the cub services when this uh this outline was done. >> We have 11 families accessing the program. >> So you can see and this does not include rent, right? We because we give free rent. So this number divided by 11 kids is massive. Um and and and the reason is is because you have to have a lot of staff for for little kids and that sort of thing. Um so I think your point is well taken. You know, if we didn't uh provide cubs, which I agree, you know, that was the hardest thing when I had children is to have uh um daycare for my baby so I could go back to work.
102But you know that those numbers are exorbitant. uh by any standards. So, if you could uh if you could help our our uh our employees to get into a different, you know, deal. Um and >> it's not cheap. >> Cubs is not cheap. I mean, this is with the the amounts that we're charging. >> Um >> is that like 117 a day? >> Um our daily rate. So, we do we did do that comparison for you. If you can pull up the other one, in the year for Cubs. >> Yeah, that one. Yeah. So, you can see CS daily rates to child care across the community on that chief. Um >> and and director Nash, I just my recollection of the conversation that we had in November was less about money >> and more about
103that it's just it's not feasible that the staff comes and it's becoming a distraction. So, I'm all for paying I I will vote to keep that. But the problem is is we can't find the people and it's becoming a huge disruption because if one person says, "Well, I'm not driving over the hill today to show up," then everybody has to go home or we're in violation of the law. So that's I [snorts] don't know what the solution is to that. But money aside, [clears throat] >> we have to know if we can do this. >> And if we can't, then I think we have to come up with options for those parents that have kids in that program because >> I don't understand. I mean, we had this conversation last time. I was asking like,
104why can't we find people to do this? But they have to be trained differently. They have to have different certifications. They have there's so there's just not enough people. >> Correct. The DFS requirements in training them is pretty lengthy. And then I would say the hourly rate was pretty low compared to other positions in the community as well. And so that doesn't attract a lot of people to apply for it. We our benefits attract people because they get benefits. Um [clears throat] but the the pay is low. And I and I also remember we had some discussion about having CWC like weren't we going to talk to them about potentially if they have a child care program like working with them or something like that as well. So I mean >> if I remember correctly
105on that part of the conversation that was in the lens of preschool and if we expanded preschool we could partner with CWC to offer early childhood programming and experience to our high school students within a preschool that we put in one of our settings was what I remember on CWC. >> Yeah. Yeah. So, it's not with this. So, I I think we just we either need to figure out how to hire people or qualifractor came in. >> Yeah. >> Yes. Yes. >> And >> perhaps >> Oh, go ahead. Go on. >> I was just going to say I I see later on the agenda we're voting on the consent for extension of the Cubs RFP. You didn't get anyone to No one apply. Yeah, we do have one bit. >> We had two, one pulled
106out because they financially just couldn't make it work. >> Okay, so you got the one bit. Why don't we just go with the one bit? >> Well, we were going to review it at the committee meeting and in light of the missing information, there were a lot of questions. Um, Trustee me and Dorid wanted more information on the mill and the tuition before they felt comfortable agreeing to look at the mid the bid and review it. So the next meeting, which I think is March 2nd or 3rd, that's what we're going to do. And that's why we're proposing to extend that timeline by four weeks to give us >> So potentially someone else could put it. >> Yeah. >> That part's closed. We just have the one. >> Mhm. And I I think the question
107too is is if we review it, are we comfortable with going with that vendor or do we want to just keep it the way it is? That those are the two options >> or look at it for something else. >> Because I'm I think I'm misunderstanding the words. Um, when I see extension of a RFP, that usually means you've reopened the RFP. You're allowing more people to put in for it. >> I'm not sure what the exact language is, but what we were >> It says here, consideration of an extension to the Cubs RFP. Are you opening it back up and allowing people to continue to bid or do you just need more time? >> Continuation of the selection date is what that should say. I apologize for the mistake there. Yeah, >> that was
108the part I was confused about. No, it's just me. Mhm. >> Okay. >> The selection date was February 13th and we want to extend it. >> But you still only have one bidder. So the only choice you have is yes, we will go with you or no, we reject your bid. >> Mhm. >> Okay. >> And so we'll have more information to sort of complete this after having had this discussion in March. >> Correct. And then this conversation will also help as well and how the committee moves forward in the beginning of March. >> Any thoughts more thoughts or questions hammered this? [laughter] >> Thank you. >> What did you say? >> I said we hammered this one into the ground. I can't think of any more questions. [laughter] >> Who knew this was going
109to be the topic of the night? >> Um, take that. >> All right. My computer's good. Gone to sleep. All right. Uh that's it for educational service committee. Now we can move on to other reports. >> U Madam Chair, I wondering um if we could perhaps release our student school boards tonight. >> Yes. I have more question. No, [laughter] >> thank you very much. >> Have a good evening. [clears throat] >> I don't really Yeah. Another report. Another report. >> All right. >> Um, thank you, Madam Chair. Um, so trustees, for our other reports, we have a few items to have a discussion about. Um, as we all know, it's the legislative session. Um, it's been fast and furious. I really want to thank Trusty Scarlet. Um, we were on Zoom this morning at 7
110a.m. from my garage. Your background looked a lot more appealing than my background did. Charlotte, we're all on the Zoom talking to Mike Peru. It's been fast and furious the past week and a half. Um, things are changing rapidly. Um, I'm going to allow Bill to give us a summary from his lens around where we are right now. I know some of you been following it know about some of the status of the bills. There's a lot of them, but I think we'll sort of focus in on the ones that that matter to us most at this point. Scarlet. Um, Madam Chairman, so the main topic recalibration. The original plan was Monday. Is that three days ago? It was going to be introduced and assigned to a committee in the House of Representatives. Um Mike
111Yen cast the deciding no vote against introduction rightfully and the bill was not introduced because it failed for the two/3s. Um it caused a little bit of a hub up around and it's now Senate File 81. Um the latest and greatest that came out since we've been here Senate File 81 has not been introduced in the Senate yet. It is tenatively scheduled for a hearing on Monday, February 16th at 8 a.m. instead of at committee. And that is subject to it being formally introduced tomorrow or Friday at the latest. Um, Chairman Salazar has reached out to um, members of the WSBA and Mike Yian has reached out to me. They really want to know what amendments that are needed. Our uh message to Senator Guru has been we without including in the regional cost adjustment
112the ability even to use the same WCLI number that we've been using all of these years without that being in there. This is a this needs to go down. Um that's been our message. the other things that are concerning um to the WSBA membership, school boards, superintendent, administrators across the state is the calculation of the ECA. Um right now, um Chairman Bearer has an amendment in there which will you you'll only receive an ECA every two years. Um there's the they want it on an annual basis based on something that's tangible. Um health insurance, they believe that's the erosion of um local control. They believe school districts should be able to make their own health care um choices. I'm just pulling up my notes from Brian. Um, see it was ECA, M RCA, health insurance.
113Um, wanted a three-year average ADM. And then finally, the block rate. Uh, most of the apparently most districts, a lot of districts in the state are shrinking and so it's very important for them to have three-year ADM as their student population shrinks so they just don't get crucified on the on the drop. Um so those are kind of the five big big items facing um facing the uh the calibration bill. Um other things and uh director uh Mayo and Dr. Chris please jump in. Um the participation in 6 through 12 activities there's a lot of confusion around that bill. Um it was represented that this will not change our memorandum of understanding with the private schools. Um they were very concerned about the um desire for schools to have same asurances of uh what's the
114word I'm looking for? academic and scholastic um rigor with homeschool students and with private school students to guarantee that their grades are equivalent. We're comparing apples to apples between public school students and the other participants. Um the attendance of students in K12 schools, that's moving forward to the Senate committee of the whole tomorrow. Uh that's one that allows for homeschool kids to uh attend pick and choose high school courses to attend. Worries about the blocked schedule, but there is a caveat in there that if the um steamboat scholarship, the education savings account, $7,000 comes out of court and then is applied to the homeschool kids. there is concern, this was a little nuance to it, that um these kids will just take that money and then still come in and take school part-time. And so
115they're they're working through the bad issue, which is kind of an interesting deal. Um, and then trying to think of the Oh, and I believe our money made it through for the design of the high school. Um, it made it through the committee and made it through committee a whole today. And I believe we are well on our way to get our $2.9 million to start the remodel. >> Um, but we still have a long way to go. 2.9 for the design design and an inflation kicker on top of the >> 21.8. >> What was the what was the number? >> 21.8. >> On the top of 21.8. >> Was there any questions? Did anyone say anything to it? >> Nobody said anything about that. They reduced um I remember the amendment. They rem reduced
116the demolition of the the cost of the demolition of the Campbell County bus barn by about $5 million. And then they added a couple million dollars into a $3 million more for safety and security construction. >> So good. >> Anything about property taxes? >> Oh, there's lots on property taxes. Most of it most of it isn't making introduction. >> Okay. >> Um the like we talked about the rec to go to the voters to approve the one mill uh for recreation district. I would hope that our voters, you think of the things that the rec district funds, replacement of the artificial turf, um partially the Jackson Elementary gymnasium, that's an enhancement. All of the enhancements, we can't use our model money for those maintenance and upkeep. um all of our fields. Um even we're now
117having to use rec district uh money for the tennis courts that we didn't build um to maintain those. And so having the ability to pick our own mill, we have to go to the voters and they turn down that mill. It would be tough. At the same time, if we go to them and they approve it, we're going to peg it to the mill. Um I think we as a board >> That's an interesting point. >> Yeah. I mean, we're we're not going to have the flexibility. I think it removes because we've done anything from 0.1 to to one in our tenure. And >> yeah, >> Kate me is always really good at voting no. [laughter] Um, I think we need to have a discussion about going forward with the grants to the private institutions,
118private organizations. They're all wonderful, but um they're putting a microscope on this. And the argument coming from the smaller um districts is it's not fair that their districts don't have fancy swimming pools and are maintained by this rep district deal. >> Ours doesn't either. [laughter] >> That's what they keep saying. >> I I have one question, Madam Chair. >> Yes. Trusting me, sir. is the uh was it what's it called? A recalculated hydonic or what's it named as >> the rebased hydonic? >> Rebased hydonic. Is that sort of dead in the water as far as WSBA is concerned? I mean, or are we fighting other school districts over that issue? >> I think the rebased hideonic is here to stay. There's only I was looking at that. There's only Kristen, are you on? There's only
119five districts which >> which the Wyoming cost of living index impacts >> is over a hundred. >> Yeah, that's over a 100. >> Um but under the hyonic wage index, it's almost everybody. Well, the rebased hydonic wage index, they basically made the lowest um the community that had the lowest regional cost adjustment under the hydonic wage index, they made it 100 and then bumped everybody up above that. That's how they rebased it. >> Sort of did a whole harm. >> Yeah. Has there been u any progress in getting uh a copy of that of what that what that is? >> No. >> Well, it seems to me like, >> you know, they can't pass legislation with a rebased hydonic index that you couldn't even introduce into court, right? It couldn't go into evidence in court
120because it they haven't provided any of the information with regards to it. If it's proprietary, well, you know, the state has paid for it. So, you know, I just think this is uh crazy. It's just crazy stuff. >> Representative Ven did try to push forward a concept that would have basically lived Tuton back up to where it currently is. But in the writing of that amendment, it actually didn't do anything. Um, and so that's when we when Kristen and I figured that one out, we we uh respectfully requested our contingency in the House to vote vote it no. >> Mike called me also and uh >> No, Mike. Yeah. He said he was going to vote pass it and wanted to know why. He wanted me to know why he is gonna do that and
121so I heard an explanation but I'm happy he didn't >> changed his mind. >> Um and the only other one is uh House Joint or Senate Joint Resolution 8 which will be introduced tomorrow. Kristen sent this to me late in the day today. Um it's a constitutional amendment that will um basically prohibit the courts from um hearing cases dealing with school finance. I don't know how that works. So, it it was interesting because it basically said um that the legislature will come up with a formula that the courts can rule is constitutional or not. And if they rule it to be constitutional, then the state will fund the legislature will fund that formula. But if the expenses exceed the amount of funding available, then the expenses will be reduced, which essentially means that the legislature
122doesn't have to fund the formula that the courts deem constitutional. It's it's a weird bill. [snorts] >> Can I fly? [laughter] So um and then I am taking off Sunday. I will be down there um primarily Monday morning for the recal hearing in the Senate Senate and I think Dr. Chris will be there also with everyone's approval of course. >> All right. Any other questions? comments. >> Trusty me and and Trusty Dorner will be coming down for the for the weekend, I believe. Correct. >> We're taking off Saturday, right? >> Leaving Saturday. We're leaving Sunday. >> Yeah, there's nothing to do over the weekend now. >> Okay. I thought WSBA we're going >> Well, we are, but that's Sunday afternoon. >> Okay. >> We can get there in time. >> Sunday. Sunday. >> Sunday. Come
123back Tuesday. Are we talking about the morning second? [clears throat] >> I will be there Sunday night because I have to be at the law school Monday morning. So I have to be there anyway. I'll I'll I'll be there Sunday night out of that. >> Nice. You need a room there. >> Um all right. Well, thank you, Trusty Scarlet, >> and um >> thank you for keeping up with all that >> and thank you all for >> Thank you guys for going down. >> Thank you all for your reaching out to our representatives of this meeting. >> Of course. Um, >> are we on to um >> before we move off that real quick? Do we need to talk to Dan and Mike? They're voting tomorrow on Rael. Does somebody talk to them? >> Dan
124Dan's a no vote. >> He's listen to Lincoln one and Lincoln 2 as Andrew Ber did. Um, we spoke with Mike today. He would vote now if we really wanted him to or >> we really would like him to >> or do we want to push that W we'd push the WLI pro conversation >> because the what's been represented is it's going to be turned into the wild west if this thing doesn't move forward and I don't know what that means and the RCA is going to get blown up alto together and we'll lose everything. [clears throat] So, Trusty Gry, our conversation um this morning, we agreed that to give him a little time to work the floor, see if he had some support on getting the WCIA in the current bill for us. Um,
125and we were going to touch base with him tomorrow just to kind of get a feel of where it was before it hit. Um, I think um, and and Kristen, I don't know if you're still on, but I I there was definitely concern in our meeting about what would happen if it didn't go forward and would we lose more voice, some sort of special meeting or special session or just some judgment that's made that we wouldn't have a lot of >> [clears throat] >> I'm still on. And uh Trusty Gingry, you know, you've been down in the session and I think that you're probably the most experienced with some of these political games that are played. Um I think I do think that there's a lot of fear-mongering going on right now. Um I I
126think if they pass the bill on introduction into the Senate, it's in the right place. It's better than it being in the House. Um and if we get this bill, so I think the thing that convinced me this morning from today's conversation with uh Senator Guru was uh he had a conversation with Senator Rothfus, who I have a ton of respect for on the education side. He he's probably the most knowledgeable legislator about uh our funding model and his his interpretation was that this is this is as close as we're going to get and and and it's going to be good but better to try and introduce this bill on the Senate and work it and get that WCLI and there's a lot of amendments coming to the bill. So, assuming it passes in in
127um introduction in the Senate, uh I think I know of at least three amendments. I don't know what's in them that people are planning to propose. If we could work that bill and get the WCLI implemented in that bill, that would be a good thing for Teton County. Um there's a risk in not introducing the bill because then we don't know what the Supreme Court is going to do. We don't know what will happen. So, so there's a chance that if the if the bill isn't introduced and it's and the legislature doesn't pass anything that the Supreme Court will come in and deem that the only lawful model that they can go to is the consultant's recommendation. And the consultant's recommendation is essentially the same as the bill before the rebase tedonic wage index and
128before the yin amendment on the recalibration bill. If that were to happen, we would be in really bad shape. Um, so, you know, it it it's a little hard. I'm not I'm not good at at those types of politics, but um that's that's basically what's happening is we're better off if we intro introduce this bill and try and work it and get the WCLI in it than we are in a lot of other scenarios. Well, that's from the current decision. So, >> we need to talk about um >> talking points at this point. >> So, that's not >> I mean, who knows? >> All right. Anything else? Seeing none, >> Director Reynolds. >> Um, thank you, Madam Chair. Charlotte Reynolds for Capital Projects. Uh, we have Jason Burning on uh to talk about our transportation
129facility update. um uh exciting day today with the um topping off ceremony with um placing the uh highest beam um and uh so with that I'll turn it over to Jason but um it was it was a great day in the project so >> great thank you Charlotte um sorry I'm getting some feedback here. Sorry, I don't know why I'm getting some sound here. Hold on one sec. Okay, can you all hear me? Okay. >> Yeah. >> Great. Okay. Good evening, madam. Um um good evening um madam chair and trustees. Um Jason Burning Burning Project Management. Yeah, just quick update here. I'll run through the slides. Um the month of January, we were blessed with a dry January, which has helped the team um get the administration side of the building slab poured and all
130of the thickened footing um um footings poured for the structural steel to be erected. Um you can sorry you can move here to the next the second slide here. Um so that frames what what has been done in January and then February as I spoke last um month would be the start of going vert vertical with structural steel. Um that has happened quickly. You're going to see these pictures here were taken um a week ago Tuesday when this PowerPoint was due and since then um obviously the structural has structure has gone vertical. Um, so this is just showing a lot of work has happened and just keeping the slab um protected um heated um as we were making these pores. We've been working with Randy um our third party inspector uh to make sure the
131concrete's being poured in compliance. Um moving to the next slide, you'll see yeah here a picture of the the preparation for slab work and some of the deepen um equipment pits in the the um facility. And the next slide is the the first slab pour working from um south to north. This is the um actually the front patio of the building. It's an exterior slab. And then the next slide shows an aerial. Again, this was a week ago Monday where we poured the last slab. And then that next day is when we started structural steel. So, a little bit of this is lackluster in that um you know, now we're we're looking at a structure and really appreciate everybody that showed up today for um the topping out ceremony and signing of the beam. That
132beam will be seen up high. um uh uh um beyond the project, we'll be able to see all those signatures. And then moving forward into February, um what you see now is the structural framing of the transportation side and then the admin side, we've got um wood framing starting on Monday and about about six weeks of framing there. So come early, you know, late March, early April, we're going to have a complete enclosed structure, um, which will open the door to a lot of the other trades, mechanical, electrical, plumbing, um, and interior framing. Um, so we're really in a good place from a month ago till now. um getting getting uh the slab poured and in a position that Orman is is we've had a you know set back on um this the the schedule
133um due to some of these the winter delays but we feel very confident that the project will still complete on time next fall. Um so with that I'll open it up um to questions. >> Any questions? >> M I'll just say last meeting I said I still haven't seen any vertical and then suddenly vertical appeared. So this month I'll just say I I still haven't seen any walls yet. Jason, [laughter] >> when will that happen? Um March. [laughter] Um but yes, it is coming. Thank you. Um Trusty Gingery. Um but yes, made a lot of good progress. Thank you. >> Everyone was very worried about me that I was worried about the vertical because I get I got a text message from Stephan telling me there was vertical. Dr. Chris me up. [laughter] Everybody's all
134worried that I I was really worried about the vertical. Jason called me. [laughter] We got vertical going. >> You were heard in sync. >> I guess [laughter] >> I thought you just wanted >> You're you were first. >> Anything else? >> That is our transportation update. >> Thank you very much and thank you again for today. That was terrific. >> Congratulations. That was great. [snorts] Great. >> Thank you all. Have a good rest of your meeting. Appreciate it. >> Thank you. >> Um and then um Madame Chair, the um high school edition um and vestibule update has u has basically Trusty Scarlet covered that for me in his um legislative update. Um and then the summit bathroom, we are finalizing um some back and forth with um with the state and with the architect. So,
135um, but we are still on track to, um, start that as soon as school is, um, is over for the year. We really couldn't get in there and do much, um, before school was out anyway. So, um, this delay on the front end is not affecting um, the schedule or getting um, that bathroom constructed for next school year. Um, so with that, I stand for questions. >> Any questions? >> Thank you. Thank you. Um, let's see. It is 8 o'clock. We've been at this for two hours. Should we take a five minute break before we move on to public comment? >> Okay. We'll see you back at 10 after 8. bring this meeting back to order and we'll start with public comment on things on not on tonight's agenda. Please come forward, state your name
136or raise your hand online. You have three minutes to >> make public comment. >> All right, we'll [clears throat] move on to action items. Thank you. Um, consideration of second read second read on policies. Madam Chair, just to give the trustees an update on these. There's been um no significant revisions. Um had a clerical uh change I made. Thank you, Trusty Abrams, for bringing that my attention on Sunday on one line, but no substantive changes on the policy since we've introduced them. We introduced them originally December the 10th um at our board meeting for a first reading and we're asking for approval um on the clean copy items listed. >> Thank you. Any questions for Dr. Chris? Uh any public comment? >> Do we have a motion? Madam Chair, I move to approve the second
137read on policies student organization JA graduation requirements I KF and regulations student organization JJ A-R uh ro Roman one or just one and homeschooling IHBG-R1 Second. >> There's been a motion and a second. Any more discussion? Seeing none, all in favor? >> Opposed? >> Motion carries. >> Moving on. Consideration of deed restriction um for the new workforce housing rentals. Sorry, my computer jumped. [laughter] >> Um thank you, Madam Chair. Uh, Trustee Charlotte Reynolds. Um, before you is a um deed restriction for our employee housing units at the new 24 um unit apartment building. Um, as is outlined in the executive summary, because these were constructed using SPET dollars as um with the purpose of serving the local workforce, um, we must uh deed restrict the units. Um, so the restriction outlines each individual unit. Um
138and uh basically the um housing department has um come through done their inspection. So we are ready to move forward with um uh putting in a deed restriction for each of the 24 units as presented. With that I stand for questions. >> Any questions? >> Seeing none. Any public comment? No public comment. Uh do we have a motion? >> Madam Chair, I move to approve the workforce deed restriction as presented in request and require the chair to sign. >> Second. >> Any discussion? Seeing none, all in favor? >> I >> oppose. Motion carries. consideration of TCSD employee housing program. >> Thank you, Madam Chair. Um the um for the last several months uh we've been working with I've been working with a um employee um employee housing committee. Um uh the committee was comprised of
139representatives from um various buildings, various departments throughout our district to uh provide recommendations to this board um in the development of a housing program that will cover all of our employee housing units. Um so the existing units as well as um the new units, apartment units that are coming online here very soon. Um there are a couple of changes um since uh this report was submitted to you. Um I just wanted to highlight um in terms of the rental rates um that has been updated from 26% to 30% recognizing that utilities um the recommendation is that utilities are included in um the rental rates and part of that has to do with how some of our units are constructed. So, for example, um the units at the cottages at Willow, they are duplexes. Um and
140you can't separate the utilities for each of the duplexes to be, you know, two individual utility rate um um accounts. So um the idea there is that since utilities are included in the rental rates then it would be no more than 30% of someone's income for rent and utilities. Um so that's one change. Um and then um an additional item that is not outlined in the recommendations that the committee had um um had put forward uh for your consideration is that um we set a maximum number of uh tenants per unit. Um given that um so for example, no more than two people per bedroom. So if you have a one-bedroom unit, you may have two people living there. if you have a um two-bedroom unit, you would have no more than four people residing
141in the unit. So, that was one additional recommendation that was not outlined in the um staff report. Um with that, I'm happy to go through each of the employee um each of the committee's recommendations or simply stand for questions. >> Trustee, uh thank you, Director. Uh, Reynolds, I have a question about the um the rent payment because of the um utilities. So, if I heard you correctly, it you proposing to change it because of um some units that where you can't segregate the meters or the bills. Could it read that it's 26% of the household income when it's just rent or it's 30% when it's rent and utilities? >> We could certainly stipulate it that way. Um, as uh I worked with um Linda Grant today in the business office and we went through and
142um created this calculation on rental rates and really discovered that um most of the units this including utilities is how most of the units are currently how rents are currently structured for most of the units. the apartments that actually um including utilities streamlines the um the um um utility bills um for the business office on that regard. So really as we looked at it um we looked at each units they were um it streamlines it to simply have utilities included and that really does not it doesn't change current practice. >> Okay. And um another question, could you review again the number of individuals that can live per bedroom? Could you repeat that for me, please? >> The suggestion is that there's um no more than two people per bedroom. So, if you have a one-bedroom
143unit, the maximum number of people living in the unit would be two people, two individuals. Um, if you have a two-bedroom unit, you have no more than four people living in the unit. Um, three bedrooms, six people living in the unit. >> Questions? >> Trusting me. Uh, Madame Chair, um, I am am concerned about some of the provisions of this and I think that having just received this on Friday, this board needs more time and I'd like to move to table that's till next board meeting. >> How about continue? >> Continue it till next board meeting. Fine. >> Madam Chair, I'm fine with that. Can we have still have a little bit of discussion? So they have some input so they know what changes they need to do and questions too. So >> I my
144one of my problems is that I think it's patently unreasonable to say somebody has to get out seven days >> agree >> if they're terminated. I mean you got to give people 30 days at a minimum uh to move out. I think to even comply with Wyoming state law on landlord tenant maybe we're not subject to it but I think you would have to give more time for that. Um that was my major concern but as I looked at this you know more and more I thought ah maybe we better think about this more so that it's um equitable for our employees. Yeah, Madam Chair, um who determines appraised market value? >> Um Madam Chair, Trusty Bosch, we um hired a um local appraiser. Um I contacted three uh uh appraising appraisal firms. Um I
145contacted three, one responded um that they were interested in in doing this work. Um it is an appraiser we have used for other um district appraisals. And so um that was that was how the um rental appraisal was conducted. >> And have there been discussions on how often to revise that fair market value u or appraised market value numbers? >> Um uh madame chair, yes. in working with um in talking to uh the county um for their employee housing. They do it annually um and uh we could look at doing it annually. How there would be a cost associated with doing that. We could um do it um by annually, we could do it every three years. and um who came up with the uh kind of point system that's on there as far as
146making adjustments to increases over the FMR and how did that come about? >> Uh that also was um we used the county's model. The county came in and presented um their structure and the process they used. The committee felt that um that was a good basis um to provide affordable housing for our workforce while also recognizing and considering um potential um IRS um impact for creating a taxable benefit to employees. So using the HUD the HUD rate um and then in relation to uh fair market value and then putting um um a point system. So again to provide a bas a rational basis for um those calculations >> there there was consideration that there wouldn't be some sort of tax consequence to our employees. >> Correct. >> Okay. Just last question on the seven days
147to vacate. I I'm just curious how did that number come about? >> The the committee um we we discussed that um at length and the the feeling was that if someone is terminated there was concern that if they are in employee housing the chance of um uh potential damage being done or other um considerations. And so, um, the committee felt that if the person is not in good standing, has been terminated from employment, um, that they needed to vacate the unit in order so that it could become available to, um, a current employee. >> Okay. Thank you, Madam Chair. >> Trusty Gry, um, I have three. Um, just to back up on the on the seven-day thing, um, the county uses five days. town uses five days, too. Um, and the re and I'm pretty
148sure the landlord tenant law when you look it up, it it's not very strong in violence, so they they don't require a lot. Um, [laughter] so I don't think it violates that. What we found at the county level was um when you're so there's sort of three different levels. If you're leaving voluntarily, just you found another job, you're just moving on, you have 30 days to move out, >> which is great. And then actually we add on to it um at the county level that if um if we have no one needing it, we let you stay monthto month until you're ready to go. Um and so actually people can stay a bit longer, 30 days at the county if we don't have no one wanting it right away. Um, the five-day thing comes about
149because normally when you're terminating someone, it's usually something really bad, like they stole, they committed a crime, they they did something bad, and you need them gone as quickly as possible because they're really disruptive. Now they're mad at the school district. They're mad at the principal. They're mad at whoever fired them. And now they take it out on their um apartment or whatever. That's how why we always did the fiveday was that and it works pretty well. They terminate. Um they they they're pretty good about moving out quickly, but that was always the concern that you don't want them sticking around for too long uh because they they they have a grudge because they're mad that they got terminated. Um so it only applies to those people you actually fired, you know, for a cause
150reason. So that was that. I'm not saying you have to do anything different, but that I I just know where the five came from. the the one the two I was concerned about was um the six-year thing is the same amount the county uses. what I get worried about that that's the longest you can stay there and the concept being that hey this is just to get you into our community and then within six years you'll find something it doesn't always happen and uh um I just think I think it's fine that that we start with that six-year thing but it might be something to keep revisiting because you have a really good employee and they just can't find anything there should be some type of option where they can come and ask the board.
151I can't find anything. Can I stay? Um, otherwise what happens is when people get to the end of or at least it happens with counting, when they get to the end of the six, they move on. They really do move on because they they didn't find anything else. So, I'm just saying the six sometimes um I get why we do it um because it's not and I think you should leave it as six, but there might need to be an extra sentence that like hey, but you're allowed to petition the horde for say longer if you need it and and that way then we can determine you know there might be some extenduating circumstance. >> But the real big one I really wanted to talk about tonight [laughter] was those who like fish and birds
152and dogs and cats. Um, so there there's 15 single units in the new apartments. Single people need a companion. Um, [laughter] and could you clarify that? [laughter] >> Sometimes it's a dog or a cat. I just am concerned that that you have that many single uh one-bedroom apartments. Uh, somebody's going to want a pet. And um and I have found I mean what we do at the county is we put a pretty high um pet deposit, you know, and for the most part we've never had to use one. People are really good about keeping their places clean. I get why sometimes people are like, "Hey, we don't want pets." Um because it'll, you know, um but if you have a pretty good pet deposit, and people get that they need to come up with a
153good pet deposit. Um they'll they'll they'll treat it well. So, I I see that we said no to pets at at the new apartments. Um I I would advocate for uh allowing pets at the new at the new um apartments. Um that to me was my big issue. >> And Madame Chair, um Trusty Gi Gingry, this um was maybe one of our longer um items of discussion um that the the the committee did have. There was a lot of angst over um that exact issue, especially recognizing the one-bedroom units. All one-bedroom units are at the apartments. Um and we we definitely had um a good conversation about that. Um and as a single person, you know, it makes it more difficult given that those are the only one-bedroom units. Um the committee the committee did
154go back and forth on that. Um and the concern was because it is a multi- tenant building and have you know shared walls and some of those sorts of things. So that that was sort of the compromise they came up with was some units allowing pets that had direct um access to the outdoors um and then limiting it or restricting it in the apartments. That said, um the committee did say well this is going to the board and um they will provide direction on whether or not that is the right decision or not. So, um, basically they, um, had a had a lengthy conversation, but also again recognizing that it was it's a complex issue. Um, and not wanting to, you know, restrict um, the access of a pet for especially someone in a one-bedroom
155unit versus someone is in one of our other units that has a different um, number of of bedrooms, access to the outdoors, those sorts of things. I wonder if um that if it could be limited that there are just a few, you know, there are certain units or a handful of units that could have pets. I I I could see if all every unit had a pet, you know, it could become loud or, you know, there might there could be an issue. But I, you know, I wonder if it could there could be some sort of compromise >> or pet per person. That would be problematic. >> Yeah, maybe one >> we did talk about >> um Madam Chair, we did talk about maybe um doing it by levels >> within [clears throat] you know
156level one. Yeah. You know, so we did talk about a lot of those possibilities. We can certainly go back and you know um have the conversation that there the board was interested in in exploring that further um and coming up with some other ideas that we could bring bring forward. >> I had one other sort of related topic not totally >> um so in this it had to do with the amount of people per bedroom. >> Mhm. And I was thinking about a one-bedroom apartment and you have a young teacher and uh their significant other, their spouse, their whatever and their starting wife and this is their six-year plan and you know towards the end of it they choose to have a child. Yeah. you know, in a one-bedroom apartment. You know, it just I
157wonder if there could be um some language around that that makes sense to me to a certain in time frame >> and madam chair um and I uh should have expanded on that. Um I actually um part of the conversation was if in that exact situation um then we we request that they apply for a two-bedroom unit. um knowing that um you know it may take a little bit of time for them for a two-bedroom unit to become available or those sorts of things. So we wouldn't immediately ask someone to leave um but that there would be that transition but with the encouragement that um you know you would you would apply for the next appropriate um type unit based on as your family situation changes. Um and so we could make we could um
158make those adjustments as we go forward. Again, recognizing this is our first effort at forming a program that people understand. Um we have reference points that we can say this is this is our program. This is how we structure things. We are going to learn a lot um as we you know um onboard these additional units. We have a property manager who has professional um expertise in this area who can help us gu help guide us and we can come back refine um and bring back to the board recommendations for changes or adjustments um as we learn more as we go through this. That's a >> Yeah, Madam Chair, I Charlotte, I' I'd like to see if possible, whoever the management company is, their rules and regulations that they have. >> I don't think we
159need to. I'm not going to read it that carefully. I'm going to just they're going to have their rules and regulations on pets and things like that. Part of me is like, I guess maybe we have to make that decision, but don't ask me that question because I'm all for dogs, but don't get me started on those other four-legged creatures. Um, >> how about babies? babies, they're fine. [laughter] >> You can have dogs, but not a baby. >> As long as they're house trained, I'm okay with it. Okay. Um, but I think that as as somebody that is a landlord and deals with these issues, I know I have my sets of rules and stuff, I think that most of what's here I like. I know we haven't even touched upon probably maybe one of
160the bigger issues which is guns and weapons but I when I saw that um yesterday I really need to think about that because it is for me at least and I've already expressed this a much different issue than having them in the school. So, um I don't want to I I just have to think about that a little bit more, but I I am in agreement with uh trustee me um that you know I the seven days I I hear what Trusty Gingry is saying, but I don't know there's there's a part of me I guess if somebody's stealing or does something like that then maybe we can have an exception that says in these instances okay but I don't know seven days just seems a draconian as they say. So, um but I'd love
161to see the rules and regs just to >> see what they they say to these things. >> And uh Madame Chair, um uh Director Mayo and I are um meeting with um our property manager tomorrow to talk through some of the financial logistics and details and those sorts of things. Um I have talked to the property manager previously um about um our rules regulations developing those. I have sent her this draft. She is aware that you know the this would be coming to the board for for input and and hopefully eventually approval. Um but we can certainly go back through these with her, get her advice and guidance um and and make sure that we're developing um rules that are um appropriate based on other um uh employee housing, workforce housing in our community. Um
162and then um also recognizing she will be the one or her company will be the ones sort of enforcing these rules. Um and so making sure that she's she's like I said this has been shared with her and so um I I anticipate receiving some feedback from her um hopefully tomorrow if not um within certainly uh before the next meeting if that's what the board chooses. >> Uh [clears throat] couple of quick things. the 30% including utilities. >> Um [clears throat] I am just really afraid and this is where director Mayo kicks in. I want to make sure that our it's not only under HUD rules to make sure it's not a compensation benefit but it's also within the model that this does not impact teacher salary or >> other salary issues. Um, I I
163want to get some sort of assurance that we can document our files. Um, possibly have our accountants sign something off or our employers. Um, number two on the finances, um, we want to make sure that we get some sort of regular reporting to the board showing um, the cash balances, the income statements, the cash balances, and the deposits. So, the board is aware that we do have this and that all of these. My hope is that the rent that we're generating from these properties will be sufficient to to provide the maintenance regular maintenance schedules and other other things necessary to operate these things in perpetuity. And God forbid it grows to a point where we can look at buying um additional units as those available as those become. >> Charlotte, this is Kristen. Uh thank
164you, Trusty Scarlet. Uh we did provide or Charlotte has attached a proforma uh financial analysis that that outlines what uh what a potential plan could be. I would like to review this with um with finance committee and um probably with our property manager just to make sure the one thing at the bottom of this if you'll look we have a a capital replacement set aside and I know this is where our property manager has a lot of expertise is what what percentage of our annual re revenues or is that even the number we you use to base a capital reserve set aside site on because eventually we're going to have to redo sighting, we're going to have to redo roofs, we're going to have to redo all of that. So, I think planning uh in
165advance for some of those pieces is really important. Um, but I do believe that with the housing program that we're putting in place now, our work with the property manager, we will be able to have a long-term plan on all of our housing being self- sustaining in addition to this will be in its own fund. We we have moved everything to an employee housing fund and we've had our auditor help with that. He spoke a little bit about it um when he did our audit presentation. And so this entire enterprise will have its own financial statements and it will be very easy for us to provide a monthly update, a quarterly update, whatever the board would like to see on on the employee housing um operations. >> I just want to make sure it's siloed,
166Kristen. >> Yep. >> Away from greedy hands out of sh [laughter] >> It 100% is. We still have to report on it, but um you know, we can get into the details of what that looks like later. >> Okay, thanks. >> Any other to pet one? >> Okay, [laughter] >> so you could put in there no dog and just say you can have one pet. So you could restrict the number of them if dogs is the problem. people are are not wanting dogs. Um I've seen that before dog school, but that someone can have a fish tank or bird cage, you know, bird uh or cat. [laughter] Cats are nice. You ever have in the house with cat pee in it? I'm quite the cat. Okay. [laughter] Not very well. >> Thanks. Madam chair, we
167did anticipate that the conversation about pets was going to be >> so person. >> I guess we we've given you a lot of feedback >> which is very helpful. Thank you. >> And maybe you can come back um with repat >> or hamsters or durable teeth. Madam Chair, if I may, one thing about the pets, if I may with allergies, depending on what's recommended, we if we were to go with pets, I think we got to set aside some units that have never had a pet before. >> That's true. >> Because I know some people who are so allergic, doesn't matter how you try to clean it, they're going to their allergies would go bonkers and they'd never be able to live there. So just think take if we go that route I just think
168that we have to take that into consideration. >> This is why we have these conversations lots of perspectives. >> Thank you very much. >> Um thank you. So >> I'll second >> trusty means >> um any more discussion about continuing this conversation? All in favor? >> I opposed. >> We are continuing it. uh consideration of musical music festival program purchase order. >> Madam chair, trustees, this is a rather unique item and I want to give the trustees context of why it's on the agenda and um some rationale behind what I'd like to talk about. Um and uh Mr. Hansen will will will join me in a minute to give some more details. Um last year the planning of a national music trip started at the high school. This is all the music students. >> We
169have made a conscious effort at the high school to increase our music student participation in the performing arts and we are making great strides um uh in that program at the high school. Very proud of our teacher Colin Bingo and uh what principal Lieberman is doing. It's fantastic in the music program. The reason this is on the action item is I wanted to have an opportunity to discuss um a few things. Um first of all, this program um is um you know, it's around the total cost of the program is is listed. It's over 100 grand for students to go. Um it equates to about a little over $1,000 a student. About 90 students are going. um it is not uh a school district expense. This is a parent expense and some fundraising was um
170carried forth with the former fund for education announced um obviously the education foundation. So, um I want to be very clear this is not district funds u for this type of national trip, but there are three ledgers of $35,000 being paid out to the company. And given the amount, I wanted to make sure the board was aware and we were transparent with those transactions. That's why it's on. It's not a uh we have many national trips as we all know. Um several half a dozen or so that Mr. Hanks can explain more about. But in service of this action item, which is really about a phenomenal committee for students, what I completely support, it did get me thinking about um our fundraising policies. And I know that this is not a new topic for trustees
171tonight. Um right now, our fundraising policies are very specific and say a $5,000 or more fundraising activity needs board approval. That is our current policy. And we often have events to be very transparent that are five or thousand $5,000 or more that maybe do not come before the board. I would like to get cleaner on that process and be more transparent with the fundraising process moving forward. It might take us looking at um our policy and what we can do better as an administrative team. Um and we need to do better especially when we have these sort of big trips that occur. Um, so this is one of many trips that have happened. I bring this forth uh just to get some feedback from you and maybe a little bit history of what we've done
172around fundraising because I think it's kind of gone up and down with energy over time. Right now, as you know, we fundra through the education foundation. That's our process. That's what we believe in. That's what we signed up for. Um, Jenny's doing a phenomenal job. She's doing her best to get that organization rolling. Obviously, Trusty Doran and Bosch sit on um and are very close to the foundation. We want to continue to use that branch as our fundraising uh assistance. We need that in our district. We can't handle that as a district. That's why one of the reasons we started the education foundation. So, I bring this forward forward to talk not only about obviously the trip, which is phenomenal, but I would like to explore our fundraising policies a little bit deeper, figure out
173how we can be more efficient, transparent with you on what we do as a district going forward. Um, so I'm just starting that exploration now and just want to make sure you're aware of that. Um, Mike, would you provide some context as well? >> Sure. Uh, Madam Chair, trustees, thank you, Dr. Chris. I think you covered most of what we need to discuss about this item. The only thing that I guess I would add is trying to get feedback and or in how would you guys like to be informed and or approving of these national type trips um moving forward. It's come up a few times then this year. We have a number of them. Speech and debate qualifies for nationals almost every year. Robotics goes to nationals many years. Deca qualified for nationals. Drama
174has qualified for nationals. So we have a number of these that come up. Um, and so there's if you guys want to have develop some sort of process for approval or infor informing you, that was kind of what the topic was at fundraising and informing and or approving. >> Go ahead. you know, uh this is sort of in an ancient history, but I think uh for those of us who are involved have been involved in various um nonprofits over the years, the thing [clears throat] that always is disconcerting about the nonprofit sort of issue and it's not it's not the I keep calling it the fund. I'm sorry. [laughter] take a while. >> I can't I I I will get the new name for probably another five years. But um >> so you >> is
175that people uh you know there are some fundraising things that go on to the school and people are just shoving money in their pockets. Now it's not I'm not saying that people are dishonest but there was no recordkeeping. Um, and then you know we go from one thing to asking the same parents for more money on something else. So if the school district were to try to do a capital campaign, you know, we got people including, you know, when my kids were in school, we're like, okay, so I've done the band concert to go to Disneyland, which you know, Tom Dham did, right? Then, you know, we have to pay for skiing this, you know, cross country that, all that sort of thing. And it really um becomes difficult for this school district to be
176considered a legitimate fundraising outfit, which is great that we have Jenny doing this. And uh I really think that all should be going through the fund. Uh I do know that um some teachers, some principles feel like, well, we have to pay for their overhead. Yeah, welcome to the real world. That's part of fundraising. You do have to pay a certain percentage for overhead of the organization. Um so I'm not I have no patience with that kind of argument. Um and I hear it a lot. So I think you know going back um you know one of the reasons that the fund was started was in order to eliminate all these little clubs raising money here and there and it seems to for a while it was sort of you know moving in the right
177direction and it seems to me like recently it's just kind of gone crazy and you know the football trip you know you know we you know I heard parents talking about that we meditate about that I think we need to be uh informed of all these things even if it's just a listing of the various fundraising because then for us you know for example if we want to build the Bron Achievement Center I'm pretty con pretty convinced that the state's not going to do it for us and we're going to have to have a cap capital campaign and if we want parents to contribute, but they can't be feeling like they're nickelled and dimed every five minutes from the school district. And I think that's what you start feeling like as a parent and a
178community member. So, I really feel like we should be notified of these efforts. I know Kristen can't, you know, keep track. You know, for a while the school district was actually keeping track of all these clubs and where they were spending money. And I don't know if that's still the case, but Jenny and her group still can. I mean, that's what that's what they do and they do it expertly and professionally. And I think that that is why I am really keen on not having all these little fundraisers going on that we don't know about. Maybe you don't know about them in some cases. you know, the apples are really a nice thing, but you know, literally people just, oh yeah, here's the apples, you know, so and of course they account for it or
179they try to, but you know, it just has the appearance of not being very professionally done or organized at all by the school district and and I'm kind of offended by that. So, I hope we will at least be notified. Um, and hopefully we can steer people to the fund to actually do that work um instead of you know people shoving money in their cash in their pockets. So that's my two cents. >> Trustee me I I just want to say this about this particular fundraiser. This actually is being processed through um the the fund for public ed. I know that's not what it's called. I'm with you. >> I'm not talking about this particular thing. I'm just talking about generically giving some history because I was here long before you were and long before
180Mike was and long before Scott was and we really tried to uh direct things into the fund and you know got nothing but push back about doing that and uh you know when you look at the the successful nonprofits in town they are successful because you know they don't mess around. They have excellent fundraisers. They have uh very good bookkeeping, all that stuff. You know, over the years, not so much with Titan County School District. And it's not anybody here's fault. It's just it became kind of a habit of people just, you know, whatever raising money for this or that. So, I think it's really important that we, you know, let our professional fundraisers become our official fundraisers. And with regards to this thing, you know, it's it's a done deal, it appears to me.
181So, um, you know, I don't have a lot of opposition. I you don't have any opposition to it, but um, maybe in the future we can work things around. >> I would agree with you. We need to get better with our fundraising practices and policies. I agree with that. Um, I do think most fundraisers go through the fund. U, the only other one I would bring up is bronbackers as well. A lot of the sports teams to raise through bronbackers. Yeah, >> trusty Bosch. >> Um, uh, I guess what I would say first is is that I agree with most of what Trusty me just said. I think that uh since serving on this board and then being on the board of the education foundation um it has become very clear to me that there's
182a lot of history and there appears to be a lot of differing views on what is and what isn't. And I think at least in my opinion and understanding that I probably at least myself will and and I don't know about Trusty Gordon but will stay out of those discussions but I do think that uh the education foundation and the school district and I've expressed this to Jenny as well as Dr. Chris need to get an understanding of what we're talking about. I look at these things as different from what the education foundation does normally. these kind of parent student driven activities. Uh my oldest is a model UN. We had to raise money and pay money and do all that. There's a direct benefit to us. I see that different than raising money for
183the dentist program or the you know that thing where you're going out trying to get money given to the the the uh education foundation for all different sorts of things. My concern and my question I I think is for Mike here is when we're doing these things where uh I'm assuming we have a chaperon that's going along. I'm assuming that this is organized through the school is is you know one of the costs and I'm not sure this is incorporated in that but I'm guessing that there might be some is there a rider on our policy or what's there because we are participating and and running this. you guys would know better than me, but is there an additional cost that the district's absorbing there? And I just like to know what that is. And
184kind of like Trusty meat, I think that when these things happen, all I'd like to do is just have a single page report in our thing saying, "Hey, this is what's going on. This is what it is. This is the cost of the district. This is being covered. Thank you very much." I mean, but I don't know if there's additional cost, who's paying for the teachers to go along or the [clears throat] instructors, all those >> this cost that you're seeing is all inclusive for all the instructors that are going, every chaperon that is going as well. >> And is there a is there a bump in our policy or is it covered by our insurance policy? I mean, what happens if a kid I mean, I know they have to sign waiverss and all
185that, I'm sure, but that doesn't mean that's the end of the day here. So, what happens there? >> I would defer that question to Sarah Vanin. She's obviously not here, but my in my conversations with her over the years, our insurance policy would still cover our events um in those those facilities that we'd be going to those events in California or wherever they may be. >> Okay. >> So, that's my understanding. >> So, I I would want to make sure that we have that part sealed up so that whoever our insurance carrier is on that basis is is notified or whatever. Hey, we're because this is not a trip to Green River. this is, >> you know, the model you end trip was to MIT. So, I mean, these places are all over and I
186just don't know how that's covered. So, that's my only concern. I agree with Trusty me. I think getting some clarification on all of this and getting a framework that at least five of you can approve and board can approve from the education foundation would be great moving forward. >> Or four. >> What's that? >> Or four. >> Four of us. >> Why is only four? That's all we need for a majority. >> Oh, [laughter] Bill, Bill, Bill, Bill. >> I know it's not [snorts] trusty. >> Well, in that case, it only be three to be exact. [laughter] One suggestion would be on the consent agenda, you know, like we sort of have approval of board member travel. You put another one on there, approval of fundraisers, just so that we're notified. I think it sort
187of goes with what Trusty Bosch was saying that there's at least a list that we see it. it's on a consent agenda. We approve them. That that might be an easy solution. What I'm a little frustrated about is I feel like we've solved this a few times, >> right? >> And then for some reason, and I don't know who >> Excellent >> ignores us. [laughter] And so I start feeling sometimes, this happens quite a lot on this board, I gotta say, where we come up with a board policy and then a year or two goes by and suddenly nobody remembers that we said to do it this way. Um, I thought it was the policy that if you do anything over 5,000, you got to come to us. Um, maybe that isn't the policy. I
188don't um, I thought it was. Um, you know, I got into this probably 10 years ago over the apps. I can remember sitting here and arguing about those apples because we had all these parents upset with us. They had donated a lot of money and then we gave the money. It was a it was a great thing. It was a lesson in philanthropy and they were teaching the kids and then they got to vote on who to give the money to and we gave it to some group in Africa. Wonderful, wonderful thing. It was a wonderful lesson in philanthropy. But we also got a lot of push back from parents. They thought they were donating to Culture Elementary to benefit Culture Elementary. They didn't realize that their funds were going toward this lesson toward philanthropy.
189And then later we switched the apples to funding the winner uh the trip to the science school and and stuff. >> I I think sometimes there is a reason why it needs to come back to this board and I think Trusty Bosch really hit upon it. It depends on what we're talking about. When they're raising money for a trip, I think that's very different than we're going to raise money for I I don't know um >> dental screenings. >> Dental screen. Those are all different. The trip thing I also think we need to know about the trips. Um we also need to know about what doesn't go through us is um like my daughter went to Italy two years ago. I know she went to San Francisco with Bill Wy. Um, one year Bill took
190all the eighth graders to San Francisco. Um, and those trips get done totally separate from the school district. Those are like you're paying some company because I had to pay them like once a month for a year until like you're all paid up for the big trip, you know? I think we've all done one of those. But it'd be nice to know that like that some teacher's taking a bunch of kids mostly so we could thank that teacher. I mean, that's a big I mean, I mean, I get they get a free trip out of it and and they actually get a second free trip by doing it. Uh there's a lot of benefits to a teacher doing it, but it's still a pain. I wouldn't want to take a bunch of kids to, [laughter]
191you know, that that would be my worst nightmare. Um but um but uh [laughter] you know, it's God speed to them. Um but I think we need to know that that that all those things are happening. So, I like the idea of what Trusty Bosch was saying, but I think we could just put it in the consent agenda. Here, here's all the fundraisers, and they could split them up like these are trips that are happening. These are fundraisers that are occurring because kids want to raise money for XYZ or or whatever they're raising money for. Um, and I and I really think the principles, you know, um, could be integral in in in keeping track of this, um, and making sure because I think sometimes because I've asked a few times and the principal was
192like, "Oh, I didn't know we were raising money in our school for that." And I was like, and that I think is what trusty me's getting at is that there's so many little pieces moving. We're not all because I think what this board was saying, we weren't saying we wanted to fully charge. were saying was, "Please funnel it over to Jenny so that she at least knows what we're all up to." Um, so I think that's that's the whole >> I'd like to add to what everybody else is saying. I like the idea of a a money limit. You said 2,000. Somebody else on the board said 5,000 because there I work with the fund. the education fund and you know they have car washes and they have donations for this and don't the bookkeeping
193is horrendous horrendous and so I'd like to see the board just hear about the biggies I don't know what that money is what that cut off is >> but but we shouldn't have to hear about every little fundraiser >> the current board policy is 5,000 so what it says Is it five? >> Yeah. >> So, it sounds like it's a good thing you brought this up. >> This is >> because this is exactly what you were after. And it sounds like we need clarity around several different things. I mean, I think it's we need clarity around these national trips or regional trips that are fundraised for that are sort of part of the school. Um maybe we need clarity about extracurricular trips like you know in the summer when there's a group of kids going
194with a teacher to Europe. I mean just clarity about what the policies are around that and how that works. >> Um and then clarity around um other things that the fund raises money for i.e. I think dental because it was in our board packet that's why it's coming to everybody's mind but the the dental screenings I mean you know because there that is different um and you know I believe that this is really being funneled through the fund but it's a big chunk of change so we need it's a attached to the school district so we need to know about it um so I I I just think we need clarity and policy around all those things >> madam chair Can I just ask a question though? If we as a board here, um, and
195I'm not sure what Trusty Gingry meant when you said put it on the consent agenda, meaning do we [clears throat] have to approve it or is it just that's the notification? Because >> I approve it. Well, and the concern I have with that is is if certain things start coming through and we start proving them, do we run some risks with regards to since recalibration's on everybody's mind that then there's an issue there because I've had this discussion at least briefly with Sarah Van and there's some question as to if we start directing all these things then the question is is it under our control and do we have a problem? So maybe that's just something to ask Sarah to clarify. Um um meaning like this trip like does that then come through us and
196it's money that we're spending or it then goes into the general coffers? Like that's why I thought the education foundation was set up to make sure that that was all separated so that it never really comes under the guise of the funds coming into the district in any way, shape or form. Does do you understand what I'm going So I just would ask for her to weigh in or if you know I you probably know I don't know. [snorts] I think there's some different notifications going on here. So maybe you're right. Maybe under consent could be some approvals. So here would be the one I'd want to approve. You're selling apples. I want to know why you're selling the apples. Where where's that money going? What what are you doing with it? I want to
197know that these trips maybe that's not a consent thing. Maybe that's just a notification mostly because hey, I've decided to take all the kids to North Korea. I'd like to know that like so I can say that's not a great idea. Let's rethink [laughter] that. >> It's a good example. I gave you an example. >> [laughter] >> Madam chair, >> I think the policy was intended. I remember right. Ton Motors wants to give us a brand new Subaru for student education. We have to approve to accept that. True. >> You know, we can go through all those examples. >> [clears throat] >> the band trip I'm very familiar with. I have a trumpet player. Um, these kids have been out fundraising through outside organizations depositing the money. I guess it's the fund and >> education
198[laughter] >> education foundation foundation >> made a big sign up with the foundation. >> She used to wear a sign [laughter] the first one she corrected. the foundation. Um, you know, it's a it's a passion. I want to know that during the school year, the kids are going on this trip. It is a school bus ride to Salt Lake City. That is on us. It is a luxury bus ride, whatever that means. From Salt Lake City to Anaheim. I can't imagine anything worse. >> [laughter] >> But I did not. >> You can see why when I pay all this money, someone else will [laughter] take care of our children. >> So I you know it's happening during school time. >> Yeah. That should do it. the trip you example that's not that's some >> and
199even if you trusted your kid with Bill Wy to go to San Francisco [laughter] >> that's on you >> that's what I you know so then that's maybe where we need the clarity that that is a separate thing and why is that a separate thing >> and it's not under our insurance >> yeah I mean you know just so that we have a sense of >> for everybody the football the football team when we learned that they were >> taking an Allegian flight from um Idaho Falls to play football. I was like, "Wow, that's cool. How'd they do that?" >> Private fundraising [laughter] agent. Really? Can I just make a suggest? I I would trust that that Scott and Jenny can get together and work this out and then come to us with something instead
200of us running through all different hypotheticals cuz um >> I mean I've gone on those summer trips and they're fun Keith. Sorry you missed out [laughter] but yeah. So >> stand. >> Um so we've asked a lot of questions. Hi. Well, Madam Chair and Trusties, I sorry that turned into a longer conversation, but I think that's the point. Um, we can do better. We'll put together some scenarios and bring it forth. I just feel like we're a little scattered right now. So, I kind of want to bring it back home and figure out a better system. So, we'll work on it. >> Great. >> Thanks. >> Um, and now for this one. Any more questions? >> This one's great, everybody. >> Okay. Any public comment? >> Do we have a motion? I move to approve
201the Educational Music Festival Program Network purchase order um not to exceed $16,034 and zero of those dollars are school funds. >> Second. >> Any more discussion? All in favor? >> I >> opposed. And it is really cool that it's 90 kids. All right. We're moving on to consideration of personnel request as discussed in executive session. Do I have a motion? >> Madame Chairman, I move to approve personnel request as discussed in executive session. >> Is there a second? >> Second. And all in favor? >> I >> opposed. Motion passes. Moving on to the consent agenda. Uh consent agenda. Approval of staffing considerations and reports. Approval of check register. Approval of board of education executive session and regular meeting minutes of January 14th 20. That should be 2026. Um, approval of TCSD number one, Board of
202Education special meeting minutes of January 29th, 2026. Approval of region 5 Bosey's purchase order. Approval of an extension to Cub's RFP. Um, approval of the 95% JES vestibule design and approval of board member travel. Do I have >> Madame Chairman? I would move the consent agenda as you corrected with that one day correction as you presented. Second, >> Madam Chairman, I just like to point out under board member travel um I am planning to travel on Sunday. I'm not charging miles. I'll just have the district pick up my hotel room. [snorts] >> Okay, sounds great. Thank you. Um, all right. We have a motion and a second. All in favor? >> I opposed. >> I >> motion passes. Um, communication communication to the board. There are five letters. Um, TCSD libraries news, Jones Housing, Cubs
203program, um, the midyear highlights from the TCSD library and Wyoming Department of Audit. Uh, communications from the board. >> Thank you everybody for participating in getting the legislative session. Yes, I appreciate it. >> We will miss you next Saturday or Sunday. >> You'll have to make it. >> Uh future agenda items. Anybody have I think we've racked up quite a bit >> other than the CB at some point. >> We what? >> The capital improvement projects were we >> Oh, next month there's a a workshop. Oh, it's a workshop. Okay. >> Um, Madam Chairman, two two things on my list. WCK district goals. I think we need to have a conversation before we um vote on the mills and things. >> Okay. >> Primarily that. And this other thing, and it just wouldn't be a
204meeting if we didn't bring this up. >> Um, the sewer line. We're still a proud owner of sewer line from Melody Ranch to Munger Mountain. It feels that the county continues to jerk our chain around on it and I wonder if we need to have a discussion about what we should do next because I'm not sure we're going to come to an agreement. They seem to move the goalposts. >> I've been wondering if it may have some sales value. Somebody might want to buy it in order to run a sewage district, a private sewer district. Would that be possible? Do you suppose given? >> So I probably shouldn't talk to you. [laughter] >> This will be interesting. >> Bill, >> I will tell you I think this is what they're looking at. They might form
205a joint power board. >> Yes. >> And and and do it. The problem is there's no statutory authority potentially for a county. when you go and look at the statute, towns can own sewers and sewer districts can own sewers, but it doesn't say counties can't. So, that's where they ran into this problem. So, now they're talking about forming a joint power board with the town. And that joint power board would not only own this one, but potentially start owning other ones and and that actually would solve a lot of the problems all over the county. Um that's the issue they've run into um is that um one of them raised the issue well you know where's the statutory authority and and nobody can point to it >> probably we don't have statuto authority either >>
206I think you do because it's it's serving your school so like it's that's the the difference is is that you you have an asset it goes to but probably a A joint power board would be a really smart idea because then the joint power board could own the sewer ponds and county could own them together and then all the sewer lines and there's a lot of advantages to a joint power board. >> Um other future agenda items. Oh, Madam Chair, you know, when um Pier and Megan were presenting this uh the district peer review, it's got a lot of agenda items in it that I think we really definitely need to look at. Uh one is specifically with regards to us is the criticism that we don't have a formal board self-evaluation um program. Um
207and the committee >> I don't know you want to give them any credit [laughter] >> they were unimpressed they were unimpressed with our board a so I think we need to look at that and then the other thing um that really made me uncomfortable was their language which was there are grave safety and security issues at our school including you know, no visitor ID software and you know, the best of all will take care of a very small part of that. And I do think we need to discuss with Scott what what we need to do to eliminate these grave safety and security issues, which, you know, I mean, scary. Um, a couple of the other things were um just simply um an emergency operating plan. We don't have one of those. I think we
208need to have that too. Um at least, you know, the committee thought we should. Now whether we should or not, I'm not a a safety expert, but in combination with these grave safety and security issues, I do think probably they're correct that we need a crisis planning, emergency operating plan. So maybe that's something that we can discuss or have some, you know, have a workshop about uh in the future so that and maybe we can't talk about it in public. Maybe we have to go to executive session to discuss those things. But, uh, it seems like we ought to be working on that. >> Trusty. >> Uh, Madame Chair, I u agree 100% wholeheartedly with trusty me. Um, and I think that we need to based on that report uh have concerns and um need
209to look at a complete approach, not just we have the vestibule, which is awesome, that addresses one thing. We need to look at a comprehensive plan at this point. Um, back when that building was built, these issues probably weren't um as prominent. Let's put it that way. Um the other thing in looking at the uh reports and all the information that was gone over um I think that we now have three different surveys uh from staff that uh point out um their desire to have um reviews and evaluations and help. And so I'm not sure what that is. Um I'd like to uh but I would really like to see that we address this because um we are getting uh the staff is evaluating this saying they're they're literally screaming off the pages saying this
210is not being dealt with. And so I'd like to see some suggestions uh I'd like to see that on there and some suggestions from uh admin as what we can do and how we can address these concerns and if they [clears throat] need what do they need from us um so that we can address that we need to bring that number up. It's just 20%. It's not acceptable to me. >> Right. No, I agree. Madam Chair, >> yes. >> I would like to hear an update about evidence-based grading regarding how is it progressing? Is it clear to the parents? Is it clear to the students? Is everybody able to navigate it in an understandable format which helps a student ensures that students are succeeding >> and maybe the successes that you're seeing with it and
211maybe some of the challenges. >> Yeah. Anything else? >> Just a question of Dr. Chris. The other day when I went to the high school, I had to scan my driver's license. Is that like a new Is that in every school now or just the high school? >> Just you just [clears throat] [laughter] um one system we're piling um to have better entry security for people that come into school. It's just at the high school >> right now. Yeah, it's called Raptor system. We use a lot of them in Casper, different schools that across the state. They're across the country. Um, so we're looking at that and piloting that one to see how it works. >> But when Trusty Bosch was just saying that we need that visitor ID program, is that what we're talking
212about or something? >> That's that's that's a program. That's what it does. It checks people who come in the building. >> Um, Before we rate the meeting and then adjourn the meeting, just remember we need to stay for a couple of minutes because Charlotte needs to take a picture of this. So, we haven't updated. >> But you don't have your Wyoming stuff on. >> I know. It's It's the second Wednesday of the month again. It's brown and gold day. I forgot. >> Well, there is that for the whole state. the whole state >> because there were I was on a meeting today that was part of the governor's council and several people at Wyoming step on and I was like but Keith didn't >> um anyway uh how was the meeting >> I actually have
213a serious thing to say on that one and maybe it's to trusty Bosch I wasn't I think I missed the explanation what can we do as a board to help you with that consent agenda what needs to get changed >> uh I I'm sorry I wasn't clear for me the issue is that um with regards to approval of board member travel approving it just into the future without any >> there's something attached to it this I and I thank Dr. Chris for making an effort to do that. Um, I think that's awesome as far as predictive, but what it is is saying I I'd like to see what those numbers are. Like what are we doing? You know, who's going where? Bill just offered something up that I wasn't aware of. He was like, don't
214I'm not charging mileage. Just cover my hotel. That's great. I just want to know what that is. I don't like approving anything budget-wise or excuse me, expense-wise. You know, we have the checks. We see them every month. I'd like to just see what those numbers are before we approve it. I don't like approving it blanket without not knowing what it is. And I would go for pretty much anything you put on there and said it's not it's not a representation or a reflection on the board. It's just if you said approval of I don't know buying books and without anything on there I would see what that is first. >> May I'll just give a little bit of the history. I mean this came about when Janine Tesy was traveling a lot on our behalf
215down to Cheyenne and some of us sort of what you're saying Jerry trusty it that's that was the purpose we sort of wanted to know hey Janine when are you going again shouldn't we sort of have some say in that and so that was the purpose of it >> um so I sounds like what's been missing >> is maybe there used to always be a staff report and it would always just say Janine Tesky is going here and it was usually Janine. There was others of us traveling, but it was usually her and then we'd all go, "Yep, that sounds great that you're doing that." Or, "Hey, I think we're traveling a little bit too much." You know, whatever we wanted to say. That's how it came about. I'm not sure it's required to be
216on there. We put it on there years ago and and what you're saying is you want to know specifically where they're staying and how much it's going to cost. I just want to know what the the numbers are. That's all. I mean, whatever it is, it's whatever the numbers are. It's not a big deal. It's just >> after you go and you don't know what you're going to spend for food or what you're going to spend for a hotel room until you go. >> Yeah. >> So, maybe it just has to delay by >> That's fine. We have it somewhere. I just haven't been able to find it anywhere, >> right? >> And it's not in the warrants. It's not in anything else. I just I don't like proving anything in advance without having some
217idea. And I had asked Dr. Chris, but he put that in there, I'm sure, for me, which is awesome. I just want to know what it is, what we're spending on. That's all. >> Fair enough. >> I think it was more just it was preapproval that you could do the travel, then the the funding comes back through the warrants. You should be able to see it in the warrants. At some point, somebody is submitting money. Money is being paid out. It's the only place it would be is the warrants. >> I think Kristen's off, but I'll ask her again. I did not see I've chatted several months in a row and don't see anything there. So, and I know people have been traveling, so I don't know what I'm missing and and I don't need
218you don't need to belabor. Maybe it's I'm missing >> and maybe just maybe guys like me very rarely charge for my truck and >> and it's not going to show up in the warrants, but I'm happy to start charging if you'd rather make it easier. Uh, ill, this is not personal. I'm trying to just >> I'm just trying to make this thing smooth so it so we can move forward. >> I'm sure it's on the the the school credit card, >> right? >> And maybe that's why >> that's mixed in with a lot of other stuff. >> That's all I got. >> Yeah, >> that's all. >> All right. Um, how was the meeting? >> No. >> Long. Um, and I didn't think it was going to be. All right. Thank you. Uh, is there
219a motion to adjourn? >> I so move. [laughter] >> Is there a second? >> Second. >> All right. >> All in favor? I >> I was curious, >> Charlotte. Where would you like it? >> We've done it. >> I wonder if we maybe Do we want to go stand by the flag? >> Well, it's not a great >> Yeah, that one. >> Maybe we Maybe if I scoot the flag over and so you have