001White cheddar and cheddar. 11se blood sugar. >> You can see through it. It definitely does not. Don't leave me hanging. lid all my candies to Adam. So if you want an extra one melted >> I know I'm finding too >> him over either Adam or Todd. One or two big pile ones because they taste like the crunch bar chocolates to do fundraising and I'm like, "Oh my god, stop. Let's get those away." >> I just bought $78 worth of Girl Scout cookies. >> Why? I have to get a hold of my uh >> three for my one boy, two for my other boy, some for me and Goob and my mom and dad. continually >> I think for probably three more years or so. >> That right. Perfect. Give you a whole crapload of extra
002candies. >> I just think everybody would enjoy seeing that fun. >> My sister works for the food pantry. They are ecstatic. >> They are really >> They're just like, "Oh my god, >> that's so cool." And the kids have so much fun. Yeah. Yeah. >> Okay. >> Come on. All right, folks. It's 6:30. Let's get this meeting started. >> Meeting to order. Pledge of Allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands. One nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. >> You got George. >> Yeah. Coup. >> Yeah. >> Leaky. >> Yes. >> Levit. >> Nelson. >> Yes. >> Punk. >> Schaffer. >> And uh mission statement. Mission statement of the Gayler Trouble School District is learning for all, learning for life. >>
003And item six, six is our consent agenda. We have the approval of our regular schoolboard meeting, our special meeting, the financial reports which we heard on Thursday, and the personnel approvals. I take a motion for the consent agenda. >> I Sarah second. >> Second. >> All those in favor signify by saying I. >> Opposed. Motion carries. Uh public comments like we have none correspondence. >> All right. So the only thing I have this time and I think all of you on the board get this in the mail. It's cool news. I was just going to highlight. You might have looked at it and said, "Oh, this was the convention and went, >> but there's some really good stuff in here that I would suggest that you check out. For example, all the resolutions." Then you
004think about all the all the delegates that are there representing every single school district in the state and they have delegates voting on all of these different policies and things that they think are important that are happening in public education. Um anyway, it talks about those resolutions, what was decided on at that conference. I thought that was pretty good. And then um about halfway through all of the legal cases that are right now in the court system that affect education will affect our future and and things going forward. Those are highlighted in here as well. So just some things to maybe draw your attention to. We got a couple extra minutes. That'll be Yeah, I'm gonna get that ready while you all right. Um on to staff and student recognition. Um I just have I
005have a list here. So if I miss somebody, I apologize and I'm going to kind of go through it quick because I have uh um pretty big list. I want to recognize um the wrestling team, gymnastics, and the boys basketball on their fall season. Um all their great accomplishments so far. Um we're now into the start of spring activities. I know track started today. Uh the Cooland Honor Choir participated in Idaho. We had some students there participating. >> Um, like to recognize the Dorian Honor Band. >> Sorry, that's all right. >> Okay, I'll just close that. >> Um, >> really exciting. Just wait. >> Yeah, we had 10 students um attend the Dorian Honor Band at Luther College. The juniors took ACT prep. Um the middle school did, and I don't know, Pete, if I'm
006going to say this right, the um Shark Tank, I believe it was activity. Yep. Um we do have a And then we also finally a banding choir concert tomorrow night, the high school band choir. anybody's interested if anybody else has anything that they want to recognize. >> Um, you know, I talked heard at state G was well represented. Heard it was more than bust the band. And so that was pretty cool. >> Um, thank you. >> I was going to recognize uh the forensics season has started too and all of our forensics team members um who competed at the subdist level made it on to the district level and they will be competing at the district level in um the end of March March 21st. So um uh and then after district the they make
007it on the district >> and they have a huge team uh G has the biggest uh forensics team in the region. Um, in mid January, I happened to see on Facebook this nationwide cereal box Domino competition. And so I passed that on to the um, elementary admin and they ran with it. And did they ever and they put together the coolest video on it. I asked uh Michelle if she wouldn't play it in case you guys haven't seen it, but the kids raised 390 boxes of cereal for the food pantry. >> Yeah. So, yeah. >> That's what we do around here, right? We help each other. So, hey, we have fun along the way. This is that you guys did. That was so cute. Isn't that cool? >> Oh, you guys >> put that together.
008creative side of how we connect our three elementary. >> So cool. >> Good job, guys. >> Yeah, a little bit of kindness goes a long way. So, >> I saw page. I'm like, "Oh, we did it. He hit me." >> Okay. Um, we'll move on to administrative reports. our March 2026 reports. Okay, questions on that questions on that. So now on to unfinished business. So, we met at the committee hall to discuss the final number on the capital improvement and um do you want to just quick explain what tonight is about? >> So, tonight is just to help us start moving forward. Um the official resolutions will take place in April at the board meeting. Um but this vote is really to say start moving so we can start working on marketing plans and commit
009you know getting that full grassroots effort going to to get a yes vote on these projects. So yeah we're asking for support questions on lights. Can you just refresh the uh what the yearly 350,000 real quick? >> Okay. Because I know that >> Yeah. >> Sorry. All right. So, uh, with a $44,755,000 referendum, uh, the mill rate tax, uh, impact would be 96. That equates to a property that valued at $350,000. The annual property tax increase would be $336. >> Thank you. Okay. So, I guess at this time entertain a motion if you feel it's appropriate. >> Is this please your chair? I think on something this important that we do it on voice uh do it on >> voice. Roll call. >> Yes. Yep. >> I make a motion that we approve going to
010uh referendum. >> Do I need to for the >> Yep. Read the whole >> for the uh where is it? The approved going to referendum vote on August 11th. I lost my uh for the amount of 44,755,000 for the uh capital for the purpose of capital improvement projects in the high school and three elementary buildings. >> So we have a motion >> second by Cindy. Any discussion? >> No discussion. We'll go to Robo. >> Yeah. >> George, >> yes. >> Coup, >> no. >> Ley, >> yes. >> Le >> Nelson, >> yes. >> Punk, >> yes. >> Schaffer, >> yes. >> Wrestler, >> yes. >> Sarah, >> no. >> Carry 72. And so then next month we'll have the referendum question two. >> All right. Exciting times, good, bad, or in between. Um, new business.
011Wisconsin Academic Excellence Scholarship. So, um, every year at this time, we have these two scholarships or two separate motions you'll see there, um, uh, that are earned by our high school students that will be graduating. Wisconsin academic excellence scholarship is usually your very top student that will be planning to attend a Wisconsin state college. The technical excellence again technical school two separate motions and uh you can see the names when you do the motion you can use. So does the excellent set what you consider valictorian? >> Often times a dollar a Victorian but sometimes it can change based on whether that person is let's just say they are going to go to um an academy military and not go through. >> So we need two separate motions. Can >> we do it together and readable
012them together? Um or no? >> Well, let's just do them separately and then yeah, then there's no question. >> I move that we approve the Wisconsin Academics Excellence Scholarship awarded to Auburn Rotary. >> I'll second. >> All those in favor signify by saying I. >> Opposed. All right. Congratulations, Auburn. And then we have our Wisconsin Technical Excellence Scholarship. I move that we approve the Wisconsin Technical Excellence Scholarship awarded to Caitlyn Caldwell. >> Second by Adam. All those in favor signify by saying I. >> I opposed. >> Congratulations, Caitlyn. >> Um C early college credit and start college now application. >> All right. So this time of year when we get this, it is for next fall. Um the students that are wanting to take courses to get college credit either at see when we look
013at that list many are from Western uh technical school but then there's some for W lacrosse there that you can see in state um out of that full list there's actually 15 students many times they have more than one course they are always planning on taking three or four but they They put all of the ones that they will would or could take um because they might not get their first choice or their second choice. They put a few in there knowing that they might just take two or one, but they want to make sure they get a course. Um all of these students are doing a great job. You can see one of the top classes that is on that list is that nursing assistant course at Western Tech. So, a lot of our
014students will do that. They'll get their NA while they're in high school, they are able to work, gain experience, and then move into the medical field that you need a motion to approve those. >> I would take a motion then to for the early college credits by Coupe, second by Olen, Sarah Olson. All those in favor signify by saying I motion carries. Congratulations on that. Um, now on to item D, recommendation to hire additional middle school sixth grade math teachers. >> Okay. And this recommendation, I kind of talked about this at the committee the whole, but um I actually did some number crunching and um right now the middle school has 303 students approximately and uh you've got a class of 99, a class of 99, and a class of 105. Next year the 105
015goes out and a class of 120 comes in 120. Um when you have that big of a bump you have to have more staff just to cover classes. We're asking for one new sixth grade teacher um with the title math and math interventionist. Um Pete has rearranged his entire schedule with help in input from staff and others um to make that work. Um, I I will be coming back next year and the year after because let's see, right now we'll be at 303. The year a next year we be at 318. The year after we'll be at 321 and the year after we'll be at 342 at the middle school. So, we're going to have to increase staff there. >> Um, so >> wow. And um anyway, but right now I'm asking for one of
016the middle school Does that person end up then helping with all three grades or >> Yeah. The purpose is that they'll teach a sixth grade core class for sure. Help both numbers and we currently don't have a math interventionist students during time of >> cool remind me we've got um two and a half teachers for fifth grade this year. Is that correct? the the class uh at Trump lower we have 27 and 27 in the two main classes and then there's a teacher that's halftime that's coming and supporting core with those two >> so essentially that is one teacher so will that position then go away >> yes >> so essentially we're replacing two halftime teachers with a full-time teacher >> a half teacher >> a half time and a half >> covering those two
017classes of 27 two full times and a half teacher for those two classes of 27. The halftime will go away. We'll lose that position, but >> so essentially we're we're hiring a >> another half with benefits. >> I am reducing two benefit positions for next year. Um and as I told you guys, we're not having those two full-time substitute. So that's helped me to balance the budget. >> That's what I was hoping you were going to say. >> Especially the whole benefits piece. A part-time doesn't have benefits, but those fulltime ones do. And that's that's where >> serious cost savings. >> Any other two core classes or language and science? And >> as far as >> how are those getting covered? He's here to Yes, we also have currently have interventions more in the world
018later this six classroom she's also going to teach a course class by herself and she'll do reading interventions and then science and social studies at both reader class that our focus is improving reading math course first high school as well putting more effort into that but the the science class will be about 29 30 in each classroom classroom. >> Yeah, we've looked at it. It's going to be tight. I mean, we currently run classes at 27. 28 is not right now. We've had that. It's tight. We are going to have to buy a little more furniture. Robert and I have been looking, but we'll have to buy a little more. >> But like for labs and safety, will it affect any of that kind of things or >> No. And if we've been in the
019middle school science lab, they're pretty They are pretty spacious longer rooms. >> More questions. >> Are we predicting any larger classes in the elementary school? >> So, I brought those numbers, too, cuz I had a feeling I had a feeling that was kind of >> feeling we'd ask. So, interestingly, right now, um, so you know, again, fifth grade is at 120, fourth grade is 102, third grade's at 120, second grade is at 103. The smallest grade um at the elementary is first grade at 90 right now. Interesting. That was that was a shock to us. We were thinking everything was going to go to three sections at Trump. I mean, we had that one, but 4K um if we take in a head start is at 107. So, um, now just for contrast, you got
020all these classes except for that 90. They're all over 100, over 105 at the high school right now. 9th grade 86, 10th grade, that's our smallest class. 10th grade 98, 11th grade 103, 12th grade 94. So, we we were used to these 90s, 95, maybe a little a class here and there, a little over 100. What's coming now are mainly over a hundred. So growth, which is why we are doing our capital improvement project and making sure that we can have three sections um all the way through in Truffle and that there's room in Gailsville for some bubble classes where we maybe need a third section here or there. And uh yeah, that's why we got we got to make these changes so that we're ready. Plus with all those new housing projects in Gville
021and Trump is going to >> Yeah. Yes, we could that sixth grade teacher. That would be really helpful. >> All right. Any other questions? If not, guess we could entertain a motion to recommend hire an additional middle school sixth grade math teacher. to move. >> Second my mark. All those in favor signify by saying I. >> I opposed. >> Motion carries. Middle school teacher. Um item E. So this is put on last last minute. Request for reimbursement of board members conference expenses. Board member attended changemaker workshop public event by the Wisconsin school leaders for excellence on January 22nd at the double tree by Hilton in Milwaukee. board member would like to also attend Wisconsin Institute for Law and Liberty 2026 board summit April 24thsa and I think this was put on um because there's some
022questions on the reimbursement I believe and >> I'll just read the policy >> okay yeah >> first and that's attached there so you can all see that um way it's in the compensation part and it's in the bylaw so this applies specifically to board members um under item B, it says, "When attending a board approved conference, all fees, parking, mileage, meals, and housing will be reimbursed." Doesn't get into any specifics about what can or can't be um approved as far as conferences go. It just talks to the process. Um you know, again, board approved and then reimburse. I think the question came about is correct me if I'm wrong is that there's questions about it wasn't a board approved conference >> it's not about the conference about whether it was approved or not project >>
023right now when you go to wby conferences because we are part of that association it's assumed that those are board approved because we pay dues to be a part of that that group But again, it's not that we can't approve other types of conferences. We just haven't had the opportunity. We have to bring it to the board that you would like to go to. Like when I for work go to a conference, I have to take it to my boss and I say, "This is a conference that I would like to go to." And then they say, "Yes, you can go or no, you can't go." And then they say, "Yes, you can go and we'll pay for it." Or, "Yeah, you can go, but it's all on your own." So, I think it's the
024same thing for us. We would have to see it and say, "Yep, we'll pay for it." Or, "No, or yeah, you can go, but we won't pay for it." Correct. >> I would think so. I think that there's I mean, there also isn't any type of a perdeium um for each of those individual items that are within our policy. um you know any other board that I serve on when we're traveling we use you know the the federal approved PDM for mileage um you know which I would think would be relevant but you know when it comes to meals when it comes to hotel expense when it comes to those kinds of things I mean I don't also want to get us in a situation where we have someone taking advantage and not that anyone
025on this board would but there may come a time where someone does decides to take advantage and you know get a $350 a night hotel or a, you know, $100 a night steak dinner. You know what I'm saying? Yeah. Um maybe there's something that we need to take a little further, >> right? Just a little bit of guidelines. Um as far as >> you know, >> so what's the budget for those that attend the WASBY meetings? What's the hotel and mileage budget there? Because I mean, if you're going to approve one side and not the other, so what's the budget for the WASBY? So like, do you have 300? Do you go to Kalahari and max out like DPI did? >> So we do have meal meal reimbursements that are set already. The board's already
026approved. So, those are in place. The mileage is already set. That's that >> for the IRS. Yeah, I saw that. >> Hotels, what what we generally do is um you know, we'll look at the list of where they maybe have rooms banked. So, you're getting that lower cost. We always try to get that lower cost room. you know, we don't necessarily go with the cheapest one that's miles away, you know, because you want to try to balance convenience for your your people as well as cost. >> So, you would book all of those items, the hotel, for the school, >> for any board member. >> Book them ourselves because then we can use our credit card and then you don't pay tax. >> So, it's actually better if we book the hotel. Um, and then
027you know again to look to see if we can get some of those rooms that have a lower >> Can you guys ask for state rates? >> We do. >> Most of the compasses are on like walk rooms. So >> they're usually more than state rate. >> You're right. They are >> because I I I will check always the the uh hotel blocked ones, but I can always get one cheaper for state rate. So, if you're all getting excited about hotel costs, I already looked at it. Theo the one for April that is held at um something Renaissance something or another. I have it in my messages um for a hotel there is $260 some odd dollars. I already booked one that is a mile away from the same hotel. That's 135. >> I'm not
028quite sure if it's the cost. I think it's the process. >> Yeah, it's the process. And I yeah it has nothing to do with an individual board member. It has nothing. It has to do with process and setting establishing. >> Well, I'm just saying that if you can approve the WASBY ones and >> that you should be able to approve >> not necessarily. What is the conference of the state statute? >> Please let me please let me finish. >> What is the conference about? Where is the itinerary and what will you be going to when the W when we go to the WASBY one? We know what we're approving. We know who is sponsoring it. We know all of those things. Before I again, same thing when I go to my work. Before I go
029to a conference, I have to say here's where it's going. I have to fill out a thing of what benefit I'm getting, what I'm going to bring back. That's what we're asking. Who is putting this on? And >> it's it's not it's not about the conference. It's about the procedure. Especially if you're dealing with people with tax dollars. I mean, we have to keep the public's trust. And if we just if if I per say were to go to take my family to Florida, for example, and turn in receipts saying I went to a conference without having board approved. I mean, it's it's it's a perception that the public sees and we want to be upfront with them. And the policy does say board approved to go. I mean, that's that's not I mean, if
030we want to change a policy, we can change the policy, but it we just can't go on a whim because it's it's the taxpayers's dollars that we're dealing with. >> And board approved could be as simple as whoever wants to go to the conference brings it to >> Yep. >> the board president, >> send an email. Yeah. >> And board president, >> which I did. I approached you at the February temple. board president says okay with signature on it and it's done and we don't have >> all this >> but it says as simple as that I don't I don't know that that is as simple as that that one person should have as the board to decide that everybody is paying for any conference that anybody decides to go to >> it says board
031approved >> or approved >> it doesn't say board president approved It just it it it's up interpretation um board approved. I mean your president can approve things for the board on behalf of the board. Your president signs things. Um it doesn't mean that that's how you have to interpret this but it could be as simple as that could be. I uh many of our principles there one person they look at all the conferences with the people you know that are teaching or staff members in their building and they approve those doesn't go through doesn't be done at that level. >> So what's the time frame you get approved? >> Question. So if Sarah sent an email to Todd asking uh I would think that would be fairly simple. Yeah. Yeah. You send an email. Yeah.
032Be that easy. >> So that's what we're going to do then. Well, I think I think you know I know we don't like be policy driven and policy policy policy but policy and and I think you know because confusion and and just so there's no questions and and I and I think like Deb was saying maybe I put words in your mouth but there needs to be some some guard rails on it too because we can't I mean do we approve $10,000 worth of conferences a year. I mean, because technically the way it's written, we could >> sure, >> you know, >> I I would knowing this board do something. >> No, >> we're we're going to be doing that. I mean, again, my comments were in general, you know, up until Sarah said it
033was her that had requested it. I had no idea when this room had requested it. So, it isn't driven at any individual. It's driven at just strictly policy. >> You know, every board I've been on has a policy for travel. It's a request is made. There's stipulations and guidelines as far as expenditures and and you just follow those guidelines. And so it's it's not anything beyond being procedural and being responsible for our dollars. >> That's and that's I mean as a as our our the board I mean that's what we're we are policy and procedure. Policy procedure and that's I mean, our decisions are supposed to be made on policy. >> When is the event that you want to attend? >> April 24th. And it's right in this. >> Right. I got I'm just trying
034to get >> No, I know. >> But where is it? >> Under It's under E where it says um hold on. I got to find it now, too. Request for reimbursement under >> Why don't I have one of these? >> Yeah. No, I print. >> Oh, 12. >> He doesn't do that. >> 12E. >> It's useless on your computer >> because that thing is >> Mark needs >> under It's Sorry, it's under 12. It says >> up on that thing. So, it's useless to me. So, >> I have to find something that works. >> This is sort of brand new to me, too. >> Just came up. Uh, Sarah, what's >> the other one? >> The board member also like to attend the Wisconsin Institute. Yeah, that one. That part of 12E. What? What am
035I looking at? The >> Institute for Law and Liberty. >> Yeah. Okay. Board member would also like to attend the Wisconsin Institute for Law and Liberty 2026 School Board Summit on April 24th in Wawaossa. >> Who's sponsoring that? >> Will Wisconsin Institute for Law and Liberty? >> Pretty prestigious state organization. It's a pretty prestigious state organization. It's a privately run organization, but it it has statewide legal implications. >> So, what's in the agenda of these that you really want to >> It hasn't it hasn't been shown yet as to what the agenda is going to be. >> Oh, wow. >> Okay. >> They they don't they apparently This is the first one I'm attending. So, nothing's been posted yet as to what the full itinerary or agenda of like who's speaking, when speaking, what their
036topics they're talking about. If you want to go and look it up and see what the the um event is, it's on Will's website for April 24th. >> I don't ever see the agenda for Wasby's when somebody goes, not not that I care, but I never see that that agenda. So, I have no idea what's going on. I just take it under the goodwill that whoever is going is going to use their time. Well, uh uh so I mean if if you're going to want to get that tit for tat, it's getting a little ridiculous. I I think if Sarah wants to go and do this, I think uh we could garner enough goodwill to let her go. >> I think if wants to go and do this, she can go and do this. But
037I don't know that we can ask our taxpayers to pay for her to go to a conference that is sponsored by a group that wants to end uh DEI initiatives. >> Well, then I'm not paying for taxpayers but attend the WASBY conferences then. >> I guess it's you know course of peace. >> Actually, that's not >> Oh, sorry. Go ahead. >> No, that it's not a horse of peace, but >> it is. But >> but you're asking us to pay for you to go to something and you don't even know what it's about. >> Sponsored. It's sponsored by a private group. >> It's on the website that you can go and look to see what they posted so far. >> What you said there wasn't an agenda >> as when I looked last late last
038week. So as of this week, I haven't looked yet. Today is only Monday. >> Okay. Just don't need to get spatty about it. Just asking a question. That's more of a concern to me is what >> they are there's they're they're a group that is you know from and I don't know because I have not done a lot of investigation but my understanding is that they are a group that is um looking to end diversity equity and initiatives in the state. That is that is part of >> that's not that's >> well I'm that's on their website if I'm looking on their website >> and you're also welcome to that opinion it also has a lot of very goodformational information that you can go through and that they also publish >> say right on their
039website will provides a roadmap to dismantle what remains of the Biden equity agenda and implement a new once in a generation policy of equality and fairness for Americans. They want to roll back the on the DEI policies. It is on the front page of their website >> and there's only room for your opinion. >> She's reading it up off their website. >> I get that opinion. >> She's not making it up. >> My point is is that she's against will. Therefore, anybody who wants to go see this can't I'm saying that what I'm saying is that >> as a board we don't have to pay for for someone to go see it. Just like if I wanted to go and um go to Teaching Toleranc's conference, I wouldn't ask the board to go pay for
040that for you for me to go to. >> As far as I'm concerned, if you did, you should go, >> right? If I want to go, I can, but I shouldn't ask the board to pay for me to go to that conference. That would be something that I should go on my own. I I could go, but I'm not it's not something that the board should pay for me to go see that because it because it is very obviously slanted in a certain direction. >> Well, I just don't know enough about it. Hold on. That's I hate to sit on the fence. I never sat on the fence in this before, you know. But I'm I'm sitting on the fence a little bit right now because I I know nothing about that organization. >> Well,
041I think there's so there's two questions here. The first one is taking out the conference. Do we approve reimbursement of a conference that wasn't board approved >> for the January? I think that's question number one. Do we approve? >> I didn't submit. Sorry, I didn't submit and I didn't request for that one be just because I didn't request for that one. >> So, >> I mean, I have the receipt if you're inclined to have make a copy of it, but I didn't request that because it was after the fact. >> Okay. So that's >> you know and I guess you know Cara already know what they're all about and we need to ask ourselves is that really what we want to be about here at get and you know you can't tell me that there's
042not going to be that tone in their conference. >> You don't know that because we haven't seen the agenda. I think it would be nice to see an agenda. I mean, outside of WASBY, we know what WASBY is. And it would be nice to see an agenda before something's approved, but um we know when there's no >> what what uh when their next meeting April >> 7th no 13th. So that give us week Well, I think you're going to go regardless, right? >> I did book a hotel room, but it's one of those um ones where you can cancel up to a certain date or whatever because of family, immediate family issues, too. I'm always hesitant with too. >> How many meetings do they have a year? So >> I have no idea. This is
043the first one I'll be attending >> for will more back more back to back. >> They're back to back when one was January and that next one was April. >> The one in January was totally different. >> Yeah, that wasn't Will. That was >> That wasn't Will. >> What was that? That one was at WS >> Wisconsin school meters for excellence. >> Yeah, WSL >> a different it wasn't will hosted. It was just from space school boards of academic excellence and Wisconsin leaders of excellence. It was another version of schoolboard conferences that are operated in 43 of the 50 states and um what kind of platform and what kind of policies which is similar to NEOA and um speakers of the different chapters that they had come in. It was only like 6:00 to 8
0446:00 p.m. to like 8:00 p.m. It was short and at the the whatever hotel that was the Hilton Milwaukee I double tree. Not the not the garden one. Not the one where WBY was at that was across the street. All right. Well, we can either a table this till April. You want to wait and see what the agenda is. Otherwise, we can make a motion to approve or deny. No, I got to reate that right. Not reimburse. Reprove or deny board members conference expenses and attendance to the will 2026 school board summit on April 24th. >> Again, I'm just concerned what they're going to have on their agenda from what Cara read as to their purpose for their mission. I move to table this decision until our April board meeting. >> We have a motion
045to table this till April board meeting by that time. >> Second by Cindy. Any discussion? >> All those in favor signify by saying I. >> I. Opposed. I >> looks like we'll do a call. Um, can you back up for a second? Did you say it was um Amy and Cindy that? >> Yes. >> Where's Kendra? Oh, are you doing these or am I doing these? >> Oh, okay. Sorry. >> Um, okay, George. Oh, wait a minute. What are we doing? >> So, the motion is to table this until April meeting and hopefully by that time we have an agenda to see what is at the conference that the school district would be paying for. >> George, >> yes. >> No. >> Linky, >> yes. >> Leelson, >> yes. >> Punk, >> no. >> Sarah,
046no. >> Schaefer, >> yes. >> Wrestler, >> yes. by four. Motion carries to table till November. April. Okay. On to item item F. So, parent complaint regarding an instructional resource. Um, I'll just read this. The complaint is about the book Monster by Walter Dean Meyers. The book is currently included in the eighth grade ELA curriculum. Admin administration had applied policy 9130 public request suggestions or complaints in handling the complaint process. The parent complaint has been considered by the middle school building principal, the curriculum director, and the district administrator. After re after the three reviewed the book, book reviews age level recommendations and the curriculum guide, the middle school building principal, curriculum director, and district administrator decided to continue to use the book in the eighth grade ELA curriculum. Um, I know most of you took
047a copy of the book and read it, so I appreciate that. Make sure you return your books. >> So, um, so now the complaint has come to the DT school board after consideration from the administration. And so tonight, we'll make a motion to approve or deny the request of the removal of the monster of the novel monster from the eighth grade ELLL curriculum and I don't know who to direct it to though. So um what is the benefit of the children reading this book? addresses quite a few of the ELA standards. Um, and I won't try to point those all out. I gave you guys the the curriculum to review and it addressed it listed all of the ER standards that were being considered by this particular reading it summing. Um the format is used
048kind of has that graphic novel feel. Um it's hot topics that topics that might engage a child of that age interest. Uh it um so getting kids to read is really important. >> I understand. So that's a piece of it as well. And then um I guess having discussion on on topics that teenagers think about, care about, or you know that you're trying to help them avoid in their future. You know, making decisions about friendships that could have catastrophic events that could have big message. Um, I don't know if any other administrators want to add anything that uh helped with this decision, but other reasons why this book was chosen. I know the ELA teachers did have a couple of options. They chose this one in particular because it was so highly recommended. structure. I
049think just even at the end, you know, all the questions that you can use as part of the book. Um, I read through those too and I'm kind of like, oh, you know, that kind of made me think more about the story, too. um and maybe made me think about some things a little different, you know, that I maybe didn't think of at the time. So, I thought those questions were very interesting, too. >> Children at that age in their brain development are very interested in what's just, what's right. This this book does it just really hits on that as you're going through the court case and in front of the judge and thinking about what's right. Is it just how does it handle those questions come up and then it allows kids to explore
050and have discussions? >> How long has the book How long has book been used? >> Yeah. So I asked Pete about that today. Yeah, we purchased it was coming out of four years. >> Both of my children read it. So, >> yeah. five years. >> Well, Riley though, I don't know because Riley read it, but I couldn't remember if he read it during like four eighth grade class or if he had read it um on his own, but he has but he had read it. He did study sync um and that would have been they had just purchased it, but that was that weird trial. It was just a trial. So, we had some >> Well, no, I don't know that he had done a novel. So, but he has but so um and like
051from that both of my children have read it and I've asked them about that and they both um found it engaging um looking at a perspective that they are not used to seeing you know is very helping them very eye opening but then also knowing that even though this is a perspective of a of a student of a kid that they are not used to seeing some of the things that he goes through are still things that they go through. Questions about, you know, what you do for a friend or what you could say and how just one small snap decision that you're not even thinking of can just make a huge impact and change on your life. Like those are things that >> consequences. Yeah. >> Yeah. And have huge consequences that those are
052things that they can talk about as well. I'll have to say in reading the book myself, I I I read it out loud to my husband on a on a car ride. So, it was I really wanted to get his perspective on it too, being a little more conservative about, you know, what we allowed our children to read and what I hope our grandchildren read. And I felt that the book was extremely engaging that I felt there was so many um life um lessons that could be learned throughout the book. Were there a couple things in there that I thought were a little gray? Did it need to be in there? And yet, when you think about the whole process of why they were in there, you know, and the fears of that child, all
053of it made sense. All of it was historic. All of it was accurate um as far as um what happens in that particular situation. So, um I felt it was relevant. What I did want to say though is that I know that the parent who brought it to our attention um had a um version of the book had an addition of the book that is not currently in our school. Um that edition was newer um that he maybe ordered or got out of the library. And so some of the excerpts that were um originally made public on Facebook that were talked about of concern are not physically in the book that we all read. Um, and that is in the classroom. And I know I talked with Michelle about that and I said, you know,
054there were a couple excerpts in the back of that book, um, in those editions that maybe they don't belong in our reading. So, if we're getting some new additions, I wouldn't mind an exacto cutting out a couple pages. But anyway, I just thought I would bring that to the attention of the group that some of those things weren't depend on which book you have. And I have one of the brand new ones. >> Brand new ones. Yeah, the >> brand new ones have an excerpt from the the graphic novel version of this book. They have excerpts in the back. So, you know how you buy a book and it'll say, "Oh, also by this author, right?" >> And they'll have like the first chapter of another book. That's what it is. It's excerpts of another
055book. >> The ones that the kids have are older. They don't have those excerpts in it. If we should ever buy the new ones, we might want to take that out because there are some >> a little more sexual. >> Yeah, there's I mean, >> he's definitely a a shock kind of sensationalistic writer. Um, and he likes a little bit of that shock factor and I think this book was kind of written before he got a little more evolved in his writing. And so, yeah, I think that those pages don't belong, you know, in our in the additions that we carry within the school. But as far as the book itself, I'm good with it. >> I guess I just have to say too, after I got done reading it, I emailed Michelle and just
056said, "Hm, I'm not really sure what was wrong with this book." and um for looking for a response and um so that was my opinion of it. I I thought was really a well-written book and I can see why it's won so many accolades that it has. Um it was just really different which was really kind of neat. It's written in a much different way than any other book I've written or read. Excuse me. agree with Deb's assessment on it. I guess I would liken it to stuff that I read when I was in school to kill a mockingb bird or the adventures of Tom Sawyer Finn. There's some graphic stuff in there that survive. Yeah, it's a valuable resource. the teachers are teaching it. Well, >> the other book I think came immediately I
057didn't mean to cut you off. >> Um, the other book I think immediately came out after it was The Outsiders. I think that's what they were working on then. So, I did ask for a copy because I needed to refresh my memory. I read that a moon's age ago and probably watched the movie just as well. But um you know some of the concerns that were in the book Monster especially when it was talking about suicide um I thought you know in that in the book outsiders it talked very much about that in fact about you know death by cop suicide and so I think it's it's it's all in how it's presented. It's all in how you know it's very washed over in the outsiders. It was a little more graphic not I can't
058even say that part was graphic. It was mainly like, you know, what happens when you go to prison and why do they keep you, you know, from doing certain things. Um, but I think both books are relevant. Both books are fine for that age group. I have a question. Um going forward, is there um a list that the parents or like an another version of some other book that going forward that if a parent feels is uncomfortable for them and their child that they have another option to go to? >> Again, we in the past had always our high school always sends out a list of our what novels the classes are reading just had a newer teacher know our practices so I can understand you know the parent should stay at home ahead of
059time um but we are very careful about that and if a parent doesn't feel comfortable with the book we always maybe staff can answer this or Michelle how does that actually work when you're in an an ELA class, I mean a language arts class, and you're learning about a particular book. The book stays within the classroom. You're reading certain pages. You're discussing those pages. How does that work when a child chooses or a parent chooses for that child not for them to participate in that book to pick a different one? How does that whole classroom interaction then take place? Because that seems very confusing and double the amount of work for a teacher. >> I've done it. I've done it. >> You were really good as a teacher in allowing kids to have choice. >>
060Um, how does that work here? How would it work in your classroom? >> In my classroom, um, if for example, if we are talking about figurative language, um, the student will be also looking at figurative language in their own book. So, whatever the other choice is, I'm going to make sure it has the same standards that this book does. um that I'll tell you that those students often feel like, you know, and nine times out of 10 they're going to find a way to read this book on their own, too. I mean, but um that's that's why that many times we opt for things like things like that there's a variety. We're doing some smaller class sets. It is it is more work for a teacher. But teachers, teachers are amazing people and like they
061they will do it. If there's any more questions, unless there's no other questions, we can entertain a motion to either approve or deny the request for removal of the novel monster from the eighth grade EL ELA curriculum. I'd like to make a motion to um keep the book um monster. Am I reading this correctly? >> Deny the request to deny the request. Thank you. Where am I at? I am lost. >> Thank you. >> I'd like to make the mo uh the motion to deny the request for removal of the novel monster from the eighth grade ELA curriculum. >> Motion denied. Second by Sydney. Cindy, do I do roll call or voice? >> Um, voice roll call. >> George >> who? >> No. >> Leaky. >> Yes. >> Levit. >> Yes. >> Nelson. >> Yes.
062Punk. >> Yes. >> Russell. >> Yes. >> Schaer. >> Yes. >> Sarah. No. stays. Okay. Um on to committee reports. >> Um we had our teacher conversation committee. >> We had our clap for >> that's not what was in the book. >> I got that. >> Thank you. You ready? >> Uh we have uh committee reports teacher compensation committee uh met on Thursday February 26th and we have the committee of the whole met on Thursday March 5th. Update on teacher compensation committee. >> Sure. We did um come up with there's one change that we're looking at on the teacher compensation plan and that was um to allow another step for certified staff but they're not teachers that don't have um the opportunity or the same opportunity to go to the leader category. So we're allowing
063another step within the professional category so that they have an advancement um as well. Um and then um it was also decided kind of more informally that the compensation committee will now move um meet as needed. Um we'll still have it set up that we have people that are in it but it will be as needed. Otherwise if it's one or two things like this um the approval process will just go through. >> All right. Item 14, future meeting. So, just a rundown, April 7th, we have our certified negotiation meeting at 6 PM, the 9th handbook committee at 6 PM. We'll get emails out to those. Um, April 9th, uh, committee of the whole at 6:30, and then the 13th, our regular board meeting at 6:30 p.m. So, unless there's any questions about future meetings,
064I'd take a motion to adjurnn. Please >> second. All those in favor signify by saying >> I carries. All right. negotiation has been >> I think it's the day after