Rock Hills Schools BOE Meeting April 2026

001Okay, it's 1:00 so we'll call the meeting to order. >> [laughter] >> Um >> [clears throat] >> the agenda there is one addition. It is 7C and that is the approval of the field trip forms for the senior trip. So that will be 7C. And I'm >> [clears throat] >> under the consent agenda there is also some additions um and those are the minutes from the March 25th special meeting and the March 30th special meeting. So just And it's the one at 5:30. We We had two that day. Okay. So it just those needed to just be added to the consent agenda. >> [snorts] [clears throat] >> And that is all I have. So I would take a motion to approve. I move to approve with amendments. Second. All those in favor? 7-0. >> [clears

002throat] >> Okay, so now we are ready to approve the consent agenda with those changes. Does anybody have any questions? I have a follow-up for Lacy. You mentioned in your report that Greenbush did a walk-through. Mhm. I'm just curious what that Can you just mention if happened and then I didn't know what that looked like. Can you talk into your mouth is full? >> [laughter] >> Um so Sam and I have been mentored by Greenbush um and their consultants. And they came out three times a half a day in each building and helped us with our walk-throughs what we are specifically looking for. Um and in my building I did things like having collaborative do that and then highly praise because that was what Sam speaks to me. >> Yeah, this this is a kind

003of a continuation of the high-impact instructional practices and strategies that our teachers have gone through five trainings with Greenbush on student engagement and and techniques to use in the classroom. And that's one of the main things that we're looking for in our walk-throughs. And so her going around with us was making sure that we were all seeing what we you know so we were objectively seeing it and not you know Calibrating. Yeah. Is it another educator like who in Greenbush's system is doing this for us? She's in the head of Greenbush school improvement system. Um Tina Shevi is her name. She's our consultant for the school. I learned a lot It It's been It's been really good. Yeah. Highly recommend. It's kind of you find it fascinating what Greenbush offers that's never been available to

004us until we started this. And when when we were talking when we knew that we we're one of the only districts in the state that they serve that has gotten to this level. We're the first ones that have gotten to this consulting stage. And so uh she said we're on the cutting edge of classroom instructional help. And the feedback feedback's great. Thank you for that. All right, thank you. Got you. Thank you. I move to accept the consent agenda. Second. All those in favor? 7-0. Okay, we are ready for uh recognition and under that we have Mr. Gower with FBLA. Welcome. I think you invited me. Um I felt like I just needed to come in here and talk about FBLA. We've done a whole lot this year and I feel like I haven't really

005done my due part of >> [snorts] >> making sure the district knew about what's going on. Um we just finished up our state conference and so just kind of wanted to talk about uh some of the things that we've accomplished this year. Uh one of the things I did when we came in is we did increase our membership from 32 members to 38 members. Which was really awesome cuz we have a really good senior group but we wanted to make sure to kind of keep retaining and keep building that chapter. Some of the school activities we've done we are we have done a concessions. We will do two more concessions to end this year in the spring time with Uh the group has done some Christmas decorations, Valentine's Day activities. Uh we were really big

006during FBLA FBLA week with some different activities as well. Uh some of the community activities we've done the trunk or treat the POW POW ceremony that we had. Uh the Veterans Day program was really big for us. The Santa workshop volunteer and just different VFW projects that we did last year and will continue to do again this year. Uh and then our local business activities that we did as well. And we've [snorts] been very active in our fundraising cuz it is something that with FBLA there's a lot of costs associated with that uh which I'll talk about here in a minute but Texas Roadhouse fundraiser was really good for us. We netted 1,600 off of that. And uh so that was a really good one. Like I said we are doing three concessions. We've already

007done one in the fall. Cake sale raffle was a really good one as well. >> [clears throat] >> Uh one of the things that we are going to be doing on May 4th is an awards >> [snorts] >> awards banquet dinner silent auction. Uh we had talked about that before we know. So putting the uh chapter to work uh to organizing that is something new for me. So curious to see how that gets all kicked off but I really felt like I told the members that we needed to recognize them and then bring the community in to support all of them. So some of that will help us with some of the fundraising activities for nationals and then my goal leave money for next year's uh FBLA uh advisor as well. So uh that will

008be May 4th. Um American Enterprise activities we did and then just a bunch of company donations that we've gotten over the course of the year. Uh some of the awards uh 29 members placed top 10 in districts. This was posted on social media but I just wanted to highlight that again. Uh 11 members placed in the top 10 at state. We did have two uh quality member awards uh recognized at state. Uh they only give that to 10 people in the entire state of Kansas and we got two and Justin uh Luong got one and Cruz Navarro got the other one. Uh so that was pretty exciting. We were February chapter of the month uh in the state of Kansas and then we got fourth as uh outstanding chapter in the state of Kansas. The

009three that were ahead of us were 90-plus member schools and their chapter programs. So pretty excited about that as well. We have achieved gold seal. So last year they were silver and they were really pushing to get the gold seal back. So we are kind of gold seal championship chapter again uh and then a bunch of different VFW awards as well which is all here that I am printing for you guys so you can keep and look at and um but a lot of stuff that we've done just a bunch of different activities. Uh I really relied on them with the stuff that they have done in the past and then just brought in my experience from the other chapters that I have worked with but I've learned a lot with this group. Uh I

010am taking four qualify for nationals but uh two are eligible to be bumped up to go as well. So I'm looking at taking six to nationals at the end of June. That's awesome though. Yeah, I I guess my view is you've done a lot to just enhance the Rock Hill's name in the FBLA. It was already pretty good. Right. That's what I'm saying. That's what I'm saying. But you just need to took another step and so I appreciate your efforts on that. The recognition um speaks for itself. I'm really excited about the banquet. Uh putting them into different communities and really trying to lean on them to organize that. What it's going to look like but I'll be interested to see what they put together. But I'll have stuff that gets them dollars and for

011the entire community. You said it was May 4th? Yeah. Okay, great job. Thank you. Appreciate it. You guys can go get back to it. Thank you. >> [clears throat] >> All right, we will move on board member reports. Are there any this time? Okay, uh discussion items. Consideration of bond sale resolution. Do we have any updates? Uh no. Okay. Um We have that This is just the next step in in moving forward with our to have the funds for that. Um I I will tell you I'll touch a little bit more on it about um a little bit later with some of the legislative updates but um things are a lot better as the legislature is kind of calmed down a little bit. >> We're all safer once they leave. To be good. Well, [laughter]

012there is not working with Piper Sandler but there's a district that's working with another um um bonding company and when they went got ready to go out to sell the the company backed out just because of some questions about some language in some of the legislative things that were going through but um Well, there was uncertainty. There was several districts that backed out on there. The bond issuers wouldn't issue them. Right. Yeah, that's what he means. So but that's all been handled. And like I said we can to touch on that a little bit more, but um more or less this was just um Kelly, the prices are on. I just called everything about 20 minutes ago. Um this is just for the board to take action to then uh have Piper Sandler sell those

013bonds or work alongside of to sell those bonds so that we can gain the funds that we need to move forward with the project. So. Do we Do they sell those as we need or how I know That's what I'm trying to get into here. That's what I'm trying to get in. Also curious what the bond market's done in the last few weeks. I read things, but I don't know that affects us. There you go. Okay. What are you telling? Brian, can you hear us? Not yet. Brian, can you hear us? There again. There again, yeah. Okay. Can you guys hear me all right? Sorry about that. Yeah, yeah, we can. Okay. Sorry about that. Uh I was I said it had me waiting in a in a meeting and I was like, well, it's

014been a few minutes, so try to another time and it looks like now it's working. Okay, well, I just just I'll I'll kind of turn it over to you here in a second. I was letting them know that we were um uh a week ago it was a little bit more uncertain about the um bonds at least from school district perspective and all that's kind of calmed down. I did have a couple board members had a few questions on that. Um outside of that, you're the expert, not I, so I'll turn it over to you if you have anything you would like to talk to them about. Yeah, thanks, Jeff. I appreciate that. Um yeah, so you know, legislatively um it interesting situation really the last few weeks in regards to a property tax cap

015bill that was introduced. Um we're still kind of in the midst of um a final decision on the outcome for that for that, but the good news for schools is um there's currently a bill waiting on the governor's desk for signature called House Bill 2043 that um is the property tax cap bill, um but it exempts school districts from that. So, um probably similar to the property tax cap you've been hearing about where there's a limitation from year to year in property tax collections um at the lesser of 3% or the uh CPI inflation rate. Um the good news is it they're that original bill, 2745, um did not receive approval from the House and the Senate to move forward to try to uh provide a veto proof majority um override, and so now it's

016this new bill, 204 House Bill 2043, that you'll want to be following as it relates to property tax, but but as I mentioned that um that bill does it exempts school districts, so um great situation for schools. In In addition, there is no um uh it it also exempts bonds. Uh so, you know, a pretty reasonable and workable bill at this point. We'll see how um if the governor decides to veto it. Um the interesting situation here is the session has ended, so they adopted and and passed this bill on Saturday. Um and then shortly thereafter ended the the veto session. So, if the governor does choose to veto this bill, um then essentially no property tax bill was passed this session and they'll come back around this time next year to to work up

017another draft. So, um that's kind of the current situation, but as it relates to your bond issue and your election, um no concerns at this point given the fact that 2745 uh did not go through, so um great news from that standpoint. Um are there any questions on that specifically before I move on to the the plan of finance for for this bond election or bond issue? No, I don't believe so. Okay. Um so again, there I I guess I'll just up front say the what the resolution is in front of you right now. So, that essentially allows the district to move forward with securing financing for uh for the bond and in the successful bond election amount. Um essentially from a timing perspective, it and the next step will be a securing a rating

018uh which the district will go through and similar to like if you were to secure a mortgage, you have to go through that credit rating process. We do the same thing on the municipal side and on any type of bond issuance. Um so, that really sets us up to get all the information and documents pulled that we need to to be able to share with investors um for a June 8th sale date. Um so, that should be the same day as your June board meeting. Um but what we'll do is lock in rates at at 9:00 a.m. on June 8th. Um that it'll be distributed nationally. I do like an RFP nationally to all banks nationwide. Um and then at 9:00 9:00 a.m. on the dot, um we'll we'll see um what bids were received

019and at what interest rate. Um this all provides for us to be able to come back at your June 8th board meeting, um ratify those final rates, um see the final debt service schedules, so everything's kind of finalized on June 8th, approve if approved by the board that evening, then we move forward with uh closing, which is when bond all funds will be available for to start projects on June 25th. So, this is this is a sale resolution today that kick starts that process um and needs a motion from a one board member and then a second before voting on it to move forward. Um from a plan of finance standpoint, um we will obviously only be issuing the $5,670,000 of par amount uh that was a part of the successful election. Um again, with

020that closing date of of June 25th, based on current rates, we kind of set all of this up for um taking somewhat cautious or conservative interest rates um through that election process because there's as you can tell, there's a a decent amount of time between when that's election occurred and when we actually will lock in rates. Um at that the whole planning process has been assuming around 5 to 5.5% interest rates. As of today, you're probably closer to 4.5 4.5 to 4.75% interest rate, so that's going to lower your overall interest cost. Um the term is fixed for the entire 25 years. So, your once we set those those rates in on June 8th, um the the payments do not change moving forward. Um everything is fixed at that point. Um everything's setting up well

021to be able to deliver on the um mill levy that was as part of the bond campaign, so the 7.25 mills um is is looking uh like that will be what we will end up at least initially levying for this. It can be adjusted from year to year as you move forward, so um depending on assessed valuation growth moving forward, um you may be in a position where you're you're able to to adjust that lower um to be able to maximize some of your other funds if needed, but essentially the plan has has continued to be the levying of 7.25 mill of for these bond payments over the 25-year period. You'll likely be in a position to pay this off early. Um so, the nice thing about bonds is that after 7 years, uh you're

022able to to prepay on this at no penalty. Um so again, if you keep it at the 7.25 mills, you grow at an assessed valuation rate higher than what uh was part of the financial plan, um and then we are in a position to to pay these off pay these off early. So, um the other part of this, too, is obviously when you deposit funds on um at closing, then you may have some projects they can get through pretty quickly. Others might take a little bit longer, um but you do earn, even if it's a short period of time, the bank where you deposit it to, uh I believe there's a local bank um that will be holding these funds. Uh, they can earn interest as they aren't being spent and you can use those

023interest earnings um, towards the towards those projects. Um, and then if you have leftover proceeds at the end of the final project, you can apply those to your bond and interest fund towards future debt service payments or to lower the mill levy. So, um, a lot of flexibility on on those funds. Um, if you have any leftover in terms of your your bond and interest fund and mill levy management. Um, that's all I had um, in regards to the plan of finance and the timeline uh, for your specific bond financing. Again, apologize for for coming in a little bit later than than 1:00. I I I thought I was on in hold, but um, happy to take any questions that you guys do have. Um, I know that's a lot of information before taking an

024action. Does this look like when we do our revenue neutral hearing and our revenue neutral posting, how does this get does this show up as a This is a separate um, mill levy tax levy that is strictly for bond and interest. Yes. Or does it take it so it's separate from that and this is just collecting the the taxes per mill levy that to make that payment. Okay. So, what what So, you're saying it will not show up on our revenue neutral hearing documents that we have to >> Yeah. Yeah, so it it will be included as part of your revenue when you post your revenue neutral funds. It'll you have your supplemental or your LOB um, and then you have your capital outlay. Um, so this will be an additional it's called bond and

025interest fund um, with that 7.25 mills. Um, so you'll you'll exceed it for this year um, just because of funding the 7.25 mills. Um, but moving forward in the plan of finance that we have put together, um, there there should be an option from year to year of if you're considering staying revenue neutral, the financial plan does build for that. So, um, that you could as you grow, you could continue to to keep the mill levy flat or if you feel like, "Hey, we we really want to try to stay revenue neutral from year to year." You're going to the payments are going to be fixed and they're going to be they're going to be level from year to year, so you don't have to worry about increasing payments. So, it's going to show up

026as a it's going to show up as a 100% increase on that bond and interest item then on our revenue neutral report. Or some percentage, right? Yeah, I think counties kind of do it show it differently, but whatever percent increase it would be based on your total district mills. Um, so whatever 7 mills 7.25 mill increase would be on your on your total district levy, I believe is the the percentage shown, but again, I've seen it I've seen it that percentage increase shown different ways depending on the county. Okay, thank you. Any other questions you guys have? >> [clears throat] >> Okay, uh, I'm not seeing any other questions, so um, I would accept a motion. I'll move to It's on It's on there to read. page two. Mr. President, I move to uh, approve

027resolution number 2026-011 authorizing the offering for sale of general obligation bonds series 2026 of Unified School District 207, Jewel County, Kansas, Rock Hills. Second. All in favor. 7-0. Okay. >> Yep, thanks, buddy. Thank you. These are the two things that you'll sign for the bonds. Okay, we're ready for item B and that is the Eagle Scout project presentation. Oh, you want the password? Sure. >> It is >> Hold on, we're >> [laughter] >> Oh, we give it to anybody who walks in the door. We give it to anybody who walks in the door. >> Yeah, you don't want a secret. But they walked through the door. We don't want them sitting out. We don't want them sitting out. Think about it. Glad you got it. The chairs lined up out there. Like, why do they

028have such a line out there? I'm glad. The office is closed. Yeah. The office is closed. What's going on? I know. So, we should know better. >> [clears throat] >> First, I'd like to begin with an introduction about myself. My name is Nolan Grout. I'm a 10th grade student at Rock Hills and a Boy Scout in Troop 46. I've completed all my foundational work as a scout. I'm now ready to start looking for an Eagle project to contribute to the community. What is an Eagle Scout project? An Eagle Scout project must be a scout-led service initiative that benefits the community. Must demonstrate leadership, planning, and development. As I started to think about my Eagle Scout project, I began with some questions. What does our community need? How can I help my school? What can I

029do to help improve my community? What could really make a difference? Finally, what do I care about? I finally settled on an idea that means a lot to me I would like to pursue. This large ambitious project will one that I feel is necessary. I'd like to build new restrooms and concession stand at our school's football and track facility that meet the demands and needs students, staff, and the community. I will develop my idea, find the money needed to build this project, open the process of building or creating, finally give it to the community. So, is there a need? This is a condition of the men's restroom. Toilet stall currently does not have a door and no part of the facility is ADA accessible. This is the current condition of the women's restroom. Currently has

030two stalls and one sink. The restroom is also not ADA accessible and there's no equipment for changing diapers or other family needs. This restroom can also get very crowded. This is the current condition of our Concession stand does not have enough storage or preparation space. Does not have enough electrical capacity to handle multiple appliances operating at the same time. Person can only run one electrical appliance at a time without tripping a breaker. One of the biggest complaints from workers of the stand is that they're also not able to see game or the scoreboard. My project will also address that problem. Some of the needs I'm trying to solve. An increased number of restrooms to meet demand at sporting events. As I believe we've all seen the line at the women's restroom. Make the restrooms ADA

031accessible. A new and large concession stand that also has sight to the football field and the scoreboard. I've worked with I've worked with Singer Construction to begin an idea. This proposal is a starting point in planning about what this building could be. It would be a 36 by 24 building, which is 864 square feet. It would [clears throat] serve a multi-purpose functionality between having restrooms and a concession stand. The design would be more efficient with more restrooms and increased space for concessions, making quicker serving times. This is the design I received from Singer Constructions. 5-0. >> The estimated cost for this for the restrooms and concession stand building is $260,000. There's no doubt this project is huge. It is bigger than any Eagle Scout project ever done in the community. It will require funding from

032multiple sources. Here's some ideas. Receiving money through grants. This is just a few of the ones I found recently. Support from alumni through social media or with a letter. A donation from the community and business. And finally, volunteer contributions neither labor or materials. I will not actually collect or handle any of the money myself. I will also need to have a plan for how the money can still be used if the financial goal is not met, such as updating the current facilities. This will be clearly communicated to all donors. What if we aim even higher? After talking to Mr. Myers, he came up with an idea. He suggested that we make the building bigger so the concession stand can double as a new FACS classroom. I know the additional classroom learning space is needed at

033our community community or school. This would add to the cost, but I believe believe it's something that the school needs. I'm prepared for the challenge. I've seen the models that include the classroom and the concession stands. In the larger version, this would be a 60 by 23 foot building, which is 1,380 square feet. It would include It would also include an updated FACS classroom. The projected cost for the new building is $347,000. This may be quite a bit more money, but it's cheaper per square foot than the smaller size. This is the design given me given to me by Singer Construction for the larger building. >> [clears throat] >> This is a 3D model that I received from Singer Construction. And this is what the building would look like. This is where I propose the

034building should go towards go with the concession stand facing the east towards the football field and the bathrooms on the west. So, as you can see, the track is on the right side, which is where the side that the concession stand would be on. The school would be on the left side, where the bathrooms would be facing. In order to meet the requirements for my Eagle project, this project will be need to be completed by my 18th birthday, which is January 25th, 2028. In order to be considered complete, the project will need to be ready for use and turn over to the school before this date. Here's an estimated timeline I have for this project. During the months of February and March, I began information gathering. I met with Mr. Myers, Mr. Shulda. I've worked

035with Singer Construction to plan for the project. On March 19th, I met with Diane Gardner, my troop leader, to have the project approved. Today, I'm presenting my ideas to you. I propose that if this project is approved, the next stage will take about a year to fundraise and apply for grants. When the money can be secured, the building will start next summer and completed by summer. Thank you for your time consideration. Do you have any questions? I have Diane Brian with me and Diane to help you out answer any questions that you have. I will say it's a very very ambitious project. >> extremely. And and the only reason I say that is cuz I've been involved with the one that's going in at the other pool. Yeah. And it has been kind of a

036It's kind of been a nightmare in places. So, I I I say good luck to you. It'll be rough. Thank you. What parts of the building [clears throat] made it more difficult than a normal Uh just because we've had to work in such a small area for the mechanical room. We've had like we just trying to get a bunch of other stuff into the mechanical room and it's kind of been a hassle, but also we had to go we had to trench in for our new plumbing and hit the city sewer and everything else to the north there through that ditch, but I'm assuming What I assumed correctly since we currently have the facilities right there, the plumbing and sewer would already be fairly >> I don't know why it would why couldn't answer that.

037Yeah. Well, I like the idea. It's you touched on it, but the need is definitely there. It's a lot of times that's where a lot of people from outside the community come is for athletic events of some sort and I don't want to call it an embarrassment, but it it kind of is an embarrassment for the restroom. >> Well, more so. I like the fact how close it is. Most Both of Most games you go to, you got to walk a mile to get to the concession stand and the bathrooms and around the track and that would be amazing to have it so close. It looks great. Is your cost estimate completed or is that an unfinished with in kind How do you factor the in kind labor and Oh, we used the from Beloit

038their project. We based it off of that. >> Okay, so and this is So, the cost could be cut down if we got volunteer labor or volunteer materials, cost would be cut down. This is the same company that's doing the one in Beloit, Singer. Um so, And they're they're working with an existing structure or am I wrong? No, it's it's new construction. Um but this these numbers come from them and are based on if they do the entirety of the work, you know, if they they bid it out, whatever they bid out and they but they're responsible. So, that that's Um that's if we don't get any volunteer labor, any volunteer materials, you know, that's that's should be the high end cost of what something like that would be. I can see people wrapping their

039arms around this things that are Um obviously it's it it is ambitious. It's awesome. But it's maybe even a little bit crazy. But Those things you know, we've we've been talking about this for a while. Um he's committed to it. Uh we've we've already kind of started enlisting some other folks to get us information and and help us out and um What if I think I think I mean I'm hopeful um that he can get some pretty good grant money on something like this. Um especially considering it would create ADA bathrooms where we do not have them right now. I think there's some potential there. So, um there's a lot there's a lot of unknowns. Um and that's why I think he he mentioned that you know, if it if we come up short, we're

040going to have a plan B that's still going to be able to be a project. >> Mark, is he able to run this through the endowment so that all the donations are going to be tax exempt? >> Well, we actually asked Mr. Shulda. Yes, that can be done. We would just open a fund through endowment and any grants or raised funds can be funneled through there. And it's completely pass-through funds for the project. So, he will not handle any of the money and donations would be tax deductible that way. So, that's even more incentive for people to donate. I think something else just to consider too from the board perspective is you know, looking at the two options and seeing what the possibility is and knowing that the um interest from students with the Home

041Ec and the FACS classes and stuff that I would say for the board at least consider if if it does come up short, contributing something to just what it's going to do for the district as well. So. Not just FACS, but I mean, you know, we've talked about the food science and something, you know, other classroom space could be not just boxed into that either. It's kind of interesting when we were when we went to Diane's house and were kind of running this idea past her that her son was talking about how he I don't even know which school that is that they have that kind of a food science program and and so their concession stand will serve kind of specialty items at diff you know, different activities and stuff like that. So, they're

042they're they're not only using it as a classroom, but but even at when it's a concession stand, it's also they're they're they're selling products and and raising money for their program. I mean, it's it sounded pretty cool. Um So, there's possibilities there. I think he is suggesting that that this is hopefully can be paid for without the school having to contribute. But yeah, I I it's it could be be something at least to consider especially if it if the the board supports the idea of trying to add a classroom space that it might be something worth investing in out of capital outlay, but that's not what he's not here to ask for that. Um I would also suggest after we've spent some time up there looking around um that sidewalk that current sidewalk that's there

043in front of our concession stand is completely falling apart. We went up there the other day after it it had rained. It's standing a big puddle of water out in the middle of it cuz it's all sunk down. Um it's buckling and it's you know, that would be another opportunity to to maybe do some deferred maintenance if we end up having to run lines across where that sidewalk is anyway, that'd be a good time to fix some of those things, but those are all gambles. I don't know. Keep on the leads. I Man, you're thinking big, man. That's awesome. Um I I just want to share we've Dan been a part of several Eagle Scout projects and I think it's important to frame this around Eagle Scout project is not meant to them build it

044themselves, but to organize it and to work with the community and be a leader in developing it. And so we often times think of well, they they're the one that's got to run the shovel. I mean they can, but they really more importantly they recruit their friends, recruit their community to help run the shovel and and get things done. And I I think this is awesome to be able to set a vision. Good job. I did okay for the fact that we don't know all the details of the funding, the electricity, and the HVAC, etc. And then I had talked to Cliff who was also part of the Eagle Scout and the council. And we both have agreed that as long as he has constructed the structure then we will count that as his Eagle

045Scout. That's what I was just wondering if all of a sudden it fell short he was able to build the shell and And and if if the if the decision is to pursue that classroom space he's not responsible for putting all the equipment and all that stuff, you know, that's that's not on him. It's he he's his he's going to attempt to provide the building. Um what what all goes in it may require some additional contributions from the school district. Or some additional grant money or whatever that be. He's put in a lot of time already into it, so good job, Skin. Thank you. Are there grants that we as a school would need to apply for? >> a good question. And then thank you for bringing that up. I meant to talk to Sam

046about this a little bit too that um the things that he's going to pursue or we're we're going to probably be pursuing him. He's going to be working on those grants and I mean we'll help helping, but he's going to be searching those out and filling those out. Um there probably would be additional opportunities if the school also partnered in on them um and and specifically uh Dane Hanson does not contribute grant money toward Eagle Scout projects because they've already provided a lot just for Boy Scouts in the state and our in this part of the state in general. Um so they don't. However if if this somehow was in partnership with the school, there may be an opportunity for them to contribute. I I don't I I'm not I don't have answers to this

047for sure. Um but they they might be able to contribute to something if it's providing ADA accessible bathrooms. They might be able to contribute to something if it's adding a classroom space, adding learning learning opportunities in in career and tech ed. So So I I I wouldn't want to limit the ability to get grant money for this um by by not also including the possibility of the school teaming with them, um but there's some there's some some unanswered questions there. I do know he will not be eligible to get Dane Hanson funds. Patterson Family Foundation is another one. A lot of times when you fill out those grants they'll ask what other contributions are you getting from other and so then you can say through that grant application that the structure's being provided from the

048other sources and that this grant is to help furnish. You know, there's a lot of ways you can incorporate that so they know that it's beyond just the school. So I was curious about that I knew Dane Hanson had that. What the other Department of Ed things, but how how would a has there ever been a Has the endowment ever done a matching program? Like Endowment has their own Endowment really has a structure for it. Blue Earth County Community Foundation probably would be more of that. >> [clears throat] >> No, we don't provide a lot of capital funding there. That's more of a the build foundation, so I'm not sure that's a right fit either. You know, something can be considered as well. It's just where would that match come from? How would that work?

049We didn't we didn't get too far down the road of investigating grants without taking this step first. >> think the question becomes so the the building itself would be built under these other entities processes, but and then be the office building on the property would then transfer. I'm not sure how that works in terms of cuz obviously we wouldn't need to be responsible for maintenance long term and all those pieces. There's a former graduate from Mankato that I worked with a lot or that's how I got the uh fields done uh with lime at the baseball field. That's how I got got most of the scoreboard. Actually it's how Jayly and Tyson did a lot of fundraising for the new goals at the park and this guy provided the rest. He has passed. But I

050wonder Clinton Peterson, yeah. He's passed. But I wonder if you know, he was fairly well to do. I wonder if he left an estate of some sort or a a fund that maybe his son I I'll have to see if I can find if there's anybody to reach on there because he was always wanting to give money to help out with with projects and things especially for the the youth. I just I it was it was the transfer piece that I'd be curious to know at how that uh I think our property really owns Yeah, I I don't No, that's the way I mean with the ball field that's what it was with the ball field. We put in new scoreboards. Once the Once it got built it became the schools. It belonged to us

051107. It didn't matter who bought it what when or what it was. The batting cage, all of it that we put in. So the money the money isn't flowing through any he's not going to own it. Um it's so I mean as soon as you as soon as you move some dirt and put some concrete down that's that's school property. I mean nothing we we own that, so. So what do we need? At this point? Just telling him whether to proceed or not. Think I should do or you think I'm crazy? >> [laughter] >> I think it's an awesome The advantage that he has is is he is a year more more than a year and a half from his deadline on this. Um if we were 6 weeks away, this conversation would not be

052taking place. So um I think it gives it reasonable timeline to actually raise [clears throat] this kind of money. Well, that I think from a board's perspective, obviously I think it sounds like everybody's in favor of pursuing this, but from current and upcoming superintendents I want to see some capital outlay or strategic plan that we're working on. I like what our piece in this can be, needs to be. How do we help facilitate it if we can get grants versus the Eagle Scout position. So yeah, just keep us informed. Um Absolutely. >> What we what our part can be in this. Cuz I've always been in favor of spending some money there. Yeah, well we've had those conversations in the past about that situation with the concession stand and the and the restroom. I mean

053it's I just went to the track meet there last week and there's a big old line outside the restroom and it's And we've brought Every time I walk by I'm a little embarrassed by it. So it's it but it's a problem that can be fixed. Yeah. The most grants that the school can get you know, that's going to be a matching thing. So we'll just have to plan on what what we're able to match. We all need to prepare that there will be a piece of this that that Yeah. whether it's just the long term or the upkeep or or up front matching some funds to get some grants and stuff. >> And we have one of the best grant writers. And I'm comfortable with it as long as everybody else understands that. Jennifer Walker

054is one of the best grant writers you will ever meet. We're going to have her we're going to contact her shortly. We're just waiting to get some questions answered today, so. We need a motion to advance this. That's what I was wanting to know. I don't I don't think we have the floor. I think it's just kind of a consensus, so. I'll make a motion to move forward. And we will we'll make sure that you keep us informed with progress as we go along. Okay, thank you. Thank you. Yeah, thanks. Now I get back to class. >> [laughter] >> Yes. And be careful if you pull it against its thing it leaves black marks on the perfect that are hard to get off. It's It's of got a mind of its own. Don't put your

055hats in there. Oh, yeah. Okay, we will move on to legislative updates. Yeah, Clayton kind of stole my thunder a little bit on that one, but just kind of give you guys an idea on you know, I'm going to try to stay up on that and you don't want to get caught up too much. >> [clears throat] >> The biggest stuff was with the budget bill that the governor line item vetoed last up in there, but then there was some um veto overrides on a few things, but um yesterday I excuse me, Friday um the state or the Senate the House veto overrode all of the governor's uh line item vetoes on the budget. Um and some of the stuff in the budget was really not budget related, but that's where it got turned into.

056But anyway, the Senate with they did not override the veto and so one of those on there was going back to the old cut scores on the new state assessments. Um and so by the Senate not getting the votes it needed, we are going to continue to use new cut scores on on our new state assessment, uh which is a good thing. Um otherwise, that would be like saying, "Hey, we're going to score the ACT with SAT parameters." Or the other way around. I I mean, it was just So, anyway, that was a big one that um it early on in the session, I I was kind of thought that the House was a little bit more in our favor than the Senate um coming out of these veto overrides and kind of the opposite

057now. Um the other one that um is was vetoed and it might be brought back is the recess bill and it's not so much the recess bill part of that, but there's another part of that um that is requiring districts to go back to using the presidential fitness test. I love that. >> What I found out about that is the reason for that is there was a national grant that KDHE applied for um for a rural health grant and in their grant application said that the state was going to use the presidential fitness test to measure. So, now legislature's trying to find a way to to put that back in there, but um veto session is over, but they re- they moved some different things to the committee and it's like Clayton had said that

05824 or 2043 now the property tax bill um it's currently in conference committee, but it's taking the schools out of that, which is a good thing. Um quite frankly, even the revenue neutral, we we are capped to what we can do with taxes where um you know, local governments can can raise taxes to whatever whenever they want. But anyway, um we'll keep an eye on that one if with the the recess bill, it really wouldn't affect that talked with uh Miss Keller, we we'll meet in that meeting. They're pretty minutes outside, so that's not um Wasn't that your sixth grade or was it just your fifth? Um Our sixth still has a recess after school, so we're still in compliance. Yeah. Um there there's a couple more that we'll I'll talk about down in the

059with the ASB updates um on that that there's two bills that have been that were signed into law in the state is the cell phone bill. It's not so much the cell phone ban, but there's other pieces into that um that that I'll talk about when we get down there on that one, but um you know, always the the one of the things the budget too that the governor um vetoed was the 1 and 1/2% cut to the overall state budget for KSDE and requiring all the new initiatives, mentors, all that other stuff to be paid out of their current budget, not allocating any new money for that either, but um but for a lot of cases, we've kind of dodged a bullet on a lot of those. We'll wait and see how things finish

060up, but almost done, but the the cut scores one was a huge one because that I mean a new test with old scores would have been saying that we're taking state assessments for no reason now because we're not going to use those and then you're not even comparing apples to oranges, it'd be apples and cheeseburgers with that one, so I'm curious the message we need to convey to our legislators on their votes or interests. Well, on our our representative senator and representative voted in favor of uh reverting back to the cut scores. They they voted to override all the vetoes. Um they voted for school vouchers. They they didn't do a whole lot of didn't help us out a lot public ed wise this session. So. That's good to know. Yeah, anywhere on the um

061on the on the I'm curious if what kind of communication with them would be capital the tax cap. Did they understand like Yeah, okay. The fact that we did a bond that that this could limit Okay, yeah. They're that's not they said that's not how we understand it, but they're they're getting stuff that's just getting thrown in that Yeah. Um So, anyway, we dodged some bullets. Leave it at that, I guess. >> [laughter] >> We did, but that pressure doesn't go away. That's why I asked the revenue neutral question because this will all come back again in the fall and we'll have to explain why we're taking a revenue neutral increase. And then we are we are electing a new governor this year at some point that could change the whole dynamic in some context.

062So, I think I mean, I can't stress this enough, maintaining that contact with our legislators and telling them how these things affect us. Uh it there there could eventually be some really drastic changes to how we tax assess budget really drastic. That 3% cap on us would have been if that would have been disastrous in some context. >> Yeah, we wouldn't have been able to levy taxes to to bond. Yeah, and then there's another one too that um was signed it if you have the community eligibility program, is that the CEP that it stands for? Um that if over 50% of your students are on the um the direct certification list that you have to the board will have to take action on whether to apply for that free lunches for all or not. Um

063and be able to just give you a determination of why or why not you that you don't have to go with that. I don't know where our numbers are at. Uh We are free and reduced together about 50 5% I think our free is maybe depend both buildings are a little bit different. I think one meets it and one's a little bit under the 50%. But I know in the past the state of Kansas did not participate in that. Like Nebraska participates, so like Superior, all their kids get free because of the number the percent that they have uh on the direct cert list, but Kansas in prior years has not passed that, so we weren't able to do that. They've not participated, so I'm guessing they're going to participate. Yeah. But I think [clears

064throat] there's a roundabout way of this right now free reduced is used to identify at risk numbers for at risk funds and so that it like during COVID when everybody got free lunches, not as many people turned in that home economic survey because they were already getting free lunches. So, it's a roundabout way indirectly to reduce at risk funds. >> Yeah. Yeah. I'm more concerned about the public's perception that they they lump schools, cities, counties all together and say, "You're just all taxing out of control and not and I we are capped. Like we we couldn't just implement a 7.25 mill bond, you know, for a bond. We had to go to the voters. We are capped in our LOB, we're capped in our capital outlay. Like we cannot just take those increases that other

065entities not we've got to continue to tell that story, especially in Kansas got pretty high mill levies that you know, they we are not we are different. Uh we have a different taxing authority. We're a capped taxing authority. So, um that's a that's an important message cuz most people don't understand that. Well, Okay. Um surely I'll get Uh not a lot um to discuss other than by the end of today um So, a couple weeks ago we had a bunch of people um come through the JCI and tour and see all the stuff to prepare companies to come to put in their their bids for subcontracting bids or whatever. All of that stuff is due by 5:00 today. Um and so Wayne's will go through all those and and I can send I'll send out

066a survey later today to you guys to figure out what dates might be available, but um he even suggested this Friday, but sometime next week maybe to have uh a special election to kind of go through all those bids. And some of the things on that agenda would be presentation of all those base bid pricing, alternate pricing >> [clears throat] >> um discussion of any modifications Q&A with you guys and then all also at that meeting we'd set the guaranteed maximum price. You guys remember about that? If we'll set that dollar amount and then if things come in over whatever, but cuts into profit because we'll be in it no more than whatever that guaranteed maximum price is, but um so, those are he he kind of and I'll send this to you guys later

067just about the availability that he has. He said he could zoom. We prefer he could be in person just cuz it's a lot better conversation that way, but You just do a job like a form and we pick some dates. >> Yeah, that's all. I'll send out. I like that idea. That was one of my questions is are we going to have 15 minutes to look at a number and say choose one? Yeah. I like that. Okay. So, and I'm assuming that he'll probably send a summary of some sort once they get that ahead of time before that meeting for you guys to look over, but Um yeah, I mean that the biggest thing about that is looking at all the bids and I guess like you guys did with the mechanical stuff, but then

068setting that approval that maximum price. >> Would this be a a meeting we would take action at or just a >> Yes. Um and then a designation of us um signature of authority to sign on the contract, So, yeah, I think at that point you'd try to look at all those bids and compile everything and say this is kind of the number and so that's our maximum price or whatever. So, I just wanted you guys to have that um on your radar that But you'll send something out to Yeah. schedule that >> Yes. >> schedule that kind of Yeah. Sometime between now and next Thursday the 23rd just send some days available. See what works for you guys as well. Okay. KESA Uh Uh well, I had a question I emailed you about and I

069think I gave it to you before, the warranty issue question. Do you have any information on that? No. You haven't got any I had a question from Brett Eiler. Asked a He was asking questions about what kind of warranty what kind of guarantee that it works. What's the What's What does that look like for this project and to ensure that it's How long do we you know, get some We're done We're done in September. We We keep the heater on in December, let's say, or the same thing with the air conditioners. Like what is that warranty and the or a maintenance agreement look like and is that built into our request and how does that work? And I I think that's a very valid question to ask. How long can we expect this to work

070and what's that look like? Well, I don't It's a long business, yeah. Usually it is. I think that's an answer we should know. Well, we'd like to be more than that. So, But I would also assume that they're going finish it and it's going to be working and we're not expecting them to put in faulting materials unless >> Well, we made that assumption in the gym and they got that all wrong. Last time. You don't ever want to assume I don't want to do that. Like what's the Like is there a testing that gets done that both systems are then operating >> that there's probably a service agreement. I guess that's I think that's all relevant information I'd like to be able to report back to him on what exactly >> I haven't got any

071information Okay. All right. All right, we'll move on. It's that time of year again. I guess we need to be Well, let me go back to KESA please. Oh, sorry. I I already crossed it off. I was moving on. We stopped. Um Mr. Myers and Ms. Warren and I went down to Salina last Wednesday for our annual school improvement day for KESA in which we're there at We were there with three other districts to kind of present where we're at on our school improvement stuff. Um and just like you had asked about our walk-throughs, that's a big part of this next year's plan is to gather that data through our walk-throughs on making sure that The big thing with their walk-throughs was that we're going to calibrating a lot with cognitive engagement. How do you

072know kids are truly engaged and not just behaviorally engaged, you know, playing school well, but actually engaged in the lessons. And so, um So, we presented um to the the groups there and Kathy Hopkins, the chair of the State Board of Ed was there as well. She likes to kind of come to some of those. Um I volunteered us to go first and I kind of felt like we set the bar for the whole day. Um and we got done, she she looked over and said you All you guys did awesome. I love to see here what you guys are doing and she was pretty impressed with what's going on here with our school improvement. So, it's always good to have someone in a position like that recognize that you're doing good stuff. So, um

073we're in great shape moving forward. We'll have that plan our next our It's good and bad. Our annual day is April 8th, so then our 6-month goal is September. Well, a lot happens between April and September that is not school. >> [laughter] >> Um But But then we can implement all that and kind of evaluate towards the end of the school year each year, but we know and we I think we talked about it that one of our areas of growth that we need to get better at is how do we get new hires caught up to the training that we've had. And so, we're discussing some different ways to do that whether there's other districts in the area that are starting that process we can send teachers on those days to get caught up.

074We know that that's a an area of growth for us or I guess we call them gaps. But, you know, Sam and Lacy have done a good job of giving crash courses with back to school stuff, but And I did I did ask that question to her when Gina was here from Greenbush the other day and they do a one-day training in the summer KIPS one and two which are the foundational pieces, the basic chunks of it. And then she was sending me a list of all the schools that are doing KIPS training so we can send new teachers to KIPS three, KIPS four, KIPS five and it'll just be a continual process, but that way they're all caught up. So, Gina and I we talked about how we would like to have a a

075refresher. Cuz we know with the brain science we need that repetition over and over even as adults. So, having a refresher for the entire staff would be beneficial. Things are in place. We've got things in in motion and and going well, so But again, it feels good when you have some of that staff to tell you you're doing a real good job, so I Okay. All right. Any questions? All right, now we're ready for the board meeting education self-assessment that we do annually. Um Do you have a blank copy of that that you can send out? If not >> I Yeah, I'm sure I do. Before I do, is everyone okay with what we've been doing? It's I guess my thought on it is I'm I'm okay with the way we're doing it and the

076the survey I but I'd like to see it's it's it's the after after What do we do with it afterwards that I mean we we look at the results and then move on and it's I mean the the idea I think of any self-assessment is is just like okay, here's some things that we think we need to work on and then you take some steps to work on those. So, I'll look at it and I might make some changes if there's any redundancy or anything and send that out again and then I guess yeah, it'll just be kind of up to us to carve out time to act on it if we feel like there's something needs to be done. I believe I created a fillable PDF last year, but so you can all see

077a blank one if you need. If you have that, maybe. I'm not sure. I can probably find it, but you'll find it twice faster than I will. I guess probably then our goal would be to have everybody fill that out before the next regular board meeting. Yeah, that's fine. Yeah, that's reasonable. All right. It's available now. It was last year. >> That's what I was going to say. Mine Mine was fillable last year. It's already connected now. The tough part about the way the document exists is there's no Like it asks what our district goals were for the current year. We're not Like what are we going to list for that? Right? I'm not sure what our district goals are at the moment. Like I think as you move forward Do we have improvement goals

078for ourselves? So, anyway, I I and I I think we're all just uh personally interpreting what we think those goals are, but not their collectively approved goals. So, that's That's I think having no basis of where to put in that cuz there are things. Uh I look at the our board governance book has several items in our calendar that we're not doing and we need to probably be reviewing that. That should be on our monthly agenda. And so, um Is that Is that the space we do that in? So, that's where I'm looking at. Yeah. Okay. We're We approved a good board governance book. Are we following it? Are we ensuring that we're That's That's the tool I see in front of us at the moment. Yeah. I think that You work with I mean,

079it's not a great time of year for me to to dive into it and then fill it out and assess it. I mean, I know we're supposed to do this every year, but if there's a better if we're willing to to kind of regroup over the next couple months and come up with something better, I'm all ears. Even the Like when we I'm not sure when we take it is as important as when we have that discussion about the results and then you know, I guess my thinking has always been that there probably ought to be some kind of a you know, special board meeting slash retreat, whatever you want to call it where that's all that's on our agenda is the the strategic planning and the and the long-range, you know, and the goal

080setting and the self-evaluation that all of that would just be part of that one meeting and there's there's nothing else. >> Um cuz it's it's too hard to have those kind of conversations in in a regular board meeting, especially if we've been sitting here for two or three hours. Nobody wants to talk about the things we need to do better. You know, it's like So, I I still feel like that that that at some point and that doesn't have to happen during the busy times of year. That could happen during a, you know, whenever people are most available, whether that's in the summer or winter or We could still use this format for this year, but make a point to follow up and refine it, go over it. What's a better version of a self-evaluation

081and then what pieces do we want to put in it as part of that meeting, too. So, that's also fine, you know. Yeah. Yeah, I know. So, that's just something to kind of kick around in your heads that You need to do it. >> I I kind of like seeing happening. Yeah. Yeah, right. Like we need more meetings together, but it's, you know, what I mean, we look at, you know, the the last few years and and we really haven't had those conversations where we really dig into what, you know, the that long-range piece and the, you know, [clears throat] even like the capital outlay planning. I mean, I know we have some of those. Jeff's put some of those kind of things together, but Jeff's put some of those kind of things together, you

082know, we we we didn't we didn't have conversations about that and and, you know, that's we have we have some of that information, but we need to probably do a better job of being involved in it. So. Yeah, not not to make excuses for us, but, you know, for 3-plus years we've been tackling this bond facility issue. We've been doing a superintendent search every 3 years and I'm hoping in another 6 months that maybe we're not maybe maybe we're in some normal state of being versus all the extracurricular stuff that we had to deal with. Not that that's an excuse. We got to make time to do it, but it's it's hard to find it. >> [clears throat] >> Okay, well, that's more than enough probably on that topic. So, we'll move on to enrollment.

083Yeah, that's uh it's it's in there 6H, I believe. Um we will get this is just kind of our enrollment. Um I've went back to 2023 with this. May look a little bit weird, but the the top row is kind of end-of-year numbers a lot of times and then the second row is what our actual audited numbers are in September. Just to see what we sometimes lose between now and and then. Um The superior numbers I haven't updated, but I think they're probably around 24 to 26 and that'll happen this next year. Um The one thing I guess you'll notice is that we'll have we we're projecting to have two more kids than we did this year. Um but if you remember right, last year legislation changed to where our budget is based on student

084enrollment of current year or prior year only. So, this year we use last year's numbers and use that again, we're just looking at physical count, 332. And so, looking at next year, it's going to be better off to use next year's numbers at least preliminarily versus our current year. So, we'll be down nine kids based on that number. But again, things can change between now and August. Um But that is kind of where we're at on our enrollment numbers. So, just present that for you guys to look at. If you have questions on it, that's fine. This information also will be a little bit later in 7B when we have to um look at enrollment and open enrollment capacities this year. So. It'd be nice to get our next year's seniors. Great group of kids

085but at 16. It's It's better to see those numbers in the 20s. But we've got couple bubble classes, but the the pre-K numbers are 12 and 19. That's talk with Mrs. Sholder. She's the one that has a better grasp of where those numbers are than anybody else and so You wonder why the numbers look weird on the right in the total, it's because when you talk about FTE at the state, pre-K is half um FTE, so that's why the number changes. Any questions, let me know. Otherwise, we'll just keep keep on keeping up our numbers and go from there. Okay. Um All right, the gymnasium audio-visual project. Yeah, we got another [clears throat] pledge from a another uh local business. Uh that So, we've got a pledge of both thousand $100 to this point um

086towards that. Um You know, the the guy that I've been talking with was saying, "Well, we may need to try to get some of the schedule before, you know, summer projects are filling up." And I said, "You're not going to be able to work in our building until um probably September. Um but most of the time how their work is done is they come in on a Friday afternoon and work throughout the the weekend and have it ready hopefully completed by or Monday morning. So, um we don't have to um try to move anything cuz our schedule's pretty much open up quite a bit more once school gets started. Um I I'm I've still got I'm going to need to finalize um the Jewel County grant. I'm going to apply for that one as well.

087Um I still think that we're not quite halfway to the the total cost of that, but I think it's an investment we need to explore moving forward as much as the gym's utilized, not just for athletic events, but graduation. Tonight we have an elementary concert, all of that. I did ask him to tweak instead of the two TV panels to a big projector um to kind of go where the um senior slideshow typically goes in that location. Um it's shaved about $4,000 off the total bill, but it's a high-definition one that even in bright lights it shows up really well. Those of you that were at LAN, that one you could see really well even with the bright lights and so um all that would be connected. So, you can from the receiver play a

088video through there and it's got sound that matches up with the video all that through all. So, it's all one system. Um which I think is uh great. Try to piecemeal things together and then you always one thing breaks down and when it's all talking together it makes it a lot better. I guess my my question is that we um you know, you you kind of started look looking for some donation money and we we have some. Um you know, what is the what is the board's feeling on, you know, is this do we want him to continue to pursue more donations? Do we want to say that's, you know, we we've got a fairly large chunk of it, but now it's been pledged to be paid for and What was the quote? I forget.

089About 60,000 for the audio and video together. Sorry to interrupt. I and I'm I'm kind of guessing a little bit. Okay, I think I think it's somewhere in there. So, I guess what I'm saying is that you're are we are we interested in saying yes, let's go ahead and do this and and, you know, if we can get more donations, great. If what what if what we've got is what we've got, we we cover the rest. 12,000. 100. Did we do an RFP We did an RFP on this, right? They're part of the state purchasing agreement, so we don't have to. Um I guess Jeff and I do have a question on. So far, we have pledges from two two $6,000 pledges. I actually have a check that came in the beginning of March that

090I'm holding, so I didn't know if we wanted to keep that or ask them to just have that be a pledge and we get that later or how we want to handle that. That's also kind of the reason I'm asking what how committed we are to to this. We also talked about using or seeing if uh Linda Pearson's um money that she had donated or maybe the family may want to to go towards this since their kids are older and actually after Do you know what that total was? It was right around 2,000. >> [clears throat] >> And you're applying for a grant, too, right? Are you applying for a grant as well? So, I mean, it's something that I've kind of asked Jeff to kind of keep on the front burner just to I

091mean, ever since the the [clears throat] audio troubles of a year ago that where during basketball games it wouldn't work and during graduation it didn't work and that was I mean, I know that supposedly that was just cuz we didn't have fresh batteries in the microphone, but Are the apples bigger But it doesn't matter what the reason was. You you know, when you have hundreds of people in your gymnasium for a graduation and we got to sit there and yell from the stage cuz we don't have any sound system. That's that's not acceptable to me, but um So, that was when I I told Jeff that that was kind of my the red line, right? I said, "Let's get this fixed. This when this is not going to happen again." So, I'm still committed to

092that, but I I just I just I need your feedback on how how much more do we need him to do to try to get some of that cost covered versus Okay, yes, let's take that, but let's go ahead and you can also get this Did you have to apply for a grant at this point though? I I haven't finished it for the just the dual county. Oh, so you mean finished it? Yeah. We're I I just like the idea of it being an advertising revenue generator. I mean, on top of So, I I I know with that we can't really quantify that until we put it into practice or whatever, but you were saying it's more like 54,000 as the bid. So, down to 42,000 out of our pocket if we get nothing else.

093I'm okay with that dollar figure to at least forge ahead and the off of course find more funding if we can. I mean, well, I to your point, too, those that have committed have pledged and then they start their volleyball games, basketball games, whatever, and they start seeing a few businesses continually pop up there. I won't mind if they don't. Yeah, people start to ask how do I get on that? I'd say do the community foundation grant, see what that looks like, and let's maybe have a decision for next month. I don't know. You tell each. I don't know how soon we like we won't know we won't know by next month. I'm also I'm still a little like um I'm still a little hesitant on the the one bid we received. And is that

094the right way to go? And now that we're slimming that down and changing what that is, like going from two TVs to a projector and uh just to save money, like is that the right I get that saves some money, but is that the right move? I want this done nice. I also don't I don't know what I'm not sure what We're not sure what the projector saving money. When I've looked into those systems, they all they all TVs are actually cheaper, but I've not >> Well, but I know that they didn't even ask them either. But they felt like the size that would fit up there. Our last discussion was he didn't know if it was going to be big enough to truly display information. I'll also say, do we know what we're actually

095going to be able to do once they do the HVAC in the gym? I mean, that's where I assume they're making those assumptions based on The gym is going to have duct work that goes on the north and south side of the gym across the top and everything shooting there, so it'll be nothing >> it is on the other side. >> Yeah, but but less intrusive. >> But not not that big equipment that's hanging up there. It's just duct work. So, there actually should be more room room So, like is that Are we Are we basing our equipment needs off of what we have today or what we are getting in the What will the gym look like in the future? What what would change, I guess, if Well, if I still I still like

096the idea of putting the two TVs up and I that way they're visible from both ends of the game and I don't know I don't I don't I mean, the basketball >> problem with that is I mean, considering how big would you actually have to have it in order to actually visualize what's on the TV? >> we saw several tournaments that we went to that they were a lot bigger than what we were thinking. >> those those TVs that they were proposing were like at the size of that that. That's not very big. That's why I think the projector makes more sense cuz you can get that LED projector monitors that are also scoreboards like 80 some grand a pop. Yeah, I know. I'm just suggesting Are there any videos out there that of schools

097that have them, like people that sell them that they show videos or you can at least go and look and see the differences? We were testing it at the football games. Well, and there were several instances where gyms had done this and it didn't work. It was very poorly lit. >> Osborne has theirs and it's it's dim. Yeah. That's just a regular classroom projector. >> Right. That's and what I think he's proposing something that's considerably brighter than one of those. >> It's going to be clear even in bright lights. Cuz I talking with Dustin, I said if if we're going to do this, we need to do it right. And not throw 70% effort into it kind of You know what I mean? >> Yeah. Yeah, I agree with that. I just And we can

098And we can get we can get another bid on something like this. I mean, but I just don't I wouldn't mind seeing Yeah, I'd like that. I I just remember we had the football stadium. We were the same track and I know we we had one vendor we were locally we were able to do, but I mean I I and that obviously changed the whole dynamic and it worked great. Um but I I I struggle to think that there's not some other vendor in this region that wouldn't be willing to um I know we cuz I don't know who all we reached out to besides them. Here's what I was going to say. Stadium, right? But they weren't interested in this? Did we ask them? They were going to pick on Did we ask I

099said they were the ones I we paid them to come in and look at a couple of times and they said everything was working and it didn't work, so Well, that's cuz it was intermittent. I know why it did and didn't work cuz the amp was 30 years old. I mean, it it worked at times and then skip out when you started stressing it. That's why it wouldn't wouldn't work. It wouldn't work, but I'm just asking, we went down this with the football stadium and ended up saving like 20 grand because we used a local vendor and they matched our needs and it worked great and I don't I uh maybe we I assume we asked Pierce, but like that's why doing RFP, we would actually be looking at who what other options would be.

100>> I can send it to whoever you want. I can send it to Johnny Smith and so on. I know I can send it to I can Wherever you tell me to send it. I just don't know who we send it to originally. Is there a longevity between the projector and the TV? Like, you know, you think that TVs in our house are outdated within just a few years. Yeah, I don't >> [clears throat] >> Yeah. The the one projector they told me the difference between the classroom one is there's a so many hour life on the classroom projectors and this one has like three times the the lifespan and used intermittently, it's supposed to be a lot more durable than the classroom one. Projector's less chance of getting hit by a basketball or volleyball.

101Yeah, cuz you could put it right up I mean, high up as you want it to. Or you can have a guard and have a cage around it. >> [clears throat] >> So, I tell me where to go and we'll get it done. I I want to keep pushing forward, but >> Yeah, I sure so do I, but I think the pledge money's great and I think I'm okay with the price point. If you want to explore other I mean, just do our due diligence to make sure this is the best pricing option we got out there, that's fine with me, too. Is that direct on the wall or would they put it in the place? Uh like screen. He quoted me for a screen that comes up and down. >> I was going to

102say. Um or you could do it on a wall. He said it saves about $6,000 to have the mechanical one that comes up and down or just have a one that's up there on the wall. Okay. Do you want a list of who we like there of other vendors? Is that what you're look I mean, you you not have Does that not exist? >> I can just reach out to different superintendents to see who they use. I just know that that this company is one that's on the state bid list and so we choose anybody off that. You don't have to do multiple Hey, I get that. It's just with the football stadium, it was a original bid of 20, 30 grand and Pierce did it for nine. And and it was it it worked

103great. I'm not sure if that's a limiting I I assume they were asked. Maybe they weren't. They were just asked to look at it for repair purposes, not actually bid if they wanted to do it. I mean, I just >> They repaired it a couple times Okay. during basketball season and then you and I worked on it afterwards. It's working. So. This isn't the last sound system we'll work on. So, I'm also looking for like what's a what's a permanent partner for instance cuz at some point we have the same issue in the little theater. It's totally inadequate for what we're doing. We pieced it together and hot glued it together. So. Okay. I can reach out to somebody. Yeah, we are still doing We will for meet graduation seniors. I don't want to drag

104it out anymore, but you're talking about a screen that comes down on the end wall. Yeah. Is that something that can be utilized during volleyball and basketball games? Well, see, I I would assume you'd use it for all that if you wanted to. Yeah, that's what I I just didn't know if there was anything to that or if balls hitting it >> going to say with volleyball games, you wouldn't have to use it. You'd just use the wall. Yeah. What I would say. Just because Yeah, but your screen quality got your picture quality >> Right. But if you're not wanting to If you're not willing to damage the screen >> then you wouldn't roll it down. during game play. Isn't there a special screen paint? Didn't you do that on that wall down in the

105gym? I did, but Anybody will tell you you can do projectors, but at the end of the day, the screen is your most reliable, consistent, better quality picture and the way you have the way they can do those now, even 90-in televisions are are still great options. But I I just don't really like the I was going to say I will also tell you that yes, that's what we went with that and we did a TV for Sam when she went to school. We got her projector and we got it really it's a screen. You fold it up. It's just like a towel. You can you fold it up and you case it to the wall. I mean, so it's not a Just look at it. You look our gym, we are filling it I

106mean, it's great thing. We got banners all the way around, murals all the way around. I I wouldn't want to take away, you know, from any of that, so I would and I didn't I didn't know we were transitioning from the screens to the projector. That's That's a red flag for me, like I'd want to know what we're giving up there. if it really is just money or if there are >> I did it for this Julie but I guess it's the screens that aren't big enough. Yeah, I don't >> I just I I think that would be a mistake to have television screens that that aren't that that are so small that if you're on the other side of the gym you can't even read what's on it. And knowing that >> What's the

107point of putting them up? >> to get the point? You give it a couple years and they're outdated. >> They're obsolete already. Well, so do I. I mean I have to get projectors and all that. They'll be the same way in a But I I don't Anyway, I don't know. I don't know what I don't know what I'm trying to say. I'm confident anybody that would would that's doing this will be able to give us the pros and cons of what that looks like and other You should also have some visual examples of what's been installed in other gyms. And that's And that's what I'm just basing on of what I've seen going to other gyms and and I you've got the quality projector it looks great. >> Yeah. If you got the cheap If

108you go the cheap way like the one you're going to put in the classroom or in your own living room Yeah. then you can't see them unless you shut the lights off in the gym and that's that would absolutely not be the way to go. But then you then absolutely TV monitors are are better way to go. So I mean I guess that that would be I I would also have that question of just what you know what that projector looks like in a fully lit gymnasium Yeah. some some kind of reassurance that that's a you know just as just as bright as a LCD monitor. I want to keep moving forward too. This needs to be happening soon or at least we make sure we're doing it right and covers us. We We get

109what we expect at the end. That's it. All right, we'll move on. Um updated policies. I I put some stuff in it. There's two that that we just came out from KSB and and quite frankly I I think we should just table it and just make this a first read. I Initially my understanding when I put on the agenda was that they're already law and we need to get caught up but nothing has to happen until September. But anyway um the two that are on there this is all based on that House Bill 2299 which is the cell phone bill. Mr. Myers and I have already talked about the the cell phone ban. I When you talk to some legislators it's written in there that says inaccessible to the student. And it even mentions backpacks

110and things else. When you talk to some legislators they they said well that wasn't our intent. Of course not. But they will In the morning what is your All right. So we've got some plans in place that the honor bags I think do a great job if we're really worried about inaccessible and not on the person we can just have them leave them in the totes that are right there by the office and we can um So for me that's not a big obstacle. The other part of that bill is the part that gets a little bit messy is that although it doesn't make there's no punitive um damages so to speak in that it says that no district employee shall directly communicate with a student through any social media medium. Unless it's approved by

111the district. Correct. >> Yeah. Um which according to the law Nikki Owsley can message her daughter on a Facebook through the Facebook or anything else and is actually against state law. Now we have we have policies supporting what apps we want our staff to do that. >> Well, and that's what I'm saying just to start keeping in mind the the district the board can write more specific guidelines on how they want to do that. I was part of a district that anybody that did you had to share the handle with the district so that they could get in and monitor all those. Um The other option is we can whether it's like Parent Square there's a few of those. Remind was used for a while and then that's kind of lost a little bit of

112its luster. But there's one that we just ask everybody to to utilize. Um I don't understand well frankly I don't understand a lot of the intent of a lot of the bills that get introduced. But It's election year. You're not supposed to That's the intent. But they That That's the the biggest issue. It's like I said it's not the cell phones. It's the >> The fine print that has extenuating circumstances. Yeah. I mean cuz it Like I said again we can Is there anything in our policy that we currently have that is in would be in violation of what is what was proposed? >> No, but we we'll have to have more. >> We lack policy is what you're saying. >> Yes. You'll have to strengthen that because like I said options is um you

113can share the handles. I don't know who who's going to have the time to just monitor all social media platforms to make sure >> Okay, that's the other thing. What's the enforcement component of this in terms of what's what's our repercussions if there's a violation? Nothing until a parent complains. Okay. I mean And doesn't doesn't the parent teacher have to say I just say what we're moving to is don't Snapchat kids. >> Yes. And then when there's a Snapchat complaint the coach is reprimanded. >> Yes. That's how I don't know. My feeling I I I'd be you know if if we as a district wanted to decide on the you know what I whatever app we're using to to message that kind of I mean I'd be fine with it doing something like that if

114that if that kind of covers us because I mean it seems like every time a new new coach new sponsor whoever comes in and here's the app we're using this year. Next year here's the app we're using I got 10 apps on here that I don't use anymore cuz somebody wanted to communicate through them. I mean it'd be it'd be nice if we as a district said this is the one we're going to use. And tell me if I'm wrong but I think we did that. >> But the kids never checked that app. That's on the kids. >> Remind Remind them. >> Remind. I know. And I Ideally finding a Like I said We need to keep school messenger for important information coming from the district. But something like that where they can still everybody

115can still get it as a push notification on their cell phone but it's through one medium. I guess it's Parent Square is one. There's How school There's There's different ones out there. >> Several of them require our district to subscribe to them and pay a fee depending on their student enrollment. I mean these are They're Right. It'd probably be better quality though if it was something we had to pay for. >> it all goes through PowerSchool. It's just a protection. >> a one-size-fits-all tool is the answer. Does it Does it save the messages so that somebody can just go then through PowerSchool or whatever and read any messages that have been sent? Yeah, they can go back and double check. I'm saying that's probably It's an archive. So anyway Tell me Tell me if I'm

116old and stupid on this when it comes to technology because I may be. But whenever somebody sends me a text it beeps on my phone. We don't want texts. Whenever somebody sends me an email it beeps on my phone and I can check it. You know I'll get them from the teachers and staff right now. Why can't the students have They all have an email account. Why can't we have group emails just like we do group Remind or group whatever? The kids are supposed to be checking their emails anyway. Teachers haven't heard of this. That's the That's the dilemma that we continue to run into is we we can make that assumption with students. Is Well, but that's it's not a good assumption because there's a lot of times I didn't know I was in

117old school and they're standing there waiting ready to get on the bus. Well you got the email Monday morning at 9:00 a.m. when old school came out. So maybe is email just This generation though. They don't use email. That's why I asked about the old school students. Well, I'm not I didn't say stupid but It's just like an email but sending a text is so much easier than an email. Well, and and these these kids just don't they don't use email period. I heard good things about Parent Square. I think text messaging Well, it is you're right. I mean they don't use text When When my kids communicate they do not send I'm the only one that sends a text. >> Yeah. And they don't check them. No. No, they they don't. It'd be 2

118days later. Well, I guess you did I guess you sent me a text. They see there's something in there but they don't What What the community our parents and our children kids have to understand is we are responsible for that communication. So the communication has to be logged. It's to protect us. It's to protect our staff. It's to protect kids. It is because you could you you know like talked to a couple coaches. I said you could just be communicating saying hey don't forget about and somebody responds back with something inappropriate all of a sudden you're implicated in on that. >> Absolutely. Like it's a it's a protection. But so anyway that by September 1st K KCSDE has set out the format that we have to submit our policy on all that by September 1st.

119So we've got time but it's just something And And I Natalie I can start exploring too. I know a lot of districts are going to Parent Square. Parent Square. Yeah, I mean it's it's probably time time to start looking into some of those and possibilities. Yeah. And and I'm I'm willing to have hear out the kids on it too. You know what What are the Get Get a couple kids on a committee and let them It'd be convenient for even the youth sports too. I mean [clears throat] practices you know I mean parents getting young kids to practices. I We're just going to have to put the burden on them to check that out. >> Yeah. The first 10 minutes of the day And that's fair. Yeah. You're But But a lot of them allow

120you to send it out as a push notification or a text message and I Again, anything that comes through on their phone is going to be So if they can get it Maybe people can get it how they prefer to get it. Yeah. But it's a But it's one source that's Listen it out there. If you want to buy email, if you want to be a parent Also, if this is between like teacher and parent, perfect. You can't be having teachers sending all this out to the kids when their kid when the kids and phones are all in the other bags and then you expect them to like you why didn't you answer that like I wasn't able to get to that. The law only pertains to district employees communicating with students. But you talking

121about text. I would not advise it in any way. But as the bill is written, it's okay to text students. But social media cuz texting isn't social media. Right. So anyway Well, I'm going to the point that Brandon was making there is is that If we if we did something like that, it it couldn't be used as something that is a during the day type of messenger cuz they're not going to get those messages until the end of the day. If the if play practice is canceled or something, we don't send the text message out to the kids or even an email. We make the announcement for during the day. It's going to go via email though. Yeah. Yeah, and that way you get to parents and they can make travel arrangements differently. Well, that

122make it where it was at least email and text or something. I think we should do I think our Yondr Bag policy and policy on cell phone access is working. I I I'm really going to struggle to change that. I I as I read the bill, I don't I think we're doing exactly what the bill intended to happen. I do like the added layer if we cuz they have their Yondr Bags now. I like the added layer of you can't have it on you. Um and you just put it back in there because I have had kids that have gotten in trouble because they've got their phone in their Yondr Bag. They just don't flip the thing. So and then I'm like nope, that doesn't count cuz then they can pull it out That's that's

123just a modification of Yeah, I mean very minor. I I struggle to take a We put a lot of thought into this. We're 1 year in. If you want to make some modifications, that's I we we talked about the minimal if anything to change just how we leave it in the tub but It's and it's worked out I'll be down here now. I don't care. >> [laughter] >> But so by September 1, we'll have to have a policy in place and submitted to the KASB Well, when they have their Yondr Bag, can can you say, hey Siri, turn my alarm off? We I've probably had four or five kids this year total that have had to come to the office and say I've got to turn my alarm off and undo it or a teacher

124said, who's beeping? Just they they shut them off when they put them in there or they silence and we have very It's a habit. It's it's usually been a situation where they Wait a second, you have something? Yeah, something to consider is what does this look like at the elementary building? Yeah. I've had two cell phone violations this year. I don't know how it would look any different. If you bring a cell phone, it goes in the bag, it goes in the box. Yep. Is it going to go in a Yondr Bag? If so, do we need to be ordering more of those? And that's one of the things that I forgot to mention too. In the policy, it states if it's on right on the school. So if kids leave it in their vehicle

125Yeah. then the policy is And then it it uses the word may. The the district can't may put in policy to allow or not allow kids to have their phones on trips, athletic events. To me, during the school day is in the confines of the school. If they're leaving for an event, they need to have their phone with them. Anyway. Nothing to decide now but just things to keep in mind as legislation gets shoved onto us. Okay, so we'll call that the first read on those. We'll revisit that going forward. All right, item B. Um showed you guys the enrollment a little bit ago. This is the time where we have to by May 1st um have our capacity um approved and by the board for non-resident um open enrollment. Um and so I present

126to you This is the same one we had last year. It is just I changed the dates and everything else on it um that we have to then put um on our website for those that are um interested in coming here that they can fill out the application and um submit it in the timelines that go along with that. So So this is the same enrollment that we have and as we've talked in the past I would say based on the numbers, elementary, what you're wanting to do if we need to change the fourth or fifth grade numbers to say we're not taking anybody, we can but I think for us and knowing how important enrollment numbers are for funding that unlimited is the way to go. I agree. Do you have any questions on

127any of that? Okay, so we need probably motion to Second. All those in favor? 7-0. Okay, and this is our our added item with the field trip forms that you should have I think you got a copy on your email. email for the board meeting so make sure you want to get that. We Yeah, Janet got all these from Did you send all of them explain that to them all? Yeah, I got it from Attica. They just went through all of this in the last few weeks with David Cunningham uh KASB attorney and so we were able to just change their USD number to ours and pretty much Mr. Myers reviewed them, Mr. Sells reviewed them, I reviewed them and Suzanne looked at the rules and I think everybody was in agreement that it met

128uh the needs that we had. With with things we would need to have taken care of while we were gone. It was pretty thorough. I will say that Mr. Cunningham, first thing he said to us is, you know what my recommendation is? And she said, yeah, I'm not to have senior trips. But uh it would keep us from being responsible for things. And the kids can sign it if they're 18. That's what I was going to say. Yep, the kids can sign it if they're 18, that's legal. Uh the parents have to sign it if they are not 18. And that's by the that's at the time we send it out. If they turn 18 the end of May and we have to have it by the middle of May, the parent has to sign

129it. And they and they would have to sign it there. Trust me, it's been a pill. access that the mom for insurance. You know, the the only comment I had I had on it as a possible change was where it said that the student is sent home, parents will be uh notified, will be responsible for making arrangements. We have some parents that may not decide to make arrangements, say it's on you. Um I thought about adding a caveat on there of or responsible for expenses incurred in returning the student. So if we have to hire somebody to drive down there and pay for the gas but it's fine. Good luck collecting that but Yeah, I thought that exactly It might be it might be good incentive though. Yeah. Well, you keep that and then you

130get together and add I tried I called you but you were out getting pizza. I don't either. Sounds good. Drop them off at the local police station and say this is where they'll be notified. It seems to be pretty thorough, I think. They could pass pass from county to county by by cop car. Do you have any questions? I'll move to accept them as presented. Uh with the addition of Yes, the modification of financial reimbursement to return. Second. All those in favor? 7-0. You'll be helping with that, Mr. Ward. Yeah, I'm reading this thoroughly actually. >> [laughter] >> What are my obligations? Yeah, who's going to enforce this? You want my list of kids that you might need to Yeah, yeah. >> [laughter] >> Actually. Okay, we will move on for executive sessions. Um Does

131anybody need a break or we want to keep going? We're happy to take a 5-minute break if we need it. Okay, then I guess we'll roll on. Um so we we don't have an A, we do have a B. Um how much time do we need? 10 minutes probably. Mr. Holmes with Mr. Myers. Okay. Uh Mr. President, move we go into executive session with Mr. Sells and Mr. Myers present to discuss employee contracts pursuant to the non-elected personnel exception under KOMA and the open meeting resume at the board room at 3:00. Second. All those in favor? 7-0. Do you guys need me for anything? I don't believe so. Thanks, Lacy. Shannon will be recording. Thank you. All right, back in open session. >> I move to accept the resignation for Eric Ratchford from all positions

132effective 4 22 2026. Second. All those in favor? 7-0. Okay. Move to approve Taylor Williams as a para substitute. Second. All those in favor? 7-0. Who do you mean? >> Oh, yeah. Motion to hire Zach Duffy as a 2026-2027 junior senior high principal. Second. All those in favor? All those opposed? 6-1. Okay. Um, did we have any uh, anything else on uh, non-elected or waiting for negotiations? Negotiations. Okay. How long? I have no idea. I don't either. Is there a letter? I'm not like I would see the letter. I neither. Seal. Okay. So, how long do you want to start? 10 minutes to begin with. Sure. That's all I want. Any more than that, I Do you want uh, Jeff to walk? How about >> Yeah, just we'll leave him in here for right now

133cuz he's been working on stuff for me, so >> do an invitation too, if you want to. Or whatever you want to do it. Okay. And Mr. Jeff >> session with Mr. Jeff present to discuss employer-employee negotiations pursuant to the exception for employer-employee negotiations under COMA? You'll be meeting or adjourning with the board at 3:27. Second. All those in favor? 7-0. Four day. Okay. Sure, that's the And you're so old. Yeah, I'll let I'll let you know. If you can meet at 3:30 Kevin A back here in the regular session. I don't believe there's any action. And I don't believe we have any more executive sessions. Am I correct in that? Correct. Move to adjourn. Second. All those in favor? 7-0. Okay, it's 3:32.