001Good evening. This regular meeting of November 10th, 2025 of the Debuke Community School District Board of Education is called to order. Our mission is to develop worldclass learners and citizens of character in a safe and inclusive learning community. Roll call, please. >> Bradley, >> here. >> Haml, >> here. >> Jacobitzkazire, >> here. >> Jones, >> here. >> Parks, >> here. Cancy >> here. >> Whitman. >> All right. Um, we're happy to welcome students from Kennedy Elementary to lead us in the Pledge of Allegiance. My name is Brett Bradley. I'm in fifth grade. >> My name is Spencer Gaker and I'm in fifth grade. >> My name is Julie For and I'm in fifth grade. My name is Evelyn Harvey. I'm in fifth grade. >> My name is Hadley Palmer and I'm in fifth grade. >>
002My name is Evans Cell and I'm in fourth grade. >> My name is Oliver Bagot and I'm in fifth grade. I aliance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands. One nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. >> God, great job you guys. I move that the board of education approve the agenda as submitted. >> Second. >> It's been moved and seconded that the board of education approved the agenda as submitted. Is there any discussion? >> Seeing none, all those in favor say I. >> I. >> Any opposed? That motion carries. I move that the board of education approve the minutes of the regular meeting of October 13, 2025, the special meeting of October 27th, and the special meeting of November 3rd, 2025
003as submitted. >> Second. >> It's been moved and seconded that the board of education approve the minutes of the regular meeting of October 13, 2025, the special meeting of October 27th, and the special meeting of November 3rd, 2025 as submitted. Is there any discussion? Seeing none, all those in favor say I. >> I. >> Any opposed? That motion carries. >> Great. I move that the board of education No, I bet I'm premature. >> No, you're not. You're right. >> How about then? I move the board of education suspend the rules of order and go into open forum. >> Second. >> It's been moved and seconded that the board of education suspend the rules of order and go into open forum. Is there any discussion? Seeing none, all those in favor say I. >> I. >>
004Any opposed? That motion carries. So, uh, first we're going to be hearing from Andy Peterson, who's the principal at Kennedy Elementary School, to tell us what's going well. >> Usually have like a little bit of time. >> I know. I know. >> All right. Thanks everybody for inviting Kennedy this month. Um, as you know, I just started at Kennedy this fall and it has been a really busy fall already. Um, really, really proud of the things that are on this list. If you flip it over, there's a couple pictures on there as well of some of the things that we've been able to do and get started this fall. We had our walk-athon fundraiser um just a little bit earlier in October, raised $33,000. Um, a big part of that will go to the outdoor
005classroom project um that Mr. Hatcher started last year. We're able to get concrete poured in the back. It's going to be fully accessible coming out of the kindergarten doors and aligning up with our normal sidewalks that we have there already. So, we're really excited about that. Um we're hoping to get the shade structure um installed this spring and then next year we'll work on phase three, which is the furniture for that space. Um with the walk-athon, um it's a Kennedy tradition to be able to slime Mr. Peterson if you're the class that raises the most money. So, Mrs. Harvey's kindergarten class was that class this year. and kind of carrying over something I did at Carver. We had a 30 $30,000 goal and if we met that goal, Mr. Peterson spent a night on the
006roof at Kenny. So, >> and how was that? >> It was nice. >> Was it nice? Slept really good. Look really good. Um, as I shared with the outdoor classroom, we've got that that poured. Um, DCSD buildings and grounds were awesome to work with as was Valentine Construction. I shared about the sidewalks. I guess I skipped ahead on that one already. The other thing that we're going to have back in that area is a micro prairie. Um we have a family um who um the mother is employed with Debut County Conservation and she's going to come in and help us install a pocket prairie back there. Um we've got the mulch in that area right now and she put the limestone pavers in there also. The mulch will help kill the grass and then next
007year she'll drill all of the grasses and plants in and that's going to be awesome right there by our outdoor classroom as well. Um this year we did playground nights um for every grade and one of the reasons that we did that this fall was just with all the students coming from different buildings. Me being new to Kennedy as well, it was kind of like an open house for each grade outside. Um we asked teachers to come and attend those as well. We had perfect fall nights for every one of them and you can see those were pretty well attended um there as well. So those were it was a good success for us. 97% of our families attended conferences. Super super pumped about that. I'm still looking at teacher and family survey data, but
008over overwhel or overall I think very positive. Um we started a monthly assembly program this year with positive office referrals. So if you're doing great things around the building, living the Mustang motto, you might receive a positive office referral. If you get a positive office referral, you're coming to the office. Um our office ladies are going to greet you. They're going to get excited. They're going to show you some enthusiasm. um reinforce that great behavior. They're going to put a sticker on you so that everybody else is going to ask you why did you get a positive office referral and then they get to take that home that day for mom and dad. Then at the end of the month, we'll come together and we recognize all of those kids at the assembly and again
009talk about the great things that they've been doing. Um let's see. We have learned a lot this fall about the connections that we need to make for families and just how that's changed a little bit from last year to this year. We've worked extensively with RTA. We've wor worked extensively with arrival schedules, dismissal schedules that were not a part of kind of the Kennedy equation last year and that's been a great learning experience for everyone. Um, we've worked extensively with Dora who has been fantastic to line up interpreters to make sure that we can have meaningful conversations with families and it's just been a not that we didn't have that to some degree, but it's been a much larger degree this year and it's been a great learning experience for all of us. If you
010get the opportunity to come into Kennedy as well, we have really celebrated that this year and like at Senior and Hemstead, there are some flag displays in the in the entryways of those buildings to represent the countries that um kids come to us from. We have that going at Kennedy right now as well, and I'm really proud of that. Um, as far as our professional development, we've tackled a lot of things so far. We're working deep in CLC's, talking about our ELML students, working on our classroom management, um the way that we make decisions about behavior, and next up, we'll be working on some common form of assessment within math, and then also looking at um behavioral interventions and how we're going to use that data. And finally, this year, and I just found out
011about two weeks ago, this is the 60th anniversary of Kennedy Elementary School. >> Um Kennedy was opened on November 29th, 1965. And on December 5th, we're going to invite as many retired teachers from Kennedy as we can in for a breakfast. Um, give those teachers a tour, let them be around our students, and then invite them to our monthly assembly for that month as well. >> A little bit of what we've been working on. >> Awesome. >> Any questions? >> I do got one. I just got to ask. So, the rooftop, >> so what was the thought process with that right there? I'm just really curious about that one. >> It's just think it's outrageous. I don't know. I just think it's funny. It's fun. I did it at Carver a couple of times and
012they they got excited about it again at Kennedy, so I did it again. It doesn't bother me that much either. So, >> do we have proof? >> What's happening? >> Do we have proof Facebook? >> Okay. I did see some social media and did not understand what was going on. So, it's good to have this context. >> That's what it was. >> And which roof is better? Let's ask that question. >> Well, it depends on the night, right? >> So, um at Carver, you can really get out of the wind. Kennedy is a little bit different. It's more more of a flat surface, but I was able to get back by the kind of by the gym and block some of that way. So, it matters. >> Well, well, we got a new sheriff in
013town just in case you want something. >> I know, right? >> You guys. >> All right. So, anyone else who wishes to address the board may do so at this time. We ask that um you come to the podium, state your full name, your connection to the district, and that you limit your remarks to three minutes using our handy timer. And keep in mind that the board can't respond to what you say, but we are listening to your remarks. >> Hearing none, I move that the board of education reinstate the rules of order and return to regular session. >> Second. It's been moved and seconded that the board of education reinstate the rules of order and return to regular session. Is there any discussion? Seeing none, all those in favor say I. >> I. >>
014Any opposed? That motion carries. So that brings us to um board salutes section of the agenda and I'm going to hand it over first to Mr. Brian Cool. Good evening. Um, every year we choose a teacher of the year with the help of our DEA and for the 2025 teacher of the year is Kelly Igenberger. And on her behalf, uh, her building principal, Dr. Megan Elsinger is going to come up and tell us a little bit about Kelly as they both come forward here. and Megan will give you a a little more detail than I could provide. >> Good evening and thanks for having us. On behalf of Lincoln students, families, and staff, I want to give heartfelt congratulations to Kelly Egenberger, who is an incredibly deserving recipient of the Debut Community Schools Teacher of
015the Year. Kelly is one of the most dedicated teachers that I've been fortunate enough to know. She also hates recognition. So this is she takes absolute accountability for the learning of each of her students. She doesn't just teach, she ensures learning. Kelly maintains an unwavering belief that every student in her classroom can achieve proficiency paired with a confidence of skill that her and her team can get them there. Kelly is a generous colleague who deeply values collaboration. Kelly greatly values her fourth grade team and together they exemplify collective efficacy. But Kelly's collaboration doesn't just stop with her team. It extends across our building. Kelly is generous with her practice, always willing to model a new strategy or lesson, not because she thinks it's perfect, but because she craves feedback and the consistency to always improve.
016She models continuous learning, and her her colleagues and her students benefit from it. Through her dedication to continuous improvement, commitment to ensuring access and achievement for each student that she serves, Kelly inspires each of us and makes her a very extraordinary educator and very deserving of this honor. So, congratulations to Kelly. Our pride is proud of you. Excuse me. on behalf of the school district. Happy Congratulations. We have lots of fun things to celebrate tonight. So, that's that's always a good thing. Um, I'm wondering if Megan Richardson's in the room. If she could maybe come forward. I see her. I see her >> with the hair. >> With her hair. >> Didn't sleep on the roof, but dyed her hair >> about um goals for um uh fundraisers. Yeah. >> She made a goal that
017she was going to make her hair look like a unicorn. >> And I think she's done a really good job of that. >> Yeah. Okay. Okay. So, um really tonight we're up here to congratulate Megan and the Bryant community for their award of being a Blue Ribbon School um for the 2025 um year. Um as you know, we've had a national blue ribbon school award that's been around for about 40 years. Um actually Bryant won that award one other time in in 2007, which is unbelievable. and we found out that there's only been 16 >> 14 schools, I'm sorry, in that 40 years that have repeated that award. So, what a great um you know group that you're with. That's amazing. So, um this year in the fall, we actually found out that the blue
018ri the national blue ribbon school was going to end. Um they were not going to continue that um at the federal level. And thankfully our state, the state of Iowa wanted to continue to recognize schools that qualified as blue ribbon schools. And so we were honored um a few weeks ago that we got to go down to De Moine and with our governor and her cabinet, we were able to receive the blue ribbon school award for behalf of Brian. And so Megan had an opportunity to give a little speech on behalf of the Bryant community and we were able to celebrate the Bryant community with an assembly that Monday when we returned back. So we got little blue ribbons and kids did the wave and um they were really excited. But she really pointed out
019that it's about student achievement and students working really hard to reach those student achie those those goals that they set out to reach. But it's also about the staff and how passionate the staff is and how willing they are to do professional development and to work with each and every student, meet them where they're at and then see where their growth goes from there. And so Megan has been very open about um really celebrating all of those things that go into her school culture. So Megan, on behalf of the school board and myself and the school district, congratulations on being a B Blue Urban School. WE'RE GONNA COME UP. YEP. And you're gonna present that to Kate. >> Oh, yes. >> Yeah. >> I also have a banner that will go on our gym and
020we got a um a declaration that they signed because it was the first inaugural one for the state of Iowa. We haven't had that framed yet. So, we have that. Yeah. >> So, there you go. Okay. So, congratulations. Yeah. Thank you. >> I won't spill water on it. >> Okay. The next recognition we get to do is I need our good friend Mike size to come forward. So most people in the room probably know that this is Mike size and Mike size is our chief communication officer for the district and this is a job that um you know is is I think sometimes people don't realize the importance of this job. You know Mike does a lot of things behind the scenes um as things come up during the school day. somebody might call him
021and say, "Mike, I need a little, you know, something to be sent home to parents." And Mike's there to support that. Um, when we talk about our website, when we talk about, um, distributing of materials, when we look at the things that happened for the school bond, that was really Mike and his team. And so, um, during this crazy time in the fall when we were going for the bond referendum, I thought it was really important that we nominate Mike to recognize him for all the wonderful things he does for our district. Um, to to have us come across um, you know, just with our community and let the community know that we're being transparent and that we're being and we're trying to have open lines of communication and I think he does a really
022really good job of that. So this year, Mike has been named the Iowa School Public Relations Communicator of the Year >> for the state of Iowa. I I actually had the privilege of um surprising Mike at the at the award ceremony and uh he didn't know he was getting that award. So that was pretty pretty awesome. But, you know, one the way that I would um describe Mike is, you know, I I said it there that he's a total rock star. >> You know, when Mike when we need something, Mike's there. If we get something in the middle of the night, Mike's got it. He's on the phone. We're communicating. We're we're we're figuring out how to be solution focused. Um, Mike is somebody that really has a lot of pride in his job and
023he loves the school district and he will do whatever it takes to make sure that we can be transparent and open and communicating with our community as a whole. And so Mike, um, you're somebody that, you know, I think your colleagues in De Moines said you elevate us to be better, you know, and I know he really values the colleagues that he works with all the time, but they really value him. And he gets calls all the time like, "Hey, what should I do about, you know, um, and I appreciate that." So Mike, I'm just really honored tonight to honor you with the Iowa Communicator of the Year award. and now he will be entered into he'll be going um to the national convention here in July and will be up for national school communicator
024of the year. So we wish you the best of luck. Okay. Well, THANKS >> that'll be good. >> So this is the award that >> so it's really heavy and you know that. So, I'm going to let you have that. And then this is just something for the dis from the district to say thanks and we don't want you to forget this ever. >> It's quite an honor. So, there you go. >> Mike's a great communicator and tells us about himself. >> Thanks. Did you want to say anything? >> No. >> Yeah. I think >> you can't you can't have the communicator come up and not say anything. So, I I just would really like to say one, I'm I'm humbled and honored to receive this award. As Amy said, I work with amazing people
025across the state. Um, but this is a shared award with the amazing team that I work with every day. Um, Trisha and Renee and Michael and Lucas and Kelsey and Nancy and the whole team. Um, this is a team effort and I work with the best of the best, so it's easy for me to stand up here, but they make the magic happen every day and I'm so honored to work with them. And then I would just like to say thank you to the board and to Amy. Um, I was looking at the calendar here before this and this is um, I'm in 13 and a half years right now and there was never really anybody in this role before I was and it's a testament to the board and to Amy and the superintendents
026and Stan before that who put communication at the table every time. Um, I can tell you my colleagues across the state do not enjoy that all the time. So, I'm honored to have work for a board and a school district and a superintendent who value communication and thank you for that support. >> Well, I also want to just add a thanks to Mike because he's been an incredible resource for all of us um and a mentor as well to help us with our communication and >> uh in all kinds of ways. So, welld deserved and thank you Mike. Um the next um conversation that I just want to have is um you know we lost one of our dear friends and board members uh this week with Tammy Ryan and Tammy was a board member
027with us for 12 years. She served as a board member as vice president and I believe she was president for maybe eight of those 12 years. It was it was quite some time. And um you know, Elizabeth had called me. She was doing an article about Tammy. And the one thing I said about Tammy is she was somebody that always listened so well to the community and she really gathered feedback well, but she also was a huge supporter of our district and she loved this place. She was so proud to get our high schools renovated and up to date and um she will be greatly missed. Um, so I just want to make sure that we, you know, show our remembrance for Tammy and all the things that she did, not only for our district,
028but for this community as a whole. So, >> yeah, thank I'm trying to tell myself not to get emotional um when this um topic came up. So, excuse me in in advance. You know, when I got the um just a call that it it happened, you know, I was in awe. my heart was broken like many of us up here. Um and it just got emotional especially when I was able to talk to her family. Um but since we are celebrating um there's two stories that really highlights who Tammy was for many of us. Um especially me. You know, I remember there being a tough board meeting one day, and I think sometimes people think we always get along on every single topic, but that's that's not always um the case. And there was a
029situation where after a meeting, you know, I was very disappointed and I, you know, left. And the first person who called me was Tammy. And we had a whole conversation on the way going home. And from that moment, care was something that really stood out for me about Tammy. She is truly someone who cares about all of us. And we'll find various ways to connect with each and every single one of us. if it's a text message, an email, or just showing up, you know, she she cared. And then number two, I remember just a few weeks ago actually seeing Tammy at a restaurant. I mean, being able to, you know, go up to her and give her a big hug and just reminisce and talk about life. And one of the things about Tammy
030that her and I had a a strong connection is with faith, you know. And usually I say I don't push my faith on anyone else. But Tammy and I shared a similar faith and you know talking to her parents that is what keeps them very hopeful right now is faith knowing that she's in a better place. And so super thankful for the service that Tammy provided to the district. But I think I can speak up for all of us when I say we're so thankful for the friendship that we created with her in our own um ways. So, I know she's um just want us to do best for the district and so we're going to be laser focused on that. So, to her family, you know, we send our prayers, our love um and
031our hearts to them right now as they are processing what's going on and um just a lot of love. So, thanks for this opportunity to say something about her. >> Thank you, Anderson. I I've been thinking about her a lot and the impact that she had on this board and on this district and just her unwavering commitment. I think we mentioned when she um stepped down from office that she had not missed a single school board meeting which is just incredible. Like it's such a testament to who she was and how much she cared about this place. And you know, I always appreciated that even though she and I were sometimes not on the same sides of issues and we definitely disagreed uh from time to time, that she always stood up for what she
032believed in. She always said it. Um she wasn't afraid to say her thoughts. Um, and even when we didn't see eye to eye on something, I I did always know she had my support and or that she had my support. She supported me is what I'm trying to say. Mike size communications mumbling right now. But, you know, I would get texts from her saying like, "You did a really good job handling that even when we weren't on the same side of an issue." which I think, you know, just showed me what a strong leader she was and helped me be a strong leader as well as board president. And so, um, I'm I'm going to miss that we won't have Tammy as this resource of information and advice and all kinds of things and echo
033um what Anderson shared just sending so much love and thoughts to her family during this time. But want to really thank her and remember her for the work that she did and how much she kept us focused on staying out of the weeds >> and putting kids first and that was what it was about and we'll take that forward with us. >> That's great. Thanks, Kate. >> Thank you. >> All right. Um let's see. I move that the board of education approve those items listed in the consent agenda. >> Second. >> It's been moved and seconded that the board of education approve those items listed in the consent agenda. >> Uh, Superintendent Hawkins, are we saying something about the grounds manager here or were we not doing that? Sorry, I might be throwing things up
034that we weren't expecting. >> Okay, I could totally say that. So, um, Mark Lang, who's sitting at at probably one of his first board me official, right? Um, Mark is our new buildings and grounds manager. And so, he's been with our district um in in different roles um throughout his career, but um has officially become the manager of buildings and grounds as of this last Monday. So, Mark, we welcome you to to our team and are excited to to move forward with your new position. Thank you, Mark. >> I'd like to jump in and add a thanks to Bill Burkhard. Oh, yeah. >> Who when we suddenly found oursel needing someone to step in who knew immediately how what to do and how to do it, Bill, thank you. You you said yes and you
035were on the job and you sustained us through a time that could have been uh less positive had you not stepped in. So, thank you. We appreciate >> very much. Any other item a board member wishes to pull? Seeing none, all those in favor signify by saying I. >> I. >> Any opposed? That motion carries. >> All right, that brings us to our facilities and support services committee report from Mr. Hamill. >> Thank you. Um the the committee meeting last week was uh a a little shorter than it usually was. We got an update on uh all the district construction projects and and things are are are going well. Uh no big news there. Um uh concerning the Irving mechanical upgrade project, there have been a number of uh small additions to the uh uh
036uh project and there's been some subtractions, but the net of all that is there's going to be a change order for uh an additional $72,500. Uh we also got a report on the 2024 internal controls control policies and procedures report which doesn't necessarily sound exciting but there's a lot of stuff in there. So the uh uh the district had to go through 26 different very detailed categories to uh make sure the money and the assets are all being handled uh correctly. And I'm just going to pull out a couple. For instance, a lot of the insurance premiums the district are based on how many people you have and how much they're getting paid. And so uh uh the staff has to go through all the payrolls and uh employment histories and make sure that the
037actual premiums we're getting charged um uh matches our numbers. All the W4s for new employees get checked against the social social security has a a website to make sure everyone's eligible to work and it goes on and on uh with that level of detail and uh everything checked out which is fantastic. So I have two motions. Um, first I move that the board of education approve change order number two to Conland Construction Company on the Irving Mechanical Upgrade project in the increased amount of $72,42529. >> Second. >> It's been moved and seconded that the board of education approve change order number two to Conland Construction Company on the Irving Mechanical Upgrades project in the increased amount of $72,425.29. 29. Is there any discussion? Seeing none, all those in favor say I. >> I. I. >>
038Any opposed? That motion carries. >> I also move that the board of education approve the 2024 2025 internal control policies and procedures report. >> Second. It's been moved and seconded that the board of education approve the 2024 2025 internal control policies and procedures report. Any further discussion? Seeing none, all those in favor say I. I. >> I. >> Any opposed. That motion also carries. Thank you, Mr. Hamill. So, we have an educational programs committee report from Miss Jones. >> Thank you. On um this past Wednesday night, we heard first from um senior principal at or principal at Senior High School, Brian House. Uh he updated us on the new cell phone policy and how that implementation has gone. Um, so far this year, um, it sounds like things are going really well, um, at both
039high schools that, uh, uh, the amount of devices that they're having to confiscate each day has reduced by half since the start of the school year. And, um, both schools are reporting grades are starting to improve, as well as louder um, hallways and cafeterias, which is always good. Um, kids are interacting and socializing, uh, just like the good old days. So, um, there will be a cell phone committee update of, uh, the task force that had, uh, worked on that policy and that'll be on November 19th. So, we look forward to any updates from that. Um, next we heard from Lisa Feltzes and the principal from Bryant Elementary who was here earlier, uh, Megan Richardson. She spoke to us about the inaugural Iowa blue ribbon designation that uh Brian Elementary School received and all the
040hard work that went into it. Um the state officials praised the school's emphasis on evidence-based literacy instruction and the recent growth in students language arts proficiency rates at the school. So congratulations again to all of them. Um after that uh Lisa Feltz also presented uh details on a recent grant that the district has received. Uh the grant is a $619,679 grant that will be used to develop and implement local plans for accelerating student reading proficiency. Um that grant does cover birth to 12th grade and will span over five years that we will continue to receive the money for that to help support um evidence-based literacy practices and help close achievement gaps in the Debut Community School District. And uh Super Hawin Super Hawkins, that is what you should go by. >> Okay, sounds good. >>
041I like that. Superintendent Hawkins shared the draft for the school calendars for 2026, 2027, and the 2027, 2028 school um years. The calendars will be shared on the district website for families and staffs to share their feedback prior to making an official vote next month. And that's already up on the website, correct? Yeah. >> Okay. >> And lastly, we discussed uh the ballot for the Keystone Area Education um board of directors. Uh, one of our directors is Nancy Bradley here in district number five and Cindy Steface in district number four. Um, which we will be voting on tonight to move them forward. So, thanks for your service for that board as well. Um, our next meeting is December 3rd, 2025 and that's right back here um at 4 p.m. So, we invite everybody to join
042us and then I have one motion. I move that the board of education authorize the board secretary to cast ballots for Keystone A.EA board of directors, Cindy Stefins, District 4 and Nancy Bradley, District 5. >> Second. >> It's been moved and seconded that the board of education authorize the board secretary to cast ballots for Keystone A.EA board of directors, Cindy Stefins, District 4 and Nancy Bradley, District 5. Is there any discussion? Seeing none, all those in favor say I. >> I. >> Any opposed? That motion carries. Back on the board, Nancy. >> Thank you. Well, thanks to the board for support. I appreciate it. It's it's a great honor to serve both boards. The Deb County Community School District board. It certainly functions within the the zone of the district. Keystone area education agency serves
043the whole portion of northeast Iowa. So, it's very interesting. it. I've learned a lot about smaller districts, about the uh experiences of different size districts and certainly the interactions within the last couple of years about the A.E.A. system at the legis state legislative level. So, it it takes the same world of education and it provides a a different lens into it, which is is is very good. So, thank you for your support. >> Thank you. All right, that brings us to new business. I move the board of education set the date, time, and place for public hearing on the proposed 2026, 27, and 2027 28 school calendars as December 8th, 2025 at 5:30 p.m. at the forum. Second. It's been moved and seconded that the board of education set the date, time, and place for
044public hearing on the proposed 20 2627 and 202728 school calendars as December 8th, 2025 at 5:30 p.m. at the forum. Is there any discussion? I really just want to encourage um the community as you go. We, you know, we've traditionally set calendars for two years in a row to try to give PA families a heads up of when our breaks will be and things like that, but um I encourage people to go on our website, look at the calendars, and then to give us feedback before we go and approve those. >> Is there a place right on the website, Amy? >> Yeah, there's a place for comments right on there. Yep. Perfect. >> All right. All those in favor say I. >> I. Any opposed? >> That motion carries. All right, that brings us to
045board member or administrative issues. I if it's okay, I would just like to say a little something. Um, you know, this last week um was a tough week for the district. You know, we had put um a lot of time and energy and um supports in place as we were putting as we put together our best plan to move forward with the district. um for the from consolidating from the three to two middle schools and um unfortunately that did not pass. Uh 56% of our community which is over a majority thought that this was a good plan and this was going to be a good move for our district moving forward. And unfortunately um the law says that we need 60% of our community to vote yes for it to move forward. And I think
046that it's important for our community to know that, you know, this district is going to continue to work hard for kids. I mean, we're going to continue to put kids at the center and at the forefront, but knowing where we're going to be financially. You know, this wasn't just about um closing buildings or trying to move kids into a middle to one place or another. It was really about the district making efficiencies because we know three years from now we're going to be in a world we could really be in a world of hurt financially. um especially if the state continues to give us low SSA, state supplemental aid and you know it's been around 2% and you know not knowing where that's going to be this year that's going to really sway in our
047decisions and though we are very transparent and we want our community's input and we went out and we talked to the community. We did that for two years. We listened. We had events. We had things people came to. People came and told us their thoughts and we made adjustments as we went. And we had a big group of people this year that came out came from, you know, kind of out of nowhere and said, "I don't like this." And unfortunately, that was just too late for us to say we didn't like it because that wasn't the option that was on the ballot. And so we're going to work really hard to go back to the drawing board and to look at what's best for our district moving forward and and how do we do that?
048Again, looking out for what's best for kids. And we're going to bring our community involved into those conversations and to get feedback. But unfortunately, some of that feedback might not be able to be taken just because we have to look at where we are financially. And I think the community doesn't understand financially what this means for our district. And that makes me really sad and disappointed because our community needs public education. We need a strong school system so that we can have students graduate and either go into the workforce or go on to college. And Debuke needs our kids to stay in our community because our community needs our kids. We need we need, you know, as as we look at um you know, my husband and I say we're going to need people to
049take care of us someday. And you know, we know that um many people love this community and they want to come back and they want to live in this community. I mean, I love this place and it just it just breaks my heart that, you know, we're in a financial situation that we are and yet we put a plan out there and our part of our community still didn't believe us. They didn't think we were being transparent. And the reality is, come to our facility meetings. We talk about every penny we spend. We talk about everything that we do. Everybody knows every dollar, every curriculum, everything we do is talked about at those meetings. Yet our part of our community didn't want to listen. We tried to engage and they said, "You don't you're not
050you don't have it right. >> You don't know what you what you you don't know what's best for this community." And that just breaks my heart. So, um I just want this community to know that we are going to continue to fight and we're going to do everything we can to do best by kids yet keeping the district in a financial position that we can keep moving forward because we still have to pay our staff and we know that our people are our most important piece of this organization. Great people make our students successful and we need to be able to pay them and we want them to stay in our community and keep working for us. So, um I just ask that as we move forward, if the community wants to get engaged, please
051get engaged at the beginning, not at the end, and let's go forward supporting our students and our community together. Thanks. Yeah, if I can if I can jump in, you know, so many text messages, congratulations, you know, Nancy Anderson get on the board and I just said, but the bond, >> you know, I felt like, you know, even for me personally that, oh shoot, I lost. I didn't win a race, I lost because of the the bond, the outcome. >> Um, but then I was reminded through my wife that Anderson, don't forget the process. You know, for those of us who are very competitive, we think about winning and losing and not often do we think about the process. everything, the hard work that you put up um to that point. That was the beauty.
052And I I want to say kudos to you and the entire team for the process that you guys put together to make sure that we engaged so many people. A lot of us went out and saw the various ways that you communicated uh with a variety of people, even being in people's homes. Um and so that process itself, we cannot miss that. um as we're transitioning to what's next that we will continue to have a good process that brings people along, right? As you said in the beginning, we want to try to engage people. Um we want to try to give people the facts, the data, and to the board. This is where leadership comes in. You know, during dark times, this is when we step up and we stay united. Again, like the pandemic,
053we may not agree on everything behind the scenes, but upfront, we have to be unified and do what's best for kids. And so, I want to encourage all of you to to lock arms, lock minds, be open to um whatever that's out there that's going to allow us to make that best decisions and support our our superintendent and and our staff moving forward. Because again, during dark times is when leaders step up, you know, and we're going to step up each and every single one of us. I believe in that. We believe in you, Amy, and this district. That will never change. >> I'd like to join in saying a thank you, Amy. I don't think anybody could realize how how much you, Mike, the vote yes committee put into actual transparency, factual information at
054every turn. And yet we know with 60,000 plus folks trying to receive information, not everybody got it. And yet it was available in so many ways. So that's that's the the challenge of one of the challenges of communication I think. But thank you for for the incredible effort. You have to be wiped out. You were you were you were going day and night and Mike you were as well and I I heard both your presentations and I heard the vote yes committee one of their presentations. the information was succinct, on point to to challenge the the information that was brought forward to me was the hardest part that every attempt had been made to have correct numbers, correct planning, correct communication, and yet it was it still did not reach the supermajority in this in
055this economic time. I think it would be very difficult to meet a 60% majority and yet we know that communities around us did. And so I I know as a a lifer in Deuke and a a very long-term educator in Debuke, this community values education and values it at a level where it's willing to partner with its schools and to do most right by kids. So the the crushing blow of this for me as a board member is that in not gaining the efficiencies that were on the ballot >> by the money two to two and a half million dollars per year that would be saved by the consolidation of three to two middle schools. We now have to make that money up in some other way. And as I said to several groups when
056I was talking before the election, it really comes down to where can a school district save money, its people, its programs, its buildings. >> And so we had chosen the path of efficiencies through facilities, through buildings. And when that did not succeed sufficiently to a 60% level, we're now left with some incredibly undesirable choices to be made in the other categories. So, as we look at class sizes, we look at buildings that are open or will not be open. Some of the kinds of decisions represented in what we'll have to talk about going forward will not be popular decisions. As a board, we will look like, Amy, you as a superintendent will look like. >> We don't really mean what we say about caring for kids, but the fact is we do. The 12-ear deficit
057of funding to public educ education in Iowa has a cumulative effect of putting us in a most the most difficult financial situation in my hundred years of of working around this. And we we will have an a a balanced budget. We will make efficiency decisions that will keep us financially solvent and responsible. But they'll be unpopular decisions. And I think not to blame those who did not support the bond referendum, but to explain the basis for what we need to do going forward, it lies in that. So again, my thanks is to you and to Mike and the the yes committee for incredibly hard um and skillful work was work well done. So thank you. >> Thanks, Nancy. Well said, colleagues. Um, we're fortunate we have, what are we calling her? Super Hawkins. >> Um,
058as the head of our district leading the way because, you know, despite despite what's ahead, I know we have a very strong board and an incredible superintendent and amazing staff and blue ribbon school. Like, we have a lot of fantastic things and we'll figure it out together. And it won't always be easy, but we'll do our best to always keep the kids first. So, >> yep. Well said. >> Okay. Well, our next board meeting is December 8th, 2025. We'll welcome a new board member at that time and say goodbye to a board member at that time. So, stay tuned for that. And until then, we are adjourned.