001Mhm. >> Mhm. >> Okay. I'd like to call this public tax notice hearing of the Mill Community School District to order. We have roll call. Burton Here. Hauser Here. Kent Here. Santizo Here. Van Ryswyk Here. Williams Here. Young We have a quorum. I didn't entertain a motion to approve the agenda. So moved. I'll second. Hauser, okay? Got to vote. No. >> No. Okay. This public hearing is required We need to approve the We need to just approve Oh. Sorry, we didn't need a roll call vote. Okay. Um all those in favor of approving the agenda, say aye. Aye. Opposed, same sign. Motion carried. All right. Okay, now I get to read this. This public hearing is required as part of the district's certified budget. The notice provided to each resident showed the maximum total property
002tax the district will adopt as part of the certified budget. This will be adopted on April 30th of 2026. The board secretary is hereby directed to enter any written record of this public hearing. For those of you in attendance, thank you for being here today. We value your input as you are interested and we are interested in hearing your comments. Each speaker will have a minute maximum of 3 minutes. Your public comment will be considered as part of the district's final budget decisions. As a reminder, board members are present to listen and receive comments. Board members will not engage in dialogue or respond to questions during this meeting. But may address issues that arise at a future board meeting. We are now now ready to proceed. Is there anyone that would like to speak? Okay,
003then we'll close public comments. I would move to adjourn. Second. All those in favor? I. Opposed, same sign. Motion carries. 6 to 2. And then now, I would like to call to order the regular meeting of the Urbandale Community School District Board What is today's date? March 30th. Wharton. Here. Hauser. Here. Kent. Here. Santizo. Here. Van Ryswyk. Here. Williams. Here. Do you have a quorum? I would uh move to approve the agenda. Kent. Kent will second. All those in favor? I. Opposed? Motion carries. Chris, would you like to read our mission and vision statement? Our district mission is to teach all and reach all. Our district vision is that Urbandale will be a school district that brings learning to life for everyone. The UCSD school board mission is to partner with stakeholders to teach all
004and reach all through governance and board policy and operating protocol. Thank you. It looks like now we have we're lucky enough to have some board recognition tonight. And who's going to lead that? Jared. >> Jared's going to start. Okay. >> And while while he's getting everything situated, um this is where I'm going to go and take some photos in front of this sign. So when we do the photo if you can just clear up that sign and I know you guys love to be in it, but the students will slide the table over. Sorry about Okay, tonight we're going to acknowledge the students that have received honors beyond the typical like all-conference and all-district stuff. These are students who have received all-state awards and have placed at state events. So up first is going to
005be jazz band with Mr. David Breese. All right. So we've got Caleb Price right here, a senior in our jazz program, our drummer. He auditioned for Iowa All-State Jazz. Students from all over the state audition, hundreds of students, and Caleb was selected as alternate, one of three positions for the Iowa All-State Jazz Band. So it's a tremendous honor, incredibly difficult, and we are all just so very proud of Caleb's efforts and happy to be here to celebrate. YEAH. ALL RIGHT. UP NEXT WE GOT HIGH SCHOOL basketball boys basketball assistant coach John Harderson giving out some recognition for our basketball team. So it's an honor to be here today. Come on over here guys. You're not shy. To honor these two guys. Our basketball season was tremendous this year. A lot of great memories. We qualified
006for state the first time in 12 years and it was awesome. Caleb Price was part of that team. Jazz band drummer as well. So versatility. These guys are just awesome student athletes. It was fun to be a part of it. Today we're going to recognize some individual awards. We'll start with Jake Pargin. He was second team all state this year which is tremendous in the state of Iowa as basketball just continues to improve each year. So I'll give you that Jake. Next award goes to Quinton Teeter. He's third team all state this year. Congrats. So both of these guys were huge part of our team. They were tremendous leaders. As you can see they both are athletic, tall, dunk the ball, shoot threes, really do everything, play defense, steals, deflections. They do everything that we
007want them to do as players, but as kids, as student athletes, um I couldn't be prouder of them. They represent Urbandale well. Um they're going to go on, they're going to go be great ambassadors for Urbandale in the future here. So, congratulations, guys. While the parents come up, the last thing I was going to say about these two, it's no coincidence that they're getting this All-State recognition. They've worked really, really hard. I've coached them and known them for years, both in high school and club basketball, and you know, hard work pays off. So, I'm glad they're recognized today. I'm not as good as Deena, but I think they're pretty good. >> Thank you. Okay, and next we've got assistant boys wrestling coach, Michael Moreno, uh to give out some recognitions for the boys wrestling team.
008All right. Uh I'm Michael Moreno. Um I'm an Urbandale graduate. So, thanks for having me here. Um I'm the assistant wrestling coach here. Um we have some athletes up here um that we want to recognize. We have Aiden Fornash first, um academic All-State. Um Fornash wrestled 175 for us, state qualifier. Um just real quickly, right, just because I think it's important to know, um but 2 years ago, right, how how many wins did you have? One. Okay, no. You know I know that's fine, right? I I have I have a similar story to Aiden, right? In in that um you know, big turnaround, right? Big turnaround for Aiden. Um so, 2 years ago, one win. He state qualified for us this year, so big jump for for Aiden. Um we have Caleb Arroyo in the
009middle here, um state finalist um for for us this year. Again, we've had a really good run of state finalists, so hopefully we're over the hump next year. We're finally going to I'm going to win that title. Right next to him, got another guy, um return state uh place for us next year, has another chance winning state title, Ethan Miller. So, these two, fifth place in the state, second in the state. Um academic all-state. So, obviously we need something we try to preach to our athletes all the time is, right? We we try to we're trying to make a bunch of tough dudes, right? You all sit here, I'm sure, big big wrestling guys, right? But, at the same time, making men of high character, right? And men that can succeed in the classroom as
010well. That's really important to us. So, obviously we got the classroom piece, okay? We got men of high character right here, and we're really proud of them. I think the biggest piece for me is all three of these guys are long or lifelong Urbandale guys, right? Urbandale through and through. So, me, right? Some of you graduated from here. I'm really proud of them. You should be too. Yeah, Mom and Dad, get up here and take some pictures. And Caleb, we need to get one with you and your parents standing with you. You guys want to do a quick one with us? Yeah, you want to do a quick one? I can get out of how about that picture? Just do this. Yeah, we're trying to get them all together. Okay. >> Are we doing one
011at a time? Oh, okay. I guess. You can or you can Yeah. I'll make it work. I'm just going to just get these done. Oh, wait. Kaylee, can you come back after you get one eye? I missed yours. I got you. Okay, so our next one, student athlete couldn't be here tonight due to being in a soccer scrimmage and her dad's so he's also at that soccer scrimmage. So her former coach, coach Marino, is going to say a quick word about Payton Trainer. Yeah, I just figured I was here, I might as well. I coached Payton last year as a freshman when I was the girls coach. Currently, Payton is 18th in the country, right? So if you see her, make sure you know right? That that she's she's a top 10 10th in the
012state? Yeah, yeah, she she placed fourth in the state this last this last spring. Sports Illustrated just released the girls national rankings last week and she's 18th. So high ceiling for Payton. Again, just another Jayhawk doing great things for us. So Thank you, coach. Yep. And last but not least, we've got head coach Taylor Folden with the boys bowling team. Come on up, Damien. So, this year I am lucky enough to have Damien Tim here with me to be able to honor him on his third consecutive first team all state honor for Urbandale, as well as the overall 3A individual boys state bowling champion. Damien's been a member of the team for 4 years. He's a phenomenal young student athlete. He's been a huge part in building our team up to have over 100 kids
013between the boys and girls squads and getting participation up there. I think I've never been around someone so dedicated to their sport as Damien. He bowls how many hundreds games a month would you say you're at now? I mean, it's incredible the amount of time he puts in to be excellent at what he does and what he enjoys and his ability to help his teammates out, build those up around him, and he's a big part of our success and why we are as competitive as we have been these last few years. So, Damien, congratulations on a great career. Do you want a picture with him, Judge? ALL RIGHT, SO THAT CONCLUDES THIS PORTION OF IT. Congratulations to all of our student athletes and performers for um outstanding seasons and careers. Okay. And next, we'll have
014the school showcase from Valerius. Please bear with us during our set change. allowing us to showcase something special that we have been doing this year. I'm Arlene Jackman, principal at Valerius, and I have Derek Wilkins right here as our Dean of Students. Then our counselors will introduce themselves, as well as our students as we get going to showcase student jobs at Valerius. Hi there. My name is Claire Reagan. And I'm Kim Van Sickle. And we are your school counseling team at Valerius, and we're so excited to showcase our student jobs with our wonderful Valerius students who have joined us here today. Do you guys quickly want to just share your name down the line? Hi, my name's Elijah. Hi, my name's Freya. Hi, my name's Alyssa Long. Hi, my name's Aubrey. Hello, my name is
015Teresa. Hello, my name is Victor. Hello, my name is Zephaniah. All right, so let's get into it. So, um our student jobs purpose and rationale. So, the purpose of the student jobs was to give students the opportunity, uh meaningful opportunities to contribute to their school community, um and practice real-world readiness skills, uh such as accountability, teamwork, communication. Um these jobs helped our students build executive functioning skills, promote independence, and a sense of belonging in their learning environment. Um this also supported their social emotional development, right? Develop uh belonging, leadership, um and competence in them. Our program structure. Um so, our structure was very intentional for students to get the ultimate experience in developing real-world readiness skills. So, we first look at types of jobs where we received uh teacher input about different school job opportunities
016and ideas. We then compiled those job ideas into a presentation that we delivered to our 3-3-5 students to just kind of showcase the different opportunities available to them. Um then our students went on to their application and interview. So, if students wanted to participate in a job, they would then fill out um an interview or an application that was completed like a real-life application. So, it detailed their qualifications, their experiences, why do student jobs interest you, and things like that. Um and they were able to select their top three job selections. Um then students were given the opportunity to interview. And so, our interview team, uh this is really exciting for us because we were able to bring in different district administrators, um like our HR representatives, um we got an HR representative from a
017different school district to come in. We also got PTO parents to come in and help conduct these interviews where they asked students 10 questions um about the job experience. Um before the interview, students reviewed proper interview etiquette by shaking hands and learning how to introduce themselves. So, once again, tying in those real-world readiness skills to be applicable to their future career one day. Um frequency and time commitment. So, um the student jobs rotate each trimester. This was to ensure we would give students the opportunity because of capacity. We had a lot of student interest, and so therefore, we gave students different opportunities throughout the year to ensure they got the job. Um some jobs are multiple times a week, some are once a month, um some are once a week. Really just dependent. Um for
018expectations and accountability, so each job had a facilitator um where they would work together to learn the job and the different logistics. Like, where do I go? How often? And how how do I do this job? This promoted responsibility, time management, and independence, which you're going to hear a little bit about when our students reflect on their experience from the job. So, this aligns to our building and curriculum goals, and we'll show you how. So, uh as part of our district's career and academic plan, students K-5 are introduced to various careers through activities that make learning relevant, purposeful, and engaging. Okay? So, the student jobs are an active or an opportunity um that's an activity and it's purposeful to engage our students in these employable skills. So, it's connecting back to our D-CAP launch at
019an elementary level. Um and it also elevates student status. So, if you take a look at our 5D instructional framework, that means uh I mean, you can read it right there. I'll let you briefly just take a look so we can get moving. So, I'm good. And next is Principal So, I'm going to talk about student impact. Since launching the student jobs initiative, we've seen a really meaningful impact on our students, not just in what they do, but in who they are becoming. Students are developing a stronger sense of responsibility and accountability. They understand that others are depending on them, which is very important, and they're rising to meet those expectations. We've seen students take ownership of their roles and follow through in ways that carry over to the classroom and our hope is carry
020on way beyond the walls of Palencia someday. We are also seeing growth in confidence and communication skills, and we have evidence of that right behind me here with our students tonight. So, we are incredibly proud of the growth in leadership we're observing, and even more excited for you all to hear it directly from our most powerful voices, our students themselves. Tonight, we have a small, but very, very courageous representation of our student job leaders to speak to you this evening. Through our student job process, students don't just get roles, they gain real-world experience, as Clara was saying, and they engage in professional conversations for the very first time. And that usually doesn't happen in elementary school. Our first speaker Thank you. She's there. She's there. She is. Our first speaker, Aubrey, is a fourth-grade uh
021fourth-grader joining the sharing table team this trimester. She will share what the interview experience was like for her, and what she is looking forward to in her new position. Can I ask if she'll come in front of your table so that the board can see? That I don't want to make you nervous. Hi, my name is Aubrey. And what the interview was like for me, um I felt good and a bit nervous, but when I started answering the questions, it helped. And then, it also how it helped me grow is it made me more confident. And it helped prepare me for a different interview in the future. And uh I'm looking forward to to the pantry job in this tri- trimester. To be helping out, getting the food ready items for Tuesday. And I'm looking
022forward to helping people getting the same food. Um this We wanted to make sure we um talked about one of the student jobs and how it originated. Um it The The problem was some students were upset that they couldn't share food. Kids are hungry. we've got this waste, why can't we share food? So, um the the teacher of one of our fifth grade students who's pictured there, Johnny, uh we set up a meeting with Jesse Sadler, our um nutrition services director. We met with her on Zoom, and she explained the the guidelines as to why we can't share food, but she did suggest uh she made a suggestion about a sharing table. So, that's different than the food pantry and the sharing shelf, but the sharing table students, some of them are going to talk
023about that, um that they came up with a solution to that food waste and to be able to give back. So, I'm not going to go into detail because they have more information about that, but I wanted to give credit to Johnny for where that specific job originated. Okay. So, um these students, and we can go like one by one I like that better. These students are making a real difference helping care for our community through our school sharing table. These students have completed their term working their job with the sharing table, and would like to share with you tonight. What I do in my student job is first, we get a bucket for students to donate packaged and non-perishable food items. Then we ask the students if they have any unopened food packages, then
024we let them in the and then they help me go in the successful Then we take it to the front office. Later on, Miss Maddie takes it to the school pantry for various families who need it. I um how this job has helped me grow is that it has helped me be responsible by remembering to do my job. It has helped me by making me a leader and helping people. It has helped me by being responsible by knowing when and what to get, and by also by taking care of the food. I have enjoyed the philanthropy of this job. But the thing I most enjoyed about this experience was that I get to work with my best friend and that I'm making an impact on people's lives. One thing that I enjoyed about this experience
025experience is that we're not wasting food, that it's being used for good purposes. Um good job, FRIENDS. UM YEAH, MEET ETHAN, WHO STARTS his day one breakfast tray at a time. Just read off your paper. So, Ethan, want to say anything for me? Who's Ethan? Ethan is a student that I saw every single morning doing his student job. And I was so impacted by seeing him so diligently doing his job that I did by him just to share what he what his job means to him. Do you feel like you can do it? Or would you like me to read it? It's your choice. Can you read it? Okay, these are his words. Okay. So, he's a tray taker or a breakfast tray taker, as you like to say, right? And he goes around to
026the second and third grade pods and gathers all the breakfast trays in the in the morning. And that is one thing that we noticed that needed to be done because the trays would sit there and eventually someone would come and and take them down, but but Ethan told me the other day, right? He said, "I don't know who does that." But now he does it. He does it every day. So, his job helps the school have trays ready for breakfast every day because he's taking them down. And Ethan says it helps him to feel Can you stand up tall and say, "How's it help you feel?" Um it just makes me feel good. Makes you feel good. Yeah. And his favorite thing that he's enjoyed about this experience Why don't you stand up and do
027this part cuz I just love this part. Or you can just be right here and you can just like My favorite thing about this job and this is like a serendipity of a job you may not think of. So, when he shared it to me, I was like, "That's amazing." He said, "My favorite thing about this job is the time by myself. It helps me think better and focus and be ready to continue start his day." So, he really has embraced that time that doing a job for the school that's needed and he's enjoying that time to focus and get ready for his to start his day. Isn't that pretty neat? GOOD JOB. >> ALL RIGHT. NEXT, BEHIND EVERY great school is a team that helps it grow. Literally. These students are part of our
028plant here plant care team as you see right up here in the slide. And tonight we have Teresa that's going to share with you about her student job. Hello, hello, my name is Teresa. My student job was a water plant helper. I would water plants near the first grade and kindergarten classrooms. It helped me learn more responsibility and taught me how to take care of plants. I have learned that plants can't get fungus when they have too much water. I enjoyed the independence and trust I was given for making these plants beautiful for our school. Not only is this showing responsibility, but the plants around our building are well cared for, which makes our building feel calm and inviting and um and that sort of thing. So that's great. Our student impact on the next
029slide that we have, these are our students that are third graders and they are Ronald McDonald House advocates. We don't have any here tonight, but I do have some of the words that they wanted to share. These three students wrote reflections about student jobs and how they have impacted them. And here's a bit of what they said. Will Larson said, "We reflected on the job experience and he said the opportunity has helped me feel more motivated and positive throughout my day and it's allowed me to connect with others and most importantly to help people that I don't even know." And Will was there in the picture? Ryder Riley uh there and at the bottom. Share his passion for encouraging others to collect pop tops, often saying keep it popping those tabs for the Ronald McDonald
030House. After visiting the Ronald McDonald House himself uh with his teacher and parent, he reflected that the experience was amazing and made him feel at home. He takes pride in knowing their efforts are making a difference for families and he believes even small actions can help save a child's life. And that's pictures of them at the Ronald McDonald House. Harper French at the top shared, "I love helping saving lives by collecting pop tabs and spreading word through videos and posters. Keep popping those tabs." Next, we're going to talk about staff impact. The volunteer staff has been impacted by the initiative both as facilitators and just observing the kids as they do their jobs. As they guide students throughout their roles of building strong relationships and helping students develop real-world skills in meaningful context, and at
031the same time, they're gaining new perspectives as they watch students take ownership, show leadership, and succeed in many ways that maybe wouldn't be visible in the classroom. And that's renewed brought a renewed sense of pride and energy to our school community. The next three slides highlight staff impact from the perspective of job facilitators. Here's the first one. This is from Mrs. Small, our digital learning teacher librarian and Collins, her light one of her library helpers. And here's a quote that she wrote. "Including library helper as one of our student jobs has been wonderful for our library. I love that students get to interview for the position and then practice future-ready skills such as time management and responsibility for doing their job." And so, that's her quote up there. Next we have Tasha Huff, the literacy
032instructional coach and passion club student job facilitator, and she says, "This job has given these students responsibility of putting the signage out in the correct locations, so all students and staff know where they need to go for our assemblies and clubs. It has helped them learn organization and give input and feedback on the best way to set up and cooperate to accomplish the tasks with the most efficiency, as they only have a certain amount of time. And you can tell by the fact that was last Friday, we're pretty packed for our assemblies, and it does take a lot of organization, and that's been very helpful." And lastly, from Maddie Puncsak Lynn, food pantry job facilitator in our family outreach services, she said, "Our pantry helper helpers have truly embraced the experience, gaining hands-on knowledge about
033how a food pantry operates, from reading and understanding food labels to properly rotating inventory, bringing older items forward and stocking newer products behind. And beyond those practical skills, they have also developed a deeper sense of empathy and awareness, which is so important, recognizing that the pantry serves as a vital resource for families who may be going through challenging times or simply need a little extra support." And that's our student That's our presentation. So, thank you so much for listening. And thank you our leaders. I mean, that's basically Thank you, guys. Thank you. It's going to be my pleasure. >> I think we have space in here for things like that. All right. Next up we'll have the superintendent's report. Dr. Dockins? I just have a things on the more you know, the big one that
034I have is for parents that are listening, I really really really really really really need you to register your student. We make staffing decisions based on registration and if people wait until the summer, August to register, that might negatively impact any staffing decision that we've made. So, if you all know 10 people, you can tell them to make sure they've registered. That'll That'll get us a little closer. But, right now, we don't have as many as we would like to have. Kindergarten is very hard because they can do open enrollment all the way through until September 1st. So, if you can encourage everybody you know and tell them to tell 10 people and then hopefully we'll get that done. Um the other thing under my section is policy 454. I'm asking that this count as
035the first reading. If you look a little bit ahead in the second reading for the 1000 series, there's one I'm asking to rescind. When we were going through these policies, somehow, I apologize, I missed 454. So, I don't need 1020 to be added. So, I'm rescinding 1020, but we are asking to add some language clarifying the applicability of the policy and outlining district responsibility. This is for students drive riding in cars with staff members. So, that one will come up in the bottom of the agenda and that'll include 1020 being rescinded. So, I apologize I missed that piece. And that's all I have under my section. Thank you. Time for the student representative reports. So, there are a lot of updates since we just came back from spring break, but some of it I do
036have are this Friday, April 3rd, Urbandale High School will be hosting a blood drive at the high school from 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. The blood drive will help collect units of blood for the American Red Cross. And then this week, today and Thursday, Urbandale will be hosting conferences at the high school. As she said, we don't really have a whole lot of updates. Um spring sports are kind of starting to get into full swing, so I know soccer has tryouts going on right now. I know the play is starting to get up and running also for the spring. And then just full speed to the end of the year. Thank you, guys. And next we're going to open up for public comments, and we have one. And it's Heidi Mark No, Markwa? Sorry, Heidi.
037I butchered your name. And just as a reminder, thank you for coming tonight. Board policy limits comments to 3 minutes per speaker. The confident For confident reality reasons, the board cannot discuss specific personnel matters. We appreciate your comments. The board has a significant interest in maintaining the decorum of its meetings and expects the members of the public and board will address each other with civility. The orderly process of the board meeting will not be interfered with or disrupted by public comment. Only individuals recognized by the board president will be allowed to speak. Comments by others are out of order. If disruptive, this If disruptive, the individual causing disruption may be asked to leave the board meeting. The family Defamatory comments may be subject to legal action. And Heidi, Steve will give you I'll give you
038a 10-second warning when your 3 minutes are up. >> Okay. All right. All right. The floor is yours. All right. Um to each of the school board members, thank you for committing to be on the school board. I know the work is often thankless. I'm here tonight to speak about the performing arts program at Urbandale schools. I am the mom of two Urbandale grads, 2018 and 2020, and have a current junior at the high school. My children have benefited from many programs in this district, and I sincerely wish that no program, staff member, or student ever had to be affected by budget constraints. But as you consider difficult decisions in the future, I want you to understand how essential the performing arts have been in my children's lives and so many others' lives. The performing
039arts are not extracurricular luxuries. They are essential to Urbandale's mission of teaching all, reaching all. Through choir, band, and drama, students gain confidence, communication skills, discipline, and teamwork. Skills that carry far beyond the stage and into the classroom, the workplace, and life. And in real life, this is what it looks like. I remember one of my first get-to-know-your-teacher nights when my son was in kindergarten. Ms. Amber Becker explained that music class wasn't about raising professional musicians. It was about singing happy birthday to their future children someday. About being able to sing the national anthem at a game. Or finding comfort in music during stressful moments. That always stayed with me. I remember fifth grade band concerts when you almost cringed at what was happening. Always followed by high school, and you never knew. And And
040Ms. Wells, I remember, promised every time they were going to get there, and they did. They reached that level with dedication. I've watched gyms full of high school students celebrate each other after 15 show 15-hour show choir competition days. These are students surviving 2:00 a.m. wake-ups, months of rehearsals starting in August and lasting through March. They're not complaining, they're celebrating one another. And here's the truth. Urbandale's really, really good at show choir. You know, you knew that. We're really good. We don't recruit the best of the best. We create a place where every student belongs, and we succeed. My son once organized a show choir watch party in our basement with his friends. I said that right, a show choir watch party. A group of teenage boys critiquing other show choir performances, supporting each others,
041and having plain innocent fun. Not getting into trouble, but bonding over something that started within the walls of Urbandale schools. Finally, my oldest son Michael faced serious medical condition. I'm sorry. Every time I cry. In his junior and senior years, he had to give up so many things, including show choir, despite despite earning a spot above Urbandale Singers and Studio. When he told Mr. Bermeyer that he was going to have to step away, he simply said, "No matter what, there would always be a place for Michael." And when my son was ready to come back, that promise was kept. Michael joined the show choir crew and was incredibly proud to belong. If you've lived through something like that, you know what it means. If you have have it, I hope you never have to. As
042you make future budget decisions, I ask you to protect the performing arts programs that give our students confidence, community, and a place to belong. Thank you. All right. I would move to move forward with the consent agenda. One second. Okay. All right. Call the vote. Or no, roll call, right? There'll be a roll call. Is there any conversation? Oh. You may have any comments before? Okay. All right. Horton? Yes. Hauser? Yes. >> Kent? Yes. Santizo? Yes. And on my side? Yes. Williams? Yes. All right. Motion passed 6-0. All right. And now to the action items. We have the second reading of the updates of the 100 policy series. Dr. Daken? Um I haven't received any feedback on any of these policies. I I know that you guys will have it coming directly to you, um
043but I haven't been told that we've had any, so I would ask for the 100 series the two to be approved in this second reading. And I would so move. Horton seconds. All those in discussion? All those in favor? I. I. Opposed? Motion carries. Same with the thousand series. I have received no feedback. The only thing I would ask you to approve at the second reading with the rescinding of policy 1020. My computer just locked up. >> Mine did, too. >> So did mine. I think the network is down. >> So it's all good. I think I'm in charge now. I would move as requested. We have 10 second reading with the elimination of 1020. >> Oh, there it goes. >> Are we out of internet? >> No, we're back. It just came back. >>
044Oh, there it is. Okay. Did we pay the bill? I did. He's paying. I think so. Do we have a second? Oh, I'll second. >> Okay. Okay. All those in favor? I. >> I. Opposed? Motion carries. We do have a backup, too. Okay. Um policy 508 is the next policy that I would ask the board to approve. This was the policy that um we had to add the excused absence codes for um state law that changed last year. We added to one policy, but forgot this one, so we're just adding those in. Any discussion? So moved. William second. All those in favor? I. >> I. Opposed? Motion carries. Next up. And the last policy that I um ask for approval is policy the second reading of policy 839. This was a policy that we created
045to more formally outline the federal and state reporting requirements for any staff member who's funded out of a grant program. There's there's going to be um they have to know they're funded out of it. They have to sign off on some documents that are still to be created, but this will bring formality to something that previously was a little loose. I would move to approve second reading 839. Any discussion? Sikorski will second. Oh, sorry. Yeah, Sikorski will second. So stated. Okay. All those in favor? Aye. Opposed? Motion carries. And now to the new items. I would move to approve the tax notice as described earlier. Horton second. >> Horton second, okay. Thank you. Any discussion? All those in favor? Aye. Opposed? Motion carries. I would move to set the public hearing for the certified budget
046for fiscal year for April 13th, 2026. Williams second. Discussion? All those in favor? Aye. Opposed? Motion carries. I would like to comment. We have kept our commitment to the tax rate set what, decade ago, more, to keeping it under 1799. So, no tax increase. And I'm sorry, interrupted. I would move to approve the video board. No, we're on the public hearing. >> Oh, sorry. Okay, I move yeah. I'll move it. I Did we get a second a motion and a second? So the first motion >> Okay. And then Okay, now do we go Do we go >> So we're voting on it. I'm going to pause. I'm sorry. Yeah. So we've approved 11B. Mhm. And now we're moving to 11C. Okay. So you So there are two different motions. One would be to set the
047bid date and then the second motion would be to set the public hearing date for the video project >> video board improvement project. >> Okay. So the first motion would be to establish a bid date for April 21st. Okay. I would entertain a motion. Kent will move to establish a bid date of April 21st, 2026 at 2:00 to receive bids for the Urbandale district video board improvement project. William second. Any discussion? Um can you verify, Steve, that we What did we budget for in the CIP? Right now we have budgeted about 400,000 for the board and these um bids that we will take will have alternative bids that we'll be able to pick and choose what we want to do, um whether we want to do a whole big project at one time and then
048we're making adjustment to our 10-year plan to add additional dollars where we need for the what we what you guys decide for. Perfect. Thank you. Mhm. Any other discussion? All those in favor of setting the bid date for April 21st, 2026 at 2:00 p.m. Aye. >> Aye. Opposed? Motion carried. So now we need a motion to establish the public hearing date of April 27th for the Urbandale video board improvement project. >> So moved. Hauser. William second. Williams. Any discussion? All right. Um Um All those in favor? Aye. Aye. Opposed? Motion carries. Next section is discussion of committee assignments. Um and we just wanted to talk about I know some folks have uh shown interest in some of the committees and we just thought with the new board, we have not discussed committees yet. So, this
049is a chance to discuss who's sitting on which committees and if others would like to join or others would choose to choose to want to not be part of those, but just for us to have a chance to talk about the committees. Can we clarify the board members that are serving in each position and then I just want to comment that at one point when I expressed interest, I was hoping I wouldn't be like booting anyone off. So, I want to verify that we're planning on maintaining the people that they're Yeah. Yes, because currently there are two members on the facility committee. It's Rachel and Catherine, correct? And we can have up to three without going into quorum problems, correct? As long as you don't sit together at the meetings, you'll be good. And then
050to clarify for SIAC, I think Hannah and I have both served on SIAC as parents and then rolled into it as board members. So, are we both technically listed as board members or do is that part of what we >> Julia and I talked about that today and I I when the board approves the SIAC list, it approves you as as a parent. So, I don't think rolling it into saying, "Okay, now they're a board member." is I think it needs to come back to the board, but you'll be approving a new SIAC in What do we do? >> September. We usually do September and that way we can start meeting in October. Yeah. Um So, yeah, each each member of that committee is identified cuz there's a lot of staff involved as well as
051community members. So, it's, you know, one of those technicalities. I I think there's one more meeting left. Yep, in May. In May, and then everything takes a break over the summer. So, um And we solicit the community >> Yes, we will do that again this summer. So, anybody who wants to be involved, and they're encouraged to bring people with them. So, even if you're if you slated as a parent, and then you become a board member, like both Carissa and Hannah experienced, right? Like, how when we're in the moment at SIAC, how do we differentiate differentiate that Hannah is representing parents because speaking from experience, that's really hard to take your hat off. Like, I mean, you would have to tattoo it to your forehead, and then >> know that you can. >> people still
052wouldn't be, you know, >> think you can. >> So, it would be needed to bring it to the board at the time that that person is elected, and then get the list updated to reflect >> so if we want to wait going forward, you know, in an election year, we can wait to assign committees until November when everybody's, you know, sworn in, and we know who will be. But then you're missing a SIAC meeting already. So, um I believe we had the conversation at the meeting in September to say, you know, cuz I know a couple of board members have rolled off, but they continue to coming. So, the important thing is, one, you don't sit together at the meeting, but then, two, you we don't want to have four people there because then that
053does create a quorum. So, as a parent, you know, I think it's up to you to play the role or discuss at the table at the time. Um so, I don't know how you get out of one or the other. Your feedback still your feedback. >> Yes, and um and then you bring with that anything else you've heard in the community, just like you would as a parent. And maybe your neighbor shared something with you and they can't come to the meeting. So, I think we're okay for this year. Um, going into next year we'll have a new list and we'll have to come back to you guys and ask for volunteers to sit on that committee as well. So, it changes year to year. Is there any thought of like a rolling like alternating
054years? Like this year we'll have these two people on this committee and then the next year we'll have these two people on this committee just committee, excuse me. Just so everybody can kind of get Well, certainly. I think that's a great idea. Not everybody If they're Yeah, if they're interested cuz not everybody does want to serve, but I think I think it is fair and it would definitely be helpful if everybody had a chance to serve on like the SIAC so they can see the work going in. Yeah, so what time do those meetings actually begin? Is that four? Uh, no. SIAC is so So, it's an evening meeting. Yeah, so it's a night time commitment. And you know, hopefully as we solidify some of this, it would be great to bring those committee reports
055back to the board. Um, you know, it's something we can streamline next year. So, that is something probably to be thinking about >> Mhm. going forward particularly for the people who are going to be here >> Yes. for at least three more years. Um, and I can see some advantages to doing that. I think it's valuable for everyone to If the timing works out for you and you're available then, you know, I think facilities committee has a different meeting schedule and so I don't know how many times they'll be meeting. Well, it'll it'll >> a two year commitment so far for the facilities committee folks. And it's I wanted to keep the committee the the same as much as possible. I added uh, coach Tronson cuz there's so much conversation I hope I said your
056name right. Um there's so much conversation around the baseball field that that made sense. I I wanted to retain it so I give the respect the input and the recommendation that came out last time we met before this one. So, it's it is going to continue to meet because there's going to be expansion and talks of what we're going to do for potential bond issue and there will be a lot more developing on that. So, again, I'm okay with three people. I think you just have to be really careful. That that And I would say, you know, when we uh uh uh Steve, you were around. Did we have formally a committee for the elementaries? Was there I mean we had a >> there was. >> Yeah, yeah, and that was, you know, and it's
057a it's a different commitment because we have to have SIAC. This is specific task. And and honestly, it started because the city said you can't have a softball field anymore. That was the big push. Right. Obviously, things have ebbed and flowed. Mhm. But it still will not It's still not a committee. >> My understanding, it is still I mean it it's ongoing because of all the uncertainties. But it's not like SIAC. Right. And other boards do have standing committees. Um we haven't necessarily gone that direction. That's another whole discussion. But this isn't really like Des Moines has a facilities and finance committee or West Des Moines. And Des Moines has something similar. And you know, that's a different setup that has been discussed in the time I've been on the board. But this isn't part
058of it. >> And I feel like, you know, when Brandon uh a couple of years ago, was it 3 years ago that he started bringing the new curriculum in? And so, he has had a lot Whenever whenever a director brings those, you know, they're a large initiatives that he they are bringing to you, they're going to ask for one or two representatives to attend those meetings. So, um you know, I remember it was Jenny Meade and then I don't remember who else it may It wasn't me. I don't remember. But, um and that was I think a year-long commitment and they had scheduled meetings, but you were part of I think it was the English curriculum if I'm correct if I remember correctly. >> Well, we also did the elementary school border revisions and Right.
059Right. And so, like they're going to be things coming up. Right. Yeah, and they saw that project through. Yes. So, >> So, I this is what we're dealing with right now. That doesn't mean that, you know, in the fall there may be something else that a director is going to ask for one of you or two of you to sit on. You know, I just don't know what that work will be. I mean I don't know right Yeah. So, it happens when it they're ad hoc. So, they happen when they need to. Right. And and that's the key difference between the facilities committee and the SIAC. >> Well, SIAC is required by law. Every district is required to have that and you're required to approve it as a board. So, and we have specific guidelines
060on, you know, we have to have community members and staff members and parents and students. Um they don't specify how many It's the board's committee. You know, you guys are establishing those if you look at the at the code, but it's not something that you have to necessarily tick off the box saying we need two members. Traditionally, we've just tried to have a couple of people in attendance. And sometimes only one person can make it. So, it's good to have, you know, a a one and a spare. So. I will say in regards to that, um I was you know, I know I I hesitate to bring it up, but the I have spent a lot of time on the CIAC committee. Um I really want to applaud the organization and the improvement of issues
061that are brought forward and the value that has been placed district-wide on the input from the people there. Um it's a dramatic improvement. I mean, it's really a functional committee. And I personally appreciate that, even though I'm not there. So, I would I don't I don't know if you if you need an action, but I would certainly support if Chris would like to join the facility committee um going for I would certainly support that. I don't know if this calls for an action item. I guess I would also throw out I don't want to muddy the waters, but if anyone else is interested in that third spot, I don't want to just take it. I just reached out and expressed that I think I have some skill sets that could be valuable. Um I'd also
062be fine if we get board reports with the board having some more opportunity for us to input questions or things like that that you might want some knowledge on. So, I'm good with whatever that looks like. I just wanted to let my knowledge help the committee. So. Yeah, that's probably a good question. How many of you just You know, with the with the next This this will be wrapping up because I believe if I'm speaking out of turn, let me know. This school year is finishing, but then also, you know, you have a plan now for what we would like to do with the with the old Rolling Green facility. And so, that's just kind of going to be the finish line. And then, but all the other all the other recommendations >> Recommendations are
063going to take more time. So, the athletics components will It'll be a new committee forming for all >> No, it'll be this It'll be the same one, but you might need to pull more people in to figure out is do we go for a bond? If we do, how much can we do? What do we do because we've the committee has made their recommendation, which I want to continue with, but then we've also asked there's you heard about the high school and the athletic area and there's asks from the music area. We still have to go to the middle school and get their I I have a ten idea of what they want, but we've got to get that and then we have to bring all that back to the committee and say we have
064this much money, so let's prioritize what we're able to do based on that. So, that that work is still to be done. We're not at the point we can bring all of that yet because we still haven't ironed out the the money piece and and all of the other uh wish list. So, that has to be done first. I don't anticipate another meeting before June. So, at the other >> variables, but when we started this, it was again city said, you know, we're going to move. That was 2 years ago. The world has changed remarkably since that time and those variables I assume will continue to impact. So, there's nothing that we can do that would be hard and fast because you know, I I don't I I don't want to put you on the
065spot, but we bonded 29 million for each of those elementaries. I'm going to conjecture that by the time the second one came through, it was probably 40. It was about yeah, it was about 40, just under under 40. And that's that's what we budgeted. We knew the costs would increase. Not like that. And so, and you know, and COVID happened, you know, there were shipping the uh materials uh all kinds of you know, financial implications. They have tariffs. Yes. Yes. Now we have tariffs. Um Um so again, you know, we can make the greatest plans in the world and then events will intervene. Yeah. And we want to wait to the legislation that might be coming out could adversely affect us. I understand from Saturday at the um talking with the officials, there were some
066comments of components of maybe these property tax reforms that might not be considered any longer, but whatever they come up with, there's going to be some kind of impact impact on schools. We just don't know what that is, and I don't want to end up in a position where we make a decision and then realize, "Oh, just kidding, we can't do that because of something that the legislators passed." So we need them to be done with their session, too, so that all of those can trickle out and then we get together and figure out what does that mean for the district. So then that's more work that has to be done. So when we started this, rather than actually saying, "Oh yeah, we're going to bond and we're going to bond for this much," we
067were trying to make plans so that we could borrow against SAVE and some of the other funding. And um I've been given to understand that had we made that commitment, it would be illegal for the state to stop collecting that. I think >> I don't I don't know. >> agree on that. And so if SAVE goes away, there's not much to borrow against now, is there? >> Correct. Their last, when I checked on ISBE's calculator last week, they we get SAVE money, which is the penny tax money. We get that per student. I think we get $1,600. They're projecting that the governor will siphon off around $300, so we'll get somewhere around 13 some odd dollar amount, which over the next 10 years means it will lose 5.1 million. It was up to eight, so
068it's better. But, 5.1 million over that time period, we have to look at how that affects us. And just like your your own home budget, you've got to look at those things before you sign on the dotted line and move forward. So, that's that's kind of where we are right now. So, right now you aren't missing anything. Um but we will ramp back up once we get that those questions. >> we vote on CIAC? Is that in September? September. September. >> What I think comes out the first meeting in September and then I think in August. This in the summer, don't we start in like August 1st? >> Yeah, September 1st is usually when I have the deadline for anybody to let me know so I can put them on that first September agenda. So,
069you guys could really bring that back um in in July or August to decide which board member will sit on the that one. Well, I'm going to propose that we leave it to the officers and uh anyone else who wants to make a contribution as far as the facilities committee. I you know, I mean I'm I'm fine with that, but I don't want to preclude anybody else that would like to be involved. Um so is that acceptable? Yeah. Yeah. I mean, cuz I know I I don't I mean, I don't have not that I don't have any interest, but I think Carissa would be I think Carissa would be a much better person than Yeah, I'll just say it, Josh. Carissa would do a much better job than me in the most things, but um
070especially in the facilities committee. And so, I don't have a problem with that. >> Okay. So, hopefully we'll have that sort of settled Yep. communication-wise. And so, then I'm going to move to adjourn. Second. >> One second. Any discussion, guys? I'd I to have Hannah and Rod rock, paper, scissors for who gets the second. I'm going to take Rod. All in favor. All in favor. Raise your right hand. Opposed. Nay, cuz I like being in charge. I guess that didn't work. Thank you guys. Thank you.