001All right, folks. If I could get you all to silence your cell phones. [laughter] Um, it is 6 o'clock and I will call the board of education for December for the Union District 66 into session. Roll call, please. >> Holly Blue, >> here. >> Annne Gerson, >> here. >> Matt Keys. >> Mike Kruak, >> here. >> Brent Perry, >> present. >> Jordan Stanley >> here. >> Brian SP >> here. We can all stand. Face the flag for the pledge. 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. >> We will begin our public hearing on energy community grant program. Yeah. So, this is a DCO grant that the school district received in the amount
002of $1,221,743.90 exactly. It's our third year of the grant and the last time we'll be eligible for it. As part of the grant is we are required to have a public hearing. Um, and for our hearing, it is our goal to finalize what we're going to spend these funds on. Every board member has in front of them a list of potential projects that have been discussed uh with the administrative team and through the DCEO grant stakeholder meeting that would qualify for these projects. Uh the previous two grants we have paid for our high school students Spoon River College tuition. Sorry. Um we can for up to three years uh use funds for this grant. Uh the suggested amount is $180,000 a year for three years. So that's the first number that you see on your
003list is that $540,000 forever college tuition. >> Other potential projects, Memorial Stadium, replacing the ADA ramp, $90,000. Canton High School parking lot paving. Uh this would be to finish the section that was mostly done last year, $35,000. Canton High School parking lot center lane. So that's the center lane kind of headed towards Memorial Stadium there. 153,000 Memorial Stadium entrance paving. So that's the black top entry from where the ticket booth is down to almost to the concession stand. Um once you hit the concession stand, it is concrete now. So there's a stretch of black top. That's $34,000. Replacing the lights in the K High School Auditorium, $260,000. Uh scoreboard at M's Field, 25,000. uh steps and handrails at Alice Ingresol Gym. This would be on the south side of the gym where it's deteriorating 80,000.
004Uh sound system at Alice Ingresol Gym replacing it. It's about 27,000. Sound system in the Kon High School South gym 9,200. And the sound system at the Ingresaw Middle School gym, which is just over $6,100. Um, another option that would eat up most of the rest of the funds outside of Spoon River College tuition um could potentially be to put air conditioning and also that estimate was $600,000. Um, again, our goal is for the uh total spent to be just over $1.2 million. >> Again, these are potential >> projects. Uh, is there any public comments? Parking lot's a lot better. [laughter] >> That is right. >> All right. Can I get a motion to adjourn the public hearing? >> What projects we'd like to do? >> Oh, what would we like to do? >> Well,
005I think the tuition that colleagues [clears throat] with college is number one. When you say the parking lot, which portion? >> Um, so >> continuation where we already started. >> Yes. Yeah. So, where we started at the auto shop and went back. So, there's that last island, I'll call it, would be removed and then it would go all the way back >> because all the kids really like the fact that that island's gone in the parking sp they want from >> Try to get M here real quick. I wonder if he got on me. So, Mr. >> I got a running tally. Yeah. >> Included the parking lot, the center lane, and the memorial paving since that seems like it would be all one contractor, all one scope of work kind of activity, right? >>
006Yeah. If we did those, >> what's that? >> Depends upon the bids. Um, >> so if we did the two parking lots of college, we have $223,000 left. >> That's what I was looking for. >> I'd say tackle the auditorial biding and see if we can't make all three fit. >> And there will be some overage no matter what we pick. We definitely want to spend everything out of this green. >> Do you feel there's anything on here that's must do? >> Uh, the ADA ramp at the stadium is a must do and we repaired it this year to make it usable. Um, but that needs to be done in the near future. So we could mark that one off. >> This one on the east side by the way. >> Yes. >> Independent bathrooms.
007[snorts] >> 134,000 left. >> So that rules out the auditorium. 134. >> It's up to you guys. We got extra money. They want [laughter] >> right now. We have the SRC tuition, the EDA ramp, and the auditorium mining. Is that correct? >> Oh, not the paving. >> Uh, we added the parking lot paving and the center ling. >> Okay. Both those. >> Yeah. Without the auto lighting. >> Sorry. >> All right. You're trying to multitask. Whoops. >> Uh, the last time I was at the middle school, that sound system is horrible. Uh, that comes in only $6,000. I would be a a pro for for that. Well, if you can get the IMS and the South Jim all done both done simultaneously by the same company. It's even better. >> Yeah. >> Hey, Mike. Hey,
008>> that was pretty. >> Yeah, >> I could I I heard you say something about the sound system for 6,000, but what's the response? I can't hear the response at all. Uh the the response Matt was um if we're going to do the Ingresaw sound system at 6,200 also do the south gym at the high school which is 9200. >> So what's that? What do we have left? >> We have $118,000 left after those six items. >> So we can include the one for Allison too. Then >> Matt, have you got the whole list so far that we've went over? Uh I it the call just joined just as you were talking about um the last item. >> Well since it just joined. >> Let me go back over it. >> Yeah. Let Tad go
009back over it, Matt. So you'll know. >> No, don't do that to the rest of the folks in there. I'll catch up to Tad. Don't do that to everybody else. I'll catch up. >> Right now we have the top four and bottom three chosen. >> Top four and bottom three. Yep. >> What's our total budget? >> Um right now we have $92,000 left. We need something. >> So, handrails or scoreboards? >> I I the 6200. The only question I have on the 6200 with the sound system. Are we sure it's going to get what we expect or we're going to spend the 6200 and be underwhelmed with the quality of it and have to spend, you know, another four or 5,000? I'd rather know that now. >> Sure. >> Um, you know what I mean?
010it just in the middle school. I mean, I just came from there an hour and a half ago and that that place gets used a ton for everything, right? So, let's just make sure it's a quality sound system that we're sure is going to function. >> Yeah, >> man. I agree. >> Yeah. And >> you know what I mean? Because sometimes we get in the we get the pinchion pennies. I totally understand. We should always do that. But sometimes we get into pinching pennies and we end up with like 80% of the solution when maybe another 500 bucks would have gotten us 100% of the solution. You know what I mean? >> Sure. Um and Matt, this quote is based off Kent Cannabis recommendation of what's needed out there to bring it back up to
011speed. Um I do have a list of items that are included in that quote. Um a lot of it doesn't mean a whole lot to me, but some of it does. As long as it doesn't sound like Jeff on this call right now. [laughter] >> How much is left, Jeff? >> Uh, we have uh $92,000 left. >> 92. I would recommend the steps and the handrails at Dallas. If you ever pay attention to those, those are rusting out and are becoming a safety issue. >> And then what's the carryover after that? Looks like we got $12,000 left. And ideally, we like to go a little bit over just in case we can cover it. And I can go within 5% over for each individual one if they're bid out high or low. I have variance
012through DCO reimbursement. >> Are you able to set some of the money that bid for middle school? Are you able to set aside $10,000 in case we need it or I mean do you >> uh when we when we put turn in the final grant application we have to show we're [clears throat] spending all the money. It can't it can't be money sitting there just for [snorts] peaks. >> Okay. So, just for grins and giggles, if you did this, the the SR S SRC tuition, the both the ramps, uh, the Memorial Stadium ramp and the Alice Ingresol um, rails, you do the lot paving and the center lane paving, and you do the bottom three sound systems at uh, Alice, CHS, and IMS. That gives you 1.21 million bucks. So then you have about $11,000
013left and you get a lot of the big projects out of the way. >> I don't know what you do with 11,000 bucks. Buy yourself something nice, but I mean >> you get a better sound system. >> You could set some of that aside for a better sound system or you could add in the Memorial Stadium entrance paving for 34 and then Jeff can play with his 5% buffer and that kind. >> Yeah, we could ask to upgrade that >> will be out tomorrow 13. Okay. >> [snorts] >> get 5% on the whole project or just 5% as it goes >> each individual item. [clears throat] >> You're a crafty guy. >> Mhm. >> All right. So, I'd say either we check into uh there's options for a little nicer equipment for the sound systems
014and leave that those funds in there that $11,000 or the other recommendation would be to do the paving at Memorial Stadium entrance at 34,000. >> Yep. >> So, the the only thing that doesn't get done is the auditorium lighting MSfield scoreboard. >> Yeah. Sounds like a good use of >> everybody in agreement. >> Yep. >> So, put the entrance paving on the list. >> Concrete there. >> Yeah, that will be since we're going to do that center lane, then it'll be concrete from there all the way across the stadium. That will be nice. Okay. All right. Now, I should ask, is there any public comments on what we just discussed? [laughter] >> I'm good. Are you good? >> Good. I agree. [laughter] >> Ryan's good. So, we're all good. >> Okay. So, can I get
015a motion for the adjournment of the >> public hearing? Second. Roll call, please. >> And Gersnich, >> yes. >> Matt Keys, >> yes. >> Mike Koulac, >> yes. >> Brent Perry, >> yes. >> Jordan Stanley, >> yes. >> Brian Spiva, >> yes. >> Holly Blue, >> yes. >> Do we have any amendments to the agenda? Hearing none, we'll go on to good news items. [snorts] Um this is one way the school board is rewarded uh giving out these kind of awards. The recognition of Illinois State Scholars. Looks like we have a few here. And Mr. Valencia, I've got some things here for you to hand out if you'd like to. >> Oh, sure. We had 19 state scholars from our data at least since 2012. closest we've ever had. Um [clears throat] uh this is
016the to earn this you have to have score at or above the 95th percentile on the ACT or SAT and the same has to be for your uh GPA. Uh and this recognizes about the top 10% of high school seniors across the state of Illinois. So for us to have we have 140 students in this class. uh about uh 14% of the class that has earned this recognition. [snorts] It's pretty uh fantastic and testament to their families, our community, our staff that uh did a fantastic job. So, >> it's really fantastic. >> Great. Awesome. >> Did you want to call them up? >> We'll ask you guys to come up and stand around here with Mr. Valencia so we can get a picture showed up. Regan's not here. Reagan, Gracie Brewer, >> Kaylin Korea, >>
017come on up. >> Can [laughter] you stand up here? I'm gonna take a photo of all. >> Of course. [laughter] >> Lucas Steering. >> He said he was going to compliment. >> I don't know where he is. >> Christopher Denning. >> Katsumi Engle. Katsumi. Jessica Eland, Brian Fontana, Ashley Heri. Maline Mansfield, [clears throat] Brier Nelson, >> Cindy Kne, >> Kevin knee, Max Raker, [laughter] Clarissa Shaw, >> Megan Skyles, ANDY >> WALL [laughter] [laughter] GOOD, RIGHT? >> I think good. [laughter] Thank you. >> Great job, GUYS. [laughter] >> Thank you. [clears throat] >> Should have waited like five more minutes. I could have worked that close. [laughter] >> Congratulations. my own. >> I'm in the hospital. >> Should give you a heads up. Sorry. >> I just parked. >> That cleared out. >> Yeah, [clears throat]
018that >> hurt. >> Okay. [laughter] >> See, someone in uniforms. >> Yeah. It's a >> All right, we'll jump right into our buildings reports. >> It's on our Facebook. >> Nothing on the buildings reports. >> So, I would just like to add uh Jay helped us out um with our um young leadership academy program that we have rolling and we had seven attendees this time, which is two more than last time. So, that's a step in the right direction, I suppose. Um five foreign exchange students and two what we'll call domestic students. Um but uh it's it's encouraging that we're still trying and plotting ahead. So Jay and Nicole's have been helpful with getting the word out and you know the teachers have been spreading it during I think home room. Um and so hopefully
019that continues to grow but the high school has done a nice job allowing us to you know come for the money for the pizza kind of stuff. So um hopefully it works out. Thanks J. >> Good deal. Stacy Randall got the WK25 uh one class at a time grant and um that's where you get $1,000 acknowledging things she did do she does for the care closet in her special education classroom. And then uh with the help of Tara Keats over at the high school um the high school really led the charge in distributing. We had 18 alone for the middle school care boxes that were sent over Thanksgiving. We have another 18 for just our school for um Christmas packages. and I know the other schools have quite a few as well. So, she deserves
020a lot of credit for all our work that she does with that. >> Turkey does great job. It started with Stacy M started with Stacy Murphy. Um we gave 41 boxes to families in need at the high school. U and it's a full dinner um and even included um some board games, a few gift cards just [snorts] to celebrate the holidays. So, >> Oh, any other Yo Brad? Um I have two. The Dave Downey court dedication social and ceremony a week ago Friday went off extremely well. Um many family members attended, family, friends. I think they the family told me 33. Um the social we had 75 80 people at U which that was great. And um this Friday the IHSA is going to recognize Leon Groover for his distinguished media service award. Um, that
021will be prior to the varsity basketball game Friday night. >> That's welld deserved. That's for sure. >> I have one more. Josh Keer applied for a grant over the river river city construction. Uh, he got $3,500 u to his building trades program. Uh, he was awarded us this grant. He partners with Habitat for Humanity where they transform shipping crates into sheds and then they donate the money they make off of those to Habitat for Humanity on top of the home that they build and building trades for Habitat for Humanity. Um, so 30 $3,500. Great for Mr. Kemper and that class. >> Excellent. >> So good. So good. Anybody else? CHS student report. >> Uh we will be starting semester exams on Thursday and Friday of this week. Some students might finish early due to um
022dual credit. Um we ended up winning our the Fulton County Championship uh 66 to 57. We played um North Folton and we had a great student section. Um, Magicals, they their dinner and tea ended up selling out. Um, which ended up Saturday ended up being cancelled due to weather. Um, after speaking with people in that program, they said that Sunday was packed and they like accepted people's tickets from Saturday. Um, resource management class. We have currently been working on our professional portfolio which includes [clears throat] making our own resumeumés um cover letters, common interview questions, um and then thank you letters. We last Friday it was due. We put it into our own Google website um to kind of get us ready for the for college or just future jobs. Uh this Friday we have
023Purple Crush. um they will be playing Dunlap and also um Saturday uh they have sold t-shirts and continuing to push our students to be involved um and they will be hosting a raffle that all the proceeds will go to unified PE. >> Very good. Thank you. >> Is there any additional good news to share? >> I have one. Uh tonight is senior night for the CHS bowling team. We have three seniors, uh Dalton Bernett, Jacob Lethre, and Zayn Shakeny. Um and just as of 39 minutes ago during their match, Zay Shocky shot a perfect 300 game against >> Jose. Okay. >> All right. This at this time, we ask recognition of audience request. audience request to address the board of education. Please introduce yourself and then just remember this is a two-minute platform and no
024students names can be used. >> Uh I'm Monty Hoops. I am the father of Bo Hoops. So I'll get right into it. Uh I am here tonight to discuss the content created by a district page staff member and approved by the school administration on the Canton School Board Facebook page. a school controlled platform. We believe this constitutes an institutional cyber bullying, harassment of a child, and a misuse of a school platform intended to humiliate and intimidate. We are not seeking punishment focused solely on the individual who created the graphic. He is a young adult and isolated discipline does not address the broader culture that enabled this content is like not made or publicly shared unless leadership and oversight deem is acceptable. This is a failure failure of supervision. Not a single person laps. Equally concerning
025his the district's response only one phone call was made to us from superintendent. There has been no transparency about whether an investigation occurred, no acknowledgement of wrongdoing, and no apology. The graphic continues to circulate beyond the school's control, amplifying harm. A foyer request seeking clarification on how this occurred received only general handbook language and no answers regarding decision making on approval. And I believe that was a slap in my face. Uh we moved our son out of the district to protect him. Yet the harassment continued even after this transfer. This was not an isolated incident. It was repeated harassment amplified by original origin and on school control platform. Because this content was created and approved by staff, it was formally sanctioned by the school. Given the lack of followth through, this matter will be escalated
026to both the IHSA and ISBE. Uh we are not simply asking for accountability. If this has if this had been handled properly and transparently, we would not be standing here. Our goal is to resolve the pro the and provide clear corrective action and ensure that no other student is treated this way, not only my child. Uh, we asked the board to formally acknowledge what occurred, thoroughly review the facts, provide a written response, and explain the steps it will take to prevent this from happening again. We also request a meeting We also request a meeting with the district leadership, the board of education, and the athletic department. Uh, we respectively ask that this statement be reflected in the official meeting minutes. And this is just part of what I have to say. Uh this is all
027I could do in my two minutes. So thank you. >> Thank you. >> Morning. >> Thank you. >> And I have these. Here's a copy of uh you guys want to pass them around a copies of what I just read to you. >> Okay. Thanks. >> Thank you. >> Thanks. have to back [laughter] one. >> [clears throat] >> All right, the consent agenda. Is there any questions or discussion on the consent consent agenda? >> None here. >> Hearing none. Can I get a motion to approve? >> So moved. Second. >> Roll call, please. >> Mike Kruac, >> yes. >> Brent Perry, >> yes. >> Jordan Stanley, >> yes. >> Brian Spiva, >> yep. >> Holly, >> yes. and Gersnich. >> Yes. Matt Keys. >> Yep. Okay. Consider approval to create two activity accounts at Canton
028High School titled Club America and Prom. That is a board enclosure. Motion to approve. So move. >> Second. God. >> Roll please. >> Brett Perry. >> Yes. >> Jordan Stanley. >> Yes. >> Brian Spiva. Yes. >> Holly Blue. >> Yes. >> And Gerson. >> Yes. >> Matt Keys. >> Yes. >> Mike Krillac. >> Yes. >> Consider approval of course descriptions for Canton High School for the 2026 27 school year. Another board enclosure. Any discussion? >> Our first reading was last month and I don't believe there were any changes to it. >> Motion to approve. Second. >> Ollie and somebody first. >> Ann, I guess. >> Who was first? >> Ann was first. >> Oh, okay. >> Then who got second? >> I think it was me. >> It was you. [laughter] >> Roll call, please.
029>> We get buzzers. >> Feels like we need buttons at this point. [laughter] >> Jordan Stanley. >> Yes. >> Brian Spiva. >> Holly Bloom. >> Yes. >> Ann Gers. >> Yes. >> Matt Keith. >> Yes. >> Mike Krillac. >> Yes. Perry. >> Yes. >> Okay. We'll move into 13, the reports. District 66 metric report. >> Any questions on the metric? >> No, sir. [clears throat] [laughter] >> Hearing none, we'll go to discussion items. Reschedule the board retreat. >> I wondered where you guys were at. [laughter] >> Yeah. Okay. um [clears throat] home or at least found a place to park, huh? >> Yeah, exactly. Right up front. >> My personal I can't imagine getting it in before >> in the year, >> at least middle of January, but I can be here anytime because I'm
030just po >> working on that one all day. >> Has anybody got any thoughts, feelings? We're looking at January. I would >> heard Matt's one to talk to. >> Oh god. Busy. >> Yeah. >> I won't be available until January the 16th. >> That's [snorts] a Friday. >> I know. That'll be the first time I'm available. Okay. >> Between now and then. >> So, you're saying you could do the 17th? >> Yes, >> I can do the 17th. >> Is Brad here? >> Brad is here. You happen to have the SC the calendar in front of you. >> You don't want to do it. >> Last time Last time I brought it off. >> I was embarrassed. >> Yeah. I'm just trying to see what's on the 17th. That's all. >> January. >> Feel like
031that's the girls wrestling. wrestling. >> Yeah. >> Is it Orian? >> It's ours. >> Girls and then the >> That's anger. I think it's yours. >> The girls tournament >> and then our invite. Our high school invite. Girls invite. >> There you go. >> Not the 17th. >> Well, I mean, I guess we could be over here and then I can walk over and finish up helping up afterwards. Usually I run my computer for so >> the 31st. >> Would that work for everyone else here? >> January is terrible. >> Would that work, Matt? If you can slip in and out. >> Yeah. Yeah. >> Set up for the seven. >> That was 8:00 still. >> Unless Matt wants to go earlier. >> That girls invite. >> It's just a girls. >> Yeah. 5 a.m.
032>> No, I meanractice. >> Me, too. >> You want to go earlier, Matt? You want to go seven rather than eight? >> 7 a.m. >> Seven. >> No, it's the other way. That's probably better. >> Yeah, I would say let us Can can anybody do nine? because that'll allow me to get the tournament started and all weighins and everything done and then I can run over here and somebody else can run the first rounds of the computer. >> All right. >> Is nine. Okay. >> And I know that get like late in the day for you. >> I know. [laughter] >> We were talking 5 a.m. >> Well, that would actually be better for me. >> Yeah. >> You're starting to move into afternoon nap time now. So, how long is this? >> 9:00 to
033three hours, >> dude. Hey Brad, you're going to have to remember to tell Zach to play. >> That might be you >> next year. >> Yep. >> 12:30. >> He'll be hyper real. [laughter] >> All right. >> We'll go to B. Discuss revisions to board policies. the first reading. >> Um, >> every everything in the policy is due to public act except there was one option as to whether or not to put a requirement to teach the Irish famine um in board policy is the committee's recommendation to not adopt that. It doesn't mean we can't teach it. It just means it's our choice for me. Say that again. >> Don't ask. >> Would you like to pay salmon get tall enough somewhere? >> Got it. Yeah. >> Got it. Is >> that it? >> Yep.
034>> Okay. Any questions on the revisions? >> Nope. You answered them. >> There's a bunch of them. [laughter] >> A lot of it was changing periods. Take that footnotes. >> All right. Looks like that brings us to 15 summer projects. >> Where's There it's 2026 summer project. >> Yeah. So, there's three more projects that um we'd like to consider doing this summer and that is the replacement of the roof above the art room at Canton High School. We've been having a lot of issues with that. Estimated cost is $150,000. Uh our one of our last things to do for our health life safety work is the IMS underground sanitary pipe. This is in the east hallway and we'll be replacing those tiles this year. So now would be the perfect time to do it. We
035do have to do that this summer or next summer. Um and then there's been a lot of discussion about the uh stadium out at Memorial Stadium that wall issues with seeping with. Um there is a proposal for an estimate of $81,000 to repair that which involves pressure washing it, tuck pointing, and then putting some furring up and steel on the outside of it to prevent that along with some minor roof work. >> Is that the flashing we talked about, Brad? so the water doesn't continue to roll down. Okay. >> The the AR room roof and the sanitary pipe are an absolute necessity in the stadium. Um is it needed? Absolutely. Is it a little bit lower priority yet? The total cost is about $270,000 for all three. >> We have to >> Yes, [clears throat]
036we do. >> Oh, yeah. >> Facility sales tax is nine. It's good. Is that I think I asked for that wall. Does that do anything for the roof of the bathroom locker room area? >> No, it's just some minor repairs to the roof. That's not reoing that roof. >> This is simply in an effort to fix the moisture issue that we have getting inside. >> That helped a lot. >> Dry lock. >> Have a school worker treat. [laughter] >> There you go. Is everybody in agreement to let those things uh get rolling? >> Yes, sir. >> Yeah. >> Add them to the list. >> Thank you very much. >> Now we'll go to information items. >> Does that have to wait till the summer stadium stuff? >> Can we get it done before track season?
037>> I we can I can ask we can try, but I don't know. >> Yeah. >> I don't know if the epoxy and stuff would work well. I'm just >> I get you like >> Yeah, >> seems like it would be like a fiveday pressure seal. >> Yeah, >> you only inquire on that. >> Yeah, I'm just saying we don't have if we don't have to wait till the summer to wait till the summer on that one. >> Some of the other things in the classroom, it's obvious why you have to do it. But >> information items. The first one is for public info [clears throat] access. Uh pretty standard. Um employee names, locations, uh building locations, emails, that type of thing. Um second one was from Corey Hoops that requested information on the social
038media posts that they discussed. Okay. distribution percentages from county school facilities tax. >> So every year uh the county recalculates what percentage each school districts for the facility sales tax tax. Um we are at what just over 45% again. So it's right in the neighborhood of what we've had in the past. So I'd expect approximately the same revenue from it. >> Okay. >> All right. Illinois school library program standards report. Good evening. >> Hi. >> Uh, for those of you guys who don't know me, I'm Mrs. Smandy. I'm the district librarian. >> I appreciate the opportunity to share an update on our library programs with you this evening. I haven't actually done this since before CO. Um, so it's nice to be back up here. >> Has it really been that long? >> It really
039has. It has like Well, that's five whole years ago. Anyway, um this year's evaluation used the 2025 edition of the Illinois School Library Program standards and we focused on standard 3 library administration. The annual review of standards ensures that we continue to support student learning in meaningful and measurable ways. As outlined in the handouts that were included in your board packets, our program received positive ratings in some key areas including policy and procedures, budget management, district funding, and district funding support. This reflects our commitment to providing students with highquality library services. I'm especially grateful to note that the district's investment in the library program meets the American Library Association recommendations and that our administrators consistently support funding requests. We try to use our resources effectively, prioritize cost-effective purchases, and seek out grant funding with when
040possible. I'm pleased to share that in October, the Eastfield Library received a $2,000 LBSS endowment fund grant. Um, Mrs. Forier and I collaborated on this grant to update our 520s, which is books about space, to support curriculum, and to enhance student learning opportunities in that building. While the evaluations highlighted our strengths, it also identified staffing as our primary area for growth. And this is not uncommon across the state in libraries. This is the only area in which our program received a basic rating, which is not it's one step up from needs improvement. While only with only one librarian to serve the district, um it's difficult to provide equitable support across all buildings. Either adding a second certified librarian to focus on the elementary buildings or restoring a second clerk to the high school would significantly
041increase my availability and time to serve students and to collaborate with staff. Despite this challenge, um my staff and I are committed to continuous improvement of library services. to support that goal. I'd like to note that the state library systems are holding a virtual town hall for administrators and schoolboard members. Um going to pass around a QR code where you can access information and be reg and register for that event. Um school administrators, I will email you that link after Christmas break because I'm guessing a paper on your desk right now would be lost in the blizzard that is occurring. [laughter] To close, I just want to emphasize that school libraries are not relics of the past. Libraries should be dynamic learning hubs where students develop a love of reading, build critical thinking skills, and
042explore their interests in a supportive environment. A strong school library program is a critical investment in student success, equity, and lifelong learning. I want to thank you for your continued support of the district's libraries and for recognizing the vital role they play in literacy, inquiry, and student success. I look forward to our continued work together to keep the program strong, responsive, and student centered. You have questions for me, I'm happy to respond now or later at your convenience. >> So, is there not a librarian at each school? Is that what you're saying? >> There is a clerk in each school. >> Okay. >> Not a liar. >> They have typically bachelor's degree or less. I have a master's degree in library science. I think our job description is 60 college credit hours if I remember
043right. >> Yeah. Um some of them have a background in library science, some do not. Um love my clerks, some have more experience, some are very young and inexperienced and you know balancing [cough] who I'm helping depends a lot on their experience and education. >> But they're all great ladies and I could not do my job without them. Is there anything else besides the request that you just made a few minutes ago that that you need that you want the board to know about that Tad tells you all the time you can't ask, but now we're asking. [laughter] >> For me, honestly, it's just staffing. >> And I think that every administrator in this room would say they would love to have more staff. >> You know, feet on the ground, hands-on, adults working with
044kids, I think is the biggest way to make an impact. >> Yeah. I mean, the clerks I mean, some of Yeah. are teaching classes or at least doing content beyond >> my elementary >> what you might be thinking is a library clerk, right? Especially your elementary clerks, right? >> Yeah. Yeah. >> They they work so well. Your wife did it. >> Yeah. That's why I know >> you know. Um Yeah. If the the more education and experience your library staff has, the better the program will work. >> And I there's one of me and I'm spread that um I do what I can, but I love my job and I love the kids. So, it's worth >> worth the time we invest in it. >> I hope it makes a difference. >> Thank you. >>
045Okay. Well, >> thank you. Good job. >> The meeting is great. We better get home early. >> Yes. >> Potato famine. We got >> Do we not have enough books about the >> Is that what the issue is here? [laughter] >> No. >> I didn't know this was a problem. a history. >> Any future agenda items? >> Can we make a motion or get a motion to go into close session? >> So moved. >> Second. >> Roll call, please. [laughter] >> Brian, >> yes. >> Holly Blue, >> can take you anywhere. and Gersnich. >> Yeah. Matt Keys. >> Yes. >> Mike Kru. >> So depressed >> Yes, ma'am. All right, we are live. >> Everybody get ready. Can I get a motion to adjurnn? >> So move [laughter] back. >> Whenever you're >> yes. >>
046Black Keys, >> yes. Mike Kruac, >> yes. >> Bren Prey, yes. Jordan Stanley, >> yes. >> Brian Sper, >> yes. >> Hollywood, >> yes. >> Thank you everybody.