001Good evening. It's 6:15 and we will call the March 9th submission floor meeting to order. And this is a meeting of the board of education, not a public meeting and we value your input and have allocated time for public comment during time on the agenda. And if you would like to speak during that time, we do have the papers out there by Miss Gust to fill out a form and to turn that into her and then I'll call you when that time comes. So having done with that, if you would please join me for the pledge of allegiance, I pledge algiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for it stands one nation under God, indivisible with liberty and justice for all. >> Thank you. And for the vote
002call, um, I'll go ahead and call that. That's President Bowser >> here. Secretary Pettton is ill. We thank her for not sharing. >> Gilmore >> here. >> Trusty Sager >> here. Jesse Shner >> here. >> Trusty Wlet >> here. >> President Reed yes. Thank you. We've established a quorum. That brings us to our next agenda item and it's the adoption of the agenda. entertain a motion for added move. >> Second. >> Any discussion? >> None. Vice President Bowser. >> Yes. >> Treasure Gilmore. >> Yes. >> Trusty Slagger. >> Yes. >> Sher, >> yes. >> Trusty Will, >> yes. >> President B. >> Yes. Motion carries. And I'll open up the table for gratitudes. How can we not be great? >> I got to drive and it just was wonderful. >> Agreed. and sports this weekend.
003Uh Luke finally just up and down. I'm so grateful for all the success that our students are having whether it be on the court or on the mat um on the stage. You know, we just have so many unique things happening right now around the district. Um so a lot of uh a lot of things to celebrate really from across all grade levels. We you know our theater view choir um we show things they've driven standing and just a it's a really neat time for kids and we're spring sports can be outside which is awesome for state. >> Yeah you're excited for us this month. I'll throw gratitude out to Vander. Um they stepped up donated their vehicle for towing up some school trailers over the weekend when there was a little scratchy conflict. So
004that was really cool to see them step up. So thank you for that. >> All righty. Two high school representatives for this. Jump on then to our consent agenda which is the regular business of the board. >> I would entertain a motion for as presented. >> So moved support. >> Vice President Bowser. >> Yes. >> Treasure Gilmore. >> Yes. >> Trusty Slagger. >> Yes. >> Trusty Sha. >> Yes. >> Trusty WLED. >> Yes. >> President Reed. >> Yes. Motion carries. And we begin our discussion items for this evening. First up, we have the financial update with Marti. >> All right. Um, I don't have a whole lot here. Let me pull this up real quick. Couple highlights. uh last month um you presented the technology refresh uh cycle and said you know if if we
005take action tonight we can realize some significant savings on the last year's models um so when did finally release their current year pricing savings was even more significant than we projected Ramse's had said that the prices were going to go up 20 to20 25% while they actually went up about 65%. So in total for by first seeing those 500 Chromebooks and the staff devices, the district saved about $85,000 because the Chromebook price went up um by $225 or went from $225 per unit up to 380. Um so pretty significant savings. So, um, definitely appreciate doing the first read action that night so we could take advantage of those last year. Bryson, >> thank you. >> Um, Governor Whitmer has released her 26 27 executive budget. Couple highlights. Uh, she included a 2.5% increase to the
006foundation allowance or a $250 per pupil. uh 6% increase to the section 31A at risk funding. Um and that they would also roll that into a a different categorical providing some additional flexibility on how those funds can be used. So that would be a a win for districts. Um one caveat to that, it would make it a little bit harder to calculate um our section 22 funding. But section 22 is based on uh property tax value and enrollment. At risk is based on your at risk population and um that calculation is a little bit more difficult to arrive at but overall it would be a positive getting that additional flexibility. um section 31A mental health, they increased the funding by $32.5 million, bringing that total to $300 million. Um however, they did maintain that problematic
007language um in that uh categorical uh but language related to the mass category events. Uh school meals funding maintaining it at the current level. So continuing with universal free breakfast and lunch for all students. Um and then there would be some decreases to the master contribution rates. So the retirement funding that districts all pay out to OS. Um but that would be offset by some decreases to the offsetting revenues that districts receive. Um so now the balls in the court of the uh house and senate they will be releasing their budgets hopefully by the end of the this month maybe we'll get back in spring break time frame. Uh two ongoing court cases. Um there's still the section 31A mental health court case. uh the plaintiffs uh Paul lost the initial round of their lawsuit
008with the state um and have now decided to appeal that decision. Um hopefully we'll know more soon on that. Um they also filed with the uh the lawsuit with federal courts. So federal courts are still holding holding off on taking that case until the state uh appeal process is done. Um and then the final one is related to house bill 6058. That is the one that related to public act 152 which provide puts that cap on how much public employers can contribute towards healthcare. Um if you recall uh house bill 6058 changed it from a calf and made that number a floor and increased it about 12%. So, it would be a pretty significant increase to district um expenses uh if that bill were to pass into law. Um so, that one's still hanging out
009there. Um one thing I didn't have added was we did receive our S&P rating for the 2026 refunding bond. Uh our ratings came back as a for long-term rating and an A+ rating for our underlying rating. So, um, very positive results. Those are the same radius that we've had for the last several bond issuances that the district has, uh, making. Um, and then finally, I norm usually I include a a bond fund budget update. I did not include that this month. I'm working on a kind of revised format for you that will um summarize but show in a little bit greater details exactly where all the funds by project and then all the owner purchase uh items that the district has incurred going all the way back to the series warrant bond issuance. So I'm
010I'm hoping it'll be a little bit easier and more straightforward. So, I'll have that ready for you at the April. >> Okay. >> Any questions? >> All right. Thank you. >> Moving on to policy recommendations. >> So, in board book, there are 17 policy recommendations listed. Um but one is a carryover from February the work that we had been doing around uh that student assem uh students expression peaceful assembly and demonstration policy. Um but then I also included the latest round of recommendations that were presented by Niola uh in the spring of for spring of 2026. So, we've gotten some feedback um starting off just with the uh student expression peaceful demon peaceful assembly and demonstration policy. Um some feedback from the board around um trying to uh make it more streamlined, make it a
011little shorter, but also to put it into language that is more user friendly that students would understand and parents would better understand. The challenge of um drafting policy language is significant. Um you need to maintain and embrace the the the essence of the message that you want to establish or clarify or the position of the board that you want to clarify. You also need to incorporate key language that makes it legally um um I guess appropriate or legally aligned um both in in language and in also in in crim in court cases. And so that's why it takes time. Uh you also want to have a similar um uh I guess flavor or essence in policy language. If you look at Neola policy and you read through, there's a kind of a common uh tone,
012a common cadence. The policy language that's drafted by Truman Law is similar in terms of its intention, but it has a different uh you can tell a different set of authors wrote that statements, wrote that policy language. Um and so, you know, we're in a we're at a place right now where we've we've got an alternative uh policy for for consideration. Um feedback from uh Marshall Great was that that lacks that specific uh proposal lacks um some of those essential ties back to the law. What I'm recommending that we do is that I take some time and put together a set of administrative guidelines. There could be a companion document to the policy. Maybe it's a a nice blend of the approach that the alternate proposal took uh but also with that legal document. Policy
013language is not easy to read. I I'm not an attorney, you know, and so it takes us multiple reads and multiple times. And you know, like Ron gave some feedback. Uh Ron is steeped with knowledge and and expertise in in policy uh language. And so, you know, he even pulled a a reference um using the word protest. You know, protest by definition is this. Uh and is that really what we're trying to really what we're trying to get to? or is a better word the word demonstration which could either be um in a group of individuals who were standing in favor of something or standing opposed to something. Protest has a tend a tendency to be aligned with individuals who are opposed to a specific stance. And so um you know I think what we've
014learned as a board at least over my eight years is this does take time. even though we want to push it and we want to hit the easy button that does not always exist. Um, and so, uh, with your, uh, blessing, with your direction, um, we can start working on some administrative guideline language that would be a good companion, uh, to this policy documents. And then also, uh, maybe even stretch it and put together some language that we would use in our student handbook so that a high school student could read that document and say, "Oh, okay, that makes sense to me." And reference back to the policy. That's the nice thing. You can reference the policy in the envelope language. You reference the policy in the um administrative guidelines, but you don't have to
015reference all the court cases. You don't have to reference all the uh legal uh definitions. And so if that's if that would maybe take us to the next step, that would be something that I would love to do for, you know, in the next couple of weeks. Maybe that's the next logical step rather than trying to push forward um with a proposal that has great potential. Um but we want to make sure that we get it we we capture the essence from the board table. We capture the essence and the voice of our community but do it in a way that u makes sense to the readers uh but also is aligned with the law. volume. Makes sense. >> Okay. >> Yeah. I like nine. All right. >> All right. Thank you. >> Okay. >>
016Um then that next group of um policy recommendations. That's that standard um batch NEOA every fall and every spring issues a collection of uh recommendations for boards to consider. um they're not required. They're merely recommendations. Miola is firmly uh entrenched in the notion that um you know these decisions are made at the local level. Um however, there are some revisions that are aligned to changes in the law and they would probably more strongly recommend those. Um but other changes are more aligned with uh maybe uh department of ed guidelines those types of things that are things that boards can adopt or they don't need to adopt. So the 16 Neiola uh policy recommendations that are included in board book tonight um two of them are rescensions. Um basically we would be um eliminating those two
017drafts those two policies from board book uh because they've incorporated that language into another policy. Um two of them I included for your information only. So the um comprehensive school health education draft and the sex ed draft policy 4717 polic policy 47 I'm sorry 2417 2418 those are for information only. they would only be applicable if we were to embrace um some of the new standards that were recommended by the Department of Education last fall. And so if the board is not looking to um embrace any of those new standards, uh I included those just for information for the board to be able to review. And I appreciated the clarity providing that American National Health Education Standard packet and also providing a copy of the Michigan Health Education Standard Guidelines. That's why they call them
018guidelines. They're options. They're recommendations, but not required uh from the fall of 2025 that the Michigan uh state board of education pass. So those two policies really are just there for recommendation or for information, sorry. Um, of the remaining 12, four of the policies that are included in the packet are new. Um, and then eight of them are revisions. Typically, if it's a revision, it's a minor modification relative to a change in the law. Um, and so that's kind of that bundle. We usually take two to three months to chew on these. So, tonight is just the first introduction. Um, kind of an overview. One of the nice documents that Niola always does and you'll find that um in the top uh in the top item um under the NEOLA policy revisions presented for consideration
019they always give an overview document and so you can open that up and it gives you kind of the why behind uh the recommended changes in each of the policies that are presented. So it can be a nice companion document as you're reading through and wondering why behind the recommended changes. Um so that's you know tonight's first read. We'll review them again in April. I think at earliest if we were comfortable we might start looking into take action on those uh recommendations in May. You know being pushed in June that's that's very appropriate as well. This is our work. This is the work of our board of education and we need to take the time that we need in order to be comfortable with it. So any questions on where we are with the recommendations.
020Perfect. >> All right. Uh the next item is uh on our Zoom handbook revision proposals. Um we're trying to ahead of the game a little bit. Uh Amy McCarthy is does an outstanding job working with the principles and uh just making sure that um they're able to review the uh policy, excuse me, the handbooks. Um identify areas in which are in need of a little bit of adjusting or tweaking and then putting that red line copy out uh for you to be able to review um new versus old. Um, and so all of the uh books are included. Again, this is something that we would likely not take action on until May. Um, unless everyone was ready, we can do something. We're not hurry on this. Um, two of the documents don't have any recommendations
021for change. One is the early childhood handbook and then also the athletic code. Um and uh the athletic handles and the code of conduct there are no recommendated or no recommended changes uh for that uh that document as well. So any questions on those questions? Thank you for giving it the spring. >> March is always better than August. No, I felt like it was summer time. >> Okay, it goes with the weather. I'm sorry. >> All righty. Facilities update. >> So, uh they continue to make great progress on removing the asbestous uh from Hilltop. Um, so we're told I'm not going in to do self-examination uh because I'd have to suit up and uh put on a a hazmat suit as a respirator and uh no, but they they continue to busily work along. They're
022on uh schedule on track uh to complete that work. Um, one of the things that will uh be happening uh scheduled for the start date of the 23rd of March is uh we do have some uh areas that um they've identified asbestous and then glazing the c around the windows. So they will have to pull those windows out uh in order to remove that asbestous. um a temporary solution. They the company will be putting in um some plywood uh as as a temporary solution. So, it'll look a little wonky uh but it'll give us again just some cover as we're making some decisions moving forward as to what our be on that building. Um Triangle is in the process of finalizing uh the bid package. We did talk about getting some getting bids out there
023just to get a sense of what the cost of demolition would be if that's the direction that we ultimately take. Um they're in the process of finalizing uh that uh those packages. Um they'll be getting them out to vendors to respond to. We should have that information back for you to review uh if everything hits the timelines as scheduled um for April. So, we we're really tracking well on that project as well. Um the uh other big things with um the facilities, we're on track uh to get started on our summer projects for 2026 and so we're excited about that. Um I've had four uh community forums, online community forums um just providing um information about um you know where we've been historically in regard to this bond series. I start back with the failed
024bond in 2019. I go through quickly uh briefly about what we learned from that experience and then coming back with a a more uh with a proposal that was better aligned with really what the community was looking to support. Um and then just walk through building by building and just talk about some of the highlights that we have uh we've been able to accomplish and and also some things that are still on the table for this for this upcoming summer. Um, so I've had it like 15 people participate uh in in session. Um, and then I've got a recording of the video of the uh of the presentation and of the question and answers. Um, that's on our Facebook page. Uh, excuse me, it's on our YouTube page. Um, and Cary will be sharing that
025on Facebook and there have been uh like six individuals who have watched the recording. So just trying to get the message out there. Uh I am meeting uh with the uh gentleman um the uh editor for the bugle on Wednesday morning u and just talking through any questions that he has reviewing the content as well just to get things out there get information out there that's accurate. Um and also encouraging people to reach out with questions if they come forward. Um other things um we met with Triangle and GMD week and a half ago. Yeah. To walk the um cheer the chair space multi-purpose room to review the the carpet that is down the dirt. Um so the MD is looking into possible solutions for that. um haven't heard back yet. So I sent an
026email this morning to get a status update but still have don't have a a response yet but we are actively looking at uh solutions for that. Um, and then another question that came from the board table over the weekend was just the status update on the greenhouse. Where we were with that project, uh, stems from a question that, um, Brent asked a couple weeks ago about, you know, where that project was in terms of the overall spending plan with the bond dollars. Um, the project is still on track. Um, Ron has actually been working with, um, the new egg science teacher. um and our FFA advisor just really trying to clarify their vision um for for the program. It's uh very similar to um you know if we change a varsity softball coach or varsity
027basketball coach, the new coach comes in and they might have a different style. They might run a different offense or defense. They might use different terminology. Um and so I just appreciated Ron's um background in egg science um and also his background in some work um his uh vision and uh leadership that he's providing to our uh secondary curriculum and academic services group. Uh, and so really he was the natural person to help come alongside Jenna and Taren to just help clarify some of the needs, some of the wants, where their vision, uh, was as we were looking into the future of the program. Um so Ron is here tonight to answer questions but also um he can give a little bit of an overview of um some of the decisions some of the directions
028that they've identified um since their work started back in October November. >> Yeah. November. >> Yeah. Um, so as Scott has said and I will echo again, you know, anytime there's a change in in placement of any science teacher, you can have a little different view in that. Even though we're all certified in the same way, we all have the same curriculum and standards and the segments to teach. But when George Gilmore retired, the probably the next egg teacher was a little different. When I went in to Mason following Michael Mi, I was a different egg teacher than him. When Jenna came in, she's a little different than Brent. Brent's a little different than Larry Reurn was a little much. But um I think it gives us all just good perspective and to have that
029um um there's opportunities that can be had um with some of our own life experiences and what we want to emphasize um and how we see what's happening within our our market that's out there too. You know, production agriculture right now is in a very difficult time. are there other areas that we might want to focus in on that that instructor is potentially very geared up for and our community can support. So, um, one of our biggest meetings, which I call our a science strategic planning meeting, was on December 5th and then we've had two other meetings. Actually, we've scheduled five different meetings, but only been able to make uh two other ones and then I have one scheduled for this Thursday where we've um talked through a variety of areas um from the a
030science program to the courses that we're offering and visions there to um the FFA and that uh emphasis within the program. equipment and facility needs getting into the tractor, the greenhouse, the sugar bush, um the land labs, you know, the equipment that we have um for the gator and the um John Deere uh GPS systems and you know, just a variety of topics and that. So, um, but then on, uh, February 3rd, uh, Jenna did reach out to me. Um, and she's doing a great job as a very, um, new, uh, instructor drinking from a fire hose, and, um, is really, um, doing all that she can to, um, continue on, support our students, and doing a great job. I think they just came back from state convention and uh you know were able to
031take a demonstration team down there to compete along with um outstanding junior recipients and state FFA degree recipients and I think a member in the band and and all of that. So um just doing excellent work but um she reached out um there was a hoop house that which is kind of like a hot house if you're familiar with that term. um that we had in addition to the greenhouse that we do have off the side of the science wing which is very small for uh a school our size um that was acquired through a grant that GBSU had provided our ecology club and um I believe that was used before um mainly for some student projects uh not only for we'll just say it for instruction in the plant science class but then also
032student experiments to what we call our supervised agricultural experiences or egg science experiences might show my age or being strength. And then um thirdly uh some production pieces because oftent time these programs do have some com um production compon components as fundraising pieces. So the sugar bush is a production piece too. Um, we have a spring bedding plant sale that has traditionally been done here and plans to continue to be done, but we um there was an incident with that with the snow on it that um ended up bending some of the pipes. Um they're working on that to see if there is salable to be able at least use some pieces there. But we are looking and she has great uh visioning and aspects for the greenhouse program including um with her background having
033some aquaculture experiences to be able to do some aqua pondics where um you can take the solids from the fish and use that to fertilize the plants through flood tables and um that maybe I'm talking a little bit beyond um what seem to be you know, with all those components, but it is um very doable. We've looked at even in conversations around raising poinsettas, raising Easter lilies and all that. Some very time um restricted plants as far as when they have to be ready. um a lot of stringent components on lightning and heat and fertilization and sometimes you have to gas them to get them to stop their inner stretch and there's just a lot of components to it. But um you know those that kind of operation requires a different kind of greenhouse than
034what a hoop house is or a hop house is. So I also in my work with word-based learning and my connections with about 150 businesses around in the area now our agencies um did go out and talk to Great Lakes Landscape and Supply. You know, if you drive by them out there in Cedar Springs, they have have a lot of different um mainly hotoses out there um because of the different products that they're raising. But another great opportunity to have some dialogue within our community and to also um I think even be able to have some opportunities for students to potentially be placed out there as well. So um got the name of um a good supplier that I have been in contact with as well to um look at some different components around it.
035In essence, um, you know, there we're we're kind of at a cusp right now as, um, we I feel we do need to give Jim the opportunity to be able to see a full year's worth of the egg so science program that we have, but also allow her to have that opportunity to provide some visioning of her home. So, we are going a little slow potentially to go fast. Um, I think that we definitely want to make sure that whatever we do and build, um, if building is what it comes to, um, which I think it with the vision we have, it would be, um, that we make sure that it's something that's going to be utilized. Um, and I could even see it, you know, being utilized by more than just the egg science
036program as well. all the science department have there, you know, you have to weigh some of the costs and the opportunities of that. You know, we don't have a crisper program in our AP biology projects, right? And and the work that they're doing, could they get some awesome research from that? Absolutely. Um, but that all being said, uh, I think we, you know, need to continue on with some of our conversations, what we can do, um, and build upon that. There is also some infrastructure pieces that we um need to look at that support this. The location, you know, what water is available in that location, what electrical there will need to be a heat source eventually in the greenhouse component, when is that all added, what timeline should there be for it? Um, those
037are all questions that we have to make sure are well thought out answered because if we place it in the wrong location and that's too difficult to get students out and have proper supervision, well then it's probably not going to get utilized and we might have put 40 or $50,000 into, you know, a a greenhouse in that sense. So, um, all that to be said is we are making great strides in it. Um it is something too that you can put your aquaculture system in as well in the off parts of the uh of the plant season. So some good planning um good conversations with our maintenance and facilities teams um and we are making some progress. I do want to clear up one final point too and that has to do with some of
038the funding and that the CTE fundings that we received this annual are the 61 A1 funds and it clearly lays out the 61 A1 funds that infrastructure cannot be that money cannot be used to support infrastructure. In other words, building that infrastructure. So a greenhouse, a barn, any of that could not be used for that. we have plenty of and meet the guidelines or actually go beyond the guidelines of the funding that we are supporting as a district in the money that we are receiving too. And then uh the 61D funds um that we received this year were kind of a once in a great while funds, but it is actually boils down to the state of Michigan has been strongly wanting to support and put money into CT programs into um community college programs
039too to be training people for the trades because we have so many people retiring um from the baby boomer generation in a lot of trade areas that those are deficit. the egg science program is a high demand area yet and therefore we received additional funding as well. Um when I was at the Michigan Career Education uh conference in late January uh Sean Sweeney is the gentleman who looks over from MDE all this uh 61A1 funds that come in make sure that they are appropriately allocated for. So for one example, if we had production greenhouse going with a poinsetta sale, um you know, those funds cannot be used for the purchase of the soil media for the plants or for the pots if you're going to turn around and sell those to the general public. They
040can be done for the purchase, for the instructional components of it. But if you're going to ultimately end up selling it, then that has to be done out of other funding. And I remember when Brent was here, we had that conversation to make sure that we're following that piece of it. Um, but the 61D funds, uh, those funds were, uh, sent to districts to support the LEAs that still have CTE programs within their LEA and aren't at centerbased programs. And so that was kind of a reward from the state of Michigan back to the local districts. Thank you for keeping those programs here in your in your leas to serve our students everything because not everyone wants the travel time to the to KCTC and that and back. So um those are unrestricted funds and
041that we have received and and we just like um any of our foundation a lotment monies that we received from the state of Michigan for all of our people. So I think it, you know, we have a very nice full storage building out there. Um, you know, if you look at it, we got 33 or so thousand, I think it was back, 30 some,000 from the state for the 61D funds that, you know, that helped in the cost of that program. So any questions you have uh towards me? We're we're going to keep working on this. And >> hoop house replacement and tractor update. >> Oh, the tractor update. Yeah. Um the tractor piece uh looked at that and the needs for that. Um I have went over to Greenmark and had some conversations with
042them after talking with um Jenna and Taran and um I'm getting some bids back from um Greenark on that. The reason why we are going to Greenark um which is the John Deere dealership is because one we already have the GPS system uh through that it could work on the on the tractor with potentially very little add-ons. The other piece is uh the state of Michigan has a state bid um for being able to purchase equipment like that and John Deere has put in a state bid that's been approved and Greenark is one of the locations you can go to which you receive a certain percentage off that the normal public would not be seeing and so it would be our best location if they're looking at something new. Um, we are making some modifications
043from original um, estimates or requests that were made that just seem a lot more practical and able to be um, utilize I think even some safer components to it. So, um, we're we're taking a look at that. I'm also have asked for leasing purchase versus purchasing. Um lots of times lease or the leases are done by the number of hours that you put on in a in a annual year's time. Um usually up to four years and then they do give you a uh much like with a vehicle if you want to buy it out at the end of that you can do that too. But you know taking a look at that and seeing what our overalls are in that too. Thanks The hoop house was the conversation the hot house that Greg began.
044So, >> um, we we do have if Well, maybe this is what you might be referring to. If we move forward with the hoop house right now or a hot house, that would be something that could potentially um be constructed and possibly utilized. Depends on the shipping time and everything. And that's all over the board with anything right now. But even if it was for next year to make sure they knew, Jenna knew she had space that she could do most of what she wants to in that space. Um eventually if we get to the point where we're ramped up and now we're ready and able to do some more serious um student projects, production pieces, and instructional in a true greenhouse. um that hoop house could be moved to the location of the greenhouse
045um likely would be in and that would just be for overflow then at that point because sometimes you're getting to these production points especially um then plant season in the spring uh you get them started you need to transplant them and get them moved out the other locations you just need space that's protective so that >> that's awesome >> sorry Um we did a similar process with industrial arts when Steve Bringler retired and Cooper Heiden came on board. Um the first year kind of let him get his meat under him. Uh Vic and I went to several uh went with Cooper to several neighboring districts and looked at their industrial art uh spaces and Cooper kind of got an idea of how they had everything set up. Um, I think the first year we bought
046a new table saw, a few smaller tools, but this year we did, you know, he really kind of had a a vision of what he wanted the work wood shop to look like. Then we did invest in the large belt sander, uh, a new planer. Um, recently ordered a, uh, handheld CNC machine that he received a grant for. So, um, again, we did use utilize this process with industrial arts as well to kind of make sure that the the new staff member, um, we were purchasing things that were in line with their vision for the program. And there were also upgrades made to the shop, a new dust collection system. Um, and that was part of the part of the bond project. So we're really trying to be as forward thinking as we can be
047um based on the the where the where the teachers have decision for the question you say we have one but some of the hoops are on one of those hoop houses or no >> we have a hoop house that's um could be fit in a space here. >> Okay. um lengthwise probably out to the edge of the table where there um but uh the heavy snowfall from this winter um actually that the rain that it came down did not slide off the plastic as it should have and they've done a few of those. So we're trying to look at those see if that can be man back but still be structurally safe. So that >> I had a couple of ideas too. our own ideals, but if anybody want like if wanted any locationational group
048wanted practice with the tools, I had a wheel, one of those big wheels for bedding by. So if they wanted to make a wheelhouse that could be done with the top rail of chaining fence, they assemble them together and you can make them whatever size you want. So it could be actually made by our students for our students kind of be happy to let you use that to if that's something you want to do. Um, if we wanted something shortterm, I have a hoop house in a raft with my barn I'm not using. If you want to put it up for a year, you can certainly do that. And then when you decide to when we got a plan to take it down and I can hold it back and stick it back in the
049barn just some options to think about something. >> Yeah. And that hoop house is not like a commercial grade. I believe that top jam fence fits together and you just buy the plastic. I picked the plastic shot. So I have I could sort of buy plastic if it's a 20 by 30. >> Oh yeah. >> I I just had a question and unfortunately I did not offer anything but I wondered just in the planning process and and talking through potential abuse uses and who would use it. Um, have we considered at all elementary age any kind of involvement with with science or coming to tour or um I'm just wondering if that was even a thought to >> as to why did the >> the use and the investment >> definitely could be an instructional
050piece where they at least come to to tour. Um sometimes we have to be a little careful of how much material is coming in and out due to our pesticide management and everything that has to be done and how careful we have to think about that. But um there sometimes there are some downtimes where when they're doing a unit of science and might be on germination and that that that might be a better source than leaving their classrooms opportunities. You know sometimes you have to wait the time to walk over there and see it versus you know the the benefit of it. But uh certainly is something I know a science has always been and natural resources has always been an area where um they've had their different events through the year too usually in
051the fall where they have an opportunity to work with the elementary schools. Um we are working with our elementary schools even in expanding the different career opportunities that they get to visit on. So the career college and life readiness curriculum um has been in this district pretty heavily uh based on egg science and natural resources and some of the emergency management um careers in that too that allow the kids are interested. So we'd like to make sure that we're expanding upon that as well. Sorry if I got in for the weeds too much. >> I admire all that growing because I can't keep my little plants alive in my house. I'm admire it all. >> Thank you. All righty. We are done with >> No, we Yeah, we're done with facilities. >> Okay, so then
052we have our last discussion item. The Kent County Sheriff's Office video sharing user agreement. Cool. So about 18 months ago, uh, representatives from McKen County Sheriff's Office presented, um, the Fus, uh, project to the superintendent, the county superintendent. And Fus is a real time software system that allows uh law enforcement officers to gain uh access through the Fusive software to camera systems within a facility or within a group. And so, uh, Kentai Sheriff's Office, um, was able to acquire and, um, create a partnership with CUCIs in order to present, uh, this as an option, an opportunity for countywide districts to be able to link into their system and, uh, provide uh, first responders in a critical incident response. with real time video uh and real time um information uh in in the event that we
053were they were coming into the face of threat. Uh and so you know the the Fus uh system itself is a software uh application with hardware that enables the K County Sheriff's Office to access cameras uh only during times uh that they've been authorized to do so by the entity or the owner of the cameras. So, uh, in our situation, um, what what we've got on the table for you to look at tonight is a users user agreement, uh, specifying when the Kent County Sheriff's Office could actually access our cameras in the event of a criminal or a critical incident or um, a threat in one of our buildings. So, Fus is the software and the hardware. Uh what the K County Sheriff's Office now has done is created a real time crime center uh
054where they have uh 247 monitoring of the Fus systems so that if there is a 911 call or if there is a radio call in one of the 900 megahertz radios that each school has uh in their office. If someone pushed that orange button, it's going to uh create a response in the useless crime center uh bringing people in uh who can start monitoring the situation uh through the camera feeds in districts that partner and give them authorization to do so. Um so it it is just uh it's not a recording system. you know, they will not record our images. It's just a real time opportunity for Kent County Sheriff's Office personnel to be able to be in the ear of the responding officers. Um, so they have radio contact their fus system integrates the
055body camera, it integrates the patrol camera. Um, it it really is it's something you should see on TV. Um, and so it's taken some time uh for us to uh get off the ground. First they had to get the system, get it in place, build the crime center. Um, now they're ready to launch uh and go countywide. And so what they've done is they shared kind of a generic user agreement with districts. Um, some districts are up and running now. So the Kent ISD is up and running. They signed the user agreement. Forest Hills is up and running. Um we had a meeting in midFebruary where the Kai Sheriff's Office came back presented the user agreement. Um and it was at that time really when the bulk of the uh superintendent were like okay we'll
056write it down. Um and so what we did is uh we took the user agreement that they had provided. Um Colin uh Gabriel and Austin Woodach, our two tech directors, worked with uh Charlie Price and Pete Juel getting their perspective on some things. Um we worked with John Winkowski, the region one uh safety and security uh coordinator. Um and uh Colin did an outstanding job of uh really digging into that document to make it uh a much more clear uh document in terms of when engagement was okay and uh just providing the terms of engagement. So, um, we shared that document with, uh, with our legal counsel, uh, last week, early last week, and, uh, he responded, uh, midweek. That's the document you have in front of you. Um, but the feedback from legal counsel
057was, uh, referred to Collins, recommended evidence as astute. Uh, so really he was on point. It's really I was so appreciative of of him bringing that knowledge and expertise to the table. So the document that's in board book tonight is the user agreement that we would enter into with uh Kent County Sheriff's Office just clarifying when they could gain access to our cameras, why they would gain access to our cameras. The fuse assistant has an audit log and so anytime uh an act a camera is accessed in a district, it triggers uh a documentation of that uh response. Um and so districts get a regular routine audit log so it can see exactly when cameras were accessed. The reality is cameras should never be accessed unless there's an emergency uh critical response. they know they're
058not going to they're not going to access our cameras uh to see if it's snowing up here so they can add additional road patrol. Um it really is for an active shooter or you know one of those critical incidents that we hope we never ever ever have to uh utilize. Um, if if you're interested, we could provide I can provide more information around the nuts and bolts of the fuses system just so you get a sense of of how it works, what it looks like in that real time format. Um but really what we're asking for your reflection on and your approval on is just that user agreement that um you know allows gives permissions and a common understanding on both parties when uh county sheriff's office can access our cameras and when they can't
059access. So if you want to know how the microwave works, we can make that happen. Um if you just wanted to make popcorn, we can make that happen to you. That's really big of the year of your designers. >> I have a stick because I think it's really cool. But I have a question. Um, does the fuchsia system do they like automatically or they need login information to our camera system or is it just somehow >> No. Yeah. >> So there's there's hardware on at at the command center. >> Okay. We also would have to have hardware on campus somewhere. And um the your hardware what you have to acquire is basically like a server. Um so we want them to be able to have access to you know 50 of our 500 cameras. Then
060we would have one box black box. If we wanted them to have access to 300 of our cameras, we might need, you know, one small black box and a big black box. And we want them to have access to all of our cameras, you know, so it's scalable. That hardware is scalable. Um, but once we have the hardware on our end that talks to the hardware on their end, then yeah, it's passwords, it's access points. Um, so it's a secure system. Again, no recording. They don't own the feeds. They can't use it in court. You know, we're the ones that are maintaining the recordings of the cameras just like we do now. Uh but it's really um you know, so that if Pete's coming into a building because our Bluepoint system has been activated, um
061Pete's on the radio with someone in the command center. So, they're saying, you know, go 50 paces down the hall, turn right, and the intruder is wearing a gray hoodie, dark pants, and he's standing in the doorway. You're not going to see him when you come around the corner, but he's going to be there in 20 ft, you know. So, that's the kind of real time information they're relaying. So, it's not just about, you know, identifying the threat, but it's also to keep our first responders safe. um by giving them that that real time uh information that will help everyone on the ground make better make better responses. >> And I well I think kind of maybe what your question was maybe weren't trying to ask this but because I was kind of interpreting myself
062is it's not a cloud-based system. I mean there's hardware. So yes and yeah I think it was a cloud based system >> and you could just send login information and access it. Yeah. >> So one thing that jumped out too that I think is going to be good for parents to know is you know this system is not capable of doing any facial recognition. It's really just for situational awareness. Sorry, in case there was any concerns about that, that's right in the user agreement. Um, one question I did have is I don't see anything that talks about any kind of regular testing. I know we think about some of our emergency protocols, there's some testing that happens on kind of a semi-regular basis. And in here, it talks about things to get a certain threshold
063before they can do it. Would it seem like there would be some, and maybe I missed it, but some language also kind of regular testing. So, when they need it, we know it works. >> That's something I need to be I I like the idea of it for sure. Provides additional security for our students and staff and law enforcement. >> Yeah. And it's really for that mass casualty event. And again, we hope it never ever happens, but unfortunately part of the reality and we have to be prepared for. And thank you for having our team look at it. So he didn't just never looked at it with a extra eye for our history >> as it was. So I appreciate that. >> Thank you. >> We will see it on. So would you like more
064information about us? >> I know. I know. >> Okay. I mean to be honest I spent when when I was in a super tense meeting it really just confused us. It wasn't about because we were like how did this thing work? What in the world? And so it just took a number of meetings with the K County Sheriff's Office to really give us some some context for us. I learn all the words that you explain with the hardware is not cloud based and not going to be hack you know really hackable security and then what it can and can't do outlined in this document but I >> mean it's hackable ours so any system is action on what we Correct. In order for us to move forward, um so um we've done the edits. We've
065not presented those edits to the Kon Sheriff's Office. So once our board acts and approves the edits, then we'll go to them and say this is what we >> So we're approving edits, not the actual >> Okay. >> Yeah. >> They've not said they agree to it yet. Right. We're going to say this is what we want to do. And Trent, I did you test be interpreted for that item right there that basically says something that doesn't meet the threshold could be approved by the district. So we authorize that be a test day, right? That it doesn't specifically say testing. I just would hate for some hate for anything to ever happen. But if there was a situation that required it and nothing wasn't working, well, it would be nice if there was some regular
066testing. Well, then it's a new system, you know. So, like the language in the original document was very vague on the audits, you know, when they would provide the audit reports. And Colin was like, "No, we need to know when the a need to know that this is our expectation and we're, you know, they're they can't meet an expectation that they don't know." >> So, they clarify those things. Um, yeah. So it makes it a stronger stronger agreement. Okay, we will move forward to public comment at this time. This is when the board will hear from the public for three minutes. Um we would hear your public comment. The superintendent will be following up. It was discussed. Do we have any registrants that would like to address the board? No. So then we'll close public
067comment and we'll move forward to action which we have no action on this all discussion tonight going forward to communication and for the board of education you're up to date on correspondence and we will have you'll need to have a meeting maybe next Monday or two of special possibly when we will have a form for that paper clip that we'll see if that data >> and you won't have the data ready. It's really about do we have board members available. So we have we have four people available. Okay. >> Okay. Thank you. Uh and then the only other planning piece is the ASB March dinner meeting. You can if you're interested in going uh you can let me know or you can register that you can let me know and if you don't go and
068you're earning you're getting a reward or an award I would bring that back. You don't have to be present to >> the food's gonna be good. >> Okay. We have our next formal meeting in the room. Okay. So having no more business at 720 stand