001You're live. >> Hi. >> Good evening. We are calling the uh >> monthly Kingsbury Country Day School Board meeting. >> Um we are Thank you for bearing with us as we are working through our technology of our new live stream. Um I am now calling that meeting to order. It is currently 6 through. We're getting some feedback so I'm gonna kind of Okay. Thank you. Um Ally, would you please take >> Yes. Uh Jod Quizenberry, >> present. >> Sandy Buckley, >> Adam Stewart is absent. Kyle Jackson is also absent. Uh Dora Higgby >> present. >> And Mike Leick. >> All right. Very good. We have a quorum, so we will proceed. At this time, I'm going to ask everybody stand. We are going to say the pledge of allegiance and please pledge. Unfortunately, today we
002are not joined by any students, but hopefully they will uh we will have some for next month. So, at this time, the pledge of allegiance. >> I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States, to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice. And now moving on to the KCBS pledge. I pledge to be respectful, responsible, and safe. I will work hard to be my best student and a member of the community. I have the power to make a difference at Kingsberry and in the world. Thank you. At this time, I open the floor for any public comment regarding the agenda items only. So, any public comment regarding the agenda items? >> I might add here as we're new to live streaming that we are not that
003the live stream is just for video. Uh the board does not have conversations while in the meeting. So if anyone is newly joining our channel, I just want to make sure that it's the same way if you want to make public comment in a board meeting, you would be here. Sign in. >> Great. Very good. So if anybody who is present that would like to make a public comment regarding the agenda items only. >> Right. At this time I would entertain a motion to either amend or approve the agenda as >> so moved. >> To approve. >> Yes. >> All right. Very good. Second been moved and it has been seconded. Is there any discussion regarding the agenda? Hearing no discussion. All those in favor of approving the I. >> All those opposed, please say
004nay. The motion carries unanimously at this time. And this is going to be a little bit interesting because we have two uh videos going. We are joined today by manifestion uh for our audit report presentation and that is a separate um document for the board members here. Um and I would like to welcome Ryan from Manor Casterian to our board meeting this evening. And I'm sorry I don't have your last name. So >> can you hear me Ryan? >> Yeah. I have muted Yes, I am sorry, Ryan. You are correct. You're muted. Uh, we are doing a it's our first time doing the live stream, so we were worried about some feedback. So, thank you for your patience and for reading my lips. But, I want to welcome you I want to welcome you to
005our board meeting. And at this time, um, I'm going to ask that you proceed with your audit report presentation. the big poweroint in front of you. >> We are seeing that. >> Perfect. So, go ahead and introduce myself. My name is Ryan Frame. I'm the auditor here without an associate there. I've been with for a little over three years now. I've worked with with Brian before on some some other screen meals and this is you know our first year working with all of you. So thank you very much for having me here and let's let's dig into the 2425 school year numbers here. So just want to start with a quick overview for the school year. additional state categorical funding that received such educator compensation program is a big one and then uh there's also
006some new unrestricted state funding specific charters that were received our school for payments on Kingsbury's case 46,000 this year so good little boost there was some unrestricted state funding but then I guess just something else new uh during this year is those after a few years of the pandemic as for relief funding that wrapped up during this year as well. So moving along to the independent auditors report of the financial statements. This comprises pages one through three. This is where we as auditors issue our opinion of these financial statements. Here we had an unmodified opinion which is highest level of assurance that we would provide. We believe that these financial statements are presented fairly in all materials. financial statements which pages four through nine financials. Really nice to tell that if you're just looking for
007a good overview of activity, you know, you don't want to look at every single page of the financial, you just want a good highlight of activity here. These pages to look at in particular on page seven, you'll see the comparative statement of deposition figure 83. Also on this slide here, these statements of net position around the full rule basis of accounting. So they would include your capital assets, any debt, long-term obligations related to lease activity, all that stuff will be on these statements of net position. The total assets from 24 to 25 increased value to an increase in capital assets and an increase in cash. So the increase in capital assets will also tie in line with the increase in liabilities because there's an increase in non-current liabilities due to lease obligations. So Gazby V87
008had an impact on the academy this year. There's three new bus leases. So you have a new capital asset for those bus leases and then you have a corresponding lease obligation for those bus leases as well which led to both assets and increasing during the current year. But overall there was still a positive increase in acquisition. So a positive year on the political basis of account. So moving along to the comparative statement of changes in acquisition. Also on page seven it'll figure it out on this slide. This shows the uh changes in revenue and expenses from year to year. You'll see both revenue and expenses increase in 2425 due to additional federal state funding and their corresponding expenses. Um there is there is the new you know the new state funding state was up about
00975,000 fed was up about 86,000 this year for the corresponding expenses relating to recognizing both state categoricals and federal expenditures overall there was an increase or there was an increase in along to the first one level financial statement which is the balance sheet on page 13. These fund level financials was differ from the ones on the past couple slides because they're on the modified basis of accounting. So they wouldn't include those capital assets or lease obligations that I previously talked about, but these are on the modified app basis of accounting. Those are omitted out of here as far as being on um you know the assets and liability side. So this this uh shot on slide here shows the major fund or the general fund as well as the non major fund which is the
010student activity fund. One thing I'll I'll highlight here is under fund balancing. You see a little assign for subsequent year expenditures in the general fund there of 164,305. That just simply means that the academy has implemented a 2526 school year budget um anticipating expenditures exceeding the revenues by that amount. So what happens is you assign fund balance to be able to meet those forecasted expenditures. Just wanted to explain that item. Sometimes we get questions over over what that item means. That's what it does. Um so moving along to the next fun level financial statement. This is a statement of revenue expenditures and changes in balances which comprises pages 15 and 16 of the financials. also just have a snack on the slide of the changes to fund balance for the funds. Uh overall total revenues
011are about 4.41 million this year. All total expenditures were about 7 million and then there was also some uh other financing source of 192,435 that applies to the new vehicle the new loss leases. So on the fund level you have proceeds from lease there finance sort but that proceeds then get capitalized as a use asset and then a corresponding lease obligation from the government. That's how that flows and it's source represents but overall total academy fund balance increased 231,500 this year but 228,687 increase in the general fund. So positive year on both fund level and the garment line. So so good to see that on the approval and modify the cool base of the county having a solid positive year. So and then a key performance in indicator always like to do is fund balance
012as a general fund balance as a percentage of operating expenditures. This just gives a good snapshot of the health of the general fund average in its metrics about 15 to 20% this year for the academy came in by 42%. So, you know, decent amount above that average. Sometimes smaller charter schools can, you know, fluctuate above that above that average a bit, but I would say 42% is still a very solid healthy healthy fund balance there. Um, in comparison, especially with positive year on the modified acral basis, definitely definitely a solid healthy fund balance. Moving along to some of the notes, the financial statements. This comprises pages 18 through 28. We'll take you through every every single page here, but I'll just highlight a few of the the key notes to highlight here. So, first you'll
013see the capital project which will be on page five wall on this slide. So, overall the only additions to capital assets this year would be bus leases. There's three bus leases. So they would be writing used vehicles for about 192,435. That's the only addition. There wasn't any disposals during the year. And then depreciation/anormization expense was approximately 49,000 during school year 2021. Moving along to the long-term obligations now, which will coincide with those with those uh bus lease assets there. This is on page 25 and 26. So the academy previously didn't have any obligation and then the addition having those three new bus leases put these obligations on the book and then you had paid down on these leases by about by 39,044 leaving the balance of 153,31 outstanding on these three bus leases as of
014June 30, 2025. email on a couple other notes to highlight. This will be on page 27 for these two notes. Uh the academy incurred oversight fee expenses from Sagenov Valley State University approximately 97% based on calculation of state aid 2% state aid and then also note 8 the management agreement note academy incurred management fee expense from choice of approximately 427,000 during school year 2025. And a couple other things just wanted to highlight here. These these will be on page uh page 28 for some upcoming accounting announcements. So the Gazsby loves to issue new statements. They issuing a lot of them over the past few years. And just wanted to give you all update on kind of what's coming coming down right here over the next year. Both these new statements will be in effect for
015the 25 26 school year. So next year's audit um it will be statement number 103 financial reporting model improvements that page goes has a full description of it. I'll just give you a quick description here. It basically is setting certain structures BMDA section of the financial statements and the RSI page for the general fund budgetary comparison schedule. Like one item they're going to want is they're going to want bullet points on that RSI page to kind of describe significant variances between the original budget actual. But my advice would just be, you know, if it seems like there's items that are that are varied a lot between where I did the final and then final to actual, maybe just jot a little explanation why might help us next year and kind of and kind of preparing
016those statements and making sure we're aligning with the new standard there. But overall, I don't anticipate this one having too much of an impact. not as not ever close to the impact that we've seen with Gazby 87 and 96 especially 87 which had a big impact on the academy this year for you know setting up those those three lease obligations and then number 104 disclosure of certain capital assets I expect this one to have basically no impact this just basically means if you have gazby 87 or 96 type assets that you describe them on the capital assets footnote by their major asset class at our firm we've already been doing that uh in this regard and on these statements we get that as well by calling it a right of use vehicle because that's what
017it is because because they're bus leases. So that's basically what that just means just you disclose it by asset class. We've already been treating them that way at our firm anyways. So that one will barely have any impact if any. The 103 will have the most of impact, but we'll make sure to assess the academy and make sure everyone's on page or everyone's in alignment with the new standard when that takes effect on next year's. Moving along to the budgetary comparison schedule for the general page 30 snapshot here on the slide. You see there was a positive total by the national variance of 119,594 mainly due to expenditures pretty much across the board coming in a little bit less than the final budget which led to that overall positive positive variance. state uh revenue was
018was pretty much in line with final budget. Just a little bit less state revenue than expected, but mainly the positive variance was caused by pretty much almost every expense category being a little final budget. Moving along to the report on internal control over financial reporting. This is on page 31 and 32. This is where we are conducting our audit and if we had any significant efficiencies. material weaknesses identified while auditing the financial statements. This is where we would report those and I'm happy to say we didn't have any significant deficiencies in material weaknesses identified while conducting the audit. So that we believe the academy is strong in place quite a bit. Um the other school he always does a good job getting everything together for us and I appreciate all his effort getting this morning
019together for us. This was a new school for us. We definitely appreciate, you know, him him getting us up to speed and allowing us to get through everything and get a product out fin time finally to all of you here. So, thank you all very much for having me. We appreciate being our service to you all and I'm happy to answer any questions anyone might have on these financials. Thank you very much. >> Thank you. Ryan, can you hear me? >> Yeah. Yeah, I can hear you. >> Okay, very good. Does anybody here on the board have any questions with respect to the Casserian audit report? that was just reluctant. >> My my comment would be thank you very much. Um and walking us through it was very simple, easy to follow. Um, and you
020know, appreciate that. And, and I think we need to thank um, Brian, of course, for shephering us through the year and keeping keeping us between the yellow lines, as it were. And also Sue Mard, who had to go through a lot of change this year from how we used to do things um, in 24 versus how we did them in 25. And um, getting that transition through without any hiccups. and and I know Dora's always concerned about that fund balance, but we we are at 42. Thank you for, you know, approving the things we wanted to do. We had some concerns about dipping in, but we ended up in a in a really good place. So, >> so this is, you know, for our first year with choice. Um, we were able to also um
021significantly improve teacher salaries while while running the business as it were. So, I think that's um to the credit of everybody at Kingsbury and I just wanted to make sure I said that out loud sharing something. Thank you, Sandy. I also want to call attention to our financial subcommittee who half of them are here at Sandy both helped I think get Brian kind of up to speed on a lot of stuff and get us situated in the right spot to be where we're sitting at especially with being able to increase compensation the way that it was done. So again, I I do want to thank you, Ryan. And if we don't have anything else for Ryan, um may we excuse him? Yeah. Yep. >> Thank you very much, Ryan. We appreciate your time and we
022will, I'm sure, see you in the future. >> Awesome. >> It was nice. >> Thank you. It was very nice meeting you. All right, one last thing we have to do. So hopefully that was um audible to everybody that was >> the speaker is right there. So it should have been Yeah, >> so moving right along to item seven, the approval of minutes. At this time I would entertain um a motion to either approve or amend the minutes. Can we go back to the draft? >> I would like to >> right. Um, so at this time I would uh entertain a motion to approve the audit report presentation that was just done. >> So moved. >> Sandy moves. Is there a second? >> Second. It has been moved and seconded. Is there any further discussion
023regarding the audit report presentation? And again, I do want to thank everybody that was involved in that from the board choice, everybody that had to work on it here at Kingsbury and learning the new system. Um, with that, hearing no further discussion, I will uh call for a vote. All those in favor of approving that audit report, please say I. I. I. >> Any opposition, please say nay. Hearing no opposition, we have approved that audit report. Now I will move on to item seven, the approval of the September 15 minutes. Um, and I would ask or entertain a motion to either modify amend or approve the meeting. I want to make a motion to amend modify um two things specifically. Uh, Jeff Driscoll was not in attendance at the September meeting, so he needs to
024be removed. And in the verbiage as we go through all the meeting minutes, every vote says that we had six yes and there were six people voting. There were only five board members here. So that every every place you see a six, I think it needs to mention five. >> There's an additional >> I'm sorry. >> Yeah, correctly stated on here. Then Mike East was absent and that was correctly stated and then Jeff Dris. >> Yep. >> Okay. Is that >> Yeah. And the other five were actually here. So, >> yep. >> But I think um where we've said who made motions, who supported is accurate. It's just the number. It's five. Yes. And zero in the middle, for example. >> Okay. Yep. >> Okay. So, it has been moved to amend the meeting minutes
025for September 15, 2025. Is there a second? Do I have seconds? Dora seconds. There any further discussion regarding amending those meeting minutes? All those in favor of amending the proposed minutes from September 15, 2025, please say I. I. >> Any opposition, please say nay. Hearing no opposition, those meeting minutes have been amended. At this time, I would entertain a motion to approve the amended September 15, 2025 meeting minutes. So, Dora moves. Is there a second? Second. Sandy seconds. It has been moved and seconded to approve the amended meeting minutes for September 15, 2025. All those in favor, please say I. I. Any opposition, please say nay. Hearing no opposition, um those amended meeting minutes have been approved. Moving right along to for the correspondence. Um I received correspondence from Jeff Dell indicating uh his resignation
026from the Kingsbury Country Day School Board. Um, SPSU has been made aware of the correspondence. Um, and they are, uh, working through their processes and policies. Um, and the board will be continue to communicate with SCSU to, uh, learn when they are going to post the open seat um, for the board. So, we will let uh, the community know upon um, the open application for that open seat. Um but as of right now we are uh not accepting or SPSU is not accepting. >> Right. They have to go through the notification receipt process and such. Yes. >> There's a few things that they have to on their end. Has anybody um received any additional communication um as a board member between last month and this month? All right. Moving right along to finances. um September
0272025 financial statements, >> right? Um through September just um the key part is there's no state aid in September. The state does not pay um any schools in September. The new year's first payments are October. They run October to August. So it's to note that cash flow we did not have to touch the money market account. So we that money is was left alone and we were able to get through operations um without having a transfer coming out. So the million dollars um $32 is still sitting million $32,000 is still sitting in money market. It's earning over 2,000 a month in interest which is huge for this ads 24,000 a year in revenue. The operation account was still just under 400,000 in September. um the activity picked back up that the school is starting out
028preschool tuition, athletic duties and fees, transportation fees, all rolled through as you see on the summary sheet. I won't touch on the golf outing. I'll save that for the new business under or old business under 11A with the fundraising. And then during the month um we spent down the rest of the 35J grant is for the literacy improvement um SAS learning curriculum u iPads and Chromebook Chromebooks that went towards that curriculum piece. And then the security system and alarm upgrade was the third payment was all made. So those all should be up and running um at this point. And then the only other note the state finally passed the budget and we got an additional $50 and we officially approved back in June. So, um, not much, but that's it for September. Well, October state
029aid kit today. Um, and it's still based on last year's count, but our, um, as far as the budget process, once the official count's certified, we'll internally do an amended budget with the finance committee and then bring something to the board, um, January officially. But, um, the count came in higher than what we budgeted, so we don't see any um, we should come in better than what we brought in June. So >> remind me what was the account number for counted? >> 3305 >> for this count day but we built the budget from spring count day. Yeah. >> So >> more students enrolled. >> Okay. Regarding the September financials. [Music] >> Yes. It's always good. So at this time I would entertain a motion to approve the 2025 financial statements. Is there a second? >>
030Mike second. It is moved and seconded. Is there any further discussion during those financial statements? Hearing no further discussion. All those in favor of approving the September 2025 financial statements. Please say I. >> Any opposition please be made. Hearing no opposition. Those September 2025 financial statements have been approved. um investment finances now be there's investments who am I looking to >> that was just regarding the money market account that Brian included in there. So the >> y I think it it is really important to note that we're we're doing what we can from a self-help standpoint >> to try and generate more funds to do the things that we need to do as a school. So I and as Brian highlighted on this that's huge to be able to to make use of >> how
031much did you save per month sometimes the statements for how it falls like sometimes it doesn't show any like this in September 431 for August September interest about 2250 a month. >> Yeah. >> And we're restricted where we can put the money like as far as I think if it's pretty good rate for a money market with a bank. So we could there's a probably team it's got to be it can't be at risk basically we can't like play stock market with it or things like that where we can lose money. It can sit in a CD but I think with Kyle with Sandy with the bank I think that's what the best situation we're because we can take the money out if we need it. Um >> which is the monthly. >> Yeah. >>
032Y >> so it's it's liquid but still making money on it. So >> well thank you very much. Um, moving on to academics and academic subcoming did um last Wednesday um to discuss. >> Nope, I got that one. So on page 25 is the presentation we went through with the subcommittee. >> Okay, I will talk really loud. >> I'm okay. Um so starting on page 26 um this is MSTEP data for um all 3rd through 8th. At the bottom it tells you um which test was done. So ELA, math, science and social studies. And this is the percent passing uh for those different grades. We do see that there is um a very low area between fourth, fifth, and sixth grade for mathematics. And then um English language arts fourth grade had a lower number
033there as well. Um another chart that you can see on page 27 shows the proficiency over time. So this follows that same subgroup of students. Um so if you're looking at um the left, this is going to be ELA. So if you see the blue, that's the same group of kids minus any kids who left or joined. you would see their proficiency. >> It does include the kids who joined >> but not the ones who left. >> Yep. So you can see the progression with that. Um on the left is ELA, on the right is math. >> So it's important to note here that you can see fourth grade year after year after year, but it's different kids. So this report, which we're just gathering information, you'll be moving forward soon. you'll in several years
034you'll have a big grid and you'll be able to see this. But this allows you to see the tracking of the data with this the majority of the cohort of kids um depending on new students and those who have left. So >> the back side of that page is um the map again it's just the same >> um the MSTEP to districts that is the next report that is in there. Um the board asked to see how we compared to local districts. So first we have the view of math um which is front and back and then of ELA. So it goes grade year and then KCDS column and then the different districts that we were able to pull and the state as well >> and that goes back to 2122. So you can track
035a little bit more years worth of data compared to the schools that you utilized as part of your strategic plan. So, if you recognize kind of that layout, it's because it was the same one that you had requested. So, we're going to keep maintaining this so that you can see long-term >> comparisons. I I don't want to jump in, but somewhere do we come up with some recommendations about what some of the schools that are outperforming us are doing, what we could do differently here to make improvements. >> Yeah, those are pieces that we have to there's questions that prompt from this that ask us to go a little bit deeper. Are we going to cover that? >> Okay, sorry. >> Um, so that you have the math and the ELA comparisons. Page 33, um,
036breaks down just the weights for the index score, um, which we fall under example three because we don't have graduation, we don't have high schoolers, and we don't have a population high enough for our EL students. Um, our actual index score is on the following page and it's a three-year uh trend 21 to 24 right now. Um, 2025 will be coming out shortly. MSTEP was just released and then we'll have that new index score. We do expect to see um a a small dip in that because we didn't hit our growth in our MSTEP for math. So, we are expecting to see a dip in that overall school index. So, we spend a little bit more time during committee talking about this, but that's why we come back and report out. Um, the index, we'll
037touch base on it again when those are released, but for those of you who want to understand on the committee those inner workings of what that index even is, um, we spent some time with them there. >> Not I was just going to ask you to state again what that index is. So the index um they used to do an A throughF and they got rid of that and they came out with the index and they over overlapped for a year where we had A throughF ratings and an index. So this um this tool is meant to show outwardly um how the school kind of rates you. However, it's not an apples to apples. So um your school index is com comprised of multiple factors and if your school doesn't uh have some of those
038factors like a high school graduation rate or a large enough e population to call um call it out for index and look at their growth. Um they then take those weights and they disperse them um into your proficiency and growth. So, um, smaller schools tend to see a smaller index, uh, if they don't have some of those extras like gym and, um, some of those additional li having a librarian, um, not library class, but an actual librarian. Um, and so that it just we just wanted to break that down because it's not a it's not necessarily a fair comparison of everybody. Um, but just to show kind of what that looks like. There's rumor that the ASUF could be coming back too and sitting on top of that which uses different metrics. So more to
039come but that's >> always kind of the gist of it. >> Page 30 for unstep and comparison moving forward like appreciate all the numbers. Could we get it like in a graph form next time just so then we review it to see the trends versus >> table the comparisons? I love both. >> Sure. Possibly any that >> page 35 um shows the school index compared to some of those resident districts as well. if you wanted to see that comparison. And then the last two pages are MSTEP growth. You have um ELA for 2024 and math for 2024 and then 37 is for 2025. there specific questions that I can answer on any of the >> How about that? I'll go over kind of where the committee landed with this and then if there's questions beyond
040that. So, this led us into a conversation about data that um I'm not sure historically what you've received before. We've been really trying to be mindful and sharing the the academic committee was great about asking some of those questions um to understand it. But you will have a very broad data portfolio built over the next few years as we start collecting that data and housing it. Um so I don't know if you've seen comparison data to other districts before, but these were some of the districts that the board had requested. We talked a bit in academic committee that there are some students coming and going from from Romeo and so we thought that that might be another district to add. Um it wasn't one that we had considered during um strategic planning but think that
041that's a value um to start comparing those things. Another question that came up in committee um was in response to uh schools who are maintaining. What is it that they're doing? Let's ask some questions. So then that that prompts us to dig in a little bit deeper, right? What is making up their student population there? There's a variety of different indicators that impact data um not just that one day when the child took the test. Um so some things that we're looking into would be are we comparing similar demographics um across the board in some of those districts? What does it look like? is there do they have a different type of curriculum than what we have? What's their um teacher retention? Right? There's a lot of factors that go into that we're starting to
042dig into. Um another piece, you know, looking at the math that came up that was uh something that showed right away um is that we are looking for a newer updated math curriculum. that and we um are seeking our team's ready and ready to dive into piloting some math just as they're while mind you they're piloting English right now they're really eager to find something that they feel like would better align with students so so that's that's a component of some of the things that we're digging into then also looking at the data is that potential curriculum does it meet the needs where we're where are those standards that our students aren't hitting but It also comes back to the reflection of the test environment. So we asked oursel a lot of questions. What were
043what was going on during that time? Well, they had never NWA tested in the spring. So we went from MSTEP with a little bit of overlap to NWA this year. We will be altering that. That won't be the case anymore. So we recognize that there was probably some test fatigue, definitely some test fatigue between uh the two. We also want to recognize that it's not that our students don't know the information because NWA says otherwise. What it likely means digging into the test more is that NWA and math starts asking multi-step questions. And so you're answering the math problem through steps, right? So you have not just one opportunity to miss it. You've got two to three opportunities. And so in looking in new math curriculum, are we looking for those multi-step problems? does that
044align with the things? So there there's some elements of the test that the students may just not have been familiar with that we could help facilitate bringing those things up whether it's you know just a quick group problem together. Um there are some schools teach to the test that's not Kingsbury. Um and that's a element that I think we all want to cherish and hold. So no desire to teach to the test, but if the test is tricking our kids, then we have an area of opportunity and those are things that we're looking into with new curriculum and conversations with teachers. So it is a blip in time. You don't change your teaching from MSTEP. You change your teaching from NWA. So this was a moment in time from a child for each of these
045tests. So more might you talked about also in this subcommittee is that the MSTEP you can't dig behind the numbers. So you can't tell where where the kids may have been struggling whereas with NWA there is a deeper amount of information that you can get to try and figure out okay where is is this one cohort of students missing this portion is it kind of all spread. So I think that's something that is important to see as well. We also did have a grade impacted by teacher loss and we saw but like the same grade um with both teachers. So that that does impact it over time, right? We've got to fill that that gap >> and establishing a solid curriculum is >> will absolutely help. Yes. >> Huge focus. Any other questions that Sue?
046>> No, I just wanted to say I appreciate the academic subcommittee pulling this together. I don't think we've seen the data presented in a way that >> makes a little more sense than we've ever seen it before. And we're all going to >> try to continue to figure out what is it telling us and how do we take that and and apply it to what we need to do. And we'll continue to share it with minus the added graph. We'll continue to share it in the same ways too because it's really important that when you only see it a couple times a year that you're seeing it in the same format. So um but we'll add the we'll add the graph for >> I think it's important too if you want to make changes and
047you're going to bring changes to the board in terms of buying a new curriculum or doing some things different or you're hiring a new teacher because of a skill set deficit. I think it's really important to tie all of that kind of thing into what's going on with our kids academically and our population and we start to weave together and better understanding as a community >> why we're doing some of what we're doing. >> Yeah. And as always, parents, anybody who is, you know, reviewing these for their own children, don't hesitate to reach out to teachers um and and get those support or the questions answered specifically that you need for your individual. Anything else? All right, moving right along. Old business uh fundraising committee updates. Yeah, just a couple highlights from uh from the
048golf outing. Uh this year we did have 103 golfers roughly about 113 or 14 for uh for golfing and dinner. Still finalizing some of the expenses we and also donations which is great to say. We even had a donation come in last week um for the fundraiser um for the outing. So, um, we're rolling everything and working to, uh, finalize everything, but I'm happy to report right now that we're, um, safe to say that we're north of 25,000 and proceeds. So, big shout out to the community and to our sponsors. Greatly appreciate everyone coming together quickly. I mean, we didn't have as much time as what we had in prior years. So, um, really impressed with the community and everyone stepping up. Um, also just wanted to call out also appreciate everyone on the board
049for contributing time, participation, volunteering. Um, but also wanted to acknowledge Amber Deli um, for helping out, but um, also Kim Praco who was instrumental in helping with the entire event um, even helping me understand, you know, the ins and outs and working with the with the trust board. >> So, um, again, I think it was a great community event. pretty helped a lot too from the tri. >> Yep. Yep. Exactly. So come out now. >> So we are working already on looking for next year as well. Um so working with the course to figure out dates and then we'll get an earlier start for this year than what we had or for next year versus what we had for this year. And then the only other thing is uh for the subcommittee um be working
050here with Dora on you know with our November subcommittee meeting to start laying out other calendar items. We had some items come up the golf outing and now but we're going to get back on track here for Thank you. Anybody have and thank you Mike for >> Yes. I was your participation in getting the golf outing going under such a short time. >> It was fantastic. It was really a fun day. >> Those who missed it really missed a lot. Be prepared for next year. I know. If you missed this, you have to be prepared for we'll have more time. So, we'll be able to put it on our calendar. Block it out. It would be fantastic. >> And then I'm sure there will be more updates of the numbers yet. I know it's been
051perfect. So, thank you again, Mike. Anything else with respect to the fundraising committee update here? Absolutely. Okay. Moving on to the bus lease. There is 48. So the board had requested um that we return one of the buses and initially they had said okay return it keep paying on it until we offload it. Instead, they sent us an agreement um that allows us to just pay a final um fee. And so, uh $2,763 uh to return the bus and then once they take the bus back, they will give back the security deposit assuming that there isn't any damage um and it's in pristine condition. So, um so I have signed this and this is back with Hulkster. I just wanted to make sure that the board was aware and that they had changed the agreement
052on us in a positive way for us. So, >> they probably got somebody else to >> Well, yeah. Right now, >> so there's a lot of lead time on buses. In fact, two of our buses last year were delivered significantly later than planned. So, I'm sure that they have somebody waiting. >> Absolutely. >> And I just want to confirm because um Ryan from Manister Steering discussed the buses is this termination is not reflected in the No. because you you still have them. You'll see that next. >> So, what'll happen is doesn't affect the fund balance and next it'll show a disposal. >> Okay? >> And then it's just like writes the asset off even though it's not really an asset because we lease it, but in the audit's eyes, it's on that combined statement. It's
053just to show a write off. >> It doesn't affect fund balance or anything like that. So, >> thank you for letting us hear that, Charlie. Does anybody else have anything on All right, moving along here. New business, the MSET data review, which we've covered in academics. >> Yep. >> So, um, board meeting calendar. There is a current calendar on page 39. And we had some concerns at previous board meetings, um, as we all look forward in our calendars about issues making future meetings. Fortunately, there's only four of us here um, right now. But with that November 17th date, um, is is that November 17th date that work for us here at this meeting? [Music] >> Mike, are you good? >> Okay. Um, I am set. Sandy should be Pandora. Yep. >> Okay. So, there was
054at least the four of us. So, that date should remain moving into December. Are there any conflicts that will be done? >> Okay. Um I also have a conflict that evening. Um Mike, are you able to see it in your calendar? Is there a >> I'm good as well. Best day of school is the 19th. Am I correct? >> Correct. Half day on the 19th. >> When do you need your goodies? >> Tomorrow. [Laughter] >> Yeah. January goodie if you want. >> No. No. >> Um, when do you need them? I think if we had it that week a lot of times there's different >> So if I brought it up the Friday before like in the 12. >> Yeah. Would that be bad? >> It's never bad to receive. Let me be clear. >>
055Can I email you and text you? >> Whatever you might do. >> Yep. that will get >> January it already resumed to have a conflict. So we moved that meeting to the Thursday uh January 22nd. Yes. So is there conflict in that January date? No, but it's a Thursday. Um but we did that because that week was Martin Luther King. Yeah. >> Yeah. Conflicts on that. Okay, >> I'm able to make it, Sandy. I should. >> Yeah, I think I'm good. >> Okay. And then moving on to the February board meeting, February 19th. >> I cannot. >> That is also Yeah, that is also moved from our Monday time slot to the Thursday. >> You are midterm. >> Is how long is >> it's just the extra weekend. >> Oh, okay. Yeah. >> Okay. >>
056I'm sorry, Mike. Did I ask you already for February? >> All right. And I am good. So, we will >> with Kyle and Adam with Kyle and Adam to confirm that that February 19th. We'll have to do the same as well for the December 15th date just to confirm to keep those >> um >> and we'll have reconfirmation in next month for December. So, um, if they were not going to be here, we would just want to connect with them before that meeting so that we can make an adjustment if need be. >> And if, um, I'm kind of I'm offline after the 15th of December. >> Oh, good to know. So, it couldn't be later. >> Well, at least a week, I would say. >> Yeah. Yep. >> So, >> okay. [Laughter] So, >>
057so then no action is needed. I just wanted to make sure that you people had brought up scheduling conflict. So, I wanted to put it on there. >> Thank you for putting that in there. And then let's keep it on for the next meeting as well. So, um the pay transparency. >> So, um House Bill uh 5269 was passed. Um and so what that did it requires all public schoolmies um urban high schoolmies uh schools of excellence and strict disciplinemies to post specific salary information um to the academy themy's transparency page. So that's the little mitten up there. Uh and so we've gathered that information uh below and I'll kind of talk through uh what that looks like. Uh so you'll see uh union contracts up on some schools. This was regarding charter schools who
058often don't have that. Uh so they asked a series of questions that I'll go through below for both of you. So average salary for new teachers. Um so new teacher is defined as an individual holding a teaching certificate for less than five years. Um so they asked us to do the average salary of that and so that's 438.88618. uh that matters because that fluctuates, right? So, if we hire three new teachers and they're all five years and we pay them the five years of service, it can blow that number up and make it look like that might not be our starting pay. Um same with the other way. If we hired five new firstear teachers, then that number would look different. So, it's not that the pay changes every year. It just depends on who's
059in that lot of people that they that we hired. So, just wanted to bring that out. the average salary for veteran teachers. Um again, um this is for individuals holding teaching certificates for five years or more. That's a very large difference. Um and so the average salary for a veteran teacher is $57,300. Uh again, that fluctuates. Um, and in a time where we're trying to still maintain course for our salary structure and we're building that out each year, uh, not building it out, but moving our teachers closer to scale um, each year. So that that does impact that number. But again, if you had one veteran teacher and all new, it it just fluctuates. It's a number that will constantly be moving, not because we're changing how much we pay people, just who's in that
060group. The other one, um, the average salary for support staff. This is also a bit of a skewed number, but it's 38,227. If you'll notice the description, this is from, um, pair professionals, one-on- ons, food service workers, bus drivers, just drivers, literacy coaches. Um, that again is a large difference in job description and responsibility. So we post the average but that in no way can indicate what one particular group in that makes. Um and then additional notes uh data reflects compensation figures from August 25, 2025 to September 12th, 2025. Um and then support staff salaries include all personnel directly supporting students in the listed categories. So this is posted to your website. There's um No, it's there now. So, >> okay. Thank you. >> And do we need to this? >> Um, looks like they're
061saying we should. Um, this will go up. If you denied it, we would look into the data, but we would still be required to post it. So, >> um, so I would entertain a motion at this time to approve the annual salary transparency report as presented. >> Sandy moves. Is there a second? Dora seconds. And Dora seconds. It has been moved and seconded. Is there other any further discussion, excuse me, regarding that annual salary transparency report? Hearing no further discussion, all those in favor, please say I. I. Any opposition, please say nay. Hearing no opposition, the annual salary transfer report as presented has been approved. So, we're then moving on to um board member discussion. This is something that we had um previously discussed. I think it was at the endish of last year. I
062don't know the date, but um we were previously a nine member board and we had approved dropping um to a seven member board um with the possible uh in future even dropping lower to a five member board given the size of our school. Um and that's just something that we wanted to bring to the table to have a potential discussion here today. um if anybody had any thoughts on that. um not necessarily looking to have a decision made but simply have it at at you know the conversation you know our current board meet up. So does anybody have anything regarding the board? >> What does SPSSU recommend and I'm not putting you on the spot question like that but maybe that's something we could >> we could a data point we could take a look
063at. And then so for SVSU schools, this the board sizes and maybe another data point might be um choice from the schools that you're managing. What does that look like from your perspective? And then maybe even a drill down to the environmental program schools that are even more similar to Kingsbury. What does that look like? >> So I can give you choice. Most of them have dropped down. if they were seven members. None were nine members, but we have had some that have been seven members. And CO has challenged many people getting um volunteers to come out in the public postco. Um many of them I think there's just a couple left that have seven member boards. Um I as far as the environmental model I have one seven member board um who is in
064the process of reducing to five in a similar they have board members that have been there 10 plus years um but just hard to fill um those open vacant spots. So um in the next coming months I will have one seven member board and the rest will be at five and for the portfolio of our schools the bulk of them are at at five. But I will get you Sagenov Valley's information and share that back with the board. >> Thank you very much. >> That's the typical I practice too, right? For school our size. >> Yeah. >> Right. So, uh, new business item 12E, overnight field trips. >> Um, I believe we have >> there are two of them. One of them is in your packet on page 42 >> and the other one is
065a separate. It was America. >> I plugged them both into their board packets. >> Oh, yeah. These are separate. Sorry. These two. >> These are >> Yeah, that's what I plugged into your board packet. The sides. Yep. Nikki was right. I'm misguiding you. So, page 42 is um the proposed seventh and eighth grade spring trip to Boston um April 15th to 18th. There is also an attached tentative itinerary from Gerber Tours kind of laying out what the students would do um during those uh three days. Um >> yeah, seventh and eighth grade. Yeah, it's it's for seventh and eighth grade. And the reason we are proposing that this year is to get more attendees to go to the field trip um since it is out of state and then next year not have an out
066of state but do something in state that more kids would be able to participate in seventh and eighth. So out of state like Boston or DC would be every other year and it would be seventh and eighth combined >> so that everybody will get to go. >> Yes. Okay. >> Yeah. And this is um by bus transportation. So that's a little bit different. I know last they flew to DC. This is by bus, but they have a very exciting uh tenative itinerary for >> Boston. The switch like how it kind of manifested. >> Oh yeah. So the reason why we switched from DC to Boston um is this spring is the 225th anniversary or not anniversary birthday of our states. Um, so they're doing uh more of a historical and they learn about Boston in
067eighth grade and seventh grade. They don't really touch on DC a lot besides maybe like a small unit, but there is heavy Boston and um the middle school team thought it would be a good trip. There's also some birthday challenges with Washington DC as um we're adjusting and so there have been some other um groups that have put out just notices. It's not that it's dangerous per se, but some things to be aware of while traveling to DC. So, it also kind of makes sense at this point to reflect on. Is there another really important part in our history that our students would be able to participate in outside of that? >> There any other questions about the Boston trip? >> Chartered bus. >> Yes. Yes. Not Kathy. >> Kathy's probably going to Boston. >>
068Do the parents um contract directly with the tour company? They pay them directly. No funds run through the academy at all. >> No, but it's all set up through Gerber and they pay through them. >> That's really fun. >> Yeah. >> Boston is fun. >> And we've used Gerber >> many times. DC Meno. Yeah. Many many times. >> It's a lot easier. >> Yeah. >> Yes, please. >> Field trip. just encourage maybe um saying from the fundraising chair that the individual classes so seventh and eighth grade you know that we do the bagel sales but >> um talking to some other families like cost can be a factor of like DC I know used to be an issue >> um but just encourage maybe >> otherwise yeah we talked about that actually today with Cougar
069Council and how could they um that team start to help raise funds and maybe even talking with the board's financial committee or sorry um fundraising committee and seeing how those conversations >> scholarships or things. We're also going to be we again met about this this afternoon um trying to get a read from families like a personal email that goes out to people who are not joining and saying like >> if this if going on the trip is is a financial burden that you can't overcome. >> Would you be willing to let us know? We will keep all of that information confidential. But then do we go out and seek find other ways um to try to that would give us an idea of the number where the financial component is the burden versus some other
070component that we can't control and then is that do we you know go to one of our other organizations that's raising money for the school and have you know that I think there's a lot of things that we can explore to help support >> and the kids also raise money themselves. >> Yeah. >> So you'll do that other than bagels. >> Yeah. Those are conversations that we'll start having and stuff to how how we can offset it. >> My kids >> bake sales and Yeah. >> My grandkids sold turkeys. >> Turkeys. >> Turkey for Thanksgiving. >> Oh, >> it's a little late now. But I mean, >> I mean, for Christmas, >> you have to have >> Yeah. >> Yes. Can like I I see that Ginger is going to be in charge of this
071and there's going to be a couple more adults, but can parents go? Is that a thing? >> We are encouraging the students to go without parents because it is a good time to grow themselves. If there's extenduating circumstances and we need to have a one-on-one conversation with the family, then I'm definitely open with that with Ginger if there's different reasons. >> Just hotel or are they bus hotel and because I see there's, you know, they're respons total. >> Yep. So, this is the total for your bus, your hotel, um, and then any of the, um, museums or anything they would see is included in that. It's based on how many students per hotel room is if they go with the quad the triple. >> Yeah. A part of the money you pay holds into an
072account and the kids are allotted like a certain amount of money when they stop and can utilize >> its to and from >> the to and from the day. They'll stop at a restaurant and they'll say, "Okay, you have >> Yeah. The parents will know ahead of time where you know the route's going to take them and where they could potentially stop, but usually McDonald's." >> Yeah. The eighth graders were at the golf outing sort of catting, right? Make money. >> Yeah, >> they were eighth graders. I think >> there were eighth graders there, but I don't think they made any money. >> Okay, we can check into that part. Yeah, they were being I mean, but they were there and oh my gosh, they were very good with the community and it be a
073very overwhelming >> um favorite things that I see that you get those kids involved and they become engaged in the community itself. They wanted their pizza. >> So, at this time, I would entertain a motion to um approve the middle school class trip for 2025 2026 uh seventh and eighth graders to boss. >> Is there a second? So, Sandy moves. Mike seconds. Is there any further discussion? Hearing no further discussion, all those in favor of approving the Boston trip, please say I. As any opposition, please say nay. Hearing no opposition, the Boston trip for I'm sorry, for seventh eighth graders is approved for the 2025 26 school year. >> Thank you. >> The other field trip is for the seventh grade. >> It's the seventh grade annual camping trip on campus. Um, the students go
074to Terreunner and Camp Lyel and they do some team building activities there. Did I say it wrong? Um, and so they learn about Michigan history, Native American culture. Um, there's a outdoor educator that they work with. Um, lunch is provided at Camp Lyel and then they spend the night here with a couple teachers. >> Marshmallow. >> Yep. the new marshmallows and all the fun stuff. So, there's three adults and then um we're still short on all of the students, but it's looking like all of them will be able to attend. >> Is this next week? >> It's this week. Yes, it's on campus. >> Oh, yeah. >> It's the 23rd. >> 23rd and 24th. Yeah, it's Thursday and Friday. >> Yes. This was a a last minute kind of throw everything plan together. >> We
075did this last year though, right? >> We did. >> Yeah, they did. >> no, they did it last year. The picking of the dates, the finalizing of, you know, arranging the tree runner and all of those was the last minute part of it. >> Y >> to go to Trey Runner 23rd. Yep. >> Correct. >> The bus, our bus, will take them to Trey Runner and drop them off and Yeah. pick them back up just like a normal field trip. >> So, this all entertain a motion before I ask a vote. So, all those in favor of approving the tree runner camp runner park camp overnight on campus, please uh I would entertain a motion for that. So moved. >> Sandy moves. Is there a second? >> Dor second. >> Door a second. It is
076moved and second. Is there any further conversation or discussion regarding this um field trip on the 23rd and 24th? No further discussion. All those in favor please say. I >> opposition please say nay. Hearing no opposition that October 27th 24th failed trip. Moving to the next item. Is there any other business you'd like to bring to the admission of the board at this time? We do have a Sagena Valley State University representative present. Is there any update from SCSU? >> I apologize for not being here earlier in the school year. Um I normally and am still planning to make four school year visits if you visit one. I also completed facility walkthroughs of both buildings and I do that again have the final spring visit as well as look at transparency reports at at >>
077all right very good >> probably see you next month >> forward thank you for joining us today um and at this time we are moving on to the management company report starting with school leader report >> so Um there's just a few things to point out on this and then there's a couple loose pages I'll go over next. Um so my record is on page 45. Um upcoming November 3rd we have our annual environmental conference where two of our teachers will pre be presenting to the rest of the environmental conference participants. Um our kindergarten teachers are going to present what it takes to take kindergarteners on a hike and what they bring and what it looks like from their perspective. So, they're going to present um a session for that. Um archery club has just
078wrapped up. Dance club is getting ready to start. And then coding club, yearbook club um are in full swing. And then we have a few more sessions of flag football and that finishes up as well. And then student council met for their first time uh week and a half, two weeks ago. So, they're um planning out their year. They are also doing a um spirit week next week. So, that's in the newsletter. If you want to know what exactly to wear for each day, refer to the newsletter and that's courtesy of our student council members. Um, tomorrow I am doing coffee with the principal at the Higgby House at 8:30 and I'm going to do a parents perspective of NWA and what the teachers actually do with their reports. So, I'll dive into that. Um,
079it won't be actual data, but it'll be reports that show you what we do from our side. Parent teacher conferences are also this week as well. Um the 22nd and the 23rd from 1 to 6 pm. So if you haven't heard from your teacher signed up, make sure and do that. >> Those are half days. >> They are half days. Correct. We dismiss at noon on both of those days for teachers to have lunch before the one:00 conferences start. Um we have hired a third grade teacher. Um she is hopefully here in the next day or two, Wednesday or 30. Uh Thursday we've hired um Miss Patty Cougler. Um so she will be starting like I said this week in third grade. >> She's also a member of community has been a longing long-standing sub
080and um two kids have gone through Kingsbury and one is still here in fifth grade. So she is a parent. Um the other what I want to point out is um the two separate sheets the elective offerings um these were not included in my report but this is something that the board had asked to see um so the I don't know how you have them if you look semester one >> the highlighted >> okay yours highlighted here okay so um the highlighted one is this year um we have three-day electives and two-day electives where the students from fifth through 8th grade are able to choose four slots so they have um four different electives they can choose compared to last year where they only had two that they can choose. So we did per semester
081we did increase um the offerings that they could choose plus the actual classes. Um we expanded into um our reading enrichment and our math enrichment classes to help students who struggle in those areas to give them that extra boost. We added in STEM and we took drama from a club and put it as an elective. Creative writing as well is in there as a class for any of those kids who just want to write, they have that option. Um, and then we increase band to a full five-day band. So, if you sign up for band, that is one of your slots. Um, which has been tremendous for Mr. Smith. He's he's loving having the kids five days a week. So, excited to hear the December concert. Um, and then Art um is keeping a two-year
082rotation. And so the classes will rotate every um every semester. It'll be two in the spring and two in the fall. So right now ceramics and sculpture, but then in semester 2 she'll bring back printing and paint painting and drawing. So those are like the year courses. And then we expanded some in the PE department as far as units. Um one of the ones that just is finishing up is the mountain biking. So the students got out on the trails. Any questions about any of the elective offerings that we >> I did want to add to this too. So you have that unique space for your middle school or secondary certified. Um we have transcripts ready for English to be able to give nth grade credit assuming that the entering district that they choose to
083go to accepts it. Um with the math curriculum we'll be asking to do the same thing and adding math to that curriculum. But these are all also designated under each of the teacher certification areas. So that's another thing that Kingsbury does different where they have instead of a self-contained elementary teacher where you have to be with the same teacher a minimum of 51% you guys are changing classes and it looks a lot more like high school. Um but that comes with the electives too. So these are within their areas of certification and areas of opportunity for our students to grow. So, um just wanted to make sure that that connection was there. >> And I do want to add um apologies for not including it on the um semester one. We also have econ um
084computer science and book club is still around. So, apologies those three weren't added on there. So, semester 2 is last year. >> Yeah. It's just to compare it from what we had last year to this year. We'll start conversations for semester 2 within the next week >> and look Yeah. looking at the schedule and talking to students and seeing what classes are >> favorites and not favorites. >> Sandy had asked for a comparison of what how we've grown the electives. Um this is kudos to the teachers. Um the teacher have really driven this conversation and conversations with students. Um so they made um some different consolation changes in order to make this happen. But you hear the passion from the teachers in these areas. Absolutely. forunately is far below our cap. Let's imagine that our
085enrollment increases. How do we maintain this level of electives? >> That's a fantastic question. It also comes with how you have how Kingsbury has hired their middle school teachers with their certification. The answer is that this gives us room to grow to the um capped out enrollment in all those grades and still offer these. So there wouldn't be this is like future perfect for that increased enrollment amount and still being able to offer that and that's because we have you know subject area certified in middle school. >> That's good to know. >> Okay, thank you for that. Superintendent. Is there another >> No. Any questions for me? Oh, we didn't go over enrollment. Sorry. We go back go over enrollment now. Um there has been just a few changes in enrollment. Um kindergarten we have
086dropped down to 40. So we're at our cap. Um and then third grade we dropped down to 45 from 46. Um these two students, separate families, um were on a wait list for St. Joe's and they got accepted. So that's where they've gone for that. And then um next week we will lose a family of two students. Uh one of them in second grade and one in seventh. Um they just can't continue the long-distance drive from home to school >> and they're outside of our busing. >> They are. Yeah. >> And the rest of the numbers are steady. So total um with those four students leaving we would be at 331. And we've already had conversations with um replacements in third and fifth grade right now. Um and we're we're still getting emails almost daily
087about our enrollment in our school. >> And that would be for filling seats for now this year. >> Yep. Correct. >> Yep. >> You're required to if you have space in enrollment to review those applications. Um but this is also an opportunity to continue growth going into spring. Any additional questions or any questions from the community Friday, right? >> It is on Friday. Yep. Yep. We're starting it at uh 5:30. >> Oh, on for us. Okay. Yeah. Yeah, that is this Friday. >> Yes. Need some more trunks. >> Yes. >> Oh, good. Good. Got a good boost there. Good. Good. And the color walk. >> Yep. The color walk is on Halloween um in the morning and then it'll be class party is in the afternoon. So it'll be a nice fun day for everybody.
088So stick around. Don't leave after the color walk. family. >> So, under communications, um, we had some families after our recent communication regarding an incident with a former staff member. Um, we did work very collectively and make sure that we got communication out when we could, um, with the information that we knew at the time. Um we a lot of very um appreciative feedback about the transparency in that um and the timeliness of it. Um but we also had some families come back with some uh some questions about how to talk to their children and what does this look like um for conversations more at home. Um some asked about you know what types of conversations would happen in school and we don't have those conversations regarding the inset with children. Um, but we did
089get in touch with Care House and that is a local nonprofit. They're a child advocacy center. Um, and they said, uh, after we we had been in communication with them throughout the, um, incident and later found out through our parent feedback that there was kind of some themes that we saw. Um, and so they were working with Nikki and they're willing to come out. And so we sent a survey out in our last newsletter um just saying if you have questions regarding how to talk to your kids, signs to look for, those types of um things that we had heard in our emails as well as anything else, these trusted professionals will come out and meet with the group. So I think we have 10 about 10 families so far interested and they'll work with
090however many. So um we're going to work and schedule something with them in the evening. It is in adults only because they're conversations um for families to potentially have within their household. Um it's not in regards to the incident. It's really bless you. It's really in regards to some of those questions that came up. So they're they're going to come and talk to parents about um if they're interested. So any families who haven't filled out that survey, it would be great if they would so that we can um better make sure that the number of support people from that uh institution arrive to meet the needs of the community. uh at a certain point they do break off and they do separate se sessions um if there are more than so they like to keep
091some of the groups kind of smaller. So um at a certain point they would want to have a second person out here if the group exceeded um a particular number. Um the state budget was approved as Brian said at 1050 per student. Um so excited about that we had budgeted at 10,000 per student. there is that acknowledgement that um that one-time charter school amount of money, that bucket that was provided last year, that is gone. It's not included in this next budget. Um they've got some increase in at risk funding. So that's 31A. That's state funding. Um so we're uh awaiting what that number what those allocation numbers will be, but 25% is a pretty big increase. We don't have a high population of at risk, but um it matters. Uh we often fund our
092support staff, our interventionists with that money. So um and then uh there's additional money coming in for school safety and mental health. We've had 31A um for the past few years. uh this one coming out. There's some interesting uh language attached to it that there's many legal councils, not your own, but across the state that are looking into it. We may see some type of amendment at the state that addresses the language within that. But essentially, if you accept that money, they would allow a third party, should there be a mass casualty incident, to be able to come in, read um anything with the legal counsel like that, you would wave that, right, for confidentiality with legal counsel. That's some of the language attached to that. So, that's why there's some questions regarding that. Um
093and then, uh continuation of great start to readiness program. That's the state funded four-year-old preschool. So, um there's some additional pieces in there. Um we are under a federal shutdown right now. Uh we are still seeing that money come through. It was prepaid to ISD. So, you're still seeing that money in the next two months or so. You may start if if this continues um you may start to see an actual fiscal impact because that money won't have been received by other agencies. So, um, we will definitely be keeping you up to date on that as that comes, but nothing in the very, um, forefront of our position that we're really worried about. You also have a healthy fund balance to be able to maintain. So, if there was a lapse and they paid us
094later, your your board would be able to cover that. Um, Brian is here, so I won't touch on his our third grade position is now um, filled, so we're excited about that. Um, we did have a transition as well. So, we have a new bus driver and Jeff is transitioning so that he can be full-time maintenance and custodial. Um, and that was an area that we drastically needed to adjust. It filled the time for a little bit and now we have a sub bus driver on staff all the time. So, that's fantastic, but um it will help us get caught up on some of the cleaning um that's needed to be done. the um we had a environmental leaders meeting uh on the 15th focused around student center coaching and so that's that process where
095you're getting in and giving feedback to teachers but it's not around their practices it's about what the students are what their engagement what their understanding and so having conversations um with teachers coaching cycles that help focus on that that we will be adding um an instructional coach within our within the way that our organization structure is um so not about adding a person, it's about potentially just kind of redistributing. You are required to have a literacy coach and so that's what we're looking at. So um and then uh we have we had team talks for professional development for our special ed uh talking about student outcomes. focusing on not that just our students have IEPs, but truly looking at their goals and then where their outcomes are as related to general ed students. Um, and
096then not on here, but we have our conference that Nikki was stating on November 3rd. Um, that will be hosted uh at New Branches Charter Academy. It's in Grand Rapids. Um, but we have a ton of outside um vendors that are going to be coming in. So we've got about 15 of them. People are still calling us wanting to be a part of our conference. We don't have any more room to add more people, but that's exciting that our conference has grown. So this is our third one that we've had for just the four environmental schools. Um but really excited that um we are not even reaching out to some of these are just partners that we work with on a regular basis. So the advisory committee that met this summer did a fantastic job
097of sharing all the people the partners that they work with and we then um reached out to some of them and vice versa. So really excited about that. And then there's one on the back. Uh there is a a title six um report there. Uh that came out gosh in March, April uh last year uh requesting that all school boards sign off um that they will abide by the title six um rulings. And we held on to that for a bit for legal counsel to review. Um, we do anticipate that this this is regarding your enrollment practices, your staffing practices, whether or not um it takes into account essentially the 2020 reading on DEI and how students um how we recognize students and how we teach things. And so, um, just in looking through as
098we were getting to know you as well, just looking through everything, we don't see any reason at this point to not certify, um, saying that you do meet those requirements. At that time, it was a lot and we were given like a couple days. I know legal said, "Hold off. We are not interested." Um, but I did ask Jod if she might reach out to Amy at this point. She had said that it would be in the school's interest to felt whatever they felt was necessary. I don't anticipate that this is you're accurate. You're you're just signing off on it. Um but at some point they do say that there could be a a tie to federal funds. Um and so just want to make sure that we revisit that. Um I can definitely certify
099any point, but I wanted to give you that language. Um >> and again this was the board um council did look over this um before giving the okay for this to be submitted. They should say no for federal funding could be withheld if they decide to go that route. Um my understanding is also it is still sort of in flux and possibly being challenged in other >> all over the place. It is being challenged. that's also going potentially to an email people that are no longer what they've split up the Department of Education and then push some of those layoffs out. So, um we don't necessarily know where it's going to go, but you were given such a short amount of time to take action. U and so just wanted to bring that back up
100to the board. >> Thank you for that. Anybody have anything for Ally at this moment? Thank you. We um when you talk about the care house um I wanted to just point families that is in the current uh newsletter you sent out. Correct. So if if you're wondering where to find that sign up if you are interested um it should be in your email. If you don't have it please reach out to the school because we don't want you to miss that opportunity. Um no date has been set for that. We're looking for the next two weeks time frame to have them come out, but not a firm date yet. >> Okay. And and I'm making an assumption here, but would it be an evening? >> It would be an evening. Yeah. I've asked for
101like a six o'clock. >> Okay. Um and then again, try to try to sign up if that's something that you think that you might be interested in attending so that we can get the right amount of people um from house present, concerns, questions, just And it is adult only. They wanted to emphasize that they we that's why we're looking at six o'clock so there's time to eat and come back >> and that's the Oakland County Center. >> Yes, >> they're fantastic. Yeah, reached out. They have a wide variety of resources. So, >> anybody have anything else? I just want to say yay again. I'm a third grade teacher. >> Yes. Simon. >> And if I may ask, and I know this came under Nikki's, but how did our kindergarten teachers, did they volunteer to present
102at that environmental or >> over our summer leadership team? Um, we started talking about the conference and they're like, we want to present, what can we do? And in June, they started having ideas and they put their hats in the >> That's so great. >> Yeah. the advisory team which is comprised of people who have attended all of our other schools go to national green schools conference. They share um they send a couple staff every year and so that's a requirement of our schools is that if they go to green schools they have to be on our advisory team because we expect them to continue pouring into the environmental mission of their schools. Um, and Kingsbury had several staff that wanted to join um, and have like poured into it and the excitement and energy
103that they brought and expertise. Uh, it's not a surprise that they reached out and quickly wanted to volunteer. So, >> appreciate appreciate them for doing that. >> Um, so is there any need or even requesting a closed session today? Okay, moving on to the extended public comments section. This is the time where I I recognize all of the faces here. So, I ask that um in your comments, if you do choose to speak, be respectful, responsible, and safe in the words that you choose. Um and with that, there is a three minute limit, I will Thank you. There is a three minute please introduce yourself. Um and at this time I would call for any public comment. All that can be seen on the live stream is us. We're looking at faces. a lot of
104money for the school. >> It's it's not, but there were some stipulations put using that. So, um that came from a federal Supreme Court ruling uh that targeted really uh post-secondary institutions, but it's regarding uh DEI work. So, diversity, equity, and inclusion that you're not that your hiring practices aren't done in such a way that that recognizes um diversity, equity, and inclusion, but also in recognition um or support that you're not um like outwardly uh teaching those main components um within your school curriculum. >> Yeah, >> he didn't show his name. You didn't say your name. >> Thank you. Is there any further or any additional public comments at this? All right. No public comments. Um the next regular board meeting is 6 p.m. November 17th. I look forward to see everybody. So moved. Dora
105moved. Is there a second? >> My second. Is there any discussion about adjourning? If not, all those in favor, please say I. I. >> Any opposition? Please say nay. Hearing no opposition, we are concluded at 7:36 p.m. >> Thank you very much everybody for your attendance and hopefully the live stream went well for our stream or >> it is now.